cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of assessment‐based and non‐assessment‐based factors on special education placement decisions

Abstract This study investigated the relative importance of assessment-based factors (attainment, IQ), and non-assessment-based factors (sex, age, reason for referral) on the placement recommendations of guidance officers (school psychologists) for children of borderline eligibility for special education services. Respondents were asked to recommend the most appropriate placement, from regular classroom to full-time special education class, and to rate the importance of the information presented in the case folder to their decision. Overall, 55% of the respondents recommended full-time special school placement and all of the respondents recommended some form of special education service. There were discrepancies between what guidance officers perceived as influencing their decisions and what actually influenced them. Assessment-based factors of attainment levels and IQ scores were perceived as most influential and sex was perceived as the least influential. Statistical analysis revealed that girls were si...
Image-guided therapy and intraoperative MRI in neurosurgery

SummaryComputer-assisted 3D planning, navigation and the possibilities ottered by intra-operative imaging updates have made a large impact on neurological surgery. Three-dimensional rendering of complex medical image information, as well as co-registration of multimodal sources has reached a highly sophisticated level. When introduced into surgical navigation however, this pre-operative data is unable to account for intra-operative changes, (‘brain-shift’). To update structural information during surgery, an open-configured, intra-operative MRI (Signa SP, 0.5 T) was realised at our institution in 1995. The design, advantages, limitations and current applications of this system are discussed, with emphasis on the integration of imaging into procedures. We also introduce our integrated platform for intra-operative visualisation and navigation, the 3D Slicer.
Theoretical investigation of large kinetic isotope effects for proton-coupled electron transfer in ruthenium polypyridyl complexes

A theoretical investigation of proton-coupled electron transfer in ruthenium polypyridyl complexes is presented. The three reactions studied are as follows: (1) the comproportionation reaction of [(bpy)2(py)RuIVO]2+ and [(bpy)2(py)RuIIOH2]2+ to produce [(bpy)2(py)RuIIIOH]2+; (2) the comproportionation reaction of [(tpy)(bpy)RuIVO]2+ and [(tpy)(bpy)RuIIOH2]2+ to produce [(tpy)(bpy)RuIIIOH]2+; and (3) the cross reaction of [(tpy)(bpy)RuIIIOH]2+ and [(bpy)2(py)RuIIOH2]2+ to produce [(tpy)(bpy)RuIIOH2]2+ and [(bpy)2(py)RuIIIOH]2+. This investigation is motivated by experimental measurements of rates and kinetic isotope effects for these systems (Binstead, R. A.; Meyer, T. J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1987, 109, 3287. Farrer, B. T.; Thorp, H. H. Inorg. Chem. 1999, 38, 2497.). These experiments indicate that the second reaction is nearly one order of magnitude faster than the first reaction, and the third reaction is in the intermediate regime. The experimentally measured kinetic isotope effects for these three reacti...
Engagement of integrin α4β1 enhances thrombopoietin-induced megakaryopoiesis

Objective Studies in numerous adherent cell systems have indicated that engagement of integrins is required for cell survival and proliferation. Although not classically thought of as an adherent cell type, megakaryocytes in the marrow develop in juxtaposition to endothelial cells which display a number of integrin counter-receptors. Moreover, a number of other hematopoietic cell types, including stem cells and erythroid progenitors, have been shown to engage and be affected by integrin ligands. Methods The role of β1 integrins in thrombopoietin-mediated megakaryopoiesis was studied using both gain-of-function and loss-of-function strategies. Results We found that pan-blockade of integrins with a relatively nonspecific disintegrin blocked TPO-induced MK growth, but that an α5β1 disintegrin, and a function-blocking monoclonal antibody, failed to affect megakaryopoiesis in vitro. In contrast, a neutralizing α4β1 monoclonal antibody blocked TPO-induced MK growth, and an integrin α4β1 ligand, the H296 fragment of fibronectin, enhanced MK growth at all concentrations of TPO. Conclusions These findings have important implications for thrombopoiesis in general, and potentially for the enhanced platelet production found in states of systemic inflammation and following the use of therapeutic strategies designed to block α4β1 integrin engagement in states of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.
Anti‐dumping's Happy Birthday?

