cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Carbon Dynamics of Tropical Forests

Tropical forests are a critical resource affecting world climate. They are very diverse, largely because of variations in regional climate and soil. For purposes of this analysis they have been divided in four broad forest types – ever-wet, semi-evergreen, dry deciduous, and montane. Existing literature on climate and tropical forests suggests that, compared to temperate and boreal forest biomes, tropical forests play a disproportionate role in contributing to emissions that both affect and mitigate climate. This chapter describes the geographical extent of tropical forests and their role in terrestrial carbon storage, uptake (through processes of photosynthesis), and loss (through plant respiration and microbial decomposition of dead biomass). A review is provided of current knowledge about the role of disturbance (natural and human caused) in affecting the carbon balance of tropical forests. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the threats to tropical forests and how they may influence climate change and elevated CO2.
Menu-driven cloud computing and resource sharing for R and Bioconductor

Summary: We report CRdata.org, a cloud-based, free, open-source web server for running analyses and sharing data and R scripts with others. In addition to using the free, public service, CRdata users can launch their own private Amazon Elastic Computing Cloud (EC2) nodes and store private data and scripts on Amazon's Simple Storage Service (S3) with user-controlled access rights. All CRdata services are provided via point-and-click menus. Availability and Implementation: CRdata is open-source and free under the permissive MIT License ( opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php). The source code is in Ruby (ruby-lang.org/en/) and available at: github.com/seerdata/crdata. Contact: hbolouri@fhcrc.org
OPTIMAL FRACTIONAL-ORDER DAMPING

In this note, we consider the single term optimal fractional-order damper for an otherwise undamped oscillator. First, we find the single term damper that minimizes the time domain integral of the squared step error (2-norm) and the integral of the time-weighted squared error (Hilbert-Schmidt-Hankel-norm). Next we consider a more intuitive frequency domain approach that insures the maximally flat magnitude response. Time- and frequency-domain plots are given for comparison with the integer-order solutions.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

Residential building construction represented about 4.2% of the US Gross Domestic Product in 2000, and residences consumed nearly 20% of total US energy consumption. However, design and construction of residential buildings is often not conducted with an analysis of the life cycle costs and environmental impacts. In this paper, we outline an approach to a life cycle analysis for residences, using the results of a typical construction cost estimate to map into tools for environmental life cycle assessment (using the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment model) and for resources required during the use phase of residences (using the DOE Energy Saver model). In essence, material costs are mapped into input-output sectors and the EIO-LCA model applied to assess environmental impacts. Similarly, operating inputs such as electricity or natural gas are estimated from the Home Energy Saver model and mapped into EIO-LCA sectors. The result of using our toolset is a life cycle assessment based upon the construction cost estimate. We are limited in the life cycle assessment to the building costs and the impacts calculated by the Carnegie Mellon economic input-output life cycle assessment.
Special Education Technologies for Young Children: Present and Future Learning Scenarios with Related Research Literature

The following article surveys the prospects for computer usage in special education by developing three instructional scenarios (present actual, present possible, and future), reviewing pertinent research, and noting important trends in hardware development.
Body Mass Index, Waist Circumference, Physical Activity, and Risk of Hearing Loss in Women

Abstract Background Acquired hearing loss is highly prevalent, but prospective data on potentially modifiable risk factors are limited. In cross-sectional studies, higher body mass index (BMI), larger waist circumference, and lower physical activity have been associated with poorer hearing, but these have not been examined prospectively. Methods We examined the independent associations between BMI, waist circumference, and physical activity, and self-reported hearing loss in 68,421 women in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1989 to 2009. Baseline and updated information on BMI, waist circumference, and physical activity was obtained from biennial questionnaires. Results After more than 1.1 million person-years of follow-up, 11,286 cases of hearing loss were reported to have occurred. Higher BMI and larger waist circumference were associated with increased risk of hearing loss. Compared with women with BMI 2 , the multivariate-adjusted relative risk (RR) for women with BMI ≥40 was 1.25 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.37). Compared with women with waist circumference 88 cm was 1.27 (95% CI, 1.17-1.38). Higher physical activity was related inversely to risk; compared with women in the lowest quintile of physical activity, the multivariate-adjusted RR for women in the highest quintile was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.78-0.88). Walking 2 hours per week or more was associated inversely with risk. Simultaneous adjustment for BMI, waist circumference, and physical activity slightly attenuated the associations but they remained statistically significant. Conclusions Higher BMI and larger waist circumference are associated with increased risk, and higher physical activity is associated with reduced risk of hearing loss in women. These findings provide evidence that maintaining healthy weight and staying physically active, potentially modifiable lifestyle factors, may help reduce the risk of hearing loss.
Improved computer simulation of the TCAS III circular array mounted on an aircraft

