cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of the State of Union Address of USA Presidents to Their Performance Ratings

In this article, the authors conduct a case study using text mining technique to analyze the patterns of the president's State of the Union Address in USA, and investigate the effects of these speech patterns on their performance rating in the following year. The speeches analyzed include the recent four USA presidents, Bush 1989-1992, Clinton 1993-2000, G.W. Bush 2001-2008, and Obama 2009-2011. The patterns found are further integrated and merged with over 4000 surveys on the presidents' performance ratings from 1989 to 2010. Two text mining methodology are applied to study the text patterns. Two predictive modeling techniques are applied to study the effects of these found patterns to their presidential approval ratings. The results indicate that the speech patterns found are highly associated with their approval rates.
Combined aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty in patients with critical aortic and mitral valve stenosis: Results in six cases

Abstract Six patients with severe combined aortic and mitral valve stenosis underwent double valve balloon dilation as an alternative to surgical valve replacement. Cardiac catheterization in all patients before valve dilation revealed heavily calcified aortic and mitral valves with severe stenosis and minimal regurgitation. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty was performed in each patient with a 20 mm balloon dilation catheter passed retrograde through the aortic valve whereas mitral valvuloplasty was performed transseptally with either a single or double balloon technique. After dilation, the mean aortic and mitral gradients decreased in all patients, with the area of the aortic and the mitral valve increasing from 0.5 ± 0.3 to 0.9 ± 0.3 cm 2 and from 0.7 ± 0.1 to 1.5 ± 0.7 cm 2 , respectively. The procedures were well tolerated, with no embolic events and no significant increase in valvular regurgitation, and resulted in a reduction in symptoms of dyspnea on exertion and weakness in all patients that has persisted for an average of 5.7 months of follow-up in five of the six patients. It is concluded that combined dilation of stenotic aortic and mitral valves can be accomplished percutaneously and may be considered for patients with combined valvular stenosis who refuse or are deferred from surgical intervention.
Prevention of naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol-induced lens protein modifications by structurally diverse aldose reductase inhibitors.

Abstract The effects of aldose reductase inhibitors on lens protein modifications induced by naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol were investigated in vitro to confirm the role of aldose reductase on naphthalene cataract formation. HPLC analysis of naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol incubated with aldose reductase and NAD+indicated the formation of a metabolite peak corresponding to 1,2-naphthoquinone. Soluble proteins from rat lenses prepared by gel filtration of crude lens extracts through Sephadex PD-10, incubated with naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol in the presence of NAD+displayed an absorbance ca 450 nm and their spectra were essentially identical to those of 1,2-naphthoquinone-protein adducts. Similar spectra were also obtained from proteins isolated from the intact rat lens after in vitro incubation in medium containing naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol. The spectra obtained from lens proteins incubated with 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene were distinct from those of either naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol or 1,2-naphthoquinone. Aldose reductase inhibitors possessing either hydantoin or carboxylic acid groups prevented protein modification induced by naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol but not protein modification induced by 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene or 1,2-naphthoquinone. Therefore, the metabolite formed from naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol by aldose reductase is 1,2-naphthoquinone. Lens proteins modified by naphthalene-1,2-dihydrodiol appear essentially identical to protein adducts formed with 1,2-naphthoquinone and their formation can be prevented by both hydantoin and carboxylic acid containing aldose reductase inhibitors.
Dosimetry of 60/61/62/64Cu-ATSM: a hypoxia imaging agent for PET

Purpose Cu-diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone (Cu-ATSM) is an effective marker for the delineation of hypoxic tissue. Dosimetry calculations by the established Medical Internal Radionuclide Dose (MIRD) approach were performed with both animal and patient data.
Geometric hashing with line features

Abstract Geometric hashing is a model-based object recognition technique for detecting objects which can be partially overlapping or partly occluded. In its simplest form, the geometric hashing method assumes relatively noise-free data and is applied to objects with points as local features. However, extracting of the locations of point features is inherently error-prone. Line features, compared with point features, can generally be extracted with greater accuracy. The application of line features for geometric hashing to the recognition of two-dimensional (2D) (or flat 3D) objects undergoing various geometric transformations is investigated.
Construction of bosonic string theory on infinitely curved Anti-de Sitter space

Free scalar field theory in the sector with a large number of particles can be interpreted as bosonic string theory on anti-de Sitter space of vanishing radius. Different ways of writing the field theory � � . �
Prevalence of perioperative complications among women undergoing reconstructive pelvic surgery.

