cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concentration inequalities for multivariate distributions: I. multivariate normal distributions

Abstract Let X ∼ Np(0, Σ), the p-variate normal distribution with mean 0 and positive definite covariance matrix Σ. Anderson (1955) showed that if Σ2 − Σ1 is positive semidefinite then PΣ1(C) ⩾ PΣ2(C) for every centrally symmetric (− C = C) convex set C⊆ R p. Fefferman, Jodeit and Perlman (1972) extended this result to elliptically contoured distributions. In the present study similar multivariate concentration inequalities are investigated for convex sets C that satisfy a more general symmetry condition, namely invariance under a group G of orthogonal transformations on R p, as well as for non-convex sets C that are monotonically decreasing with respect to a pre-ordering determined by G. Both new results and counterexamples are presented. Concentration inequalities may be used to convert classical efficiency comparisons, expressed in terms of covariance matrices, into comparisons of probabilities of multivariate regions.
Race and wildfire risk perceptions among rural forestland owners in north-central Florida

The southern United States is susceptible to wildfire, from its climate, growing seasons, lightning frequency, and decades of fire suppression. With much known about wildfire's biophysical risks, less is understood about sociodemographic obstacles, including race, income, and education. Blacks in the rural southeastern United States are typically among the most marginalized Americans and least likely to have sufficient knowledge about resource protection. Because disaster preparedness has been shown to vary by sociodemographic status and race, this study focused on race and wildfire prevention by rural forestland owners in north-central Florida. Results show that while Whites were more aware of existing resources, they were less likely to incorporate preventative measures. In contrast, Blacks earned lower incomes and utilized their land less, but were more likely to manage and live on their land. We conclude that wildfire mitigation programs may be more effective when they work to connect absentee rural l...
Fast Riccati equation solutions: Partitioned algorithms☆

Abstract In this paper, using the ‘partitioning’ approach to estimation, exceptionally robust and fast computational algorithms for the effective solution of continuous Riccati equations are presented. The algorithms have essentially a decomposed or ‘partitioned’ structure which is both theoretically interesting as well as computationally attractive. Specifically, the ‘partitioned’ solution is given exactly in terms of a set of elemental solutions which are both simple as well as completely decoupled from each other, and as such computable in either a parallel or serial processing mode. Moreover, the overall solution is given by a simple recursive operation of the elemental solution. Extensive computer simulation has shown that the ‘partitioned’ algorithm is numerically very effective and robust, especially in the case of ill-conditioned Riccati solutions, e.g. for ill-conditioned initial conditions, or for stiff system matrices. Further, the ‘partitioned’ algorithm is very fast, ranging up to several orders of magnitude faster than the corresponding Runge-Kutta algorithm.
A BUDGET OF RHYME SCHEME COUNTS1

Summary Rhyme schemes, perhaps the oldest combinatorial setting behind the Setting and Bell numbers, are rescued from current neglect by this budget of enumerations. A rhyme scheme for a stanza of n verses is a (number) sequence (r1, r2, …, rn) in which rj may be any of 1, 2, …, dj-1+ 1, with dj the number of distinct numbers among r1, …, rj, the rhyme schemes for n= 3 are: 111, 112, 121, 122, 123. The total number of schemes for n verses is of course the Bell number Bn. They have a trivial mapping of set-partitions but some enumerations familiar in the study of sequences are odd (even idiotic) when rephrased as set-partitions. The budget displayed (by no means exhaustive) is selected for its interest in the study of Bell and Stirling numbers. One surprise is the appearance of refined Bell multivariable polynomials.
Fluid dynamics: Drat such custard!

The mixing of festive sweetmeats and the stirring of cream into coffee are toothsome examples of the irreversibility of physical processes. In certain systems, however, the concept gets its just desserts.
The Effect of Hands-Free Cellular Telephone Conversation Complexity on Choice Response Time in a Detection Task

This paper presents the results of a study addressing the effect of hands-free cellular phone conversation complexity on choice response time in a detection task. The study utilized an open-loop si...
Front air bag nondeployments in frontal crashes fatal to drivers or right-front passengers.

Objective : Public concern has arisen about the reliability of front air bags because Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data indicate many nondeployed air bags in fatal frontal crashes. However, the accuracy of air bag deployment, the variable in question, is uncertain. This study aimed to provide more certain estimates of nondeployment incidence in fatal frontal crashes. Methods : Fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers and right-front passengers in frontal crashes were identified in two U.S. databases for calendar years 1998–2006 and model years 1994–2006: FARS, a census of police-reported fatal crashes on public roads, and National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS), a probability sample of tow-away crashes. NASS/CDS contains subsets of fatal crashes in FARS and collects detailed data using crash investigators. Front air bag deployment coding for front-seat occupant fatalities was compared in FARS and NASS/CDS, and case reviews were conducted. Results : Among FA...
Pooled analysis of AIDS malignancy consortium trials evaluating rituximab plus CHOP or infusional EPOCH chemotherapy in HIV‐associated non‐Hodgkin lymphoma

