cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypothesis: The Vestibular and Cerebellar Basis of the Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

The Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) generally follows sea voyages, but it can occur after turbulent flights or spontaneously. The primary features are objective or perceived continuous rocking, swaying, and/or bobbing at 0.2 Hz after sea voyages or 0.3 Hz after flights. The oscillations can continue for months or years and are immensely disturbing. Associated symptoms appear to be secondary to the incessant sensation of movement. We previously suggested that the illness can be attributed to maladaptation of the velocity storage integrator in the vestibular system, but the actual neural mechanisms driving the MdDS are unknown. Here, based on experiments in subhuman primates, we propose a series of postulates through which the MdDS is generated: 1. The MdDS is produced in the Velocity Storage integrator by activation of Vestibular Only (VO) neurons on either side of the brainstem that are oscillating back and forth at 0.2 or 0.3 Hz. 2. The groups of VO neurons are driven by signals that originate in Purkinje cells in the cerebellar nodulus. 3. Prolonged exposure to roll, either on the sea or in the air, conditions the roll-related neurons in the nodulus. 4. The prolonged exposure causes a shift of the pitch orientation vector from its original position aligned with gravity to a position tilted in roll. 5. Successful treatment involves exposure to a full-field optokinetic stimulus rotating around the spatial vertical countering the direction of the vestibular imbalance. This is done while rolling the head at the frequency of the perceived rocking, swaying or bobbing. We also note experiments that could be used to verify these postulates, as well as considering potential flaws in the logic. Important unanswered questions: 1. Why does the MdDS predominantly affect women? 2. What aspect of roll causes the prolongation of the tilted orientation vector, and why is it so prolonged in some individuals? 3. What produces the increase in symptoms of some patients when returning home, and how can this be avoided? We also posit that the same mechanisms underlie the less troublesome and shorter duration Mal de Debarquement.
Host-pathogen dynamics through targeted secretome analysis of stimulated macrophages.

Abstract The pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) facilitate an organism's first line of defense against interlopers and shape the overall innate immune response through sensing and sampling pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). The Toll-like receptor (TLR) family is the prototypic PRR family. Upon recognition of PAMPs, TLRs promote MyD88 dependent and independent responses. Understanding how different PAMPs are recognized by their specific TLRs and how pathogen recognition initiates immune activation is an intense area of research. Previously, we have reported the discovery of the temporal changes in signaling cascades of macrophage proteome and secretome post-stimulation with three different PAMPs. To extend our global proteomics approach to targeted protein abundance quantification, we describe the macrophage secretome targeted proteomics assay. We chose three different pathogens that specifically stimulate diverse TLRs (TLR2, TLR4, and TLR7). Using a simple targeted proteomics approach, combining data-dependent acquisition with an inclusion list, an array of cytokines, chemokines, and transcription factors can be profiled for their secretome abundance. This strategy facilitates the profiling and validation of pathogen-specific temporal changes in the macrophage secretome.
DISCOVER: Mining Online Chatter for Emerging Cyber Threats

Widespread adoption of networking technologies has brought about tremendous economic and social growth, but also exposed individuals and organization to new threats from malicious cyber actors. Recent attacks by WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware crypto-worms, infected hundreds of thousands of computer systems world wide, compromising data and critical infrastructure. In order to limit their impact, it is, therefore, critical to detect---and even predict---cyber attacks before they spread. Here, we introduce DISCOVER, an early cyber threat warning system, that mines online chatter from cyber actors on social media, security blogs, and darkweb forums, to identify words that signal potential cyber attacks. We evaluate DISCOVER and find that it can identify terms related to emerging cyber threats with precision above $80%$. DISCOVER also generates a time line of related online discussions on different Web sources that can be useful for analyzing emerging cyber threats.
Henoch–Schönlein Purpura: Gastrointestinal Features

Henoch–Schonlein purpura is a systemic vasculitis that is characterized by the deposition of IgA-containing immune complexes. The disease generally occurs in children, with 2:1 male to female predominance, and is usually preceded by a upper respiratory infection.
Evaluation of Chemotherapy Drug Exposure at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Michigan

In February 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received a confidential employee request for a Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) at a veterinary teaching hospital that provides routine care and oncology services to large and small animals. Canines and felines constitute the majority of the oncology department’s patients. Veterinary hospital employees were concerned about adverse health effects from the use of chemotherapy drugs in the oncology department. In 2004, NIOSH released an Alert regarding occupational exposures to antineoplastic and other hazardous drugs that are used in health care settings. Hazardous drugs were defined in the NIOSH Alert as having “specific health effects (such as skin rashes, cancer, and reproductive effects) and high toxicity at low doses.”(1) The NIOSH Alert also described best practices for handling, storage, disposal, and decontamination procedures and was updated in 2010 and 2012 to include an expanded list of hazardous drugs.(2,3) Also in 2010, NIOSH released a Workplace Solutions document to increase awareness of occupational safety and health issues in veterinary health care workers who work with antineoplastic and hazardous drugs.(4)
Chapter 10 Reference Maps as a Framework for Remembering Text

