cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Food aid, domestic policy and food security: Contrasting experiences from South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract Food aid, both for short-term emergency relief and as program food aid that helps address medium-term food “deficits”, is often a major component of food security strategies in developing countries. This study reviews the experience with food aid of four major recipients of food aid (India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Zambia) regarding food production, trade, markets, consumption and safety nets, as well as the policy responses to food emergencies. The widely varying experiences of the study countries suggest that food aid that supports building of production and market enhancing infrastructure, is timed to avoid adverse price effects on producers, and is targeted to food insecure households can play a positive role in enhancing food security. However, food aid is not the only, or in many cases, the most efficient means of addressing food insecurity. In many cases private markets can more effectively address shortfalls in food availability and cash transfers may be a viable alternative to food transfers in-kind.
Availability-differentiated service provisioning in free-space optical access networks

Feature Issue on Optical Wireless Communications (OWC)Weather conditions have a significant impact on availability of free-space optical (FSO) access networks. Under fair weather conditions, such networks can use long-range FSO links that span over 1 km. Under severe weather conditions, e.g., dense fog, only the short-range FSO links in the range of 200–400m remain operational. We propose an availability-differentiated networking scheme that supports two classes of service availability in an FSO network consisting of both long-range and short-range FSO links. Under severe weather conditions, the network topology is reconfigured to use only the short-range FSO links. Owing to the reduced network capacity in the reconfigured network, lower-availability services (LAS) will be preempted by higher-availability services (HAS). LAS and HAS have different revenue values. Given a set of hybrid LAS and HAS requests, we maximize the total revenue of LAS + HAS by selectively provisioning a portion of the service requests in the FSO access network. We formulate the problem into a common terminal multicommodity problem and develop an optimal algorithm to solve this problem in polynomial time.
Comparing Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Symptomatic Patients Undergoing Laparoscopic or Open Ventral Hernia Repair

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to compare quality-of-life outcomes in patients with symptomatic hernias who were undergoing laparoscopic and open repairs. Materials and Methods: Clinical data for patients undergoing ventral hernia repair were reviewed with quality-of-life surveys administered before and at least 6 months following surgery. Results: The study included 56 symptomatic patients. Forty-one patients (73%) underwent laparoscopic repair, and 15 patients (27%) underwent open repair. There was no difference in preoperative quality-of-life scores on the SF-36 Health Survey between patients having laparoscopic or open repairs. Postoperative quality-of-life scores on the SF-36 survey were significantly improved in the laparoscopic group, compared with the open group, in general health (46% vs. 37%; P = 0.0217), vitality (53% vs. 45%; P = 0.0491), role-emotional (45% vs. 35%; P = 0.0480), and mental health (49% vs. 39%; P = 0.0381). Postoperative quality-of-life scores on the Carolinas ...
The Impact of Obesity on Outcomes Following Pancreatectomy for Malignancy

Obesity has previously been shown to correlate with higher stage and decreased survival in pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of obesity on operative outcomes, recurrence, and overall survival. A review of our 1345 patient prospective hepatopancreaticobiliary database was performed to identify patients undergoing pancreatic resection from January 1991 to August 2008 for adenocarcinoma. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon, t test, and chi-square methods. Survival was analyzed using log-rank analysis. Postoperative complications were assessed using a 5-point scale. P < .05 was considered significant. Of 306 patients undergoing pancreatic resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma examined, 68 were defined as obese. There was no significant difference seen in length of stay, operative time, tumor size, or node status. Obese patients had a higher operative blood loss (median 650 vs. 400 mL, P = .0008). Obese patients were more likely to suffer postoperative complications (67.6% vs. 50.4%, P = .01). There was no significant difference seen in disease-free survival or overall survival (22.1 months for obese vs. 25.6 months for nonobese, P = .5; 19.8 months for obese vs. 23.5 months for nonobese, P = .46). Obese patients had a higher rate and greater severity of postoperative complications, with increased operative blood loss. However, obese patients did not demonstrate any significant difference in specific oncologic factors or survival. These data suggest an equivalent biologic effect of obesity on pancreatic cancer survival.
Interleukin-6 and risk of coronary artery disease and graft failure in heart transplant recipients

The difference in the COP and EP between the borderline donor subgroup and all others was not statistically significant. Post-transplant survival was not significantly different from recipients of normal cardiac allograft (p 0.43). Likewise for the high-risk recipient group, the COP and EP were at 72 and 203 days respectively. Although post-op survival was shorter than the normal risk group, both groups achieve a survival benefit. Conclusion: Heart transplantation has survival benefit in both these risk groups of recipients and donors in our population reflecting our rigorous donor and recipient selection and management.
Automated enhancement of controlled vocabularies: upgrading legacy metadata in CONTENTdm

