cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mass Incarceration in California Counties: A Mechanism for Educational Inequality

AbstractAlthough there is substantial evidence of the negative effects of being incarcerated or having a father imprisoned, there is little research on the spillover effects created by the concentration of incarceration within disadvantaged communities. This article addresses this limitation by investigating the association between mass incarceration and the educational outcomes of all Black and White children living in a community where many of its members were incarcerated across counties within California from 2009 to 2013.
Shape memory polymers with visible and near-infrared imaging modalities: synthesis, characterization and in vitro analysis

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are promising for non-invasive medical devices and tissue scaffolds, but are limited by a lack of visibility under clinical imaging. Fluorescent dyes are an alternative to radiocontrast agents in medical applications, they can be utilized in chemical sensors and monitors and may be anti-microbial agents. Thus, a fluorescent SMP could be a highly valuable biomaterial system. Here, we show that four fluorescent dyes (phloxine B (PhB), eosin Y (Eos), indocyanine green (IcG), and calcein (Cal)) can be crosslinked into the polymer backbone to enhance material optical properties without alteration of shape memory and thermomechanical properties. Examinations of the emission wavelengths of the materials compared with the dye solutions showed a slight red shift in the peak emissions, indicative of crosslinking of the material. Quantitative analysis revealed that PhB enabled visibility through 1 cm of blood and through soft tissue. We also demonstrate the utility of these methods in combination with radio-opaque microparticle additives and the use of laser-induced shape recovery to allow for rapid shape recovery below the glass transition temperature. The crosslinking of fluorescent dyes into the SMP enables tuning of physical properties and shape memory and independently of the fluorescence functionality. This fluorescent SMP biomaterial system allows for use of multiple imaging modalities with potential application in minimally invasive medical devices.
International Guidance and Controls

Thomas Stearns must decide whether to continue with planned software development and risk missing the completion deadline on a $20 million project or bite the bullet and make some costly hardware changes that will virtually eliminate the risk of missing the deadline. This introductory decision analysis case: (1) contains a compound (square-circle-square) decision, (2) encourages a discussion of the meaning of probability, and (3) requires the use of sensitivity analysis to handle the unspecified costs of missing the deadline. Excerpt UVA-QA-0350 INTERNATIONAL GUIDANCE AND CONTROLS Time was running out on the $ 20 million CARV (confined aquatic recovery vehicle) project, and Project Manager Thomas Stearns was concerned about maintaining the project's schedule. With 10 months left, considerable portions of the software remained to be developed, and Stearns was by no means certain that all the necessary development work would be completed on time. Software Development Stearns had had his project team working full force in recent months on the software development for CARV's command and guidance system. His headcount (the number of full-time-equivalent workers assigned to the project) had been increased recently, so total development costs were running at $ 300,000 per month, which was 25% over the project's budget. Stearns believed that there was but an 80% chance that the necessary software would be completed in the remaining 10 months. Despite the risk of not maintaining the schedule, he could not increase the headcount on the project or increase the rate of software development in any way. If the software were not completed on time, Stearns was fairly certain that one or two extra months of work would suffice to complete the project. Unfortunately, each month's delay in project completion meant a 2.5% ($ 500,000) reduction in the price of the contract. In addition to this precisely defined cost of not meeting the schedule, a hard‑to‑quantify, but no less significant cost of lost reputation was associated with not completing the project as scheduled. . . .
Chapter 2: Connecting to the Bodies We Research

This critical autoethnography takes place during the opening lecture of an interdisciplinary graduate-level qualitative research methodology seminar. As the professor compares and contrasts the orientation, goals, and design of positivist, interpretive, critical, and post-structural methodologies, the narrative shifts between the class dialogue and a new MA student’s stream of consciousness as she struggles to identify the methodological lens that will provide answers to her research questions. She weighs the risks, possibilities, and limitations of personal standpoint, reflexivity, the institutional review board, and researcher/participant relationships related to open-ended narrative interviews focused on the embodied and social experience of bulimia or physical disabilities. The story ends with a call for staged performance interpretations of qualitative data to resist cultural stigma and marginalization.
Using simulations to forecast homeowner response to sea level rise in South Florida: Will they stay or will they go?

Abstract Sea level rise threatens coastal communities around the world. Proactive investments in adaptive flood protection could reduce financial vulnerability, however it is unclear if local governments and homeowners will be willing to make those investments before it is too late. In this research we explore this issue by focusing on the case of South Florida, which is one of the most financially vulnerable regions in the world. We report the results of a novel online simulation that accelerates 348 South Florida homeowners thirty-five years into the future so that they can ‘live’ the effects of sea level rise. The results contain a mix of optimism and caution for the prospects of future adaptation. On the positive side, over 75% of participants indicated a willingness to support bond issues to pay for adaptation, even as the costs of the measures and effects of sea level rise increased over the years. Likewise, we find little evidence that politically conservative residents who normally have more skeptical views about climate change are any less inclined to support adaptation, or only look to information sources that downplay the threat. On the negative side, the number of homeowners interested in moving out of the region increases steadily over time as the sea level rises. This is driven by an increase in worry associated with viewing more information within the simulation.
Contemporary Management of Mandibular Fracture Nonunion-A Retrospective Review and Treatment Algorithm.

