cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parameterized specification, configuration and execution of data-intensive scientific workflows

Data analysis processes in scientific applications can be expressed as coarse-grain workflows of complex data processing operations with data flow dependencies between them. Performance optimization of these workflows can be viewed as a search for a set of optimal values in a multidimensional parameter space consisting of input performance parameters to the applications that are known to affect their execution times. While some performance parameters such as grouping of workflow components and their mapping to machines do not affect the accuracy of the analysis, others may dictate trading the output quality of individual components (and of the whole workflow) for performance. This paper describes an integrated framework which is capable of supporting performance optimizations along multiple such parameters. Using two real-world applications in the spatial, multidimensional data analysis domain, we present an experimental evaluation of the proposed framework.
A new species of Tyrannomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Sri Lanka

Tyrannomyrmex legatus sp. nov. is described based on a single worker collected from leaf litter in dipterocarp forest in southern Sri Lanka. A key is presented to separate the three known species of Tyrannomyrmex. A probable male specimen of the genus from the Philippines is noted. Tyrannomyrmex is placed within the tribe Solenopsidini and close to the genus Monomorium.
New insights into the high-pressure polymorphism of SiO 2 cristobalite

Single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments with SiO2 α-cristobalite reveal that the well-known reversible displacive phase transition to cristobalite-II, which occurs at approximately 1.8 GPa, can be suppressed by rapid pressure increase, leading to an overpressurized metastable state, persisting to pressure as high as 10 GPa. In another, slow pressure increase experiment, the monoclinic high-pressure phase-II was observed to form at ~1.8 GPa, in agreement with earlier in situ studies, and its crystal structure has been unambiguously determined. Single-crystal data have been used to refine the structure models of both phases over the range of pressure up to the threshold of formation of cristobalite X-I at ~12 GPa, providing important constraints on the feasibility of the two competing silica densification models proposed in the literature, based on quantum mechanical calculations. Preliminary diffraction data obtained for cristobalite X-I reveal a monoclinic unit cell that contradicts the currently assumed model.
Microbiology and Principles of Antimicrobial Therapy for Head and Neck Infections

The principles of antimicrobial management for head and neck infections include establishing an accurate clinical and microbiologic diagnosis and treating the patient initially with an empiric antimicrobial regimen based on predicted likelihood of success and reduced potential for resistance. Subsequent adjustments may be required based on clinical response and available culture results. This article summarizes the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of selected acute and chronic infections of the head and neck and the approaches to antimicrobial therapy.
The Prognostic Importance of Weight Loss in Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Objective To assess the prognostic impact of weight loss on clinical outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prognostic effects of weight loss in patients with CAD on a composite outcome of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and major adverse cardiac events considering studies published between January 1, 1964, and August 8, 2013. We considered weight loss "intentional" when it occurred in the presence of programmed therapeutic lifestyle changes and "observational" when no such intervention was specified. Results We searched 1218 abstracts, of which 12 studies with 14 cohorts met the inclusion criteria. A total of 35,335 patients (mean age, 64 years; 72% male; body mass index [BMI], 30; 3.2 years of follow-up) were included. Overall, weight loss was associated with a greater risk of the composite outcome (relative risk [RR], 1.30; 95% CI, 1.00-1.69; P =.05). However, heterogeneity was high ( I 2 =90%) and was substantially explained by weight loss intentionality. Presumed intentional weight loss (4 cohorts) was associated with improved outcomes (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.56-0.80; P P P Conclusion Whereas observational weight loss is associated with increased adverse cardiovascular events, intentional weight loss is associated with lower clinical events. These results suggest that the underlying mechanism of weight loss (ie, intentional or unintentional) affects its impact on subsequent risk in persons with known CAD.
PSpice circuit generation through the method of simulated annealing

A software package that was developed to generate a graphical representation of an electrical circuit diagram from a PSpice text file is described. This package uses the simulated annealing method for multivariate optimization. This algorithm is applied to global component connections and circuit design of realistic size and complexity. >
Creating novel proteins by combining design and selection

We present the results of combining design and selection to remodel a protein–peptide binding interface, using the peptide PTIEEVD and the TPR1 module interaction as our test case. We initially used the program Rosetta to interrogate possible TPR1 sequences compatible with binding the peptide PTIEEVD. Based on these results, we screened a small library of TPR1 variants, using a split GFP fluorescent assay to identify proteins that are able to bind to the PTIEEVD peptide. We discuss the similarities and differences between the modeling and selection results at each position. We show that a new ‘consensus’ TPR1, created based on the results of the sequences identified in the screen, indeed binds to the PTIEEVD peptide. These results demonstrate the utility of combining design and selection in a synergistic fashion to remodel protein recognition interfaces.
Electrical conductivity images of Quaternary faults and Tertiary detachments in the California Basin and Range