Abstract This paper develops a theory based in dual coding, that explains why learning a map improves memory for associated text information. The basic premise is that visual displays such as maps are encoded as intact images which retain the spatial properties of the objective stimulus. Such images possess a computational advantage in working memory because the information within them is simultaneousy available to cue retrieval of related text. The paper describes eight experiments all of which support both the image coding and working memory assumptions. Resume Cet article developpe une theorie fondee sur le double codage qui explique pourquoi ľetude ďune carte ameliore la retention des informations textuelles qui y sont associees. Ľhypothese de base est que les representations visuelles telles que les cartes sont encodees sous forme ďimages intactes qui conservent les proprietes spatiales du stimulus. Ces images ont un avantage computational en memoire de travail car les informations qu'elles contiennent sont simultanement disponibles pour indicer la recuperation du texte associe. Ľarticle decrit huit experiences qui toutes sont en faveur a la fois des hypotheses de codage image et de memoire de travail.
The Prosecutor's Ethical Duty to Seek Exculpatory Evidence in Police Hands: Lessons From England

The Supreme Court in Kyles v. Whitley affirmed the prosecutor's duty under Brady v. Maryland to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense, even if the police have not revealed the evidence to the prosecutor. According to the Court, prosecutors are responsible for ensuring that police communicate relevant evidence to her office. How should prosecutors implement that responsibility? Both England and the United States require prosecutors to disclose exculpatory evidence known to the police, but they take radically different approaches to implementing the prosecutor's duty. The English have legislated a comprehensive regulatory framework for police record keeping and revelation of case information to the prosecutor. They have also devoted significant resources to enforcing this regulation, including such measures as promulgation of appropriate forms and schedules, training of police and prosecutors, and the designation of particular police personnel to perform record-keeping duties. In the United States, by comparison, the absence of legislative or other regulation of police record keeping is starkly apparent. American legislatures have traditionally taken a "hands-off" approach to the regulation of police practices. Furthermore, we have not committed significant resources to the task of training police to record and reveal exculpatory evidence to prosecutors. Instead, we have relied on self-regulation by law enforcement agencies and the efforts of prosecutors. Neither resort has been, nor promises in future to be, effective in ensuring regular prosecutorial access to exculpatory evidence known to the police. Yet, without such access, prosecutors cannot meet their constitutional obligations to the defense. To address this problem, the author proposes amending ABA Model Rule 3.8 and the ABA Standards for Prosecution 3-2.7 and 3-3.11. The proposed amendments would (a) articulate the prosecutor's responsibility to make reasonable efforts to obtain access to exculpatory evidence known to the police, and (b) guide prosecutors on how to implement this professional responsibility.
In-situ characterization of tungsten microcracking in Selective Laser Melting

Abstract Additive Manufacturing is a promising way of processing tungsten, with opportunities to create more complex parts than are possible using other powder metallurgical routes. This may lead to extended applications such as collimators, in fusion reactors, or in other structurally loaded, high temperature environments. The poor thermal shock resistance and ductile-to-brittle transition that occurs in tungsten above room temperature are challenges that hinder production of fully dense and crack free parts. This research employs high speed in-situ monitoring of Selective Laser Melting of single tracks to visualize crack initiation and propagation. The circumstances that lead to cracking are correlated with microstructural morphology and processing conditions.
Leak Detection, Localization, and Prognosis of High Pressure Fuel Delivery System

Spark Ignition Direct Injection (SIDI) technology enables better fuel economy and tail pipe emissions in vehicles equipped with gasoline engines. The SIDI technology relies on the system’s ability to deliver fuel at high pressures (20-40 MPa). Such high pressure systems are prone to leakage if subjected to excessive vibrations, improper fitting, or failure of pressure seals over time due to cyclical loading. Fuel leakage can directly affect the operation of the engine and can cause customer inconvenience. It, therefore, becomes very important to devise a scheme that can effectively diagnose and prognose such kind of system fault. In this report, algorithm development for diagnosis and prognosis of leaks in high pressure fuel delivery system is presented. In particular, pressure profile of fuel in the common rail at engine cranking and engine shutdown are studied to generate schemes for fault detection, fault isolation, and fault prediction. The developed results are equally applicable to direct injection diesel engines given their similarity of operating principles and components.
Effects of Education and Experience on Primary Care Providers' Perspectives of Obesity Treatments during a Pragmatic Trial

