cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Practice of Argument: Reading the Condition of Civil-Military Relations

Dauber approaches the question of civil-military relations from the perspective of argument studies. Viewed as an argument formation, the Weinberger Doctrine functions as a template that privileges technical argumentation in considerations of possible uses of force. As a result, public forms of argument, centered more on the value of the potential intervention than the methodology, becomes more difficult. The acceptance of the Weinberger Doctrine in the public forum, therefore, independent of whether or not the various services officially subscribe to the doctrine, produces a situation where civil-military relations are distorted. The military side of the ledger, determining the possible cost of an intervention, trumps the civil side, determining whether the cost is worthwhile. The result is an argument within which it is almost impossible to successfully defend interventions on purely humanitarian grounds.
The Subtle Cavus Foot and Association with Ankle Instability and Lateral Foot Overload

The subtle cavus foot alignment is associated with many injuries occurring in the athletic population, most commonly ankle instability and lateral foot overload. Although correction of the primary injury may address the manifestations of the subtle cavus foot, it does not change the alignment. Without recognition of this alignment, the injury likely will recur. The goal is to recognize the posture of the subtle cavus, treat the cavus and the injury, and prevent future recurrence.
Uma evolução subterrânea: o jornalismo de Patrícia Galvão

The journalism of Patricia Galvao - a vast output that spans thirty turbulent years (1931-61) -, offers the reader a portrait of the time of an intelligent youth, aware of the flaws and the cultural and political possibilities of a nation in the throes of modernization. It reveals a powerful writer beyond her comfort zone of the novel, possessed of a deep and very often personal knowledge of authors and artists, registered in hundreds of comments and critical reviews. Through her consistent journalism, Patricia helped us accompany a whole lifetime with particular vivacity.
Minimizing makespan during environmental stress screening using a genetic algorithm and an ant colony optimization

The environmental stress screening (ESS) chamber employed in a typical electronics manufacturing service (EMS) provider’s facility is used for screening products, attempting to expose defects that cannot be detected by visual inspection or electrical testing. The ESS chambers are bottleneck work centers in most of the EMS facilities. This research uses a genetic algorithm (GA) and an ant colony optimization (ACO) to solve the job-scheduling problem at the ESS chamber where the makespan of the process is minimized. The performances of the two approaches were compared against some of the first-fit (FF) techniques from the literature. Both the GA and ACO techniques produced satisfactory results up to a job size of 40. Furthermore, ACO generally requires a longer computational time, while offering more consistent solution quality.
Window Shades in Energy Conservation

Thermal transmission coefficients of window shadeslwindow systems are measured using a Window Thermal Transmission Apparatus. The thermal transmission coefficients and meteorological data are used to calculate the net energy flow from conduction and solar radiation through shaded and unshaded windows for both heating and cooling seasons for 17 cities. Results for Chicago, St. Louis, and Phoenix are reported in this paper; results for all 17 cities are available (Buchanan and Grasso, 1979). These three cities represent long winters and short summers (Chicago), short winters and long summers (Phoenix), and average length seasons (St. Louis)-three typical seasonal con ditions found in the United States. Energy costs for these three cities are calculated from the net energy flow and 1979 fuel prices, for window systems of 0.32 cm single glass under specified management conditions. These costs represent averages over both win dow orientation and seasonal climatic variations for a particular location. Once the net energy flow is established, then up-to-the-minute computations of the effectiveness of window shade treatments can be made by adjusting to current fuel costs. The findings support that conventional window shades represent a reasonable, economic way for owners of existing homes to reduce heat transfer through windows. The actual savings are dependent upon location, fuel type, and local fuel costs.
A neural correlate to learning decision and control using functional synaptic efficacy

How interacting neurons give rise to meaningful behavior is an ultimate challenge in neuroscience. Synaptic connections lead to interacting neural ensemble activities. As one of the spike time coding scheme, neuronal interactions have been studied intensively. Several algorithms based on neuron pair-wise analysis have been proposed to estimate and study the interaction strength between neurons. Cross correlation, mutual information, and Granger causality are some of the examples. However, these methods are mathematical measures that can not distinguish if there is a functionally direct connection between a neuron pair. The network likelihood model on the other hand takes into account interconnectivity among a neural ensemble. It not only renders the interconnection strength between neurons but also accounts for physical connectivity between two neurons. Using this modeling approach to estimating neuronal connection, the current practice utilizes the maximum likelihood estimation, which is computationally expensive. In this study, we propose a new estimation algorithm for the spike firing probability model using a perceptron bank. This new model not only is computationally efficient, we were also able to interpret neural data from rat's motor cortices in relation to rat's learning decision and control behavior. Specifically the proposed perceptron bank was created based on simultaneous multi-channel chronic recordings from rats motor cortical areas while rats learned to perform a cue directed paddle press task. Our results show that significant changes (p = 0.1%) in functional neural synaptic efficacies from excitatory to inhibitory took place while rats learned to perform the decision and control task. This may indicate that neural plasticity and neural adaptation represented in temporal firing patterns is underlying the behavioral learning process.
Down syndrome screening using race-specific femur length.