BACKGROUND Improved outcomes have recently been reported for rituximab (R) plus infusional EPOCH chemotherapy in HIV-associated, aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). The objective of this analysis was to assess whether patient selection or other factors contributed to this improvement and to identify subjects at greatest risk for lethal toxicity.
Temporal envelope subtraction for robust speech recognition using modulation spectrum

In this paper, we present a new noise compensation technique for modulation frequency features derived from syllable length segments of subband temporal envelopes. The subband temporal envelopes are estimated using frequency domain linear prediction (FDLP). We propose a technique for noise compensation in FDLP where an estimate of the noise envelope is subtracted from the noisy speech envelope. The noise compensated FDLP envelopes are compressed with static (logarithmic) and dynamic (adaptive loops) compression and are transformed into modulation spectral features. Experiments are performed on a phoneme recognition task as well as a connected digit recognition task where the test data is corrupted with variety of noise types at different signal to noise ratios. In these experiments with mismatched train and test conditions, the proposed features provide considerable improvements compared to other state of the art noise robust feature extraction techniques (average relative improvement of 25 % and 35 % over the baseline PLP features for phoneme and word recognition tasks respectively).
Mendelian and mitochondrial disorders associated with stroke

Several hereditary disorders induce angiopathy in the intracranial cerebrovasculature and thus cause ischemic strokes. MELAS is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disorder that produces stroke-like events. Sickle cell disease, which is the result of a single base pair substitution, is a major cause of strokes in children. Homocystinuria, an autosomal recessive syndrome, produces premature atherosclerosis. Hereditary cerebroretinal vasculopathy is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes retinal and brain infarctions. Fabry disease is an x-linked disorder that can cause stroke in adults. Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy is an autosomal dominant syndrome that is associated with ischemic stroke and migraine-like headaches. The clinical presentation, stroke pathophysiology, and gene defects associated with these heritable disorders are reviewed.
Professional development : Training for professionalism as a foundation for competent practice in psychology

Professional development (PD) is a broad, albeit vaguely defined, construct that underlies psychologists' education and training and is intrinsic to professional functioning, or professionalism, throughout psychologists' careers. This article resulted from the deliberations of a working group at the November 2002 Competencies Conference: Future Directions in Education and Credentialing in Professional Psychology. The authors propose a definition of PD and consider professionalism to be its outcome. They then focus on 2 elements of professionalism-interpersonal functioning and thinking like a psychologist-and address related development and assessment implications for training and practice. Recommendations and implications for professional psychology organizations and for training and lifelong practices of psychologists emerged for further consideration.
PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS: THE WHAT, WHY, AND HOW

The problems of Sam, a hypothetical disabled reader, are described in terms of his possible lack of phonological awareness. Phonological awareness and its subunits (onsets, rimes, and phonemes) are explained with examples. Research that supports the notion that phonological awareness is necessary for reading success, as well as the issue of whether children can be taught phonological awareness, is discussed. Activities that encourage phonological awareness in children are described.
Test generation for comprehensive testing of linear analog circuits using transient response sampling

The problem of testing analog components continues to be the bottleneck in reducing the time-to-market of mixed-signal ICs. In this paper, we present a test generation algorithm for implicit functional testing of linear analog circuits using transient response sampling. Each specification of the circuit under test (CUT) imposes bounds on individual parametric deviations under the single fault assumption. These bounds are mapped on to "acceptable" ranges of measurements of the transient response of the CUT at various sample points using time domain sensitivity calculations. Any circuit that "passes" the applied test is also guaranteed to meet its specifications. The simplicity of the test waveform, reduced test generation time and test time show that this testing method is a good alternative to existing testing schemes.
A Psychophysical Study of Two-Person Manual Material Handling Tasks

Over the past ten years, there has been extensive work performed on the development of guidelines for manual material handling tasks both within individual companies and within governmental agencies. However, these guidelines address only individual, one-person lifting tasks. In both manufacturing and service industries, there are many team lifting tasks, such as furniture moving and at loading docks. This paper presents the results of a study that used psychophysical methods to investigate lifting tasks that require two workers. In addition to simple lifting tasks, the study also compared one and two-person carrying tasks. The results of the study indicate that subjects' judgments of their lifting capability are significantly greater for the two-person lifts than for the individual lifts. The same relationship was observed for the carrying tasks. These results and conclusions are important to consider when it is necessary to extrapolate from the conditions used in the development of manual material handl...
BH3 Death Domain Peptide Induces Cell Type-selective Mitochondrial Outer Membrane Permeability