Abstract Objective: The primary aim of this study was to report on the prevalence of perioperative complications associated with reconstructive pelvic surgery. A secondary aim was to identify risk factors predictive of perioperative complications in this population. Study Design: A retrospective chart review was performed of 100 consecutive cases of reconstructive pelvic surgery. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of perioperative complications was 46%, including 13 intraoperative complications and 33 postoperative complications. The readmission rate for complications was 15%. The number of procedures per patient was an independent risk factor for intraoperative blood loss ( P P Conclusions: Perioperative complications associated with reconstructive pelvic surgery were increased relative to those associated with general gynecologic surgery. The number of procedures per patient and associated blood loss appeared to contribute to the increase in perioperative complications. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:1355-60.)
Healthcare provider targeted interventions to improve medication adherence: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Summary Objective This systematic review applied meta-analytic procedures to synthesise medication adherence (also termed compliance) interventions that focus on healthcare providers. Design Comprehensive searching located studies testing interventions that targeted healthcare providers and reported patient medication adherence behaviour outcomes. Search strategies included 13 computerised databases, hand searches of 57 journals, and both author and ancestry searches. Study sample, intervention characteristics, design and outcomes were reliably coded. Standardised mean difference effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models. Heterogeneity was examined with Q and I2 statistics. Exploratory moderator analyses used meta-analytic analogue of ANOVA and regression. Results Codable data were extracted from 218 reports of 151,182 subjects. The mean difference effect size was 0.233. Effect sizes for individual interventions varied from 0.088 to 0.301. Interventions were more effective when they included multiple strategies. Risk of bias assessment documented larger effect sizes in studies with larger samples, studies that used true control groups (as compared with attention control), and studies without intention-to-treat analyses. Conclusion Overall, this meta-analysis documented that interventions targeted to healthcare providers significantly improved patient medication adherence. The modest overall effect size suggests that interventions addressing multiple levels of influence on medication adherence may be necessary to achieve therapeutic outcomes.
Evaluation of unified interaction parameter model parameters for calculating activities of ferromanganese alloys: Mn-Fe-C, Mn-Fe-Si, Mn-C-Si, and Mn-Fe-C-Si systems

Interaction parameters for Mn-based alloys were evaluated using both carbon solubility and activity data for species in binary and ternary manganese alloys. The parameters at 1400 °C are the following $$\begin{gathered} \varepsilon _{CC} = - 4.5; \varepsilon _{CCC} = 58.8; \varepsilon _{FeC} = 1.5; \varepsilon _{FeCC} = 2.5; \ln \gamma _C^0 = - 1.15 \hfill \\ \varepsilon _{CC} = 15.5; \varepsilon _{SiSiSi} = 2.69;\varepsilon _{FeSi} = 2.5;\varepsilon _{CSi} = 12.4;\varepsilon _{CCSi} = 27.5;\ln \gamma _{Si}^0 = - 7.46 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The unified interaction parameter model (UIPM) was used to calculate the activity coefficients of species and the solubility of carbon in ferromanganese alloys (up to quaternary Mn-Fe-C-Si). The results were in good agreement with experimental data. In particular, this model provides an approach for controlling the silicon content of standard ferromanganese.
Depolarization term of the wave equation

The vector wave equation can be rewritten as a quasiscalar wave equation with one extra term −∇∇ · E (the depolarization term). Many authors utilize Poisson’s equation to replace it by ∇(E · ∇ln∊. However, fields E obtained as solutions of the ensuing equation must be made to obey Poisson’s equation (as they do not do so automatically, in general) or be rejected. Some examples are given, and it is shown why first-order solutions for ∊ = 1 + δ∊ with δ∊ ≪1 are often correctly derived (unwittingly?) from an “incorrect” equation.
Restoration of the Elwha River Ecosystem

Abstract Historically, the Elwha River in western Washington was renowned for an abundance and diversity of anadromous salmonids. Most of the river system lies within Olympic National Park and remains in pristine condition, but two dams in the lower river have blocked all anadromous fish for more than 80 years. To restore the Elwha's historic fishery resources and resolve an impasse about federal licensing of the dams, the U.S. Congress passed the Elwha River Ecosystem and Fisheries Restoration Act in 1992. The act required an analysis of alternatives (dam retention with fish passage facilities v dam removal) to achieve full ecosystem and fishery restoration. Analysis indicates that removal of both dams is the only option that will achieve full restoration, but dam removal and fish restoration efforts could span 20 years and cost from US$147 million to US$203 million. Although fish restoration poses problems because of limited native runs, sediment management presents the most significant environmental ch...
Language Anxiety from the Foreign Language Specialist's Perspective: Interviews with Krashen, Omaggio Hadley, Terrell, and Rardin.

ABSTRACT Recently we have acquired a body of data on language anxiety from the student's perspective. The following is an examination of language anxiety from the language specialist's perspective. Through the interview format, Stephen Krashen, Alice Omaggio Hadley, Tracy Terrell, and Jennybelle Rardin offer their perspectives on language anxiety—a complicated psychological phenomenon peculiar to language learning. They share their views on foreign and second language teaching and theory and offer insights into the theoretical as well as practical issues of language anxiety, such as its role in language learning and its sources and manifestations. They also suggest ways for reducing language anxiety. Many of their perceptions go beyond agreement with existing research, and often, their responses lead to insights into language anxiety fertile for future areas of inquiry.
Ray tracings of acoustic waves in the upper atmosphere

Abstract An analogue computer is used to trace acoustic-wave ray paths to altitudes in excess of 300 km. A horizontally stratified atmosphere in which the velocity of sound is that implied by the 1959 BAMIRAC model atmosphere is assumed. Plots are presented showing the behavior of rays emanating at 5 deg increments in vertical angle from a source at ground level. Similar plots are given for sources at 50 km height increments up to a maximum of 250 km altitude.
Membrane assembly in Escherichia coli. I. Segregation of preformed and newly formed membrane into daughter cells.