Purpose Nonunion is an uncommon complication after mandibular fractures. The purpose of this investigation was to compare outcomes of patients with mandibular fracture nonunion who were treated with a 1- versus 2-stage approach and propose a pragmatic treatment algorithm for surgical management based on preoperative characteristics. Materials and Methods The authors conducted a retrospective study consisting of patients who presented to 2 level 1 trauma centers for the management of mandibular fracture nonunion over a 10-year period. The primary predictor variable was 1- versus 2-stage treatment. Outcomes were examined to propose a treatment algorithm. Results Eighteen patients were included in the study. The sample's mean age was 44.0 ± 19.3 years and most were men (88.9%). Mandibular angle and body accounted for 77.8% of cases. A single-stage approach was used in 13 patients (72.2%). Bone grafts or vascularized bone flaps were required in 13 patients (72.2%). Patients who required 2-stage treatments had intraoral soft tissue defects. Mean length of follow-up was 13.3 ± 20.4 months. All patients achieved bony union, with complications occurring in 5 patients (27.8%). The authors' 10-year experience was used to formulate a treatment algorithm based on bony defect size and soft tissue status, which can be used to inform optimal surgical management. Conclusions Nonunion of mandibular fractures is an infrequent and complex condition requiring careful and deliberate surgical management. A single-stage approach is appropriate in most cases and does not negatively affect outcomes. Bony defect size and soft tissue status are essential parameters for determining the approach and timing of reconstruction.
Alignment and Coherence as System-Level Strategies: Bridging Policy and Practice

A system-level perspective on the transition to Kindergarten requires consideration of the differences that exist between the systems of birth-to-five early care and education (ECE) and K-12 education. Challenges in bridging these systems are rooted in paradigmatic and structural differences that make ongoing, meaningful collaboration and alignment between ECE and K-12 difficult and complex to address. With practitioners and policymakers alike experiencing the challenges, the impetus to address them is heightened by the prominent national focus on school readiness and closing achievement gaps by third grade. This chapter explores theoretical rationales for creating more coherence and alignment across the birth through elementary school age range (P-3), providing a picture of how children’s learning opportunities would be positively influenced by system-level alignment work. Schools and districts that have engaged in system-level alignment efforts show promising improvement in child-level outcomes. The chapter provides examples of alignment strategies at the level of implementation and proffers suggestions for how research, policy, and practice can contribute to greater coherence between the ECE and K-12 systems.
Concordance of teacher-rated and performance-based measures of executive functioning in preschoolers.

The most common method used to evaluate child behavior and functioning is rating scales completed by parents and/or teachers. Given that executive functioning (EF) plays a fundamental role in the d...
Building Transcribed Speech Corpora Quickly and Cheaply for Many Languages

We present a system for quickly and cheaply building transcribed speech corpora containing utterances from many speakers in a variety of acoustic conditions. The system consists of a client application running on an Android mobile device with an intermittent Internet connection to a server. The client application collects demographic information about the speaker, fetches textual prompts from the server for the speaker to read, records the speaker’s voice, and uploads the audio and associated metadata to the server. The system has so far been used to collect over 3000 hours of transcribed audio in 17 languages around the world. Index Terms: speech corpora, speech recognition, internationalization
Layer-by-layer DNA films incorporating highly transfecting bioreducible poly(amido amine) and polyethylenimine for sequential gene delivery.

Background The layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly method offers a molecular level control of the amount and spatial distribution of bioactive molecules. However, successful clinical translation of LbL film technology will most certainly require a better understanding and control of not only the film assembly process, but also film disassembly kinetics in physiologic conditions. Purpose This work focuses on the understanding and control of degradation properties of LbL films for localized gene delivery. Methods Bioreducible poly(amido amine)s (PAAs) containing cystaminebisacrylamide (CBA), methylenebisacrylamide, and 5-amino-1-pentanol (APOL) were synthesized by Michael addition polymerization for the construction of bioreducible LbL films capable of sequential gene delivery. Results The synthesized PAAs were screened for desirable buffering capacity, cell transfection, and cytotoxicity characteristics together with 25 kDa branched polyethylenimine (PEI) and cross-linked 800 Da PEI. By screening the various polycations we were able to identify a copolymer of CBA and APOL for the subsequent construction of the LbL films. By incorporating a highly transfecting polycation and a nondiffusing polycation we were able to improve the overall transfection of HEK293 and MC3T3 cells from the bioreducible LbL films. We also demonstrated the dual-stage release and transfection of two different DNAs from the LbL films. Conclusion The results indicate that LbL films consisting of bioreducible PAAs and non-diffusing polyelectrolytes have excellent degradation properties for the development of LbL coating technology for localized gene delivery applications.
Premium fuel production from coal and timber waste