The purpose of this paper is to highlight and discuss recent developments in the worldwide use of anti-dumping (AD) policy as a possible strategic counterpoint to trade liberalisation. First, we review briefly the original intended purpose of AD policy, and reflect on its secondary position on the agenda of current international trade negotiations. Second, we discuss the escalating – and perhaps strategic – use of AD policy, particularly in the developing world, and highlight the roles of both interest groups and the state in determining policy outcomes. Next, we review the state of affairs of AD policy with the world's most active user, the US. In particular, we introduce and discuss the latest important development, the implementation of the ‘Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000’, which incorporates monetary compensation for petitioners, potentially offering more opportunities for strategic policy behaviour by firms, industries and the state. We conclude the article with a short discussion of directions for future research and some general concerns about the use of AD policy.
Innovations in Microdebrider Technology and Design

The microdebrider has been one of the most significant innovations in the field of rhinology. The use of this instrument for endoscopic sinus surgery offers the advantages of mucosal preservation, improved precision, expeditious tissue removal, and better visualization. Recent advances in microdebrider technology now permit 360 degrees, blade rotation, continuous tracking of the instrument using surgical navigation, and the ability to control bleeding with bipolar energy. A variety of specialty blades are also available, each attempting to address a specific operative limitation encountered during endoscopic surgery. To use these devices effectively and safely, the limitations of microdebriders must be appreciated.
LFSR-based BIST for analog circuits using slope detection

This paper presents a new analog BIST scheme using a slope detection technique. In test mode, a circuit under test (CUT) is stimulated with a periodic rectangular pulse generated from a Linear Feed-Back Shift Register (LFSR) and a periodic invariant response is generated. The width of the pulse is a BIST parameter to allow a trade-off between test time and fault coverage. In order to maximize fault coverage and minimize the hardware overhead, we propose a slope detection technique which analyzes the response of CUT using a counter and a simple digital gate. Simulation results are presented to show the feasibility of this scheme.
Tradition/Modernity: An Ideal Type Gone Astray

In a recent essay in this journal Dean C. Tipps subjected the tradition/ modernity concept to a thorough ideological and empirical critique and concluded that the time has come to get rid of it. Although his ideological and empirical analyses were convincing, the methodological remarks at the end of the essay were incomplete. If the contention that we should no longer attempt to revise the tradition/modernity concept is to stick, compelling methodological grounds must be given since ideological bias and empirical inadequacy can in principle be corrected. I want to show that in so far as the tradition/modernity concept is an ideal type, efforts to make it better ‘fit’ the spread of empirical data are in principle wrong. Moreover, efforts to transform the concept into an empirical ranking device or a classificatory system are open to equally serious objections. In order to do this I will first clarify the nature and function of ideal types, empirical types and classification systems.
Divergent Biophysical Defects Caused by Mutant Sodium Channels in Dilated Cardiomyopathy With Arrhythmia

Mutations in SCN5A encoding the principal Na+ channel alpha-subunit expressed in human heart (Na(V)1.5) have recently been linked to an inherited form of dilated cardiomyopathy with atrial and ventricular arrhythmia. We compared the biophysical properties of 2 novel Na(V)1.5 mutations associated with this syndrome (D2/S4--R814W; D4/S3--D1595H) with the wild-type (WT) channel using heterologous expression in cultured tsA201 cells and whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Expression levels were similar among WT and mutant channels, and neither mutation affected persistent sodium current. R814W channels exhibited prominent and novel defects in the kinetics and voltage dependence of activation characterized by slower rise times and a hyperpolarized conductance-voltage relationship resulting in an increased "window current." This mutant also displayed enhanced slow inactivation and greater use-dependent reduction in peak current at fast pulsing frequencies. By contrast, D1595H channels exhibited impaired fast inactivation characterized by slower entry into the inactivated state and a hyperpolarized steady-state inactivation curve. Our findings illustrate the divergent biophysical defects caused by 2 different SCN5A mutations associated with familial dilated cardiomyopathy. Retrospective review of the published clinical data suggested that cardiomyopathy was not common in the family with D1595H, but rather sinus bradycardia was the predominant clinical finding. However, for R814W, we speculate that an increased window current coupled with enhanced slow inactivation and rate-dependent loss of channel availability provided a unique substrate predisposing myocytes to disordered Na+ and Ca2+ homeostasis leading to myocardial dysfunction.
Improving the quality of telephone-delivered health care: a national quality improvement transformation initiative.

Results. Patients from 13 VA facilities participated (n = 730; pre-intervention = 314, post-intervention = 416); most of them were males (90%) with a mean age of 62 years. After the collaborative (versus pre-collaborative), few experienced transfers (52% versus 62%, P = 0.0006) and most reported timely call answer (88% versus 80%, P = 0.003). Improvements in staff understanding why patients were calling and providing needed medical information were also found. There were measurable improvements in patient satisfaction (87% versus 82% very/mostly satisfied, P = 0.04) and perceived quality of telephone care (85% versus 78% excellent/good quality, P = 0.01) post- collaborative. The proportion of veterans who reported delayed care due to telephone access issues decreased from 41% to 15% after the collaborative, P < 0.0001. Perceptions of poor quality care were higher when calls were for urgent care needs did not result in receipt of needed information and included a transfer or untimely answer. Conclusions. The QI collaborative led to improvements in timeliness of answering calls, patient satisfaction and perceptions of high-quality telephone care and fewer reports of health care delays. Barriers to optimal telephone care ‘quality’ include untimely answer, transfers, non-receipt of needed information and urgent care needs.
Intracavity laser spectroscopy: an old field with new prospects for combustion diagnostics