Abstract Objective The study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of maternal race on fetal femur length when screening for Down syndrome. Study design We reviewed our patient databases to obtain fetal biometry from 15 to 22 weeks' gestation, maternal race, and cases of Down syndrome. Institution and race-specific regression lines for femur length (FL) to biparietal diameter (BPD) were created. The efficiency of using published expected FL was compared with our institution and race-specific regression in screening for Down syndrome. Results There were 4350 African American, 4271 white, 2315 Hispanic, and 654 Asian subjects and 42 cases of Down syndrome (1:276) included in the study. Our institutionally derived regression for FL by BPD had an R2 of 0.82. Regression lines for FL by BPD generated by race had an R2 of 0.86, 0.84, 0.83, and 0.80 for African American, Hispanic, Asian, and white subjects, respectively. The race-specific regression was no better than institution-specific data. Conclusion Using institution-specific FL was more efficient in screening for Down syndrome than published expected FL; race-specific analysis did not improve efficiency.
Experimental investigation of characteristic length scale in periodic heterogeneous porous media

An experimental investigation of scale-dependent dispersion in periodic heterogeneous porous media was conducted. Models with two-, three- and four-layer periodic heterogeneities were constructed to investigate the effect of heterogeneity size on the scale-dependence of dispersion. Longitudinal dispersion coefficients were determined as a function of column length by measuring the breakthrough of a continuous injection of potassium chloride tracer solution. Chloride ion concentration was monitored by recording the millivolt potential of silver/silver chloride electrodes placed at intervals along the length of the column. In all three models, dispersion appeared to be scale dependent up to a distance of approximately 20–30 times the size of the repeated heterogeneity group (hydraulic unit). Because all three models suggested a similar dependence, it was concluded that a medium with periodic heterogeneity may likely be characterized by the scale of its hydraulic unit.
Molecular localization of human IgG anti-F(ab′)2 reactivity with variable- and constant-region λ light-chain epitopes

Human IgG antibodies reacting with antigenic determinants on F(ab′)2 fragments represent generic antiidiotypic antibodies present in the serum of normal individuals. Additionally, the titers of these antibodies in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are inversely related to disease activity. Because these autoantibodies recognize predominantly light chain-related epitopes, especially λ type, we synthesized constant (C)λ- and variable (V)λ-related overlapping 7-mer peptides on polypropylene pins to determine anti-F(ab′)2-reactive epitopes on humanλ light chains. ELISA reactivity of affinity-purified anti-F(ab′)2 antibodies obtained from normal individuals and from patients with SLE, as well as murine anti-human light-chain monoclonal antibodies specific for Cλ and Vλ subgroup-related determinants, was tested using the overlapping 7-mers of humanλ light-chain sequence. The patterns of reactivity against Cλ-related peptides were similar in both normal and SLE-derived anti-F(ab′)2 antibodies. However, reactivity profiles against Vλ-related peptides were distinctively different between the normal and the SLE-associated anti-F(ab′)2 autoantibodies. A decrease in reactivity among the SLE IgG anti-F(ab′)2 antibodies was noted for particular amino acid Vλ complementarity-determining region (CDR) residues, including glycine at positions 27 and 54, alanine at 16 and 37, and tyrosine at 28 and 91. This different pattern of reactivity from normal may indicate that in SLE there is a failure of antiidiotypic control mechanisms, as reflected by a defect in production of antibody to immunodominant Vλ CDR residues.
PS2-17: Does Better Care Cost More?

Background/Aims Understanding variation in resource use among primary care physicians (PCPs) and its impact on clinical quality and patient outcomes is critical for designing policies to encourage efficiency in delivery without sacrificing quality. This study examined the relationship between PCPs’ use of resources, and clinical quality and patient-assessed quality indicators.
Modeling of User Design Preferences in Multiobjective Optimization of Roof Trusses

AbstractMany conceptual design programs determine optimality by relying on quantifiable design objectives such as minimizing weight and deflection. Qualitative design criteria related to architectural or constructability requirements, however, are not typically considered. This paper presents a preference-prediction model that evaluates user preference as an explicit design objective in the topology and geometry optimization of roof trusses. During optimization, each truss design is characterized by using a set of nine quantifiable features. A trained neural network inputs the characteristic truss feature values for each proposed design and outputs an integer value that indicates the user’s preference for that design. To reduce the number of user interactions required to collect the required neural network training data, a Kohonen self-organizing map clusters designs into groups on the basis of feature similarities. Clustering allows users to indicate preferences for groups of similar trusses instead of f...
Modeling of radial heterogeneity in chromatographic columns Columns with cylindrical symmetry and ideal model