Abstract Density labeling of the lipid phase of membranes has been used to test the possibilities that the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli is assembled at one or two fixed foci, either at the equitorial perimeter or at the poles of the organism. Synchronized cultures of E. coli were switched from light to heavy medium, and samples were removed after either one or two cell division cycles of growth in heavy medium and processed by equilibrium density gradient centrifugation. No separation of definitively light or heavy membrane bands was observed indicating that preformed and newly formed membranes are not assembled at one or two fixed foci and then segregated with conservation of structure.
The profile of bubbling solutions of a class of fourth order geometric equations on 4-manifolds

Abstract We study a class of fourth order geometric equations defined on a 4-dimensional compact Riemannian manifold which includes the Q -curvature equation. We obtain sharp estimates on the difference near the blow-up points between a bubbling sequence of solutions and the standard bubble.
IMPACT OF A POLLINATOR‐TRANSMITTED DISEASE ON REPRODUCTION IN HEALTHY SILENE ACAULIS

Pathogens affect the evolution of their hosts only to the extent that the host's ability to reproduce is altered. Microbotryum violaceum is a pollinator-transmitted fungal pathogen that causes infected individuals to produce sterile flowers with anthers full of fungal spores. In North American Rocky Mountain populations of Silene acaulis, a host to M. violaceum, reproduction in infected individuals is severely affected, but disease spread is slow (<1% new infections over a 4-yr period). This study addresses whether diseased plants can affect reproduction in healthy individuals even if the healthy plant does not become diseased. I studied Silene acaulis in the field to examine traits of diseased and healthy plants, pollen deposition, spore deposition, and seed production in healthy plants. Diseased plants were significantly larger than healthy plants, and in contrast to other studies of anther smut with different hosts, infected individuals did not produce more flowers than healthy individuals. Timing of flowering was similar for healthy and diseased plants, but peak deposition of pollen and fungal spores differed at some sites. Therefore, plants could potentially maximize their fitness by flowering at times of peak deposition of pollen while avoiding exposure to peak deposition of fungal spores. Finally, healthy flowers receiving additions of pollen and moderate to high loads of fungal spores produced significantly less seed compared to flowers receiving only pollen. Although the risk of becoming diseased may be low in this population, healthy individuals can be affected by anther smut because the majority of flowers receive fungal spores, which may be interfering with pollen grains and reducing seed production.
Antiretroviral activity of synthetic hypericin and related analogs

Hypericin and pseudohypericin are naturally occurring polycyclic quinones which have recently been shown to inhibit the infectivity of several retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus. To better understand the antiviral mechanisms of these compounds, hypericin and a series of analogous quinones were synthesized and tested for anti-retroviral activity against equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Treatment of EIAV-infected cells with hypericin reduced the production of infectious virus by 99.99%. None of the analogs were found to inhibit virus replication. These results suggest that the complete ring structure of hypericin is required, but not sufficient, for antiviral activity.
On Non-Deterministic Quantification

This paper offers a framework for extending Arnon Avron and Iddo Lev’s non-deterministic semantics to quantified predicate logic with the intent of resolving several problems and limitations of Avron and Anna Zamansky’s approach. By employing a broadly Fregean picture of logic, the framework described in this paper has the benefits of permitting quantifiers more general than Walter Carnielli’s distribution quantifiers and yielding a well-behaved model theory. This approach is purely objectual and yields the semantical equivalence of both α-equivalent formulae and formulae differing only by codenotative terms. Finally, we make a brief excursion into non-deterministic model theory, proving a strong Łoś’ Theorem and compactness for all finitely-valued, non-deterministic logics whose quantifiers have intensions describable in a first order metalanguage.
Cerebrovascular accidents in children with sickle-cell disease and alpha-thalassemia.

Alpha-thalassemia occurs commonly in black Americans, ~ with approximately 30% lacking one a-glob{n gene (athai-2 genotype: aa/a-) and 4% lacking two genes (athai- 1 genotype: a-/a- or, rarely, aa/--). In individuals with sickle-cell disease, a-thalassemia attenuates some of the hematologic manifestations, 2-4 although the extent of clinical benefit remains controversial?. 5 Before routine implementation of long-term transfusion programs for children with sickle-cell disease and cerebrovascular accident, 6, 7 CVA was ~i significant cause of death in the young sickle-cell disease population? Because the favorable effects of a-thalassemia on hematologic manifestations are apparent by the age of 1 year, 9 it is possible that a reduction in incidence of CVA, which occurs at a mean age of 7 years, s might contribute to prolonged survivaP in patients with sickle cell-a-thalassemia. In fact, a reduced incidence of a-thalassemia has been reported in a small group of patients with sickle-cell disease who have had a CVA? ~ The a-globin gene status of 20 of our sickle-cell disease patients with a history of CVA has been ascertained and is the basis for this report. METHODS
Pinning and dynamics of colloids on one-dimensional periodic potentials

