cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of Traditional Signal Processing Methods in Localizing Tursiops truncatus Whistles in a Reverberant Aquatic Environment

Abstract Relative to individual-specific signature whistles, little is known about the “non-signature” calls – particularly the non-signature whistles – of the common Atlantic bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. While such calls are suspected to possess social function, tracking their exchange among conspecifics and correlating their occurrence with non-acoustic behavior has proven challenging, given both their relative scarcity in the dolphin repertoire and their characteristic shared use, which complicates the attribution of their occurrences to callers. Towards the goal of robustly attributing occurrences of non-signature whistles to callers, we present a new, long-term audiovisual monitoring system designed for and tested at the Dolphin Discovery exhibit of the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. In this paper, we confirm the system’s ability to spatially localize impulse-like sounds using traditional signal processing approaches that have already been used to localize dolphin echolocation clicks. We go on to provide the first rigorous experimental evaluation of the component time-difference-of-arrival-(TDOA) extraction methods on whistle-like tonal sounds in a (reverberant) aquatic environment, showing that they are generally not suited to sound localization. Nevertheless, we find that TDOA extraction under these circumstances is performed significantly better using a Generalized Cross-Correlation with Phase Transform (GCC-PHAT) method than a standard circular cross-correlation method, a potentially important result.
Effects of natural and artificial shade on human thermal comfort in residential neighborhood parks of Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Abstract This research studied the capacity of natural and artificial shade types to improve outdoor human comfort during normally hot, summer midday (1200 to 1400 h), desert conditions. Micrometeorological data were collected in full sun and under shade canopies of six landscape tree taxa and constructed ramadas in residential neighborhood parks of Phoenix, AZ, USA. The six tree taxa included Arizona ash (Fraxinus velutina Torr.), Mexican palo verde (Parkinsonia aculeata L.), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.), South American mesquite (Prosopis spp. L.), Texas live oak (Quercus virginiana for. fusiformis Mill.), and Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia Jacq.). Results showed that natural shading from live trees and artificial shading from constructed ramadas were not similarly effective at improving outdoor human thermal comfort, represented by physiologically equivalent temperature (PET). The difference in PET between full sun and under shade canopies of Fraxinus and Quercus trees was greater than under shade canopies of Parkinsonia, Prosopis, trees or constructed ramadas by 2.9 to 4.3 °C. Radiation intensity was the most significant driver of lowered PET (p
Patched1 haploinsufficiency severely impacts intermediary metabolism in the skin of Ptch1+/-/ODC transgenic mice.

The study of dominantly heritable cancers has provided insights about tumor development. Gorlin syndrome (GS) is an autosomal dominant disorder wherein affected individuals develop multiple basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) of the skin. We developed a murine model of Ptch1 haploinsufficiency on an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) transgenic background (Ptch1+/−/ODCt/C57BL/6) that is more sensitive to BCCs growth as compared with Ptch1+/+/ODCt/C57BL/6 littermates. Ptch1+/−/ODCt/C57BL/6 mice show an altered metabolic landscape in the phenotypically normal skin, including restricted glucose availability, restricted ribose/deoxyribose flow and NADPH production, an accumulation of α-ketoglutarate, aconitate, and citrate that is associated with reversal of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, coupled with increased ketogenic/lipogenic activity via acetyl-CoA, 3-hydroybutyrate, and cholesterol metabolites. Also apparent was an increased content/acetylation of amino-acids, glutamine and glutamate, in particular. Accordingly, metabolic alterations due to a single copy loss of Ptch1 in Ptch1+/−/ODCt/C57BL/6 heterozygous mice may provide insights about the cancer prone phenotype of BCCs in GS patients, including biomarkers/targets for early intervention.
Imaging Retinal Activity in the Living Eye

Retinal function has long been studied with psychophysical methods in humans, whereas detailed functional studies of vision have been conducted mostly in animals owing to the invasive nature of physiological approaches. There are exceptions to this generalization, for example, the electroretinogram. This review examines exciting recent advances using in vivo retinal imaging to understand the function of retinal neurons. In some cases, the methods have existed for years and are still being optimized. In others, new methods such as optophysiology are revealing novel patterns of retinal function in animal models that have the potential to change our understanding of the functional capacity of the retina. Together, the advances in retinal imaging mark an important milestone that shifts attention away from anatomy alone and begins to probe the function of healthy and diseased eyes.
Vulnerable Populations and Regions: Middle East as a Case Study

There are published analyses predicting that the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region will be the most affected by climate change and global warming. This region has a multitude of factors that makes it more vulnerable to climate change. It is the first region in the world expected to run out of fresh water. It has diversity in income levels between one country and another, but most low-income countries rely on farming and agriculture that is rain-dependent, and there is poor governance and lack of resources to address the impact of climate change through adaptation. There is genuine interest by the MENA countries to address climate change through submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions by many countries in the region, but there is a lack of implementation with regard to climate change action plans and no public awareness within countries in the region. The heat waves, sand storms, declines in agriculture and food security, declines in water access, and associated health outcomes in this region are going to drive more migration within and outside the specific countries. The health impact from these climate change scenarios will be overwhelming in many regions in MENA, even if the target 2 °C global minimum temperature increase is achieved. There is a dearth of data from the MENA region regarding climate change and its impact on health.
Study protocol for a group-based motivational interviewing brief intervention to reduce substance use and sexual risk behavior among young adults experiencing homelessness.

