cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Policy failure and public support: The Iran-Contra affair and public assessment of President Reagan

The Iran-Contra affair is an example of the type of event that is expected to give rise to a “rally” of public opinion behind the president. However, the public's response to this event, uncharacteristically, was a sharp decrease in support for President Reagan. This case study constitutes an attempt to explore the sources of the public opinion response to foreign policy events. Statements of political elites, news coverage and commentary, and public opinion assessments are examined to test the patriotism, priming, and opinion leadership explanations of the rally phenomenon. The actions of opinion leaders appears to provide the best explanation of the differential public response to the Iran-Contra affair.
“Snowball” and other control groups

Abstract In the Spring of 1973, the Office of Research and Development of the Appalachian Center, West Virginia University, began an evaluation of the University's mining extension program. Since all interested miners are allowed to enroll in the course, the only feasible way to obtain a control group was to use the “snowball process.” This paper examines how well the snowball process did in producing a control group which matched the trainees. While the trainees and controls seemed well matched on many demographic characteristics they differed on several variables, particularly attitudes.
Coordination of medical care and opioid dependence treatment in primary care: a case report.

(2003). Coordination of medical care and opioid dependence treatment in primary care: A case report. Substance Abuse: Vol. 24, No. 1, pp. 43-46.
Tech Prep Academics: Using Real Life Connections to Develop Scientific and Mathematical Literacy

Based upon the recommendations of professional organizations in science and mathematics education, children at K-6 levels need to be exposed to activities involving scientific methodology, the discovery of new knowledge and the integration of science and mathematics curricula. This study describes several distinct kinds of problem solving investigations identified from real life situations which can be adapted in intellectually honest ways for selected levels of the elementary school curriculum. The activities lend themselves to interactions with businesses and industries in the children's community and involve the children in a variety of non-traditional instructional activities such as oral presentations, small group collaborative efforts, and written reports. Finally, the investigations promote the integration of science and mathematics curricula and suggest the role curricula can play in the lives of children.
Control of glycogen levels in brain.

— Prolonged (6 hr) anaesthesia with phenobarbital in mice or rats results in a doubling or tripling of brain glycogen. Increases were also observed if high levels of plasma glucose were maintained for 6 hr. In alloxan diabetes brain glycogen was not elevated in spite of the high plasma glucose concentrations. However, administration of insulin to such diabetic animals, together with enough glucose to maintain high plasma levels, resulted in at least a doubling of brain glycogen in 6 hr. Phenobarbital can still increase brain glycogen in diabetic animals. In all of the conditions associated with increased glycogen deposition, increases were found in the ratio of brain glucose to plasma glucose. Cerebral glucose-6-P levels were also increased whereas there were no substantial changes in levels of UDP-glucose or glucose-1,6-diphosphate.
Differences in dendritic cells in congenital and acquired cholesteatomas.

Cholesteatomas are histologically benign, though biologically invasive lesions that arise from the migration of squamous epithelium of the ear. Acquired cholesteatomas usually arise in an antigenically active environment, i.e., a chronically and/or recurrently inflamed middle ear. In contrast, congenital cholesteatomas occur in an uninflamed environment. The potential role of dendritic cells (DCs) in the evolution of this lesion has not been thoroughly studied. By staining for S-100 protein, the authors evaluated the presence and distribution of DCs in cholesteatomas. Sixteen cases of cholesteatomas diagnosed from 1987 to 1989 were selected for this study
Electronic Transport, Structure, and Energetics of Endohedral Gd@C82 Metallofullerenes

Electronic structure and transport properties of the fullerene C82 and the metallofullerene Gd@C82 are investigated with density functional theory and the Landauer−Buttiker formalism. The ground-state structure of Gd@C82 is found to have the Gd atom below the C−C bond on the C2 molecular axis of C82. Insertion of Gd into C82 deforms the carbon chain in the vicinity of the Gd atoms. Significant overlap of the electron distribution is found between Gd and the C82 cage, with the transferred Gd electron density localized mainly on the nearest carbon atoms. This charge localization reduces some of the conducting channels for the transport, causing a reduction in the conductivity of the Gd@C82 species relative to the empty C82 molecule. The electron transport across the metallofullerene is found to be insensitive to the spin state of the Gd atom.
The role of intraoperative ultrasonography during laparoscopic adrenalectomy.