To ensure robust, reliable, retrievable and sharable metadata, the University of Houston (UH) Libraries initiated a Metadata Upgrade Project in 2013 to systematically audit and refine the quality of the metadata in the University of Houston Digital Library (UHDL). Still in progress, the Metadata Upgrade Project has already produced significant discoverability improvements in the UHDL's legacy metadata and laid the foundation for future metadata production according to recognized standards. The final phase of the project includes aligning controlled vocabulary terms with appropriate authorities and adding and revising descriptive content in the UHDL. This is a time intensive process that requires careful evaluation and entry of name and subject authority terms. To improve efficiency and accuracy during the data entry process, the metadata librarian at the UH Libraries developed name and subject authority applications that automatically transform legacy controlled vocabulary terms into authorized forms. This project report provides an overview of the UH Libraries Metadata Upgrade Project, a discussion of how the UHDL's upgraded metadata improves discoverability of our collections, and an in-depth look at the custom tools that automate the authority alignment process in the CONTENTdm Project Client.
The Influence of Gravity and Air-Hunger on Hatchability

Abstract Sanctuary, (1925), Hutt (1929), Smith (1930), Hale (1930), and Byerly (1930), have reported and discussed data on malposition in the chick embryo, but no experimental work on the cause of malposition has come to the author’s attention. The present paper is presented as a contribution to the solution of the causes of malposition and to our knowledge of its importance as a factor in hatchability. During the earlier portion of the incubation period the embryo floats freely on the upper surface of the yolk. As incubation proceeds, the embryo turns to a new position relative to the overlying shell whenever the egg is turned. If the egg stands on end, this statement must be somewhat qualified because the ehalazae prevent the embryo from reaching the middle of the upper yolksurface. Since the position of the embryo in the egg is at first determined by gravity, it is reasonable to suppose . . .
A two-phase procedure for duplicating bottleneck machines in a linear layout, cellular manufacturing system

Abstract We discuss a two-phase procedure for duplicating bottleneck machines in a cellular manufacturing system. Given a preliminary solution by a clustering technique, the first phase solves a cellular layout problem in which it assigns machine-cells to locations to minimize the total inter-cell material handling costs that result from the bottleneck parts. The purpose of this phase is to find an optimal linear layout of cells. The second phase finds the bottleneck machines that need to be duplicated to minimize the costs. A binary (integer) linear programming model is developed in this phase to minimize the total duplication costs and material handling costs (if not duplicated). Finally, a decision is made as to whether a solution with bottleneck machines, or duplication of bottleneck machines to avoid the bottleneck problem is to be accepted. An example is demonstrated to show how such a bottleneck problem in cellular manufacturing is solved.
Multiple Horizontal Gene Transfers of Ammonium Transporters/Ammonia Permeases from Prokaryotes to Eukaryotes: Toward a New Functional and Evolutionary Classification

The proteins of the ammonium transporter/methylammonium permease/Rhesus factor family (AMT/MEP/Rh family) are responsible for the movement of ammonia or ammonium ions across the cell membrane. Although it has been established that the Rh proteins are distantly related to the other members of the family, the evolutionary history of the AMT/MEP/Rh family remains unclear. Here, we use phylogenetic analysis to infer the evolutionary history of this family of proteins across 191 genomes representing all main lineages of life and to provide a new classification of the proteins in this family. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that what has heretofore been conceived of as a protein family with two clades (AMT/MEP and Rh) is instead a protein family with three clades (AMT, MEP, and Rh). We show that the AMT/MEP/Rh family illustrates two contrasting modes of gene transmission: The AMT family as defined here exhibits vertical gene transfer (i.e., standard parent-to-offspring inheritance), whereas the MEP family as defined here is characterized by several ancient independent horizontal gene transfers (HGTs). These ancient HGT events include a gene replacement during the early evolution of the fungi, which could be a defining trait for the kingdom Fungi, a gene gain from hyperthermophilic chemoautolithotrophic prokaryotes during the early evolution of land plants (Embryophyta), and an independent gain of this same gene in the filamentous ascomycetes (Pezizomycotina) that was subsequently lost in most lineages but retained in even distantly related lichenized fungi. This recircumscription of the ammonium transporters/ammonia permeases family into MEP and AMT families informs the debate on the mechanism of transport in these proteins and on the nature of the transported molecule because published crystal structures of proteins from the MEP and Rh clades may not be representative of the AMT clade. The clades as depicted in this phylogenetic study appear to correspond to functionally different groups, with AMTs and ammonia permeases forming two distinct and possibly monophyletic groups.
Chemical structure and immunological specificity of the streptococcal group e cell wall polysaccharide antigen.