Comparison of an electrical resistivity section derived from magnetotelluric (MT) data to a geologic section extending eastward from the Sierra Nevada near latitude 36°20′N shows that the crust is dominated by steeply dipping conductive features that correlate with active strike-slip faults. While there is a subhorizontal conductor at a depth ∼20 km beneath some of the profile, it is broken by vertical structures associated with the active strike-slip faults. The continuous subhorizontal anomalies in the lower crust typically observed in extensional regions are therefore absent in the resistivity section. The present-day strike-slip tectonic regime as indicated by geodetic data in this part of the Basin and Range is not producing features that could be inferred to indicate subhorizontal shear zones resulting from lateral crustal flow during extension. Because the Miocene tectonic regime resulted in the formation of metamorphic core complexes and thus was accompanied by such flow, the present regime appears to represent a fundamental transition in the mode of crustal deformation in the region. A serendipitous result of our study was the identification on resistivity sections of carbonate aquifers in the upper crust. Comparison of resistivities from the MT section to measured fluid resistivities from springs and boreholes suggests that the aquifers must be heterogeneous, with more saline brines occupying the deepest portions of the carbonates.
Using Landsat ETM+ Imagery to Measure Population Density in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

Remote sensing techniques have been previously used in urban analysis, settlement detection, and population estimation. This research explores the potentials of integra- tion of Landsat ETMdata with census data for estimation of population density in City of Indianapolis, Indiana. Spectral signatures, principal components, vegetation indices, fraction images, textures, and temperature were used as predictive indicators. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between remote sensing variables and population, and stepwise regression analysis was then used to develop models for estimating population quantities. Two sampling schemes (non-stratified versus stratified sampling) were compared. It was found that the integration of textures, temperatures, and spectral responses substantially improved the accuracy of estima- tion. Stratification of the population into three categories of low-, medium-, and high-densities and development of different models for individual population density category provided better estimation results than a non-stratified scheme. The total population for City of Indianapolis was estimated to be 832,792 in 2000 yielding an accuracy of 96.8 percent.
A Four Gap Synchrotron RF Cavity

A proposed four gap synchrotron cavity is described here. The drift tube (140° long) is rigidly supported by a reentrant conducting structure near each end. Each support structure provides two accelerating gaps. The potential across each gap is approximately the same as the potential between the drift tube and the vacuum tank wall in the central region. The reentrant feature has the effect of a two-turn center tapped transformer, which is achieved in the cavity by passing one current surface through another by means of spokes and holes.
On the problem of simultaneous encoding of magnitude and location information

Modern image coders balance bitrate used for encoding the location of significant transform coefficients, and bitrate used for coding their values. The importance of balancing location and value information in practical coders raises fundamental open questions about how to code even simple processes with joint uncertainty in coefficient location and magnitude. The most basic example of such a process is studied: a 2-D process studied earlier by Weidmann and Vetterli that combines Gaussian magnitude information with Bernoulli location uncertainty. An insight into the coding of this process by investigating several new coding strategies based on more general approaches to lossy compression of location is presented. Extending these ideas to practical coding, a trellis-coded quantization algorithm with performance matching the published theoretical bounds is developed. Finally, the quality of the strategies is evaluated by deriving a rate-distortion bound using Blahut's algorithm for discrete sources.
The Role of Alveolar Macrophage Activation in the Response to Mineral Fibers

Alveolar macrophages (AM) perform a variety of functions important to the host which go beyond their role as phagocytic cells. These include, but are not limited to, the processing of complex antigens, secretion of reactive oxygen intermediates, and elaboration of bioactive soluble products (i.e. cytokines) (Fels and Cohn, 1986). Certain mineral fibers added to AM cultures can modulate a number of these cellular functions (Cantin et al., 1988; Gardner, 1984). By virtue of their immunoregulatory activity, their role as an early defense mechanism against inhaled particulates, and their intimate association with lung parenchyma, these cells are considered major elements in acute and chronic inflammation as well as in the proliferation of many cell types, including interstitial lung fibroblasts (Fels and Cohn, 1986).
Device implementation, validation, and application assessment of two continuous 12-lead ECG monitors during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Comparability of clinical and research data sets may be undermined if the instruments used to acquire them vary. Even when standard 12-lead electrocardiographic formats are used for monitoring, proprietary signal processing techniques and sampling intervals may differ among devices. In order to directly compare the two commercially available standard 12-lead devices with monitoring capabilities, bifurcated wires from a single standard lead set were attached to each device in elective angioplasty patients. Neither device was used as a standard; rather, a method was designed to analyze the output from each device independently, and then, if results differed, data from both monitors were reviewed by consensus to determine the source of the differences. Analysis endpoints for each study included study quality, baseline ST-segment levels, the presence of ischemia, number of ischemic episodes, peak lead location, and peak lead amplitude. Sources of differences in these endpoints visible to consensus review included variations between devices in baseline stability, noise/artifact levels, stability of the QRS complex onset, and temporal sampling intervals.
On the Nth diameter problem in the class