There is a significant amount of energy in the waste generated by the coal and timber industries. In the coal industry there is an energy loss mainly due to the discharge of fine coal to the waste impoundment. Despite the fact that the fine coal has the greatest cleaning potential, dewatering, handling and transportation concerns prevent its use as product in many cases. Likewise, sawdust generated from wood production has energy value but is only used as industrial boiler fuel when the transportation distance is relatively short. Wood waste is often discarded into cumbersome landfills due to uneconomical transportation alternatives. Recent research found that these two waste materials can be combined to provide a high-energy fuel, containing around 30.2 MJ/kg (13,000 Btu/lb), that can be easily handled and transported to end users.
Comparative Analysis of Anuran Amphibian Skin Microbiomes Across Inland and Coastal Wetlands

Amphibians host a community of microbes on their skin that helps resist infectious disease via the dual influence of anti-pathogenic microbial species and emergent community dynamics. Many frogs rely on freshwater habitats, but salinization is rapidly increasing saltwater concentrations in wetlands around the globe, increasing the likelihood that frogs will come into contact with salt-contaminated habitats. Currently, we know little about how increased salt exposure will affect the symbiotic relationship between the skin microbes and frog hosts. To better understand how salt exposure in a natural context affects the frog skin microbiome, we use Hyla cinerea, a North American treefrog species that can inhabit brackish wetlands, to explore three questions. First, we determine the extent that microbial communities in the environment and on frog skin are similar across populations. Second, we assess the microbial species richness and relative abundance on frogs from habitats with different salinity levels to determine how salinity affects the microbiome. Third, we test whether the relative abundances of putatively pathogen-resistant bacterial species differ between frogs from inland and coastal environments. We found that the frog microbiome is more similar among frogs than to the microbial communities found in surface water and soil, but there is overlap between frog skin and the environmental samples. Skin microbial community richness did not differ among populations, but the relative abundances of microbes were different across populations and salinities. We found no differences in the relative abundances of the anti-fungal bacteria Janthinobacterium lividum, the genus Pseudomonas, and Serratia marcescens, suggesting that environmental exposure to saltwater has a limited influence on these putatively beneficial bacterial taxa.
Genome size and lifestyle in gnesiotrochan rotifers.

Gnesiotrochan rotifers display a variety of life styles ranging from taxa with free-swimming larval and sessile adult stages to those with motile adult stages and colonial habits. Several explanations for the C-value enigma posit that genome size is correlated with lifestyle. To investigate this, 13 gnesiotrochan species representing nine genera were measured by flow cytometry. Genome sizes (1C) within Gnesiotrocha ranged from 0.05 pg (Hexarthra mira and Hexarthra fennica) to 0.25 pg (Sinantherina ariprepes). Genome sizes varied within genera and species; e.g., the H. fennica (El Huerfano, Mexico) genome was estimated to be 15% larger than that of H. mira and H. fennica (Keystone Wetland, TX, USA). Gnesiotrochan genome sizes are similar to those reported within Ploima, which range from 0.06 pg (Brachionus rotundiformis, B. dimidiatus) to 0.46 pg (B. asplanchnoidis). Within Gnesiotrocha, genome size was found to be significantly smaller in sessile versus motile species as well as in solitary versus colonial species. To account for phylogenetic background, linear mixed models with hierarchical taxonomic ranks showed that there is a taxonomic component underlying genome size. This study provides the first estimates of genome size within the superorder, providing a baseline for genomic and evolutionary studies within the group.
Supporting Father Involvement: An Intervention With Community and Child Welfare–Referred Couples

Author(s): Pruett, MK; Cowan, PA; Cowan, CP; Gillette, P; Pruett, KD | Abstract: Objective: To expand the evidence base of the Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) intervention to include child welfare families. Background: Taking a preventive father-inclusive approach, SFI aims to strengthen coparenting, parent–child relationships, and child outcomes. This study replicates 4 prior iterations of the program using the same 32-hour curriculum facilitated by clinically trained staff, case managers, and onsite child care and family meals. Method: Participants (N = 239) included low-income (median = $24,000) coparenting pairs, typically mothers and fathers/father figures, half of whom were Mexican American, with toddlers (median age l 3nyears). Questionnaires assessing multiple family domains were administered verbally over an 18-month period. Intervention effectiveness was tested through a randomized control trial with immediate treatment or waitlist–control groups using a moderated mediator structural equation model. Results: The model explained 49% to 56% of the variance in children's problem behaviors (intervention and autoregressive effects). The intervention reduced couple conflict, which reduced anxious and harsh parenting, leading to better child outcomes. The intervention was equally effective for community and child welfare–referred families and family dynamics pathways were similar across conditions. Conclusion: With its intentional outreach and inclusion of fathers, SFI offers an effective intervention for lower risk child welfare–involved families. Implications: Results argue for the utility of treating community and child welfare parents in mixed-gender prevention groups that focus on strengthening multiple levels of family relationships.
Pharmacokinetic studies of methotrexate in plasma and synovial fluid following i.v. bolus and topical routes of administration in dogs.

