cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On facilitated computation of mesoscopic behavior of reaction‐diffusion systems

Various cellular and subcellular biological systems occur in the conditions where both reactions and diffusion take place. Since the concentration of species varies spatially, application of reaction-diffusion master equation (RDME) has served as an effective method to handle these complicated systems; yet solving these equation incurs a large CPU time penalty. Counter to the traditional technique of generating many sample paths, this paper introduces a method which combines Grima's effective rate equation approach1with a linear operator formalism for diffusion to capture averaged species behaviors. The formulation also shows correct results at various choices of compartment sizes, which have been found to be an important factor that can affect accuracy of the final predictions.2 It is shown that the method presented allows the computation of the mesoscopic average of reaction-diffusion systems at considerably accelerated rates (exceeding a thousand fold) over those based on sample path averages. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Effects of Stimulus Type, Distance, and Instrument on High School Students’ Open String Tuning:

High school string orchestra students (N = 139) were measured on their ability to tune their instruments’ open A-string in response to either a pure tone stimulus or a complex tone stimulus within ...
ICSI Is a Revolutionary Treatment of Male Infertility That Should Be Employed Discriminately and Further Studied

The development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) as treatment of male infertility has revolutionized infertility therapy and allowed many couples to give birth to a child that otherwise would have been impossible. However, studies have demonstrated distinct differences in the fertilization process between ICSI and standard fertilization. These differences include altered sperm chromatin decondensation, differences in the function of sperm-derived enzymes, altered gene expression of resulting embryos, and a decreased number of cells in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. Recent studies highlight the potential effects of subtle differences in fertilization processes on the potential to alter downstream events, including epigenetic mechanisms, although it is not yet known if such differences are clinically relevant in increasing risk to offspring. Given that we are now beginning to better understand the potential effects of subtle epigenetic abnormalities and variations in affecting gene expression and health, and given the possibility that such differences may not be demonstrated in phenotypic differences until the offspring reaches a later stage of life, the long-term safety of ICSI has yet to be demonstrated. Medical and scientific prudence demand that until long-term follow-up studies of ICSI offspring are completed, caution should be taken in utilizing ICSI. Furthermore, current data demonstrate that universal use of ICSI does not result in an improved pregnancy rate or decreased risk of fertilization failure. Therefore, discriminate use of ICSI should be standard medical practice and ICSI should only be implemented when justified by documented medical necessity.
Occipitocervical and Upper Cervical Metastatic Spinal Disease

Patients with metastatic spinal disease of the occipitocervical junction and upper cervical spine can often present a treatment challenge to the practitioner. This is due to the unique bony anatomy of C1 and C2, complicated surrounding neurovascular anatomy, and unique regional spinal biomechanics. By incorporating information obtained from history and physical examination, assessment of overall medical condition, and imaging findings, the practitioner can help formulate a personalized treatment plan that reduces the risk of patient harm and maximizes potential benefit. This requires a multimodality treatment team approach with medical oncology, radiation oncology, and spine surgery all providing essential input in consultation with the patient. We provide an overview of the treatment strategy for patients that harbor tumors of this complicated spinal region.
Global Issues in Family Law

Global Issues in Family Law offers broad coverage of the international, comparative, and transnational legal questions that are increasingly important in the practice of Family Law. It considers global dimensions of the topics covered in an introductory course, including marriage, divorce, establishing parent-child relationships, parental rights and responsibilities, adoption and domestic violence, and addresses broader questions of private international law, human rights, and immigration and asylum rights. The book is intended to be accessible to students with no background in family law or international law, and also to be challenging for those interested in exploring the fascinating intersection of these two fields. For more information visit the companion site .
Adenyl Cyclase and the Cyclic AMP Responsive Systems in the Uterus

Thus far in this symposium, we have been treated to a detailed, thoughtful and elegant presentation of the current status of the steroid hormone responsive systems in various tissues. The role of the adenyl cyclase system in steroid hormone target tissues has received far less attention (1–3) so we initiated studies both to define its role in uterine function and ultimately to determine whether there is an interaction with the steroid responsive system. The uterus seemed like an ideal subject tissue for such studies because it serves as the target for a variety of hormones, including oligopeptides, biogenic amines and steroids.
Excitation energy deposition in central collisions of 40A MeV 40Ar with 232Th

Excitation energy depositions in the reactions of 40[ital A] MeV [sup 40]Ar with [sup 232]Th have been determined from measurements of neutron multiplicities in coincidence with mass identified heavy reaction products. For the most central collisions the derived excitation energies of 880 MeV are 200--300 MeV above previous estimates and in excellent agreement with momentum transfer systematics. Heavy evaporation residues are observed for these collisions indicating apparent dynamic delays in the fission channel of (1--5)[times]10[sup [minus]20] s. While a massive-transfer simulation incorporating preequilibrium emission is in generally good agreement with the experimental results evidence is also found for strongly damped collisions.
Rate of Sedimentation and Its Role in Nutrient Cycling in a Louisiana Salt Marsh