We give a topological characterization of the sets that yield the maximal Nth diameter among all the planar continua with unit capacity. At the same time we eliminate certain branching configurations for support points in the class ∑.
The Properties of Instability: Markets, Predation, Racialized Geography, and Property Law

A central, symbolic image supporting property ownership is the image of stability. This symbol motivates most because it allows for settled expectations, promotes investment, and fulfills a psychological need for predictability. Despite the symbolic image, property is home to principles that promote instability, albeit a stable instability. This Article considers an overlooked but fundamental issue: the recurring instability experienced by minority property owners in ownership of their homes. This is not an instability one might attribute solely to insufficient financial resources to retain ownership, but instead reflects an ongoing pattern, exemplified throughout the twentieth century, of purposeful involuntary divestment of land owned by members of racial minorities, particularly Black Americans. The subprime mortgage crisis, the most current manifestation of this involuntary land loss, can be attributed to property doctrine’s policy embrace of markets and importation of contract principles such as the “freedom of contract.” This embrace of markets and contracts ignores the reality that real estate markets are racially segregated, and due to the nature of those disparate markets, easily exploitable. The current racially concentrated subprime mortgage crisis has torn the stable property image apart by revealing longstanding truths: that fraud, exploitation, and desperation are not anomalous. These truths present a disquieting reality: that the persistent and enduring experience for minorities is instability. They also present an overlooked insight that there is a dark side of property ownership: that fraud, exploitation, and desperation are the bad that enables the good of property markets. Because this “bad” is both ubiquitous and geographically situated, it suggests that stability for some within the system of property ownership is provided at the expense of instability for others. This Article argues that we should begin to pay attention to an under-theorized stick in the bundle of property rights: “the right to keep.”
Globalization and Austerity Politics in Latin America: When Latin American Grasshoppers Become Ants

“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?” “I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant “and recommend you to do the same.” “Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper. “We have got plenty of food at present.” In Aesop's classic fable, a carefree grasshopper joyfully chirps throughout a summer's day. By contrast, an industrious ant hauls an ear of corn to his nest. When winter arrives, the ill-prepared grasshopper wrestles with life-threatening hunger, whereas the ants enjoy the fruits of their labor. In the world of economic policy, the grasshopper's chirps are the politician's printing press. Politicians can spend lavishly today or save for a wintery day. Many classic political economy works expect presidents to spend like the profligate grasshopper. Politicians worry about their short-term political survival rather than longterm socioeconomic welfare. But, when do they instead choose frugality? Developed country scholars contend that fiscally conservative voters promote miserly political behavior. At first, the claim that conservative politics pays electoral dividends does not seem to travel well to Latin America, a region hobbled by high poverty, income inequality, and unemployment. Facing strong redistributive pressures, why would politicians believe that voters are inflation hawks? Why would election minded incumbents value a seemingly long-run asset such as economic stability? What's the political benefit of low inflation? Presumably, delivering growth and jobs today offers the greatest electoral returns tomorrow. If this is the case, why do Latin American politicians sometimes drift from this reliable political strategy?
A Motor Point Identification Technique Based on Dempster Shafer Theory

The objective of this work is to identify the motor point location from the obtained sEMG signals using Dempster Shafer theory (DST). The proposed technique is applied on data obtained from a male test subject. In particular, the sEMG signals and its corresponding skeletal muscle force signals from the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis are acquired at a sampling rate of 2000 Hz using a Delsys Bangnoli- 16 EMG system. The acquired sEMG signals are rectified and filtered using a Discrete Wavelet Transforms (DWT) with a Daubechies 44 mother wavelet. For the system identification, an Output Error (OE) model structure is assumed to obtain the dynamic relation between the sEMG signal and the corresponding finger force signals. Subsequently, model based probabilities and fuzzy inference based probabilities are obtained for discrete sensor locations of a sEMG sensor array. Considering these evidences, a DST based motor point location identification method is proposed. The results based on one subject show the potential of the proposed theory and approach for affectively identifying motor point locations using an array sEMG sensor.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
A Sexual Hormone in Glomerella