A procedure based on moment-method/GTD (geometrical theory of diffraction) analyses that can be followed to model a circular array of monopoles which is to be mounted on the fuselage of an aircraft is discussed. By studying the currents induced in all the array elements, a simple model which takes into account coupling effects is obtained for each monopole of the array. This model is then used to obtain the radiation patterns of the TCAS III (traffic collision-avoidance and alert system) circular array mounted on a Boeing 727 and a Boeing 737. It is emphasized that to obtain the array patterns, it is necessary to first obtain the phase center of each element of the TCAS array as well as the phase center of the four-element model. >
Analog-to-digital converter error diagnosis

Following published procedures for characterizing ADCs using phase-plane error functions, this paper shows how a given calibration data set may used to extract estimates of: specific error performance features pertaining to ADC architectural considerations. The procedure requires the selection of basic functions based upon properties of a desired feature. The techniques are applied to the 8-bit TKAD20 operating at 204.8 MSPS to illustrate the concepts discussed in the paper. Results show how it is possible to estimate hysteresis and average sample time errors versus the state of the ADC. A simple consideration shows why it is not possible to separate sample time errors from the effects of nonlinear capacitance and a first ever diagnosis yields sample-time jitter versus ADC state.
H-RAS Controls Phenotypic Profiles of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and the Pathogenesis of Vascular Proliferative Disorders

See related article, pages 1192–1200 Vascular smooth muscle (VSMC) migration, proliferation, and hypertrophy following physical, chemical, or biological injury are key events in the onset and progression of vascular proliferative disorders, such as atherosclerosis, postangioplasty stenosis, venous bypass graft failure, and transplantation. Under normal conditions, VSMCs exist in a quiescent state of growth that supports contractile function and structural and functional integrity of the vascular wall. Vascular injury disrupts critical cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, leading to activation of VSMCs. The activated VSMC phenotype is characterized by gradual loss of differentiated characteristics, increased response to chemotactic agents, and uncontrolled proliferation. Not surprisingly, the quest for molecular triggers of VSMC proliferation led investigators to studies of cell cycle control proteins and mitogenic signaling within the vascular wall. Of note are seminal studies examining the signaling cascades of platelet-derived growth factor1,2 and various protooncogenes, including myb ,3,4 myc ,5,6 and H-ras .7,8 H-RAS quickly emerged as a critical convergence point in VSMC mitogenic signaling and was identified as a putative target for pharmacological intervention in vascular proliferative disorders.9 H - and K-ras were first identified as viral oncogenes in Harvey and Kirsten rat sarcomas, respectively.10 Subsequent studies identified a third member, N-ras , as a protooncogene present in various tumor cell lines.11 Studies of the cellular viral ras oncogene counterparts led to the identification of ras protooncogenes as TATA-less, GC-rich genes that encode for 21-kDa proteins with homology to the α subunit of G proteins.12 p21RAS binds guanine nucleotides and possesses intrinsic GTPase activity,13 and mutations at …
The Scary World of Online News? Internet News Exposure and Public Attitudes Toward Crime and Justice

A substantial body of literature indicates that certain forms of media consumption may increase anxiety about crime and support for social controls. However, few studies have examined whether Internet news consumption is positively associated with such attitudes. The void is significant given the public’s increasing use of online news sources. This study addresses this research gap. We draw on data from four national surveys conducted between 2007 and 2013, which collectively include interviews with more than 13,000 Americans. Using OLS and logistic regression, we assess the relationships between exposure to traditional and online media and perceptions of victimization risk, support for punitive crime policies, and views about police powers. Consistent with prior work, we find positive relationships between exposure to traditional forms of media—television news and crime programming—and anxiety about victimization and support for harsh crime policies. In contrast, Internet news exposure is generally not associated with anxieties about crime or support for getting tough on criminals. However, there is evidence of an interactive relationship between political ideology and Internet news exposure. The results provide little support for cultivation theory in the context of Internet news consumption. We discuss the import of our findings, and suggest new lines of research to explore the correlates and the effects of exposure to online news sources.
Doppler Radar and Radio Observations of Thunderstorms

Three-dimensional motion fields in a thunderstorm are compared to measurements of the radar reflectivity structure of the storm and to the locations of VHF radiation from electrical discharges, in an attempt to determine the physical conditions which prevailed during the electrically active phase of the storm. The observations were obtained from a network of three Doppler radars and a long-baseline radiation source location system during the 1978 Thunderstorm Research International Program (TRIP 78) at Kennedy Space Center, FL. The analysis shows that two cells developed sequentially on the upshear side of the storm. In the second cell, the updraft velocity between 6- and 7-km altitude (-10 to -15°C) increased rapidly to greater than 20 ms-1; and coincided with a substantial increase in the VHF radiation burst rate. Growth of the updraft was accompanied by the simultaneous development of an upper level downdraft on its upshear side. Reflectivity values in excess of 50 dBZ were observed within the vicinity of the updraft, and have been attributed to graupel or hail that was suspended in the updraft and which grew by riming of supercooled water droplets. Initial source locations for each radiation burst formed an umbrella-like pattern above the high-reflectivity core. We interpret the results to be consistent with an ice-ice electrical charging interaction first investigated by Reynolds et al.
Brownian motion in a wedge with oblique reflection