Intractivity laser spectroscopy is an analytical technique which offers the possibility of making sensitive measurements of atomic and molecular species in combustion environments. Absorption signals can be as much as a million times greater than those obtained from conventional absorption spectroscopy. In this paper we examine the main experimental and theoretical approaches that have been taken to understand how the technique works. We show that the two principal theories of intracavity spectroscopy can be reconciled and that recent theoretical and experimental advances allow intracavity spectroscopy to give reliable and reproducible results which can be used for quantitative measurements. Possible applications of the the technique as a diagnostic technique for combustion applications are proposed.
Expression of a mutant maize gene in the ventral leaf epidermis is sufficient to signal a switch of the leaf’s dorsoventral axis

Maize leaves are initiated from the shoot apex with an inherent leaf dorsoventral polarity; the leaf surface closest to the meristem is the adaxial (upper, dorsal) surface whereas the opposite leaf surface is the abaxial (lower, ventral) surface. The Rolled leaf1 (Rld1) semi-dominant maize mutations affect dorsoventral patterning by causing adaxialization of abaxial leaf regions. This adaxialization is sometimes associated with abaxialization of the adaxial leaf regions, which constitutes a "switch". Dosage analysis indicates Rld1 mutants are antimorphs. We mapped Rld1's action to a single cell layer using a mosaic analysis and show Rld1 acts non cell-autonomously along the dorsoventral axis. The presence of Rld1 mutant product in the abaxial epidermis is necessary and sufficient to induce the Rolled leaf1 phenotype within the lower epidermis as well as in other leaf layers along the dorsoventral axis. These results support a model for the involvement of wild-type RLD1 in the maintenance of dorsoventral features of the leaf. In addition, they demonstrate the abaxial epidermis sends/receives a cell fate determining signal to/from the adaxial epidermis and controls the dorsoventral patterning of the maize leaf.
Increasing Student Discourse to Support Rapport Building in Web and Blended Courses Using a 3D Online Learning Environment

This article presents research conducted between 2002 and 2007 that examines user discourse, message flow, and exchange frequency in Web-only courses, blended courses, andthenthesametypesofcoursesextendedwitha3Donline learning environment. The purpose of this study is to exam ine the impact that a 3D online learning environment has on discoursewithWeb-onlyandblendedcourses.Findingsfrom this study suggest that the addition of a 3D online learning environment to both Web-only and blended courses demon stratestheabilitytomorerapidlycreaterapportamongusers, whichtranslatesintoaccelerateddiscoursethatoccursearlier in and sustains itself longer and throughout the semester.
Search for Information Bearing Components in Speech

In this paper, we use mutual information to characterize the distributions of phonetic and speaker/channel information in a time-frequency space. The mutual information (MI) between the phonetic label and one feature, and the joint mutual information (JMI) between the phonetic label and two or three features are estimated. The Miller's bias formulas for entropy and mutual information estimates are extended to include higher order terms. The MI and the JMI for speaker/channel recognition are also estimated. The results are complementary to those for phonetic classification. Our results show how the phonetic information is locally spread and how the speaker/channel information is globally spread in time and frequency.
Digitally programmable switched-capacitor equalizers

The digitally programmable switched-capacitor equalization filter considered uses a structurally allpass section as a basic building block, allowing for orthogonal tuning of center frequency, bandwidth and gain, through the use of three independent capacitor arrays. Effects of finite gain and bandwidth of the operational amplifiers are investigated. Simulation and experimental results are presented verifying the models involved in the analysis. >
Reducing and manipulating complex trace data

In performance analysis of computer systems, trace-driven simulation techniques have the important advantage of credibility and accuracy. Unfortunately, traces are usually difficult to obtain, and little work has been done to provide efficient tools to help in the process of reducing and manipulating them. In this paper, we present a tool we have developed to help in the data reduction and data analysis phases of trace-driven simulation studies. Our tool has three main advantages: it accepts a variety of common trace formats; it provides a programmable user interface in which many actions can be directly specified; and it is easy to extend. This tool is particularly helpful for reducing and analyzing complex trace data, such as traces of file system or database activity. In this paper, we present our design principles, our implementation techniques, and a few concrete examples of the use of this tool.
Introduction: Seeing the Forest and the Trees—From Observation to Experiments in Social Epidemiology