The group O streptococcal group antigen was shown to be a polysaccharide located in the cell wall of the organism. The antigen could be extracted by one of several methods: (i) 0.5 n NaOH at 37 C, (ii) phenol-water (50:50) at 68 C, (iii) 0.2 n HCl at 100 C, or (iv) 10% trichloroacetic acid at 4 C. The last method yielded more polysaccharide with less protein contamination. The polysaccharide was purified on diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex A-25 and Sephadex G-200. It was composed of two-thirds glucosamine and galactosamine, and the remainder glucose plus galactose. Rhamnose, glycerol, ribitol, and muramic acid were absent. Total phosphorus and amino acids were each less than 0.1%. N-Acetyl-beta-d-glucosamine exerted a strong inhibition of the precipitin reaction and is considered the immunodominant sugar. Glucosamine and glucose possessed a partial inhibitory activity. Galactose and galactosamine were essentially negative. No evidence of cross-reactivity was found between the O polysaccharide and group A and L polysaccharides, and group A and Staphylococcus aureus teichoic acids, which posesss N-acetylglucosamine specificity. The release of limited quantities of N-acetyl-glucosamine from its terminal location by enzyme, and glucose by acid hydrolysis, indicates a limited number of side chains in the O antigen. The glucosamine is in acid-stable linkage in the polysaccharide. Glucose was not released by beta-glucosidase and probably does not occupy a terminal position. The O antigen is the only known streptococcal polysaccharide antigen which does not contain rhamnose. The effect of these factors on the immunological specificity is discussed. O serum, after adsorption with the purified polysaccharide, was used to demonstrate the presence of protein antigens in acid extracts of cells from each of the nine strains examined. These antigens may represent type antigens. Two of these strains, originally described as group O, did not contain the O polysaccharide.
Some Examples of Random Process Environmental Data Analysis

Data of process type are now routinely collected and analyzed in the environmental sciences. This is a consequence, in part, of today' s general availabilty of sophisticated computing, storage, display and analysis equipment. At the same time stochastic models have been developed that take detailed note of the special characteristics of such data and hence allow more appropriate and efficient analyses to be carried through. The problems can be difficult, but often an aproach is suggested by basic scientific background and the parameters have physical interpretations. Recognizing a process type is an important step along the way to its analysis. The goal of this work is to bring out some basic ideas by presenting a number of elementary examples of random process data analysis.
Cell type-specific characterization of nuclear DNA contents within complex tissues and organs

Eukaryotic organisms are defined by the presence of a nucleus, which encloses the chromosomal DNA, and is characterized by its DNA content (C-value). Complex eukaryotic organisms contain organs and tissues that comprise interspersions of different cell types, within which polysomaty, endoreduplication, and cell cycle arrest is frequently observed. Little is known about the distribution of C-values across different cell types within these organs and tissues. We have developed, and describe here, a method to precisely define the C-value status within any specific cell type within complex organs and tissues of plants. We illustrate the application of this method to Arabidopsis thaliana, specifically focusing on the different cell types found within the root. The method accurately and conveniently charts C-value within specific cell types, and provides novel insight into developmental processes. The method is, in principle, applicable to any transformable organism, including mammals, within which cell type specificity of regulation of endoreduplication, of polysomaty, and of cell cycle arrest is suspected.
Accommodations in the Assessment of English Language Learners

This chapter describes accommodations used in the assessment of English language learner (ELL) students nationally in the USA and presents a summary of studies on different aspects of accommodations for these students. The chapter elaborates on special characteristics of accommodations and how they can properly be used. Many accommodations that are currently being used for ELL students may not be supported by research evidence and may not be useful in making assessments accessible to ELL students. These issues regarding accommodations for ELL students are discussed and recommendations for the proper use of accommodations are provided. Keywords: Assessment evaluation; Assessment methods; Second language acquisition
Number and Quality of Roles: A Longitudinal Personality View:

We used longitudinal personality data to test whether number and quality of roles were associated with health and self-enhancement in 100 privileged midlife women. Number of roles (from the set of partner, parent, and worker) was not related to autonomy, individuality, and complexity, as had been hypothesized, but to respect for norms, being well-organized and considering oneself like other people. Though women with one role were lower in well-being than women with more than one, hierarchical multiple regression showed no advantage to number of roles after psychological health at age 21 was taken into account. However, quality of role, as assessed by marital satisfaction and status level in work, was associated with contentment and effective functioning, respectively, even after antecedent psychological functioning was taken into account. Particular roles were associated with particular advantages. The enhancement model of the accumulation of roles is compared with Erikson's theory of the development of p...
Overexpression of a Novel Class of Gibberellin 2-Oxidases Decreases Gibberellin Levels and Creates Dwarf Plants