Extensive cytological and genetical studies of Glomerella cingulata (Stonem.) Sp. & v. Schr. have revealed a number of unusual phenomena related to the sexual process in this fungus. One of these is the behavior of certain cultures in matings. When self-fertile cultures are mated with cultures which are self-sterile, or nearly so, perithecia obtained from the line of contact between the paired cultures are of three types, 1) those that give rise to cultures of the self-fertile parent only, 2) those that give rise to cultures of both the self-fertile and self-sterile parental types, and 3) those that give rise to cultures of the self-sterile type only (11). Perithecia of the first type can be attributed to selfing of the self-fertile parent and those of the second type have been demonstrated to be the result of cross-fertilization between the mated cultures (3, 11). However, the origin of perithecia of the last type has been a perplexing problem, especially in view of the fact that in some cases these represent a majority of the perithecia formed. Certain aspects of this problem of "induced selfing" of cultures which are either nearly or completely self-sterile have been considered in pre? vious papers (3, 6, 11). Since the phenomenon occurs only in matings in which one member is a highly self-fertile culture, it has been suggested that a hormone-like substance might be involved. This hypothetical substance, produced by the self-fertile member of the mated pair, would be capable of rendering self-sterile cultures temporarily self-fertile. This investigation reports the results of attempts to demonstrate the existence of such a substance.
Light and dissolved phosphorus interactively affect microbial metabolism, stoichiometry and decomposition of leaf litter

Summary In aquatic settings, light can stimulate algal growth to affect microbial transformation of organic substrates. These effects may depend on dissolved nutrients that differentially constrain microbial autotrophy and heterotrophy to drive contrasting carbon (C) and phosphorus (P) dynamics during decomposition. We incubated sugar maple (Acer saccharum) litter under three dissolved P amendments (0, 50 or 500 μg L−1 P) and two light levels (14 or 475 μmol photons m−2 s−1) in laboratory microcosms. We measured litter chlorophyll a, microbial respiration and net metabolism, carbon:nitrogen (C:N) and C:P content, microbial P uptake and release and litter decomposition over 134 days. Elevated dissolved P increased algal biomass in the high-light treatment and magnified net heterotrophy and autotrophy in the low- and high-light treatments, respectively. Litter C:P and C:N declined as dissolved P increased, and litter C:P was further reduced by high light only in the highest P treatment. Microbial P uptake fluxes peaked under moderate P and high light, whereas P release fluxes were consistently low throughout the experiment. The percent of P uptake that was released was significantly higher under low light. High light stimulated decomposition under low P but slowed decomposition under high P, suggesting increased nutrients weakened algal priming of litter decomposition. Our study suggests factors controlling the degree of autotrophy versus heterotrophy on organic matter, such as light and nutrient availability, may interactively shift litter C and P dynamics during decomposition.
Profiling of Ozone in the Free Troposphere by the Lidar Technique

Measurements of ozone in the troposphere have become increasingly important during thepast decade with reports of ozone increases on global scales that not only threaten the vitalityof the plant and the animal kingdom, but can also, since ozone is a greenhouse gas, contributeto global warming. The lidar application that is described here is specifically designed toaccommodate the needs of the scientific community to accurately measure tropospheric ozoneover a period of many years as one indicator of global change, and is intended as a prototypefor a network of tropospheric ozone lidars.
The Two-Stage Examination: A Method to Assess Individual Competence and Collaborative Problem Solving in Medical Students.

ProblemEffectively solving problems as a team under stressful conditions is central to medical practice; however, because summative examinations in medical education must test individual competence, they are typically solitary assessments.ApproachUsing two-stage examinations, in which students first
A little Birdie told me: Social media, organizational legitimacy, and underpricing in initial public offerings

Drawing on the organizational legitimacy literature, we propose and test a set of hypotheses arguing that social media, an artifact of information technology, serves as a mechanism for conferring legitimacy in the market for initial public offerings (IPOs). The extant literature identifies third-party authorities, such as traditional media outlets and industry analysts, as a valuable source of organizational legitimacy. Social media and micro-blogging, however, remain outside current classifications of the phenomenon. This study theoretically develops and empirically tests a new mechanism in the legitimation process: the direct interaction with potential investors and society-at-large via social media. Our findings indicate broad support that having a Twitter account, and the extent to which a firm utilizes Twitter, is associated with systematically higher levels of IPO underpricing. Moreover, we find support that social media variables external to the firm, including number of followers and retweets, also impact the level of underpricing in an IPO. In conclusion, we highlight the emerging role of social media in processes of legitimation and invite additional research at the intersection of IS and management.
Comparison of cinoxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of urinary tract infections.