Abstract Background. The role of laparoscopic intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) in intraoperative decision making has grown rapidly in recent years. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its usefulness during laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Methods. Since 1995, laparoscopic ultrasonography has been used to evaluate the adrenal gland and surrounding organs in selective laparoscopic adrenalectomies. IOUS was performed in 19 of 114 laparoscopic adrenalectomies. Results. IOUS effected a change in management in 68% of these patients. IOUS displayed the location of the gland after a failed attempt at open resection; the adrenal vein, expediting control in four operations; no extraadrenal involvement by two large lesions (benign); vascular invasion in one tumor (carcinoma), prompting open resection; periadrenal invasion by one metastatic cancer and lymph node involvement in another; a 7 mm hyperaldosteronoma; no adenoma in two cases; bilateral hyperplasia; and a 14 cm cyst originating from the adrenal gland. IOUS facilitated partial adrenalectomy in two patients and revealed centrally located adenomas in two others requiring total adrenalectomy. Conclusions. Laparoscopic IOUS during adrenal operation is valuable in selected cases. It is helpful to locate the gland and vein, confirm the presence or absence of abnormality, discern the resectability of large masses, and facilitate a partial adrenalectomy when desirable.
Alternative Splicing of LTBP-3

Abstract LTBPs bind the 100-kDa latent TGF-β complex and thereby regulate TGF-β assembly, tissue localization, and function. However, the 100-kDa complex is not always associated with LTBP, and, conversely, evidence suggests that LTBP has a distinct role in the extracellular matrix. As yet, there are no data to explain how the binding interaction between LTBP and the 100-kDa complex is regulated. This report provides the first direct evidence of alternative splicing of an LTBP gene. Two alternative splice sites in the mouse LTBP-3 gene have been identified based on in vivo and in vitro studies. Alternative splicing at one site in particular was found to disrupt a structural motif involved in the binding interaction with the 100-kDa latent TGF-β complex. Therefore, alternative splicing may represent a molecular mechanism by which the uncomplexed form of LTBP-3 is produced, and, as a corollary, by which the 100-kDa latent TGF-β1 complex is produced.
Anaerobic susceptibility testing slight differences in inoculum size can make a difference in minimum inhibitory concentrations

Abstract In the present study, we compared the actual inoculum density from inoculated broth microdilution wells to the targeted inoculum size (10 5 CFU/well) when the inoculum was prepared using a McFarland nephelometer to achieve the standard density. Three target inoculum sizes (10 5 , 5 × 10 5 , and 10 6 CFU/well) were used to compare the effect of slight inoculum size increases of both ATCC and clinical strains of anaerobes on MICs of various antimicrobials. Actual colony counts of Bacteroides fragilis, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Eubacterium lentum , and Veillonella parvula ranged from 0.7 × 10 5 to 1.4 × 10 5 CFU/well. As the inoculum size rose above the desired 10 5 CFU/well level, the MICs of certain antimicrobials became elevated. Ceftizoxime, cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone MICs rose 4- to 16-fold with as little as 0.5 log 10 increase in inoculum size. Other increases were also noted with E. lentum and Clostridium perfringens , but were primarily between the low and high inoculum sizes. Results with cefoxitin, cefotetan, mezlocillin, and imipenem did not show an appreciable increased inoculum effect. This study demonstrates that the variation in organism size among anaerobes (both between species and within species) does make a difference in actual inoculum size and certain anaerobes may require special adjustment to ensure proper MIC results from susceptibility testing.
Use Of BRDF Data In Determining Surface Roughness

Use of BRDF data in determining surface roughnessYaujen Wang and William L. WolfeOptical Sciences CenterUniversity of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721AbstractVector theory has been used to obtain the power spectral density of the surface heightdistribution at several different wavelengths, conditions of polarization and geometries.The surface height was then determined both by integration and by curve fitting.IntroductionOne of the goals of the theory of surface scattering is to relate the scattered lightto the surface properties. Determining both the correlation length k and the rms roughnesscr of a random surface might be considered the main problem of inverse scattering, althoughdetermining scaling laws and surface distribution functions are certainly of equal concern.In previous publications we have shown rather good agreement between measurements atand for different polarization and theapply it to the determination of a andseveral wavelengths for different incidence anglesvector version of electromagnetic theory.1 Here we
Is comprehensive income superior to net income as a measure of firm performance

Abstract With the exception of financial firms, we find no evidence that comprehensive income is more strongly associated with returns/market value or better predicts future cash flows/income than net income. Moreover, the only component of comprehensive income that improves the association between income and returns is the marketable securities adjustment. Our results do not support the claim that comprehensive income is a better measure of firm performance than net income. Our results also raise questions about the appropriateness of items included in SFAS 130 comprehensive income as well as the need for mandating uniform comprehensive income disclosures for all industries.
Inhibition of vascular inflammation by dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in human aortic endothelial cells: Roles of PPARα and NF-κB