The Gulf Coast salt marshes in the deltaic plain of the Mississippi River are in a rapidly subsiding zone where accretion processes are important for maintenance of the marsh surface within the intertidal range. Incoming sediment is essential for maintaining the marsh surface and for supplying nutrients for plant growth. In an area that is apparently maintaining its surface with respect to sea level, 137Cs dating shows an accretion rate of 1.35 cm/yr. In an adjacent deteriorating marsh the sedimentation rate is 0.75 cm/yr, not enough to compensate for subsidence. The incoming sediment also is a major source of plant nutrients for Spartina alterniflora, with inputs as great as 231, 23.1 and 991 kg/ha of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively. Mineralization of these nutrients in the sediment provides a significant portion of the plant’s requirements, but growth of salt marsh plants is still limited by available nitrogen, as addition of nitrogen fertilizer confirms.
Adapting Pivotal Response Treatment to Support the Families of High-Risk Infants

Pivotal response treatment (PRT) is a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment model for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This chapter will detail the development of PRT and introduce the basic behavioral and motivational strategies used to enhance social engagement, language, and play for young children with ASD. PRT has traditionally relied upon “parent training” or “parent education” as an integral component of intervention, and research studies focused on the parent-training components of PRT will be described. We also provide a rationale for earlier intervention to improve prognosis and enhance developmental gains for individuals with ASD. Thus, this chapter will address the justification and methods for adapting PRT for families of high-risk infants under 24 months of age and describe how a naturalistic, developmental, behavioral approach that targets social motivation is ideally suited for infant intervention. Preliminary research presented here suggests that the motivational strategies of PRT can be effective for improving social engagement and social communication for infants within the first two years of life.
Extending Polymatroid Set Functions With Curvature and Bounding the Greedy Strategy

Consider the problem of choosing a set of actions to optimize a real-valued polymatroid function subject to matroid constraints. The greedy strategy provides an approximate solution to the optimization problem, and it is known to satisfy some performance bounds in terms of the total curvature. But the total curvature depends on the values of the objective function on sets outside the matroid. If we are given a function defined only on the matroid, the problem still makes sense, but the existing bounds involving the total curvature do not apply. This motivates an alternative formulation of such bounds. We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of an extension of a polymatroid function defined on the matroid to one defined on the whole power set. Our results give rise to bounds for systems satisfying the necessary and sufficient conditions, which apply to problems where the objective function is defined only on the matroid. When the objective function is defined on the entire power set, the bounds we derive in general improve over the previous ones. To illustrate our results, we present a task scheduling problem.
Correlations between Body Mass Index, Plasma High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Lipids in Patients with Schizophrenia.

High prevalence of obesity in individuals with schizophrenia, associated with metabolic syndrome, leads to high rate of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Body mass index (BMI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are correlated in the general population but this relationship has not been fully elucidated in patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the correlation between BMI and CRP while relating both variables to plasma lipids in patients with schizophrenia. BMI, fasting high sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), cotinine, and lipids were measured in 106 patients with schizophrenia (diagnosis confirmed with MINI). Pearson’s and partial correlations (adjusting for age, sex, race, education and cotinine) between BMI, hs-CRP and lipids were calculated. Based on BMI, the patients were divided into normal-weight vs. overweight/obese and t-tests and linear regression were done to compare hs-CRP and lipids in the 2 groups. BMI positively correlated with hs-CRP (r = 0.29, p = 0.004). BMI and hs-CRP negatively correlated with HDL in the total sample (r = −0.29, p = 0.004; r = −0.37, p < 0.001 respectively). Furthermore, hs-CRP negatively correlated with HDL in overweight/obese patients (r = −0.41, p = 0.003), but not in normal-weight patients. hs-CRP and triglycerides were higher (1.62 ± 0.09 mg/L vs. 0.56 ± 0.08 mg/L, p < 0.001; 121.77 ± 8.96 mg/dL vs. 91.23 ± 6.52 mg/dL, p = 0.008 respectively) and HDL lower (39.55 ± 1.48 mg/dL vs. 50.68 ± 2.24 mg/dL, p < 0.001) in overweight/obese patients. Being overweight/obese is associated with increased inflammation and dyslipidemia in patients with schizophrenia. Effective interventions to prevent weight gain in schizophrenia are urgently needed.
Language Economics and Issues of Planning for Minority Languages in Africa