Elution band profiles are calculated for radially heterogeneous cylindrical columns, assuming an infinite rate of mass transfer kinetics and no axial dispersion. Steady-state flow-rate is assumed, with a given, cylindrical radial distribution of the velocity. Parabolic, cuspal and cosinusoidal distributions were studied, all three with either the velocity maximum or minimum in the column center. In all cases, strong changes in the band profiles appear for velocity distributions in which the ratio of the maximum to the minimum velocity is as low as 1.05. Some of the profiles obtained appear to be similar to experimental profiles.
Structural Studies of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Cellulose by Neutron Scattering and Reflectivity

Improving the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose is a key technological hurdle in reducing the cost of producing ethanol from lignocellulosic material. Typically, enzymatic hydrolysis proceeds to only a limited extent, high solution-to-solids ratios are required, and the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis typically decreases with time. A range of mechanisms have been proposed to explain these phenomena including product inhibition, denaturation of enzymes, nonproductive binding, and many others. We are studying the interaction of enzymes with cellulose to help unravel these mechanisms. Our studies include UV absorption and circular dichroism of enzymes in solution, small angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SANS, SAXS) of cellulose during hydrolysis, and neutron reflectivity (NR) of enzymes interacting with model cellulose surfaces. Insight from these studies should aid the development of more efficient enzyme systems and pretreatments.
On the Dangers of Adjusting the Parameter Values of Mechanism-Based Mathematical Models

Mechanism-based mathematical models describe systems in terms of identifiable physical processes, and the parameters are assumed to have fundamental physical significance. Ideally, the parameter values are measured independent of the system being modeled, but these values are often adjusted to give the best fit of model predictions to experimental data. A systematic investigation of the effects of such parameter adjustment was conducted by developing a model system comprising a known reaction mechanism and known rate constants. Simulations of experiments were run, and then attempts were made to model the system under a variety of problematic, but realistic, conditions. (1) When one rate constant was seriously in error, adjustment of a different rate constant gave the greatest improvement in the model fit. (2) When a contaminant was present in the experiment, the effects could be hidden by the adjustment of the rate constants. (3) When an incorrect reaction mechanism was assumed, the error could be hidden by parameter adjustment if the concentrations of only one of the reacting species were considered or if an unweighted fit was used for the optimization. (4) Parameter values adjusted for one set of experimental conditions gave a poorer fit than did the unadjusted parameter values when attempting to model a new set of experimental condition (addition of an inhibitor). These results show the potential dangers of adjusting parameter values and the importance of measuring as many variables as possible in a complex system.
A trabecular plate-like phenotype is overrepresented in Chinese-American versus Caucasian women

Summary This study used extreme phenotype selection to define two trabecular bone phenotypes in a cohort of Chinese-American and Caucasian women. A trabecular plate-predominant phenotype is more common in Chinese-Americans while the rod-predominant phenotype is more typical of Caucasians. The robustness of these phenotypic associations with respect to lifestyle factors suggests that this trait may have a genetic basis and that these phenotypes can be utilized in future genetic studies.
Oxygen consumption of the Cladoceran, Daphnia pulex, as a function of body size, light and light acclimation

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of nine light intensities, polarized light and four wavelength ranges were studied on the metabolic rate of Daphnia . 2. 2. The effect of light intensity was significant and the effects varied depending on, light intensity, body size and state of acclimation. 3. 3. Except for differences among adjusted means the effect of polarized light was inseparable from the effect of light intensity. 4. 4. Acclimation to wavelength reduced metabolic rate and there were no other significant effects.
Equipment Selection Models for Space Systems: Cost-Effectiveness, Reliability and Maintainability

Several models are developed to illustrate a methodology for equipment selection. By equipment selection we mean assigning computers to applications so that cost, effectiveness, reliability,maintainability,andavailabilityrequirementsaresatisfied.Becausesomanyfacets of the assignment problem must be addressed, the models must be developed and applied incrementally as each requirement is assessed. For example, if equipment had been found desirable from a cost-effectiveness standpoint, it might not hold up under the scrutiny of reliability and maintainability assessments. As a consequence, equipment assignments to applications would have to be revised. To illustrate the assignment process we use the organizational scenario of a space system laboratory that operates an integrated system of web service, safety critical, and home computer applications.
Unleashing the Potential of Collaborative Governance Arrangements: Getting to Robust Durability in the Blackfoot Valley