This work is concerned with the existence and uniqueness of a strong Markov process that has continuous sample paths and the following additional properties: (i) The state space is an infinite two-dimensional wedge, and the process behaves in the interior of the wedge like an ordinary Brownian motion. (ii) The process reflects instantaneously at the boundary of the wedge, the angle of reflection being constant along each side. (iii) The amount of time that the process spends at the comer of the wedge is zero (i.e., the set of times for which the process is at the comer has Lebesgue measure zero). Hereafter, let ξ be the angle of the wedge (0 < ξ < 2π), let θ1 and θ2 be the angles of reflection on the two sides of the wedge, measured from the inward normals, the positive angles being toward the corner (-½π < θ1, θ2 ½π), and set α = (θ1 + θ2)/ξ. The question of existence and uniqueness is recast as a submartingale problem in the style used by Stroock and Varadhan (Diffusion processes with boundary conditions, Comm. Pure Appl. Math. 24, 1971, pp. 147-225), for diffusions on smooth domains with smooth boundary conditions. It is shown that no solution exists if α ≧ 2. In this case, there is a unique continuous strong Markov process satisfying (i)-(ii) above; it reaches the corner of the wedge almost surely and it remains there. If α < 2, however, then there is a unique continuous strong Markov process statisfying (i)-(iii). It is shown that starting away from the corner this process does not reach the corner of the wedge if α ≦ 0, and does reach the corner if 0 < α < 2. The general theory of multi-dimensional diffusions does not apply to the above problem because in general the boundary of the state space is not smooth and there is a discontinuity in the direction of reflection at the corner. For some values of α, the process arises from diffusion approximations to storage systems and queueing networks. (i) The state space is an infinite two-dimensional wedge, and the process behaves in the interior of the wedge like an ordinary Brownian motion. (ii) The process reflects instantaneously at the boundary of the wedge, and the angle of reflection being constant along each side. (iii) The amount of time that the process spends at the corner of the wedge is zero (i.e., the set of times for which the process is at the corner has Lebesgue measure zero).
Persistent androgen receptor-mediated transcription in castration-resistant prostate cancer under androgen-deprived conditions

The androgen receptor (AR) is a ligand-inducible transcription factor that mediates androgen action in target tissues. Upon ligand binding, the AR binds to thousands of genomic loci and activates a cell-type specific gene program. Prostate cancer growth and progression depend on androgen-induced AR signaling. Treatment of advanced prostate cancer through medical or surgical castration leads to initial response and durable remission, but resistance inevitably develops. In castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), AR activity remains critical for tumor growth despite androgen deprivation. Although previous studies have focused on ligand-dependent AR signaling, in this study we explore AR function under the androgen-deprived conditions characteristic of CRPC. Our data demonstrate that AR persistently occupies a distinct set of genomic loci after androgen deprivation in CRPC. These androgen-independent AR occupied regions have constitutively open chromatin structures that lack the canonical androgen response element and are independent of FoxA1, a transcription factor involved in ligand-dependent AR targeting. Many AR binding events occur at proximal promoters, which can act as enhancers to augment transcriptional activities of other promoters through DNA looping. We further show that androgen-independent AR binding directs a gene expression program in CRPC, which is necessary for the growth of CRPC after androgen withdrawal.
An explanation of the persistent doctor-mortality association

STUDY OBJECTIVE—The aim of the study is to explain the persistent but puzzling positive correlation of physicians per capita and mortality rates, when income is controlled, which has been reported many times since it was first observed in 1978. The explanation that is proposed and tested is that expanding urban-industrial regions attract an oversupply of doctors. Also, but independently, rural people migrate to urban-industrial areas where they suffer from the stress of adapting to urban-industrial life. Consequently, their death rates rise. SOURCE MATERIAL—Using data from the 47 Japanese prefectures, the 3000+ counties of the USA and a set of 29 mostly European countries, the explanation was examined by adding the appropriate test variable to a basic equation linking physicians per capita to mortality, net of income. RESULTS—The test variables dissolved or reduced the original correlation in two of the three samples, but the signs did not change from positive to negative, as would be expected on the basis of conventional biomedical theory. The available test variable (refugees) did not reduce the correlation for the 29 countries but a particular subset of countries was identified that did. CONCLUSION—The conceptual and empirical analysis exposed the positive correlation as spurious, but the availability of medical specialists had little impact on mortality rates in competition with the social and economic variables that were used as controls.
Upregulation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein by Hypoxia Stimulates Aldosterone Synthesis in Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells to Promote Pulmonary Vascular Fibrosis