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a hormone produced by the adrenal gland and is a precursor for both androgens and estrogens. Atherosclerosis is a well characterized inflammatory disease, but little is known about the role of DHEAS in vascular inflammation. We hypothesize that DHEAS can reduce inflammation in vascular endothelial cells and the mechanism involves the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), thereby inhibiting transcription factors involved in endothelial cell inflammation. To test our hypothesis, aortic endothelial cells were pretreated for 48 h with DHEAS, then with TNF-alpha. TNF-alpha-induced upregulation of the expression of inflammatory genes interleukin (IL)-8 and intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 was attenuated by incubation with DHEAS. DHEAS inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced surface expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1. This effect was abolished by the addition of MK866, a PPARalpha inhibitor, indicating that PPARalpha is involved in the mechanism of this inhibition. The addition of the aromatase inhibitor letrozole had no effect on the inhibition of TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 expression by DHEAS. Treatment of endothelial cells with DHEAS dramatically inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB, an inflammatory transcription factor, and increased protein levels of the NF-kappaB inhibitor, IkappaB-alpha. These results signify the ability of DHEAS to directly inhibit the inflammatory process and show a potential direct effect of DHEAS on vascular inflammation that has implications for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Merge and split of Fourier-tranformed data

The Cooley-Tukey radix-2 Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is well known in digital signal processing and has been popularly used in many applications. However, one important function in signal processing is to merge or split of FFT blocks in the Fourier transform domain. The Cooley-Tukey radix-2 decimation-in-frequency FFT algorithm can not be used for this purpose because twiddle factors must be multiplied to the input data before FFT is performed on the resultant. In other words, the existing radix-2 decimation- in-frequency FFT algorithm is not a true radix-2 algorithm. This in turn has prevented it from direct applications to the transform-domain processing, such as merge or split of FFT blocks in the Fourier domain. For real input data one may prefer to use the Fast Hartley Transform (FHT) because it completely deals with real arithmetic calculations. Then the same statements with regard to the radix-2 decimation-in-frequency FFT apply equally well to FHT because the existing FHT algorithms are the real-number equivalence of the complex-number FFT. The true radix-2 Decimation-in-frequency FFT and FHT algorithms presented in this paper have alleviated the above difficulty, and they may provide new techniques for other potential applications.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An object-oriented characterization of spatial ecosystem information

An information system that supports the work of ecosystem modelers should be easy for the modelers to use, should organize both datasets and computational processes in a convenient hierarchical fashion, should be initially populated with information of interest, and should be easily extensible through contributions from its users. We are currently using object-oriented techniques to implement a network-based ecosystem information system (EIS) to meet these objectives. The initial EIS implementation includes a database consisting of key ecosystem datasets and processes “cast” in the object-oriented framework, i.e., as a collection of classes, instances, and methods. In the long term, we rely on EIS users to extend this database by contributing their work to extend the database. Therefore, while a robust and user-friendly implementation of the EIS software is important, the design of the initial database is even more crucial to long term project success. That is, the initial database must present information of sufficient interest to attract the new user, it must illustrate the intuitive concepts and value of the object-oriented paradigm to the new user, and it must serve as a model to interest users in “re-casting” their own work into this paradigm for contribution to the database. The initial EIS database will include datasets and modeling tools from three important ecosystem applications: climate and regional/global scale carbon-exchange modeling, U.S. Fish and Wildlife's biodiversity analysis (a.k.a. “GAP”), and general data visualization techniques for ecosystem modeling. After a brief overview of EIS functionality, the presentation here focuses on the design of this initial collection of ecosystem related classes, instances, and methods.
Electrospray Ion Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry of Bromate at Sub-ppb Levels in Water.

An electrospray ion chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (IC−MS/MS) method has been developed for the analysis of bromate ions in water. This IC−MS/MS method improves the limit of detection of bromate ions by a factor of 10. The method consists of solid phase extraction with an ion exchange column and elution of the analyte with water/methanol ammonium sulfate eluent on-line with a negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry detection. SPE requires sample pretreatment to remove any major ions that displace bromate, consisting of eliminating SO42-, Cl-, and HCO3- ions respectively with barium-form, silver-form, and acid (H+-form) exchange resins. The methanolic sulfate eluent permits IC−MS coupling via an electrospray interface. BrO3- was selected in the first quadrupole (Q1) at two m/z values, 127 and 129, according to the isotope contributions of 79Br and 81Br. After fragmentation in the collision cell (second quadrupole, Q2), the third quadrupole (Q3) analyzes the product ions as (M − O)-, (M − 2O)-,...
Solid State Structure and Photoluminescence properties of poly(2,5-dialkoxy- p -phenyleneethynylene)s