Using numerical simulations we study the pinning and dynamics of interacting colloids on periodic one-dimensional substrates. As a function of colloid density, temperature, and substrate strength, we find a variety of pinned and dynamic states including a locked smectic, pinned buckled, two-phase flow, and moving partially ordered structures. We show that for increasing colloid density, peaks in the depinning threshold occur at commensurate states. The scaling of the pinning threshold versus substrate strength changes when the colloids undergo a transition from one-dimensional chains to a buckled configuration.
Justice for the Innocent Job

Job's final theophany is puzzling. In fact, far from being a display of God's omnipotence, it is a confession of divine weakness: God needs Job/the human to fight evil in creation—the latter is here de-moralized, only restrained but ever threatened by inhuman forces, at times monstrous). The persistence of evil torments the innocent (Abel, Job, Jesus, the martyrs of the Shoah ...). Job's theme is highlighted from the outset in 1:8-12 where God's insecurity is manifest, depending as it is on an unpredictable human response (1:9). The central point is that there is no deus ex machina as there is no human robot. Job's insistence on this becomes subversive as it routs the principle of distributive justice and promotes one of disinterested righteousness. When Job realizes that his former complaints were a miscarriage of justice toward God, he repents. That is, he realizes that his claimed surplus of justice implied a deficiency of love. At this point, Job proves that he, at least, reveres God without expecting any reward (see 1:9). The satan is defeated and God comes out vindicated by his creature.
Entropy-Copula Method for Single-Site Monthly Streamflow Simulation

[1] An entropy-copula method is proposed for single-site monthly streamflow simulation. In this method, the joint distribution of adjacent monthly streamflows is constructed using the copula method, whereas the marginal distribution of streamflow for each month is derived using the entropy method. Then, the conditional distribution is derived from which monthly streamflow is generated. Moment statistics of monthly streamflow (such as mean, standard deviation and skewness) can be modeled by the entropy-based marginal distribution while the dependence structure between streamflows of adjacent months can be modeled by the copula-based joint distribution. The proposed entropy-copula method can be extended by incorporating an aggregate variable for modeling the interannual dependence. Application to the simulation of monthly streamflow from the Colorado River illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.
AN X-RAY STRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE FLUXIONAL MOLECULE [BIS(DIPHENYLPHOSPHINO)METHANE]TRICARBONYLIRON

Abstract As part of a broader investigation of fluxional 5-coordinate, neutral complexes of transition metals, the detailed molecular structure of [bis(diphenylphosphino)methane]tricarbonyliron, (Ph2PCH2PPh2)(CO)3Fe, has been determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystals belong to the triclinic system and have the following unit cell dimensions: a=12.08(1)A; b=9.63(1)A; c=11.35(1)A; α=101.02(3)° β=90.92(2)° γ=101.13(3)°. d calc for Z=2: 1.33 g ml−1. d obs: 1.35(2) g ml−1. The structure was solved by Patterson and Fourier methods and refined using 2060 reflections collected with Mo Kα radiation on a manually operated General Electric counter diffractometer. Refinement, in space group P1, omitting hydrogen atoms, was terminated with R 1=0.063 and R 2=0.065. Some important dimensions of the molecule are: Fe-P, 2.209(3)A, 2.225(3)A; Fe-C, 1.74(1)A, 1.77(1)A, 1.77(1)A;< P-Fe-P, 73.5(1)°. The coordination geometry is intermediate between trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal and would naturally lead to ...
Combined hyperthermia and radiation suggest an alternative to heavy particle therapy for reduced oxygen enhancement ratios

THE American Cancer Society estimates that 250,000 people in the United States will die from cancer in 1974 and it has been speculated that 100,000 of them will die because of failure to control the primary tumour site1. In the report of a 1972 conference on particle accelerators in radiation therapy Bagshaw said: “… perhaps the most critical factor in determining success or failure in the sterilisation of a localised neoplasm with standard megavoltage radiation is the state of oxygenation of the cells being irradiated …”2. Cells which are poorly oxygenated when irradiated are more resistant to conventional X radiation than those which are well oxygenated. Many tumours are hypoxic and thus may be more resistant to radiation than the well oxygenated surrounding normal tissue. Considerable time and effort have been expended during the past decade in attempts to circumvent this problem. Efforts are currently focused on the use of heavy particles. We now have data suggesting that hyperthermia in conjunction with standard megavoltage radiation may present an alternative for circumventing the oxygen problem.
A NOTE ON CAUSE AND CORRELATION

The attribution of cause depends on the research design, not on the statistics applied to identify the effect and establish significance. Three meanings of correlation are mentioned and the distinc...
College Student Choice Among Electronic and Printed Textbook Options

