cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Embedded ensemble encoding hypothesis: The role of the "Prepared" cell.

We here reconsider current theories of neural ensembles in the context of recent discoveries about neuronal dendritic physiology. The key physiological observation is that the dendritic plateau potential produces sustained depolarization of the cell body (amplitude 10–20 mV, duration 200–500 ms). Our central hypothesis is that synaptically-evoked dendritic plateau potentials lead to a prepared state of a neuron that favors spike generation. The plateau both depolarizes the cell towards spike threshold, and provides faster response to inputs through a shortened membrane time constant. As a result, the speed of synaptic-to-action potential transfer is faster during the plateau phase. Our hypothesis relates the changes from “resting” to “depolarized” neuronal state to changes in ensemble dynamics and in network information flow. The plateau provides the Prepared state (sustained depolarization of the cell body) with a time window of 200-500 ms. During this time, a neuron can tune into ongoing network activity and synchronize spiking with other neurons to provide a coordinated Active state (robust firing of somatic action potentials), which would permit “binding” of signals through coordination of neural activity across a population. The transient Active ensemble of neurons is embedded in the longer-lasting Prepared ensemble of neurons. We hypothesize that “embedded ensemble encoding” may be an important organizing principle in networks of neurons.
Parallel Universes: Producing Live Performances of Style Period Musics in the Music Industry Studies Curriculum

Undergraduate-level Music Industry Studies (MIS) programs that include single-semester courses in western music history can effectively reinforce course content through the production of live performances of period music. Teams comprised of a manager, a publicist, and a recording engineer are responsible for finding musicians, booking venues, advertising, and recording final performances. By performing these tasks, students’ comprehension is enhanced of the socio-historical contexts in which the music representing each style period was performed.
Student Justifications in Engineering Design Descriptions: Examining Authority and Legitimation

The process of design is a key component of engineering that relies heavily on student collaboration and language use. One important aspect of design is the need for designers to develop solutions capable of solving specific engineering problems. Engineers enact recognizable epistemic practices and often rely on data as a means for justifying their designed solutions. Indeed, when striving to meet a specific client’s requests, engineers must make claims that rely on collected data as a means for justifying their design decision. This study examined how two groups of elementary students engaged with this specific practice (i.e., using data to support design decisions) by investigating the justifications for their espoused design decisions during an engineering design challenge. Using discourse analysis methods, this ethnographic microanalysis examined the ways in which students legitimized their design choices, in addition to investigating how those justifications were or were not validated by the classroom teacher. Findings indicated students used either their personal authority, or the data and expert authority it provided to support their engineering design decisions. Additionally, the classroom teacher mostly validated student justifications constructed using applicable sources of data while providing few opportunities for students to enact their personal authority. Findings highlight the need for instruction that purposefully connects students’ personal authority with specific aspects of the design problem space so students can feel empowered to pursue and test the validity of their initial design ideas using applicable data.
What Teachers Should Know about Selective Mutism in Early Childhood.

Selective mutism is a relatively uncommon, yet significantly impairing anxiety disorder that causes difficulties in young children when communicating in social situations (such as school) even though they speak normally when they are comfortable (such as at home). Early childhood educators play a unique role in helping to identify selective mutism, given that symptoms often do not occur in the home environment. Parents are incumbent upon educators to bring non-communicative behavior to the parent’s attention, and recognition of selective mutism by early childhood professionals can lead to a referral for appropriate intervention services. Unfortunately, research has indicated a problematic, lengthy lag-time to treatment for children with selective mutism (i.e., symptoms occurring on average 3 years before beginning treatment). Early recognition and treatment of selective mutism can have a profound effect on prognosis; therefore, it is important for educators to understand the difference between shy behavior and symptoms of selective mutism, where to find information regarding selective mutism, and aspects surrounding referral for intervention. This article includes brief descriptions of components of evidence-based treatment for selective mutism including contingency management, stimulus fading techniques, exposure-based practice, and audio/video self-modeling are provided to guide educators of early childhood. Finally, specific classroom strategies for the teacher to use, such as providing a warm classroom environment, using a hierarchy of communication and fixed-choice questions, increasing wait-time for questions, and using video recordings for communication, are reviewed. Use of these strategies will aid in supporting the child’s treatment in the classroom environment, thus reducing the child’s anxiety and increasing verbalizations.
Elastic Wave Interactions with Partially Contacting Interfaces: Status of Theory and Application to Fatigue Crack Closure Characterization

The present state of theoretical understanding of elastic wave interactions with partially contacting interfaces is reviewed. Included are discussions of exact solutions for planar interfaces consisting of periodic arrays of strip cracks; numerical solutions to selected two-dimensional problems involving bounded, partially contacting cracks; and approximate analytical results intended for the reduction of data obtained in particular experimental configurations. Uses of the latter in addressing the inverse problem of deducing characteristics of fatigue crack contact distributions from ultrasonic scattering measurements is then addressed, followed by a dis- cussion of the use of this information in the prediction of the effects of closure on fatigue crack growth.
On the Origins of the Spanish Word ‘tiburón’, and the english word ‘shark’