Degradation of active C19-gibberellins (GAs) by dioxygenases through 2β-hydroxylation yields inactive GA products. We identified two genes in Arabidopsis (AtGA2ox7 and AtGA2ox8), using an activation-tagging mutant screen, that encode 2β-hydroxylases. GA levels in both activation-tagged lines were reduced significantly, and the lines displayed dwarf phenotypes typical of mutants with a GA deficiency. Increased expression of either AtGA2ox7 or AtGA2ox8 also caused a dwarf phenotype in tobacco, indicating that the substrates for these enzymes are conserved. AtGA2ox7 and AtGA2ox8 are more similar to each other than to other proteins encoded in the Arabidopsis genome, indicating that they may constitute a separate class of GA-modifying enzymes. Indeed, enzymatic assays demonstrated that AtGA2ox7 and AtGA2ox8 both perform the same GA modification: 2β-hydroxylation of C20-GAs but not of C19-GAs. Lines containing increased expression of AtGA2ox8 exhibited a GA dose–response curve for stem elongation similar to that of the biosynthetic mutant ga1-11. Double loss-of-function Atga2ox7 Atga2ox8 mutants had twofold to fourfold higher levels of active GAs and displayed phenotypes associated with excess GAs, such as early bolting in short days, resistance to the GA biosynthesis inhibitor ancymidol, and decreased mRNA levels of AtGA20ox1, a gene in the GA biosynthetic pathway.
GLOBAL IDENTIFICATION IN NONLINEAR MODELS WITH MOMENT RESTRICTIONS

This paper derives sufficient conditions for global identification in nonlinear models characterized by a finite number of unconditional moment restrictions. The main contribution of this paper is to provide a set of assumptions that are alternative to those of Gale-Nikaido-Fisher-Rothenberg, and which when satisfied guarantee that the moment conditions globally identify the parameters of interest.
Constraint-directed negotiation of resource reallocations

The resource reallocation problem requires multiagent choices under multiple-criteria, most of which are based on qualitative attributes. The conditional specification of a reallocation request (e.g., requiring a swap for one workstation with another) results in chains of reallocation transactions, which increase in complexity with the number of resources and agents. Also, the initial intentions for transactions may differ from the final transaction due to give-or-take on resource components. This work is motivated by human negotiation procedures, such as logrolling, bridging, and unlinking. We view the process of reallocation negotiations as being constraint based. Constraints can be used both for evaluation of existing alternatives as well as for creating new ones. We define a set of qualitative evaluation and relaxation (alternative generation) techniques based on human negotiation problem solving. The search uses several aspects of constraints, such as constraint importance, looseness, utility, and threshold levels. We evolve a mixed problem solving approach in which agents search individually in earlier stages and as a group in later stages. The constraint-directed negotiation approach is validated for the quality of solution in comparison to expert human negotiators on a variety of negotiation problems using a partial factorial design. The final version of the problem solver performs marginally better than the expert on experimental problems.
MIMO Authentication via Deliberate Fingerprinting at the Physical Layer

We consider authentication of a wireless multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system by deliberately introducing a stealthy fingerprint at the physical layer. The fingerprint is superimposed onto the data and uniquely conveys an authentication message as a function of the transmitted data and a shared secret key. A symbol synchronous approach to fingerprint embedding provides low complexity operation. In comparison with a conventional tag-based authentication approach, fingerprinting conveys much less information on the secret key to an eavesdropper. We study the trade-offs between stealth, security, and robustness, and show that very good operating points exist. We consider the cases when deterministic or statistical channel state information is available to the transmitter, and show how precoding and channel mode power allocation can be applied to both the data and the fingerprint in combination to enhance the authentication process.
Individual differences and the trait of aggression

Aggression, as a variable of psychological study, has the hallmarks of a deeply ingrained personality trait. It is related to genetic and physiological factors; it emerges early in life but is influenced and shaped by a chilďs life experiences; it is consistently associated with gender and is stable or predictable over time and across situations. However, it does not follow that aggression must be viewed as a drive. On the contrary, in this article we argue that aggression is best represented internally as a collection of specific 'scripts' for social behaviour, emphasizing aggressive responding, and the associative structure relating these scripts to each other, to external cues, and to outcome expectancies. The construction and maintenance of these scripts obey well-understood principles of human information processing. Once established, these networks of scripts may be extremely resistant to change. The result is a set of cognitive structures that promote consistent forms of instrumental and hostile aggression over time and across situations.
Panoramic views for virtual endoscopy

This paper describes a panoramic projection designed to increase the surface visibility during virtual endoscopies. The proposed projection renders five faces of a cubic viewing space into the plane in a continuous fashion. Using this real-time and interactive visualization technique as a screening method for colon cancer could lead to significantly shorter evaluation time. It avoids having to fly through the colon in both directions and prevents the occlusion of potential polyps behind haustral folds.
Comparison of inviscid flow computations with flight data for the Shuttle orbiter