In an effort to better understand the relationship between molecular structure and photophysical properties, we have prepared and investigated a series of novel poly(2, 5-dialkoxy-p-phenyleneethynylene)s. Wide angle X-ray diffraction measurements show that the supramolecular structure can be easily and significantly influenced by the nature of substituents covalently linked to the rigid-rod polymer main chains. Polymers which have sterically hindered side chains are essentially amorphous, while those with only linear side chains can form lamellar structures with a significant degree of long-range order. High photo-luminescence quantum yields, up to 0.86 in solution and 0.36 in the solid state, have been measured. While the solution quantum yields are independent of the functionalization, solid state quantum efficiencies were found to be related to the degree of long-range order in the samples. In samples with a high degree of long-range order, the close proximity of the co-planar oriented polymer backbones is assumed to lead to the formation of eximer complexes which provide non emissive decay channels and, hence, result in comparable low photo-luminescence quantum yields. In samples that adopt only a small extent of long-range order, the rigid-rod conjugated polymer backbones behave as if they were ‘dissolved’ in a hydro-carbon solvent and consequently high quantum efficiencies are obtained. Preliminary results indicate the suitability of these polymers as the emitting layer in electroluminescent devices.
A computational study of integer programming algorithms based on Barvinok's rational functions

This paper discusses five algorithms to solve linear integer programming problems that use the rational function techniques introduced by A. Barvinok. We report on the first ever experimental results based on these techniques.
Genetic manipulation of calcium-handling proteins in cardiac myocytes. I. Experimental studies.

Two genetic experimental approaches, de novo expression of parvalbumin (Parv) and overexpression of sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA2a), have been shown to increase relaxation rates ...
Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of the Local and Systemic Antibody Response in Mice and Humans with Helicobacter Immunity and Infection

Immunization can prevent or cure an otherwise chronic gastric Helicobacter infection in several different animal models. The goal of the present study was to compare the titers and specificities of local and systemic antibody responses generated by Helicobacter infection and immunization. Protective immunization results in levels of specific gastric antibody significantly lower than induced by infection. However, antibodies from protectively immunized mice preferentially recognize immunodominant proteins of 10-22 and 30 kDa. Immunoblot analysis of infected mice and humans demonstrated that the serum IgA, but not serum IgG, binding profiles yield an accurate profile of the antigenic specificity of the host's gastric IgA. Therefore, serum IgA may be useful in evaluating the immunodominant antigens at the gastric mucosa of infected persons and possibly in determining the immunogenicity of orally applied Helicobacter vaccines.
Diet Composition, Forage Selection, and Potential for Forage Competition Among Elk, Deer, and Livestock on Aspen–Sagebrush Summer Range

We evaluated elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), cattle (Bos taurus), and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) diet composition, diet overlap, and forage selection on aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux)–sagebrush (Artemisia spp. L.) summer range in northeastern Nevada to understand potential for forage competition to provide better information for managing these communities. Diets were determined through microhistological fecal analysis from 1998 to 2000, and forage selection was evaluated at feeding sites in aspen and sagebrush communities in 1999 and 2000. Elk spring diets were the most diverse in composition; summer elk diets were dominated by forbs (59%–78%); deer consumed mostly woody browse (64%–72%); and cattle and sheep ate mostly graminoids. Lupines (Lupinus spp. L.) constituted � 11% of elk, deer, and sheep diets in summer. Spurred lupine (Lupinus caudatus Kellogg) was the lupine typically selected in feeding sites and greatest consumption occurred in summer when total alkaloid levels were lowest. Highest diet overlap was between cattle and sheep in 1999 (68%) and lowest between deer and cattle in 2000 (3%). Summer elk and deer diets overlapped moderately (45%–59%). Diets did not differ between elk in spring with sheep, elk in summer with deer and sheep, or cattle with sheep. Cattle foraged selectively on forbs in aspen communities (68%) and on graminoids in sagebrush communities (88%), reflecting relative forage availabilities. We detected no differences among elk, cattle, and sheep for forage selection in aspen communities. Electivity indices indicated elk preferred forbs in aspen and sagebrush communities; cattle preferred graminoids in sagebrush; and foraging sheep preferred forbs in aspen. Our results suggest potential for forage competition among ungulates on aspen–sagebrush summer range is highest for forbs in aspen communities. Monitoring productivity and use of key forage species, particularly forbs in aspen communities, should complement management objectives on shared aspen–sagebrush summer range.
Use of the ABA fear renewal paradigm to assess the effects of extinction with co-present fear inhibitors or excitors: Implications for theories of extinction and for treating human fears and phobias

Abstract In four experiments using albino rats in an ABA fear renewal paradigm, we studied conditioned fear in the A test context following extinction in Context B. Conditioned suppression of operant responding was the index of fear. In Experiments 1–3, we found that extinguishing a feared cue in compound with a putative conditioned inhibitor of fear led to more fear in the test context than did a conventional extinction procedure. In Experiments 4a and 4b, we found that extinguishing three feared cues in compound required one third the time and generally led to less fear to the cues in the test context than did the extinction of each cue separately. Thus, fear in the test context seems to vary inversely with the values of co-present cues during extinction in Context B. Results imply that cue value is actually reduced by extinction procedures rather than merely being opposed by a growing inhibitory process. Implications for theories of renewal and for clinical practice are discussed.
COTS Score: an acceptance methodology for COTS software

