cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avança Brasil: environmental and social consequences of Brazil's planned infrastructure in Amazonia.

"Avanca Brasil" (Forward Brazil) is a package of 338 projects throughout Brazil; the portion of the plan to be carried out in Brazil's Legal Amazon region totals US$43 billion over 8 years, US$20 billion of which would be for infrastructure causing environmental damage. Brazil's environmental impact assessment system is not yet capable of coping with the challenge presented by Avanca Brasil. Generic problems with the licensing process include stimulation of a lobby in favor of construction before decisions are made on the advisability of the projects, the "dragging effect" of third parties, whereby economic activity is attracted to the infrastructure but escapes the environmental impact assessment system, a tendency for consulting firms to produce favorable reports, a bureaucratic emphasis on the existence of steps without regard to the content of what is said, and the inability to take account of the chain of events unleashed when a given project is undertaken. The environmental and social costs of forest loss are high; among them is loss of opportunities for sustainable use of the forest, including loss of environmental services such as biodiversity maintenance, water cycling, and carbon storage. The benefits of export infrastructure are meager, especially from the point of view of generating employment. Much of the transportation infrastructure is for soybeans, while the hydroelectric dams contribute to processing aluminum. The example of Avanca Brasil makes clear the need to rethink how major development decisions are made and to reconsider a number of the plan's component projects.
Long-term consequences of the delay between virologic failure of highly active antiretroviral therapy and regimen modification.

Objectives: Current treatment guidelines recommend immediate modification of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected individuals with incomplete viral suppression. These recommendations have not been tested in observational studies or large randomized trials. We evaluated the consequences of delayed modification following virologic failure. Design/methods: We used prospective data from two clinical cohorts to estimate the effect of time until regimen modification following first regimen failure on all-cause mortality. The impact of regimen type was also assessed. As the effect of delayed switching can be confounded if patients with a poor prognosis modify therapy earlier than those with a good prognosis, we used a statistical methodology ‐ marginal structural models ‐ to control for time-dependent confounding. Results: A total of 982 patients contributed 3414 person-years of follow-up following firstregimen failure.Delayuntil treatment modificationwas associatedwithanelevated hazard of all-cause mortality among patients failing a reverse transcriptase inhibitorbased regimen (hazard ratio per additional 3 months delay ¼1.23, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.40), but appeared to have a small protective effect among patients failing a protease inhibitor-based regimen (hazard ratio per additional 3 months delay ¼0.93, 95% confidence interval: 0.87, 0.99). Conclusion: Delay in modification after failure of regimens that do not contain a protease inhibitor is associated with increased mortality. Protease inhibitor-based regimens are less dependent on early versus delayed switching strategies. Efforts should be made to minimize delay until treatment modification in resource-poor regions, wherethemajorityofpatientsarestartingreversetranscriptaseinhibitor-basedregimens and HIV RNA monitoring may not be available. 2008 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins AIDS 2008, 22:2097‐2106
The McKinney-Vento Act Implementation Scale: A second validation study

The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MVA) is the major federal policy that addresses homelessness. It upholds the right to equal education for homeless children by reducing barriers to school enrollment. Despite its importance, empirical studies examining perceived MVA implementation are scant, with only one instrument, the McKinney-Vento Act Implementation Scale (MVAIS), found to be a valid and reliable measure. The initial MVAIS validation study found that a three-factor structure of perceived preparation, accessibility, and collaboration addressed implementation perceptions with high reliability. This study aims to confirm the factor structure proposed in the initial study and examine the reliability of the MVA and its subscales. A sample of school social workers (N = 228) was obtained to revalidate the MVAIS. The findings from this study provide further evidence of a valid and reliable three-factor structure for the MVAIS. Future implications for this instrument and its utility for knowledge of...
Nonlinear effects in dipole solvation. II. Optical spectra and electron transfer activation

We present a theoretical analysis of the effect of nonlinear dipole solvation on steady-state optical spectra and intramolecular electron transfer (ET) reactions. The solvation nonlinearity is attributed to saturation of a dipolar liquid produced by the solute dipole. The treatment explores the perturbation expansion over the solute-solvent dipolar interaction truncated in the form of a Pade approximant. The optical line shape and the free energies along the ET reaction coordinate are related to the chemical potential of solvation of a fictitious solute with a complex-valued dipole moment. Due to solvent dipolar saturation the spectrum of dipolar fluctuations is confined by a band of the width 2Elim. Solvation nonlinearity was found to manifest itself for optical transitions with high dipole moments in the initial state, most often encountered for emission lines. In this case, the spectral line approaches the saturation boundary Elim bringing about “line squeezing” and decrease of the line shift compared ...
Images Multiplexing By Code Division Technique