Abstract The BH3 domain is essential for the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria by pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins during apoptosis. This study tested the hypothesis that a Bax peptide that includes the BH3 domain can permeabilize the mitochondrial outer membrane and release cytochrome c in the absence of a permeability transition at the mitochondrial inner membrane. BH3 peptide (0.1–60 μm) released cytochromec from mitochondria in the presence of physiological concentrations of ions in a cell type-selective manner, whereas a BH3 peptide with a single amino acid substitution was ineffective. The release of cytochrome c by BH3 peptide correlated with the presence of endogenous Bax at the mitochondria and its integral membrane insertion. Cytochrome c release was accompanied by adenylate kinase release, was not associated with mitochondrial swelling or substantial loss of electrical potential across the inner membrane, and was unaffected by inhibitors of the permeability transition pore. Cytochrome c release was, however, inhibited by Bcl-2. Although energy-coupled respiration was inhibited after the release of cytochrome c, mitochondria maintained membrane potential in the presence of ATP due to the reversal of the ATP synthase. Overall, results support the hypothesis that BH3 peptide releases cytochrome c by a Bax-dependent process that is independent of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore but regulated by Bcl-2.
The intellectual lineage of paradoxical pharmacology strategy.

With respect to our recent paper on paradoxical strategies for treatment of disease [1], we would like to acknowledge and honor Dr. Richard Bond at the University of Houston for his pioneering insights [2]. Although some disparities exist with respect to mechanism and application of the theory [2,3], it is the overlapping views directed towards a common core thesis that are noteworthy. Before our postulations were even published, Dr. Bond had already independently initiated a clinical trial to test the use of beta blockers for asthma, one of the specific examples cited in our paper [4]. Our groups have marched towards a common thesis from disparate scientific disciplines (pharmacology versus physiology). Untoward consequences of smoking or taking drugs such as cox-2 inhibitors may exemplify yet another dimension of the paradox thesis [5,6]. We are grateful for Dr. Bond s early and ongoing contributions to this emerging scientific perspective. In nature, convergent evolution from disparate starting points can signal the Darwinian value of a particular trait. We believe that the epistemological convergence observed here reinforces the potential value of the thesis, which awaits further empiric validation. References
Conversion disorder mimicking Dejerine-Roussy syndrome (thalamic stroke) after spinal cord stimulation.

Objective Dejerine-Roussy syndrome is a complex of various signs and symptoms in patients suffering from central thalamic pain, usually secondary to a vascular etiology. We describe a patient presenting with the potentially devastating signs and symptoms of thalamic stroke, at least temporally related to spinal cord stimulator implantation. The etiology of the patient9s affliction was subsequently revealed to be a conversion disorder. Case Report A 37-year-old woman presented for spinal cord stimulation as treatment of her brachial plexopathy after failure of conservative therapy. Before implantation, she underwent a clinical interview with a psychologist and psychometric testing. No psychological pathology was detected. Trial and permanent implantation of the cervical stimulator lead and pulse generator were uneventful. Eleven days after receiving the permanent implant, the patient experienced right-sided hemicorporal numbness and burning dysesthesia. The patient was admitted, and a diagnosis of Dejerine-Roussy syndrome (thalamic stroke) was made. She was discharged, and her symptomatology waxed and waned over a period of weeks. The patient was subsequently admitted for psychiatric evaluation because of anxiety attacks. During her protracted admission, her psychiatrists strongly suspected a conversion disorder. The stimulator was removed, and the patient received supportive care only. Within 6 months, sensory symptoms and all motor deficits had completely resolved. Conclusions Despite careful preoperative evaluation, latent psychosocial issues may limit the effectiveness of spinal cord stimulation. We present a case of conversion disorder masquerading as Dejerine-Roussy syndrome after spinal cord stimulation. The implications of the failure of preoperative psychological evaluation and screening to avert implantation are discussed.
Identification of 1-methoxyindolyl-3-methyl isothiocyanate as an indole glucosinolate breakdown product

Abstract The putative indole glucosinolate enzymic hydrolysis product, 1-methoxyindolyl-3-methyl isothiocyanate has been detected for the first time using low and high resolution mass spectrometry.
Removing barriers to participation in clinical trials, a conceptual framework and retrospective chart review study

Background Enrollment in interventional therapeutic clinical trials is a small fraction of all patients who might participate given reasonable access.
Oral health information for Appalachia-West Virginia children: a cross-sectional analysis.