A three-dimensional inviscid flowfield code (HALIS) has been run for a nearly complete Shuttle vehicle for 6.0 < MOO < 21.6 and 26.6 deg < a < 40 deg. Both perfect gas and effective gamma HALIS solutions have been compared with four points along the STS-3 reentry trajectory and two points on the STS-5 reentry trajectory. In general, the HALIS results have agreed very well with the flight data. At high Mach numbers, the excellent agreement of flight data and effective gamma flowfield solutions shows that gamma has a significant effect on the Shuttle's wing windward surface pressure distributions. HALIS solutions also indicate that centerline pressure distributions at the aft end of the Shuttle vehicle are altered by gamma effects. A comparison of flight data and computed solutions in this region was inconclusive due to a lack of flight data density and flight-to-flight data scatter. In addition, HALIS results have been used to illustrate the effects of Mach number and angle of attack on the large-scale shock structure about the Shuttle vehicle as well as a detailed view of the bow shock/wing shock interaction region.
Vaccine therapy for small cell lung cancer

One novel approach to the treatment of lethal residual disease in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) relies on the induction of a host-immune response to attack chemoresistant tumor cells. Because of its neuroectodermal origin, SCLC has a number of specific antigens that could be capitalized on as immune targets. This article reviews two vaccine strategies currently in clinical study. The anti-idiotype vaccine to the GD3 ganglioside, BEC-2, has recently been tested in a phase III trial. In this trial, patients with SCLC who had completed initial chemotherapy were randomized to observation or vaccination with BEC-2 plus bacillus Calmette-Guerin adjuvant. A series of other trials have established the immunogenicity of several keyhole limpet hemocyanin conjugate vaccines relevant to SCLC, including GM2, Globo H, fucosyl GM1, and polysialic acid. To optimize an immune response against a broad range of tumor phenotypes, these components will be combined into a polyvalent vaccine. A randomized phase II trial of this polyvalent vaccine is planned to start in 2004.
Specializations of Nonneuronal Cell Membranes in the Vertebrate Nervous System

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the specializations of nonneuronal cell membranes in the vertebrate nervous system. The plasma membranes of nonneuronal cells within the central nervous system (CNS), being derived from ectoderm, have a number of morphological properties in common with the epithelia of other organs. These properties include the sharing of membrane material among contiguous cells to form intercellular junctions and an intrinsic membrane specialization—orthogonal arrays of particles within the cell membranes of astrocytes and ependymal cells. The intercellular junctions that tether nonneuronal cells of the brain and spinal cord are of four main types: (1) gap junctions, (2) tight junctions, (3) hemidesmosomes, and (4) adhering junctions. The functions of gap junctions and tight junctions in neural tissue are partly inferred from their roles in other organs. Although these junctions are involved in fastening cells to each other, the extent of adhesion at tight junctions and the cell-to-cell communications at gap junctions set them apart from purely adhesive contacts. The gap junction is the route by which conjoined cells can act as a metabolic syncytium.
After the Doors Opened: Asking "Why" at a New Community College.

This chapter describes some of the major principles, practices, and processes involved in designing and founding a new community college dedicated to improving student outcomes by doing things differently.
Crossing over in males of higher diptera (Brachycera)

Achiasmatic meiosis, or meiosis without crossing over, is characteristic of all higher Diptera males (suborder Brachycera). However, several cases of spontaneous crossing over in males have been reported in several different species. An examination of the published data suggests that recombinant chromosomes recovered from heterozygous males are usually the result of spontaneous crossing over in premeiotic cells. Mitotic, or somatic, crossing over probably occurs at a low frequency in all Diptera. When the crossover occurs in a gonial cell line, the recombinant chromosomes can be recovered in the gametes as presumptive meiotic crossovers. In cases where there is a translocation between the Y chromosome and an autosome, the segregation of the chromosomes from the translocation complex can produce aneuploids that phenotypically appear to be crossovers. Chromosome rearrangements and insertion elements, including the male sex-determining factor in Musca domestica and Megaselia scalaris, increase the frequency of exchange. Drosophlia ananassae appears to be an exception to the above. Genetic evidence in D. ananassae suggests that crossing over is a meiotic event and is controlled by a series of suppressors and enhancers.
Compressive creep of Si3N4/MgO alloys

Highly localized strain fields are observed at grain boundaries in crept specimens of Si3N4/MgO alloys which were frozen under stress. These fields disappear upon annealing. Unresolved asperities between the grain pairs appear to give rise to the strain field during deformation. Viscoelastic effects responsible for primary creep and strain recovery are explained in terms of grain-boundary sliding on the glassy interphase which is accommodated by the elastic strain arising at the asperities. Each boundary containing an asperity can be modelled as a simple Kelvin element. The spectrum of these boundaries within the bulk gives rise to a spectrum of relaxation times that is observed for the strain recovery effect. The highly stressed region at the asperity also gives rise to the higher chemical potential required to drive diffusional creep. Although the source of the asperities was not observed, the possibility of opposing ledges of either single or multiple interplanar height is discussed.
Market Segmentation — A Response to Retail Innovation:

Innovative institutions generally disrupt existing patterns of market segmentation. However, little is known about the market segments responsive to and responsible for the success of innovative in...
Computational Analysis of the Blade Number Effect on the Performance of a Ducted Propeller