Background—The molecular mechanism(s) regulating hypoxia-induced vascular fibrosis are unresolved. Hyperaldosteronism correlates positively with vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension, suggesting that aldosterone may contribute to the pulmonary vasculopathy of hypoxia. The hypoxia-sensitive transcription factors c-Fos/c-Jun regulate steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), which facilitates the rate-limiting step of aldosterone steroidogenesis. We hypothesized that c-Fos/c-Jun upregulation by hypoxia activates StAR-dependent aldosterone synthesis in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) to promote vascular fibrosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methods and Results—Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, rats with Sugen/hypoxia–pulmonary arterial hypertension, and mice exposed to chronic hypoxia expressed increased StAR in remodeled pulmonary arterioles, providing a basis for investigating hypoxia–StAR signaling in HPAECs. Hypoxia (2.0% FiO2) increased aldoste...
Challenges and benefits of utilizing carbon nanofilaments in cementitious materials

Carbon nanofibers/tubes (CNF/Ts) are very strong and stiff and as a result, are expected to be capable of enhancing themechanical properties of cementitious materials significantly. Yet there are practical issues concerning the utilization of CNF/Ts in cementitious materials. This study summarizes some of the past efforts made by different investigators for utilizing carbon nanofilaments in cementitious materials and also reports recent experimental research performed by the authors on the mechanical properties of CNF-reinforced hardened cement paste. The major difficulties concerning the utilization of CNF/Ts in cementitious materials are introduced and discussed. Most of these difficulties are related to the poor dispersibility of CNF/Ts. However, the findings from the research presented in this work indicate that, despite these difficulties, carbon nanofilaments can significantly improve the mechanical properties of cementitious materials. The results show that CNFs, even when poorly dispersed within the cementitious matrix, can remarkably increase the flexural strength and cracking resistance of concrete subjected to drying conditions.
Directional wavenumber characteristics of short sea waves and their comparison with microwave backscatter

Azimuthal dependence of radar cross section measured with an X-band scatterometer during an experiment at the Buzzards Bay Tower shows a typical broadly peaked shape. The directional distribution of energy in the capillary-gravity wavelengths measured with an in situ wire wave gage array cotemporally deployed, however, shows a much narrower spreading of energy than previously estimated or measured. This data is discussed with the purpose being not to generate or compare a parameterized spreading function with previously proposed models or data, but to simply present new experimental data which may shed more light on the directional characteristics of short sea waves.
Bilateral Femoral Dysgenesis

Three patients with bilateral femoral dysgenesis are described, and the pathogenesis and clinical significance discussed. Af fected patients are often surprisingly agile, but surgery may be required for painful hips or to remove portions of poste riorly projecting femurs if these cause discomfort on sitting.
PREDICTING DYNAMICS OF AGGREGATE LOAFING BEHAVIOR IN GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS (LARUS GLAUCESCENS) AT A WASHINGTON COLONY

Abstract Seabirds move throughout the day in changing, patchy environments as they engage in various behaviors. We studied the diurnal abundance dynamics of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) in a habitat patch dedicated to loafing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Washington. We constructed three differential equation models as alternative hypotheses and then used model selection techniques to choose the one that most accurately described the system. We validated the model on an independent data set, made a priori model predictions, and conducted a field test of the predictions. Clear dynamic patterns emerged in the abundance of loafing gulls, even though individuals moved in and out of the loafing area more or less continuously throughout the day. Temporal patterns in aggregate loafing behavior are predicted by three environmental factors: day of the year, height of the tide, and solar elevation. This result is important for several reasons: (1) it reduces the aggregate behavior of complicated verte...
Generating Large-Scale Heterogeneous Graphs for Benchmarking

Graphs have emerged as an important genre of data that are found in a wide class of applications. The most dominant benchmark for graph data today is Graph 500 that generates a Stochastic Kronecker graph of various sizes, and reports the time to perform a breadth-first search. Apache Giraph uses Pagerank computation as an algorithmic benchmark for large graphs, but does not provide the mechanism to generate graph data. Other forms of graph benchmarks have been developed by smaller communities and are not known widely. However, most benchmarking data for graphs are derived from a single structure generation model, and therefore does not capture the variability of structure and content. To this end, we propose heterogeneous graphs, a mixed model graph structure that combines several existing generation techniques into a single benchmark. It is a hybrid that constructs edge-labeled multigraphs with multiple components, which can be hierarchical, power-law graphs, community-forming graphs, and a new class of graphs formed by motif composition. The user can use a simple set of 4 parameters to specify the graph, but has the option to use several more parameters to have a finer control of the hybrid structure. We define the generation process for heterogeneous graphs and propose an initial set of query operations against the generated data.
The Need for More Prehospital Research on Language Barriers: A Narrative Review.