Large sharks were known to the Greeks and Romans, and references to large sharks of the Mediterranean are found in the writings of classical writers. However, large sharks are conspicuously absent from the medieval bestiaries that described the then known fauna. The explanation for this interesting omission is simple: Medieval man did not encounter large sharks because he fished mainly in rivers and close to shore and did not venture far into the ocean to catch fish, and the few large European sharks did not venture into rivers or shallow waters. The Spanish and the English first encountered large sharks in the American tropics. Both groups borrowed Amerindian words to designate them. The Spanish borrowed the word tiburon from the Carib Indians, and, later, the English borrowed tiburon from the Spanish and used it for about 100 years. In the late sixteenth century, the English borrowed the word xoc from the Mayans and it became the English word shark.
Vacuum Drying of Actual Transuranic Waste from Hanford Tanks

Composites of sludge from Tanks 241-B-203, 241-T-203, 241 T 204, and 241-T-110 at the Hanford Site were prepared at the Hanford 222-S Laboratory from core samples retrieved from these tanks. These tank composites may not be representative of the entire contents of the tank but provide some indication of the properties of the waste within these underground storage tanks. The composite samples were diluted with water at the Radiochemical Processing Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to represent the slurries that are expected to be received from tank retrieval operations and processed to produce a final waste stream. The dilutions were vacuum dried at 60 C and 26 in. of mercury ({approx} 100 torr). Semi-quantitative measurements of stickiness and cohesive strength were made on these dilutions as a function of drying time. Mass loss as a function of drying time and total solids concentration of the initial dilution and at the conclusion of drying were also measured. Visual observations of the sludge were recorded throughout the drying process.
Spatial and seasonal variability of emergent aquatic insects and nearshore spiders in a subtropical estuary

Variability in the density and distribution of adult aquatic insects is an important factor mediating aquatic-to-terrestrial nutritional subsidies in freshwater ecosystems, yet less is understood about insect-facilitated subsidy dynamics in estuaries. We surveyed emergent (i.e. adult) aquatic insects and nearshore orb-weaving spiders of the families Tetragnathidae and Araneidae in a subtropical estuary of Florida (USA). Emergent insect community composition varied seasonally and spatially; densities were lower at high- than low-salinity sites. At high-salinity sites, emergent insects exhibited lower dispersal ability and a higher prevalence of univoltinism than low- and mid-salinity assemblages. Orb-weaving spider density most strongly tracked emergent insect density rates at low- and mid-salinity sites. Tetragnatha body condition was 96% higher at high-salinity sites than at low-salinity sites. Our findings contribute to our understanding of aquatic insect communities in estuarine ecosystems and indicate that aquatic insects may provide important nutritional subsidies to riparian consumers despite their depressed abundance and diversity compared with freshwater ecosystems.
Small-Signal Modeling and Speed Controller Design for Switched Reluctance Motor Drives

In this paper, the ac small signal modeling technique for both pulse-width-modulation (PWM) current and speed controller of SRM drive system is presented. With the small signal modeling for linearization of the SRM, the output transfer function in both PWM current loop and speed loop can be obtained. Both PI current controller and PI speed controller can be also designed with sufficient stability margin by using the small signal model. A criterion for selection of proportional and integral (PI) controller for an SRM is also proposed. In order to simultaneously reduce acoustic noise and torque ripple, a specific current profile was applied to SRM drives with proposed current and speed controller. A hardware prototype of 12/8, three-phase 2kW SRM with TMS320F28335 was constructed and tested. The criteria for selection of PI controller is applied to the SRM Drive system. Torque ripple and acoustic noise in both cases of traditional square current waveform and the modified current profile are compared. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method for derivation of optimized gains can lead to reduced acoustic noise and improve the dynamic performances of the SRM drive system.
Volterra Integrodifferential Equations in Population Dynamics

Integrodifferential equations appear quite early in the mathematical development of theoretical population dynamics in the pioneering work of such mathematicians as V. Volterra and V. A. Kostitzin. In their attempts to model the growth of populations by means of differential equations these early investigators were quick to point out that the current growth rate of a population is unlikely to depend only on the current population size or, put another way, that growth rates are unlikely to respond instantaneously (or even “quickly”) to changes in population sizes or densities. This led Volterra in particular to include functionals of (Volterra) integral type in what have become the classical differential models of population dynamics and mathematical ecology (equations such as the logistic equation, the famous predator-prey system of Volterra and the well-known Volterra-Lotka competition model). Much of this early work involving integrodifferential equations in population dynamics can be found in the recent collection of papers edited by Scudo and Ziegler (1978). Despite this early interest in and recognition of the importance of temporal response delays, the formulation, analysis and use of differential models which attempt to incorporate delays in them has lagged considerably behind that of nondelay models which ignore response delays. Nonetheless the inevitable presence and the often significant importance of response delays is widely recognized by population biologists as can be seen by the frequency of reference to such delays in textbooks (e.g. see Ricklefs (1974) and Pianka (1978)) to say nothing of the more technical and specialized literature.
Minimum Power to Maintain a Nonequilibrium Distribution of a Markov Chain