Social epidemiology, disguised in other forms and known by other names, has been with us for decades, if not centuries. During periods of rapid urbanization and industrialization in the 19th century, work by Villerme (1), Virchow (2), and Engels (3) identified the health consequences of the political economy. Durkheim (4) revealed the social patterning of suicide. For years, demographers described the social forces that shaped mortality, fertility, and population profiles. As we moved through the early and mid-20th century, a host of classically trained epidemiologists such as Frost (5), Goldberger et al. (6), and Winslow (7) and social scientists such as Sydenstricker (8), Faris and Dunham (9), and Parks (10) produced complex, nuanced understandings of how social and economic forces shape patterns of health and disease. Beginning in the 1930s, studies of mental health focused on the impact of social disorganization and social deprivation at the neighborhood level (9). In fact, the “Chicago School” of sociologists emphasized the role of neighborhoods as central to well-being. If we think of social epidemiology as focused on the central question of how social conditions give rise to patterns of health and disease in populations, we may well wonder what brings us to celebrate this collection of work at this particular moment. In the broadest sense, the field is not a new one, nor are epidemiologists the only scientists contributing to a deepening understanding of the social determinants of health. So what is new? What do epidemiologists contribute to our understanding of the ways in which society influences population health? In this issue of Epidemiologic Reviews, a group of distinguished epidemiologists shape a mission for social epidemiology for the next several decades. In fact, they help to shape a future mission for the entire field of epidemiology. They identify what is new about …
Model for Reinforced Concrete Members under Torsion, Bending, and Shear. I: Theory

A model has been developed that can predict the load-deformation response of a reinforced concrete (RC) member subjected to torsion combined with bending and shear to spalling or ultimate capacity. The model can also be used to create interaction surfaces to predict the failure of a member subjected to different ratios of applied torsion, bending, and shear. The model idealizes the sides of an reinforced concrete member as shear "wall panels." The applied loads are distributed to the wall panels as uniform normal stresses and uniform shear stresses. The shear stress due to an applied torsional moment and shear force are summed over the thickness of the shear flow zone. Stress-strain relationships are adopted for tension stiffening and softened concrete in compression. The crack alignment rotates to remain normal to the principal tensile stress and the contribution of concrete in shear is neglected. The model has been validated by comparing the predicted and experimental behavior of members loaded under torsion combined with different ratios of bending and shear. The torque-twist behavior, reinforcement stress, and concrete surface strain predicted by the model were in agreement with experimental results.
Study of lipophilicity and application of selected structural descriptors in QSAR analysis of nicotinic acid derivatives. Investigations on RP18WF254 plates. Part II

Nicotinic acid (NAC) and its derivatives methyl nicotinate (MN), ethyl nicotinate (EN), isopropyl nicotinate (IPN), butyl nicotinate (BN), hexyl nicotinate (HN), benzyl nicotinate (BNN), nicotinamide (NAM), and N -methylnicotinamide (MNAM) have been investigated on RP18WF 254 HPTLC plates with methanol-water in different volume proportions as mobile phases. Linear relationships were obtained between R M values of the compounds and the volume fraction of methanol in the mobile phase. Retention values R M were extrapolated to zero methanol content and the lipophilicity values R M0(RP18WF254) obtained were compared with measured partition coefficients (log P exp ) and with partition coefficients ( A log P s, IA log P , C log P , log P Kowin , and x log P ) calculated using five different software products. The most significant correlation was found between R M0(RP18WF254) and A log P s values. The values of chromatographic lipophilicities R M0(RP18WF254) and ϕ 0(RP18WF254) indicate that lipophilicity of the ...
30 kVA LF/VLF power amplifier module

A high reliability RF power amplifier module (PAM) has been developed for high power LF/VLF transmit systems applications. The PAM is intended for operation in the 14 to 160 kHz frequency range for driving highly reactive loads. It uses a full-bridge configuration of high power field effect transistors (FETs). The PAM replaces four of the current 7.5 kVA modules developed for airborne applications resulting in a reduction in parts count, increased efficiency and increased power output. The new PAM provides efficiencies greater than 90 percent when operating into a reactive load of 70 degree phase angles and greater than 98 percent when operating into a resistive load. A low inductance power and RF interconnect bus structure is employed along with metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) power hybrid switching assemblies to minimize switching losses and reduce voltage transients. Protection features have been provided to preclude over current, over temperature and loss of the low voltage power on the RF input drive from causing damage or erroneous operation. Remote control and monitoring is provided through an EIA RS-485 bus interface, allowing RF output control and reporting of status conditions. The RF and control interfaces utilize opto-isolators to provide noise immunity for operation in high noise environments. Cooling is provided by means of a forced air, high performance heat sink assembly resulting in low operating temperatures and high efficiency. The PAM provides an output of thirty kVA into a resistive or reactive load when operating from a 330 V DC source and can be combined with additional modules to form a transmitter power amplifier capable of delivering up to 2 MW to an antenna system.
Automatic hidden-web table interpretation, conceptualization, and semantic annotation