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of a 1-year pragmatic obesity trial on primary care providers' (PCPs) perspectives of treatment. METHODS PCPs from four intervention clinics (PCP-I) and five control clinics (PCP-C) completed pre- and postintervention surveys on weight-loss counseling, comfort discussing obesity treatments, and perceived effectiveness of interventions; questions were rated on 0 to 10 Likert scales. Only PCP-I received patient updates and education about obesity management. RESULTS Eighty PCPs completed preintervention surveys (pre: 71% female, 71% physicians); 82 PCPs completed postintervention surveys (post: 66% female, 70% physicians). PCPs were most comfortable discussing exercise before and after the trial (pre PCP-C: 8.22 [1.44], mean [standard deviation (SD)]; post PCP-C: 8.37 [1.24]; P = 0.8; pre/post PCP-I: 7.88 [1.51] vs. 7.80 [1.71]; P = 0.3). PCPs were initially least comfortable discussing phentermine/topiramate extended release (ER) but developed significantly more comfort after the trial, to a greater degree among PCP-I (pre/post PCP-C: 2.86 [2.66] vs. 3.73 [2.72], P < 0.001; pre/post PCP-I: 4.00 [2.57] vs. 6.17 [2.27], P < 0.001). After the trial, both PCPs rated exercise significantly less effective for weight loss, with a greater decrease in effectiveness rations among PCP-I (pre/post PCP-C: 7.73 [1.94] vs. 6.93 [2.35], P = 0.017; pre/post PCP-I: 6.27 [2.69] vs. 5.15 [2.31], P = 0.001). Both PCPs rated phentermine (pre/post PCP-C: 5.03 [2.05] vs. 5.50 [2.12], P = 0.002; pre/post PCP-I: 5.70 [1.64] vs. 6.83 [1.18], P = 0.001) and phentermine/topiramate ER (pre/post PCP-C: 3.91 [2.33] vs. 5.47 [2.54], P < 0.001; pre/post PCP-I: 5.58 [2.21] vs. 7.02 [1.47], P < 0.001) significantly more effective after the trial, though ratings were higher among PCP-I. CONCLUSIONS PCPs initially overvalued exercise and undervalued weight-loss medications. PCPs exposed to education and experience gave higher comfort and effectiveness ratings to weight-loss medications.
Higher Levels of Protein Palmitoylation in the Frontal Cortex across Aging Were Associated with Reference Memory and Executive Function Declines

Cognitive decline with aging is often due to altered levels of protein expression. The NMDA receptor (NMDAR) and the complex of proteins surrounding the receptor are susceptible to age-related changes in expression. In the frontal cortex of aged mice, there is a significant loss of expression of the GluN2B subunit of the NMDAR, an increase in Fyn expression, and no change in PSD-95. Studies have also found that, in the frontal cortex, phosphorylation of GluN2B subunits and palmitoylation of GluN2 subunits and NMDAR complex proteins are affected by age. In this study, we examined some of the factors that may lead to the differences in the palmitoylation levels of NMDAR complex proteins in the frontal cortex of aged animals. The Morris water maze was used to test spatial learning in 3- and 24-month-old mice. The acyl-biotinyl exchange method was used to precipitate palmitoylated proteins from the frontal cortices and hippocampi of the mice. Additionally, brain lysates from old and young mice were probed for the expression of fatty acid transporter proteins. An age-related increase of palmitoylated GluN2A, GluN2B, Fyn, PSD-95, and APT1 (acyl protein thioesterase 1) in the frontal cortex was associated with poorer reference memory and/or executive functions. These data suggest that there may be a perturbation in the palmitoylation cycle in the frontal cortex of aged mice that contributes to age-related cognitive declines.
CLADES: a programmable sequence of reporters for lineage analysis

Abstract We present CLADES (Cell Lineage Access Driven by an Edition Sequence), a technology for cell lineage studies based on CRISPR/Cas9. CLADES relies on a system of genetic switches to activate and inactivate reporter genes in a pre-determined order. Targeting CLADES to progenitor cells allows the progeny to inherit a sequential cascade of reporters, coupling birth order with reporter expression. This gives us temporal resolution of lineage development that can be used to deconstruct an extended cell lineage by tracking the reporters expressed in the progeny. When targeted to the germ line, the same cascade progresses across animal generations, marking each generation with the corresponding combination of reporters. CLADES thus offers an innovative strategy for making programmable cascades of genes that can be used for genetic manipulation or to record serial biological events. One Sentence Summary A sequence of reporters for lineage analysis
The role of income inequality on factors associated with male physical Intimate Partner Violence perpetration: A meta-analysis

Abstract This study examines the influence of income inequality on risk markers for Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in countries with low and high income inequality measured by the GINI index. Examining male perpetration of IPV, we used meta-analytic procedures to learn if income inequality moderated the strength of the relationship between well-established risk markers and IPV. We found that young age, relationship dissatisfaction, violence towards non-family members, and emotional abuse perpetration were significantly stronger risk markers for countries with high income inequality than for countries with low income inequality. We also found that having experienced trauma was a significantly stronger risk marker for countries with low income inequality than for countries with high income inequality. We also ran additional analyses between high and low income inequality countries excluding research conducted in the United States. Here we found that perpetrating emotional abuse, relationship dissatisfaction, and witnessing IPV in family of origin were all significantly stronger risk markers in high income inequality countries compared to low income inequality countries Our findings suggest that income inequality impacts risk markers for male IPV perpetration.
Intensity and Resolution Enhancement of Local Regions for Object Detection and Tracking in Wide Area Surveillance