INTRODUCTION Time demands often impact the presentation of heath related educational material/information in rural dental practices. The purpose of this study was to determine if parents/guardians were receiving information with respect to a child's dental needs, and if there were a relationship between the delivery of the information and the utilization of dental servicesin Appalachia-West Virginia. METHODS A survey was presented to parents/guardians of Appalachia-West Virginia children [n=62] regarding dental information provided by their dentist/dental hygienist. The data were analyzed with Chi-square, and logistic regression. RESULTS Summative score of the questions on the survey (Adjusted odds ratio=6.2 [95% CI=1.1, 35.4]; p=0.057), and parental education (p=0.057) remained associated in a logistic regression with a child having had a dental visit within the previous year. CONCLUSIONS Exposure of parents to dentally related educational material/information provided by a dentist/dental hygienist was independently associated with dental visits. The implication is that there remains a need for dental professionals to actively educate their patients.
Cytokine Stimulation of Epithelial Cancer Cells: The Similar and Divergent Functions of IL-4 and IL-13

The Th2 cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and -13 are acknowledged regulators of lymphocyte proliferation and activation. They have also been well studied in the regulation of various myeloid-derived populations in tumor biology. It has become clear, however, that both cytokines can have direct effects on epithelial tumor cells expressing appropriate receptors. Changes in tumor proliferation, survival, and metastatic capability have all been ascribed to IL-4 and/or IL-13 action. Here, we evaluate the evidence to support direct tumor-promoting roles of these cytokines. We also identify the questions that should be addressed before proceeding with therapeutic approaches based on neutralization of IL-4 or IL-13 pathways.
The Fundamental Theorem of Design Economics

Every artifact has a design, and thus designs are an important class of information goods. In this paper, we establish the scope of the design valuation methodology based on real options, which we developed in Design Rules, Volume 1, The Power of Modularity (MIT Press, 2000). We argue that if an economic process is: 1. ex ante uncertain; 2. ex post rankable by outcome; 3. ex post contingent; 4. costly; and 5. has non-exclusive outputs; and if better outcomes have higher financial value (are worth more money), then the value of that process will embed either simple real options (if the process is indivisible) or compound real options (if the process is modular). The real options, in turn, will have a "Q(k)-type structure," where Q(k) represents the expectation of the maximum of the outcomes of k processes run in parallel. We note that Q(k) is both an order statistic function and a real option function. All design processes are ex ante uncertain; costly; and have non-exclusive outputs. Virtually all designs are ex post rankable by outcome within an appropriate functional category. Finally, many designs can be made ex post contingent by separating the design process from the production process for the artifact in question. Hence the fundamental theorem applies to a large subset of an important class of information goods.
On the Use of Cognitive Artifacts for Developmental Learning in a Humanoid Robot

The goal of this work is to boost the robot’s object recognition capabilities through the use of learning aids. We describe methods to enable learning on a humanoid robot using learning aids such as books, drawing material, boards or other children toys. Visual properties of objects are learned and inserted into a recognition scheme, which is then applied to acquire new object representations – we propose learning through developmental stages. We present experimental evaluation to corroborate the theoretical framework.
Patterns of American Railroad Finance, 1830–50

When American railroad promoters, in the years immediately after 1830, had to look beyond their own regions for capital, they turned first to Broad Street in Philadelphia, where Nicholas Biddle and his associates served as the agents for marketing vast amounts of sterling bonds in London. This mechanism was disrupted by the failure of the Bank of the United States of Pennsylvania in 1841. Then State Street in Boston became the center, and common stock became the chief instrument, of American railroad finance. The sharp recession of 1847 showed that the Boston capitalists had already made long-term investments in excess of the liquid capital available to them. New York merchants, bankers, and brokers now took up the task of financing the railroads of the South and West, and Wall Street became the undisputed financial center of the country.
Architecture for Protecting Critical Secrets in Microprocessors

We propose “secret-protected (SP)” architecture to enable secure and convenient protection of critical secrets for a given user in an on-line environment. Keys are examples of critical secrets, and key protection and management is a fundamental problem - often assumed but not solved - underlying the use of cryptographic protection of sensitive files, messages, data and programs. SP-processors contain a minimalist set of architectural features that can be built into a general-purpose microprocessor to provide protection of critical secrets and their computations, without expensive or inconvenient auxiliary hardware. SP-architecture also requires a trusted software module, a few modifications to the operating system, a secure I/O path to the user, and a secure installation process. Unique aspects of our architecture include: decoupling of user secrets from the devices, enabling users to securely access their keys from different networked computing devices; the use of symmetric master keys rather than more costly public-private key pairs; and the avoidance of any permanent or factory-installed device secrets.
Optimizing circuits with confidence probability using probabilistic retiming

VLSI circuit manufacturing results in theoretically identical components that actually have varying propagation delays. A "worst-case" or even "average-case" estimation of such delays during the design procedure may be overly pessimistic and will lead to costly and unnecessary redesign cycles. This paper presents a new optimization methodology, called probabilistic retiming, which transforms a circuit based on statistical timing data gathered either from component production histories or from a simulation of the fabrication process. Such circuits are modeled as graphs where each vertex represents a combinational element that has a probabilistic timing characteristic. A polynomial-time algorithm, applicable to such a graph, is developed which retimes a circuit in order to produce a design operating in a specified cycle time within a given confidence level. Experiments show that probabilistic retiming consistently produces faster circuits for a given confidence level, as compared with the traditional retiming algorithm.
The Classroom as Newsroom: Leveraging University Resources for Public Affairs Reporting