Ducted propellers were found to provide higher propulsive efficiency and operational safety than unducted propellers. The goal of our study is to optimize a ducted propeller design for propulsion of small rotorcrafts. In the paper, the effect of a number of blades on the flow structure around a ducted propeller and in its wake is analyzed by conducting flow simulations. Results are reported for propellers containing from two to five blades. Propeller designs with and without duct are compared. Simulations were conducted using Menter’s Shear Stress Transport version of the k-ω turbulence model implemented in the commercial CFD software Star-CCM+. The sensitivity analysis of simulation results to the grid resolution and the time step of simulations is presented.
Relationships between Pet Ownership and Self-Esteem, Social Sensitivity, and Interpersonal Trust:

Several theorists ( 5 ) have speculated that owning peu can decrease depression. loneliness, and alienation as well as increase self-esteem, empathy, and unselfishness' because pets provide both unconditional affection and a sense of responsibility. While some studies ( 4 ) support this view, others (1) indicate that pet owners show greater liking for pets than for other people. Because much of the work in this area has involved elderly persons, this study explored differences between college-age pet owners and current non-per owners on self-esteem, social sensitivity, and interpersonal trust. It was hypothesized that pet owners would score higher than non-pet owners on self-esteem and social sensitivity. Differences regarding interpersonal trust were explored. Subjects were 30 male and 30 female pet owners (mean age = 21.1 yr.) and 30 male and 30 female non-pet owners (mean age = 20.0 yr.) who were students in an introductory psychology course. Subjects, in groups of 3 to 13, were administered the following measures in the order indicated: pet owning status (whether or not a pet was currently owned), the Tennessee Self-concept Scale ( Z ) , Hogan's ( 3 ) Empathy Scale, and Rotter's ( 6 ) Interpersonal Trust Scale. A one-way multivariate analysis of variance yielded a marginally significant effect for pet ownership (F3.m = 2.29, P = .08). Univariate analyses of variance indicated char the multivariate effect was due to differences between the two per ownership groups on empathy (K,m = 3.56, p = .06) and interpersonal trust (F1.111 = 3.68, p = .05). On both variables, pet owners tended to have higher scores. Differences on self-esteem were nonsignificant. The finding that college-age pet ownen tended to have higher empathy and inter4 personal trust scores than non-pet owners supports research which indicates that pet ownership is beneficial. Given the design of this study, no statements can be made abour the causal relation between per ownership and empathy and interpersonal trust. Perhaps these variables are reciprocally related. Finally, stronger effects for pet ownership might be obtained if non-pet owners were further classified. Questions from the current sample of non-pet owners indicate that it might be useful to divide non-pet owners into those who have never owned a pet and probably never will and those who have previously owned a pet but currently do not.
Considering the Common Good — The View from Seven Miles Up

One patient on the flight from LA to France could benefit from picking up more oxygen in Chicago; the other might well be harmed by an additional landing and takeoff. This unusual situation crystallized a common dilemma in medicine. Whose needs should take precedence?
Large-Volume Gravid Traps Enhance Collection of Culex Vectors

Gravid mosquito collections were compared among several large-volume (infusion volume ≥35 liters) gravid trap designs and the small-volume (infusion volume = 6 liters) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) gravid trap used routinely by vector control districts for vector and pathogen surveillance. The numbers of gravid Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. tarsalis, and Cx. stigmatosoma collected by large gravid traps were greater than by the CDC gravid trap during nearly all overnight trials. Large-volume gravid traps collected on average 6.6-fold more adult female Culex mosquitoes compared to small-volume CDC gravid traps across 3 seasons during the 3 years of the studies. The differences in gravid mosquito collections between large-versus small-volume gravid traps were greatest during spring, when 8- to 56-fold more Culex individuals were collected using large-volume gravid traps. The proportion of gravid females in collections did not differ appreciably among the more effective trap designs tested. Important determinants of gravid trap performance were infusion container size and type as well as infusion volume, which determined the distance between the suction trap and the infusion surface. Of lesser importance for gravid trap performance were the number of suction traps, method of suction trap mounting, and infusion concentration. Fermentation of infusions between 1 and 4 wk weakly affected total mosquito collections, with Cx. stigmatosoma collections moderately enhanced by comparatively young and organically enriched infusions. A suction trap mounted above 100 liters of organic infusion housed in a 121-liter black plastic container collected the most gravid mosquitoes over the greatest range of experimental conditions, and a 35-liter infusion with side-mounted suction traps was a promising lesser-volume alternative design.
New Institutional Economics

An economic analysis of real-world situations often warrants an analysis of the governance of institutions (or lack of the same) and their interactions which may lead to ‘rational’ decision-making models and applications of neoclassical economics (NE).
Investigation of existing discomfort glare indices using human subject study data