Spread Spectrum System (SSS) or Code Division Multiple Access System (CDMAS) has been studied for a long time, but most of the attention was focused on the transmission problems. In this paper, we study the results when the code division technique is applied to the image at the source stage. The idea is to convolve the N different images with the corresponding m-sequence to obtain the encrypted image. The superimposed image (summation of the encrypted images) is then stored or transmitted. The benefit of this is that no one knows what is stored or transmitted unless the m-sequence is known. The recovery of the original image is recovered by correlating the superimposed image with corresponding m-sequence. Two cases are studied in this paper. First, the 2-D image is treated as a long 1-D vector and the m-sequence is employed to obtained the results. Secondly, the 2-D quasi m-array is proposed and used for the code division multiplexing. It is showed that quasi m-array is faster when the image size is 256x256. The important features of the proposed technique are not only the image security but also the data compactness. The compression ratio depends on how many images are superimposed.
Extrudate Characterization by Image Processing

Image processing techniques were used to characterize an extruded food product. Several image features in color and surface texture were developed and tested for their effectiveness to reflect changes in product appearance resulting from variations in extrusion conditions. The effects of process variables were related to the image features. Hue function conveyed more information about surface texture than did saturation or intensity functions.
Assumed strain distributions for a finite strip plate bending element using Mindlin-Reissner plate theory

A linear finite strip plate element based on Mindlin-Reissner plate theory is developed. The analysis is suitable for both thin and thick plates. In the formulation, new transverse shear strains are introduced and assumed constant in each two-node linear strip. The element stiffness matrix is explicitly formulated for efficient computation and computer implementation. Numerical results showing the efficiency and predictive capability of the element for the analysis of plates are presented for different support and loading conditions and a wide range of thicknesses. No sign of shear locking is observed with the newly developed element.
Effect of polydispersity on natural organic matter transport

The mobility of humic-substance dominated natural organic matter (NOM) concentrated from a freshwater wetland by reverse osmosis was examined in sand columns at pH 5-8, in 0.001 M and 0.01 M NaClO4. Greater mobility was observed at higher pH and lower ionic strength, although breakthrough curves (BTCs) for bulk NOM exhibited extensive tailing under all conditions examined. Based on observations from previous batch experiments indicating preferential adsorption of intermediate to high molecular weight (MW) NOM, we postulate that 'adsorptive fractionation' of the NOM pool leads to the observed tailing behavior, and develop a novel approach to assess the effects of polydispersity on transport of NOM and associated contaminants. BTCs for different NOM fractions were constructed by separating column effluent MW distributions determined by high-pressure size exclusion chromatography into five discrete intervals or 'bins' and calculating the mass of NOM within each bin at four sampling times. Observed retardation factors (Ro), reflecting median arrival time relative to that of a nonreactive tracer, ranged from 1.4 to 7.9 for the various bins and generally increased with MW. NOM retarded transport of the contaminant metal Cd (2.5 ppm, in 0.01 M NaClO4) slightly at pH 5 and more substantially at pH 8. Although Cd had little or no effect on bulk NOM transport, retention of the more aromatic, IMW-HMW NOM appeared to be slightly enhanced by Cd. Study results demonstrate that heterogeneity in retardation as a function of MW is likely a major factor contributing to bulk NOM BTC tailing and may have important implications for contaminant transport.
Punishing States and the Spectre of Guilt by Association

Proponents of punishing states often claim that such punishment would not distribute to members of the state, and so it would not subject innocent citizens – those who did not participate in the crimes, or dissented, or even were among the victims – to guilt by association. This essay examines three features of state punishment that might be said not to distribute to citizens: it is burdensome, it is intentionally so, and it expresses social condemnation. Ultimately, I contend that when a state is punished, the burdens do distribute to citizens as intended, condemning burdens – that is, as punishment. Thus the nondistribution of punishment thesis fails as a response to the guilt-by-association objection.
Induction of psychic estrus in the hamster with desoxycorticosterone acetate and its effects on the epithelium of the lower reproductive tract.