AbstractForty women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections owing to susceptible organisms were assigned randomly to 500mg. Cinoxacin or 160-800mg. trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole twice daily for 10 days. Of 20 patients receiving Cinoxacin none had bacteriuria during or 7 days after therapy, and 2 of 15 (13 per cent) were reinfected within80 days. Of 20 patients receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 1 (5 per cent) had bacteriuria during therapy, 19 were uninfected during and 7 days after therapy, and 3 of 15 (20 per cent) were reinfected within 30 days. Adverse reactionsoccurred in 2 patients (10 per cent) in each group. Anal and vaginal Enterobacteriaceae maintained their sensitivity toCinoxacin. Three patients (20 per cent) on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole presented with and 3 acquired anal Enterobacteriaceae resistant to the drug and 2 (13 per cent) acquired vaginal Enterobacteriaceae that were resistant. Cinoxacin was as effective as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole without the emergence of resistant...
Alphablend - a self-adjusting algorithm for reducing artifacts in JPEG compressed images

In this paper we present a computationally efficient algorithm for reducing the blocky and Gibbs oscillation artifacts commonly present in JPEG compressed images. The algorithm alpha-blends a smoothed version of the image with the original image; however, the blending is controlled by a limit factor that considers the amount of compression present and any local edge information derived from the application of a Prewitt filter. In addition, the actual value of the blending coefficient (α) is derived from the local Mean Structural Similarity Index Measure (MSSIM) which is also adjusted by a factor that also considers the amount of compression present. We also present our results as well as the results for a variety of other papers whose authors used other post compression, filtering methods.
Association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events: an overview of systematic reviews

Summary Given the conflicting evidence regarding the association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events, we systematically assessed published systematic reviews for evidence of the association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events. We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Collaboration Clinical Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the US Food and Drug Administration website for systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials published up to July 19, 2016. Two independent reviewers screened 954 full texts from 29 335 abstracts to identify systematic reviews of randomised controlled trials in which the cardiovascular effects of exogenous testosterone on men aged 18 years or older were examined. We extracted data for study characteristics, analytic methods, and key findings, and applied the AMSTAR (A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews) checklist to assess methodological quality of each review. Our primary outcome measure was the direction and magnitude of association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events. We identified seven reviews and meta-analyses, which had substantial clinical heterogeneity, differing statistical methods, and variable methodological quality and quality of data abstraction. AMSTAR scores ranged from 3 to 9 out of 11. Six systematic reviews that each included a meta-analysis showed no significant association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events, with summary estimates ranging from 1·07 to 1·82 and imprecise confidence intervals. Two of these six meta-analyses showed increased risk in subgroup analyses of oral testosterone and men aged 65 years or older during their first treatment year. One meta-analysis showed a significant association between exogenous testosterone and cardiovascular events, in men aged 18 years or older generally, with a summary estimate of 1·54 (95% CI 1·09–2·18). Our optimal information size analysis showed that any randomised controlled trial aiming to detect a true difference in cardiovascular risk between treatment groups receiving exogenous testosterone and their controls (with a two-sided p value of 0·05 and a power of 80%) would require at least 17 664 participants in each trial group. Therefore, given the challenge of adequately powering clinical trials for rare outcomes, rigorous observational studies are needed to clarify the association between testosterone-replacement therapy and major adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Association of Early Stress and BDNF Genotype With Response Inhibition During Emotional Distraction in Adolescence

This study investigated whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotype moderated inhibitory control during an emotionally valenced task in a sample of internationally adopted adolescents (N = 109, ages 12-13 years) who spent their early years in institutional care. Participants were genotyped for the Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene. Inhibitory control in different emotional contexts was assessed via a Go-NoGo task where letters appeared at the center of positive, negative, neutral, or scrambled images. Carriers of one or more methionine (Met) alleles demonstrated a significant association between poorer performance and increased adversity, indexed by age at adoption, while valine/valine (Val/Val) carriers did not. Thus, Val/Val genotype was associated with resilience to increased impulsivity with more prolonged deprivation. These results do not converge with research suggesting differential susceptibility effects for this polymorphism, but more closely reflect a diathesis-stress model fo...
How suboptimal is suboptimal choice

In a frequently used suboptimal-choice procedure pigeons choose between an alternative that delivers three food pellets with p = 1.0 and an alternative that delivers ten pellets with p = 0.2. Because pigeons reliably choose the probabilistic (suboptimal) alternative, the procedure has been proposed as a nonhuman analog of human gambling. The present experiments were conducted to evaluate two potential threats to the validity of this procedure. Experiments 1 and 2 evaluated if pigeons obtained food at a lower unit price (i.e., pecks per pellet) on the suboptimal alternative than on the optimal alternative. When pigeons worked under this suboptimal procedure they all preferred the suboptimal alternative despite some pigeons paying a higher price for food on that alternative. In Experiment 2, when the unit price ratio more closely approximated the inverse of the expected value ratio, pigeons continued to prefer the suboptimal alternative despite its economic suboptimality. Experiment 3 evaluated if, in accord with the string-theory of gambling, the valuation of the suboptimal alternative was increased when pigeons misattributed a subset of the suboptimal no-food trials to the optimal alternative. When trial sequences were arranged to minimize these possible attribution errors, pigeons still preferred the suboptimal alternative. These data remove two threats to the validity of the suboptimal choice procedure; threats that would have suggested that suboptimal choice reflects economic maximization.
Hardness amplification for entangled games via anchoring