Object tracking in wide area motion imagery is a complex problem that consists of object detection and target tracking over time. This challenge can be solved by human analysts who naturally have the ability to keep track of an object in a scene. A computer vision solution for object tracking has the potential to be a much faster and efficient solution. However, a computer vision solution faces certain challenges that do not affect a human analyst. To overcome these challenges, a tracking process is proposed that is inspired by the known advantages of a human analyst. First, the focus of a human analyst is emulated by doing processing only the local object search area. Second, it is proposed that an intensity enhancement process should be done on the local area to allow features to be detected in poor lighting conditions. This simulates the ability of the human eye to discern objects in complex lighting conditions. Third, it is proposed that the spatial resolution of the local search area is increased to extract better features and provide more accurate feature matching. A quantitative evaluation is performed to show tracking improvement using the proposed method. The three databases, each grayscale sequences that were obtained from aircrafts, used for these evaluations include the Columbus Large Image Format database, the Large Area Image Recorder database, and the Sussex database.
Predictive Student Modeling in Educational Games with Multi-Task Learning.

Modeling student knowledge is critical in adaptive learning environments. Predictive student modeling enables formative assessment of student knowledge and skills, and it drives personalized support to create learning experiences that are both effective and engaging. Traditional approaches to predictive student modeling utilize features extracted from students’ interaction trace data to predict student test performance, aggregating student test performance as a single output label. We reformulate predictive student modeling as a multi-task learning problem, modeling questions from student test data as distinct “tasks.” We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by utilizing student data from a series of laboratory-based and classroom-based studies conducted with a game-based learning environment for microbiology education, Crystal Island. Using sequential representations of student gameplay, results show that multi-task stacked LSTMs with residual connections significantly outperform baseline models that do not use the multi-task formulation. Additionally, the accuracy of predictive student models is improved as the number of tasks increases. These findings have significant implications for the design and development of predictive student models in adaptive learning environments.
Body esteem, weight-control outcome expectancies, and e-cigarette use among young adults.

INTRODUCTION Evidence is still scarce regarding the use of e-cigarettes by young people for weight-control reasons. This study aimed to test a model in which the prospective association between negative body esteem and e-cigarette use is mediated by weight-control outcome expectancies for e-cigarette use. The model was tested across genders. METHODS Data were collected at three time points, 6 months apart, from 2327 young adults (mean age = 21.2; SD = 2.2; 54% women). Self-reported data were collected on demographics, body mass index, body esteem, weight-control outcome expectancies for e-cigarette use, and current e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking. RESULTS Among women, we found a significant indirect effect of lower body esteem on higher likelihood of current e-cigarette use 1 year later, mediated by higher weight-control outcome expectancies at 6-month follow-up, adjusting for demographics, body mass index, and baseline e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking. Among men, body esteem was not found to have significant effect on either weight-control expectancies or e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS Based on the current findings, young adult women who have higher negative body esteem are at increased risk for using e-cigarettes for weight-control motives. IMPLICATIONS The current findings are some of the first to show prospective associations among weight-control motives and e-cigarette use among young adults. These findings suggest that a group of vulnerable young women may be using e-cigarettes to lose or control weight. More research is needed to understand their choice of flavors, nicotine concentration, and device type. In addition, research is needed to understand whether e-cigarettes are being marketed, directly or indirectly, as being useful for weight loss or control. There may be a need for health promotion strategies that provide healthier alternatives to young women struggling with low body esteem who use e-cigarettes for weight loss or control.
Scalable Electrically Conductive Spray Coating Based on Block Copolymer Nanocomposites.

Currently available conductive inks present a challenge to achieving electrical performance without compromising mechanical properties, scalability, and processability. Here, we have developed blends of carbon black and the commercially available triblock copolymer (BCP), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)-g-maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MAH) (FG1924G, Kraton), that can be readily applied as a conductive coating via a spray-coating process, for a wide range of insulating materials (fabric, wood, glass, and plastic). Simple but effective mechanical and chemical modifications of the ingredients can increase the electrical conductivity (∼100 S/m) by an order of magnitude more than previously reported for carbon black composites; moreover, the coatings display excellent mechanical flexibility (tensile strain e ∼ 5.00 mm/mm). To correlate electrical conductivity and nanoscale structural changes with mechanical deformation, small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) during in situ tensile testing was performed. We show that the nanocomposite can be produced using low-cost ingredients (∼$ 10/kg), ensuring scalability for fabrication of large-scale devices without specialized material synthesis. Equally important, the phase behavior of block copolymers can enable recovery from physical damage via thermal annealing, which is critical for product longevity.
Action or inaction: United Nations Security Council activity, 1994–2013:

