cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Uncertainty Monitoring and Metacognition by Animals

Humans have the capacity to feel consciously uncertain and to know when they do not know. These feelings and responses ground the research literature on uncertainty monitoring and metacognition (i.e., cognition about cognition). It is a natural and important question whether nonhuman animals share this sophisticated cognitive capacity. We summarize current research that confirms animals' capacity for uncertainty monitoring. This research includes perception and memory paradigms and monkey, dolphin, and human participants. It contains some of the strongest existing performance similarities between humans and other animals. There is a strong isomorphism between the uncertainty-monitoring capacities of humans and animals. Indeed, the results show that animals have functional features of or parallels to human metacognition and human conscious cognition.
Gastrin content of columnar mucosa lining the lower (Barrett's) esophagus

Tissue gastrin was determined in 36 biopsies obtained from the esophagus and 35 biopsies from the stomach in 12 patients with Barrett's esophagus. Histology of the mucosa from the area adjacent to the biopsy sites was also examined. Esophageal biopsies were obtained from three different sites in each patient. The gastric biopsies were obtained from the antrum, fundus, and the area just distal to the lower border of the lower esophageal sphincter. The columnar mucosa lining the esophagus was of three distinct types, namely, fundic, transitional (cardiac), or specialized. None of these epithelia nor the squamous epithelium showed any detectable gastrin. In contrast, antral mucosa had very high gastrin content; smaller amounts of gastrin were detected in duodenal epithelium, whereas fundic mucosa sometimes contained small amounts of gastrin.
Clara cell 10 kDa protein (CC10): Comparison of structure and function to uterogloblin

The cellular localization, functional activities and structures of rat and human Clara cell 10 kDa proteins (CC10) are compared to rabbit uteroglobin. CC10 is present exclusively in the non-ciliated cells of the surface epithelium of the pulmonary airways, whereas uteroglobin is reported to be present in the lung and reproductive organs. There is about 55% identity between the amino acid sequences of rat CC10 and either rabbit uteroglobin or human CC10. The latter two have 61% identity. Using the known structure of uteroglobin as the model, correlations between the structure and function for this group of proteins are made. Substitution of the residues for the rat and human CC10 into the structure of uteroglobin suggests that these proteins may be members of a structurally homologous family. Some of the functional differences may be due to distortion of the hydrophobic pocket in the dimeric protein and a surface hypervariability located on one contiguous helix and beta turn. Rat CC10 and rabbit uteroglobin both, nearly equally, inhibit papain and bind progesterone. Human CC10 does not inhibit papain and has markedly lower progesterone binding (4.6% of rabbit uteroglobin). Antiinflammatory activity of synthetic peptides corresponding to a homologous sequence region of uteroglobin and the two Clara cell proteins was tested. The region chosen has sequence similarity to lipocortin I. The peptides not only failed to inhibit carrageenan-induced foot pad swelling but exacerbated it. All three proteins inhibit pancreatic phospholipase A2. The phospholipase A2 inhibitory effect of CC10 may be important in regulating the inflammatory responses in the lung.
Creep and stress rupture behavior of a wrought nickel-base superalloy in air and vacuum

The creep and stress rupture behavior of a γ′-strengthened wrought polycrystalline nickel-base superalloy was investigated in air and vacuum (≈1.3 mPa) for two test temperature ranges: at and around 760 °C where no detectable creep-induced microstructural changes occur and at and around 982 °C where such changes occur extensively. The coarse-grained superalloy investigated in the present study is stronger (i.e. it has lower steady state creep rates) and has longer stress rupture lives in air than in vacuum at both temperatures. Further, this creep strengthening is shown to result mainly from the sharper stress dependence, or equivalently higher average back stress opposing creep, in air. On the basis of characterizations by metallography and transmission electron microscopy it is suggested that the air strengthening behavior is perhaps a result of the adherent hard oxide layer which is formed on the specimens tested in air but not on those tested in vacuum. The longer stress rupture lives in air were found to be due also to the extended duration of tertiary creep which results from the dynamic blunting of creep-initiated cracks by oxidation-denuded zones ahead of the tips of surface-connected cracks in air tests; this contrasts with the rapid propagation to failure of sharp internal cracks initiated in vacuum tests.
Elastic scattering of 580-MeV protons from He-3

High energy proton-He 3 elastic scattering cross section measurement, comparing result with Glauber model calculation
The young athlete: Challenges of growth, development, and society