Young people experiencing homelessness have alarmingly high rates of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, which is associated with sexual risk behaviors such as unprotected sex, trading sex, and sex with multiple casual partners. Few risk reduction programs for this population have been developed and rigorously evaluated, particularly those that address both of these interrelated behaviors, use a collaborative and non-judgmental approach, and are feasible to deliver in settings where homeless young people seek services. This paper describes the protocol of a study evaluating a four-session Motivational Interviewing (MI)-based group risk reduction intervention for this population. The protocol has been shown to be efficacious in pilot work over 3 months with 200 homeless young adults [1]. The current study seeks to refine the intervention protocol and evaluate the program on a larger scale. In a cluster-cross-over randomized controlled trial, 18–25 year olds will receive the AWARE risk reduction program (n = 200) or standard care (n = 200) at one of three drop-in centers serving homeless youth in the Los Angeles area. We will evaluate intervention effects on primary outcomes of AOD use and sexual risk behavior, as well as secondary outcomes of health-related quality of life and social stability, over a 12-month period. This project has the potential to fill a significant gap in prevention services by demonstrating that a brief intervention, feasible to deliver within settings where young people experiencing homelessness typically seeks services, can significantly reduce the interrelated problems of AOD use and sexual risk behavior. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03735784. Registered November 18, 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03735784 (retrospectively registered)
Structure constants of (2)

We derive a recursive formula for the structure constants for the universal enveloping algebra of 𝔰𝔩2(𝕂), where 𝕂 is an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.
Autoethnography as assessment: Communication pedagogies as social justice activism

In this article, we welcome the reader into our embodied teaching experiences. We invite the reader into our classrooms to see how our social justice pedagogies occur in real time and are experienc...
Extending the life of water reuse reverse osmosis membranes using chlorination

Abstract Numerous efforts have been made over the years to extend the lifespan of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes. End-of-life RO membranes are periodically replaced and usually discarded in landfills. Periodic membrane modification using chlorination may be an alternative to recover their productivity without compromising process safety. In this research, RO membranes from an engineering-scale ultrafiltration-RO system treating reclaimed water were exposed five times to 2000 ppm-h of chlorine immediately after chemical cleaning. Water, conductivity, ion, and organic permeability coefficients and rejection were related to the chlorine dose. The breakthrough of six naturally occurring viruses with different levels of persistence to wastewater treatment was also monitored. After five chlorine doses, the apparent water permeability was recovered to 1.0–1.5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, a 3.1-fold increase compared to the end-of-life membranes, with only a 2% decrease in observed salt rejection. Interestingly, apparent conductivity and ion permeability slightly decreased after the first and second chlorine dose, likely because the chlorine removed irreversible fouling/scaling and thus reduced concentration polarization. After the third chlorine dose, as the RO membrane surface oxidized, more monovalent ions permeated through the membrane, while observed divalent ion rejection remained relatively high and constant (>97%). Similarly, the RO permeate dissolved organic carbon concentration and total fluorescence intensity decreased between end-of-life membrane and the second chlorine dose, followed by an increase after the third dose, and only humic substances and building block compounds (
Prototype Orchestration Framework as a High Exposure Dimension Cyber Defense Accelerant Amidst Ever-Increasing Cycles of Adaptation by Attackers: A Modified Deep Belief Network Accelerated by a Stacked Generative Adversarial Network for Enhanced Event Correlation

The cycles of adaptation by attackers are ever-increasing. To meet these evolving threats, outsourcing to Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) has become prevalent. As these MSSPs contend with a torrent of varied attack vectors, they are increasingly utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to assist them in protecting their clients. Practitioners often assert that systems which provide decisions can be construed as AI; along this vein, this paper presents summary results of a prototype orchestration framework that selects and prioritizes cyber tools to be utilized against a continuous stream of testbed cyber-attacks. This orchestration framework is predicated upon the hybridization of a modified Deep Belief Network (DBN) conjoined with a particular cognitive computing precept (the acceptance of higher uncertainty amidst lower ambiguity for compressed decision cycles); for uncompressed decision cycles, it utilizes a modified Stacked Generative Adversarial Network (SGAN), which serves as a feeder to a Lowering Ambiguity Accelerant (LAA). Results show promise during the 1-5 day period; work has already commenced for improving the performance for day 6+, and uptime is already at 38 days with minimal degradation.
Preserving Relationships: Ways Attachment Theory Can Inform Custody Decisions