If collaborative governance arrangements are something to be valued and if they can help us to improve our ability to resolve collective action problems, then it behooves scholars to develop a good understanding of the elements associated with institutional durability. This paper focuses on the concept of robust durability because it captures the importance of problem-solving effectiveness as well as institutional durability. The problem, of course, is that the puzzle of durability is a difficult one to unlock given that collaboration is hard to do and robust durability even harder. The award winning, highly successful Blackfoot Challenge case of collaborative watershed management in Montana, however, offers lessons about robust durability across almost two decades. The lessons involve more than just institutional design, appropriate antecedent conditions, and a supportive external environment. Instead there are a series of variables wrapped up in the operational dynamic inside the collaborative that appear to matter most. Robust durability in the case of the Challenge relies on the character of the organization, continuity of leadership, a multi-faceted managerial strategy, and the application of a systematic fiscal strategy.
Ivermectin-dependent attachment of neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells to Dirofilaria immitis microfilariae in vitro

The macrocyclic lactones are the only anthelmintics used to prevent heartworm disease, but it is very difficult to reproduce their in vivo efficacy against Dirofilaria immitis larvae in experiments in vitro. These assays typically measure motility, suggesting that paralysis is not the mode of action of the macrocyclic lactones against D. immitis. We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and neutrophils from uninfected dogs and measured their adherence to D. immitis microfilariae in the presence of varying concentrations of ivermectin. We found that adherence of PBMC to the microfilariae was increased in the presence of ivermectin concentrations ≥100 nM and adherence of neutrophils was increased in drug concentrations ≥10 nM. Up to 50% of microfilariae had adherent PBMC in the presence of the drug, and binding was maximal after 40 h incubation. Neutrophil adherence was maximal after 16 h, with approximately 20% of the microfilariae having at least one cell adhered to them. Adherent neutrophils showed morphological evidence of activation. These results are consistent with a model in which the macrocyclic lactones interfere with the parasites ability to evade the host's innate immune system.
High accuracy, wide range, rotation angle measurement by the use of two parallel interference patterns

Based on the idea of measuring small rotation angles with a parallel interference pattern (PIP), a method is developed to measure large rotation angles accurately. Two parallel PIP’s that have different periods are used to measure a rotation angle of an object. The measurement made with a small-period PIP provides a high accuracy, and the measurement made with a large-period PIP provides a wide range. An accurate measurement for wide-range angles is made by combining the two measured values. The accuracy of the phase detection is determined by the periods of two PIP’s. Rotation angles from approximately -30 to 30 arc min can be measured with an accuracy of 0.2 arc sec. Analytical results are supported by experimental results.
VisualEyes: A Modular Software System for Oculomotor Experimentation

Eye movement studies have provided a strong foundation forming an understanding of how the brain acquires visual information in both the normal and dysfunctional brain.1 However, development of a platform to stimulate and store eye movements can require substantial programming, time and costs. Many systems do not offer the flexibility to program numerous stimuli for a variety of experimental needs. However, the VisualEyes System has a flexible architecture, allowing the operator to choose any background and foreground stimulus, program one or two screens for tandem or opposing eye movements and stimulate the left and right eye independently. This system can significantly reduce the programming development time needed to conduct an oculomotor study. The VisualEyes System will be discussed in three parts: 1) the oculomotor recording device to acquire eye movement responses, 2) the VisualEyes software written in LabView, to generate an array of stimuli and store responses as text files and 3) offline data analysis. Eye movements can be recorded by several types of instrumentation such as: a limbus tracking system, a sclera search coil, or a video image system. Typical eye movement stimuli such as saccadic steps, vergent ramps and vergent steps with the corresponding responses will be shown. In this video report, we demonstrate the flexibility of a system to create numerous visual stimuli and record eye movements that can be utilized by basic scientists and clinicians to study healthy as well as clinical populations.
Electrocardiographic ST-segment elevation: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy versus ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction—A case series

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome, is a newly described disorder in which patients develop anginal symptoms, often times with acute congestive heart failure, during periods of stress. The electrocardiogram demonstrates ST-segment and/or T-wave abnormalities similar to those findings seen in acute coronary events; on occasion, serum markers can be abnormal. As an extreme, acute pulmonary edema with or without cardiogenic shock can also be encountered. At cardiac catheterization, these patients are found to have abnormal left ventricular function yet normal coronary arteries. We compared 2 populations encountered in the emergency department (ED) population—Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. In the ED, features of the presentation and management were similar between the 2 groups with the exception of the presence of female sex and abnormal QT interval occurring more often in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy subgroup. These 2 cardiovascular maladies present in very similar fashion in the ED; distinction in the ED may not be possible.
Plane Strain Testing with Passive Restraint