This article presents new data on the behavior of the United Nations Security Council from 1994 to 2013. Which international issues does the United Nations Security Council act upon? Which issues a...
Zika virus alters centrosome organization to suppress the innate immune response

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus transmitted via mosquitoes and sex to cause congenital neurodevelopmental defects, including microcephaly. Inherited forms of microcephaly (MCPH) are associated with disrupted centrosome organization. Similarly, we found that ZIKV infection disrupted centrosome organization. ZIKV infection disrupted the organization of centrosomal proteins including CEP63, a MCPH-associated protein. The ZIKV nonstructural protein NS3 bound CEP63, and expression of NS3 was sufficient to alter centrosome architecture and CEP63 localization. Loss of CEP63 suppressed ZIKV-induced centrosome disorganization, indicating that ZIKV requires CEP63 to disrupt centrosome organization. ZIKV infection or loss of CEP63 decreased the centrosomal localization and stability of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), a regulator of the innate immune response. ZIKV infection or loss of CEP63 also increased the centrosomal accumulation of the CEP63 interactors, Mindbomb1 (MIB1) and DTX4, ubiquitin ligases that respectively activate and degrade TBK1. Therefore, we propose that ZIKV NS3 binds CEP63 to increase centrosomal DTX4 localization and destabilization of TBK1, thereby tempering the innate immune response. In addition to identifying a mechanism by which CEP63 controls the innate immune responses in ZIKV infection, we propose that the altered centrosomal organization caused by altered CEP63 function may contribute to ZIKV-associated microcephaly.
Case 33-2020: A 55-Year-Old Man with Abdominal Pain, Joint Swelling, and Skin Lesions.

A Man with Abdominal Pain, Joint Swelling, and Skin Lesions A 55-year-old-man with a history of neurofibromatosis and chronic necrotizing pancreatitis presented with abdominal pain and recurrent pa...
Posttraumatic Growth in the Context of Grief: Testing the Mindfulness-to-Meaning Theory

In the context of traumatic grief, mindfulness might facilitate posttraumatic growth (PTG). The cognitive processes by which trait mindfulness predicts PTG, and for whom this pathway is most releva...
Antiplasmodial Compounds from Deep-Water Marine Invertebrates

Novel drug leads for malaria therapy are urgently needed because of the widespread emergence of resistance to all available drugs. Screening of the Harbor Branch enriched fraction library against the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine-resistant strain (Dd2) followed by bioassay-guided fractionation led to the identification of two potent antiplasmodials; a novel diterpene designated as bebrycin A (1) and the known C21 degraded terpene nitenin (2). A SYBR Green I assay was used to establish a Dd2 EC50 of 1.08 ± 0.21 and 0.29 ± 0.02 µM for bebrycin A and nitenin, respectively. Further analysis was then performed to assess the stage specificity of the inhibitors antiplasmodial effects on the Dd2 intraerythrocytic life cycle. Exposure to bebrycin A was found to block parasite maturation at the schizont stage if added any time prior to late schizogony at 42 hours post invasion, (HPI). In contrast, early life cycle exposure to nitenin (prior to 18 HPI) was identified as crucial to parasite inhibition, suggesting nitenin may target the maturation of the parasite during the transition from ring to early trophozoite (6-18 HPI), a novel property among known antimalarials.
Nightly Variation in Sleep Influences Self-efficacy for Adhering to a Healthy Lifestyle: A Prospective Study.

Self-efficacy, or the perceived capability to engage in a behavior, has been shown to play an important role in adhering to weight loss treatment. Given that adherence is extremely important for successful weight loss outcomes and that sleep and self-efficacy are modifiable factors in this relationship, we examined the association between sleep and self-efficacy for adhering to the daily plan. Investigators examined whether various dimensions of sleep were associated with self-efficacy for adhering to the daily recommended lifestyle plan among participants (N = 150) in a 12-month weight loss study. This study was a secondary analysis of data from a 12-month prospective observational study that included a standard behavioral weight loss intervention. Daily assessments at the beginning of day (BOD) of self-efficacy and the previous night’s sleep were collected in real-time using ecological momentary assessment. The analysis included 44,613 BOD assessments. On average, participants reported sleeping for 6.93 ± 1.28 h, reported 1.56 ± 3.54 awakenings, and gave low ratings for trouble sleeping (3.11 ± 2.58; 0: no trouble; 10: a lot of trouble) and mid-high ratings for sleep quality (6.45 ± 2.09; 0: poor; 10: excellent). Participants woke up feeling tired 41.7% of the time. Using linear mixed effects modeling, a better rating in each sleep dimension was associated with higher self-efficacy the following day (all p values < .001). Our findings supported the hypothesis that better sleep would be associated with higher levels of reported self-efficacy for adhering to the healthy lifestyle plan.
Learning and knowledge networks in interdisciplinary collaborations: Research Articles