Youth sports provide numerous health-enhancing and other important benefits to participating children and adolescents. However, the motivations and goals of young athletes often conflict with those of adult stakeholders, and they are redirected. The youth sports industry has become exclusionary, as the professional model of development increasingly is prevalent and accepted. Youth who follow this model often cannot keep up with the unrealistic expectations and excessive demands. Too much play, training, travel, and pressure frequently lead to a variety of physical and psychological problems, particularly concurrent with the vulnerability of a young athlete going through pre- or early adolescence and the rapid growth phase. The need for alternative models, emphasizing fun and fundamentals, is becoming increasingly clear and urgent. With appropriate changes, youth sports once again can be an effective entry point for a lifetime of healthy sports participation and enjoyment.
Non-invasive measurements of granular flows by magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was used to measure granular-flow in a partially filled, steadily rotating, long, horizontal cylinder. This non-invasive technique can yield statistically averaged two-dimensional concentrations and velocity profiles anywhere in the flow of suitable granular materials. First, rigid body motion of a cylinder fill with granular material was studied to confirm the validity of this method. Then, the density variation of the flowing layer where particles collide and dilate, and the depth of the flowing layer and the flow velocity profile were obtained as a function of the cylinder rotation rate.
Welfare accounting and the environment: reassessing Brazilian economic growth, 1965-1993.

Few countries in recent decades have experienced economic growth as rapid as that in Brazil. The period spanning the late 1960s and mid 1970s, during which GDP growth was especially strong, is often referred to as the ‘economic miracle’. Yet, the use of per capita GDP growth as a proxy for economic development (or social welfare improvement) can be questioned on both distributional and environmental grounds. Scholars such as Ahluwalia and Chenery have noted that per capita GDP growth places greater weight on the income of richer income groups, and have proposed distribution-neutral and pro-poor alternatives. More recently, studies by the World Resources Institute and others have questioned the environmental sustainability of GDP growth and have introduced an alternative national income accounting methodology that factors in estimated losses associated with natural resource depletion. To date, no studies have undertaken both types of revisions concurrently, creating a revised national welfare measure based on per capita GDP, but corrected for both distributional bias and resource depletion. Such a measure is derived in this article and applied to the Brazilian case. The results cast doubt on the proposition that rapid economic growth in Brazil has resulted in comparable welfare gains.
Regular variation in

Researchers investigating certain limit theorems in probability have discovered a multivariable analogue to Karamata's theory of regularly varying functions. The method uses elements of real analysis and Lie groups to analyze the asymptotic behavior of functions and measures on Rk. We present an account here which is independent of probabilistic considerations.
Process, statistics and anthropological theory: An appreciation of harold E. driver

Joseph G. Jorgensen, ed. Comparative Studies by Harold E. Driver and Essays in bis Honor. New Haven: HRAF Press, 1974. 248 pp. Diagrams, tables, figures, maps, appendix, and bibliography. $20.00.
Evaluation of the fan method of adaptive sampling on human electrocardiograms

The fan is a method of adaptive sampling that selects samples from electrocardiograms more rapidly during periods of rapid waveform change and more slowly otherwise. One attribute of the fan is the guarantee that the original waveform can be reconstructed within tolerance e. Many questions about the particulars of the fan's performance on human ECGs have been undocumented, e.g. what e choice leads to good quality recording, how does the choice of e affect visual quality, and what average sampling rates occur? The paper provides answers to these and other questions. It is based on retrospective analysis of 20700 human ECG waveforms from subjects of all ages. The results show, for example, that e=10μV leads to high quality waveforms sampled at an average rate of 266 samples s−1 with maximum errors only 1/24th the maximum errors using uniform sampling at 250 samples s−1, and that e=30μV leads to waveforms showing all deflections at an average rate of 45 samples s−1 with maximum errors only 1/57th of the maximum errors from uniform sampling at 45 samples s−1.
Scene 11 of A Streetcar Named Desire

(1997). Scene 11 of A Streetcar Named Desire. ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews: Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 34-38.
Resolution of Expressive Aphasia

A 78-year-old right-handed woman with a history of atrial fibrillation, prior transient ischemic attacks, and cerebrovascular disease developed expressive aphasia. She immediately began writing a note to a companion. Her first 2 attempts (Figure, A and B) demonstrated expressive aphasia …
Energetics of the Reactions Controlling the Deeply Occluded State of the Na+/K+ Pump

The Na+/K+ pump is a nearly ubiquitous membrane protein in animal cells that uses the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to alternately export 3Na+ from the cell and import 2K+ per cycle. This exchange of ions produces a steady outward current, proportional in magnitude to the cycle turnover rate. When the absence of K+ prevents cycling, a sudden voltage jump causes the Na+/K+ pump to generate temporally distinct transient currents that represent the kinetics of extracellular Na+ binding/release and Na+ occlusion/deocclusion transitions. For many years, these electrical signals have escaped a proper thermodynamic treatment due to the relatively small size of the currents. Here, taking advantage of the large diameter of the axons from the Humboldt squid Dosidicus gigas, we have separated the kinetic components of the transient currents over an extended temperature range and thus characterized the energetic landscape, both of the Na+/K+ pump cycle and of those transitions associated with extracellular release of the first Na+ from the deeply occluded state. A global fit of the energetic parameters of a model that included the occlusion/deocclusion transition followed by binding/unbinding reactions was made using 150 measurements spanning a voltage range between −120 and +60 mV and a temperature range between 17 and 32oC. The occlusion/deocclusion transition involves large changes in enthalpy (Q10=3.3) and entropy that largely compensate each other as the ion is deoccluded for release to the external milieu. The subsequent binding/unbinding reaction is substantially less costly (Q10=2), though still larger than predicted for the energetic cost of an ion diffusing through a permeation pathway, suggesting that ion binding/unbinding must involve amino acid side chain rearrangements at the ion coordination site. Supported by FIRCA grant R03 TW008351 and U54GM087519, GM030376, NS64259, HL36783, Fondecyt-1110430.
Tumor immune remodeling by TGFβ inhibition improves the efficacy of radiation therapy