A plane strain condition for testing rock is developed through passive restraint in the form of a thick- walled cylinder. The so-called biaxial frame generates the intermediate principal stress that imposes a triaxial state of stress on a prismatic specimen. Major and minor principal stresses and corresponding strains are accurately measured, providing data to calculate the elastic (Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio), inelastic (dilatancy angle), and strength (friction angle and cohesion) parameters of the rock. Results of experiments conducted on Indiana lime- stone in plane strain compression are compared with the results of axisymmetric compression and extension. With proper system calibration, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio are consistent among the tests. The plane strain apparatus enforces in-plane deformation with the three principal stresses at failure being different, and it allows one to determine the Paul-Mohr-Coulomb failure surface, which includes an intermediate stress effect.
Understanding how mothers of adolescent girls obtain information about the human papillomavirus vaccine: Associations between mothers’ health beliefs, information seeking, and vaccination intentions in an ethnically diverse sample:

We examined factors associated with information seeking about the human papillomavirus vaccine among mothers of adolescent girls by testing whether information seeking and vaccination intentions for their daughters are associated with perceived vulnerability, severity, and vaccine benefits in an ethnically diverse sample. Mothers (N = 256) of unvaccinated girls living in Dallas, Texas, were surveyed (49% Black, 29% Hispanic, and 18% White). Perceived vulnerability to human papillomavirus was associated with talking with others (odds ratio = 1.71, 95% confidence interval = 1.09, 2.66) and talking with a doctor about the vaccine (odds ratio = 1.42, 95% confidence interval = 1.01, 1.99), and perceived vaccine benefits were associated with vaccination intentions (odds ratio = 2.96, 95% confidence interval = 1.98, 4.42), but the perceived severity was not associated with any dependent measure. Beliefs about human papillomavirus risk are associated with seeking information from a doctor and interpersonal sources, but ethnic minorities are less likely to talk with others about the vaccine.
There ought to be a law: research note on findings and limitations of survey research into general population attitudes about cannabis use, other deviancies, and the law.

Summary This paper describes and questions the social meaning of some 1975 general population survey data on individuals' expressed attitudes to legal control of various forms of behaviour, including possession of cannabis. Only a small proportion of the sample favoured ‘legalization’ of cannabis, larger proportions favouring legal status for homosexual behaviour, abortion and the buying of contraceptives. Few respondents would, however, take it upon themselves to report cannabis users to the police, and opinions about proper court sentences were highly varied. The paper briefly contrasts a social interpretation of such moral sentiments (involving social relations of labour market, family and law) with the individualistic interpretation that the attitude-survey methodology itself imposes. The paper concludes that there is a need to develop social theory able to generate problem-solving research and practice in the dependency field.
HIV management by nurse prescribers compared with doctors at a paediatric centre in Gaborone, Botswana.

Objectives. To compare compliance with national paediatric HIV treatment guidelines between nurse prescribers and doctors at a paediatric referral centre in Gaborone, Botswana. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 at the Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence (COE), Gaborone, Botswana, comparing the performance of nurse prescribers and physicians caring for HIV-infected paediatric patients. Selected by stratified random sampling, 100 physician and 97 nurse prescriber encounters were retrospectively reviewed for successful documentation of eight separate clinically relevant variables: pill count charted; chief complaint listed; social history updated; disclosure reviewed; physical exam; laboratory testing; World Health Organization (WHO) staging documented; paediatric dosing. Results. Nurse prescribers and physicians correctly documented 96.0% and 94.9% of the time, respectively. There was a trend towards a higher proportion of social history documentation by the nurses, but no significant difference in any other documentation items. Conclusions. Our findings support the continued investment in programmes employing properly trained nurses in southern Africa to provide quality care and ART services to HIV-infected children who are stable on therapy. Task shifting remains a promising strategy to scale up and sustain adult and paediatric ART more effectively, particularly where provider shortages threaten ART rollout. Policies guiding ART services in southern Africa should avoid restricting the delivery of crucial services to doctors, especially where their numbers are limited.
Cultivation of Babesia and Babesia-Like Blood Parasites: Agents of an Emerging Zoonotic Disease

Babesia and its close relatives are members of a group of organisms called piroplasms, a name which comes from their pear-shaped outlines. Long associated with blood diseases of cattle and other mammals, members of the genus Babesia have been recognized since the 1950s as infectious agents in humans. Species of this protozoan blood parasite that have routinely been isolated from mice (B. microti) or cattle (B. divergens) have also been isolated from humans. In addition to these familiar species, new isolates that resist being placed in existing taxonomic categories are the basis for rethinking their phylogenetic relationships based on sequencing data. The parasite represents a threat to the safety of the blood supply in that blood from asymptomatic humans can transmit Babesia to blood recipients. Such transmissions have occurred. The development of methods for cultivation of these organisms represents a significant opportunity to study their biology and disease potential. In addition, in vitro cultivation has provided a basis for studying immune responses of mammals to these infectious agents, with the hope of ultimately producing attenuated strains that could be used for immunizing of cattle and, perhaps, humans who live in areas of endemicity. The microaerophilous stationary phase culture technique, which uses a tissue culture medium base supplemented with appropriate serum and erythrocytes, has made it possible to obtain large numbers of parasitized erythrocytes for studying the biology of this parasite.
Fourier Descriptors for Plane Closed Curves