Purpose. The pharmacokinetic properties of methotrexate (MTX) in the plasma and synovial fluid (SF) after bolus IV and topical administration were studied in dogs to assess the feasibility of topical delivery of MTX for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
PAR2 controls cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Abstract Objective Increases in hepatic and plasma cholesterol occur in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), although the reason for this is not well understood. We investigated whether Protease-Activated Receptor 2 (PAR2) plays a role in cholesterol and lipid homeostasis in NAFLD. Methods Human liver biopsies (n = 108) were quantified for PAR2 expression from NAFLD cases randomly selected and stratified by liver fibrosis stage, the primary predictor for clinical outcomes, while controlling for age, gender, and BMI between fibrosis groups. Demographic data and laboratory studies on plasma samples were obtained within 6 months of liver biopsy. Wild-type and PAR2-KO (C57BL/6 F2rl1−/−) mice were fed either normal or high fat diet for 16 weeks and plasma and liver assayed for lipids and soluble metabolites. Results Severity of NAFLD and plasma cholesterol levels significantly correlated with hepatocyte PAR2 expression in NAFLD patients. Conversely, PAR2 deficiency in mice resulted in reduced expression of key hepatic genes involved in cholesterol synthesis, a 50% drop in plasma and total liver cholesterol, and induced a reverse cholesterol transport system that culminated in 25% higher fecal bile acid output. PAR2-deficient mice exhibited enhanced fatty acid β-oxidation with a ketogenic shift and an unexpected increase in liver glycogenesis. Mechanistic studies identified Gi-Jnk1/2 as key downstream effectors of protease-activated PAR2 in the regulation of lipid and cholesterol homeostasis in liver. Conclusions These data indicate that PAR2 may be a new target for the suppression of plasma cholesterol and hepatic fat accumulation in NAFLD and related metabolic conditions.
Chapter 9 – Pulmonary Infection

Virtually all infections that affect man can manifest within the lung. Pulmonary infection is the leading cause of death worldwide. The approach to the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary infection requires a sound knowledge of both the microbial pathogens but also how the host immune system responds to infection.
Association of obesity with arterial stiffness: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA):

Arterial stiffness (AS) and obesity are recognized as important risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between AS and obesity. AS was defined as high augmentation index (AIx) and low elasticity (C1, large artery elasticity; C2, small artery elasticity) in participants enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis at baseline. We compared AIx, C1, and C2 by body mass index (BMI) ( 40 kg/m2 had 5.4% lower AIx (mean difference [Δ] = -0.82%; 95% CI: -1.10, -0.53), 15.4% higher C1 (Δ = 1.66 mL/mmHg ×10; 95% CI: 1.00, 2.33), and 40.2% higher C2 (Δ = 1.49 mL/mmHg ×100; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.83) compared to those with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 (all p for trend < 0.001). Participants with a WHR ⩾ 1 had 5.6% higher C1 (∆ = 0.92 mL/mmHg ×10; 95% CI: 0.47, 1.37) compared to those with a WHR < 0.85. The WHR had a significant interaction with age on AIx and C2, but not with BMI; the inverse relationships of the WHR with AIx and C2 were observed only in participants < 55 years between the normal (WHR < 0.85) and the overweight (0.85 ⩽ WHR < 0.99) groups. Different associations of WHR and BMI with arterial stiffness among older adults should be further investigated.
Settling Disputes in Authoritarian Courts: Multinational Corporations and State Capture

Existing research on political risks in foreign direct investment focuses on supranational rights protection regimes for multinational corporations. Drawing attention to domestic institutions within host countries, we demonstrate that foreign investors frequently use host country courts to protect their interests even in a country that lacks judicial independence. Furthermore, we investigate two channels whereby foreign enterprises can influence the rulings of courts that are susceptible to political interference: personal connections and institutional capture. We argue that establishing joint venture partnerships with state actors can co-opt local authorities by incorporating the state as a stakeholder of the foreign company's performance. Therefore, institutional capture delivers more substantial litigation success than conventional types of state-business linkages built upon personal relations. By constructing a novel dataset and applying it to a broad set of empirical tests, we provide the first systematic analysis of foreign firms’ lawsuit activities in China during the period 2002–17.
Constructing and contesting state-urban borders: litigation over Refugee Reception Offices in post-apartheid South African cities