Abstract As daylighting becomes an increasingly important component of design for energy savings and views to the outside, it is necessary to take into disadvantages that windows pose including the possibility of glare. It is crucial to understand how current metrics of glare perform this task. Validation studies were performed on five glare indices including Daylight Glare Probability (DGP) and Daylight Glare Index (DGI) that have been developed specifically for daylight glare issues. A parallel human subject study has been performed to collect subjective discomfort glare evaluations of daylit conditions. In addition, high dynamic range imaging was used to capture and analyze the glare scenes that were experienced by those human subjects. More than 450 daylight glare scenes and subjective surveys were collected in a closed office setting. The collected data were processed in Evalglare to obtain glare scores, and the results were compared for statistical analysis of subjective evaluations. The results show that DGP functions best at absence of glare and presence of intolerable glare; but in between it provides disappointingly low predictions. DGI underestimates glare while Visual Comfort Probability and CIE Glare Index overestimate it. This evaluation comparison study supports the findings that the five glare indices have significant inconsistency and inaccuracy issues. The glare indices behaved differently based on the perceived glare categories: imperceptible, perceptible, disturbing, and intolerable. The existing glare score ranges are compared to the newly defined glare score ranges for further improvement.
Abstract P51: Trends in Utilization of Invasive Cardiac Procedures in North Carolina

Background: Concerns around utilization of coronary revascularization remain in the US. We aimed to understand the temporal trends and variation in invasive diagnostic cardiac catheterization (Cath), percutaneous intervention (PCI) and coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) in North Carolina from 2003-2009. Methods: All Cath, PCI, and CABG procedures performed in North Carolina from 2003-2009 were identified using hospital-reported data submitted in a License Renewal Application by all catheterization labs for the North Carolina State Medical Facilities Plan. Rates of procedure use, ratios of PCI to Cath, CABG to Cath, and CABG to PCI were compared over time and between hospitals. Hospitals that performed at least 25 Cath, 25 PCI, and 25 CABG were included in the variation analysis. Results: From 2003-2009, there was an observed decline in the annual rate of all procedures, 16% for Cath, 9% for PCI, 27% for CABG. However, the ratio of PCI to diagnostic Cath over the time period increased by 10%, rising to 51% in 2009, while the ratio of CABG to Cath decreased by 10% (see Figure). Of the 119 hospitals in North Carolina, 21 hospitals reported performing more than 25 Cath, 25 PCI and 25 CABG each year from 2003-2009. Hospital level analysis also showed evidence of significant variation in the ratio of both PCI to Cath (10% to 90%, p<0.05) and CABG to Cath (5-35%, p<0.05). Conclusions: Although the use of all cardiac procedures declined, the ratio of PCI to Cath increased over the study period. There was significant variation in the mode of revascularization (CABG and PCI) across hospital systems in North Carolina. Further investigation into revascularization decisions is warranted. Figure.Trends in Volume and Rates of Diagnostic Cath, PCI, and CABG in North Carolina from 2003-2009.
Dispersion Hardening of Copper-Chromium Alloys

The room temperature flow characteristics of a series of Cu-Cr alloys are found to be related to the amount and characteristics of the chromium-rich precipitate. The results are consistent with the theory of Fisher, Hart, and Pry, which considers the trapping to dislocation loops around precipitate particles.
Manifesto for global women's health.

Women's health is more than reproductive health. Why does this phrase still need to be repeated? This commentary highlights the urgent need to encourage more women to lead, research, and educate to move beyond stereotypes and to ensure we push forward in improving the lives of women everywhere.
QUARC: An Optimized DSL Framework using LLVM

We describe aspects of the implementation of QUARC, a framework layered on C++ used for a domain specific language for Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics. It is built on top of Clang/LLVM to leverage long term support and performance portability. QUARC implements a general array extension to C++ with implicit data parallelism. A notable innovation is the method for using templates to capture and encode the high-level abstractions and to communicate these abstractions transparently to LLVM through an unmodified Clang. Another notable feature is a general array transformation mechanism used to improve memory hierarchy performance and maximize opportunities for vectorization. This reshapes and transposes arrays of structures containing nested complex arrays into arrays of structures of arrays. We discuss an example for which QUARC generated code has performance competitive with the very best hand-optimized libraries.
Key Factors and Events in the Innovation Process

(1973). Key Factors and Events in the Innovation Process. Research Management: Vol. 16, No. 4, pp. 8-15.
Simultaneous cutoff-wavelength measurement of multi-core fibers using a near-infrared camera

We demonstrate a measurement method for the cutoff wavelength of multi-core fibers using a near-infrared camera. This method enables the simultaneous measurement of multiple cores and further simplifies the measurement procedure. The experimental results of a dual-core fiber support the validity of this method.
Constrained unscented dynamic programming