The tumor immune environment has been linked to prognosis in patients with a range of malignancies. Recently, we demonstrated in pre-clinical models that modifying the tumor immune environment using a small-molecule inhibitor of TGFb significantly improved outcome to subsequent radiation therapy. These data suggest that this and other immunotherapies may be used to remodel the tumor before conventional cancer therapies to improve outcomes.
Gender and coping: Use of distinct strategies and associations with stress and depression

Abstract I evaluated gender differences in the use of three distinct coping strategies, and in associations between those strategies, stress, and symptoms of depression. In a sample of men and women from two universities, which included many non-traditional students, women used slightly more social support seeking than men, but men and women did not differ in the use of problem-solving or avoidance. There were no gender differences in associations between stress, coping, and depression for problem-solving or social support seeking. Problem-solving was a weak predictor of depression, and surprisingly, the stress—depression relationship was slightly stronger in participants who used more problem-solving. Social support seeking moderated the stress—depression relationship equally in men and women. Avoidance coping was a powerful predictor of depression in men and women; however, it exacerbated the negative effect of stress only in men.
Isometric immersions of tori into R3 with given mean curvature

It is known that a compact Riemannian surface can admit at most two (2) geometrically distinct, i. e., non-congruent isometric immersions into R3 with given non-constant mean curvature. If the genus is zero, then there is at most one such immersion. Here, we show that there is at most one such immersion in each of the following cases for surfaces of genus one: 1) there exists a point p such that (H2 − K)(p) = 0, where K is the curvature of the Riemannian metric and H is the given non-constant mean curvature (umbilic point); 2) the surface is a surface of revolution; 3) the surface is a tube formed by moving a circle in such a way that its center describes a smooth plane curve and its plane is constantly perpendicular to this curve. We also indicate the difficulties as to why the so-far existing methodologies cannot give a clear-cut answer to the question if it is possible to reduce the at most two immersions to at most one for any compact Riemannian surface of genus greater than zero.
Electrostatic Discharge Protection in the Nano-Technology - Will We be able to Provide ESD Protection in the Future?

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) phenomenon will play a critical role in the introduction, manufacturing and implementation of present day semiconductor devices and future nano-structures as presented by Voldman (2002). In the future, the ability to produce nanostructures may be limited by the ESD sensitivity of these electronic and mechanical elements. The ESD technology roadmap has been shown, highlighting a decreasing ESD robustness with technology scaling. ESD technology scaling issues in advanced CMOS, RF CMOS, silicon germanium, to gallium arsenide will be reviewed. ESD issues from wafer-level charging, on-chip protection, to off-chip protection have been discussed. In addition trends in RF MEMs, FINFETs, magnetic recording, photo-masks to carbon nano-tubes (CNT) have been discussed.
Comparison of genetic behaviour of the transposable element Tam3 at two unlinked pigment loci in Antirrhinum majus

In Antirrhinum majus the transposable element Tam3 has been described at two unlinked loci pallida and nivea, both of which are required for the production of anthocyanin pigment in flowers. In each case the element is inserted in the promoter region and gives a variegated phenotype. We show that the rate of Tam3 excision at both loci is greatly affected by temperature, being approximately 1000-fold higher at 15°C compared with 25°C. Tam3 is also controlled by an unlinked gene Stabiliser, which considerably reduces excision rate. We show that the high degree of sensitivity to temperature and Stabiliser is an intrinsic property of Tam3 which is not shared by an unrelated element, Tam1. The Tam3 insertion at nivea gives rise to a series of alleles which confer reduced pigmentation, novel spatial patterns and changed instability. These are probably a result of imprecise excision and rearrangements of the Tam3 element.
Structural and Functional Changes in Catalase Induced by Near‐UV Radiation