Professor Andrew Chcrlin writes in The Marriage-Go-Round that "children living with two married parents in the United States have a higher risk of experiencing a family breakup than do children living with two unmarried parents in Sweden." 1 In fact, there is more of an exchange of partners than there is in any other Western country. This is one reason why Cherlin uses the metaphor of a merry-go-round. The high turnover of caregivers takes an emotional toll on children. We sec social problems such as early promiscuity, deviant behavior, depression, problems at school, and the list goes on. When families are in a constant state of litigation about custody disputcs, the results can be devastating to the healthy functioning of the family. John Bowlby, ( 1907-1990) a psychiatrist during the middle of the twentieth century, was interested in the effects of children's separation from their primary caregivers. His ultimate work now described as "attachment theory" discusses the critical role of relationships within the family. Parents arc NOT interchangeable. The loss of one parent from the child's life is a separation event that may create a basis for the ongoing problems described above as a result of divorce. The purpose of this Article is to explore custody decisions in family courts using attachment theory as described by John Bowlby. 5 * Associate Professor, Utah State University, Department of family, Consumers and Human
“A Debt of Honor”: The Hegemonic Benevolence of Richmond’s Female Elites at the “Last Confederate Christmas” of 1864

In poignant remembrance of the last Christmas in the Confederate White House, Varina Davis, First Lady of the Confederacy, reflected upon that special event in an extended article for the New York Sunday World, some thirty-two years after the Confederacy’s final Christmas. Davis recounted the event fondly and praised the transformation of her female peers into perfect models of Confederate endurance under the extreme duress of civil war. In re-creating the dramaturgy of the three-part event, which was organized and hosted in large part by the Confederacy’s First Lady, Davis opened a critical window into southern sensibilities and the cultural rituals which helped to sustain the Confederacy through four long years of civil war. Though Davis’s article was clearly a reflective and nostalgic piece concerning an event which occurred thirtytwo years prior, it was not written merely as a glorification of southern society, but rather to demonstrate the perpetuation of cherished southern ideals and rituals during the closing months of the war. [excerpt]
Asymptotic Freedom and Color Superconductivity in Dense Quark Matter

In the present talk I shall deal with densities much higher than nuclear - densities which, as far as we know, were achieved only in the very early stages of the big bang. I shall review two issues: i) The current view that QCD predicts an approximately free quark-gluon gas phase at high densities and temperatures, which is incompatible with the kind of non-perturbative confinement effects that would be needed to yield a limiting Hagedorn temperature at high densities. ii) The recent suggestion of my student, Bertrand Barroisl1, that QCD leads to a different kind of non-perturbative phase, analogous to superconductivity, at high densities and low temperatures.
Hemoglobin Synthesis and Differentiation of Erythroid Cells

Publisher Summary In this chapter, the control of hemoglobin synthesis is considered with respect to a few selected topics including sites of erythropoiesis during fetal development, changes in cell structure during differentiation of erythroid cells, conversion from synthesis of fetal to adult types of hemoglobins, and rates of synthesis of different hemoglobins during erythroid cell differentiation. In considering these problems related to hemoglobin synthesis during erythroid cell differentiation, the chapter focuses on studies of the erythroid cell system in mouse and in man. The shift from embryonic to adult type of hemoglobin, at least in the fetal mouse, is associated with the substitution of one erythroid cell population for another. The changes in types of hemoglobin formed during development of mice, as well as of man, appear to involve substitutions with respect to the type of β chain formed, with the type of a chain being synthesized remaining unchanged. Hemoglobin synthesis in erythroid cells appears to proceed on relatively stable templates.
Africa and the Internet: Economic Asymmetry or Regulatory Problems?

Abstract This study investigates the factors that inhibit the adoption of the Internet in Africa. Although economic asymmetry is an important reason behind the differential in Internet penetration rates around the world, ineffective regulatory reforms, especially in the privatization process of the telecom sector, have caused the African nations to lag behind the rest of the world.
A poly-Si TFT monolithic LC data driver with redundancy

A polysilicon thin-film transistor (TFT) data driver with redundancy is integrated with an active-matrix-liquid-crystal display (AMLCD). Integration of peripheral drives has advantages over conventional AMLCDs such as easy testing and liberation from driver assembly, enabling fabrication of a high-resolution LCD with a small pixel size. Because a defect in a monolithic driver results in a fatal line defect, redundancy is required to improve yield. This data driver consists of blocks of shift registers using CMOS DFF. By using poly-silicon TFTs, a sample hold time of about 40 ns is achieved for 15-V gate voltage and 12-V data signal. These values are sufficient for the LCD for NTSC with 640 data lines. >
The effect of HLA mismatch on highly sensitized renal allograft recipients