Over the last decade the United States Government has significantly increased its use of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software as stand-alone solutions and as components in safety-critical systems. This increased use stems from the realization that pre-existing software products can be a means of lowering development costs, shortening development time, and keeping pace with the changing software market. The Federal government, particularly with regards to safety-critical systems, has found that COTS software is currently not plug-and-play, has significant tradeoffs, and usually contains a "cradle-to-grave" dependence on the software manufacturer. Unfortunately, there is currently no standard "best commercial practice" with regard to the acceptance of COTS software. Ad hoc attempts to apply standards for commercial software acceptance have been based upon subjective criteria and have proven to be imprecise and prone to error. Moreover, acceptability in safety-critical systems generally demands analysis of source code. Many software vendors, however, have chosen to keep all such source code proprietary due to liability and intellectual property concerns. When the source code is not available, there is very little that can be done to ensure the safety, reliability, and integrity of the software. This paper discusses the COTS Score, an approach that aids in determining the acceptability of COTS software. The process involves the application of predictive techniques used for financial credit scoring to the COTS domain. The methodology addresses the issue of acceptability by incorporating both functional and environmental software measures related to reliability, compatibility, certifiability, obsolescence, and life cycle including trade-off analyses. This approach satisfies NASA and ISO 9001 requirements to define an acceptance procedure for COTS software.
Ablative Tumor Radiation Can Change the Tumor Immune Cell Microenvironment to Induce Durable Complete Remissions.

Purpose: The goals of the study were to elucidate the immune mechanisms that contribute to desirable complete remissions of murine colon tumors treated with single radiation dose of 30 Gy. Thisdoseisattheupperendoftheablativerangeusedclinicallyto treat advanced or metastatic colorectal, liver, and non–small cell lung tumors. Experimental Design: Changes in the tumor immune microenvironment of single tumor nodules exposed to radiation were studied using 21-day (>1 cm in diameter) CT26 and MC38 colon tumors. These are well-characterized weakly immunogenic tumors. Results:Wefoundthatthehigh-doseradiationtransformedthe immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment resulting in an intense CD8 þ T-cell tumor infiltrate, and a loss of myeloidderived suppressor cells (MDSC). The change was dependent on antigen cross-presenting CD8 þ dendritic cells, secretion of IFNg, and CD4 þ T cells expressing CD40L. Antitumor CD8 þ T cells entered tumors shortly after radiotherapy, reversed MDSC infiltration, and mediated durable remissions in an IFNg-dependent manner. Interestingly, extended fractionated radiation regimen did not result in robust CD8 þ T-cell infiltration. Conclusions: For immunologically sensitive tumors, these results indicate that remissions induced by a short course of high-doseradiotherapydependonthedevelopmentofantitumor immunity that is reflected by the nature and kinetics of changes induced in the tumor cell microenvironment. These results suggest that systematic examination of the tumor immune microenvironment may help in optimizing the radiation regimen used to treat tumors by adding a robust immune response. Clin Cancer Res; 21(16); 3727–39. � 2015 AACR.
Cystic Fibrosis Sputum Supports Growth and Cues Key Aspects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Physiology

The opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes persistent airway infections in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). To establish these chronic infections, P. aeruginosa must grow and proliferate within the highly viscous sputum in the lungs of CF patients. In this study, we used Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays to investigate the physiology of P. aeruginosa grown using CF sputum as the sole source of carbon and energy. Our results indicate that CF sputum readily supports high-density P. aeruginosa growth. Furthermore, multiple signals, which reduce swimming motility and prematurely activate the Pseudomonas quinolone signal cell-to-cell signaling cascade in P. aeruginosa, are present in CF sputum. P. aeruginosa factors critical for lysis of the common CF lung inhabitant Staphylococcus aureus were also induced in CF sputum and increased the competitiveness of P. aeruginosa during polymicrobial growth in CF sputum.
In-plane photonic crystal and nanophotonic devices

We report our recent works on magneto-optical photonic crystals, anomalous modal behaviors in waveguides with photonic crystal core, and all-angle negative refraction in metal-dielectric-metal structures.
Intact Artificial Grammar Learning in Amnesia: Dissociation of Classification Learning and Explicit Memory for Specific Instances

The present study investigates whether the ability to classify on the basis of rules can be learned independently of memory for the specific instances used to leach the rules. Thirteen amnesic patients and 14 control subjects studied letter strings generated by an artificial grammar. Subjects were then shown new letter strings and were instructed to classify them as grammatical or nongrammatical. Amnesic patients performed as well as normal subjects. However, amnesic patients performed more poorly than control subjects on a recognition test of the exemplars that had been presented. Amnesic patients also performed more poorly than control subjects when the instructions were to base the classification on explicit comparison with the original exemplars. The results show that classification learning based on exemplars of an artificial grammar can develop normally despite impaired memory for the exemplars themselves. Whereas exemplar memory depends on interactions between neocortex and the limbic system, class...
N-gram Weighting: Reducing Training Data Mismatch in Cross-Domain Language Model Estimation