Klein (1937), Frank and Fraps (1945) and Kent and Liberman (1947, 1949) have shown that ovariectomized golden hamsters will mate after treatment with estrone and progesterone. Miescher, et at. (1938) and Wells and Greene (1939) described progestational changes in the adrenalectomized rabbit uterus after estrone-desoxycorticosterone administration. Van Heuverswyn, et al. (1939) described the uterine progestational changes induced with desoxycorticosterone in adrenalectomized rabbits and guinea pigs, and concluded that this substance was 1/6 to 1/10 as potent as progesterone in eliciting these changes. These investigators obtained psychic estrus in 6 of the 10 animals so treated. Other investigators, as Sosa Gallardo (1939), Courrier (1940), Leathern and Crafts (1940), Masson and Selye (1942), Masson (1943) and Emery (1946), have reported inducing progestational changes using desoxycorticosterone. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to determine the effectiveness of desoxycorticosterone acetate (DC...
Nitric oxide synthesis inhibition does not affect brain stimulation reward

The effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on brain stimulation reward was examined. A wide range of doses of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 30-300 mg/kg IP) failed to affect frequency thresholds for brain stimulation reward. The effect of L-NAME on cocaine's facilitation of brain stimulation reward was also examined. Nitric oxide synthesis inhibition had no effect on cocaine's ability to lower reward thresholds for electrical brain stimulation. Despite reports that nitric oxide may modulate dopamine release, these data suggest that nitric oxide is not involved in the dopamine-dependent rewarding effect of electrical brain stimulation or the reward facilitation produced by cocaine's enhancement of dopaminergic activity. Because L-NAME potently decreases cerebral blood flow, its lack of effect on cocaine-enhanced brain stimulation reward has additional significance. The failure of a moderate dose of L-NAME (30 mg/kg IP) to attenuate cocaine's lowering of reward thresholds argues against pharmacokinetic explanations of L-NAME's effect on other cocaine-induced behaviors.
Catalytic synthesis of methanol, higher alcohols and ethers

Methanol, higher alcohols and ethers are synthesized on a large scale over heterogeneous catalysts with specific functionalities. When copper is the key component of the methanol and higher alcohol catalysts, alkali promotion gives rise to dramatic enhancements of yields due to non-dissociative activation of CO and promotion of aldol coupling with reversal of oxygen retention. Ethers are formed from alcohols over solid acid catalysts, both organic sulfonic resins and inorganic compounds such as zeolites, by a preferential surface SN2 pathway. This is exemplified by 18O retention in reactions of two different alcohols, chirality inversion where asymmetric carbon is involved, and kinetics that reflect competition of the reactant alcohols for surface acid sites. Transition state shape selectivity is exemplified in the reaction of 2-pentanol and ethanol in H-ZSM-5 and selectivity due to orthogonality of the SN2 pathway to main channel direction in the formation of dimethyl ether in H-mordenite.
Is your TQM programme successful? A self‐assessment tool for managers

Develops a methodology, including a questionnaire and possible statistical analyses, to answer the question, “Has the implementation of the total quality management process been beneficial in helping my company improve its competitive position?” Empirical support can be gathered for this question which will allow managers to make informed decisions about the potential application of TQM. Continual use of the assessment will provide longitudinal data useful in benchmarking progress and making necessary implementation adjustments. Results can aid in company improvement as well as in theory development. Provides a discussion of the use of this methodology as well as ways to interpret the findings.
Approval of shareholder-sponsored proposals: Evidence from Canada

Abstract Little is known about shareholder voting at firms incorporated outside of the United States. Proposals sponsored at such firms and the voting patterns and factors associated with these proposals should conceivably be similar to those in the U.S. if the legal and governance structures of the countries are similar. We examine 264 shareholder proposals sponsored at Canadian firms between 2001 and 2005 in order to determine if differences created by the Canadian governance system, being more voluntary than that of the U.S. system, lead to differences in shareholder voting. We find many similarities between voting at the Canadian firms and those found in the literature for their U.S. counterparts, including some types of frequently submitted proposals and factors impacting the level of shareholder approval. However, unlike the concurrent literature on U.S. firms, we find very few majority approved proposals and a much lower overall level of affirmative voting returns.
Religion and Medicine at the Crossroads: A Re-Examination of the Southern Rhodesian Influenza Epidemic of 1918