Paramesh AS, Zhang R, Baber J, Yau CL, Slakey DP, Killackey MT, Ren Q, Sullivan K, Heneghan J, Florman SS. The effect of HLA mismatch on highly sensitized renal allograft recipients. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: E247–E252. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Introduction: We examined the effects of increasing human leukocyte antigen (HLA) mismatches (MM) on long-term graft outcomes in patients transplanted with a panel reactive antibody (PRA) >80% over a 10-yr period. Methods: A total of 142 recipients were divided into three groups based on the number of HLA MM with their allograft (0–2, 3–4 and 5–6 MM; Groups I, II and III). All patients received the same immunosuppression protocol. Results: The higher MM groups had a higher incidence of rejection (4.4% vs. 11.4% vs. 31.3%, p < 0.01). A multivariate analysis showed that rejection was the only significant variable affecting graft loss (OR = 7.45, p = 0.01). There was a trend toward more CMV infection and worse graft function with higher MM. Kaplan–Meier five-yr graft survival estimates were 100% vs. 81% vs. 74% for Groups I, II and III, respectively (p = 0.14). Conclusions: In patients with PRA levels >80%, a higher HLA MM is associated with higher incidence of acute rejection. Acute rejection was the only significant variable affecting graft loss. We found a trend toward more CMV infections and worse graft outcomes with higher MM. Closer HLA matching and immunologic monitoring needs to be considered to improve graft outcomes among sensitized recipients.
Level spacing distribution in systems with partially chaotic classical dynamics

We solve the longstanding problem of the distribution between the neighboring energy levels in generic (partially chaotic) quantum systems. The distribution we obtain is in excellent agreement with the data obtained from atomic physics, optics and acoustics.
Defect mitigation of plasma-induced delamination of TiW/Cu from SiN x layer in thin si interposer processing with glass carriers

Glass is widely used as a carrier substrate for processing thin silicon wafers for 3D applications. Moreover, the use of glass as an interposer material has recently attracted significant attention in both research and development. For silicon interposer applications, the silicon wafer with through silicon vias (TSVs) is first bonded to a temporary glass handler and subsequently subjected to wafer thinning to reveal the TSVs. After TSV reveal, wiring layers are patterned on the ‘grind-side’ using photoresist, with sputtered TiW/Cu as the metal seed-layer and SiN x as the dielectric separating the metal layers. This paper reports a new ‘resistdependent’ delamination phenomenon that occurs at the interface between TiW/Cu and SiN x surfaces, which is triggered during the plasma process. The delamination manifests as small blisters of raised TiW/Cu over the SiNx surface, and was observed while using glass wafers, either as a handler or as the actual electronic substrate. In this study, the root cause of delamination is identified as the Ar plasma used for clamping the wafers. The defect intensity is minimized by lowering the power of Ar plasma. Finally, defects are completely mitigated by substituting O 2 gas in place of Ar during plasma processing.
RF parameter and field stability requirements for the Cornell ERL prototype

Cornell University, in collaboration with Jefferson Laboratory, has proposed the construction of a prototype energy-recovery linac (ERL) to study the energy recovery concept with high current, low emittance beams. The ERL will require the operation of superconducting cavities in two extreme regimes. In the injector a multi-mA beam is accelerated to several MeV energy. The resulting high beam loading in the superconducting cavities requires a strong coupling of the fundamental mode coupler and a high power transfer. The dominating sources of field perturbation in the injector cavities are beam transients and beam current fluctuations. In the main linac the decelerated recirculated beam cancels the beam loading of the accelerated beam. Accordingly these cavities are operated at a high external quality factor to minimize the RF power requirements. Microphonic cavity detuning and path length fluctuations significantly increase the RF power demands. In this paper an overview of the prototype RF system is given and the RF power demands and field stability requirements are discussed in detail.
The BRG1 Chromatin Remodeler Regulates Widespread Changes in Gene Expression and Cell Proliferation During B Cell Activation

Widespread changes in gene expression underlie B cell development and activation, yet our knowledge of which chromatin-remodeling factors are essential is limited. Here, we demonstrate that the BRG1 catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF complexes was dispensable for murine B cell development but played an important, albeit selective, role during activation. Although BRG1 was dispensable for CD69 induction and differentiation into plasma cells based on the ability of mutant B cells to undergo hypertrophy and secrete IgM antibodies, it was required for robust cell proliferation in response to activation. Accordingly, BRG1 was required for only ∼100 genes to be expressed at normal levels in naive B cells but >1,000 genes during their activation. BRG1 upregulated fivefold more genes than it downregulated, and the toll-like receptor pathway and JAK/STAT cytokine-signaling pathways were particularly dependent on BRG1. The importance of BRG1 in B cell activation was underscored by the occurrence of opportunistic Pasteurella infections in conditionally mutant mice. B cell activation has long served as a model of inducible gene expression, and the results presented here identify BRG1 as a chromatin-remodeling factor that upregulates the transcriptome of B cells during their activation to promote rapid cell proliferation and to mount an effective immune response.
Postoperative Visual Loss Following Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Review of Risk Factors by Diagnosis