This empirical analysis focuses on student choices among electronic, new, and used printed textbook media. No significant relationship between textbook medium choice and student performance or demographic characteristics was observed. Ease of use and purchase and learning style were considered by students while cost and ability to keep the book have the most significant influence on medium selection. Results imply that multiple textbook media allow students to self-select the option that works best for them.
Phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomy of the African wattle-eyes (Aves: Passeriformes: Platysteiridae)

The African wattle-eyes (genera Platysteira and Dyaphorophyia) comprise 10 species endemic to Africa. We analyzed both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data to test the monophyly of this group and its two genera, provide a preliminary assessment of species limits, and gain insight into the phylogeographic history of the wattle-eye radiation. Analyses based on mitochondrial ND2 sequences failed to recover wattle-eye monophyly, but the alternatives were not well-supported. In contrast, analyses of two nuclear introns (myoglobin intron-2 and β-fibrinogen intron-5) recovered wattle-eye monophyly, as did combined analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear data. These analyses, however, did not support reciprocal monophyly of the two wattle-eye genera typically recognized, suggesting instead that Platysteira is nested within a paraphyletic Dyaphorophyia. The diversification of most wattle-eye species and many subspecies occurred through the divergence of allopatric populations well before the Pleistocene. Species and subspecies with disjunct distributions are typically characterized by deep genetic divergences, suggesting that many of these populations are evolutionary independent and could be recognized as additional phylogenetic species. In D. castanea and D. chalybea, for example, divergent haplotypes from geographically disjunct populations were paraphyletic with respect to those of D. tonsa and D. jamesoni, respectively. Similarly, Platysteira laticincta is highly divergent from its sister taxon P. peltata (∼9.5% ND2 sequence divergence), consistent with species level recognition of this endangered species. In contrast, more broadly distributed taxa inhabiting a greater diversity of habitats (e.g., P. peltata and P. cyannea) show evidence of gene flow and connectivity among regions, suggesting that previously isolated populations expanded and fused into one another. Our study provides a framework for additional analyses of intraspecific phylogeography and species limits in these colorful birds.
Dose-Dependent Effect of Statins on the Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury After Cardiac Surgery

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) after cardiac surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Methods We assessed whether statin treatment is associated with a lower incidence of postoperative AKI in 2,104 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft or valve surgery at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center. Acute kidney injury was defined as absolute increase greater than 0.3 mg/dL or relative increase greater than 50% in serum creatinine from baseline, within 48 hours after surgery or requiring postoperative hemodialysis per AKI network. Propensity scores were utilized to adjust for the differences between the statin and the no-statin treatment groups. All statins were converted to equivalent-dose simvastatin and divided at the median to construct high-dose (≥40 mg) and low-dose ( Results Of the 2,104 patients, 1,435 (68%) were taking statins (638 high-dose) and 495 (24%) developed AKI (25% high-dose vs 40% low-dose vs 35% no-statin; p = 0.014). Estimated preoperative glomerular filtration rate ( p = 0.003), diabetes mellitus (p=0.02), valve surgery with or without coronary artery bypass graft ( p = 0.024), cardiopulmonary bypass time ( p = 0.001), and intraaortic balloon pump ( p = 0.055) were independent predictors of AKI. After propensity adjustment statin treatment was not associated with postoperative AKI (odds ratio 0.79; 95% confidence interval 0.59 to 1.06; p = 0.11 for high-dose v. no-statin). After full adjustment for all independent predictors of AKI, the results did not change. Statins also had no effect on the incidence of postoperative hemodialysis (0.8% high-dose vs 1.9% low-dose vs 1% no-statin; p = 0.15). Conclusions Statin treatment is not associated with a lower incidence of AKI after cardiac surgery.
Sensor Analysis for Fault Detection in Tightly-Coupled Multi-Robot Team Tasks

This paper presents a sensor analysis based fault detection approach (which we call SAFDetection) that is used to monitor tightly-coupled multi-robot team tasks. Our approach aims at detecting both physical and logic faults of a robot system with little prior knowledge on the system. We do not need the motion model or a priori knowledge of the possible fault types of the monitored system. Our approach treats the monitored robot system as a black box, with only sensor data available. Thus, we believe the approach is general, and can be used in a wide variety of robot systems performing many different kinds of tasks. Our approach combines data clustering techniques with the generation of a probabilistic state diagram to model the normal operation of the multi-robot system. We have implemented this approach on a physical robot team. This paper presents the results of these experiments, which show that sensor data analyzed from a training phase of normal operation can be used to generate a model of normal robot team operation. This model can then be used to detect many types of abnormal behavior of the system, based purely on monitoring the sensor data of the system.
Alliances, Logistics Barriers, and Strategic Actions in the People's Republic of China

Many U.S. multinational firms are attempting to establish supply chains in the People's Republic of China. In order to foster such development, many of these firms are developing strategic alliances with Chinese partner companies. U.S. multinational firms that have strategic alliances with Chinese partners were surveyed concerning the logistics barriers they have encountered and the strategic actions they have developed to overcome these barriers. The results of this research indicate that U.S. multinational firms have experienced a considerable number of barriers and have used various types of strategic actions to overcome these barriers.
Commentary: Missed Opportunities