Biological systems use energy to maintain non-equilibrium distributions for long times, e.g. of chemical concentrations or protein conformations. What are the fundamental limits of the power used to "hold" a stochastic system in a desired distribution over states? We study the setting of an uncontrolled Markov chain $Q$ altered into a controlled chain $P$ having a desired stationary distribution. Thermodynamics considerations lead to an appropriately defined Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence rate $D(P||Q)$ as the cost of control, a setting introduced by Todorov, corresponding to a Markov decision process with mean log loss action cost. The optimal controlled chain $P^*$ minimizes the KL divergence rate $D(\cdot||Q)$ subject to a stationary distribution constraint, and the minimal KL divergence rate lower bounds the power used. While this optimization problem is familiar from the large deviations literature, we offer a novel interpretation as a minimum "holding cost" and compute the minimizer $P^*$ more explicitly than previously available. We state a version of our results for both discrete- and continuous-time Markov chains, and find nice expressions for the important case of a reversible uncontrolled chain $Q$, for a two-state chain, and for birth-and-death processes.
Modifying Positional Selectivity in C-H Functionalization Reactions with Nitrogen-Centered Radicals: Generalizable Approaches to 1,6-Hydrogen-Atom Transfer Processes.

Nitrogen-centered radicals are powerful reaction intermediates owing in part to their ability to guide position-selective C(sp3)–H functionalization reactions. Typically, these reactive species dictate the site of functionalization by preferentially engaging in 1,5-hydrogen-atom transfer (1,5-HAT) processes. Broadly relevant approaches to alter the site-selectivity of HAT pathways would be valuable because they could be paired with a variety of tactics to install diverse functional groups. Yet, until recently, there have been no generalizable strategies to modify the position-selectivity observed in these HAT processes. This Synpacts article reviews transformations in which nitrogen-centered radicals preferentially react through 1,6-HAT pathways. Specific attention will be focused on strategies that employ alcohol- and amine-anchored sulfamate esters and sulfamides as templates to achieve otherwise rare γ-selective functionalization reactions. 1 Introduction 2 Transformations that Rely on Structural Constraints or Weakened C–H Bonds to Favor 1,6-HAT Processes 3 Sulfamate Esters Engage Selective 1,6-HAT Processes 4 Expansion to 1,6-HAT Processes with Masked Amine Substrates 5 Conclusions and Outlook
Positive Affect Moderates the Relationship Between Salivary Testosterone and a Health Behavior Composite in University Females.

Testosterone is released in both men and women and plays an important role in social functioning and motivation. Greater testosterone in women has been associated with negative physical health outcomes, while lower testosterone has been associated with psychological disorders. The following cross-sectional study examined the contribution of salivary testosterone, positive and negative affect, and demographic variables in predicting a composite health behavior score (cigarette use, hours of sleep, fruit/vegetable intake, following an exercise routine). The sample (mean age 21.17, SD = 6.13) consisted of 87 female university students asked to complete a demographic and lifestyle behavior questionnaire, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and provide a saliva sample. Participants self-identified as Latina (37.9%), European American (32.2%), Asian American (5.7%), African American (4.6%), or Mixed/other (19.5%). Hierarchical regression analyses were used to examine whether positive and negative affect served as a moderator between salivary testosterone and a health behavior composite. Results indicated that positive affect moderated the relationship between salivary testosterone and the composite health behavior score (t = − 2.42, p = .018, Adj. R2 = .21, F (5, 81) = 5.07, p < .001) such that the healthiest behaviors were observed in participants with high positive affect and low salivary testosterone. Findings remained after adjusting for oral contraceptive use, income level, relationship status, and ethnicity. These results provide a preliminary foundation for future research examining the interplay of neuroendocrine function, psychological factors (i.e., positive affect), and behavior. Further empirical studies can focus on expanding this research in larger, representative samples.
Risk-based dynamic generation and transmission expansion planning with propagating effects of contingencies

Abstract Transmission networks and generating units must be reinforced to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for electricity and to keep power system reliability within an acceptable level. According to the standards, the planned power system must be able to supply demand in the case of outage of a single element ( N - 1 security criteria), and the possibility of cascading failures must be minimized. In this paper, we propose a risk-based dynamic generation and transmission expansion planning model with respect to the propagating effect of each contingency on the power system. Using the concept of risk, post-contingency load-shedding penalty costs are obtained and added in the objective function to penalize high-risk contingencies more dominantly. The McCormick relaxation is tailored to alter the objective function into a linear format. To keep the practicality of the proposed model, a second-order cone programming model is applied for power flow representation, and the problem is modeled in a dynamic time frame. The proposed model is formulated as a mixed-integer second-order cone programming problem. The numerical studies on the RTS 24-bus test system illustrate the efficacy of the proposed model.
Characterizing Electrogenic Capabilities of Human Gut Microbes