This article reports on the development in recent years, across the United States, of programs in journalism schools and some other units of higher education that borrow from the “teaching hospital” model, following a pedagogy in which students or professional journalists produce news content directly for general audiences or do so in partnership with professional media organizations. In these efforts, the news content is posted on websites hosted by the universities involved, disseminated through partner news organizations, or freely reprinted by non-partner media organizations from the websites. The article briefly describes a variety of these programs, offers a detailed case study of the program at Youngstown State University, analyzes the similarities and differences across programs, and reflects in conclusion on how these programs serve democracy and journalism in the digital age.
Cathelicidin antimicrobial protein, vitamin D, and risk of death in critically ill patients

Decreased production of cathelicidin antimicrobial protein-18 (hCAP18) has been proposed to be a key mechanism linking decreased 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25D) levels with adverse outcomes among critically ill patients. However, few studies in humans have directly assessed plasma hCAP18 levels, and no study has evaluated the association between hCAP18 levels and adverse outcomes among critically ill patients. We performed a single-center, prospective cohort study among 121 critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) between 2008 and 2012. We measured plasma hCAP18, 25D, D-binding protein, and parathyroid hormone levels on ICU day 1. The primary endpoint was 90-day mortality. Secondary endpoints included hospital mortality, sepsis, acute kidney injury, duration of mechanical ventilation, and hospital length of stay. ICU day 1 hCAP18 levels were directly correlated with 25D levels (Spearman’s rho (rs) = 0.30, P = 0.001). In multivariate analyses adjusted for age and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, patients with hCAP18 levels in the lowest compared to highest tertile on ICU day 1 had a 4.49 (1.08 to 18.67) greater odds of 90-day mortality, and also had greater odds of sepsis. ICU day 1 levels of other analytes were not associated with 90-day mortality. Lower 25D levels on ICU day 1 are associated with lower hCAP18 levels, which are in turn associated with a greater risk of 90-day mortality. These findings provide a potential mechanistic basis for the frequently observed association between low 25D levels and poor outcomes in critically ill patients.
Stigma behavior in Mimulus aurantiacus (Scrophulariaceae).

The bilobed stigma of many species in the order Scrophulariales closes in response to touch by an animal pollinator. In hummingbird-pollinated bush monkey flower, Mimulus aurantiacus (Scrophulariaceae), closure is rapid, occurring within seconds of tactile stimulus. We investigated the proximate causes of stigma closure and subsequent reopening in M. aurantiacus, as well as potential costs and benefits of stigma closure for female fitness. Stigma closure is elicited by both touch and pollen, but closure in response to pollen is much slower, requiring 0.5‐1.5 h. Stigmata reopen within 2.5‐4.5 h if touch, but no pollen, is applied. Upon receipt of pollen, most stigmata remain closed for the remaining lifetime of the flower, even if less pollen is received than is needed for full seed set. Those stigmata that do reopen after pollination generally require between 20 and 28 h to do so, much longer than for unpollinated stigmata. Reopening after pollination appears to be a response to low seed set rather than to low pollen load. Natural pollination of stigmata manipulated to prevent closure shows that closure does not increase capture of pollen or seed set. In fact, closure reduces the average pollen load received by flowers. Despite this, there is no evidence that stigma closure has any negative effect on female fitness in terms of seed set or germinability. Hypotheses for the adaptive significance of stigma closure are discussed. Understanding proximate causes of stigma closure and reopening is essential in the evaluation of these hypotheses.
Trimethyllysine metabolism in lean and obese zucker rats during fasting

Abstract The effect of starvation upon the metabolism of trimethyllysine in lean and obese female Zucker rats was studied. All rats were fed a carnitine and trimethyllysine limiting diet for one to two weeks before starvation was initiated. Fed rats and rats starved for three, six, and nine days were used. Liver free and peptide-linked trimethyllysine, and urine total trimethyllysine were measured. Lean and obese Zucker rats had similar hepatic-free and peptide-linked trimethyllysine content when expressed per g protein or per mg DNA. Obese Zucker rats excreted more total trimethyllysine during starvation relative to lean rats. Starvation did not affect trimethyllysine excretion over time, although there were significant decreases in total carnitine excretion in both lean and obese starved rats. Both phenotypes demonstrated a high efficiency of entry of trimethyllysine into the carnitine biosynthetic pathway. We conclude that lean and obese female Zucker rats, similar to male Sprague-Dawley rats, are extremely efficient in the conversion of trimethyllysine into carnitine.
The Effect Of Tax Rate Change On Dividend Payout