This article seeks to explore the nexus of religion and medicine in accounting for African and missionary responses to the 1918 influenza epidemic in Southern Rhodesia. Africans' explanatory models drew on a much wider sphere – sacred, social and biological – than their missionary and colonial counterparts, and their experience of the affliction led to an epistemological rupture in these explanatory models, resulting in a crisis in faith. Missionaries' explanatory models derived primarily from biomedicine, but missionaries were highly strategic in emphasising the sacred nature of the epidemic when it came to the possibility of African conversion. The ambivalence engendered by these competing explanatory frameworks (biomedical and African vernacular) would ultimately lead to a rejection of both in the form of anti-medical movements.
Formation of Oligonucleotide Adducts in Pharmaceutical Formulations

During preformulation studies, we observed that oligonucleotide extracted from topical formulations contained considerable amounts of covalently modified oligonucleotide adducts. In this report, we describe the identification and characterization of reaction products that form when PS-oligodeoxyribonucleotide ISIS 2302 (1) is brought into contact with aqueous solutions of glycerol-derived excipients. Compatibility tests showed that the presence of certain glycerides in the formulation lead to adduct formation (1 + 58x amu, 1 + 72x amu, 1 + 58x + 72y amu, x, and y are the number of modifications on one oligonucleotide strand). No adduct formation was observed in the presence of triglycerides or propylene glycol–derived excipients used in the study. Using nucleosides as model compounds, two modifications of deoxyguanosine were isolated by preparative reversed phase (RP)-high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS). Modificat...
Central nervous system actions of atrial natriuretic factor

Abstract The recently discovered cardiac peptides, called atrial natriuretic factors (ANF), act peripherally as hormones which control fluid and electrolyte homeostasis. Their renal, adrenal and vascular effects are complemented by central nervous system (CNS) actions to inhibit vasopressin secretion, salt preference, and water intake, and to inhibit the CNS component of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. These central actions of ANF are thought to mirror physiological roles played by endogenous, neuronally derived ANF within the brain. ANF immunoreactivity and binding sites in the anterior pituitary gland and median eminence suggest, as well, neuroendocrine actions of the peptide. We have failed to observe direct pituitary effects of ANF on basal or stimulated pituitary hormone secretion, however, specific hypothalamic actions have been discovered. ANF infusions (IV or cerebroventricular) inhibit luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion via, at least in part, an opioid mechanism since naloxone pretreatment blocks the effect. Additionally ANF inhibits catecholamine stimulation of the release of LH-releasing factor in the median eminence. Direct effects of ANF on tuberoinfundibular dopamine neurons are suggested by the observation that the prolactin-inhibiting action of ANF is prevented by domperidone treatment and is absent following alpha methyl-p-tyrosine inhibition of tyrosine hydroxlyase activity. These recent results imply neuromodulatory actions of ANF within the CNS that are expressed via interaction with brain peptide and catecholamine systems.
Detection, diagnosis, and interventions for treatment of biliary complications in liver transplant patients: current state of the art

Learning Objectives We discuss the timing, incidence, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis and pitfalls in the management of (1) Strictures in living related and cadaveric transplant recipients and their distinguishing features, including an algorithm for management, dilation, manometry, and permanent and temporary metallic stent use, (2) Disappearing ducts, (3) Late ischemic necrotic ducts, and (4) Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. In addition, this exhibit will review: (4) The under-recognized limitations and clinical implications of MRCP and US imaging for stricture diagnosis, (5) Novel techniques for embolization of bile leaks, and (6) Interventions in stenotic or occluded transplant arteries and their impact upon subsequent biliary pathology. Background Orthotopic and living donor liver transplantation are the mainstays of therapy for end-stage liver disease and acute liver failure. The combined incidence of post-transplant biliary complications (all comers) has been reported as high as 34%, commonly warranting interventional management. Common problems include strictures, obstructive debris, and bilomas and bile leaks. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details While the incidence of post-transplant biliary strictures is 3-8% in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients, it still averages ≥25% in living donor (LDLT) recipients. The greatest risk factors for these adverse effects include biliary ischemia due to arterial insufficiency and surgical reconstruction techniques. Conventional imaging criteria (for MR, CT, and US) under-report clinically relevant obstruction, delaying potentially definitive intervention and organ preservation. Interventional and endoscopic dilation and drainage, and newer covered stents and devices can offer potentially durable first line therapies. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points Biliary complications remain a notable source of transplant morbidity. New results and interventional techniques warrant an updated review and approach to their comprehensive management.
Random utility and the preference for variety

Abstract In the literature of random utility maximization models, the preference for variety has been handled mainly by assumption of a stochastic choice parameter. The present model shows that a stochastic choice parameter can be determined in a model in which an agent is shown to have a deterministic preference for variety, as well as stable preferences for physical attributes of consumption choices.
Magnitude of negative impact of preoperative heart failure on mortality during aortic valve replacement in the medicare population.