We study the parallel repetition of one-round games involving players that can use quantum entanglement. A major open question in this area is whether parallel repetition reduces the entangled value of a game at an exponential rate - in other words, does an analogue of Raz's parallel repetition theorem hold for games with players sharing quantum entanglement? Previous results only apply to special classes of games. We introduce a class of games we call anchored. We then introduce a simple transformation on games called anchoring, inspired in part by the Feige-Kilian transformation, that turns any (multiplayer) game into an anchored game. Unlike the Feige-Kilian transformation, our anchoring transformation is completeness preserving. We prove an exponential-decay parallel repetition theorem for anchored games that involve any number of entangled players. We also prove a threshold version of our parallel repetition theorem for anchored games. Together, our parallel repetition theorems and anchoring transformation provide the first hardness amplification techniques for general entangled games. We give an application to the games version of the Quantum PCP Conjecture.
Measuring Life Skills of Adolescents: Tests for Everyday Living (TEL).

Tests for Everyday Living (TEL) is a series of seven tests that were designed to assess adolescents' knowledge and performance in a variety of daily living and prevocational skill areas. In additio...
Improving Mealtime Behaviors of a Multihandicapped Child Using Behavior Therapy Techniques.

In the present study, inappropriate mealtime behaviors of a multihandicapped child were modified via behavior therapy techniques. The subject was a blind, mentally retarded, behaviorally disordered...
Parent–child attachment: Meta-analysis of associations with parenting behaviors in middle childhood and adolescence.

ABSTRACTMaternal sensitivity predicts mother–child attachment in young children, but no meta-analysis has investigated the link between parenting and parent–child attachment in older children. This...
Editorial Commentary: Knee Medial Meniscus Root Tears: “You May Not Have Seen It, But It's Seen You”

Medial meniscus root tears are becoming increasingly recognized in clinical practice as a source of profound pain and dysfunction in patients. There has been considerable debate about the cause of these distinct meniscus tears, and what the optimal treatment should be for an individual patient. Midterm medial meniscus root repair results suggest that in a well-aligned knee with minimal degenerative change, transtibial root repair is an effective technique for improving pain, function, and possibly preventing further cartilage degeneration.
Biomechanical comparison between titanium and cobalt chromium rods used in a pedicle subtraction osteotomy model

Instrumentation failure is a common complication following complex spinal reconstruction and deformity correction. Rod fracture is the most frequent mode of hardware failure and often occurs at or near a 3-column osteotomy site. Titanium (Ti) rods are commonly utilized for spinal fixations, however, theoretically stiffer materials, such as cobalt-chrome (CoCr) rods are also available. Despite ongoing use in clinical practice, there is little biomechanical evidence that compares the construct ability to withstand fatigue stress for Ti and Co-Cr rods. Six models using 2 polyethylene blocks each were used to simulate a pedicle subtraction osteotomy. Within each block 6.0×45 mm polyaxial screws were placed and connected to another block using either two 6.0×100 mm Ti (3 models) or CoCr rods (3 models). The rods were bent to 40° using a French bender and were secured to the screws to give a vertical height of 1.5 cm between the blocks. The blocks were fatigue tested with 700N at 4 Hz until failure. The average number of cycles to failure for the Ti rod models was 12840 while the CoCr rod models failed at a significantly higher, 58351 cycles (P=0.003). All Ti models experienced rod fracture as the mode of failure. Two out of the three CoCr models had rod fractures while the last sample failed via screw fracture at the screw-tulip junction. The risk of rod failure is substantial in the setting of long segment spinal arthrodesis and corrective osteotomy. Efforts to increase the mechanical strength of posterior constructs may reduce the occurrence of this complication. Utilizing CoCr rods in patients with pedicle subtraction osteotomy may reduce the rate of device failure during maturation of the posterior fusion mass and limit the need for supplemental anterior column support.
Direct Reconstruction Methods in Optical Tomography

The aim of this chapter is to present the essential physical ideas that are needed to describe the propagation of light in a random medium. We also discuss various direct reconstruction methods for several inverse problems in optical tomography at mesoscopic and macroscopic scales.
The Return of Aquatic Vascular Plants into the Great Lakes Region after Late-Wisconsin Glaciation