During the course of economic development, populations have become increasingly urban and geographically mobile. Cities created a new ecology for disease, and colonization brought unfamiliar diseases to colonizers and colonized alike. Urban death rates were usually very much higher than rural ones, and mortality rates from infections were often catastrophically high when new diseases were first introduced to populations. That economic development led to increased rates of urbanization may explain why economic growth rates were sometimes positively correlated with mortality. 11 However, there have also been processes of biological adaptation to the new risks. With new (as distinct from endemic) diseases, people lack the benefit of immunity acquired in early childhood, and selective process have not yet taken their toll of the most genetically susceptible sections of the population. After citing evidence that there were important genetic differences in susceptibility to tuberculosis, Burnett and White 12 gave examples of populations such as American Indians and Mauritians amongst whom it took—largely unaided by economic growth—around a 100 years for mortality rates from TB to fall from initially very high rates to rates as low as Europeans living in similar circumstances. These changes reflect some combination of the benefits of immunity acquired in early life to disease which have become endemic, and a process of genetic selection. Diseases in which there are both genetic differences in resistance, and high death rates before people reach reproductive ages, will tend to remove the most vulnerable sections of the population from the gene pool. Although McKeown and Lowe 3 thought economic growth was
Dipole Antennas and Arrays

This article describes the dipole antenna and common types of arrays built from dipole antennas. Keywords: dipole antennas; wire antennas
Zerovalent titanium–sulfur complexes. Novel dithiocarbamato derivatives of Ti(CO)6: [Ti(CO)4(S2CNR2)]−

Oxidation of [Ti(CO)6]2− by thiuram disulfides, (R2NCS2)2, affords the first isolable mononuclear six-coordinate titanium(0) carbonyls, [Ti(CO)4(S2CNR2)]−, which have unusual trigonal prismatic geometries and chemical and spectral properties that are remarkably similar to those of the 18-electron and seven-coordinate anion [Ti(CO)4(η5-C5H5)]−.
Effects of fenofibrate on lipid parameters in obese rhesus monkeys.

Fenofibrate is a member of the fibrate class of hypolipidemic agents used clinically to treat hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia. The fibrates were developed primarily on the basis of their cholesterol and triglyceride lowering in rodents. Fibrates have historically been ineffective at lowering triglycerides in experimentally-induced dyslipidemia in nonhuman primate models. The spontaneously obese rhesus monkey is a well-recognized animal model for the study of human obesity and type 2 diabetes, and many of these monkeys exhibit naturally occurring lipid abnormalities, including elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), similar to patients with type 2 diabetes. To explore whether the obese rhesus model was predictive of the lipid lowering effects of fibrates, we evaluated fenofibrate in six hypertriglyceridemic, hyperinsulinemic, nondiabetic animals in a 20-week, dose-escalating study. The study consisted of a 4-week baseline period, two treatment periods of 10 mg/kg twice daily (b.i.d) for 4 weeks and 30 mg/kg b.i.d. for 8 weeks, and a 4-week washout period. Fenofibrate (30 mg/kg b.i.d) decreased serum triglycerides 55% and LDL-C 27%, whereas HDL-C increased 35%. Apolipoproteins B-100 and C-III levels were also reduced 70% and 29%, respectively. Food intake, body weight, and plasma glucose were not affected throughout the study. Interestingly, plasma insulin levels decreased 40% during the 30 mg/kg treatment period, suggesting improvement in insulin sensitivity. These results support the use of obese rhesus monkey as an excellent animal model for studying the effects of novel hypolipidemic agents, particularly agents that impact serum triglycerides and HDL-C.
Separated at Girth: US Twin Estimates of the Effects of Birth Weight

The fetal origins hypothesis asserts that nutrient deprivation in utero can raise an individual's chronic disease risk. Within economics, this hypothesis has gained acceptance as a leading explanation for the cross-sectional correlations between birthweight, a proxy for fetal nutrient intake, and adult outcomes such as educational attainment, earnings and health. However, tests of this hypothesis using crosssectional data may not adequately account for the effect of omitted variables such as family background and genetics on these outcomes. To estimate the effects of birthweight while controlling for these factors, I exploit differences in birthweight between twins. I use two datasets of twins: a newly-created dataset, consisting of over 3,000 twin pairs, coming from the universe of 1960-1982 California birth records and the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Birth Cohort. Using these data, I find that birthweight is related to educational attainment, later pregnancy complications, and the birthweight of the next generation. With the exception of pregnancy complications, the effects of birthweight are small, especially in relation to recent findings for other countries. However, I find that the protective effects of birthweight vary across the birthweight distribution. For instance, while the effect of higher birthweight on infant mortality is most protective for very low birthweight infants, the effect of birthweight on education is practically zero for babies weighing less than 2500 grams and is largest for births exceeding 2500 grams.
Identification of Novel Loci Regulating Interspecific Variation in Root Morphology and Cellular Development in Tomato