Background In patients with severe aortic stenosis, the development of heart failure (HF) prior to aortic valve replacement (AVR) is associated with worse prognosis. We sought to quantify the effect of progressive HF on mortality during AVR in the Medicare population over a 10-year period. Methods Medicare beneficiaries 65 or greater years of age who underwent primary isolated AVR from 2000 through 2009 were included (n = 114,135). Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards were used to model adjusted operative mortality (OM) and long-term survival, according to the presence of preoperative HF and its duration (≤ 3 vs > 3 months). Results The incidence of preoperative comorbidities was high, and it was higher in patients with preoperative HF, compared with those without. Preoperative HF dramatically increased adjusted OM, odds ratio (OR) 1.57 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.48 to 1.67). Preoperative HF greater than 3 months conferred a significant increase in adjusted OM compared with HF 3 months or less, OR 1.43 (95% CI, 1.32 to 1.55). Similarly, preoperative HF increased the likelihood of long-term mortality by 50%, hazard ratio (HR) 1.48 (95% CI, 1.45 to 1.51). Long-term mortality was higher for patients with longer duration of preoperative HF as compared with those without preoperative HF, HR 1.81 (95% CI, 1.75 to 1.87) and compared with patients with HF 3 months or less, HR 1.26 (95% CI, 1.23 to 1.30). Conclusions The magnitude of the negative impact of preoperative HF on operative mortality and long-term survival of elderly patients undergoing primary isolated AVR is significant with 50% increased likelihood of adverse outcome. Duration of preoperative HF is also significantly related to mortality. These data support AVR in the elderly prior to the development of HF.
The De-cosmopolitanization of the Russian Diaspora: A View from Brooklyn in the "Far Abroad"

Diaspora communities emphasize different aspects of their complex cultural repertoires—whether by choice or by necessity—as they insert themselves culturally and politically into their host countri...
A novel resonant-cavity intensity modulator with pure linear response

A resonant cavity interferometric intensity modulator with pure linear response is proposed and the first experimental demonstration is presented. This modulator has multi-gigahertz bandwidth and potentially infinite spurious free dynamic range.
Student Resistance to Schooling: Disconnections With Education in Rural Appalachia

This study investigates student reasons for resisting engagement with school in a rural Appalachian area. The concept of student resistance to school is considered within a White, working-class student population. Through classroom observations, students displaying resistant behaviors were selected to participate in interviews. Coding of interview data and comparisons with observation data resulted in three main themes: family values and expectations, quality and relevance of education, and misunderstandings between teachers and students. These themes underscore the various tensions experienced by students whose schools encourage higher education and abstract concepts, but whose parents encourage values of family and vocational work. Thus, the students do not value the education provided by the school, leading to disengagement and misunderstandings with teachers. The article includes implications and recommendations for schools to reverse the negative perception of resistance and use student resistance as a conversation for critical change.
Multi-scale system reliability analysis of lifeline networks under earthquake hazards

Recent earthquake events evidenced that damage of structural components in a lifeline network may cause prolonged disruption of lifeline services, which eventually results in significant socio-economic losses in the affected area. Despite recent advances in network reliability analysis, the complexity of the problem and various uncertainties still make it a challenging task to evaluate the post-hazard performance and connectivity of lifeline networks efficiently and accurately. In order to overcome such challenges and take advantage of merits of multi-scale analysis, this paper develops a multi-scale system reliability analysis method by integrating a network decomposition approach with the matrix-based system reliability (MSR) method. In addition to facilitating system reliability analysis of large-size networks, the multi-scale approach enables optimizing the level of computational effort on subsystems; identifying the relative importance of components and subsystems at multiple scales; and providing a collaborative risk management framework. The MSR method is uniformly applied for system reliability analyses at both the lower-scale (for link failure) and the higher-scale (for system connectivity) to obtain the probability of general system events, various conditional probabilities, component importance measures, statistical correlation between subsystem failures and parameter sensitivities. The proposed multi-scale analysis method is demonstrated by its application to a gas distribution network in Shelby County of Tennessee. A parametric study is performed to determine the number of segments during the lower-scale MSR analysis of each pipeline based on the strength of the spatial correlation of seismic intensity. It is shown that the spatial correlation should be considered at both scales for accurate reliability evaluation. The proposed multi-scale analysis approach provides an effective framework of risk assessment and decision support for lifeline networks under earthquake hazards. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Radiation dosimetry and biodistribution of 99mTc-ethylene dicysteine-deoxyglucose in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose To assess the radiation dosimetry and biodistribution of 99mTc-labeled ethylene dicysteine deoxyglucose (99mTc-EC-DG) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Chimera: hypermedia for heterogeneous software development enviroments