The majority of asylum seeker and refugees around the world currently reside in cities, but continue to face issues of mobility, documentation, and rights. While research has looked at designated b...
Are specialists really safer than generalists for classical biocontrol

Generalists rarely are considered for classical biocontrol because their broad feeding habits are expected to make non-target impacts inevitable. This assumes an increase in overall ecological risk with increasing number of feeding connections. With the goal of inspiring fresh consideration of the safety of exotic biocontrol agents for classical biocontrol, we present a selective review of the impacts of nine particularly-well-studied exotic natural enemies ranging from relative specialists to generalists. Surprisingly, non-target effects could be particularly strong for relative specialists that attacked just a few natives, but were often widespread but weak for the broadest generalists. This appeared to reflect relatively strong apparent competition and density-dependence for the narrow feeders, versus broadly diffuse net effects for the broader feeders. Overall, we suggest a sole focus on specialists in classical biocontrol might be an unreliable means to reduce ecological risk. Additional research is needed to fully compare the net direct and indirect effects of generalists and specialists across food webs, following classical biocontrol releases.
Eradication of Johne's Disease from a Heavily Infected Herd in 12 Months

The goal of the project was to demonstrate that it is FEASIBLE to eradicate paratuberculosis, and that it can be done fairly quickly. The project was not intended to evaluate the most cost-effective strategy for Johne's eradication. Conscientious implementation of husbandry changes to limit spread of M. paratuberculosis infection coupled with accurate record keeping, and a testing program to identify the infected cows for culling should lead to control and eventual elimination of paratuberculosis from most dairy herds.
Universal deformations in inhomogeneous isotropic nonlinear elastic solids

Universal (controllable) deformations of an elastic solid are those deformations that can be maintained for all possible strain-energy density functions and suitable boundary tractions. Universal d...
Christopher Phillips, The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the New Middle East

Gibson Gray reviews Christopher Phillips' revised and updated book, The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the New Middle East.
Structural Changes in Milk Proteins

With the growing body of knowledge of protein structure has come the realization that proteins are not rigid, inflexible structures. Rather their structures are dynamic and are characterized by marginal stability and conformational equilibria. Their structures represent a minimization of the sum of the free energies resulting from noncovalent interactions between amino acid residues within a polypeptide chain, between residues in contacting polypeptide chains, and between residues and solvent molecules. Because of their marginal stability, protein structures are sensitive to environmental change and alteration in their structure may be reversible or irreversible. Neglecting postsynthetic covalent change, proteins will refold to their native conformation from a random coil state under conditions which mimic the physiological environment. This result is a consequence of the thermodynamic nature of their structural stabilization. Recent evidence suggests that folding pathways as well as the native structures are determined by the primary structure and the consequent thermodynamics of noncovalent interactions between residues and residues plus solvent [1].
Breaking Apart the Reinforcement Learning Deficit in Schizophrenia

OF THE THESIS Breaking Apart the Reinforcement Learning Deficit in Schizophrenia by Adam J. Culbreth Master of Arts in Psychology Washington University in St. Louis, 2015 Professor Deanna M. Barch, Chair Reinforcement learning deficits have long been associated with schizophrenia. However, tasks traditionally used to assess these deficits often rely on multiple processing streams leaving the etiology of these task deficits unclear. In the current study, we borrowed a recent framework from computational neuroscience, which separates reinforcement-learning into two distinct systems, model-based and modelfree. Under this framework, the model-free system learns about the value of actions in the immediate context, while the model-based system learns about the value of actions in both immediate and subsequent states that may be encountered as a result of their actions. Using a decision task that has been previously validated to assess relative reliance on each system we showed that individuals with schizophrenia demonstrated decreased model-based but intact model-free learning estimates. Furthermore, parameter estimates of model-based behavior correlated positively with IQ, suggesting that model-based deficits in schizophrenia may relate to reduced intellectual function. These findings specify reinforcement-learning deficits in schizophrenia by showing both intact and disturbed components. Such findings and computational frameworks provide meaningful insights as researchers continue to characterize decision-making circuitry in schizophrenia as a means to discover new pathways for interventions.
Scaling of the superfluid density in strongly underdoped YBa 2 Cu 3 O 6 + y : Evidence for a Josephson phase