A method for the analysis and synthesis of closed curves in the plane is developed using the Fourier descriptors FD's of Cosgriff [1]. A curve is represented parametrically as a function of arc length by the accumulated change in direction of the curve since the starting point. This function is expanded in a Fourier series and the coefficients are arranged in the amplitude/phase-angle form. It is shown that the amplitudes are pure form invariants as well as are certain simple functions of phase angles. Rotational and axial symmetry are related directly to simple properties of the Fourier descriptors. An analysis of shape similarity or symmetry can be based on these relationships; also closed symmetric curves can be synthesized from almost arbitrary Fourier descriptors. It is established that the Fourier series expansion is optimal and unique with respect to obtaining coefficients insensitive to starting point. Several examples are provided to indicate the usefulness of Fourier descriptors as features for shape discrimination and a number of interesting symmetric curves are generated by computer and plotted out.
Hispanics in Metropolitan America: New Realities and Old Debates

Since 1980, Latinos have participated in an unprecedented geographic dispersal that altered the ethno-racial contours of metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas throughout the nation. After summarizing recent trends in spatial distribution, we review scholarship about trends in residential segregation, the rise of multiethnic neighborhoods, and residential mobility. New trends, notably the emergence of hypersegregation and rising segregation levels in several places, call into question earlier views about the inevitability of Hispanics' spatial assimilation, as do studies that examine direct links between individual mobility and locational attainment. The growing support for the tenets of the place stratification model suggests that Hispanic origin is becoming a racial marker. Following a brief review of social and economic correlates of Hispanics' residential makeover, we conclude by discussing opportunities for future research, emphasizing the importance of dynamic assessments that consider the new conto...
Polarization observables for the reaction pp→ppπ0 at 800 MeV

Abstract The Wolfenstein polarization observables DNN, D SΩ and D LΩ , where Ω denotes a mixture of S and L polarization components, the induced polarization P, and the analysing power A have been measured for the reaction pp→ppπ0 at 800, 733, and 647 MeV. Comparisons are made to theoretical predictions of the model of Dubach, Kloet and Silbar.
Historical Legacies and Post‐Communist Regime Change

This article shows that post-communist regime trajectories have been largely circumscribed by historical legacy differences, but the question about which particular legacy matters most is much harder to answer, since statistical results are sensitive to model specification and to the choice of democracy indicator. While some of these discrepancies reflect the inherent limitations of traditional statistical methods, others reflect the different dimensions of democracy captured by different indicators. Therefore, the article contributes to a more nuanced explanation of post-communist democratization by showing that different legacies drive different aspects of democratization. Finally, the results demonstrate that several prominent alternative explanations—initial election outcomes, institutional choices, geographic diffusion, and external conditionality—played a relatively modest role in explaining democratization patterns beyond the constraints imposed by historical legacies.
The laminar boundary layer on a moving continuous flat sheet immersed in a non-Newtonian fluid

The laminar boundary layers on a moving continuous flat surface in non-Newtonian fluids characterized by the power law model are investigated using exact and approximate methods. Both pseudoplastic and dilatant fluids are considered. Numerical solutions of the boundary-layer equations are obtained for values of the parameter n in the power law model ranging from 0.1 to 2.0. An integral solution of the momentum equation, which can be used to obtain values of the dimensionless shearing stress that are in good agreement with the exact values, is developed. An integral solution to the energy equation is also presented.
Characterization of RAD9 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and evidence that its function acts posttranslationally in cell cycle arrest after DNA damage.

In eucaryotic cells, incompletely replicated or damaged chromosomes induce cell cycle arrest in G2 before mitosis, and in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae the RAD9 gene is essential for the cell cycle arrest (T.A. Weinert and L. H. Hartwell, Science 241:317-322, 1988). In this report, we extend the analysis of RAD9-dependent cell cycle control. We found that both induction of RAD9-dependent arrest in G2 and recovery from arrest could occur in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, showing that the mechanism of RAD9-dependent control involves a posttranslational mechanism(s). We have isolated and determined the DNA sequence of the RAD9 gene, confirming the DNA sequence reported previously (R. H. Schiestl, P. Reynolds, S. Prakash, and L. Prakash, Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:1882-1886, 1989). The predicted protein sequence for the Rad9 protein bears no similarity to sequences of known proteins. We also found that synthesis of the RAD9 transcript in the cell cycle was constitutive and not induced by X-irradiation. We constructed yeast cells containing a complete deletion of the RAD9 gene; the rad9 null mutants were viable, sensitive to X- and UV irradiation, and defective for cell cycle arrest after DNA damage. Although Rad+ and rad9 delta cells had similar growth rates and cell cycle kinetics in unirradiated cells, the spontaneous rate of chromosome loss (in unirradiated cells) was elevated 7- to 21-fold in rad9 delta cells. These studies show that in the presence of induced or endogenous DNA damage, RAD9 is a negative regulator that inhibits progression from G2 in order to preserve cell viability and to maintain the fidelity of chromosome transmission.
A Randomized Trial Testing a Contingency‐Based Weight Loss Intervention Involving Social Reinforcement