In domains with insufficient matched training data, language models are often constructed by interpolating component models trained from partially matched corpora. Since the n-grams from such corpora may not be of equal relevance to the target domain, we propose an n-gram weighting technique to adjust the component n-gram probabilities based on features derived from readily available segmentation and metadata information for each corpus. Using a log-linear combination of such features, the resulting model achieves up to a 1.2% absolute word error rate reduction over a linearly interpolated baseline language model on a lecture transcription task.
Energetics of bio-inspired legged robot locomotion with elastically-suspended loads

Elasticity is an essential property of locomotion. In biology, elastically-suspended loads increase the efficiency of locomotion and load carrying. Similarly, elastically-suspended loads have the potential to increase the energy efficiency of legged robot locomotion. External loads and the inherent mass of a legged robot, such as batteries, electronics, and fuel, can be elastically-suspended from the robot with compliant springs, passively reducing the energetic cost of locomotion. An experimental prototype hexapod robot with a novel elastic load suspension mechanism based on the Christie suspension system is developed and utilized to test the energy efficiency of legged robot locomotion with elastically-suspended loads versus rigidly-attached loads. Elastically-suspended loads are shown to reduce the energetic cost of locomotion compared to rigidly-attached loads. Thus, the speed, operation time, or load carrying capacity could be increased for robots that utilize elastically-suspended loads.
Sequential Isokinetic and Manual Muscle Testing in Patients with Neuromuscular Disease

The purposes of this study were to compare the value of isokinetic testing and manual muscle testing (MMT) in longitudinal measurements of muscle strength in patients with neuromuscular disease and to identify any consistent pattern demonstrated by the isokinetic testing of patients with specific diagnoses. We measured knee extensor muscle strength at periodic intervals in patients, using MMT and isokinetic testing at angular limb velocities of 30 and 180 degrees/sec. An isokinetic fatigability test also was conducted. The results indicated that in patients who were graded 9 to 10 (ie, within normal limits) by MMT methods, sequential isokinetic strength tests revealed improvement not indicated by MMT. In patients, however, having weakness detectable by MMT and whose course was deteriorating, isokinetic testing did not seem to add clinically significant information for long-term management. Some patients with myotonia demonstrated an increase in peak torque during the fatigability test; this response was unique among the diagnoses we tested. Isokinetic testing may provide, in some patients with neuromuscular disease, valuable information when used in conjunction with MMT for sequential monitoring of strength. Continued research is needed to investigate the value of isokinetic testing in the diagnosis and management of patients with neuromuscular disease.
Interrelations of Aging, Knowledge, and Cognitive Performance

This chapter reviews the research literature concerned with the relation between age and knowledge and with the role of knowledge on the relations between age and cognitive performance. Although it is generally assumed that accumulation of experience with age leads to greater quantity or quality of knowledge, the empirical evidence from large-scale studies with representative samples of research participants suggests that while there appears to be an increase in knowledge from age 18 to about age 40 or 50, the dominant trend in later years of adulthood is one of either stability or decline. Among the hypotheses discussed to account for the lack of continuous growth in knowledge are generational confounds in education, losses offsetting gains, an asymptote on exposure to new information, and increased specialization of one’s knowledge. Each hypothesis has some plausibility, but it is concluded that the reasons for the failure to find continuous age-related increases in knowledge are still not well understood. Several conceptual models of the role of knowledge on the relations between age and cognition are discussed, including moderation, mediation, and migration. Because interactions of age and knowledge have been inconsistent, and because statistical control of knowledge tends to increase rather than decrease the negative relations between age and measures of cognitive performance, the available empirical evidence seems to favor the migration interpretation. That is, age-related effects on cognition appear to be reduced among people with high levels of knowledge because people tend to “migrate” into higher knowledge groups with increasing age.
The Research Tax Credit: A Temporary and Incremental Dinosaur

This article provides a critique of the current research credit regime under section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code. The article notes that there are three major problems: (1) the fact that more than 20 years after its enactment many of the key concepts that are critical to entitlement to the credit remain undefined; (2) the continuing uncertainty caused by the failure to make the credit permanent; and (3) the outdated, complex, arbitrary, and irrational operation of the credit's incremental structure. While most suggestions for improving the credit have focused on the first two problems, the article recommends major modifications to or the elimination of the incremental formula. As explained in this article, until the incremental formula used to compute the research credit is redesigned, the credit will not be effective incentive that produces fair and certain results for U.S. taxpayers.
Mold-Flow-Induced Anisotropy in Nitrile Rubber