We report a low cost, disposable, paper-based sensing platform for rapid identification and characterization of electroactive microorganisms in human gut. 21 spatially distinct wells of a sensor array parallely characterize microbial extracellular electron transfers of five gut microbes (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus rhamnosus) in a defined, microliter culture volume by directly measuring microbial electricity generation in a novel microbial fuel cell configuration. S. aureus, E. faecalis and S. agalactiae showed distinct electrogenic capabilities. The electrogenic potential of gut microbes will be harnessed to act as a biocatalyst and produce a sufficient electrical current for practical applications.
Neurofilament light chain as a potential biomarker of disease status in Friedreich ataxia.

The present study evaluates serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) as a biomarker of disease features in Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA). NfL levels from serum of 117 subjects (85 FRDA patients, 13 carriers, and 19 controls) were assayed and correlated with disease features such as smaller GAA repeat length (GAA1), age, sex, and level of neurological dysfunction. Mean serum NfL levels were higher in FRDA patients than in carriers or unaffected controls in two independent cohorts of subjects. In longitudinal samples from FRDA patients drawn monthly or 1 year apart, values changed minimally. No difference was noted between carriers and controls. NfL levels correlated positively with age in controls and carriers of similar age, (Rs = 0.72, p < 0.0005), whereas NfL levels inversely correlated with age in FRDA patients (Rs = − 0.63, p < 0.001). NfL levels were not associated with sex or GAA1 length in patients, and linear regression revealed a significant relationship between NfL levels in the cohort with age (coefficient = − 0.36, p < 0.001), but not sex (p = 0.64) or GAA1 (p = 0.13). Because NfL is elevated in patients, but decreases with age and disease progression, our results suggest that age is the critical determinant of NfL in FRDA (rather than clinical or genetic severity).
Isometries, Local Isometries, Riemannian Coverings and Submersions, and Killing Vector Fields

The goal of this chapter is to understand the behavior of isometries and local isometries, in particular their action on geodesics. In Section 18.1 we show that isometries preserve the Levi-Civita connection. Local isometries preserve all concepts that are local in nature, such as geodesics, the exponential map, sectional, Ricci, and scalar curvature. In Section 18.2 we define Riemannian covering maps. These are smooth covering maps π: M → N that are also local isometries. There is a nice correspondence between the geodesics in M and the geodesics in N. We prove that if M is complete, N is connected, and π: M → N is a local isometry, then π is a Riemannian covering. In Section 18.3 we introduce Riemannian submersions. Given a submersion π: M → B between two Riemannian manifolds (M, g) and (B, h), for every b ∈ B in the image of π, the fiber π−1(b) is a Riemannian submanifold of M, and for every p ∈ π−1(b), the tangent space TpM to M at p splits into the two components $$\displaystyle T_p M = {\mathrm {Ker}\,} d\pi _p \oplus ({\mathrm {Ker}\,} d\pi _p)^{\perp }, $$ where \(\mathcal {V}_p = {\mathrm {Ker}\,} d\pi _p\) is the vertical subspace of TpM and \(\mathcal {H}_p = ({\mathrm {Ker}\,} d\pi _p)^{\perp }\) (the orthogonal complement of \(\mathcal {V}_p\) with respect to the metric gp on TpM) is the horizontal subspace of TpM. If the map dπp is an isometry between the horizontal subspace \(\mathcal {H}_p\) of TpM and Tπ(p)B for every p, then π is a Riemannian submersion. In this case most of the differential geometry of B can be studied by “lifting” from B to M, and then projecting down to B again. In Section 18.4 we define Killing vector fields. A Killing vector field X satisfies the condition $$\displaystyle X(\langle Y, Z{\rangle }) = \langle [X, Y], Z {\rangle } + \langle Y, [X, Z]{\rangle }, $$ for all \(Y, Z\in {\mathfrak {X}}(M)\). A vector field X is a Killing vector field iff the diffeomorphisms Φt induced by the flow Φ of X are isometries (on their domain). Killing vector fields play an important role in the study of reductive homogeneous spaces; see Section 23.4.
An Asymptotically Tight Learning Algorithm for Mobile-Promotion Platforms