The longstanding problem of automatic table interpretation still eludes us. Its solution would not only be an aid to table processing applications such as large volume table conversion, but would also be an aid in solving related problems such as information extraction, semantic annotation, and semi-structured data management. In this paper, we offer a solution for the common special case in which so-called sibling pages are available. The sibling pages we consider are pages on the hidden web, commonly generated from underlying databases. Our system compares them to identify and connect nonvarying components (category labels) and varying components (data values). We tested our solution using more than 2000 tables in source pages from three different domains-car advertisements, molecular biology, and geopolitical information. Experimental results show that the system can successfully identify sibling tables, generate structure patterns, interpret tables using the generated patterns, and automatically adjust the structure patterns as it processes a sequence of hidden-web pages. For these activities, the system was able to achieve an overall F-measure of 94.5%. Further, given that we can automatically interpret tables, we next show that this leads immediately to a conceptualization of the data in these interpreted tables and thus also to a way to semantically annotate these interpreted tables with respect to the ontological conceptualization. Labels in nested table structures yield ontological concepts and interrelationships among these concepts, and associated data values become annotated information. We further show that semantically annotated data leads immediately to queriable data. Thus, the entire process, which is fully automatic, transform facts embedded within tables into facts accessible by standard query engines.
Axial slope of sea level in Chesapeake Bay

The north-south variation in axial slope of monthly mean sea level in Chesapeake Bay was investigated by means of tide-gage records. Data from three stations indicate a marked similarity between axial slopes over the northern and southern halves of the bay.
Effects of Selected Humectants on the Nonenzymatic Browning Reaction in Eggs

Abstract The nonenzymatic browning patterns of whole egg, egg white, and egg yolk, with and without food humectants, were examined. The browning intensity of the pure egg systems decreased in the sequence of egg white, whole egg, and egg yolk, with maxima at water activity (aw) .65 to .75, .65, and .85, respectively. Glucose incorporation reversed the order of the melanoidin development rate with drastically higher pigment concentrations in the egg yolk (aw of maximum browning = .81) and whole egg (aw of maximum browning = .86). Interestingly, although egg white in the presence of glucose increased browning with time, its intensity throughout the entire storage period was lower than that of the pure egg white system. The browning potential of the egg samples with added sucrose was not significant except for whole egg at the high aw of .95 to .97. Glycerol, propylene glycol, and sodium chloride exhibited an inhibitory effect on the Maillard reaction in the egg products at all the aw values, thus being more desirable for use in the formulation of intermediate moisture foods.
Phase-sensitive probes of nuclear polarization in spin-blockaded transport

Spin-blockaded quantum dots provide a unique setting for studying nuclear-spin dynamics in a nanoscale system. Despite recent experimental progress, observing phase-sensitive phenomena in nuclear spin dynamics remains challenging. Here we point out that such a possibility opens up in the regime where hyperfine exchange directly competes with a purely electronic spin-flip mechanism such as the spin-orbital interaction. Interference between the two spin-flip processes, resulting from long-lived coherence of the nuclear-spin bath, modulates the electron-spin-flip rate, making it sensitive to the transverse component of nuclear polarization. In a system repeatedly swept through a singlet-triplet avoided crossing, nuclear precession is manifested in oscillations and sign reversal of the nuclear-spin pumping rate as a function of the waiting time between sweeps. This constitutes a purely electrical method for the detection of coherent nuclear-spin dynamics.
Nanocrystalline Ceramics for Structural Applications: Processing and Properties

Several techniques for the consolidation and sintering of nanocrystalline ceramics are reviewed. For pressureless sintering, the presence of large, interagglomerate pores in the nanoceramic powder compact is shown to be the root cause of high sintering temperatures and slow densification rates. The strong dependence of densification rate on pore size is demonstrated, with smaller pores yielding faster densification rates and higher densifies at a given grain size. In contrast, variations of the ceramic’s sintering schedule are generally unproductive or counterproductive with respect to altering the density-grain size trajectory. Two consolidation methods which successfully produce fully dense, nanocrystalline ceramics include dry pressing at high (1 GPa) pressures prior to pressureless sintering, or sinterforging. Both approaches greatly reduce or eliminate the large (interagglomerate) pores present in the starting compact. Wet processing techniques, though not yet widely used for nanoparticles, also show promise in this regard, due to the minimal force required to obtain efficient particle packing. Some properties and applications of nanocrystalline ceramics are also discussed; these include sintering temperature (in the absence of agglomeration), hardness, fracture toughness, superplasticity, thermal conductivity, and diffusion bonding ability.
D.C.'s Handgun Ban and the Constitutional Right to Arms: One Hard Question?