Part one of this study shows that exposure of purified beef liver catalase in buffered solutions to BL lamps that provide a mixture of 99% UVA and 1% UVB (to be labeled UVA) alters its chemistry and enzymatic activity. Thus, its spectral absorbance lost detail, it aggregated and exhibited a lower isoelectric point and its enzymatic activity was substantially reduced. These photochemically induced changes were increased by irradiation in phosphate buffer or in physiological medium (minimal essential medium) containing riboflavin and tryptophan. Neither α-tocopherol nor de-feroxamine were protective against these UVA-induced changes in pure catalase. We further investigated the effect of UVA radiation on the activity of catalase in cultured lens epithelial cells and the protective effects of antioxidants. Cultured lens epithelial cells of rabbits and squirrels were exposed to near-UV radiation with representation in the UVA region of 99% and 1% UVB. Catalase assays were done on ho-mogenate supernatants of cells kept dark or UV exposed. In some instances, cells were cultured in medium containing a-tocopherol or deferoxamine prior to UV radiation. Comparisons were made between UV-exposed lens cell catalase activity when exposure was done with or without the antioxidants. The UVA radiation was strongly inhibitory to both rabbit and squirrel lens epithelial cell catalase activities. The range of fluxes of near UV radiation was compatible with that which could reach the lens from the sunlit environment. Catalase inactivation was lessened in cells preincubated with a-tocopherol and deferoxamine. This suggests that both singlet oxygen and hydroxyl radical formation may be involved in near-UV damage to lens epithelial cell catalase. Such inhibition of catalase by near-UV would enhance H2O2 toxicity and stimulate SH oxidation so as to damage the lens.
Stability of Ultimate Motion in an Attitude Control System with Unbalanced Thrusters

Theme A SINGLE axis attitude control system, employing -/man integral pulse frequency modulator and thrusters having unsymmetrical force characteristics, is analyzed for the stability of its ultimate motion around a small equilibrium region, and for convergence of the system trajectory from large initial states to this region. A type of motion, which for practical purposes is equivalent to a two-pulse limit cycle, is defined and referred to here as "favorable motion." Relationships among the several system parameters are established and these ensure the existence of favorable motion. To establish the convergence from large initial states, a function similar to a Lyapunov function, but involving the concept of the minimum distance between a point and a set, is used as an analytical tool. The analytical results are displayed conveniently on a single graph and are verified by experiments on a computer simulation.
Traumatic Endophthalmitis Caused by an Erwinia Species

A previously healthy 70-year-old white man sustained a plant injury to his left eye while gardening and was admitted here because of an ensuing perforated cornea and endophthalmitis. The lens was opaque and its anterior capsule was ruptured. Culture of fluid obtained by anterior chamber paracentesis yielded a species of the Erwinia herbicolalathyri group (Enterobacter agglomerans). Thirty-seven days after a course of cefazolin and gentamicin therapy, corneal edema necessitated a planned extracapsular cataract extraction. The aqueous humor and lens again revealed the identical Erwinia species in pure culture. The patient received another course of cefazolin and showed improvement after the lens aspiration.
Deviance, Power, and the Occult: A Field Study

Summary It was predicted that occultists (witches, magicians, and spiritualists) would exhibit more seriously negative preoccult behavioral labeling than would more traditional religionists, and also that occultists would evidence a greater degree of latent power than the nonoccultists. Content analysis of data obtained from structured interviews supported both predictions. It is suggested that these occult belief-systems may provide a convenient vehicle for the maintenance of environmental control for those persons possessing irrational attribution schemata.
Iridium-catalyzed benzylic C–H activation and functionalization of alkyl arenes

Abstract A recyclable catalyst, Ir/C, gives C–H benzylic functionalization of simple arenes to afford aldehydes, esters, and imines. In the case of esters, an additive, Ag 2 CO 3 , acts as base and oxidant, while for imine formation no additive is necessary. In this latter case a double C–H activation is proposed, accompanied by loss of H 2 .
Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of dihydrorhodamine 123.

Nitric oxide reacts with superoxide to form peroxynitrite, which may be an important mediator of free radical-induced cellular injury. Oxidation of dihydrorhodamine to fluorescent rhodamine is a marker of cellular oxidant production. We investigated the mechanisms of peroxynitrite-mediated formation of rhodamine from dihydrorhodamine. Peroxynitrite at low levels (0–1000 nM) induced a linear, concentration-dependent, oxidation of dihydrorhodamine. Hydroxyl radical scavengers mannitol and dimethylsulfoxide had minimal effect (< 10%) on rhodamine production. Peroxynitrite-mediated formation of rhodamine was not dependent on metal ion catalyzed reactions because studies were performed in metal ion-free buffer and rhodamine formation was not enhanced in the presence of Fe3+ ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Thus, rhodamine formation appears to be mediated directly by peroxynitrite. Superoxide dismutase slightly enhanced rhodamine production. L-cysteine was an efficient inhibitor (KI ∼ 25 μM) of dihydrorhodamine oxidation through competetive oxidation of free sulfhydryls. Urate was also an efficient inhibitor (KI ∼ 2.5 μM), possibly by reduction of an intermediate dihydrorhodamine radical and recycling of dihydrorhodamine. Under anaerobic conditions, nitric oxide did not oxidize dihydrorhodamine and inhibited spontaneous oxidation of dihydrorhodamine. In the presence of oxygen, nitric oxide induces a relatively slow oxidation of dihydrorhodamine due to the formation of nitrogen dioxide. We conclude that dihydrorhodamine is a sensitive and efficient trap for peroxynitrite and may serve as a probe for peroxynitrite production.
AIDS: Epidemiologic features