Operating under both supply-side and demand-side uncertainties, a mobile-promotion platform conducts advertising campaigns for individual advertisers. Campaigns arrive dynamically over time, which is divided into seasons; each campaign requires the platform to deliver a target number of mobile impressions from a desired set of locations over a desired time interval. The platform fulfills these campaigns by procuring impressions from publishers, who supply advertising space on apps, via real-time bidding on ad exchanges. Each location is characterized by its win curve, i.e., the relationship between the bid price and the probability of winning an impression at that bid. The win curves at the various locations of interest are initially unknown to the platform, and it learns them on the fly based on the bids it places to win impressions and the realized outcomes. Each acquired impression is allocated to one of the ongoing campaigns. The platform's objective is to minimize its total cost (the amount spent in procuring impressions and the penalty incurred due to unmet targets of the campaigns) over the time horizon of interest. Our main result is a bidding and allocation policy for this problem. We show that our policy is the best possible (asymptotically tight) for the problem using the notion of regret under a policy, namely the difference between the expected total cost under that policy and the optimal cost for the clairvoyant problem (i.e., one in which the platform has full information about the win curves at all the locations in advance): The regret under any policy is Ω(√I), where I is the number of seasons, and that under our policy is O(√I). We demonstrate the performance of our policy through numerical experiments on a test bed of instances whose input parameters are based on our observations at a real-world mobile-promotion platform.
Variation in Client Characteristics between Financial Planning Compensation Models

This study examines how characteristics differ between individuals who use a commission-only, fee-only, and fee-and-commission financial planners. Data from the 2015 National Financial Capability Study (NFCS) Investor Survey are used to explore client profiles, portfolio characteristics, advisor use characteristics, and client perceptions. While clients shared clear similarities, varying profiles were found that tend to align with the type of services provided by each compensation model. By understanding these profiles, financial planners can help focus their marketing material and skills towards the types of clients that are mostly likely to utilize their services. The variation in client profiles is important to consider within the context of the pending Department of Labor fiduciary requirements. Given identical standards of care, these profiles provide evidence that there are significant market demands for services of all compensation models.
Applications of iPSC-derived beta cells from patients with diabetes

Summary Improved stem cell-derived pancreatic islet (SC-islet) differentiation protocols robustly generate insulin-secreting β cells from patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These advances are enabling in vitro disease modeling studies and the development of an autologous diabetes cell replacement therapy. SC-islet technology elucidates key features of human pancreas development and diabetes disease progression through the generation of pancreatic progenitors, endocrine progenitors, and β cells derived from diabetic and nondiabetic iPSCs. Combining disease modeling with gene editing and next-generation sequencing reveals the impact of diabetes-causing mutations and diabetic phenotypes on multiple islet cell types. In addition, the supply of SC-islets, containing β and other islet cell types, is unlimited, presenting an opportunity for personalized medicine and overcoming several disadvantages posed by donor islets. This review highlights relevant studies involving iPSC-β cells and progenitors, encompassing new conclusions involving cells from patients with diabetes and the therapeutic potential of iPSC-β cells.
Peristomal Pyoderma Gangrenosum Responding to Risankizumab.

ABSTRACT Evidence to support available therapies for pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is limited. Many patients do not respond to topical therapies such as tacrolimus or topical steroids. Currently favored oral systemic treatments (eg, cyclosporine and steroids) achieve complete remission in only 50% of patients and have unfavorable adverse effect profiles. There is a growing body of evidence to support biologic agents for the treatment of PG, but their exact role remains unclear. Here the authors present a patient with peristomal PG, the first reported case of PG responding to treatment with risankizumab, an anti-interleukin 23 monoclonal antibody. Risankizumab may represent an effective and relatively safe treatment for PG that merits additional exploration in prospective, controlled studies.
Network Simulator for Large Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks

Large Low Earth Orbit broadband satellite networks are quickly becoming viable alternatives to ground-based or terrestrial networks as a number of implementations are currently being constructed by commercial service providers. Unlike previous systems, these new constellations are comprised of 100’s to 1,000’s of interconnected satellites. This paper presents a novel simulation tool that enables the study of large satellite constellations with focus on inter-satellite and satellite-to-ground station network design. We present the design and implementation of the simulator tool and demonstrate its use to analyze network designs and constellation structures with regards to routing performance.
A Post-pastoral Reading of Ron Rash’s “Speckled Trout”

Although popularly known for his novels The World Made Straight (2006) and Serena (2008), Ron Rash has also committed himself to an unapologetic portrayal of the rural history and shifting cultures...
Audiovisual Speech Processing in Relationship to Phonological and Vocabulary Skills in First Graders.

Purpose It is generally accepted that adults use visual cues to improve speech intelligibility in noisy environments, but findings regarding visual speech benefit in children are mixed. We explored factors that contribute to audiovisual (AV) gain in young children's speech understanding. We examined whether there is an AV benefit to speech-in-noise recognition in children in first grade and if visual salience of phonemes influences their AV benefit. We explored if individual differences in AV speech enhancement could be explained by vocabulary knowledge, phonological awareness, or general psychophysical testing performance. Method Thirty-seven first graders completed online psychophysical experiments. We used an online single-interval, four-alternative forced-choice picture-pointing task with age-appropriate consonant-vowel-consonant words to measure auditory-only, visual-only, and AV word recognition in noise at -2 and -8 dB SNR. We obtained standard measures of vocabulary and phonological awareness and included a general psychophysical test to examine correlations with AV benefits. Results We observed a significant overall AV gain among children in first grade. This effect was mainly attributed to the benefit at -8 dB SNR, for visually distinct targets. Individual differences were not explained by any of the child variables. Boys showed lower auditory-only performances, leading to significantly larger AV gains. Conclusions This study shows AV benefit, of distinctive visual cues, to word recognition in challenging noisy conditions in first graders. The cognitive and linguistic constraints of the task may have minimized the impact of individual differences of vocabulary and phonological awareness on AV benefit. The gender difference should be studied on a larger sample and age range.
Poverty in Egypt: 1974 - 1996