Background Postoperative visual loss (POVL) is a potentially devastating complication of lumbar spine surgery that may lead to significant functional impairment. Although POVL is rare, a review of the literature shows that it is being reported with increasing frequency. A systematic analysis detailing the etiology and prognosis of the 3 main types of POVL has yet to be published. We reviewed potential preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for ischemic optic neuropathy (ION), central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), and cortical blindness (CB) after lumbar spine surgery. Methods A PubMed and Google literature search was completed in the absence of time constraints. Relevant articles on POVL after spine surgery were identified and reviewed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results We identified 4 large-scale studies that statistically analyzed risk factors for POVL. ION, CRAO, and CB were the most frequently reported POVL types in the literature. Data were abstracted from 19 ION case reports, 3 CRAO case reports, and 5 CB case reports. Conclusions We reviewed the preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for each of the 3 main POVL types, using several published case reports to supplement the limited large-scale studies available. ION risks may be influenced by a longer operative time in the prone position with anemia, hypotension, and blood transfusion. The risk for CRAO is usually due to improper positioning during the surgery. Prone positioning and obesity were found to be most commonly associated with CB development. The prognosis, prevention techniques, and treatment of each POVL type can vary considerably.
Reconstruction of multiple-user voice commands using a hybrid system based on thin-film electronics and CMOS

This paper presents a system consisting of an array of thin-film microphone channels on glass, which can be formed on large substrates. Each microphone channel consists of a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric transducer as well as amplifier and scan circuits based on amorphous-silicon (a-Si) thin-film transistors (TFTs). The scan circuits multiplex signals from multiple channels to a CMOS IC for readout. By spatially distributing the channels on a large substrate, audio signals from multiple simultaneous speakers in a space can be both acquired in closer proximity and separated, enabling a multi-user human-computer interface based on voice commands. To overcome low TFT performance in the scan circuits (which limits channel sampling to below the Nyquist rate), a signal reconstruction algorithm is proposed. An 8-channel system demonstrates acquisition and reconstruction of 2 simultaneous audio signals at 2m distance from the array.
Labour force and changing age structure in selected developed countries: a comparative study.

The authors examine the effects of demographic aging and the changing age structure on the labor force in the United States Canada and Japan over the period from 1950 to 1980. They find that "the changing age structure and population aging have generally had a favorable effect on the proportion of labour force or crude labour force rate....The remarkable feature was the rate effect of the female labour force which was positive and often substantially reinforced the positive age effect....The proportion of the female labour force soared during the 1960s and 1970s in these countries and a dramatic convergence of male and female labour force participation rates took place." (EXCERPT)
Assessment of online patient materials for breast reconstruction.

Abstract Background Limited health literacy affects nearly half of American adults and adversely affects patient participation, satisfaction, health care costs, and overall outcomes. As patients increasingly search the Internet for health information, accessibility of online material is critical. Previous studies examining this topic have focused on the readability of these materials. This study evaluates online breast reconstruction resources with regard to reading level, however, adds new metrics to assess degree of complexity, and suitability for the intended audience. Methods The 10 most popular patient Web sites for “breast reconstruction” were identified using the largest Internet search engine. The content of each site was assessed for readability using the simple measure of gobbledygook analysis, complexity using the PMOSE/iKIRSCH formula, and suitability using the suitability assessment of materials instrument. Resulting scores were analyzed overall and by Web site. Results Readability analysis revealed an overall average grade level of 13.4 (range 10.7–15.8). All sites exceeded the recommended sixth grade level. Complexity evaluation revealed a mean PMOSE/iKIRSCH score of 6.3, consistent with “low” complexity and requiring an 8th–12th grade education; individual sites ranged from “very low” to “high” complexity. Suitability assessment overall produced a mean 41.2% score, interpreted as “adequate” for the intended patient audience. Five of the 10 sites were found to be “not suitable” when examined individually; the remaining five were “adequate.” Conclusions Available online patient material for breast reconstruction is often too difficult for many patients to understand based on readability, complexity, and suitability metrics. Comprehensive assessment is needed to design appropriate patient material and minimize disparities related to limited health literacy.
A Random Motion Problem

Abstract The limiting rate of Markov chain motion of the center of gravity of N tokens at equilibrium, as N → ∞, is computed for a random mechanism suggested by the average behavior of certain local improvement algorithms of linear programming. The equilibrium generating function of the cells of tokens is given, as N → ∞.
Renoprotective Effects of Direct Renin Inhibition in Glomerulonephritis