Introduction: Despite evidence from other healthcare settings that language barriers negatively impact patient outcomes, the literature on language barriers in emergency medical services (EMS) has not been previously summarized. The objective of this study is to systematically review existing studies of the impact of language barriers on prehospital emergency care and identify opportunities for future research. Methods: A systematic review with narrative synthesis of publications with populations specific to the prehospital setting and outcome measures specific to language barriers was conducted. A four-prong search strategy of academic databases (PubMed, Academic Search Complete, and Clinical Key) through March 2015, web-based search for gray literature, search of citation lists, and review of key conference proceedings using pre-defined eligibility criteria was used. Language-related outcomes were categorized and reported as community-specific outcomes, EMS provider-specific outcomes, patient-specific outcomes, or health system-specific outcomes. Results: Twenty-two studies met eligibility criteria for review. Ten publications (45%) focused on community-specific outcomes. Language barriers are perceived as a barrier by minority language speaking communities to activating EMS. Eleven publications (50%) reported outcomes specific to EMS providers, with six of these studies focused on EMS dispatch. EMS dispatchers describe less accurate and delayed dispatch of resources when confronted with language discordant callers, as well as limitations in the ability to provide medical direction to callers. There is a paucity of research on EMS treatment and transport decisions, and no studies provided patient-specific or health system-specific outcomes. Key research gaps include identifying the mechanisms by which language barriers impact care, the effect of language barriers on EMS utilization and clinically significant outcomes, and the cost implications of addressing language barriers. Conclusion: The existing research on prehospital language barriers is largely exploratory, and substantial gaps in understanding the interaction between language barriers and prehospital care have yet to be addressed. Future research should be focused on clarifying the clinical and cost implications of prehospital language barriers.
The Governance of International Finance

Contemporary international finance raises important questions about whether, and how, it might be overseen by national governments and international institutions. Inasmuch as global financial stability is a global public good, there is a normative case for governance structures to try to achieve this goal—whether they take the form of interstate cooperation or international institutions. This, however, does not mean that national states will necessarily be willing or able to work together to provide this global public good, as the incentives to free-ride are enormous. Nonetheless, the past 25 years do indicate that there has been some movement toward the provision of such global public goods as financial harmonization and a semblance of global lender-of-last-resort facilities. The record is spotty, but the trend appears to be in the direction of more global governance of global finance.
Histologic Examination of an Assemblage of Psittacosaurus (Dinosauria: Ceratopsia) Juveniles From the Yixian Formation (Liaoning, China)

Psittacosaurus is one of the most abundant dinosaurs known, which allows for extensive study of its growth and form. Previous studies have evaluated growth trajectories of Psittacosaurus using bone histology. However, we present the first study of Psittacosaurus comparative juvenile histology and describe the histology of Psittacosaurus within its first year of life based on multiple sections taken from an exquisite monospecific assemblage of juveniles from the Yixian Formation in Liaoning, China. Specimens studied had femur lengths ranging from 30 to 36 mm. The five juveniles examined all have similar histologic patterns in the midshaft and epiphyseal regions showing that there is limited plasticity in bone development in juvenile Psittacosaurus and that all of the specimens in the assemblage were likely the same age. The microstructure patterns are compatible with the hypothesis that Psittacosaurus was precocial and that these juveniles were neonates. Based on comparisons with other juvenile ornithischians, juvenile Psittacosaurus had a growth rate similar to Orodromeus, slower than that of Maiasaura, Dysalotosaurus, or hadrosaurs consistent with small body size. Our results support previous studies that demonstrated that the orientation of vascular canals is likely not solely reflective of growth rate, but is also affected by underlying biomechanical, structural processes. The number of studies done on theropod and sauropodomorph histology dwarfs those of ornithischians. More studies of ornithischian histology are necessary in order to better establish phylogenetic trends in microstructure and to learn more about growth in this important clade.
BAD GOVERNANCE AND POLICY INCONSISTENCY AS THE CORNERSTONE FOR NIGERIA UNDERDEVELOPMENT: A CRITIC OF NIGRIAN MILITARY HEADS OF STATE AND THEIR COMPARADOR CIVILIAN BOURGEOISIE

Military government is an abbression. It does not come to power through democratic means, but through coup-d-etat Members rule by decrees. They have no parliament. Their constituency is nothing other than the gun. The army is not trained to govern a country because it neither possesses the discipline nor the training or the political will to govern effectively a country. It is trained to protect life and property of the citizens as well as to protect the territorial integrity of the country and to defend the country internally in time of emergency. Members can also be sent on a peace keeping mission abroad. However, sometimes the military is allowed to rule or govern a country, not by consent or by the people's mandate, but by force of arms through a coup. This was the situation in Nigeria after the 1966 comp-de-tat in the country. At the take-over of the legitimate government of a nation, the assumed military heads usually suspend the constitution, rule by decrees and dish out polices without the parliament and due process. This is why military juntas are said to be dictatorial. The paper x-rayed Nigerian military regimes, their policies and the leaders governance and found that due to inexperience in the act of governance, arrogance, I/inconsistent polices and poor policy implementation, of the Nigerian military heads of state, the country was further underdeveloped in areas of agriculture, industry, education, and healthcare delivery services.
Why PE Majors Want to Coach