This chapter addresses the perennial question of defining the role of Africa’s indigenous languages in juxtaposition with former colonial languages in education. Traditionally, African countries have addressed this question by focusing on the production but with no attention to the reception of language policy. Haarmann (Int J Sociol Lang 86:103–126, 1990) describes the former as legislation about the status of languages in a polity and the latter as the population’s attitude, negative or positive, toward the policy. This chapter considers both the production and reception of language policy in Africa. Drawing on theoretical developments in language economics (Grin et al. The economics of the multilingual workplace. Routledge, London/New York, 2010) and critical theory (Tollefson, Language policy in a time of crisis and transformation. In: Tollefson JW (ed) Language policies in education – critical issues, 2nd edition, Routledge, New York/London, pp 11–34, 2013; Bourdieu 1990), it argues that any language policy designed to promote Africa’s indigenous languages in education must demonstrate economic advantages if the intent is to succeed (Kamwangamalu, Lang Probl Lang Plann 34:1–23, 2010; Language policy and economics – the language question in Africa. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2016).
Ruthenium catalyzed copolymerization of 2-acetylphenanthrene and α,ω-dienes

Copolymers with 2-aceto-1,3-phenanthrenylene units in the chain have been directly prepared by Ru catalyzed step-growth copolymerization of 2-acetyl phenanthrene and α,ω-dienes such as 1,3-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane. Copolymers which incorporate 2-aceto-1,3-phenanthrenylene units possess higher TgS and increased thermal stability compared to analogous copolymers which have 2-aceto-5-phenyl-1,3-phenylene(biphenyl) or 2-aceto-1,3-phenylene units. Fluorescence spectra of these copolymers have been obtained.
Abstract 1087: Bone-resident neutrophils are mediators of prostate cancer growth in bone

Bone metastatic prostate cancer (BM-PCa) significantly reduces overall patient survival and is currently incurable. Current standard immune therapies have shown promising results for patients with less advanced disease (fewer than 20 bone lesions) suggesting that PCa growth in bone contributes to immunotherapeutic response. Gaining a better understanding of the immunogenicity of BM-PCa may present a new therapeutic approach for treating mCRPC. In bone, prostate cancer cells hijack the behavior of bone resident cells, inducing excessive bone degradation and release of bone-sequestered growth factors, such as transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ), that promote a “vicious cycle” of tumor progression. Findings from my lab revealed that: 1) BM-PCa stimulates bone stromal expression of Interleukin 8 (IL-8), a potent chemoattractant for polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), innate immune cells generated in bone marrow, and 2) PMNs heavily infiltrate the prostate tumor-bone microenvironment. Recent studies demonstrated the existence of two distinct PMN populations: anti-tumoral (N1) and immunosuppressive pro-tumoral (N2) PMNs, with emergence of the latter regulated by TGFβ. RealTime qPCR revealed that bone metastatic C42B prostate cancer significantly increases neutrophil expression of TGFβ receptor and MMP9, a trend previously identified as a marker of pro-tumoral neutrophils. Based upon these findings, we hypothesized that bone metastatic prostate cancer skews neutrophils to a pro-tumoral phenotype in a TGFβ-dependent manner. To test this, bone marrow-derived primary neutrophils were treated with conditioned media from metastatic metastatic prostate cancer cells (C42B) and poorly metastatic LNCaP and gene expression and oxidative burst were measured. Similar to previous findings, C42B stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by PMNs, a mechanism of immunosuppression utilized by N2 PMNs, and induced anti-inflammatory gene expression. In contrast, LNCaP cells failed to stimulate this response. C42B media promoted PMN expansion, a phenomenon that is reversed by TGFβ-blockade. Surprisingly, direct contact with neutrophils significantly increased luminescence of luciferase-expressing C42B cells independently of cell growth, when compared to LNCaP, demonstrating that neutrophils activate alternate protein signaling in metastatic cells compared to non-metastatic. In vivo intratibial models utilizing antibody-mediated neutrophil depletion validated our hypothesis that neutrophils are critical mediators of prostate cancer growth in bone. These results demonstrate the significant role of neutrophils in the progression of bone metastatic prostate cancer. Citation Format: Leah M. Cook, Diane Costanzo-Garvey, Tyler Keeley. Bone-resident neutrophils are mediators of prostate cancer growth in bone [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1087.
Distributed control of generation in a transmission grid with a high penetration of renewables

Deviations of grid frequency from the nominal frequency are an indicator of the global imbalance between generation and load. Two types of control, a distributed proportional control and a centralized integral control, are currently used to keep frequency deviations small. Although generation-load imbalance can be very localized, both controls primarily rely on frequency deviation as their input. The time scales of control require the outputs of the centralized integral control to be communicated to distant generators every few seconds. We reconsider this control/communication architecture and suggest a hybrid approach that utilizes parameterized feedback policies that can be implemented in a fully distributed manner because the inputs to these policies are local observables at each generator. Using an ensemble of forecasts of load and time-intermittent generation representative of possible future scenarios, we perform a centralized off-line stochastic optimization to select the generator-specific feedback parameters. These parameters need only be communicated to generators once per control period (60 minutes in our simulations). We show that inclusion of local power flows as feedback inputs is crucial and reduces frequency deviations by a factor of ten. We demonstrate our control on a detailed transmission model of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Our findings suggest that a smart automatic and distributed control, relying on advanced off-line and system-wide computations communicated to controlled generators infrequently, may be a viable control and communication architecture solution. This architecture is suitable for a future situation when generation-load imbalances are expected to grow because of increased penetration of time-intermittent generation.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with unfavorable pathologic features, increased postoperative mortality, and worse long-term survival in resected pancreatic cancer