The development of glomerulonephritis causes glomerular injury and renal dysfunction and is thought to increase renin release, thus activating the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The aims of this study were to demonstrate activation of the intrarenal RAS and determine the effects of direct renin inhibition (DRI) on the progression of glomerulonephritis. Rats were treated with anti-Thy1.1 antibody with or without DRI, aliskiren (30 mg/kg/d). In the glomerulonephritic rats, protein, microalbumin excretion levels, urinary angiotensinogen excretion, glomerular expansion score and intrarenal transforming growth factor-β and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 mRNA levels were augmented compared with control rats; however, hypertension was not observed in the glomerulonephritic rats, and aliskiren treatment did not modify their blood pressure. The increases in urinary protein (94.7 ± 13.0 mg/d) and microalbumin (7.52 ± 2.6 mg/d) excretion were reduced by aliskiren (43.6 ± 4.5 mg/d of protein and 2.57 ± 0.7 mg/d of microalbumin). Furthermore, the progression of glomerular expansion and elevation of intrarenal transforming growth factor-β and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels were prevented by aliskiren. Importantly, aliskiren suppressed the augmentation of urinary angiotensinogen levels, the increased angiotensinogen expression in the kidneys and the increases in Ang II levels in renal medulla induced by the anti-Thy1.1 antibody. These results suggest that DRI with aliskiren prevents intrarenal RAS activation leading to mitigation of the development of glomerulonephritis. In addition, the renoprotective effects of DRI on glomerulonephritis occur in a blood pressure-independent manner. Accordingly, treatment with aliskiren may be an effective approach to treat glomerulonephritis and other intrarenal RAS-associated kidney diseases.
Allergy and an acute condition of the abdomen from the surgeon's viewpoint

Abstract 1. 1. Allergy plays a part in the production of an acute condition within the abdomen and not infrequently results in surgical intervention. 2. 2. A review of the literature has been presented demonstrating that this is more frequent than is currently recognized. 3. 3. A typical case has been presented in detail. 4. 4. Analysis of the literature and our own case demonstrates that allergy of the bowel results in a sufficiently characteristic appearance to be recognizable at operation. 5. 5. The similarity of allergy of the bowel to mesenteric thrombosis and regional ileitis has been noted and the use of adrenalin and the antihistamine drugs as a means of differential diagnosis has been suggested.
An efficient common-multiplicand-multiplication method to the Montgomery algorithm for speeding up exponentiation

The modular exponentiation is a common operation for scrambling secret data and is used by several public-key cryptosystems, such as the RSA scheme and DSS digital signature scheme. However, the calculations involved in modular exponentiation are time-consuming especially when performed in software. In this paper, we propose an efficient CMM-MSD Montgomery algorithm by utilizing the Montgomery modular reduction method, common-multiplicand-multiplication (CMM) method, and minimal-signed-digit (MSD) recoding technique for fast modular exponentiation. By using the technique of recording the common signed-digit representations in the grouped substrings of exponent, our algorithm can improve the efficiency of both the original CMM exponentiation algorithm and the Montgomery multiplication algorithm. The fast modular exponentiation algorithm developed in this paper can be easily implemented in general signed-digit computing machine, and is therefore well suited for parallel implementation to fast evaluating modular exponentiation. Moreover, by using the proposed CMM-MSD Montgomery algorithm, on average the total number of single-precision multiplications can be reduced by about 38.9% and 26.68% as compared with Dusse-Kaliski's Montgomery algorithm and Ha-Moon's Montgomery algorithm, respectively.
Childhood and Adolescent Development of Ten Female Prostitutes

Abstract The study of ten adolescent and young adult female prostitutes revealed that three of them had schizophrenic psychoses, while the remainder had borderline character structures. The psychotic adolescents participated in prostitution in an attempt to preserve some vestige of object relationships. The borderline adolescents, all of whom had chaotic family histories, had severe splits in the world of self and object, with the result that all-good and all-bad images were kept apart. The all-good image was that of the pimp, while the all-bad image was that of the customer. Other aspects of prostitution such as the high incidence of suicide attempts, homosexuality, and the use of money are also discussed.
Comments on Yoshinori Sasaki's “A Logical Difficulty of the Parameter Setting Model”: Objection to a Logical Difficulty

0 In his TESOL Quarterly article (Vol. 24, No. 4), Yoshinori Sasaki is premature in drawing the conclusion that "[the Universal Grammar] model is untenable as a scientific theory of language acquisition" (p. 769). In constructing his logical argument that no marked syntactic parameter could ever originate, Sasaki misconstrues the way in which the notion of an innate Universal Grammar (UG) must be integrated into a theory of language acquisition and change. He argues that because no phonological, morphological, semantic, or pragmatic information enters into syntactic rules, no logically possible way exists to establish a marked parameter, and therefore no speaker's parameters could ever be "set" in a marked "position" by the experience of triggering utterances. His argument primarily addresses the compatibility of UG with an account of historical change; I will discuss this issue first and then the "logical difficulty" of the UG model. Much of David Lightfoot's career (e.g., 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981a, 1981b, 1982, & 1991) has been spent examining evidence of language shift from a generative perspective. The evolution of language reaches an apogee in what he terms reanalysis. Beginning at an arbitrary initial state of the language, and with the assumption of an innate language faculty consisting of core principles and parameters and a marked periphery, he enumerates some factors that stimulate reanalysis: processing problems, stylistic expressiveness, contact with foreign languages/pidgins/creoles, novelty, chance, and other nongrammatical factors. These factors introduce irregularity into a language, and which of these irregularities is perpetuated by grammaticization is unpredictable. These reanalyses are forced by the attempts of succeeding generations to acquire a language based on evidence that includes novel constructions or usage. Using principles of UG and the linguistic evi-
Stein covers for curved twistor spaces