(1979). Why PE Majors Want to Coach. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 50, No. 9, pp. 80-80.
Reading Sesshu Foster's Atomik Aztex Among the Chiapanecos

The tourist buses flow as easily as the rain sluices down the colonial cobblestone streets of San Cristobal de las Casas in the center of Chiapas. Meanwhile Mexico's South is vociferously challenging the 2006 presidential election in the streets and attempting to force out a draconian governor in nearby state of Oaxaca for going after the teachers and their union after the thrall of the World Cup in Germany has worn off. So you happen to be renting an apartment in the midst of all this "history." May you contemplate the role of the subjunctive mood in the English language while you take Spanish classes every morning amongst the sancristobolenses, hearing the susurrus and tatter of Tzotzil and Tzetzal and other diphthonic and consonantal summersaults as you harbor your English by reading Sesshu Foster's recent novel Atomik Aztex.
Abstract 3730: Timing of prolactin measurement in relation to breast cancer risk

Prolactin is a growth hormone that is associated with breast cancer risk. Since prolactin increases proliferation and cell motility, processes important in later stage tumor development, levels relatively close to diagnosis may be more important for predicting risk. To examine this, we evaluated prolactin levels on samples collected 10 years apart in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) with risk of breast cancer to determine if recent versus past levels were more strongly associated with risk. In 1990, 32,826 women gave a blood sample (age 43-70); 18,743 women (ages 53-80 years) gave a second sample in 2000. We measured prolactin on the 1990 blood sample for incident cases diagnosed from 1990-2000 and matched controls and on the 1990 and 2000 (when available) sample for cases diagnosed from 2000-2008 and matched controls. For women without a 2000 sample, we used multiple imputation to estimate their prolactin levels at that time accounting for case status, 1990 prolactin level, and other predictors of prolactin levels (e.g., parity, and menopausal status)(R2=0.17). We calculated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for prolactin levels measured 0-10 years before diagnosis (proximate) and 10-18 years before diagnosis (distant). We compared results from three models using: (1) cases diagnosed from 2000-2008 and their matched controls with prolactin measured in 1990 and 2000 samples, (2) cases diagnosed from 2000-2008 and all controls identified from 1990-2008, included those with imputed data, and (3) all women split into two follow-up periods, 1990-2000 and 2000-2008. In the third model, the proximate prolactin level for the first period was the 1990 value and the distant value was set to the median with a missing indicator, while the proximate level for the second period was the 2000 value and the distant level was the 1990 value. 2,013 cases and 3,031 controls were available; 733 cases were diagnosed after 2000 and 451 had measured prolactin for both bloods. The correlation between the 1990 and 2000 prolactin values was 0.35 (ICC=0.38). In the first model, there was a suggestion of an increased risk for proximate prolactin levels (RR, top vs. bottom quartile=1.44, 95%CI=0.93-2.23, p-trend=0.03), but not for the distant value (RR=0.75, 95%CI=0.50-1.14, p-trend=0.45). Similar results were observed in the second model (proximate RR=1.22, 95%CI=0.87-1.72, p-trend=0.12; distant RR=0.87, 95%CI=0.68-1.11, p-trend=0.93). The third model showed an increase risk for proximate levels (RR=1.53, 95%CI=1.28-1.83, p-trend Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3730. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3730
Does school district and municipality border congruence matter

Research on zoning typically assumes that city planners aim to maximise housing prices with their land use decisions, either explicitly for public choice reasons or implicitly through the approval of land uses that create local net benefits. Noncongruence of school district and municipality borders severs the link between costs and benefits in the eyes of the median voter, however, which could result in excessive residential development and fiscal externalities that lower property values. This paper uses a hedonic approach to indirectly observe the presence of these externalities. Border congruency between school districts and municipalities in Ohio is measured using GIS data and matched with a data set of 56,717 home sales. The hedonic results indicate that noncongruence is associated with lower housing prices, while the degree of noncongruence is positively related. For most school districts, the negative effect of noncongruency dominates. My results are robust and consistent across different model spec...
Ancient states and ordinary people: A feminist re-imagining of ancient Maya power and the everyday

Maya archaeology continues to be defined by a schism between ‘politic/s and state’ and ‘everyday life and ordinary people.’ Using feminist theory, this paper deconstructs this dichotomy by considering the intellectual history and theoretical perspectives that continue to reify these boundaries and its connections to modern neoliberal discourses. How we conceive of the state – of what it is, and how it interacts with the rest of society – is at the heart of neo-evolutionary models of state formation; these impact our understanding of how ancient Maya society operated and the ways in which power, politics and class function. Archaeological fascination with elites and rulers, both in scholarly and public circles, creates a narrative focused on individual achievement, and a quest for wealth and material access; values lauded by the neoliberal state. Alternative readings of complexity illustrate that everyday life of ordinary people is nuanced, intentional, and inherently political. Such work forces us to reco...
Synthesizing Dynamic Textures and Sounds by Spatial-Temporal Generative ConvNet.