This paper traces the recolonization by selected aquatic vascular plants into the Great Lakes region after late-Wisconsin glaciation. The currently widespread genera, Myriophyllum, Nymphaea, Nuphar, Potamogeton, Sagittaria and Typha were chosen because they are most frequently recorded in pollen diagrams. The movements of these genera were inferred by obtaining published pollen diagrams in which these genera were recorded. Only those records were used which were radiocarbon dated or based on inferences from other sources which had been radiocarbon dated. The total number of pollen profiles deamed useful in the literature is about 32; but, unfortunately, most of them are from the eastern half of the United States. By plotting first occurrence data of the various genera, a time and location sequence was established for each. In general, the earliest records of most of these genera are from the Carolina-Virginia region. This may represent the southernmost extension of these genera during late-Wisconsin time. These genera are well documented next in the Massachusetts region. Then their distribution appears to spread out into Nova Scotia, Quebec, and the Great Lakes region. It appears that the Appalachian Mountains were an important barrier to the recolonization of glaciated areas by aquatic vascular plants in eastern United States. Since so few pollen diagrams exist from western United States, it is difficult to define the western or southwestern contribution to recolonization. A southern migration route in the Mississippi valley may be plausible. With additional pollen records and more complete dating of pollen diagrams, a better understanding of the movements of aquatic vascular plants may be obtainable.
New Major Histocompatibility Complex Class IIB Genes From Nurse Shark

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) codes for proteins that process and present antigens to T cells. The actual presenting proteins are the classical MHC molecules and they are subdivided into two classes, I and II. Each class of MHC protein has an antigen binding cleft (ABC) that is formed by two membrane distal domains and that binds processed peptides. Classical MHC proteins tend to be highly polymorphic with most variable sites clustered around the ABC. This polymorphism has an effect on the repertoire of peptides that can bind and on the T cell receptors (TCRs) selected in the thymus by each MHC molecule (1, 2). The polymorphism appears to be generated by point mutations and recombination events (3–8). Analyses of mammalian genes suggests that blocks of residues can be transferred between MHC alleles or loci by recombination. These blocks have been identified as hypervariable
Vascular Endothelial Surface Proteins in the Perfused Rabbit Lung

Endothelial cells lining blood vessels interact with a wide range of blood borne substrates and cells. Underlying this dialogue is a complex mosaic of endothelial cell receptors, enzymes and membrane transport systems which serve to orchestrate crucial physiological and pathophysiological responses of the organism. Even a selected list of endothelial cell membrane receptors and transport systems (Table 1) emphasizes the diversity of potential functions they represent. For example, endothelial cells are believed to be involved in hemostasis (Nawroth et al., 1984), regulation of vascular tone (Gillis and Pitt, 1982; Furchgott, 1984), initiation of inflammation and response to immune mediators (Pober et al., 1986; Collins et al., 1986). Endothelial cell 5-HT (Crone and Levitt, 1984) and s adrenergic receptors (Bottaro et al., 1986) have been implicated in regulation of vascular permeability. Insulin receptors apparently participate in transport of the hormone to subendothelial sites (King and Johnson, 1985), and neutrophil adhesion receptors are expressed in response to monokines, presumably as part of the inflammatory response (Pober et al., 1986).
Use of the Luciferase (TN5-LUX) Reporter System to Study Rhizobium Meliloti Genes Responding to N/C/O2 Limitation or Plant Factors and Their Role in Rhizosphere Competition

The induction of nitrogen-fixing root and stem nodules on leguminous plants by soil bacteria belonging to the Rhizobiaceae is a highly evolved, complex process requiring a fine-tuned interaction between the bacteria and their host. Recently, considerable progress has been made in elucidating the signal exchange between rhizobia and their host plant, leading up to the activation of the microbial nodulation (nod/nol) genes, Nod factor biosynthesis and subsequent Nod factor mediated initiation of nodule ontogeny. Moreover, the molecular basis of rhizobial nitrogen fixation (nif/fix) gene induction in response to physiological cues such as oxygen (and nitrogen) availability has been studied in detail. However, much less is known about the influence of the persistence and competitive ability of rhizobia in the soil and the rhizosphere of plants on the very early stages of rhizobial infection. This is particularly relevant when one is interested in developing improved strains of nitrogen fixing rhizobia, since they tend not to be competitive when reintroduced into the soil or rhizosphere of plants (see Dowling Broughton, 1986).
The Establishment of Engineering Science: The Harmony of Theory and Practice