Emerging software development environments are characterized by heterogeneity: they are composed of diverse object stores, user interfaces, and tools. This paper presents an approach for providing hypermedia services in this heterogeneous setting. Central notions of the approach include the following: anchors are established with respect to interactive views of objects, rather than the objects themselves; composable, n-ary links can be established between anchors on different views of objects which may be stored in distinct object bases; viewers may be implemented in different programming languages; and, hypermedia services are provided to multiple, concurrently active, viewers. The paper describes the approach, supporting architecture, and lessons learned. Related work in the areas of supporing heterogeneity and hypermedia data modeling is discussed. The system has been employed in a variety of contexts including research, development, and education.
THEORY OF MARINE COMMUNITIES: COMPETITION, PREDATION, AND RECRUITMENT-DEPENDENT INTERACTION STRENGTH

Of the marine animals that spend their adult lives inhabiting benthic communities, most have a planktonic larval phase. In this paper, we derive the relationship between the physical oceanographic processes that transport these larvae and the strength of species interactions in the benthic habitat. We review a model of hierarchical competition for space between two species with planktonic larvae and develop a model for predator–prey dynamics in which prey are space-limited. Lotka-Volterra approximations to these models are developed. The approximations provide per capita interaction strength (the effect of an individual of one species on the per capita growth rate of another) and population interaction strength (the effect of a population of one species on the per capita growth rate of another) as functions of parameters in the original model. Per capita and population interaction strengths of dominant competitors on subordinates decrease in magnitude as offshore advection of larvae increases. The per cap...
A COMPARISON OF SYNOPTIC CLASSIFICATION SCHEMES BASED ON 'OBJECTIVE' PROCEDURES

Various ‘objective’ methods of classifying the atmospheric circulation are compared in order to determine whether the different methods result in similar groupings of circulation types, and also to examine the question of how much subjectivity is present in each of the typing schemes. The results indicate a high degree of subjectivity within each approach and that the different classification schemes do give rise to the production of different synoptic types. A method which groups days based on the sum of squares difference between cases (Kirchhofer method) gives the best overall classification, but only classifies 80 per cent of the days. A technique that clusters days based on principal component scores gives a larger mean sum of squares difference between the type patterns and the individual cases, but classifies all of the days.
Motivating students to learn biology vocabulary with wikipedia.

Timely learning of specialized science vocabulary is critical for building a solid knowledge base in any scientific discipline. To motivate students to dedicate time and effort mastering biology vocabulary, I have designed a vocabulary exercise utilizing the popular web encyclopedia Wikipedia. The exercise creates an opportunity for students to connect the challenge of vocabulary learning to a prior positive experience of self-guided learning using a content source they are familiar and comfortable with.
CD1d-restricted Human Natural Killer T Cells Are Highly Susceptible to Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 Infection

Human natural killer (NK) T cells are unique T lymphocytes that express an invariant T cell receptor (TCR) Vα24-Vβ11 and have been implicated to play a role in various diseases. A subset of NKT cells express CD4 and hence are potential targets for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. We demonstrate that both resting and activated human Vα24+ T cells express high levels of the HIV-1 coreceptors CCR5 and Bonzo (CXCR6), but low levels of CCR7, as compared with conventional T cells. Remarkably NKT cells activated with α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)-pulsed dendritic cells were profoundly more susceptible to infection with R5-tropic, but not X4-tropic, strains of HIV-1, compared with conventional CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, resting CD4+ NKT cells were also more susceptible to infection. After initial infection, HIV-1 rapidly replicated and depleted the CD4+ subset of NKT cells. In addition, peripheral blood NKT cells were markedly and selectively depleted in HIV-1 infected individuals. Although the mechanisms of this decline are not clear, low numbers or absence of NKT cells may affect the course of HIV-1 infection. Taken together, our findings indicate that CD4+ NKT cells are directly targeted by HIV-1 and may have a potential role during viral transmission and spread in vivo.
A Face Only an Investor Could Love CEOs’ Facial Structure Predicts Their Firms’ Financial Performance