Abstract Background The risk of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is increased in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly in those with new-onset DM. However, the impact of DM on outcomes following pancreatic surgery is not fully understood. We sought to explore the effects of DM on post-resection outcomes in patients undergoing either upfront resection or following neoadjuvant treatment (NAT). Methods Resections for PDAC between 2007 and 2016 were identified from a prospectively-maintained database. Data on demographics, pathology, and perioperative outcomes were compared between patients with or without DM. Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves and adjusted for confounders by a Cox-proportional hazards model. Results 662 patients were identified, of whom 277 (41.8%) had DM. Diabetics were more likely to be male, had higher BMI, and higher ASA-scores. At pathology, DM was associated with larger tumors (30 vs. 26 mm; p = 0.041), higher rates of lymph-node involvement (69% vs. 59%; p = 0.031) and perineural invasion (88% vs. 82%; p = 0.026). Despite having similar rates of complications, diabetics experienced higher 30-day mortality (3.2% vs. 0.8%; p = 0.019). Median overall survival was worse in diabetic patients (18 vs. 34 months; p Conclusion DM is a common comorbidity in PDAC and is associated with unfavorable pathology, as well as worse postoperative and oncologic outcomes. The blunted effect on survival is more pronounced in patients who undergo resection following NAT.
Using Computerized Language Analysis to Evaluate Grammatical Skills

Purpose Conducting in-depth grammatical analyses based on language samples can be time consuming. Developmental Sentence Scoring (DSS) and the Index of Productive Syntax (IPSyn) analyses provide detailed information regarding the grammatical profiles of children and can be conducted using free computer-based software. Here, we provide a tutorial to support clinicians' use of computer-based analyses to aid diagnosis and develop and monitor treatment goals. Method We analyzed language samples of a 5-year-old with developmental language disorder and an adolescent with Down syndrome using computer-based software, Computerized Language Analysis. We focused on DSS and IPSyn analyses. The tutorial includes step-by-step procedures for conducting the analyses. We also illustrate how the analyses may be used to assist in diagnosis, develop treatment goals focused on grammatical targets, and monitor progress on these treatment goals. Conclusion Clinicians should consider using Computerized Language Analysis's IPSyn and DSS analyses to support grammatical language assessments used to aid diagnosis, develop treatment goals, and monitor progress on these treatment goals. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.12021141.
Unpacking the decline in food waste measured in Chinese households from 1991 to 2009

Food waste reduction is an explicit goal for many countries, yet a paucity of highquality primary measurements of food waste are available to inform policy. We analyze repeated physical measurements of discarded food from more than 37,000 households enrolled in the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) from 1991 to 2009 and describe relevant food waste patterns and trends within households over a period of dramatic change. Over a period in which average real household incomes tripled, food discarded per person declined by about 20% on a quantity basis and by about 40% on a Calorie basis during the study, with an estimated annual per capita household waste of 14.9 kg in 2009. Comparing across households within narrower periods of the data, we find changing associations between income and food waste, with a weakly negative association during the 1990s and a significant positive association during the 2000s. Carbohydrates, particularly grains and vegetables and fruits, experienced the greatest reduction in waste. Food waste reduction rates over the study period were greatest among small households and rural households. Certain characteristics were associated with higher per person waste levels throughout the study period, including rural residence, intense physical activity levels, and a lack of home refrigeration.
Symbiotic quadratic soliton mode-locked non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators

We analytically and numerically unveil the existence condition of symbiotic solitons in doubly resonant non-degenerate optical parametric oscillators. Resonant signal and idler with terahertz comb bandwidth and femtosecond pulse duration in the mid-infrared are attainable through this symbiotic soliton mode-locking technique. The group velocity mismatches between the three interacting waves are the dominant cause of the symbiotic soliton perturbation, and their effects are numerically investigated in detail. The principle can be applied to commonly used mid-infrared material platforms, making it a competitive ultrashort pulse and broadband comb source architecture.
Housing Policy in Australia: A Case for System Reform

Housing Policy in Australia is the first textbook to be published in decades on that country’s housing situation. But it is much more than a textbook, as sorely needed as that is. The book is also,...
Mental Modes: Priming of Expertise-Based Dispositions in Expertise-Unrelated Contexts