This chapter analyzes how a number of key individuals at universities, polytechnics, and Technische Hochschulen helped to formally establish engineering science as a new intermediate mode of knowledge that existed between science and technology and between theory and practice and helped to establish an ideology for engineering science based on the idea of a harmony of theory and practice. The chapter focuses on the role of W. J. M. Rankine at Glasgow University, Ferdinand Redtenbacher at the Polytechnische Schule at Karlsruhe, Franz Reuleaux at what would become the Technische Hochschule at Charlottenburg, Gaspard Monge at the Ecole polytechnique, Arthur-Jules Morin at the Conservatoire des arts et metiers, and Robert Henry Thurston at Cornell University. The chapter concludes by arguing that formal establishment of engineering science in Great Britain, Germany, France and the United States began to transform technology into a scientific discipline. But this scientific discipline was not simply applied science. It had its own framework that included new concepts that combined elements of science and technology, such as stress, strain, coefficient of friction, modulus of machines, efficiency, wave-line and streamline. In addition, engineering science developed some of its own methodologies, such as descriptive geometry, parameter variation, and graphical analysis.
Explaining Homegrown Western Jihadists: The Importance of Western Foreign Policy

In both the United States and Europe, explanations of homegrown radicalization emphasize the power of Salafi-jihadist ideology and Muslim experiences of discrimination and socioeconomic deprivation in Western countries. Polls of U.S. and European Muslims, and case histories of jihadist plots for attacks in the United States, indicate that another source of homegrown radicalization is Western foreign policy, especially Western interventions in predominantly Muslim countries. Poll results support a two-factor model in which seeing the war on terrorism as a war on Islam is predicted by both perceived discrimination and grievance related to Western foreign policy. Consistent with this model, UK practitioners in counter-radicalization programs find it useful to recognize Muslim grievances related to Western foreign policy in order to argue that violence does not reduce Muslim suffering. These observations indicate that Muslim grievances relating to Western foreign policy are important for under - standing and countering support for jihadist violence in Western countries.
Reactive-cysteine profiling for drug discovery

The recognition that only a small percentage of known human gene products are druggable using traditional modes of non-covalent ligand design, has led to a resurgence in targeted covalent inhibitors. Covalent inhibitors offer advantages over non-covalent inhibitors in engaging otherwise challenging targets. Reactive cysteine residues on proteins are a common target for covalent inhibitors, whereby the high nucleophilicity of the cysteine thiol under physiological conditions provides an ideal anchoring site for electrophilic small molecules. A chemical-proteomic platform, termed isoTOP-ABPP, allows for profiling cysteine reactivity in complex proteomes and is one of many techniques that can aid in two aspects of the covalent-inhibitor development process: (1) to identify functional cysteines that lead to modulation of protein activity through covalent modification; and, (2) to determine cellular targets and evaluate promiscuity of electrophilic fragments, small molecules, and natural products. Herein, we discuss recent advances in isoTOP-ABPP and potential applications of this technology in the drug-discovery pipeline.
A Solid Foundation: Belize's Chalillo Dam and Environmental Decisionmaking

Originally introduced in the United States through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, environmental assessment requirements are now incorporated in the environmental laws of countries worldwide. These requirements are viewed with ambivalence by some developing country governments, which see them at best as a nuisance, and at worst as a barrier to progress. For citizens in these countries, however, environmental assessments and their rigorous judicial enforcement may provide the only mechanism available to hold governments accountable for their decisions on major infrastructure projects. This Article describes the legal battle over one such project, the Chalillo dam in Belize.
Infrared backscatter imaging spectroscopy for standoff detection of trace explosives

The results from infrared backscatter imaging spectroscopy on a mobile platform for stand-off detection of trace amounts of explosive materials on relevant substrates are presented. This technique utilizes an array of tunable infrared quantum cascade lasers to illuminate targets. The spectral range of the QCL system spans from 6 - 11 μm, which enables excitation of a wide variety of absorption bands present in analytes of interest. Targets are prepared by sieving particles through a 20 μm mesh onto substrates to simulate relevant qualities (particle size, fill factor, and mass loading) expected of real world targets. The backscatter signal from targets is collected with an IR focal plane array. This information is stored in a hyperspectral image cube to allow for post processing in a detection algorithm. We demonstrate the selectivity and sensitivity of the discussed technique down to the nanogram level for RDX and PETN on glass. Spectra are generated by extracting the signal from small regions of interest to simulate targets with miniscule coverage areas. Preliminary comparison of backscatter data with simulated data from a model that incorporates particle size, mass loading, and substrate response show good agreement. Confusant agents, such as sand, are introduced to the targets loaded with analyte to illustrate the selectivity of this technique. The results of these studies are presented, along with future improvements to the technique.