At the end of October 1988, more than 75,000 adults and more than 1000 children had been reported with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); more than half of those diagnosed have died. Most adult cases fall into specific risk categories: homosexual and bisexual men, intravenous drug abusers, hemophiliacs and transfusion recipients, and heterosexual partners of infected persons. These categories are related to the known transmission routes of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In children, the risk groups are different; most cases represent perinatal transmission of HIV. Black and Hispanic persons are disproportionately affected by AIDS in the United States and make up almost 40% of all reported cases. In 1986, AIDS was the eighth leading cause of premature death in this country, and if current trends continue, it will become the second by 1992. Although HIV infection rates in "risk group" members have been extensively studied, much less is known about infection rates in persons outside these groups. A variety of surveys are under way to monitor the spread of HIV. The epidemiologic puzzle of Kaposi's sarcoma is considered, as well as reasons for the decrease in it as a proportion of all AIDS cases.
DIFFERENTIATING MULTIPLE MEANINGS OF GARDEN AND COMMUNITY

Community gardens are widely recognized as an effective grassroots response to urban disinvestment and decay. There has been remarkably little attention paid, however, to the differences among community gardens as physical and social spaces. This paper suggests that variations among gardens reflect and reproduce differing interpretations of the meaning of both community and garden in the city. A comparative discussion of three community gardens in Minneapolis, Minnesota, highlights the concept that at the intersection of notions of community and garden are the issues of enclosure, inclusion and exclusion. Decisions about whether and how to enclose community gardens shape the role that community gardens play in urban neighborhoods. [Key words: community gardens, neighborhood revitalization, urban activism.]
Selenium-Containing Curcumin Polymer for Anti-Liver Fibrosis

A new selenium-containing curcumin polymer was synthesized by polycondensation of curcumin with dihydride, polyethylene glycol, and selenium amino acid monomers. The polymer was stable, water soluble, and injectable with a molecular weight of 6.1x104 Da. The in vivo anti-liver fibrosis efficacy of the polymer was investigated with Sprague Dawley rats. The results showed the curcumin polymer had strong anti-hepafibrosis activity.
The never-ending struggle between the two souls of the neurosurgeon: to wait or to intervene.

eurosurgeon, as a modern Ulysses, is in a daily struggle between the desire to completely resect tumors, that is N the attraction for the mermaid’s chanting, and the self limitation of tying his hands whenever the prediction of the result of the surgical treatment, although promising in perspective, is not sufficiently reliable (6). The management of incidental brain lesion highlights once more this conflict. Although the incidence of asymptomatic brain lesion is low, a precise estimation is impossible and is going to constantly increase due to the increasingly larger access to radiologic studies, their progressive major effectiveness, and the impact of defensive medicine. However, in spite of a low general prevalence, incidental brain lesion may represent up to 8.6% of all brain lesions in children in referral centers, which is a phenomenon that should be taken into account (1). In this context, the management of asymptomatic presumed low-grade glioma (LGG) is controversial. Recent literature data try to shed light onto the natural history of incidental LGG, thus concluding that observation is a viable and safe option. On the contrary, surgical resection at diagnosis is still advocated on the basis of the lower morbidity of surgery compared to the past. Furthermore, surgery allows the confirmation of the diagnosis and avoids unexpected evolution of the lesion. The decision-making process becomes even more complex in children, due to the anxiety of parents and the concern about the impact of surgery or alternatively of the tumor itself on the patient’s neurological condition.
Genetic epidemiology of self-reported lifetime DSM-IV major depressive disorder in a population-based twin sample of female adolescents

Background: In adults, about 40% of the variance in risk of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is due to genetic factors, but little data exist on the heritability of youth MDD. The goal of this study was the genetic analysis of MDD in an epidemiologically and genetically representative sample of adolescent female twins. Methods: A sample of 3416 female adolescent twins systematically ascertained from birth records was assessed using a structured telephone interview that included a comprehensive DSMIV-based section for the diagnostic assessment of MDD. Mean subject age at time of assessment was 15.5 and participation rate exceeded 85%. Genetic modeling was conducted taking into consideration the problem of censoring, i.e., that younger adolescents were not through their period of risk for adolescent onset of MDD. Results: Lifetime self-reported MDD prevalence ranged from 1% under age 12 to 17.4% at age 19 and older. The genetic variance in risk of MDD was 40.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.9–55.1), with the remaining variance explained by non-shared environmental effects 59.6% (95%CI: 44.9–76.1). Shared environmental effects were not significant. A significant recall bias was observed with older respondents on average reporting later onsets for their first episode of MDD. Conclusions: The genetic and environmental contributions to risk of MDD in this representative sample of female adolescent twins are remarkably analogous to findings from adult samples. These results are congruent with a conceptualization of adolescent MDD and adult MDD as having very similar etiologic determinants.
Geographic applications of remotely sensed data