Why does the general demeanor of others change as soon as they begin to ‘talk shop’ or do something else that puts them into ‘work-mode’? We propose that such phenomena reflect an instance of incidental priming in which environmental cues activate actional ‘sets’ formed through extensive training in a particular domain (e.g., music). Accordingly, we demonstrated that, by activating a ‘musician set,’ incidental musically-related stimuli prime musicians to spend more time on a domain-irrelevant task rehearsing nonsense words as compared to controls or non-primed musicians, as this set should involve a tendency towards deliberative practice. This finding provides additional evidence for a central tenet of social cognition research—that the mere presence of ambient stimuli influences behavioral dispositions systematically, in ways that often escape one’s awareness.
No effect of cycling shoe sole stiffness on sprint performance

Most competitive and recreational road cyclists use stiff-soled shoes designed for cycling and ‘clipless’ pedals that firmly attach to the shoes. There are many unsubstantiated claims by cyclists a...
Wetland Farming and the Early Anthropocene: Globally Upscaling from the Maya Lowlands with LiDAR and Multiproxy Verification

Of multiple ways to assess the geography of the early Anthropocene, three ongoing efforts are establishing the extent, intensity, and chronology of human impacts on landscapes and connecting impact...
Perpetuating Inequality by Taxing Wealth

Proposals to “fix” the estate tax by making it both more far-reaching and meaningful are plentiful. While these suggested improvements are reasonable, and even modest, they have failed to confront an important part of Graetz and Shapiro’s book, Death by a Thousand Cuts: stories trump science. This Article attempts to correct this shortcoming in the progressive argument by returning narrative to its central place in the estate tax debate. Drawing on psychological insights, I hope to underscore the difficulty of the effort to preserve progressive taxation and combat wealth inequality. I argue that the proposals have not confronted the underlying narratives that estate tax abolitionists have advanced. I use System Justification Theory to explain the entrenched and persistent nature of these narratives.
The prevalence and impact of pre-existing sleep disorder diagnoses and objective sleep parameters in patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

Study Objectives:Obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep disorders overlap with comorbidities associated with poor outcomes related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. How...
Numerical methodology for spontaneous wrinkling of centrally ignited premixed flames – linear theory

An improved embedded-manifold/Navier–Stokes numerical methodology is developed to simulate the propagation of premixed flames within the context of the hydrodynamic theory. The method is computatio...
Capronia harrisiana (Ascomycota, Chaetothyriales), a new lichenicolous species on Crocodia aurata from the southern Appalachian Mountains of southeastern North America

Capronia harrisiana, a lichenicolous fungus on the tripartite foliose lichen Crocodia aurata, is described as new to science. Although the host species is widespread in many areas of the world, no species of Capronia has previously been reported from Crocodia aurata, and Capronia harrisiana appears to be endemic to the southern Appalachian Mountains in southeastern North America. The new species is characterized by 50–120 µm wide ascomata, 40–95 µm long setae, (1–)3-septate, pale brown, 11.9–15.7 × 4.4–5.8 µm ascospores, and an I+ red hymenium. An updated key to the lichenicolous species of Capronia is provided.
Geographic Mapping as a Tool for Identifying Communities at High Risk for Fires

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the sample of older adults in a home fire safety (HFS) study captured participants living in the areas at highest risk for fire occurrence. The secondary aim was to identify high risk areas to focus future HFS interventions. Geographic information systems software was used to identify census tracts where study participants resided. Census data for these tracts were compared with participant data based on seven risk factors (ie, age greater than 65 years, nonwhite race, below high school education, low socioeconomic status, rented housing, year home built, home value) previously identified in a fire risk model. The distribution of participants and census tracts among risk categories determined how well higher risk census tracts were sampled. Of the 46 census tracts where the HFS intervention was implemented, 78% (n = 36) were identified as high or severe risk according to the fire risk model. Study participants' means for median annual family income (P Language: en
Small‐Sample Statistics

The notion of small-sample or small-n statistics was first developed by Gosset, a statistician working at the Guinness Brewery in the United Kingdom. One of his duties was to analyze samples of freshly brewed stout. Due to the inherent variability in the nature of the brewing process and the length of time required to test samples, Gosset experimented with the idea of substantially reducing the number of samplings to be taken from the very large number of available barrels. He found that the sampling distribution for small samples differed markedly from the normal distribution. Further, the distribution changed depending on the size of the sample, giving rise to a whole family of distributions. The results of his experiments with small samples led to the development of the t distribution, which Gosset published in 1908 using the pseudonym Student. In addition to being the first to recognize and deal with the problem of small samples, Gosset was also the first to combine experimental design with statistical testing and probably also the first to suggest anything like the .05 level as a reasonable criterion for rejecting the null hypothesis. Although not immediately recognized as such, Gosset's work with small samples was a critical breakthrough in the history of statistics, leading to the development of a number of other procedures, including the analysis of variance. Keywords: confidence interval; nonparametric statistical tests; parametric statistical tests; statistics in psychology
Using a spherical microphone array for identification of airborne sound transmission paths