President Bush’s 2003 tax cut has revived the topic of dividend policy. Dividend payout depends on many factors, such as earnings, size, and growth in addition to the tax rate. To study the effect of a change in tax rates on dividends, we need to control for other factors that may affect them. Following Fama and French (2001) approach, we divide our sample firms into three different categories characterized by profitability, investment opportunity, and size; and we estimate the averaged dividend forecast errors for four groups in each category. We find size to be the most important factor related to dividends when taxes are not taken into account. In addition, empirical evidence suggests that profitability is the only factor related to dividends when tax rates are included. In other words, the more profitable the firms are, the more likely they pay higher dividends as applicable tax rates decline.
Five Tips for the Persuasive Researcher

This short article discusses five research tips to transform a mediocre work product into a persuasive one. The tips are (1) do not cite cases unless you have read them entirely; (2) know the holding of a case (did the court reverse a jury verdict?); (3) research opinions drafted by your judge; (4) use the West Digest System (such as for discovery motions); and (5) use the ABA website for research materials. These research techniques are relevant to motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, appellate briefs, and other persuasive works. Whether you are a seasoned or rookie attorney, I hope that you will learn from these tips.
In stereotype: South Asia in the global literary imaginary, by Mrinalini Chakravorty, New York, Columbia University Press, 2014, 336 pp., $60.00/£41.50 (hardcover), ISBN 9780231537766

One of the challenges of offering a reading of negative tropes, or at least aesthetically disengaging ones, is to keep the reading itself free of that particular contagion. This is a lesson I learn...
Abstract WP212: Opportunities for Prevention of Oral Contraceptive-Associated Ischemic Stroke:The Stroke Prevention in Young Women Study

Background and Purpose: Current use of oral contraceptives (OCs) has been associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. We sought to determine whether elevated stroke risk in women using OCs was restricted to women with other concurrent high risk conditions (risk modifiers), whether patients with these conditions recalled being advised not to use or to stop using OCs, and whether this advice resulted in behavioral change. Methods: 59 hospitals in the Baltimore-Washington area participated in a population based case-control study of stroke in young women ages 15 to 49 (228 cases/348 controls). Data on OC use was gathered through standardized interview. Potential risk modifiers to OC use included hypertension, smoking, headache, chest pain or heart attack, and blood clots in the legs or lungs. Results: Overall the unadjusted odds ratio for OC use and stroke was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.0-2.3). Participants who had one or more potential risk modifiers to OC use while using OCs had an OR of 2.4 (95% CI: 1.3-4.3), while participants without any of these conditions had an OR of 1.1 (95% CI: 0.6-1.9). The most common conditions cited were smoking and headache. Thirty-eight women with ≥1 high risk conditions recalled being advised not to start OCs; however 9 (24%) of these women were taking OCs at the time of stroke or interview. There were 93 women with ≥1 high risk conditions who recalled being told to discontinue OCs, of whom 14 (15%) were still taking OCs at the time of stroke or interview. Conclusions: Our data are consistent with prior studies suggesting that increased the risk of stroke associated with OC use is restricted primarily to women with concurrent high risk conditions, such as headache or smoking. Improved physician and patient education about the medical conditions associated with higher stroke risk among OC users and a better understanding of the dynamics of the physician-patient encounter could further reduce risk.
Sialendoscopy-assisted surgery and the chronic obstructive sialadenitis symptoms questionnaire: A prospective study

Objectives/Hypothesis To prospectively assess symptoms of obstructive sialadenitis before and after sialendoscopy-assisted salivary duct surgery (SASDS) using the chronic obstructive sialadenitis symptoms (COSS) questionnaire to determine and predict impact of interventions. Study Design Prospective cohort study. Methods Adult patients with chronic obstructive sialadenitis who underwent SASDS were asked to complete the COSS questionnaire and the Short-Form-8 (SF-8) quality-of-life (QOL) survey prior to surgery and 3 months postoperatively. Chronic obstructive sialadenitis symptoms surveys were scored on a scale from 0 to 100. Results Forty patients undergoing SASDS, including 54 glands, completed preoperative and postoperative surveys. Overall, the mean COSS score improved from 36.1 (standard error of the mean [SEM] 2.6) preoperatively to 13.5 (SEM 2.4) 3 months postoperatively (p < 0.001). Submandibular gland cases had a significant mean score reduction of 27.8 (from 38.1 to 10.3; p < 0.005). Parotid gland cases had a significant mean score reduction of 13.6 (from 32.6 to 19.0; p < 0.0001). Patients with sialolithiasis-related sialadenitis had greater COSS score improvement after surgery than those with radioactive iodine- or inflammatory-related disease. An improvement in symptoms was seen for 100% and 47% of patients with sialolithiasis and inflammatory etiologies, respectively. The pre- and post-SASDS SF-8 QOL scores were not significantly different. Conclusions Obstructive sialadenitis-related symptoms significantly declined 3 months after SASDS. The COSS questionnaire was able to measure changes in sialadenitis symptoms not captured in the SF-8 QOL survey. This is the first study to prospectively survey sialadenitis-specific symptoms to determine impact of surgical interventions. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2016
Comparison of partial and full nitrification processes applied for treating high-strength nitrogen wastewaters: microbial ecology through nitrous oxide production.