This study examines changes in household and individual poverty levels in Egypt between 1974/75 and 1995/96. Changes in the poverty levels are decomposed into a component due to economic growth and a component due to distributional change.
Shear Waves in Plane Infinite Structures

A numerical procedure is developed for the dynamic analysis of plane, linearly elastic systems consisting of an irregular zone joined to semi-infinite layered zones. All exciting forces are assumed to be harmonic and perpendicular to the plane of the structure. This implies that only shear waves (SH-waves) are generated and that no displacements occur in the plane of the structure. The method employs a finite element analysis of the irregular zone of the structure. The effect of the semi-infinite layered zones is accounted for by boundary conditions developed from a new discrete theory for standing and propagating Love waves in layered systems. The method is used to evaluate the screening effect of a trench and the accuracy of a currently used method to predict the motion of a foundation subject to ground induced vibrations.
S-index: Towards Better Metrics for Quantifying Research Impact

The ongoing growth in the volume of scientific literature available today precludes researchers from efficiently discerning the relevant from irrelevant content. Researchers are constantly interested in impactful papers, authors and venues in their respective fields. Moreover, they are interested in the so-called recent "rising stars" of these contexts which may lead to attractive directions for future work, collaborations or impactful publication venues. In this work, we address the problem of quantifying research impact in each of these contexts, in order to better direct attention of researchers and streamline the processes of comparison, ranking and evaluation of contribution. Specifically, we begin by outlining intuitive underlying assumptions that impact quantification methods should obey and evaluate when current state-of-the-art methods fail to satisfy these properties. To this end, we introduce the s-index metric which quantifies research impact through influence propagation over a heterogeneous citation network. s-index is tailored from these intuitive assumptions and offers a number of desirable qualities including robustness, natural temporality and straightforward extensibility from the paper impact to broader author and venue impact contexts. We evaluate its effectiveness on the publicly available Microsoft Academic Search citation graph with over 119 million papers and 1 billion citation edges with 103 million and 21 thousand associated authors and venues respectively.
Mucha res y poco cerdo:el consumo de la carne en Colombia

Este articulo busca explicar por que los colombianos han comido mas carne de res que de cerdo en comparacion con otros latinoamericanos. Comienza examinando el desarrollo de una tradicion culinaria que favorece la carne de res. El eje central del argumento, sin embargo, es que la carne de res ha sido, historicamente, bastante mas barata que la de cerdo. Esta diferencia de precio esta ligada al alto costo del maiz, que suele emplearse para la ceba de cerdos, debido a la baja productividad de la agricultura colombiana. Otros factores que favorecieron a la carne de res incluyen una frontera agraria en retroceso, una poblacion de cerdos pequena, las ventajas de la ganaderia, la monopolizacion de la tierra, la influencia de la importacion de manteca de cerdo y el desarrollo de una industria de aceite vegetal.
Advice About Life Plans and Personal Problems in Late Adolescent Sibling Relationships

This study examined older adolescents' perceptions of the following sibling relationship characteristics: advice about life plans and personal problems, satisfaction with support, and sibling influence on interests and goals. Little is known about late adolescent sibling relationships and siblings' role in the identity formation process. Differences between first- and secondborns, males and females, and opposite- and same-gender sibling pairs were explored. Participants were 223 adolescents (M = 17.5 years old) who filled out a survey in their senior year of high school. All adolescents were from always-married families and had one sibling between the ages of 13 and 23. Analyses revealed that both secondborns and females reported receiving more advice, being more satisfied with sibling support, and being influenced more by their sibling than firstborns and males, respectively. In addition, those in female–female sibling pairs received more advice from their siblings than those in male–male and mixed gender pairs. Findings revealed that adolescents do sometimes rely on their siblings as a source of advice about life plans and personal problems.
Pro-urokinase and prekallikrein are both associated with platelets Implications for the intrinsic pathway of fibrinolysis and for therapeutic thrombolysis

The contact-dependent intrinsic pathway of fibrinolysis involving factor XII, prekallikrein (PK) and pro-urokinase (pro-UK) remains poorly understood. Casein autography of washed, intact platelets revealed both PK and pro-UK. Accordingly, platelets may mediate physiological thrombolysis by this pathway since factor XIIa activates PK and kallikrein activates pro-UK. Acid washing dissociated PK but not pro-UK from platelets. Exogenous pro-UK was specifically incorporated by platelets from the ambient fluid and similarly could not be dissociated from intact platelets. Therefore, platelets may also mediate an effect from therapeutically administered pro-UK by prolonging its half-life.
On the Relationship Between Boundary Layer Convergence and Cloud-to-Ground Lightning