Abstract We show that any curved twistor space has a naturally-defined Stein cover, the elements of which are indexed by the points of the twistor space. We use this cover to give compact formulae for the Penrose transform and the inverse twistor functions, and to provide a broader and less singular definition of googly twistor spaces than previously available.
Stigmatizing the Bomb: Origins of the Nuclear Taboo

Gavin, a principal promoter in the U.S. military of the development of tactical nuclear weapons, wrote, “Nuclear weapons will become conventional for several reasons, among them cost, effectiveness against enemy weapons, and ease of handling.”1 Indeed, during the 1950s numerous U.S. leaders fully expected that a nuclear weapon would become “just another weapon.” Secretary of State John Foster Dulles accepted “the ultimate inevitability” that tactical nuclear weapons would gain “conventional” status.2 Adm. Arthur Radford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President Dwight Eisenhower, predicted in 1956 that the use of nuclear weapons “would become accepted throughout the world just as soon as people could lay their hands upon them.”3 These leaders were articulating a view with a long tradition in the history of weapons and warfare: a weapon once introduced inevitably comes to be widely accepted as legitimate. In reality, however, nuclear weapons have come to be deaned as abhorrent and unacceptable weapons of mass destruction, with a taboo on their use. This taboo is associated with a widespread revulsion toward nuclear weapons and broadly held inhibitions on their use. The opprobrium has come to apply to all nuclear weapons, not just to large bombs or to certain types or uses of nuclear weapons. It has developed to the point that uses of nuclear weapons that were once considered plausible by at least some U.S. decisionmakers—for example, tactical battleaeld uses in limited wars and direct threats to deter enemies from conventional attack—have been severely delegitimized and are practically unthinkable policy options. Thomas Stigmatizing the Bomb
Use of Binary Choice Decision Process for Adaptive Signal Control

Adaptive signal control based on a binary-choice decision process for timing adjustment has the potential to replace traffic-actuated control. This emerging control strategy divides time into small intervals. In each interval, a decision is made either to terminate the current green phase or to extend it for another interval. This decision process can produce signal operations that are more efficient than existing traffic-actuated operations. However, there is little understanding of the essential features that should be built into such a process. This paper examines four related issues and gives the results of computer simulation. The analysis reveals that it is sufficient for the binary-choice decision process to rely solely on detected vehicle arrivals for the evaluation of alternative timing decisions. No predictions of other arrivals are needed. It is also found that, for monitoring vehicle arrivals, detectors do not have to be placed at locations more than 8 sec of travel time from the stop line. Furthermore, the binary choice requires the evaluation of an extremely limited number of alternative extensions of the current green phase.
P2Y12 receptor inhibition augments cytotoxic effects of cisplatin in breast cancer

Expression of P2Y12 receptors has been documented in some cancer cell lines like C6 glioma, renal carcinoma and colon carcinoma. However, its direct role in altering response to chemotherapeutics has not been studied. In this study, we characterize the expression of P2Y12 receptor in breast cancer cell lines and evaluate its role in enhancing the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin. We observed a significant upregulation in P2Y12 expression in 4T1 breast cancer cell line with cisplatin treatment. Co-administration of P2Y12 inhibitor with cisplatin resulted in significantly higher cytotoxic response in 4T1 cancer cell line. This was mediated by HIF1α-dependent upregulation of cellular apoptotic pathways. These findings identify P2Y12 receptor as a potential target to enhance antitumor efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin.
EFFECT OF COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF FREEZING ON MICROBIAL FLORA OF GROUND BEEF PATTIES

This study was designed to evaluate effects of meat composition and freezing by conventional or cryogenic methods on microbial numbers and types in beef patties. Beef patties of different fat content or containing soy protein were frozen by liquid nitrogen, liquid carbon dioxide, or by mechanical freezing and stored at – 18°C for 5 months. Cryogenic freezing produced significantly greater reduction in total viable mesophiles and paychrotrophs than did mechanical freezing. Patties containing 30% fat provided greater survival than observed with 20% fat or added soy protein. After frozen storage, predominant flora consisted of species of Moraxella-Acinetobacter (42%) and Pseudomonas (32%). The former group was favored by mechanical freezing, but a greater proportion of Pseudomonas app. survived cryogenic freezing than mechanical freezing.
ERCP Can Be Safely and Effectively Performed by a Pediatric Gastroenterologist for Choledocholithiasis in a Pediatric Facility