The goal of this study was to compare the microbial ecology, gene expression, biokinetics, and N2O emissions from a lab-scale bioreactor operated sequentially in full-nitrification and partial-nitrification modes. Based on sequencing of 16S rRNA and ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes, ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) populations during full- and partial-nitrification modes were distinct from one another. The concentrations of AOB (XAOB) and their respiration rates during full- and partial-nitrification modes were statistically similar, whereas the concentrations of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (XNOB) and their respiration rates declined significantly after the switch from full- to partial-nitrification. The transition from full-nitrification to partial nitrification resulted in a protracted transient spike of nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO) emissions, which later stabilized. The trends in N2O and NO emissions correlated well with trends in the expression of nirK and norB genes that code ...
Serologic and skin test evidence of tularemia infection among Alaskan Eskimos, Indians and Aleuts.

Health Nurses, including Mrs. Thomas Haley, Mrs. Elaine Clement, and the Misses Mildred Walter, Lovina Woodrow, Elizabeth Van Creveld and Inez Monaghan, whose itinerant nursing activities in remote Alaska villages made this study possible. The contributions of the Alaskan Division of Health, particularly those of Mr. Ralph B. Williams and Mr. Frank P. Pauls, are appreciated. The authors would also like to thank Dr. Karl R. Reinhard for help in obtaining blood samples, Mr. Raymond Thrailkill for his technical assistance, and Mrs. Phillip Judd for her statistical clerical help. * U. S. Public Health Service, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rocky Mountain Laboratory, Hamilton, Montana. t U. S. Public Health Service, Communicable Disease Center, Tuberculosis Program, Washington 25, D. C. mia in a man from Northway in central Alaska who had trapped muskrats shortly prior to illness. Subsequently, at least 3 other cases were identified and
Yawing mechanism of projectiles based on contact theory

In order to explain the yawing mechanism of projectiles when colliding on abnormal objects,based on former elastic-plastic contact force-displacement model,and the macroscopically constitutional relationship of elastic-plastic collision between the projectile and the abnormal object was obtained.The coefficient of restitution and contact stiffness were derived with the theories of contact mechanics,the approximate formulas for calculating the attack angle and the angle velocity of the projectile when colliding on the abnormal object was expressed in terms of the linear and angular impulse-momentum laws.The effects of the main factors,such as curvature radius ratio of the projectile to the abnormal object,impact stances or velocities of the projectiles,on the effectiveness of inducing projectiles to yaw were calculated and analyzed.The results shown that the yawing effectiveness of the projectile becomes obvious with the enlarging of the size of the abnormal object.The attack angle of the projectile will decrease with the impart velocity increasing while the angle velocity will increase with the impart velocity increasing.
Erfahrungen mit der Ender-Nagelung mit 671 Fällen

Von 1976 bis 1987 wurden an der Chirurgischen Klinik der Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg 671 trochanternahe Frakturen des Oberschenkels mittels Ender-Nagelung versorgt. In, 54 Fallen (8,0%) kam es zu intraoperativen, in 82 Fallen 912,2%) zu postoperativen Komplikationen, die eine Reoperation bei 57 Patienten (8.5%) erforderlich machten. Wegen ihrer relativ hohen Komplikationsrate sehen wir nach Einfuhrung der dynamischen Huftschraube nur noch bei Abduktionsfrakturen. Hautlasionen im Frakturbereich sowie der palliativen Versorgung von pathologischen Frakturen eine Indikation fur die Ender-Nagelung.
In the Gap the State Left: Policy Feedback, Collective Behavior, and Political Participation in Zambia

In advanced industrial democracies, evidence suggests a positive relationship between inclusive public policy, collective behavior, and political participation. Yet Africa, which generally exhibits high levels of collective behavior, often has exclusionary policies and variable rates of political participation. Using Afrobarometer data and qualitative case analysis in Zambia, this paper argues that the links between collective behavior and political participation differ in African countries due to lower government capacity and weaker structures of accountability linking politicians to policy outcomes. Employing a policy feedback framework, it demonstrates that the policy context in which collective behavior emerges determines the extent to which it influences political participation. Specifically, low levels of service provision generate higher levels of collective behavior, indicating that communities organize in response to need. The extent to which this collective behavior results in political participation, however, depends in part on citizens’ political efficacy.
Abstract 1006: Novel adjuvants in triple negative breast cancer chemotherapy