The District of Columbia forbids almost all civilians to possess handguns in their own homes. Rifles and shotguns are permitted, but they must be kept unloaded and either disassembled or secured with a trigger lock, making them useless for self defense. The D.C. Circuit recently held that this statute violates the Second Amendment.One way to attack the D.C. Circuit decision is to argue that the Second Amendment protects the private possession of weapons only to the extent necessary to preserve in civilian hands a stock of weapons suitable for use while serving in the militia. Rifles and shotguns would be the most obviously useful weapons for militiamen to bring with them from home, and the D.C. statute permits civilians to possess rifles and shotguns, along with the ammunition these weapons require. Why does this not satisfy the Second Amendment?This superficially plausible defense of the District's statute was not adequately refuted in Judge Silberman's opinion for the D.C. Circuit. This article demonstrates, largely but not exclusively on the basis of a careful linguistic analysis of the Second Amendment, that such a defense of the District's statute is untenable.
Genotype‐environment associations support a mosaic hybrid zone between two tidal marsh birds

Local environmental features can shape hybrid zone dynamics when hybrids are bounded by ecotones or when patchily distributed habitat types lead to a corresponding mosaic of genotypes. We investigated the role of marsh-level characteristics in shaping a hybrid zone between two recently diverged avian taxa - Saltmarsh (Ammodramus caudacutus) and Nelson's (A. nelsoni) sparrows. These species occupy different niches where allopatric, with caudacutus restricted to coastal marshes and nelsoni found in a broader array of wetland and grassland habitats and co-occur in tidal marshes in sympatry. We determined the influence of habitat types on the distribution of pure and hybrid sparrows and assessed the degree of overlap in the ecological niche of each taxon. To do this, we sampled and genotyped 305 sparrows from 34 marshes across the hybrid zone and from adjacent regions. We used linear regression to test for associations between marsh characteristics and the distribution of pure and admixed sparrows. We found a positive correlation between genotype and environmental variables with a patchy distribution of genotypes and habitats across the hybrid zone. Ecological niche models suggest that the hybrid niche was more similar to that of A. nelsoni and habitat suitability was influenced strongly by distance from coastline. Our results support a mosaic model of hybrid zone maintenance, suggesting a role for local environmental features in shaping the distribution and frequency of pure species and hybrids across space.
Worldwide Tax Reform: Reversing the Race to the Bottom

The OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting Project is now under way, its mission being to suggest ways that countries can work together and amend their domestic laws to combat the corporate profit shifting that has so affected the tax bases of many countries. The only way to truly eliminate corporate profit shifting is to eliminate the strong motivation multinational enterprises have to achieve "double nontaxation" by engaging in profit shifting. By being subject to current home-country taxation on its worldwide earnings, a multinational cannot achieve double nontaxation. That will eliminate or significantly reduce its motivation to engage in complicated structures that shift profits into tax havens from countries where operations, sales, and services take place. This article describes a worldwide full-inclusion approach that can eliminate the current strong motivation to shift profits. Any suggestions that the BEPS Project makes that are less than this will likely leave a strong motivation for profit shifting so that such suggested actions will only have the effect of a band-aid. The only way to really solve the problem is to eliminate the motivation.
Localized Motivations for Antisemitism within the Ummah

Antisemitism marked with an irrational prejudice against Jews and Israel is on the rise over the past decade after declining for much of the post WW-II era. This trend is particularly acute in Muslim-majority countries where surveys show the percentage of population with positive views of Jews languishing in the single digits. Deconstructing the provenance of this neo-antisemitism is essential if we are to effectively combat it. While scholars have extensively analyzed antisemitism over the ages across myriad dimensions, we point out that non-theological and localized motivations explain much of the renewed expression of antisemitism across the Muslim ummah. By 'localized', we denote motivations that are isolated both along the space (viz. specific to group or country) and time (viz. specific to the past few decades) dimensions.Since the pre-Christian era, antisemitism has been a scourge on human civilization. Its continuation into the modern era in-spite of the monstrosities inflicted on Jews during WWII represents a collective failure on our part to eradicate irrational hatred from society's midst. In the post-war era, we mercifully do not see any large-scale self-identification with the "antisemite" tag. Antisemitism, though, continues to survive and has indeed adapted itself to the changing political discourse of the times. The most prominent example of such adaptation is the couching of Jew-hatred under the anti-Israeli and anti-Zionist categories since the 1967 Yom Kippur war. Our principal concern in this paper is with the surge of antisemitic incidents across the Islamic world in the past decade. A tragic example was proffered a few weeks back when MEMRI TV released footage showing Yemeni Zaidi worshippers repeatedly chanting "Death to Israel" just moments before they are blown to smithereens by their sectarian rivals from the Salafi-inspired Islamic State. Monumental literature already exists analyzing the provenance and persistence such irrational Jew-hatred across social, religious, economic, racial and political dimensions. In this paper, we do not deny or contradict any of these theoretical frameworks. Instead, we provide a complementary argument that the recent rise in antisemitism is well-explained by political, non-theological reasons that are specific to the local elite across different countries, who in turn are motivated by peculiar circumstances of the times they find themselves in. And, it is by a clear elucidation of these temporal reasons that we hope to address the issue of antisemitism effectively.
A Simple Method for Estimating Oxygen Consumption of Small Animals