Differential Dynamic Programming (DDP) has become a popular approach to performing trajectory optimization for complex, underactuated robots. However, DDP presents two practical challenges. First, the evaluation of dynamics derivatives during optimization creates a computational bottleneck, particularly in implementations that capture second-order dynamic effects. Second, constraints on the states (e.g., boundary conditions, collision constraints, etc.) require additional care since the state trajectory is implicitly defined from the inputs and dynamics. This paper addresses both of these problems by building on recent work on Unscented Dynamic Programming (UDP) — which eliminates dynamics derivative computations in DDP—to support general nonlinear state and input constraints using an augmented Lagrangian. The resulting algorithm has the same computational cost as first-order penalty-based DDP variants, but can achieve constraint satisfaction to high precision without the numerical ill-conditioning associated with penalty methods. We present results demonstrating its favorable performance on several simulated robot systems including a quadrotor and 7-DoF robot arm.
“I Kick It to Both, but not in the Street”: Behaviorally Bisexual Latino Men, Gender, and the Sexual Geography of New York City Metropolitan Area

This article examines how behaviorally bisexual Latino men negotiate, modify, and perform their gender within distinct social spheres. An analysis was made of 148 sexual histories of Latino men aged eighteen to sixty, from a cross-sectional, multiyear study in New York City. A familial sphere of gender norm negotiation was sharply contrasted with conformity to elements of dominant or hegemonic forms of masculinity performed on streets of neighborhoods of residence. Rather than a strict dichotomy, our participants revealed a spectrum of masculine representations that worked to manage the risk of nonheterosexual stigma. Participants adopted variable configurations of masculinity to reconcile the plurality of their sexual practices, distinct social spaces, and socially sanctioned gender norms.
Using lean to improve medication administration safety: in search of the "perfect dose".

Article-at-a-Glance Background At Virginia Mason Medical Center (Seattle), the Collaborative Alliance for Nursing Outcomes (CALNOC) Medication Administration Accuracy Quality Study was used in combination with Lean quality improvement efforts to address medication administration safety. Methods Lean interventions were targeted at improving the medication room layout, applying visual controls, and implementing nursing standard work. The interventions were designed to prevent medication administration errors through improving six safe practices: (1) comparing medication with medication administration record, (2) labeling medication, (3) checking two forms of patient identification, (4) explaining medication to patient, (5) charting medication immediately, and (6) protecting the process from distractions/interruptions. Results Trained nurse auditors observed 9,244 doses for 2,139 patients. Following the intervention, the number of safe-practice violations decreased from 83 violations/100 doses at baseline (January 2010–March 2010) to 42 violations/100 doses at final follow-up (July 2011–September 2011), resulting in an absolute risk reduction of 42 violations/100 doses (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35–48), p Conclusion Lean process improvements coupled with direct observation can contribute to substantial decreases in errors in nursing medication administration.
The size of infinite dimensional representations

An infinite-dimensional representation π of a real reductive Lie group G can often be thought of as a function space on some manifold X. Although X is not uniquely defined by π, there are “geometric invariants” of π, first introduced by Roger Howe in the 1970s, related to the geometry of X. These invariants are easy to define but difficult to compute. I will describe some of the invariants, and recent progress toward computing them.
"Initiate-build-operate-transfer" - a strategy for establishing sustainable telemedicine programs not only in the developing countries

Establishing sustainable telemedicine has become a goal of many developing countries around the world. Yet, despite initiatives from a select few individuals and on occasion from various governments, often these initiatives never mature to become sustainable programs. The introduction of telemedicine and e-learning in the Balkans has been a pivotal step in advancing the quality and availability of medical services in a region whose infrastructure and resources have been decimated by wars, neglect, lack of funding, and poor management. The concept and establishment of the International Virtual e-Hospital (IVeH) has significantly impacted telemedicine and e-health services in Kosova. The success of the IVeH in Kosova has led to the development of similar programs in other Balkan countries and other developing countries in the hope of modernizing and improving their healthcare infrastructure. A comprehensive, four-pronged strategy developed by IVeH "Initiate-Build-Operate-Transfer" (IBOT), may be a useful approach in establishing telemedicine and e-health educational services not only in developing countries, but in developed countries. The development strategy, IBOT, used by the IVeH to establish and develop telemedicine programs is described. IBOT includes assessment of healthcare needs of each country, the development of a curriculum and education program, the establishment of a nationwide telemedicine network, and the integration of the telemedicine program into the very core of healthcare infrastructure. The end point is the transfer of a sustainable telehealth program to the nation involved. By applying IBOT, a sustainable telemedicine program of Kosova and Albania has been established as an effective prototype for telemedicine in the Balkans. Once fully matured, the program is transitioned to the Ministry of Health, which ensures the sustainability and ownership of the program. Similar programs are being established in Macedonia, Montenegro and other countries around the world. The IBOT model has been effective in creating sustainable telemedicine and e-health integrated programs in the Balkans and may be a good model for establishing such programs in developing countries.