While the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) root has been elegantly characterized with respect to specification of cell identity, its development is missing a number of cellular features present in other species. We have characterized the root development of a wild and a domesticated tomato species, Solanum pennellii and Solanum lycopersicum ‘M82.’ We found extensive differences between these species for root morphology and cellular development including root length, a novel gravity set point angle, differences in cortical cell layer patterning, stem cell niche structure, and radial cell division. Using an introgression line population between these two species, we identified numerous loci that regulate these distinct aspects of development. Specifically we comprehensively identified loci that regulate (1) root length by distinct mechanisms including regulation of cell production within the meristem and the balance between cell division and expansion, (2) the gravity set point angle, and (3) radial cell division or expansion either in specific cell types or generally across multiple cell types. Our findings provide a novel perspective on the regulation of root growth and development between species. These loci have exciting implications with respect to regulation of drought resistance or salinity tolerance and regulation of root development in a family that has undergone domestication.
Transactional Communication Disturbances in Families of Male Schizophrenics

Criteria were developed for scoring the interaction of families (mother, father, son) of schizophrenics, psychiatrically hospitalized nonschizophrenic controls, and normal controls, on transactional Attention Difficulties, Closure Difficulties, Problem-Solving Efficiency, and Dominance. These variables were scored by observers watching the interaction, from tapes, and from transcripts of the sessions. Tape-scoring was the most efficient and effective in discriminating the three groups. Mothers', couples' (mother and father), and families' total Amorphous Attention Difficulties scores were higher in the schizophrenic than in the normal control group; but families of both hospitalized and normal controls were distinguished from families of schizophrenics only when mothers' Amorphous Difficulties and fathers' Closure Difficulties were considered together. The groups were similar on Problem-Solving Efficiency. Fathers of schizophrenics were most Dominant, both within their families and compared with fathers in the other two groups.
The prevalence and status of conservative prairie and sand savanna insects in the Chicago Wilderness Region.

ABSTRACT: The identification and inventory of remnant-dependent or conservative species is an essential prerequisite to sound reserve selection and management in severely fragmented regions. We expanded an ongoing study of insect conservatism to include approximately 1200 additional species on 50 prairie and savanna remnants in the Chicago Wilderness Region (CW). Approximately 700 surveys were conducted from 1995 to 2006, with special emphasis placed on 15 high quality reserves. Our objectives were to: (1) gauge the prevalence of conservatism among remnant-inhabiting insects; (2) determine the status of each conservative species; and (3) gauge the extent that small, isolated sites contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in this landscape. Seventeen percent of 2424 species considered were determined to be narrowly associated with remnant habitats, suggesting that the overall prevalence of conservatism among CW insects is low. One hundred and seventy nine (44%) of these species were rarely or never e...
The complex variable boundary element method: Applications

The complex variable boundary element method (CVBEM) is used to approximate several potential problems where analytical solutions are known: A modelling result produced from the CVBEM is a measure of relative error in matching the known boundary condition values of the problem. A CVBEM error-reduction algorithm is used to reduce the relative error of the approximation by adding nodal points in boundary regions where error is large. From the-test problems, overall error is reduced significantly by utilizing the adaptive integration algorithm.
Two Pathways of Glutamate Fermentation by Anaerobic Bacteria

Two pathways are involved in the fermentation of glutamate to acetate, butyrate, carbon dioxide, and ammonia-the methylaspartate and the hydroxyglutarate pathways which are used by Clostridium tetanomorphum and Peptococcus aerogenes, respectively. Although these pathways give rise to the same products, they are easily distinguished by different labeling patterns of the butyrate when [4-(14)C]glutamate is used as substrate. Schmidt degradation of the radioactive butyrate from C. tetanomorphum yielded equally labeled propionate and carbon dioxide, whereas nearly all the radioactivity of the butyrate from P. aerogenes was recovered in the corresponding propionate. This procedure was used as a test for the pathway of glutamate fermentation by 15 strains (9 species) of anaerobic bacteria. The labeling patterns of the butyrate indicate that glutamate is fermented via the methylaspartate pathway by C. tetani, C. cochlearium, and C. saccarobutyricum, and via the hydroxyglutarate pathway by Acidaminococcus fermentans, C. microsporum, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and F. fusiformis. Enzymes specific for each pathway were assayed in crude extracts of the above organisms. 3-Methylaspartase was found only in clostridia which use the methylaspartate pathway, including Clostridium SB4 and C. sticklandii, which probably degrade glutamate to acetate and carbon dioxide by using a second amino acid as hydrogen acceptor. High levels of 2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase were found exclusively in organisms that use the hydroxyglutarate pathway. The data indicate that only two pathways are involved in the fermentation of glutamate by the bacteria analyzed. The methylaspartate pathway appears to be used only by species of Clostridium, whereas the hydroxyglutarate pathway is used by representatives of several genera.
Screening for UGT1A1 Genotype in Study A5257 Would Have Markedly Reduced Premature Discontinuation of Atazanavir for Hyperbilirubinemia