Abstract IN MANY types of experiments it is desirable to measure oxygen consumption of intact experimental animals. Often it is sufficient to observe relative rates of oxygen uptake, without elaborate precautions for the sake of correct absolute values. It is the purpose of the present report to describe a simple apparatus and procedure which combine advantages of certain earlier methods. The apparatus, shown in Figure 1, consists essentially of a large desiccator (10 inches inside diameter) as the animal chamber, gas buret with attached levelling bulb for maintaining atmospheric pressure, and means for providing water-saturated oxygen to the system. The desiccator is painted black for use with non-nocturnal animals, to aid in keeping them in a quiescent state. The procedure, with precautionary comments, is as follows: (a) A 6 inch petri dish containing 40 ml. of 20 percent potassium hydroxide solution is placed in the bottom of the open desiccator. (b) …
Using Student-Tutors in Precalculus Instruction

(1973). Using Student-Tutors in Precalculus Instruction. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 80, No. 6, pp. 685-688.
Unique outcomes in the narratives of young adults who experienced dating violence as adolescents

BACKGROUND: Narrative therapy, an approach based on the reauthoring of life narratives, may be a useful psychotherapeutic strategy for youth who have experienced dating violence. OBJECTIVE: A cornerstone of narrative therapy is the concept of unique outcomes, which are moments that stand in contrast to a client's otherwise problem-saturated narratives. The purpose of this study was to identify and categorize unique outcomes embedded in narratives about adolescent dating violence. DESIGN: Text units representing unique outcomes were extracted from transcripts of interviews with 88 young adults who had experienced dating violence and were categorized using standard content analytic techniques. RESULTS: Six categories of unique outcome stories were identified: facing-facts stories, standing-up-for-myself stories, cutting-it-off stories, cutting-'em-loose stories, getting-back-on-track stories, and changing-it-up stories. CONCLUSION: This typology of unique outcomes can inform clinicians who work with clients who have a history of adolescent dating violence.© The Author(s) 2015. Language: en
Staining glycol methacrylate embedded cartilage with triethyl-carbocyanin DBTC ("ethyl-stains all") with special reference to the interlacunar network.

The dye, triethyl-carbocyanin DBTC, was tested for differential staining of cartilage structures. Femoral head articular cartilage from neonatal rats was processed for histology to demonstrate the interlacunar network. Sections of glycol methacrylate (GMA) embedded cartilage were stained at pH 2.8, 5.4, 6.1 and 8.0 to determine the optimal staining conditions. Only at pH 6.1 were all cartilage structures stained and the best contrast achieved. Streptomyces hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, pepsin, trypsin, and pronase digestions were carried out prior to staining at pH 6.1 to evaluate the selectivity of the stain. Undigested chondrocyte nuclear chromatin stained dark purple; staining intensity was reduced slightly by pepsin or trypsin digestion. Undigested chondrocyte cytoplasm stained light blue but stained purple after hyaluronidase digestion. Undigested extracellular matrix stained light violet; staining was almost entirely eliminated by chondroitinase ABC digestion, was unaffected by hyaluronidase, a...
Tuning the driving force for exciton dissociation in single-walled carbon nanotube heterojunctions

Understanding the kinetics and energetics of interfacial electron transfer in molecular systems is crucial for the development of a broad array of technologies, including photovoltaics, solar fuel systems and energy storage. The Marcus formulation for electron transfer relates the thermodynamic driving force and reorganization energy for charge transfer between a given donor/acceptor pair to the kinetics and yield of electron transfer. Here we investigated the influence of the thermodynamic driving force for photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and fullerene derivatives by employing time-resolved microwave conductivity as a sensitive probe of interfacial exciton dissociation. For the first time, we observed the Marcus inverted region (in which driving force exceeds reorganization energy) and quantified the reorganization energy for PET for a model SWCNT/acceptor system. The small reorganization energies (about 130 meV, most of which probably arises from the fullerene acceptors) are beneficial in minimizing energy loss in photoconversion schemes.
Behavior of Sandwich Panels in a Deployable Structure

AbstractThis paper investigates the load-bearing capability of sandwich panels (composed of fiber-reinforced polymer faces and a foam core) connected by aluminum hinges in an origami-inspired deployable structure intended for temporary sheltering. The structure is studied (1) during deployment (loaded under self-weight only), and (2) as both individual and combined modules subjected to uniform pressures emulating wind loads. The measured results are used to validate finite element models, with comparisons focusing on surface strains and displacements at panel centers (to study global behavior), as well as surface strains near connections (to study local behavior). The validated numerical models are used to perform parametric studies investigating design decisions for (1) deployment, including panel reinforcement, location of lifting equipment, and size of lifting equipment, and (2) combined modules, including restraints and connections between modules, gasketing between panels, and panel reinforcement. Th...
The realpolitik of building codes: overcoming practical limitations to climate resilience