Even though behavioral weight loss interventions are conducted in groups, a social contingency (SC) paradigm that capitalizes on the social reinforcement potential of the weight loss group has never been tested. We tested a weight loss intervention in which participation in the weight loss group was contingent upon meeting periodic weight goals. We hypothesized that making access to the group dependent upon weight loss would improve weight outcomes. Participants (N = 62; 84% female; 94% white; age = 51.9 ± 9.0; BMI = 34.7 ± 4.5) were randomized to 6-months of standard behavioral weight loss (SBWL) or to a behavioral program that included a SC paradigm. Both groups engaged in social cohesion activities. Participants in SC who did not meet weight goals did not attend group meetings; instead, they received individual treatment with a new interventionist and returned to group once their weight goals were met. SC did not improve overall weight loss outcomes (SC: −10.0 ± 4.9 kg, SBWL: −10.8 ± 6.4 kg, P = 0.63). Similarly, overall weight loss was not significantly different in the subgroup of participants in the SC and SBWL conditions who did not meet periodic weight loss goals (−7.3 ± 4.1 kg vs. −7.1 ± 3.5 kg, P = 0.90). Surprisingly, “successful” SC participants (who met their weight goals) actually lost less weight than “successful” SBWL participants (−12.4 ± 3.2 kg vs. −14.5 ± 4.7 kg, P = 0.02). Whereas contingency-based treatments have been tested for other health behaviors (e.g., substance abuse), this is the first study to test a SC intervention for weight loss. This approach did not improve overall weight loss outcomes. Our attempt to offer appropriate clinical care by providing individual treatment to SC participants when needed may have mitigated the effects of the SC paradigm.
Image-guided Biopsy of Suspicious Lymph Nodes in Patients with Known Primary Malignancies

Abstract Purpose To determine how often abdominal, pelvic, and inguinal lymphadenopathy in patients with a known malignancy arises from a second primary cancer or from benign causes, rather than from the cancer already known. Materials and Methods A total of 196 patients with a history of a single biopsy-proven malignancy underwent image-guided abdominal or pelvic lymph node (LN) biopsies between January 2000 and January 2005. Three patients were excluded. The medical records and imaging of the remaining 193 patients were reviewed. Pathologic results were assigned to one of three outcomes: LN involvement by known malignancy, newly diagnosed malignancy, or no malignancy identified. Patients in whom malignancy was not identified required repeat biopsy or stability or reduction in size of LN on follow-up imaging for confirmation while not receiving treatment. Results Of the 193 included biopsies, there was LN involvement by the known malignancy in 148 (76.7%; 95% CI, 70.1%–82.5%), a newly diagnosed malignancy in 19 (9.8%; 95% CI, 6.0%–14.9%), and no malignancy identified in 26 (13.5%; 95% CI, 9.0%–19.1%). Conclusions Biopsy of a suspicious abdominal or pelvic LN in patients with known malignancy reveals a newly diagnosed malignancy or no evidence of malignancy in 23% of cases, emphasizing the importance of biopsy.
Safety and caregiver satisfaction with gastrostomy in patients with Ataxia Telangiectasia

Background: Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare monogenetic neurodegenerative disease with pulmonary, nutritional, and dysphagic complications. Gastrostomy tube (GT) feedings are commonly recommended to manage these co-morbidities. In general, outcomes of GT placement in patients with progressive diseases that develop during childhood are not well characterized. The primary purposes of this study were to determine whether GT placement in patients with A-T would be tolerated and associated with caregiver satisfaction. Methods: We completed a retrospective review of 175 patients who visited the A-T Children’s Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital from 2001 through 2008, and identified 28 patients with A-T (19 males, 9 females) who underwent GT placement for non-palliative reasons. Information was obtained from medical records, interviews with primary health care providers, and 24 (83%) caregivers of patients with GT’s who responded to survey requests. Results: Twenty-five (89%) patients tolerated GT placement and were a median of 5.0 (0.4-12.6) years post GT placement at the time of this investigation. Three (11%) patients died within one month of GT placement. In comparison to patients who tolerated GT placement, patients with early mortality were older when GT’s were placed (median 24.9 vs. 12.3 years, p = 0.006) and had developed a combination of dysphagia, nutritional, and respiratory problems. Caregivers of patients tolerating GT placement reported significant improvements in mealtime satisfaction and participation in daily activities. Conclusions: GT placement can be well tolerated and associated with easier mealtimes in patients with A-T when feeding tubes are placed at young ages. Patients with childhood onset of disorders with predictable progression of the disease process and impaired swallowing may benefit from early versus late placement of feeding tubes.
Slingshot: Time-CriticalMulticast for Clustered Applications