The identification of airbone sound transmission path using a spherical microphone array was discussed. In the new technique ASTM E90 and E336 and ISO 140-3 and 140-4 provides means of rating the sound insulation performance of partitions in the laboratory or in the field. The present approach seems capable of identifying weak sports in a reliable and effective manner. The new technique was effective under condition of high reverberation and showed that the detectability of the defects varied with frequency.
Barriers to Market Discipline: A Comparative Study of Mortgage Market Reforms

This paper explores mortgage market reforms in the U.S. and U.K. in response to the recent mortgage market crisis. Two issues are examined. First, the paper explores the extent to which regulatory bodies have recognized behavioral barriers to market discipline on the part of not only consumers but also industry actors. Second the paper examines the varied response in the U.S. and U.K. to both market limitations and behavioral limitations to self-protection and self-discipline that led to unsafe lending practices in the period 2003 through 2007. The greater emphasis on rules-based regulation in the U.S. after 2008 is compared with the continued reliance primarily on principles-based regulation in the U.K. This difference, however, is not what will determine future outcomes. Rather, the main finding is that future compliance with safety and soundness requirements will depend on a regulatory policy and enforcement record that will alter the industry’s past conclusion that evasion, or even noncompliance, with legal requirements is a reasonable business decision based on cost-benefit evaluations. In light of that finding, the U.K.’s new enforcement policy and record is far more likely to lead to compliance than the light-touch enforcement policy and record that has continued in the U.S.
The influence of sky conditions on the standardized calibration of pyranometers and on the measurement of global solar irradiation

Abstract Global solar irradiance measurement is used for applications such as verifying satellite measurements, studying the distribution and variation of the radiation received or estimating the energy yield of solar plants. This measurement is directly influenced by the reference calibration coefficient and uncertainty of the field pyranometer used. The radiometer calibration laboratory of CENER is accredited by ENAC (Spanish National Accreditation Body) since 2010 according to ISO 9847:1992 for the calibration of field pyranometers via comparison to a reference pyranometer. The accreditation’s scope covers calibrations “type Ia” (outdoor horizontal calibrations for meteorological and resource measurements, part 5.2.2, annex B.2). For the outdoor calibration, the methodology takes three different sky conditions into account: stable cloudless sky conditions, unstable sky conditions with some clouds or cloudy sky conditions. The classification criteria described by the standard have been enhanced for an easier application, establishing additional radiometric conditions, especially for unstable sky conditions with some clouds. Detailed criteria are based on CENER’s experience in solar collector testing and on the experimental CENER BSRN station (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) measurements and total sky camera images. In this study, several calibration coefficient results have been analyzed in order to validate the three different methodologies regarding the sky conditions mentioned before. The calibration coefficient can be slightly different depending on the sky conditions and the calibration methodology; therefore global solar irradiance measurements can differ too. The influence of this dependency has been evaluated in order to estimate the monthly and yearly global solar irradiation.
EARLY INTERVENTION MEDIATION

Early Intervention Mediation was a fifteen-month research project conducted at the Court of Domestic Relations of Hamilton County, Ohio. The project's intent was to test the efficacy of the early introduction of mediation to resolve parenting issues. The project involved ordering half of all divorcing parents, who were unable to agree on custody arrangements for their children, to attend mediation within six weeks after filing for divorce. The other half of divorcing parents were a control group who followed existing court procedures. At the conclusion of the project, results were compared between the two groups. In 61% of divorce cases ordered to mediation, parenting issues were fully resolved. Families were spared damaging and costly litigation, and the court reduced judicial hours.
Homogeneous detection of cyanobacterial DNA via polymerase chain reaction.

Aims: To design a primer set enabling the identification through PCR of high-quality DNA for routine and high-throughput genomic screening of a diverse range of cyanobacteria. Methods and Results: A codon-equivalent multiple alignment of the phycocyanin alpha-subunit coding sequence (cpcA) of 22 cyanobacteria was generated and analysed to produce a single degeneracy primer set with virtually uniform product size. Also, an 18S ribosomal RNA detection set is proposed for rejecting false positives. The primer sets were tested against five diverse cyanobacteria, Chlorella vulgaris, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Escherichia coli. All five cyanobacteria showed positive amplification of cpcA product with homogeneous fragment length, and no products were observed for any other organism. Additionally, the only product formation observed for the 18S rRNA set was in C. vulgaris and S. cerevisiae. Conclusions: The newly proposed primer set served as effective check primers for cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria gDNA had a positive, homogenous result, while other bacteria, eukaryotes and alga tested were negative. Significance and Impact of the Study: These novel, broad-spectrum primers will greatly increase the utility of PCR on newly discovered cyanobacterial species.
A Proximate Mirror: Greenhouse Gas Rules and Strategic Behavior Under the US Clean Air Act