Dynamic textures are spatial-temporal processes that exhibit statistical stationarity or stochastic repetitiveness in the temporal dimension. In this paper, we study the problem of modeling and synthesizing dynamic textures using a generative version of the convolution neural network (ConvNet or CNN) that consists of multiple layers of spatial-temporal filters to capture the spatial-temporal patterns in the dynamic textures. We show that such spatial-temporal generative ConvNet can synthesize realistic dynamic textures. We also apply the temporal generative ConvNet to the one-dimensional sound data, and show that the model can synthesize realistic natural and man-made sounds. The videos and sounds can be found at this http URL
New perspectives on the chronological and functional horizons of Kuh-E Khwaja in Sistan

The ruined, imposing buildings at Kuh-e Khwaja are situated on an extraordinary rock outcrop in the Hamun Lake, near the modern city of Zabol, in Sistan, in southeast Iran (Fig. 1). Despite the magnet of the size and situation of the ruins, the precise chronological limits of the site and the possible functions of the Core Area, still remain to be clearly defined. The present paper seeks to explore the history of the site and its still extant architectural remains. Throughout this exercise, use has been made of what is known of the history of Zoroastrianism and that of ancient Iranian religious architecture. In addition, problems of function are discussed in detail and, following three recent seasons of archaeological fieldwork at Kuh-e Khwaja in 1995, 1997 and 1998, new estimates for the chronology of the site are advanced.
The Search for Pangloss

In this chapter we present several early attempts at comprehensive languages and theories. Some of these survive in the modern world view, some died, and some deserve our attention now.
The Emerging Role of Prophylactic Mastectomy

Selected high-risk women without breast cancer choose to undergo bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, an increasing proportion of patients with unilateral breast cancer choose contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) to prevent cancer in the contralateral breast. The purpose of this chapter is to review the indications, outcomes, and trends in the use of BPM. We will also review the trends in CPM use, the potential reasons for the observed trends, and the outcomes after CPM.
Validation of Using Claims Data to Measure Safety of Lumbar Fusion Surgery.

Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion operations, comparing rates of repeat spine surgery based on method of ascertainment. We report the accuracy of a claims-based approach for reporting repeat surgery compared to medical records abstraction as the “gold standard.” Previous studies have reported the validity of a claims-based algorithm for grouping patients by surgical indication and classifying operative features, but their accuracy in measuring surgical quality indicators has not been widely examined. We identified a subset of patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion operations at a single institution from 1996–2011, excluding those with spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, or cancer. From the medical record we abstracted the incidence of repeat spine operation or re-hospitalization at one-year. We cross-classified each event record with its corresponding value derived from claims. The sensitivity and specificity of the claims-based approach were calculated for reoperation within 30, 90, and 365 days, and all-cause hospital readmission within 30 days. Medical records linked to claims data were obtained for 520 patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion. Reoperation rates based on chart review were 1.0%, 1.3%, 3.6%, compared to 0.8%, 1.7%, and 3.8% based on the final claims methods at 30, 90, and 365 days, respectively. The claims-based algorithm had sensitivities of 80.0%, 100%, and 94.1% and specificities of 100%, 99.6%, 99.2% for repeat surgery within 30, 90, and 365 days, respectively. The sensitivity for all-cause readmission was 50%. Health care quality improvement efforts often rely on administrative data to report surgical safety. We found that claims-based ascertainment of safety at a single institution was very accurate. However, accuracy depended on careful attention to the timing of outcomes, as well as the definitions and coding of repeat surgery, including how orthopaedic device removal codes are classified. Level of Evidence: 3
Deletional HPFH Vs. Delta Beta Thalassemia: Closing in on a Possible Hb F Silencer Location