ABSTRACTObjective:The aim of this study was to demonstrate that an appropriately trained pediatric gastroenterologist can perform endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for suspected choledocholithiasis both safely and effectively.Methods:Retrospective analysis of ERCP experience from
Synthesis of metal nanoclusters within microphase-separated diblock copolymers: a ‘universal’ approach

Abstract A general methodology has been established for the synthesis of transition metal nanoclusters within the carboxylic acid functionalized domains of microphase-separated block copolymer films. In this technique the films are soaked in aqueous metal salt solutions prior to reduction of the sequestered metal ions with hydrogen or aqueous NaBH 4 . Transmission electron microscopy observation, scanning transmission electron microscopy observation, electron scattering analysis and wide-angle X-ray scattering analysis were used to characterize the size, composition and crystal structure of the resulting metal nanoclusters.
DEMANDS, CAUTIONS, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR SETTING STANDARDS

Seven out of eight respondents is a hefty majority by almost any standard. It is the sort of majority that might be expected on questions about apple pie or motherhood. Surely it is too rarefied a figure to be associated with a question about the use of tests. Nonetheless, a recently completed survey of adults in the state of Illinois reported just this level of support when respondents were asked about requiring students to pass a test for promotion to the next grade. A research team at the University of Illinois surveyed nearly 10,000 adults throughout Illinois (Illinois, 1978). Among questions dealing with a wide range of topics, respondents were asked: "Should schools require students to pass a test of basic skills before going on to the next grade?" (p. 11). Eighty-eight percent of those who answered this question said yes and only 12 percent said no. (No opinion was given by five percent of the sample.) One can think of a series of questions that follow from that first one: What does it mean to pass? Who should decide? What kind of test? What basic skills? But while these questions cloud the meaning of the survey results, it is evident that there is broad support for some vague notions involving the use of tests and performance standards. The Illinois survey is only one of many indicators of the current activity and popular interest in minimum-competency testing. Pipho (1978) reported that "as of March 15, 1978, 33 states had taken some type of action to mandate the setting of minimum competency standards for elementary and secondary students" (p. 585). Sixty-five percent of the respondents to the 1976 Gallup poll of the public's attitudes toward the public schools answered yes when asked, "Should all high school students in the United States be required to pass a standard nationwide examination in order to get a high school diploma?" (Gallup, 1976, p. 190). The support of minimum-competency requirements among professional educators has been somewhat more guarded and in some instances antagonistic. The National Education Association's Guidelines and Cautions for Considering Criterion-referenced Testing (1975) caution that " 'Minimal competency' or 'mastery' cut-off -points should be viewed with some suspicion" (p. 11). There is opposition to the idea of a national testing program in the Department of Health Education and Welfare (see, for example, Califano, 1977). The recent report of the National Academy of Education Committee of Testing and Basic Skills (1978), while acknowledging minimum-competency testing as a potentially "positive educational development" (p. v), cautioned against misuses and overemphasis. Despite these reservations, substantial support for some uses of minimumcompetency testing may be found among educators, as evidenced by the statement of the National Association of Secondary School Principals:
Who Invested with Madoff? A Flash Analysis of Funds of Funds

Financial fraud in general and Ponzi Schemes in particular continue to both fascinate and plague investors. A Ponzi scheme is often described as a securities fraud in which the promoter makes a false or misleading statement about his investment strategy and money from new investors is used to fund redemptions. When new investors cannot be found to offset investors asking to leave, current investors often are exposed to extreme loss of capital. This article examines whether funds of funds that invested with Madoff have any common characteristics. This question is of particular importance to the end investor, who has historically relied on the FOF industry to provide both manager selection and due diligence services. The results of this study should help investors and their consultants better identify those intermediaries that are less-well-poised to deliver investment management services with respect to hedge funds. The article analyzes a set of FOFs that were or were not invested with Madoff. The results show some relatively weak commonalities in the empirical characteristics of FOFs that invested in Madoff. Unfortunately, the apparent commonalities are insufficient in themselves to accurately and effectively predict which FOFs sought and acquired exposure to Madoff.
Substrate guided-wave holo-interferometry

This paper describes a new tool for experimental mechanics called substrate guided wave (SGW) holo-interferometry. The approach relies on recording and reconstructing time- average, double-exposure, and real-time holograms using light waves guided to the hologram by a dielectric sheet, or substrate waveguide. The study illustrates that SGW holo- interferometry can be used to isolate the reference wavefront from the environment surrounding the hologram, and can be applied to measure the mechanical properties of the substrate itself. These attributes are discussed along with experimental work performed to develop and refine the technique.