The development of climate policy in the United States mirrors international developments, with efforts to initiate a coordinated approach giving way to jurisdictions separately taking actions. The centerpiece of US policy is regulation in the electricity sector that identifies a carbon emissions rate standard (intensity standard) for each state but leaves to states the design of policies, including potentially the use of technology policies, emissions rate averaging, or cap and trade. Differences in policies among states within the same power market could promote predatory behavior resulting in a geographic shift in generation and investment in new resources. This paper examines the coordination problem using a detailed partial equilibrium model of operations and investment. We demonstrate that leading jurisdictions have available a rich set of design options including targetted output based allocation that would impose costs on neighbors and may protect against strategic predation.
Growth of α‐Al2O3 Within a Transition Alumina Matrix

The growth of α-Al2O3 from a planar specimen of thermally grown γ-alumina on a molybdenum transmission electron microscope grid was studied. The α-Al2O3 grows into the transition alumina matrix and then thickens via a ledge growth mechanism. Faceted Mo crystallites cause pinning of α-Al2O3 ledges and are larger on α-Al2O3 than on the transition alumina matrix.
Brussels Bound: Policy Experience and Candidate Selection in European Elections

Parties in list systems must select candidates to best accomplish their electoral, organizational, and policy goals. In particular, parties must balance nominees’ policy-making potential against ot...
Variations in Brain Death Declaration: A Worldwide Survey (P4.298)

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the practice of brain death declaration on an international level. BACKGROUND: The concept of brain death has evolved since first delineated in the 1960s. In 1995 the AAN published evidence-based practice parameters, most recently updated in 2010, to provide an algorithmic, universal step-by-step approach to brain death determination. DESIGN/METHODS: An electronic survey was distributed to physicians with reputed knowledge of brain death via the Neurocritical Care Society, published correspondence addresses, and personal contacts. RESULTS: The response rate was 71.5% (88 of 123 countries contacted); 28% of respondents (n=25) were from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Respondents were neurointensivists (n=17, 19%), non-neurologist intensivists (n=19, 22%), neurologists (n=42, 48%) and physicians from other relevant subspecialties (n=10, 12%).Most countries (77%, n=68) reported the presence of a formal institutional protocol. Among those hospitals without a provision for brain death, 80% (n=15) were from LMICs; the most common reasons cited for the absence of brain death declaration were ‘no advanced technology/ICU care’ (n=15, 77%) and ‘no physician expertise’ (n=12, 62%). Countries with an organized transplant network were more likely to have a brain death provision compared with countries without (54/62, 87% vs. 6/24, 25%, p<0.001). Marked variability was noted in requisite examination findings, execution of apnea testing, necessity and type of ancillary testing, as well as the number and minimum qualifications of physicians required for declaration. Distinct criteria for declaration in children were common (56%, n=38). CONCLUSIONS: This recent worldwide survey demonstrates that the concept of brain death is widely established, but marked differences remain in the practice of declaration, even amongst neurological specialists. We expand on the previous reports by adding 26 countries and exploring additional parameters. These differences may be due to cultural, religious and legal reasons, personal concepts of brain death or a combination of these influences. Disclosure: Dr. Wahlster has nothing to disclose. Dr. Wijdicks has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Neurocritical Care. Dr. Patel has nothing to disclose. Dr. Greer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Hemphill has received personal compensation for activities with Ornim as an advisory board member, and in medicolegal matters. Dr. Hemphill has received research support from Cerebrotech Medical. Dr. Mateen has nothing to disclose.
The tongue thrust controversy: background and recommendations.

This article reviews oral form and function interactions pertinent to tongue thrust and provides guidelines for selecting cases and planning treatment. Anterior tongue positioning during speech and...
Influence of surface albedo on the change in the atmospheric radiation balance due to aerosols

Abstract Using an initial value radiative-convective atmospheric model we show that atmospheric aerosols can produce either heating or cooling, depending on the surface albedo. The model, a modification of that of Manabe, Strickler and Weatherald, consists of 9 points vertically and includes effects of CO2, H2O, O3, low-lying aerosols and three layers of clouds. Both solar and terrestrial fluxes are calculated. Absolute humidity is assumed to be constant. For input parameters characteristic of 35°N latitude in April and surface short wave albedos, ωs, of 0.07 and 0.3, the model predicts cooling due to aerosols. However, when ωs is increased to 0.6, heating is predicted. A plot of surface temperature change, ΔTs, vs mean aerosol extinction coefficient in the visible per kilometer, σvis, (for ωs = 0.3) has a minimum at σvis ≈ 3. Similar plots for ωs = 0.07 and 0.6 show a leveling-off of ΔTs with increasing σvis.
Understanding Poverty Rate Dynamics in Moderately Poor Urban Neighborhoods: A Competitive Perspective