Background. Some patients are not prescribed atazanavir because of concern about possible jaundice. Atazanavir-associated hyperbilirubinemia correlates with UGT1A1 rs887829 genotype. We examined bilirubin-related discontinuation of atazanavir in participants from AIDS Clinical Trials Group Study A5257. Methods. Discriminatory properties of UGT1A1 T/T genotype for predicting bilirubin-related atazanavir discontinuation through 96 weeks after antiretroviral initiation were estimated. Results. Genetic analyses involved 1450 participants, including 481 who initiated randomized atazanavir/ritonavir. Positive predictive values of rs887829 T/T for bilirubin-related discontinuation of atazanavir (with 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 20% (CI, 9%-36%) in Black, 60% (CI, 32%-84%) in White, and 29% (CI, 8%-58%) in Hispanic participants; negative predictive values were 97% (CI, 93%-99%), 95% (CI, 90%-98%), and 97% (CI, 90%-100%), respectively. Conclusions. Bilirubin-related discontinuation of atazanavir was rare in participants not homozygous for rs887829 T/T, regardless of race or ethnicity. We hypothesize that the higher rate of discontinuation among White participants homozygous for rs887829 T/T may reflect differences in physical manifestations of jaundice by race and ethnicity. Selective avoidance of atazanavir initiation among individuals with T/T genotypes would markedly reduce the likelihood of bilirubin-related discontinuation of atazanavir while allowing atazanavir to be prescribed to the majority of individuals. This genetic association will also affect atazanavir/cobicistat.
RNA helicase A interacts with divergent lymphotropic retroviruses and promotes translation of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1

The 5' untranslated region (UTR) of retroviruses contain structured replication motifs that impose barriers to efficient ribosome scanning. Two RNA structural motifs that facilitate efficient translation initiation despite a complex 5' UTR are internal ribosome entry site (IRES) and 5' proximal post-transcriptional control element (PCE). Here, stringent RNA and protein analyses determined the 5' UTR of spleen necrosis virus (SNV), reticuloendotheliosis virus A (REV-A) and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) exhibit PCE activity, but not IRES activity. Assessment of SNV translation initiation in the natural context of the provirus determined that SNV is reliant on a cap-dependent initiation mechanism. Experiments with siRNAs identified that REV-A and HTLV-1 PCE modulate post-transcriptional gene expression through interaction with host RNA helicase A (RHA). Analysis of hybrid SNV/HTLV-1 proviruses determined SNV PCE facilitates Rex/Rex responsive element-independent Gag production and interaction with RHA is necessary. Ribosomal profile analyses determined that RHA is necessary for polysome association of HTLV-1 gag and provide direct evidence that RHA is necessary for efficient HTLV-1 replication. We conclude that PCE/RHA is an important translation regulatory axis of multiple lymphotropic retroviruses. We speculate divergent retroviruses have evolved a convergent RNA-protein interaction to modulate translation of their highly structured mRNA.
Determining rates of chemical weathering in soils : solute transport versus profile evolution

Abstract SiO 2 fluxes associated with contemporary solute transport in three deeply weathered granitoid profiles are compared to bulk SiO 2 losses that have occurred during regolith development. Climates at the three profiles range from Mediterranean to humid to tropical. Due to shallow impeding alluvial layers at two of the profiles, and seasonally uniform rainfall at the third, temporal variations in hydraulic and chemical state variables are largely attenuated below depths of 1–2 m. This allows current SiO 2 fluxes below the zone of seasonal variations to be estimated from pore-water concentrations and average hydraulic flux densities. Mean-annual SiO 2 concentrations were 0.1–1.5 mM. Hydraulic conductivities for the investigated range of soil-moisture saturations ranged from −9 to >10 −6 m s −1 . Estimated hydraulic flux densities for quasi-steady portions of the profiles varied from 6×10 −9 to 14×10 −9 m s −1 based on Darcy's law and field measurements of moisture saturations and pressure heads. Corresponding fluid-residence times in the profiles ranged from 10 to 44 years. Total SiO 2 losses, based on chemical and volumetric changes in the respective profiles, ranged from 19 to 110 kmoles SiO 2 m −2 of land surface as a result of 0.2–0.4 Ma of chemical weathering. Extrapolation of contemporary solute fluxes to comparable time periods reproduced these SiO 2 losses to about an order of magnitude. Despite the large range and non-linearity of measured hydraulic conductivities, solute transport rates in weathering regoliths can be estimated from characterization of hydrologic conditions at sufficiently large depths. The agreement suggests that current weathering rates are representative of long-term average weathering rates in the regoliths.
Blood on the Snow: The Carpathian Winter War of 1915 – By Graydon A. Tunstall

In his 2007 review essay on military history that appeared in the American Historical Review, Robert M. Citino claimed that in the big tent of scholarly military history one finds three major group...
Resonant power supplies: their history and status

The various types of converter are described, and the history of resonant power supplies is briefly sketched. The differences between pulse-width-modulated (PWM) switch mode power supplies and resonant power supplies are discussed. Single-switch, multiple-switch, and series and parallel resonant converters are examined. The control of resonant converters is addressed. Hardware is briefly considered. >