Recent measurements on extremely underdoped ${\text{YBa}}_{2}{\text{Cu}}_{3}{\text{O}}_{6+y}$ [Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 237003 (2007)] have allowed the critical temperature ${T}_{c}$, superfluid density ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{s0}\ensuremath{\equiv}{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{s}(T⪡{T}_{c})$, and dc conductivity ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\text{dc}}(T\ensuremath{\gtrsim}{T}_{c})$ to be determined for a series of electronic dopings for ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\simeq}3--17\text{ }\text{K}$. The general scaling relation ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{s0}/8\ensuremath{\simeq}4.4{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\text{dc}}{T}_{c}$ is observed, extending the validity of both the $ab$-plane and $c$-axis scaling an order of magnitude and creating a region of overlap. This suggests that strongly underdoped materials may constitute a Josephson phase; as the electronic doping is increased a more uniform superconducting state emerges.
Separation and characterization of deoxyribonucleases of Escherichia coli B. I. Chromatographic separation and properties of two deoxyribo-oligonucleotidases.

Abstract The soluble protein of Escherichia coli B was separated into six approximately equal fractions by precipitation with ammonium sulfate. These six fractions were further fractionated by chromatography with diethylaminoethyl cellulose. The chromatographic effluents were assayed for deoxyribonuclease activity with native deoxyribonucleic acid, heat-denatured DNA, and deoxyribo-oligonucleotides as substrates. This fractionation procedure separated five chromatographically distinct deoxyribonucleases from E. coli. Three of the enzymes have been previously described and were identified by their published properties. Endonuclease I was identified by its marked inhibition in the presence of soluble RNA, exonuclease I by its ability to degrade heat-denatured DNA, and exonuclease II by the DNA polymerase activity with which it is associated. Two distinct fractions with deoxyribo-oligonucleotidase activity were also separated from E. coli extract. These two oligonucleotidases, which we have termed exonuclease IV-A and exonuclease IV-B, are distinguished from the nucleases previously described by their ability to catalyze the release of acid-soluble products from oligonucleotides 20 times more rapidly than from either native or heat-denatured DNA. The two oligonucleotidases also cleave dinucleotides. Both enzymes produce 5'-mononucleotide products and are optimally active in alkaline solution. Although similar with respect to enzymatic properties, exonucleases IV-A and IV-B separate widely on diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography and rechromatography of either enzyme under a variety of conditions gives a single peak of enzymatic activity.
Nonverbal Reasoning in Preschool Children: Investigating the Putative Risk of Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as a Mediator.

Background: Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has been found to be associated with cognitive deficits in children. However, relatively little is known about the relationship between SHS exposure, cognitive deficits, and smoking-related psychopathology, specifically attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and externalizing disorders such as conduct disorder (CD) and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) in preschool children. Methods: Children (n = 54) between the ages of 4 and 6 years from a comprehensive, longitudinal study of preschool emotional development were included in this study. Each child’s primary caregiver completed questionnaires and interviews related to childhood psychopathology. SHS exposure was estimated with the use of saliva cotinine values. Results: After adjustment for sociodemographic factors (e.g., age, gender, an income-to-needs ratio) and for ADHD, CD, and ODD symptoms, exposure to SHS was found to be negatively associated with preschool children’s nonverbal reasoning skills. Exposure to SHS continued to be negatively associated with nonverbal reasoning skills after adjustment for maternal education, maternal smoking during pregnancy, and maternal reports of exposure to SHS during pregnancy in separate models. Conclusions: Children who grow up in an environment with adults who smoke are vulnerable to several social and environmental risk factors. The findings of this study suggest that exposure to SHS during early childhood should also be considered as a potential variable in the risk trajectory and as a marker of other associated risks when formulating public health intervention and prevention strategies.
Autonomic smart manufacturing

Smart manufacturing (SM) systems have to optimise manufacturing activities at the machine, unit or entire manufacturing facility level as well as adapting the manufacturing process on the fly as required by a variety of conditions (e.g. machine breakdowns and/or slowdowns) and unexpected variations in demands. This paper provides a framework for autonomic smart manufacturing (ASM) that relies on a variety of models for its support: (1) a process model to represent machines, parst inventories and the flow of parts through machines in a discrete manufacturing floor; (2) a predictive queueing network model to support the analysis and planning phases of ASM; and (3) optimisation models to support the planning phase of ASM. In essence, ASM is an integrated decision support system for smart manufacturing that combines models of different nature in a seamless manner. As shown here, these models can be used to predict manufacturing time and the energy consumed by the manufacturing process, as well as for finding ...
Feature selection for ensembles

The traditional motivation behind feature selection algorithms is to find the best subset of features for a task using one particular learning algonthm. Given the recent success of ensembles, however, we investigate the notion of ensemble feature selection in this paper. This task is harder than traditional feature selection in that one not only needs to find features germane to the learning task and learning algorithm, but one also needs to find a set of feature subsets that will promote disagreement among the ensemble's classifiers. In this paper, we present an ensemble feature selection approach that is based on genetic algorithms. Our algorithm shows improved performance over the popular and powerful ensemble approaches of AdaBoost and Bagging and demonstrates the utility of ensemble feature selection.
Building sustainable community information systems: lessons from a digital government project