This study introduces a framework to model moderate-to-high poverty transition in urban neighborhoods using their relative competitive positions within metropolitan areas. Relative competitive position is measured by a variety of neighborhood attributes, including resident and neighborhood characteristics, locational attributes, among others. The model was estimated using the decennial census, using tracts from 1990 and 2000 as proxies for neighborhoods. Results indicate that the competitive model works well as a method to evaluate neighborhood poverty transition. Neighborhoods with relatively unfavorable competitive positions within a metropolitan area experience more poverty growth and therefore are likely to have more concentrated poverty in the future. Based on the results, several recommendations are made to intervene. These include promoting public transit, immigrant assimilation programs, among others.
Dietary intake of fluoride ashed (total fluoride) v . unashed (inorganic fluoride) analysis of individual foods

Fluoride content in ninety-three individual food items from a hospital in a fluoridated area was determined by ashing (total fluoride) v. unashing (inorganic fluoride) analysis. No discrepancy between the two methods was found by food group but two dry cereals and black pepper did show significantly more fluoride after ashing. The reason for the unavailability before ashing was not determined. Daily fluoride intake was estimated at 1.783 mg which is midway between the 1.211 and 2.201 mg reported from studies in which composite diets were analysed. Daily intake from food at 0.4 mg was one-quarter of the daily total intake 1.8 mg; a ratio consistent with those previously reported in serum, urine and bone between residents from a non-fluoridated v. fluoridated community.
Translational and internal energy effects in reactions of O+ and O+2 with SiF4

Abstract Guided ion beam techniques are used to measure the cross sections as a function of kinetic energy for reaction of SiF 4 with O + ( 4 S) and O + 2 ( 2 Π g , ν = O). Reactions of excited O + 2 ions are also examined and are found to react more efficiently than ground state ions. The major reactions are dissociative charge transfer processes, although O + also reacts to form OF + SiF + 3 efficiently and O + 2 reacts to form minor amounts of SiOF + x ( x = 1−3).
Relations of tobacco mosaic virus and barley stripe mosaic virus to their host cells as revealed by ultrathin tissue-sectioning for the electron microscope

Abstract Electron microscopic examination of over 1000 ultrathin sections of epidermal, mesophyll, and hair cells of mature and embryonic leaves of tobacco and tomato systemically infected with tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) failed to demonstrate the presence of rod-shaped particles resembling TMV except in cells containing crystalline inclusion bodies. Similarly, characteristic TMV particles could not be found in sections of cells adjacent to necrotic lesions on Nicotiana glutinosa L. or Datura stramonium L., although these cells were involved in virus synthesis as evidenced by cytological degeneration, infectivity assay, and particle counts of expressed sap. These results support the concept that the biologically active, replicating form of TMV in the cell is smaller than the typical 300-mμ-long nucleoprotein rod found in expressed sap and intracellular virus crystals. In contrast, rod-shaped particles resembling those associated with barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) were easily demonstrated in cytoplasm of mesophyll and epidermal cells of barley leaves infected with this virus. The apparent restricted localization of BSMV-like particles within the cytoplasm of infected cells suggests that this virus may be replicated therein. Electron micrographs support the view that plasmodesmata are continuous protoplasmic connections between adjacent cells of tobacco leaves and are, in many instances, of sufficient magnitude to allow passage of TMV in the form of intact nucleoprotein rods.
A geometric model for measurement of surface distance, surface area, and volume from tomographic images

Surface area and volume are essential measurements in the morphometric assessment of anatomical structures. New algorithms were developed to measure (1) distance along a curve, (2) surface area, and (3) volume using data extracted from tomographic images as a geometrical surface model. The model is a list of coordinates and normal vectors for each voxel or point gathered from the surface of a selected object. The resulting surface‐based pointlist is also used for high‐speed rendering of surfaces. Differential arclength and surface area are measured with high numeric precision by using the absolute value of the maximum component of the unit normal vector (MUNC) to approximate their values. These differential values are summed to measure distance along a curve and surface area. A discrete form of the Divergence theorem, also using the MUNC, is used to calculate volume. The intrinsic accuracy of the measurement algorithms was evaluated using computer generated pointlists of circles, ellipses, spheres, and ellipsoids. Compared to standard measurement techniques, the new algorithms provided the greatest accuracy and least shape‐related bias for measurement of distance, surface area, and volume. Feasibility of using the new algorithms to measure physical objects was tested with CT images of spherical, egg‐shaped, and irregular shaped objects. The Dividing Cubes algorithm was used to segment and create pointlists from the CT data. Volume and surface area measurements from CT data compared extremely well with reference values for most objects tested (errors <2%).