Abstract 1. Data in all the investigated locations showed anisotropic swelling. The anisotropy is believed to be induced by vulcanization of the rubber in a strained state caused by mold flow. 2. Data and theories of composite networks suggest that the swelling of rubber in the strained direction would be less than in other directions. 3. Anisotropic swelling data were consistent with the flow pattern of rubber in the mold. 4. The volumetric swell ratios at different locations varied only slightly, in-dicating that crosslinking was uniform. 5. The shear rate for compression molding is 1–10 s−1, calendering is 10–102 s−1 extrusion is 102–103 s−1, and injection molding is 103–104 s−1. Hence, rubber products processed by other methods are expected to be even more anisotropic. 6. Microswelling is a fast and easy technique to monitor the strain-induced anisotropy and to infer the flow pattern during mold filling. 7. Mechanical data of composite networks formed under different strains should be collected, and t...
Holism and the reconstitution of everyday life: a framework for transition to a sustainable society

AbstractIn this paper, a framework to assist transition to a sustainable society, incorporating the insights of whole systems science and philosophical holism, is proposed. It is argued this framework needs to be embedded in everyday life, and that everyday life is more likely to be sustainable when communities control the satisfaction of their needs at all levels of scale — households, neighborhoods, villages, cities, regions — 'The Domains of Everyday Life'. When everyday life is sustainable, these Domains arise as people strive to satisfy their needs in place-based ways. They are emergent, self-organizing, participatory, networked, nested and semi-autonomous forms, characteristics they share with living, whole systems. In modernity, however, control of need satisfaction has largely been ceded to centralized institutions and the Domains have consequently been hollowed out and gone into decline, leading to everyday life's unsustainability. Transitioning to a sustainable society requires the reconstitutio...
General models of ecological diversification. I. Conceptual synthesis

Evolutionary paleoecologists have proposed many explanations for Phanerozoic trends in ecospace utilization, including escalation, seafood through time, filling of an empty ecospace, and tiering, among others. These hypotheses can be generalized into four models of functional diversification within a life-habit ecospace framework (functional-trait space). The models also incorporate concepts in community assembly, functional diversity, evolutionary diversification, and morphological disparity. The redundancy model produces an ecospace composed of clusters of functionally similar taxa. The partitioning model produces an ecospace that is progressively subdivided by taxa along life-habit gradients. The expansion model produces an ecospace that becomes progressively enlarged by the accumulation of taxa with novel life habits. These models can be caused by a wide range of ecological and evolutionary processes, but they are all caused by particular “driven” mechanisms. A fourth, neutral model also exists, in which ecospace is filled at random by life habits: this model can serve as a passive null model. Each model produces distinct dynamics for functional diversity/disparity statistics when simulated by stochastic simulations of ecospace diversification. In this first of two companion articles, I summarize the theoretical bases of these models, describe their expected statistical dynamics, and discuss their relevance to important paleoecological trends and theories. Although most synoptic interpretations of Phanerozoic ecological history invoke one or more of the driven models, I argue that this conclusion is premature until tests are conducted that provide better statistical support for them over simpler passive models.
Reappraisal and Suppression Mediate the Contribution of Regulatory Focus to Anxiety in Healthy Adults

Theory and research link regulatory focus (RF) in the form of promotion and prevention goal orientation with internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety), but the relevant mechanisms are not well understood. This study investigated the role of two emotion regulation (ER) strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) as possible mediators. Path analysis using data from 179 healthy young participants (110 women, 69 men) revealed that stronger promotion orientation was significantly associated with less anxiety, and that the use of reappraisal and suppression partially mediated this association. Prevention was associated with more suppression but was not directly associated with anxiety. There were no gender differences in these effects. Collectively, these findings suggest that effective ER, through heightened use of reappraisal and dampened use of suppression, serves as a mechanism through which promotion confers protection against anxiety. This research provides empirical support to initiatives aimed at promoting healthy psychological adjustment and preventing anxiety, by optimizing ER strategies with respect to RF goal orientations.
The Politics of Presidential Press Conferences

What explains the president’s tendency to deliver press conferences? Unlike other forms of going public, the press conference presents a unique venue that allows presidents to grapple with their policy and political decisions in a highly public and interactive format with journalists. This should influence how the political environment affects not only the number of press conferences presidents deliver in a month but also the time between press conferences. Indeed, lower approval ratings and unified government lead to more solo press conferences and less time between them. Whereas reelection years and political scandal decrease the number of solo press conferences, only reelection years increase the time between them. This article also reminds us of the relevance of individual presidents to explaining press conference activity and has implications for a broader understanding of the president’s public appeals.
Synthesis of the Spirastrellolide A, B/C Spiroketal: Enabling Solutions for Problematic Au(I)-Catalyzed Spiroketalizations