It is generally accepted that significant electrification, and subsequent lightning generation, in clouds is attained via non-inductive charging (NIC) when sufficient numbers of ice crystals collide with graupel particles in the presence of supercooled liquid water [e.g. Saunders et al., 1991; Jayaratne et al., 1983; Takahashi, 1978]. As these particle scale interactions are driven by vertical motions it can be argued that, under appropriate thermodynamical and microphysical conditions, any process that enhances updraft strength should also enhance the storms ability to generate lightning.
The Lee-Wiener legacy [statistical theory of communication]

The Research Laboratory of Electronics (RLE) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was the home of many famous scientists and engineers in the days following World War II. One of the lesser known heroes of this era was Yuk Wing Lee, a student of Norbert Wiener in the late 1920s, who led an important research group in statistical communication theory. Lee's own contributions, although significant, are not well known. However, his contributions to teaching and bringing the ideas of Wiener into electrical engineering are without precedent. This article describes the activities of Lee, Wiener, and the many well-known students of Lee who contributed and shaped the area of statistical signal processing and communications.
The Interrogator model

The Interrogator is a protocol security analysis tool implemented in Prolog and based on a communicating-machine message transformation model with message modification threats. It supports a large and extendible class of symbolic encryption and data transformation operators with a novel equation-solving approach in the context of equational theories. The operator representation and equation-solving capability has a simple interface to the protocol and threat model. >
Application of Immunohistochemistry to Liver and Gastrointestinal Neoplasms: Liver, Stomach, Colon, and Pancreas

Abstract Context.—Immunohistochemistry has become an integral component of the practice of pathology. Newer antibodies allow for increasingly precise diagnoses for tumors that previously could not be easily identified. Recently, immunohistochemical evaluations have begun to allow pathologists to actively assist in determining prognosis and even in selecting therapies. Objective.—To summarize the usefulness of currently available immunostains for the study of liver and gastrointestinal system neoplasms and to make recommendations for panels of immunostains that can be particularly helpful. Data Sources.—Information has been collected from recent literature as well as from personal experience and practice. Conclusions.—Many immunostains are now available for the practicing pathologist that allow for increasing accuracy in diagnosis of liver and gastrointestinal tract neoplasms. Panels of immunostains can be used to differentiate between various tumors and also to identify site of origin in the case of a met...
Close range 37 GHz passive microwave observations of snow on north and south facing slopes

Topographic aspect geometrically controls the solar flux incident upon the landscape, thereby influencing snow pack thermal metamorphism and consequent physical state and microwave emission characteristics. A time series of 37 GHz vertical polarization radiometer observations was made in an east-west trending gully to investigate the possibility that north- and south-facing slopes may display distinct emission characteristics resulting from differential solar influx. A time lag in brightness temperature between north- and south-facing slopes due to differential timing of melting during the diurnal cycle was observed. Vertical core samples were sieved; the two slopes were not distinguishable on the basis of grain size distribution. Approximately 49% of the sieved snow grains were larger in diameter than the 37 GHz free space wavelength (8.1 mm), suggesting that volume scattering was an important process in this snow pack. >
Implementing U.S. Arctic Policy: An Analysis of Federal Recommendations

ABSTRACT We outline U.S. Arctic policy recommendations, goals, and strategic plans promulgated by federal entities in recent years, then analyze the policies and determine the most commonly referen...
Control of bursting properties in a silicon neuron CPG

Abstract We have developed a silicon neuron based on a heart interneuron of the leech. We created a half-center oscillator composed of two silicon neurons connected via inhibitory synapses implemented through dynamic clamp. We investigated the effects of symmetrical variations of maximal conductances on bursting behavior. Burst period, average burst spike frequency, and duty cycle were chosen as major characteristics of the bursting waveform. Burst period and spike frequency showed similar dependencies on the varied parameters in both neurons; duty cycles of the two neurons, however, diverged when the parameters were varied, reflecting mismatch in parameters between chips.
Computation of stress intensity factors for interfacial cracks

Abstract Characteristic complex stress intensity factors for plane and penny-shaped cracks located at the interface of dissimilar materials are computed using the boundary element method. To improve the accuracy of the solutions, special elements that properly model the near tip displacement and stress fields are used at the crack-tip. The results show that the boundary element method procedure provides a highly accurate and efficient tool for the numerical solution of bi-material fracture mechanics problems. The numerical results also confirm the dependence of the stress intensity factors on material properties for interfacial cracks. Further, the results show that the -variation of stress intensity factors with crack length for the bi-material case is essentially identical to the corresponding variation in homogeneous material solutions.
The diagnosis of bacterial peritonitis: comparison of pH, lactate concentration and leukocyte count.