This paper introduces a rationale for and approach to the study of sustainability in computerized community information systems. It begins by presenting a theoretical framework for posing questions about sustainability predicated upon assumptions from social construction of technology and adaptive structuration theories. Based in part on the literature and in part on our own experiences in developing a community information system, we introduce and consider three issues related to sustainability: stakeholder involvement, commitment from key players, and the development of critical mass.
Precautions and procedures for precision phase match of microphones

Since the publication of the measurement data obtained with the NRC three-port coupler for the precision phase match of condenser microphones, an effort has been made to extend the high frequency performance of the device to cover the phase response of 1/4 inch microphones. The aim is to present current research data, and to discuss some often encountered but less familiar aspects of precision measurement and instrumentation that are necessary to ensure precision phase match
Inherent motility patterns and response characteristics of the nonpregnant human uterus

WIT H IN A FEW YEAR s after Schatz’ published his epochal studies of human uterine activity in pregnancy as recorded through an intrauterine estraovular bag, Heinricius” proposed a modification of the method to permit recording of activity of the nonpregnant uterus in viva through the use of a thin rubber bag. In this country, the first published record of uterine activity was by Iiucker.” The work of Knaus,“, .‘, starting in 1929. marked the beginning of a tremendous expansion of this field of study. Knaus’ original work, on which he based his primary findings conccrninz uterine activity at the various phases of the cycle and the response to pituitrin, was carried out by the injection of radiocontrast medium into the uterus through a metal cannula fitted with a rubber retaining tip, according to the standard method for hysterosalpinLyography. He then recorded changes in intrauterine prcssure through the end of the metal catheter. By 1933 he had changed to the balloon recordinz technique. A complete re\Gw of methods previously
The Net Worth Approach to Fiscal Analysis: Dynamics and Rules

The net worth approach to fiscal analysis is cast in a simple model able to capture the dynamics and steady-state equilibria of public sector's debt, nonfinancial and financial assets, and net worth under alternative fiscal rules, including the golden rule and the golden rule cum debt stabilization fund. The paper also presents an adaptation of the model to the case of economies with depletable resources that have introduced investment oil funds, and illustrates the fiscal conditions required for the solvency of the associated fiscal rules. The model brings to the forefront the rate of return of public assets, highlighting the need for policymakers to decide on the appropriate level of assets and debt ratios. Finally, the model's potential for use in a range of contexts is demonstrated with a simple numerical simulation.
Data Collection with Multiple Sinks in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we consider Multiple-Sink Data Collection Problem in wireless sensor networks, where a large amount of data from sensor nodes need to be transmitted to one of multiple sinks. We design an approximation algorithm to minimize the latency of data collection schedule and show that it gives a constant-factor performance guarantee. We also present a heuristic algorithm based on breadth first search for this problem. Using simulation, we evaluate the performance of these two algorithms, and show that the approximation algorithm outperforms the heuristic up to 60%.
Genetics of Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a complex genetic disorder caused by a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Despite the enormous burden associated with stroke, we know little about its underlying pathogenesis. Unlike many other common age-related diseases (eg, diabetes mellitus and heart disease), there are no good preclinical biomarkers that can provide a foothold for studying the molecular and physiological processes leading up to a stroke event. Because a genetic predisposition to stroke is widely acknowledged, 1 current strategy to study stroke pathogenesis is to start by identifying genes associated with stroke and then to investigate the function of these genes. Toward this goal, numerous candidate gene and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of stroke have been performed. A strategy successfully used to identify genetic determinants of other common complex diseases has been to focus on subtypes, such as early-onset disease which may be enriched for high-penetrance variants. Variants that are highly penetrant or highly predictive of diseases may be easier to detect and also produce useful insights about disease pathways, even if the same variants play a lesser role in late-onset disease. The goal of this review is to assess the evidence for a genetic basis to early-onset IS. We mainly focus on early-onset stroke occurring between the ages of 15 and 49 years but specify age ranges considered by other studies as they are discussed. We begin with an epidemiological characterization of early-onset stroke, comparing and contrasting risk factors and the heterogeneity of stroke subtypes between early- and late-onset IS. We then review the evidence for a genetic basis of early-onset stroke, contrasting where possible the magnitude of the genetic contribution in younger versus older IS through familial aggregation studies. Finally, we review current status and prospects for identifying genes contributing to susceptibility to early-onset stroke. Throughout the …
Physical Symptoms and Depressive Symptoms Among Individuals With HIV Infection