Interdisciplinary collaboration has become of particular interest as science and social science research increasingly crosses traditional boundaries, raising issues about what kinds of information and knowledge exchange occurs, and thus what to support. Research on interdisciplinarity, learning, and knowledge management suggest the benefits of collaboration are achieved when individuals pool knowledge toward a common goal. Yet, it is not sufficient to say that knowledge exchange must take place; instead, we need to ask what kinds of exchanges form the basis of collaboration in these groups. To explore this, members of three distributed, interdisciplinary teams (one science and two social science teams) were asked what they learned from the five to eight others with whom they worked most closely, and what they thought those others learned from them. Results show the exchange of factual knowledge to be only one of a number of learning exchanges that support the team. Important exchanges also include learning the process of doing something, learning about methods, engaging jointly in research, learning about technology, generating new ideas, socialization into the profession, accessing a network of contacts, and administration work. Distributions of these relations show that there is more sharing of similar than different kinds knowledge, suggesting that knowledge may flow across disciplinary boundaries along lines of practice. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Agricultural extension educators' perceptions regarding the teaching and learning process related to water quality issues in the North Central Region of the United States

The North Central Region of the United States is the largest grain producer in the world. Therefore, the soil is intensively exploited which will eventually affect the water in this region. Most of the states in the NCR border the Mississippi River, thus contributing to the quality of water in the Gulf of Mexico. A review of related studies indicated a lack of suitable educational programs to assist farmers, communities, and extension agencies in understanding issues regarding water quality issues. However, these past studies did not focus on agricultural extension educators' perceptions regarding the teaching and learning process related to water quality issues. The purpose of this research was to determine agricultural extension educators' perceptions regarding the teaching-learning process focused on water quality issues and related to agricultural practices, additionally the study sought to identify the relationship between agricultural extension educators' perceptions and their motivation for learning about water quality. The study targeted 300 agricultural extension educators randomly selected to take part in the study in the N C R of the United States. Findings were based on 213 completed questionnaires, and non-response error was controlled enabling findings to be generalized over the population. Availability of time was the most limiting factor for agricultural extension educators to learn about water quality. Agricultural extension educators were more driven by intrinsic factors; they, themselves, were the driving force that motivated their extension work. Results of this study indicated that the most established source of motivation was self-concept, which implies agricultural extension educators in the NCR are inner-directed
Computer forensics: a critical need in computer science programs

The number of computer security incidents is growing exponentially and society's collective ability to respond to this crisis is constrained by the lack of trained professionals. The field of computer forensics is relatively new and this paper describes the discipline, its development, and critical issues associated with its practice. The increased use of the Internal and computer technology to commit crimes indicates an abuse of new developments that requires a response by those involved in law enforcement. Cyber crimes and many child-related sex crimes leave clear digital evidence that must be investigated by those who are trained in computer forensics. University computer science programs are perfectly suited to respond to this crisis. With minor changes, computer science programs can address the growing demand for forensics professionals.
Macroeconomic effects of terms-of-trade shocks : the case of oil-exporting countries

The authors investigate the impact on economic growth and development of long-run movements in the external terms of trade, with special reference to the experience of 18 oil-exporting countries between 1973 and 1989. They argue that this sample approximates a controlled experiment for examining the impact of unanticipated - but permanent - shocks to the terms of trade. They analyze the sample econometrically using panel data techniques. They find that permanent terms-of-trade shocks have a strongly significant positive effect on investment, which they justify theoretically on the grounds that countries in the sample import much of their capital equipment. The shocks also have a significant positive effect on consumption. Government consumption responds almost twice as strongly as private consumption. The shocks have no effect on savings and adversely affect the trade and current account balances. There is a significant positive effect on the output of all main categories of nontradables. But Dutch disease effects are strikingly absent. Agriculture and manufacturing do not contract in reaction to an oil price increase. Dutch disease effects may be absent in part because of policy-induced output restraints in the oil sector, or because of the enclave nature of the oil sector, which does not participate in domestic factor markets.
MUSE: A Content-Based Image Search and Retrieval System Using Relevance Feedback

The field of Content-Based Visual Information Retrieval (CBVIR) has experienced tremendous growth in the recent years and many research groups are currently working on solutions to the problem of finding a desired image or video clip in a huge archive without resorting to metadata. This paper describes the ongoing development of a CBVIR system for image search and retrieval with relevance feedback capabilities. It supports browsing, query-by-example, and two different relevance feedback modes that allow users to refine their queries by indicating which images are good or bad at each iteration.
Declining moisture availability on the Antarctic Peninsula during the Late Eocene