It has been suggested that the hydrogen ion and lactate concentrations may be superior to the polymorphonuclear cell count (PMN) in ascitic fluid, in the diagnosis of bacterial peritonitis (BP). In order to compare the diagnostic accuracy of ascitic fluid measurements of pH, lactate, glucose and the PMN in BP, we analyzed the ascitic fluids of 70 consecutive patients in whom pH, lactate, glucose and the PMN count were measured in ascitic fluid and arterial blood. Fifty-one were cirrhotic patients with uninfected ascites, 14 had BP, one tuberculous peritonitis, two ascites secondary to peritoneal metastases and two with neoplastic liver involvement but without peritoneal metastases. Statistically, highly significant differences between patients with uninfected ascitic fluid and BP were observed for ascitic fluid PMN (122 vs. 2,686 per cu mm), ascitic fluid pH (7.45 vs. 7.24), arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient (0.02 vs. 0.22), arterial lactate (12 vs. 25 mg per dl), ascitic fluid lactate (15 vs. 45 mg per dl) and arterial-ascitic fluid lactate gradient (−3 vs. −20 mg per dl). The most reliable diagnostic cutoff levels were determined for each of the parameters: PMN > 500 per cu mm; ascitic fluid pH 0.10; ascitic fluid lactate > 25 mg per dl; arterial-ascitic fluid lactate gradient 60 mg per dl. The highest sensitivity was demonstrated by the PMN count (86%), which also had the highest negative predictive value (96%). Very high specificity but lower sensitivity was demonstrated for ascitic fluid pH, arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient, ascitic fluid lactate and the arterial-ascitic fluid lactate gradient. Diagnostic sensitivity increased when either of two parameters were required to establish the diagnosis. We believe that the most reliable combination for clinical purposes is an ascitic fluid PMN count > 500 per cu mm and/or an arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient > 0.10. This investigation shows that an elevated PMN count in ascitic fluid is a reliable index of BP. A decreased ascitic fluid pH ( 0.10) are about equally reliable. These tests complement each other's diagnostic ability. An ascitic fluid PMN count > 500 per cu mm and/or an arterial-ascitic fluid pH gradient greater than 0.10 are almost always diagnostic of BP, and the normality of both tests virtually excludes that diagnosis.
The Kinematical Performance Analysis of a Kind of Parallel Turning-Grinding Machine

This paper presents a new type of two 2-DOF Parallel 2PRR institution, with the unique advantages such as simple motion modeling and easy calculation of the positive and negative solution, operating a large space, simple structure and easy to control, etc. This parallel mechanism can not only be used for the development of glass cutting, grinding materials, milling, processing equipment, spare parts and other planes, but also can be used as a multi-DOF hybrid machine tool flat actuator parallel mechanism which can give full play the advantages of strong reconfiguration, with the main different combinations of auxiliary bodies and set up to meet the individual needs of the user reconfigurable manufacturing cell to be more complex parts processing and high-speed machining.
An exact price index for the almost ideal demand system

Abstract We show that an exact price index for the Almost Ideal Demand System can be evaluated using data on expenditure shares and prices at two comparison points, and at their geometric mean.
Inhibition of ribonuclease by diethyl pyrocarbonate and other methods

Abstract The effect of diethyl pyrocarbonate on pancreatic ribonuclease was found to be related to the amount of non-enzyme protein present in solution and to the temperature of the reaction mixture. The kinetics were those of a non-competitive inhibitor. Diethyl pyrocarbonate was also a potent inhibitor of rabbit spleen and liver ribonucleases. 0.5–1.25 μl of diethyl pyrocarbonate per mg liver or spleen protein was sufficient to completely inhibit tissue nucleases if reaction temperature was 25°. A 3–4-fold greater amount was necessary at 0–4°. Albumin was capable of protecting pancreatic ribonuclease from diethyl pyrocarbonate reaction.
Patterns of Situational Identity Among Biracial and Multiracial College Students

Using qualitative grounded theory framed by postmodern racial identity theory, the author explored the experience of 24 bi- and multiracial students at three postsecondary institutions. Five patterns of racial identification emerged, with peer culture and campus demographics as the major determinants of students' identity. These findings, with insights into multiracial students's experiences, can model how to explore other areas of socially constructed identity. It also introduces a conditional model for how students create new identity-based space on campus.
FXR: a target for cholestatic syndromes?

The nuclear farnesoid X receptor (FXR) plays a pivotal role in maintaining bile acid homeostasis by regulating key genes involved in bile acid synthesis, metabolism and transport, including CYP7A1, UGT2B4, BSEP, MDR3, MRP2, ASBT, I-BABP, NTCP and OSTα-OSTβ in humans. Altered expression or malfunction of these genes has been described in patients with cholestatic liver diseases. This review examines the rationale for the use of FXR ligand therapy in various cholestatic liver disorders and includes potential concerns.