The application of remote sensing to the study of geography as spatially distributed phenomena began in the late 1800s when German foresters used photography taken from a balloon to produce forest maps. Since this early beginning researchers and professionals in government, industry, and educational institutions have become increasingly aware of the ability of remote sensing to provide geographic information. This is information on the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of objects and processes in the world around us. Geographic applications of remotely sensed data typically take one of four explanatory forms and are aimed at one or more of three practical objectives. Explanatory forms include: 1) morphometric analysis, 2) cause and effect analysis, 3) temporal analysis, 4) functional and ecological systems analysis. Objectives include: 1) mapping, 2) monitoring, 3) modeling. As we have moved from using manual analysis techniques on black-and-white aerial photography for mapping distributions to machine-assisted analysis of multispectral satellite data in digital form for analyzing complex environmental processes, the techniques and procedures involved in the use of remotely sensed data have become more complex. Remote sensing does offer a tremendous potential to the community involved in geographic applications. To realize this potential will continue to require a balanced program of both basic and applied research.
Group strategy proof mechanisms via primal-dual algorithms

We develop a general method for turning a primal-dual algorithm into a group strategy proof cost-sharing mechanism. We use our method to design approximately budget balanced cost sharing mechanisms for two NP-complete problems: metric facility location, and single source rent-or-buy network design. Both mechanisms are competitive, group strategyproof and recover a constant fraction of the cost. For the facility location game our cost-sharing method recovers a 1/3rd of the total cost, while in the network design game the cost shares pay for a 1/15 fraction of the cost of the solution.
How diasporic religious communities remember: Learning to speak the “tongue of the oricha” in Cuban Santería

In this article, I probe the relationship between historical consciousness and cultural transmission. In contrast to scholars' focus on language loss in African-language ritual registers in the Americas, I examine how Cuban Santeria's ritual register, called “Lucumi,” is actively regimented through the ways in which Santeria's practitioners learn, use, and interpret it. I discuss two specific interpretive strategies that santeros use: The “etymological approach” is a focus on studying and recovering fixed “original” Yoruba meanings, whereas the “divining-meaning” approach is a more charismatic, contextual, and performance-based focus on revealing deep and hidden meanings in Lucumi texts.
Stability Analysis of a Reluctance-Synchronous Machine

A stability study of a reluctance-synchronous machine (synchronous-induction machine) is performed by applying the Nyquist stability criterion to the equations which describe the behavior of the machine during small displacements about a steady- state operating point. This investigation reveals that machine instability can occur at low speeds (low frequencies) even though balanced, constant amplitude, sinusoidal voltages are applied to the stator terminals. Regions of machine instability are established from the results of a digital computer study. The results of an analog computer study are included to illustrate the modes of operation which occur within these regions. Also, regions of instability for different values of system parameters are given and discussed.
Law and Neuroscience

This provides the Summary Table of Contents and Chapter 1 of our coursebook “Law and Neuroscience” (forthcoming April 2014, from Aspen Publishing). Designed for use in both law schools and beyond, the book provides user-friendly introductions, as well as detailed explorations, of the many current and emerging issues at the intersection of law and neuroscience. One part of the book lays general foundations by exploring the relationships between law and science generally, and by comparing the views from law and from neuroscience regarding behavior and responsibility. A later part explains the basics of brain structure and function, the methods for investigating each, and both the promise and the limitations of modern neuroscience technologies. Core themes the book addresses include new law/neuroscience issues pertaining to: brain injuries, pain and distress, memory, emotions, lie detection, judging, adolescence, addiction, and brain death. Closing units explore current and coming legal issues surrounding cognitive enhancement, brain-machine interfaces, and artificial intelligence. The materials also consider: international neurolaw, psychopathy, decision-making, mental health, the aging brain, the veteran’s brain, behavioral genetics, prediction of future dangerousness, and neuroethics. Given the scope and nature of coverage, the book is designed to serve both as a coursebook and as a reference text for judges, practicing attorneys, and scholars interested in law and neuroscience.
Clinal Variation and the Decoupling of Vegetative and Reproductive Characters in Acisanthera Section Acisanthera (Melastomataceae)

Abstract Clinal variation in morphology from north to south and to a lesser degree from east to west is described in the widespread Neotropical species of Acisanthera sect. Acisanthera. While northernmost and southernmost species are separable from one another, they are bridged by other species which results in a complicated morphological continuum. Two important characters were detected in the data that correlate with geographic distribution: first, flowers on compound inflorescences in plants south of Amazonia and with solitary flowers north of Amazonia; and second, anther pore width from narrow (0.2 mm) in South America to wide (0.38 mm) mainly in Central America and the Caribbean. A high degree of plasticity in the first character south of Amazonia (inflorescence structure) complicates differential diagnosis between species in the southern end of their distribution. Adding leaf shape and indument helps differentiate the currently recognized species although in some cases with difficulty. These cases a...
Improved cortical entrainment to infant communication calls in mothers compared with virgin mice.