Abstract Paleobotanical data have indicated that the Antarctic landscape shifted from a beech (Nothofagus)-dominated forest to a more sparsely vegetated taiga-like woodland and tundra during the Late Eocene, coincident with progressive cooling and glacial growth. Reduced moisture availability may have contributed to this vegetation change, but there is limited evidence for assessing the Late Eocene hydrologic regime. We evaluated the relationship between Nothofagus δ13C and moisture availability by determining δ13C of modern Nothofagus pollen, sporopollenin, and leaves and comparing these results to precipitation data. To assess plant moisture availability and vegetation composition just prior to the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, we measured δ13C of fossil Nothofagus sporopollenin (Nothofagidites) from the SHALDRIL 3C cores (which date to ~ 35.9 My) and evaluated these results in the context of temporal variation in pollen assemblages from the same sediments. Values of carbon isotope discrimination (∆) for modern Nothofagus sporopollenin range between 18.1 and 22.4‰. These values are positively correlated with precipitation amount, as well as pollen and leaf ∆, which suggests that fossil sporopollenin ∆ records the level of plant moisture availability. ∆ values obtained from Nothofagidites sporopollenin from the SHALDRIL 3C sediments range between 17.9 and 20.2‰ and generally decline through time. These results suggest a decrease in plant moisture availability on the Antarctic Peninsula during the Late Eocene, perhaps as a result of declining precipitation and/or soil moisture. Therefore, moisture stress experienced by Nothofagus likely contributed to the shift to a more sparsely vegetated Late Eocene landscape. Our results show that carbon isotopic analysis of pollen from C3 plants may aid understanding how variations in moisture availability contribute to shifts in plant community composition in the paleorecord.
Redox chemistry over CeO2-based catalysts : SO2 reduction by Co or CH4

The catalytic reduction of SO2 to elemental sulfur by CO and CH4 over Cu-modified ceria catalysts is studied in this work. Doped and undoped ceria are active catalysts for the SO2 reduction by CO or CH4 in the temperature range 450‐7508C. When CO is used as the reductant, the reaction follows the redox mechanism, and formation of surface defects (oxygen vacancies) and ceria reducibility are important for catalyst activity. SO2 strongly adsorbs on the catalyst surface forming sulfates. Partial reduction of sulfate by CO is necessary for the reaction to light off and proceed at low temperatures. Addition of copper improves the low-temperature catalyst activity by increasing the reducibility of ceria and providing sites for CO adsorption. On the other hand, methane activation is limited by the thermal stability of surface sulfates. The activation of methane may involve surface oxygen species and partially reduced metal oxide sites at high temperature. Two independent reactions are proposed and used to explain the catalytic performance of ceria-based oxides in CH4aSO2 gas mixtures. One reaction leads to elemental sulfur and complete oxidation (CO2aH2O) products, while the second produces H2S and COaH2O under fuel-rich conditions. The addition of copper suppresses the latter, thus increasing the catalyst selectivity to elemental sulfur. The catalyst activity/selectivity studies were complemented by SO2 uptake experiments in a TGA and reduction studies of the asprepared and pre-sulfated catalysts in CO and methane, both isothermally and in the TPR mode. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
An algorithm for optimal difference systems of sets

Difference Systems of Sets (DSS) are combinatorial structures that generalize cyclic difference sets and are used in code synchronization. A DSS is optimal if the associated code has minimum redundancy for the given block length n, alphabet size q, and error-correcting capacity ρ. An algorithm for finding optimal DSS is presented together with tables of optimal solutions found by this algorithm.
Further Studies on the Ignition and Flame Quenching of Quiescent Dust Clouds

The ignition and quenching of dust clouds of carbon, graphite, coal, aluminium and magnesium have been investigated. New experimental data on quenching distance and minimum ignition energy of graphite and coal dust in air and in oxygen-nitrogen mixtures are reported. These results show the influence of particle size, volatile matter, dust concentration and oxygen enrichment on the ignition and quenching processes. To explain these and earlier experimental observations, a new formula for the quenching distance has been derived. This expression incorporates 'chemical reaction' and 'radiation heat loss' terms in addition to a 'diffusion' term, which is retained from its earlier version (Ballal 1980). The new formula shows a significantly better prediction of the old and the new experimental results. The importance of chemical reaction and radiation heat loss in the study of ignition and quenching of dust clouds is discussed. Also, a strong similarity between the ignition and quenching characteristics of dust clouds, fuel mists and gaseous fuel-air mixtures is elucidated.
Monotone images of W-sets and hereditarily weakly confluent images of continua

A proper subcontinuum H of a continuum X is said to be a W-set provided for each continuous surjective function f from a continuum Y onto X, there exists a subcontinuum C of Y that maps entirely onto H. Hereditarily weakly confluent (HWC) mappings are those with the property that each restriction to a subcontinuum of the domain is weakly confluent. In this paper, we show that the monotone image of a W-set is a W-set and that there exists a continuum which is not in class W but which is the HWC image of a class W continuum.
Chaos from nonlinear Markov processes: Why the whole is different from the sum of its parts