Datacenters are complex environments consisting of thousands of failure-prone commodity components connected by fast, high capacity interconnects. The software running on such datacenters typically uses multicast communication patterns involving multiple senders. We examine the problem of time-critical multicast in such settings, and propose Slingshot, a protocol that uses receiver-based FEC to recover lost packets quickly. Slingshot offers probabilistic guarantees on timeliness by having receivers exchange FEC packets in an initial phase, and optional complete reliability on packets not recovered in this first phase. We evaluate an implementation of Slingshot against SRM, a well-known multicast protocol, and show that it achieves two orders of magnitude faster recovery in datacenter settings
Characterization of Stress-field Variation on Subsurface Faults in Surrounding Areas of Hydraulic Fracturing

Summary Fracturing formations can alter in-situ stresses in the surrounding areas. There are concerns that hydraulic fracturing may potentially reactivate the subsurface faults nearby the tr eatment wells. In this study, a local stability evaluation method, slip-tendency analysis, is proposed on the basis of Coulomb criterion. The effects of net pressure and in-situ stress fields on the stability of faults are investigated. It is found that the patterns of slip-tendency distributions around a pressurized fracture are identical und er different in-situ stress fields. Providing the normal and strike-slip faults have a same initial slip ten dency, the normal faulting environment demonstrates larger variations in slip tendency than the strike-slip faulting environment due to the creation of a pressurized fracture. Fault stability during hydraulic fracturing was investigated using a 3D numerical model developed based on the finite element method. Two typical faulting environments were considered. They are normal and strike-slip faults. The orientation and relative magnitudes of in-situ stress fields differ under different faulting environments, which in turn control the direction of fracture propag ation. Scenarios with a single fracture were studied first, and then multiple hydraulic fractures created simultaneously w ere considered. The comparison between analytical and numerical solutions indicates an excelle nt agreement has been achieved, which certificates the applicability of the numerical models to complex situations. Numerical models and analytical solutions confirm the presence of both unstable and stable r egions around the pressurized fractures. Fault stability during hydraulic operation dependents on the po sition of faults with respect to the hydraulic fractures. The critical angle and distance between fault and hydraulic f racture in analytical solutions are identified when a region transits from stable to unstable status. Provided that the slippage of underground faults and other discontinuities could improve the permeability of reserv oirs, the unstable regions could be recognized as permeability improved zones. It is shown that shapes of slip-tendency contours around pressurized fractures depend on fault types.
Techniques for improving the robustness of an adaptive predictive coder in the presence of channel errors

A study was performed to evaluate various techniques for improving the robustness of an Adaptive Predictive Coder operating in the presence of channel errors. The communications environment consisted of a packetized, symbol oriented system in which channel errors were manifested as both 5-bit symbol errors in the received bit stream and the occasional loss of an entire packet of data. To reduce the effects of symbol errors forward error correction was applied to a selected subset of the transmitted parameter bits. At the receiver, smoothing strategies were employed to replace those parameters in which errors could be detected but not corrected and to cope with situations in which entire packets were lost. The introduction of these techniques to the basic APC vocoder added 900-1100 bps to the bit rate and resulted in significantly improved robustness in channel errors.
Magnetic quadrupole formation of low-voltage sheet electron beams for high-power microwave devices

Summary form only given. Sheet electron beams have the potential to make possible higher power sources of microwave radiation due to their ability to transport high currents, at reduced current densities, through a single narrow RF interaction circuit. Possible microwave device applications using sheet electron beams include sheet-beam klystrons, grating TWTs, and planar FELs. One difficulty with the experimental investigation and implementation of sheet beams is the lack of a satisfactory source for large aspect-ratio beams. An attractive solution is the use of magnetic quadrupoles to transform an initially round beam from a conventional Pierce gun into a highly eccentric elliptical beam. Both 2-D envelope simulations and 3-D envelope and PIC code simulations indicate that this is a viable method of sheet beam formation, particularly for experimental investigations where flexibility and low-cost fabrication is desired. We are currently constructing a system to experimentally test this method. Features of the experiment include a low-cost commercially available Pierce gun (10 kV, 2 A, r/sub b/=0.3 cm), a four quadrupole sheet beam-forming system (R/sub q/=4 cm, B/sub q//R/sub q/<60 g/cm, L/sub q/=3 cm), and an highly elliptical output beam (a=2.7 cm, b=0.1 cm). Results of the 3-D PIC simulations of the beam and 3-D magnetostatic finite-element simulations of the quadrupole fringe fields will be discussed. Details of the experimental design and initial experimental measurements will be presented.