Background: Obese patients develop more frequently triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) that has not target therapy and are commonly treated with chemotherapeutics. Leptin, whose levels are elevated in obesity, can induce TNBC proliferation, angiogenesis and resistance to chemotherapeutics. An antagonist for leptin receptor OB-R, leptin peptide receptor antagonist 2 (LPrA2), has been shown to block leptin signaling and decrease tumor progression. LPrA2 also countervails leptin induced resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. We used pegylation or iron oxide nanoparticle (IONPs) as adjuvants to increase LPrA2 solubility, stability and effectiveness. Hypothesis: Conjugated LPrA2 will decrease TNBC cells proliferation, expression of leptin target molecules and tumorigenesis. Methods: Human TNBC and murine breast adenocarcinoma derived cell line E0771 (progesterone and HER2 receptor negative) were used. The E0771 cell line was generated from an estrogen receptor positive (ER+) mammary adenocarcinoma isolated from a C57BL/6J mouse. E0771 was made insensitive to estrogen by treatment with drug Tamoxifen (TAM) mimicking TNBC. To specifically assess the role of RBP-Jk (CBS/CSL, an essential transcription factor for Notch signaling) the CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to disrupt RBP-JK gene expression in both wild-type and TAM treated E0771 cells. Cells were treated with chemotherapeutics (Paclitaxel, Doxorubicine, Ciclophosphamide) in presence of leptin and LPrA2-conjugates. The expression of leptin-targeted molecules, Breast Cancer Stem Cells (BCSC) and EMT markers were analyzed after cell treatment. Results: Chemotherapeutics effects on proliferation, survival and molecular markers were modified by the addition of LPrA2-conjugates. Notch molecules (receptors and ligands) were downregulated by LPrA2 treatment. Conclusion: The current data indicate that Leptin inhibition could be used as an adjuvant for chemotherapeutic treatments in TNBC patients. LPrA2-conjugates could increase the efficacy of chemotherapy. Acknowledgements: This work was partially supported by the National Institute of Health and National Cancer Institute Grant U54 CA118638, NIH/SBIR 1R41CA183399-01A1, and DOD Idea Award BC W81XWH-13-1-0382 to RRGP; and facilities, and support services at Morehouse School of Medicine (NIH RR03034 and 1C06 RR18386) and NIH/NCRR grant 1G12RR026250-03. Citation Format: Antonio Rampoldi, Adriana Harbuzariu, Tia L. Harmon, Ruben R. Gonzalez-Perez. Novel adjuvants in triple negative breast cancer chemotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1006.
Trends in Playa Inundation and Water Storage in the Ogallala Aquifer on the Texas High Plains

The Ogallala Aquifer is an important source of irrigation water on the Texas High plains; however, significant decreases in saturated thickness threaten its future use for irrigation. A better understanding of the roles of playas, ephemeral surface ponds, in aquifer recharge is needed to establish levels of withdrawals that will meet either established desired future conditions or sustainability. In this study, data regarding playa inundation, depth to groundwater, precipitation and land cover from 2001 to 2011 were collected and analyzed to ascertain associations between these characteristics for four study areas on the Texas High plains. Each area covered 40,000–70,000 ha. Three of the study areas in Hockley, Floyd and Swisher counties were chosen because their center contained a playa instrumented to measure weather and depth of inundation. There were 20 distinct inundation events at the three instrumented playas between 2006 and 2010. For each of these inundations, water loss exceeded rates of potential evapotranspiration (ET) by a factor of 1.6–15.7 times, implying that infiltration was occurring. Playa inundation in all four study areas was also assessed by analyzing images from the National Agricultural Imaginary program. Data on depth to groundwater were analyzed from 2000 to 2010 to determine annual changes of stored water. Annual changes in groundwater were weakly associated with surface area of inundated playas in late summer, but was strongly associated with annual rainfall. Rates of infiltration based on playa water loss versus potential ET, and volume of water in playas was more than sufficient to account for annual changes in groundwater. Land use adjoining the playas had less of influence on playa inundation than annual rainfall. These results strengthen the argument that water storage in playas on the Texas High Plains is an important source of water for aquifer recharge.
Disabled-2; an autophagic and apoptotic switch

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is postulated to be required for the initiation of tumor cell metastasis.1 Disabled-2 (Dab2) has been shown to play an essential role during TGFβ-mediated...
Measurement of Early Childhood Development and Learning under the Sustainable Development Goals

AbstractChildren’s early development serves as the foundation for later health, learning and well-being. The inclusion of early childhood development (ECD) in the Sustainable Development Goals implies that countries must report on the percentage of children under 5 years of age who are “developmentally on track.” This note briefly reflects on the history of global ECD goals and their measurement and outlines the challenge ahead: creating a workable strategy for ECD measurement that balances the need for national relevance with globally comparable data. The global variation in the timing and nature of early childhood skills acquisition presents an important opportunity as countries set their own standards for what it means to be developmentally on track. Country-driven measurement and standard setting, derived from measurement approaches that meet international expectations for quality, can have an important influence on policy and practice. Countries can measure the development of their youngest citizens ...