Scientists predict a future with more natural disasters due to climate change. Up-to-date building codes can reduce carbon emissions and make the built environment more resilient. However, the hostile environment for code adoption and lax enforcement in many jurisdictions in the United States impede the full potential of building codes to moderate the impacts of climate change. There are three ‘realpolitik’ reasons that building codes are not as effective as they could be in moderating the impacts of climate change. First, most building code review and approval boards are comprised of construction industry professionals who rarely take climate change into account. Second, the homebuilding industry is waging an effective advocacy campaign against updating building codes in general, particularly objecting to improved energy efficiency through building energy codes. Finally, enforcement of building codes, especially energy codes, is uneven. Overcoming these political and practical challenges requires greater...
Extracerebral complications of head injury.

CNS head injury by itself can lead to high incidences of morbidity and mortality. Often, multisystem trauma can occur with head injury. But, there also exists multisystem organ derangements and failure resulting directly and indirectly from just CNS head injury. The purpose of this article will be to address some of these complications.
Single and Dual Traditional Growing Rods

Traditional growing rods (single or dual) are currently the most common growth-friendly surgical technique used in early-onset scoliosis (EOS). Dual growing rods are the most common followed by VEPTR (vertically expandable prosthetic titanium rib). There are generalized indications and specific surgical techniques. Dual growing rods generally use a tandem connector for distraction. Lengthening is at 6- to 8-month intervals after initial insertion depending on age and growth. Complications, usually infection and implant failure, are moderate and related to the number of operative procedures. Final fusion is determined by age, maturity, and spinal length. Newer techniques, such as magnetically controlled growing rods, are now available. These decrease the number of operative procedures and hopefully the incidence complications. Future research needs to be performed on the natural history and treatment of the various causes of EOS.
Bankruptcy practice in India

Abstract The bankruptcy framework prevailing in India, traces its roots back to colonial rule. That framework has undergone a number of amendments over the past 200 years, creating a plethora of overlapping and sometimes conflicting articles. The latest attempt at reconciliation of these various Acts was made under the Companies Act, 2013. This paper drives through the land mark amendments in the history of India, leading to the current bankruptcy framework. Each Act is discussed based on the requirements, procedures and outcomes post enactment. Also, the major pros and cons of the different Acts are identified, and a critical analysis is presented of the latest Act, Companies Act, 2013. Moreover, the provisions of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 of the U.S Bankruptcy Framework are compared against the provisions of these Acts. The paper then presents a diluted, easy to understand, step by step procedure of the current bankruptcy framework. Followed by a case analysis of a recent prominent Bankruptcy, to elicit the issues in the current framework. In conclusion, a list of recommendations is presented, to improve the Bankruptcy Framework in India.
Global Supply Network Embeddedness and Power: An Analysis of International Joint Venture Formations

Abstract As a subset of the international business literature, cross-border equity based partnerships have drawn significant academic attention. In the context of inter-firm partnerships, the power dynamics between parties and the implications that power has on the relational dynamics between firms is an important consideration. Research that connects power with network theory has recently emerged, suggesting that the network, as a source of power, plays a significant role in inter-firm dynamics. Yet, while there has been a substantial body of work either articulating the antecedents and consequences of power, little research has paid attention to the role that power plays in international JV formations; this presents a significant gap in the international business literature. Consequently, this study investigates the role that global network structure plays in the formation of new equity based international partnerships. Secondly, it contributes to the international JV literature by developing and testing a theoretical framework that examines inter-firm power dynamics as derived from the network position of each firm in the global network. Global network prominence, brokerage and weakness are key factors utilized in the analysis. The hypotheses are tested using a global manufacturing joint venture longitudinal dataset that contains 985,689 observations from 1985 to 2003. The results of the event history analysis indicate that for the manufacturer global network prominence, brokerage and weakness play an important role in new joint venture formations. On the other hand, only global network prominence is a significant factor for the potential partner.
Collective Behaviour: The Brotherhoods

Guilds of artisans, brotherhoods, and confraternities flowered in western Europe during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. To be sure, a corporate spirit was part of the European ethos itself, as had been shown by the presence of burial societies of early Christians in Rome. Their importance greatly increased in the late Middle Ages, products of an age responding to the stoic doctrines of St Francis and St Dominic, coupled with an entirely secular phenomenon — the emergence of the city. Victims of famine and plague deserted the countryside for the cities, only to fall prey to unemployment, poverty, and enforced vagrancy. The establishment of confraternities of lay men and women had the dual objective of protecting members against such misfortunes and practising works of charity. Such brotherhoods had represented the birth of a social conscience in Europe.
What Is New in Nuclear Medicine Imaging

Modern nuclear medicine tests can be of great help to today's surgical oncologists. The new techniques of positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and the availability of new radiopharmaceuticals for localization of tumors and assessment of organ function provide information vital to the management of oncology patients.