There is a growing interest in the use of mice as a model system for species-specific communication. In particular, ultrasonic calls emitted by mouse pups communicate distress, and elicit a search and retrieval response from mothers. Behaviorally, mothers prefer and recognize these calls in two-alternative choice tests, in contrast to pup-naive females that do not have experience with pups. Here, we explored whether one particular acoustic feature that defines these calls-- the repetition rate of calls within a bout-- is represented differently in the auditory cortex of these two animal groups. Multiunit recordings in anesthetized CBA/CaJ mice revealed that: (i) neural entrainment to repeated stimuli extended up to the natural pup call repetition rate (5 Hz) in mothers; but (ii) neurons in naive females followed repeated stimuli well only at slower repetition rates; and (iii) entrained responses to repeated pup calls were less sensitive to natural pup call variability in mothers than in pup-naive females. In the broader context, our data suggest that auditory cortical responses to communication sounds are plastic, and that communicative significance is correlated with an improved cortical representation.
Nonstandard Interpretations of Probabilistic Programs for Efficient Inference

Probabilistic programming languages allow modelers to specify a stochastic process using syntax that resembles modern programming languages. Because the program is in machine-readable format, a variety of techniques from compiler design and program analysis can be used to examine the structure of the distribution represented by the probabilistic program. We show how nonstandard interpretations of probabilistic programs can be used to craft efficient inference algorithms: information about the structure of a distribution (such as gradients or dependencies) is generated as a monad-like side computation while executing the program. These interpretations can be easily coded using special-purpose objects and operator overloading. We implement two examples of nonstandard interpretations in two different languages, and use them as building blocks to construct inference algorithms: automatic differentiation, which enables gradient based methods, and provenance tracking, which enables efficient construction of global proposals.
Long-term patency of venous sinus stents for idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Background Recent reports suggest that placement of a venous sinus stent improves symptoms in selected patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). We report our evaluation of the long-term patency of venous stents placed for IIH. Methods We retrospectively reviewed our clinical database for 30 patients (mean age 33±10 years) with IIH who underwent placement of 36 venous sinus stents between October 2006 and December 2012. Relevant clinical, demographic and radiographic data were extracted after review of these records. All patients underwent retrograde venography to confirm a >50% stenosis and a trans-stenosis pressure gradient. Follow-up catheter angiography was performed beginning 3 months after the procedure. Results Follow-up imaging was available for 23 (77%) of the 30 patients (mean 23 months). For seven patients, angiographic follow-up of >2 years (mean 45 months) was available. All stents remained patent with mild ( Conclusions Venous sinus stent placement has emerged as a promising treatment option for the subgroup of patients with IIH with a pressure gradient across a stenotic venous sinus. We observed long-term patency of all stents placed in this patient population. Further prospective investigation is necessary to improve our understanding of the phenomenon of sinus narrowing upstream of a patent stent and to establish definitively the long-term clinical efficacy of venous sinus stent placement for IIH.
Price and volatility transmission between primary and scrap metal markets

Abstract The relationship between primary and scrap prices has been hypothesized for the most part as unidirectional, characterized by spillovers from primary to scrap prices. The purpose of this study is to evaluate empirically the dynamic interactions between primary and scrap metal prices through multivariate time series methods. In addition, the study expands the investigation at the level of volatility transmission, which has not been previously examined. The metal prices utilized are for copper, lead, and zinc for the period 1984–2001. The paper demonstrates differing long run and short run links. Scrap prices do not improve the long run interpretation of primary prices, but information flows from the scrap to the primary markets exist in the short run. Additionally, the copper and lead markets exhibit bidirectional information flows in terms of volatility transmission. The analysis provides valuable insight into the interactions of the primary and scrap metal sectors which can be used to improve forecasting and planning.
Experimental evaluation of using dynamic slices for fault location

Dynamic slicing algorithms have been considered to aid in debugging for many years. However, as far as we know, no detailed studies on evaluating the benefits of using dynamic slicing for detecting faulty statements in programs have been carried out. We have developed a dynamic slicing framework that uses dynamic instrumentation to efficiently collect dynamic slices and reduced ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (roBDDs) to compactly store them. We have used the above framework to implement three variants of dynamic slicing algorithms including: data slicing, full slicing, and relevant slicing algorithms. We have carried out detailed experiments to evaluate these algorithms. Our results show that full slices and relevant slices can considerably reduce the subset of program statements that need to be examined to locate faulty statements. We expect that the observations presented here will enable development of new slicing based algorithms for automated debugging.
PyRosetta: a script-based interface for implementing molecular modeling algorithms using Rosetta