A synthesis of the spirastrellolide A, B/C-ring monounsaturated spiroketal is reported. The key step relies on a Au-catalyzed spiroketalization of a propargyl triol employing an acetonide as a regioselectivity regulator. Through observation and analysis, a set of conditions has been developed that facilitates the use of a mixture of diastereomeric substrates, obviating the need to control the stereochemistry of the propargyl stereocenter and enabling a convenient retrosynthetic disconnection. The key reaction proceeds in 80% yield in 1 min at ambient temperature with the Me3PAuCl/AgOTf catalyst system. These conditions should be widely applicable for new synthetic endeavors as they appear to overcome all issues with the Au-catalyzed spiroketalization.
Cells choose the path less potholed

How do adherent cells decide where to go? It is known that the microenvironment provides guidance cues through molecular gradients, fields, forces, and flows. Now, Jeon et al . show that tiny potholes can also affect cell migration, analogous to how people (and their vehicles) avoid rough patches of
Morfología y Morfometría Comparada entre los Huesecillos Auditivos del Cerdo Común (Sus scrofa domestica) y el Humano (Homo sapiens sapiens)

El cerdo domestico (Sus scrofa domestica) ha sido utilizado como modelo para estudiar metodos de implante en el oido medio previo a estudios clinicos humanos. Diferentes investigaciones han destacado la utilidad en este ambito, como tambien su alta comparabilidad morfologica en relacion con los humanos. Sin embargo, las descripciones anatomicas sobre sus huesecillos auditivos son insuficientes, al igual que las comparaciones en relacion con el humano. Por ello, con el objetivo de realizar una descripcion detallada de la anatomia de dichos huesecillos comparados con los del humano, se procedio a disecar seis cabezas de cerdo, de las cuales se extrajeron sus huesecillos para observar su morfologia. Los resultados preliminares demostraron que la cadena de huesecillos del Cerdo comparte la presencia de las mismas formaciones anatomicas que se pueden identificar en los huesecillos del hombre, pero aun asi existen diferencias descriptivas y morfometricas en la morfologia de ellas. Los resultados permitieron concluir que existe alta comparabilidad morfologica entre ambas cadenas de huesecillos debido a sus diferencias y similitudes, lo cual lo hace ser un buen modelo didactico para el estudio y la ensenanza de la morfologia auditiva en distintos niveles educacionales.
Particle-size distribution of very low density plasma lipoproteins during fat absorption in man.

The size distributions of electrophoretically isolated subfractions of the very low density human plasma lipoproteins have been determined using electron microscopy. The primary and secondary particles observed in plasma of normal subjects after fat ingestion appear to have similar size distributions. Particles produced by corn oil feeding can be fixed by the osmium tetroxide reaction while those produced by butter fat feeding could not be fixed or made visible by this technique. Good agreement between particle size as measured by electron microscopy and particle size as predicted by ultracentrifugal analysis was obtained.
Partially ordered sets

Apples and oranges. Sometimes things are incomparable. For breakfast, I like granola better than gruel. I like it even better when my granola has fresh fruit on top. I also like a nice omelette better than gruel. But on any given day I cannot say whether I would prefer granola (with or without fruit) or an omelette. I am only able to partially order my favorite breakfast foods:
Targeted Therapy and Checkpoint Immunotherapy Combinations for the Treatment of Cancer

Many advances in the treatment of cancer have been driven by the development of targeted therapies that inhibit oncogenic signaling pathways and tumor-associated angiogenesis, as well as by the recent development of therapies that activate a patient's immune system to unleash antitumor immunity. Some targeted therapies can have effects on host immune responses, in addition to their effects on tumor biology. These immune-modulating effects, such as increasing tumor antigenicity or promoting intratumoral T cell infiltration, provide a rationale for combining these targeted therapies with immunotherapies. Here, we discuss the immune-modulating effects of targeted therapies against the MAPK and VEGF signaling pathways, and how they may synergize with immunomodulatory antibodies that target PD1/PDL1 and CTLA4. We critically examine the rationale in support of these combinations in light of the current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action of these therapies. We also discuss the available preclinical and clinical data for these combination approaches and their implications regarding mechanisms of action. Insights from these studies provide a framework for considering additional combinations of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer.
Muscle at Risk: The Multiple Impacts of Ammonia on Sarcopenia and Frailty in Cirrhosis

Muscle wasting is a cardinal manifestation of advanced cirrhosis.1 Its key consequence is frailty, a state of vulnerability to stress, that is now recognized in transplant hepatology as an important risk factor for functional decline, waitlist removals, hospital and transplant deaths, and major transplant complications.2, 3 Frailty assessments in cirrhosis are gaining attention, both as measurements of anatomic muscle loss (sarcopenia), and measurements of functional decline in physical performance. Different measurement methods may be associated with discrepant clinical outcomes in the same patient cohort, as would be expected from the complexity of the underlying metabolic processes driving the problem.4 Excess ammonia as a pivotal cause of muscle loss and functional impairment in cirrhosis has long been understood in terms of a shift in its predominant metabolism from liver to muscle. Three new mechanisms now help to account for ammonia's adverse impacts on muscle in cirrhosis.