Background: The control of hemoglobin F (Hb F) expression has proven an elusive puzzle with several postulated but not mutually exclusive hypotheses. A silencing mechanism hypothesis, which predicts the existence of a regulatory element that suppresses HbF expression, has been supported by recent investigations into a 3.5 kb region upstream from the delta globin gene (HBD). To test this hypothesis, we have investigated our historical case files in a tertiary care high-throughput clinical laboratory and compared the patient phenotype (Hgb, MCV, MCH, RDW, Hb F %, and flow cytometry Hb F distribution) with the status of this 3.5 kb region. Methods: A query of clinical testing patient files from Mayo Clinic Metabolic Hematology Laboratory yielded 179 patients confirmed by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) to contain large deletions located within the epsilon through beta globin genes. Of these, 27 unrelated patients with breakpoints between the pseudobeta (HBBP1) and HBD genes were identified. Four additional MLPA probe pairs were placed in this region and the patient phenotypes were compared. Results: The interior two (of the four added) probes between HBBP1 and HBD stratified all 27 cases. The other two (flanking) probes were never discriminatory, thus refining the area of interest to 2.4 kb. Sixteen cases showed breakpoints within hg19 g.5260154-5259135 (59 region) and eleven cases showed breakpoints within hg19 g.5259136-5257692 (39 region) upstream of HBD. Patients who displayed a phenotype of HPFH (n = 9) contained breakpoints in the 59 region whereas those with a delta beta thalassemia (DBT) phenotype (n = 11) were associated with breakpoints in the 39 region. A subset (n = 7) with breakpoints in the 59 region had indefinite phenotypic features, but of these, all but one showed homocellular Hb F distribution. Conclusion: Our molecular and phenotypic correlation of 27 patients with large deletional breakpoints between HBBP1 and HBD supports the hypothesis of a silencing element located upstream of HBD and further narrows the area that segregates many HPFH and DBT patient phenotypes from 3.5 kb to 2.4 kb. Several potential silencing effectors with binding sites in this region include HDAC1, GATA1 and H3K27me3; interestingly, the BCL11A binding site may be outside of the regulatory area. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
phraSED-ML: A paraphrased, human-readable adaptation of SED-ML.

Motivation: Model simulation exchange has been standardized with the Simulation Experiment Description Markup Language (SED-ML), but specialized software is needed to generate simulations in this format. Text-based languages allow researchers to create and modify experimental protocols quickly and easily, and export them to a common machine-readable format. Results: phraSED-ML language allows modelers to use simple text commands to encode various elements of SED-ML (models, tasks, simulations, and results) in a format easy to read and modify. The library can translate this script to SED-ML for use in other softwares. Availability: phraSED-ML language specification, libphrasedml library, and source code are available under BSD license from http://phrasedml.sourceforge.net/.
Computational single-shot hyper-spectral imaging based on a microstructured diffractive optic

A compact hyper-spectral imaging system using a microstructured transparent diffractive optic is experimentally demonstrated with enhanced spatial resolution. A fast algorithm based on regularization is exploited to reconstruct hyper-spectral data in a single shot.
Transnational delegation in global environmental governance: When do non-state actors govern?

Non-state actors – including firms, non-governmental organizations, and networks – are now a permanent fixture in environmental politics. However, we know surprisingly little about when states choose to delegate to non-state actors through multilateral treaties. This paper provides an historical picture, tracing patterns of delegation to non-state agents in a random sample of multilateral environmental agreements from 1902 to 2002. I introduce a new unit of analysis – the policy function – to understand what non-state actors actually do as agents. I find that analyses of delegation are sensitive to the unit of analysis; patterns of delegation at the treaty level are very different from those at the level of individual policy functions. While overall the decision to delegate to non-state actors – what I term transnational delegation – is rare, it has grown over time. Complex treaties, those with secretariats, and those focused on the management of nature are more apt to delegate to non-state actors. Non-state agents fill a small, but growing role in multilateral environmental treaties.
Life Cycles Across Faith Traditions

Many religious and spiritual traditions recognize numerous events in the life of the individual and the family. This chapter provides an overview of these transitions across faiths and examines underlying commonalities and differences in worldview that are reflected through these life cycles.
Design of a mechanically actuated reconfigurable slitmask for the NGST near IR spectrograph

The National Research Council of Canada, Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics has been developing a reconfigurable slitmask intended for the NGST near IR spectrograph. The Mechanically Actuated Reconfigurable Slitmask (MARS) creates 50 slits in the telescope focal plane. The slit location and width are adjustable, but the height is fixed. Reconfiguration of the mask components is achieved using a combination of electromagnetic and piezoelectric actuators. This actuation scheme has undergone structural, electrical, thermal and magnetic analysis. Several prototype components have also been built and tested. This analysis and testing indicates that the MARS device represents a viable concept for creating slits within the NGST near IR spectrograph.
Immunological Evidence for the Existence of Thymine Dimers in Ultraviolet Irradiated DNA

Rabbits immunized with complexes of methylated bovine serum albumin (MBSA) and denatured DNA produce antibodies directed toward DNA (Plescia et al., 1964). These antibodies, like those described for the glucosylated DNA of the T-even phages (Levine et al., 1960) react with the denatured antigen; a conformation in which the bases are not involved in hydrogen bonding and are therefore available for interaction with the antibody. The antibodies to the T-even phage DNA’s are highly specific for the glucosylated cytosine moieties (Murakami et al., 1961; Townsend et al., 1965) and can be used to determine the extent of phage DNA synthesis in T4-infected E. coli cells even though host cell DNA is present in large excess (Levine et al., 1960).