Summary: PyRosetta is a stand-alone Python-based implementation of the Rosetta molecular modeling package that allows users to write custom structure prediction and design algorithms using the major Rosetta sampling and scoring functions. PyRosetta contains Python bindings to libraries that define Rosetta functions including those for accessing and manipulating protein structure, calculating energies and running Monte Carlo-based simulations. PyRosetta can be used in two ways: (i) interactively, using iPython and (ii) script-based, using Python scripting. Interactive mode contains a number of help features and is ideal for beginners while script-mode is best suited for algorithm development. PyRosetta has similar computational performance to Rosetta, can be easily scaled up for cluster applications and has been implemented for algorithms demonstrating protein docking, protein folding, loop modeling and design. Availability: PyRosetta is a stand-alone package available at http://www.pyrosetta.org under the Rosetta license which is free for academic and non-profit users. A tutorial, user’s manual and sample scripts demonstrating usage are also available on the web site.
Anaemia is common after kidney transplantation, especially among African Americans

Background. Anaemia is a major cardiovascular risk factor in renal disease. It might be appropriate to extrapolate this association of anaemia with cardiovascular disease to renal transplant recipients who continue to have a significant cardiovascular risk. There are very few studies addressing the issue of anaemia after renal transplantation. Methods. We studied 192 consecutive kidney transplant recipients over a 5-year period in a tertiary referral centre in Michigan, USA. Patients who were followed up at the ambulatory transplant clinic for at least 1 year after transplantation were studied. Haemoglobin (Hb) level at 6 months and I year after renal transplantation was recorded. Risk factors for anaemia were evaluated using multivariate regression analysis. Results. Significant anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl in females and <12g/dl in males) was common (19.3% at 6 months. 19.8% at I year). Anaemia was more common in African American (AA) than in non-AA patients both at 6 months and 1 year after transplantation. Multivariate analysis showed that serum creatinine was an independent risk factor for anaemia. Female gender was associated with significant anaemia at 1 year. Intriguingly, AA race was also an independent risk factor at 6 months and strong trend for risk at I year Conclusions. Anaemia is common during the first year after kidney transplantation. AA race as well as high serum creatinine and female gender are independent risk factors for post-transplant anaemia. The importance of anaemia as a risk factor in AA patients after renal transplantation should be more recognised.
Ten years of Web Site Evolution

From its inception in 1999 to its tenth anniversary in 2008, the Web site evolution (WSE) series of events have provided a forum for researchers and practitioners to present original work on subjects related to the disciplined evolution of large-scale Web sites. This paper summarizes the activities of WSE during the last five years (2003- 2008). The paper also discusses the need for continued enhancements to the education of future ldquorenaissance software engineersrdquo to work effectively in the area. Some of the research challenges for the next few years are also outlined.
The Approximation of Outage Probability and the Trade-off between Capacity and Diversity for the Frequency-Selective Channel

This paper addresses the trade-off between multiplexing gain and diversity gain for the frequency-selective channel. We derive this trade-off by considering the scaling law of the ergodic capacity, which determins the multiplexing gain, and the error probability, which determines the diversity gain at high SNR. It is proved that this trade-off only depends on the number of independent taps of the equivalent FIR channel filter. The error probability is bounded by the outage probability and the error probability without outage. The scaling law of the outage probability and the error probability without outage at high SNR is derived, as are approximations of the outage probability at both low and high SNR.
Program Evaluation Using a Follow-Up Telephone Survey The Effects of a Prior Letter

Program evaluation requiring postprogram follow-up with clients is often complicated by systematic inability to contact certain types of clients. In-person contact can be extremely expensive and ma...
Analytical performance of the Abaxis Piccolo Xpress® point of care analyzer in whole blood, serum, and plasma.

Abstract Objectives To examine the analytical performance of 14 comprehensive metabolic panel analytes on the Abaxis Piccolo Xpress® Point of Care analyzer in serum, plasma, and whole blood. Design and methods Precision was evaluated by running two levels of control material over multiple days. Linearity was evaluated using material provided by the manufacturer and the College of American Pathologists (CAP) linearity surveys. Accuracy was evaluated by comparing the results from 60 patient specimens on the Piccolo Xpress® with the Ortho Vitros® 5600 analyzer. The method comparison was performed on all three specimen types intended for use on the Piccolo Xpress®: serum, heparinized plasma, and whole blood. Manufacturer suggested reference ranges for all 14 analytes were tested in serum and plasma specimens from 23 healthy volunteers. Results High precision (CV ≤ 10%) was noted for all the analytes. Linearity was found to span the clinically useful range for all analytes. The method comparison demonstrated minimal proportional bias and good correlation for most of the analytes in all three matrices tested. The only exceptions were for sodium and total CO2, for which either significant proportional bias and/or poor correlation was noted in all three matrices. Significant bias was noted for AST in serum as well as for total bilirubin in plasma and whole blood. Conclusion The Piccolo Xpress® allows for the delivery of CMP results in a footprint small enough to be stored in a biological safety cabinet, while providing satisfactory performance for the majority of analytes.