The authors investigate the importance of physical symptoms as a correlate of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts in a large ( N =881) community-based sample of persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus. The study overcomes limitations of prior research by minimizing overlap in measures of affective and physical symptoms, studying a more diverse population, and including correlates such as measures of social support, function, employment, insurance coverage, and cognitive impairment in the analysis. The authors' data support the notion that in diagnosing depression in the medically ill, concern over isolating physical symptoms as either "affective" or "physical" may be exaggerated.
Vertical and Temporal Flight Activity of the Mosquito Culiseta Melanura (Diptera: Culicidae) in Southeastern Massachusetts

The vertical and temporal flight patterns of Cs. melanura were studied in southeastern Massachusetts. CDC miniature light traps operated at heights of 1.5, 4.5, and 7.6 m on 14 nights demonstrated that activity was uniform at all levels regardless of the phase of the moon. The temporal pattern of activity was assessed using a pigeon-baited suction trap and a resting box. Host-seeking activity started shortly after sunset, and continued at a relatively constant level throughout the night. At first light in the morning, host seeking ceased and behavior shifted to location of daytime resting sites. Results indicate that Cs. melanura is behaviorally well adapted to blood feeding on avian hosts.
CMP process development for the via-middle 3D TSV applications at 28nm technology node

A through-silicon-via (TSV) chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process with three polishing steps, including Cu polishing, Cu barrier/isolation layers polishing and dielectric SiN stop layer polishing, has been proposed to form the [email protected] deep with [email protected] diameter size via-middle TSV structures at 28nm technology node. The integrated process optimizations of pre-TSV CMP anneal and electrochemical deposition (ECD) of Cu have been evaluated to enlarge TSV CMP process window and prevent the formations of the Cu extrusion and voids post-back-end-of-line (BEOL) processes. Less than 150A of within wafer and within lot inter-layer dielectric (ILD) mapping thickness range control and less than 100A Cu extrusion level without voids post-TSV capping layer deposition can be achieved as implementing 400^oC for 10min pre-TSV CMP annealing condition and uniform TSV ECD profile electroplated in less impurity chemical solution.
Toward understanding the behavior of carbon dioxide and surface energy fluxes in the urbanized semi-arid Salt Lake Valley, Utah, USA

This paper describes the Salt Lake Valley urban flux study that was designed to understand the role of vegetation and urbanization on CO2 and surface energy fluxes over surfaces typical of urbanized and pre-urbanized land cover in the semi-arid Salt Lake Valley. The eddy covariance technique was applied at two different sites with distinct land forms within an urbanizing mountain basin. One site was located in a suburban neighborhood with substantial mature vegetative cover (urban forest), prototypical of many residential neighborhoods in the valley, and the other site was in a pre-urban area. Results indicate that the suburban site was a net sink of CO2 during the midday period in the summer due to photosynthetic activity and was a source of CO2 during the evening and nighttime periods. The pre-urban site was a net source of CO2 with positive fluxes throughout the day. Even though the vegetation at the suburban site sequestered carbon dioxide during the daytime in the summer months, the daily net CO2 flux remained positive (i.e. a net source). In addition, the net CO2 emission at the suburban site was found to be three times greater in the fall than during summer. The vegetative cover around the suburban site also had a significant impact on the partitioning of the surface energy fluxes. During the summer months, the contribution of the latent heat flux was substantially higher at the suburban site, while the sensible heat flux was much larger at the pre-urban site. The general behavior of the energy and CO2 fluxes are consistent with typical climate modification due to urbanization in semi-arid climates (i.e. introduction of an urban forest), but quite different from changes reported in more mesic climates where highly vegetated regions are replaced with urban surfaces.
Effect of conduction-electron interaction in the Falicov-Kimball model

Abstract The effect of conduction-electron interaction on the pressure-induced first order metal-insulator transition is investigated within a two-band Hubbard model. Results are presented for two mean-field-type approximations which show a change in the critical pressure and the conduction-electron occupation number at the transition.
The role of c3 as an opsonin in the early stages of infection.

In order to investigate the role of C3 in host defense in vivo, normal AKR/J mice, genetically deficient in C5, were depleted of serum C3 by the injection of purified cobra venom factor (CoVF). Concurrent with their C3 depletion, their serum opsonizing activity decreased to a level less than 20% of normal. When these mice were challenged with an intraperitoneal injection of pneumococci 2 hr after the CoVF treatment, the LD50 was from 30 to 80 times lower than the LD50 in saline-treated control animals. When the CoVF was given only 6 hr after the pneumococcal challenge, the LD50 was the same as in the control mice. If the pneumococci were first preopsonized in vitro and then injected into CoVF-treated animals, the LD50 was the same as that in control animals. These experiments demonstrate that C3 plays a significant role in vivo in the host's defense against infection and that a major part of that role is through its action as an opsonin. Furthermore, these experiments demonstrate that the role of C3 is most significant during the early stages of bacterial invasion.