Abstract Nonlinear Markov processes have been frequently used to address bifurcations and multistability in equilibrium and non-equilibrium many-body systems. However, our understanding of the range of phenomena produced by nonlinear Markov processes is still in its infancy. We demonstrate that in addition to bifurcations and multistability nonlinear Markov processes can exhibit another key phenomena well known in the realm of nonlinear physics: chaos. It is argued that chaotically evolving process probabilities are a generic feature of many-body systems exhibiting nonlinear Markov processes even if the isolated subsystems do not exhibit chaos. That is, when considering a nonlinear Markov process as an entity of its own type, then the nonlinear Markov process in general is qualitatively different from its constituent subprocesses, which reflects that the many-body system as a whole is different from the sum of its parts.
Developmental dynamics and maturation of transplanted human embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors in the adult rodent CNS

Human embryonic stem cells (HESC) are an unlimited source of cells for stem cell therapies. We investigated the dynamics of integration of HESC-derived neural precursors (NPs) into host neural circuitry. Methods: NP cultures were derived from the NIH-approved HESC line BG01 with noggin in B27/N2-supplemented medium. These NPs were grafted into the forebrain and ventral brain stem of immunodeficient rats (NIH-RNU). Brain tissues were prepared at 6, 15 and 26 weeks post-grafting. Results: The HESC-NPs showed a site-dependent fate, i.e. a greater mitotic activity and ongoing neuroepithelial structure formation in the brain stem and a lower mitotic activity and eventual resolution and dedifferentiation of early neuroepithelial structures in the forebrain. The later almost disappeared at 15 weeks post-grafting. By 15 weeks, a large percentage (57.8–80.8%) had differentiated into early (TUJ-1[+]) neurons that extended axons along pre-established CNS pathways (cortico-striatal, internal capsule, external capsule) and formed dense synaptic fields, especially in the graft area in the form of local innervation and in the host subventricular zone (SVZ). An especially strong affinity for SVZ and the pia mater was noted. Some migration was seen along white matter tracts; in the case of ventral brain stem injections, migration of nestin/NCAM (+) precursors could be followed several segments down the cervical cord. The extensive ability of HESC-NPs to differentiate into neurons, migrate and possibly establish synaptic contacts with other graft and host cells demonstrates their potential to repair neural circuits damaged by either trauma or neurodegeneration. The successful outcomes of human NP xenografts in rats demonstrate the value of human-to-rodent experimental approaches in the preclinical evaluation of human ES cells. In addition, HESNPs may prove to be valuable instruments for studying novel inductive signals that influence not only graft differentiation and integration, but also host repair mechanisms, including neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity after trauma.
Teaching Religion in America's Public Schools: A Necessary Disruption

Religion plays an important role in social studies content and is difficult to ignore, especially because of current world events. In our global society, it is more important than ever to know about and understand the religious beliefs of others. The social studies curriculum is infused with religion, but teachers circumvent the issue, mistakenly citing the separation of church and state as an obstacle. This article examines assumptions and causes of our nation's confusion over the role of religion in schools. The authors conclude with suggestions for returning the study of religion to social studies classrooms.
Incorporating english descriptions into a relational database

Abstract Usability of database query languages is an important issue that has received considerable attention. A closely related issue that has not been addressed is the usability of the database itself. In this paper, an extended schema structure is described for incorporating English descriptions into a relational database. A query interpreter that utilizes the extended schema has been implemented as part of the REGIS relational information system, an interactive DBMS that has been in use at General Motors since 1975. REGIS accepts multiple-word phrases as the names of relations and attributes (unlike most systems, which restrict these names to a few characters). The extended schema is used to recognize multi-word names, even if some of the words are missing or out of order, and to prompt the user if an ambiguous name is entered. The result is a flexible and user-friendly environment for interactive data analysis. REGIS also provides facilities for attaching descriptive comments to data items, which can be displayed on-line or included in printed reports. Multi-word names and comments serve the dual purpose of telling the user what is in the database, and allowing the user to refer to data items by meaningful English names. For the new or occasional user of a database, the ability to work with meaningful names and to access descriptive information on-line can lead to a more pleasant and successful interaction.
Russian and the Pre‐Literate Language Learner: On the Development of a Methodology

When the author was asked to design an enrichment program in Russian language for four-year-olds and kindergartners, the available literature provided little assistance. Consequently, the experience became a laboratory in which to develop appropriate methods for teaching young learners. Lexical items were introduced and reviewed through visual aids, games, songs, and acting. Only grammatically correct material was utilized, although the issue of adjective-noun agreement was generally avoided and only limited verb forms were presented. Discussion of cultural material contrasted the lives of Soviet and American children. Although few of the children will continue to study Russian in grade school, perhaps the program's greatest strength has been to help dispel some misconceptions about the Soviet Union