Researchers have theorized that innate personal traits are related to leadership success. Although links between psychological characteristics and leadership success have been well established, research has yet to identify any objective physical traits of leaders that predict organizational performance. In the research reported here, we identified leaders’ facial structure as a specific physical trait that correlates with organizational performance. Specifically, we found that firms whose male CEOs have wider faces (relative to facial height) achieve superior financial performance. Decision-making dynamics within a firm’s leadership team moderate this effect, such that the relationship between a given CEO’s facial measurements and his firm’s financial performance is stronger in firms with cognitively simple leadership teams.
DIRECT INSTRUCTION IN PROCESSING METAPHORS

Two experiments were conducted to explore the efficacy of instruction with third-grade subjects in processing metaphors based on the principles of the direct explicit teaching of reading comprehension and current metaphor theory. In Experiment 1, process instruction was validated. In Experiment 2, process instruction was compared to traditional basal instruction in the context of a unit on metaphor. Statistically significant differences were found in favor of process instruction. The psychological processes involved in metaphorical interpretation are discussed and directions for future research suggested. Metaphor has long been the subject of speculation and research in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, linguistics, literature, and cognitive psychology. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between the theory and practice of metaphor by employing the tenets of one theory of metaphor, the salience imbalance hypothesis (Ortony, Vondruska, Foss, & Jones, 1985), and the principles underlying the direct explicit teaching of reading comprehension (e.g., Pearson, 1984; Roehler, Duffy, & Meloth, in press) to see if young children could actually be taught to interpret metaphors.
Stochastic convergence of optimal bounding ellipsoid algorithms

Given appropriate persistency of excitation, the ellipsoidal seta associated with optimal bounding ellipsoid (OBE) algorithms with an interpretable optimization (volume) criterion, converge to a point under the condition that the model disturbance process visit the error bounds infinitely often. The spectral properties of the disturbance are not primary in the convergence behavior of OBE algorithms, rendering these identifiers distinctly different from the structurally similar RLS. Rigorous proof of the sufficiency of the "infinite visitation" property is given for both independent and correlated noise. In the colored noise case, it is shown that a mixing condition on the observations will assure convergence if the OBE algorithm is slightly modified. Examples of simulations are used to illustrate the theoretical developments.
I. R. INTERNAL REFLECTION SPECTROELECTROCHEMICAL STUDY OF CALCAREOUS DEPOSITS AT THE CATHODE IN SEA-WATER*

I.R. internal reflection spectroelectrochemical techniques, along with X-ray spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy, have been applied to the investigation of calcareous deposits formed during cathodic protection of germanium in sea-water. Indirect evidence is presented suggesting that the pH at the solution-electrode interface was substantially greater than 10, perhaps even above 12, under concentration polarization control. The calcareous films obtained consisted of mixed calcium and magnesium carbonates, hydroxides and sulfates, interspersed with K, Mg and Ge hydrated chloride complexes.
On the Mix of Satellites and Cables in the Global Network

Comparative economics of satellites and submarine cables were established by studying eight countries where the foreign carrier was presumed to have a choice of either medium for extending its communications facilities. The conclusion is that both satellites and submarine cables are very profitable to the user. The differences in profitability of the two media are not very large, and in most cases favor satellites by a small margin. In general, the annual cost of cables is smaller, but satellites bring in more revenue. When clear economic advantages are absent, other criteria for choice will emerge. For operational reasons-flexibility, reliability, and avoidance of long time delay-a combination of satellite and cable connections is preferable and likely to continue.
Encoding regulatory state boundaries in the pregastrular oral ectoderm of the sea urchin embryo

By gastrulation the ectodermal territories of the sea urchin embryo have developed an unexpectedly complex spatial pattern of sharply bounded regulatory states, organized orthogonally with respect to the animal/vegetal and oral/aboral axes of the embryo. Although much is known of the gene regulatory network (GRN) linkages that generate these regulatory states, the principles by which the boundaries between them are positioned and maintained have remained undiscovered. Here we determine the encoded genomic logic responsible for the boundaries of the oral aspect of the embryo that separate endoderm from ectoderm and ectoderm from neurogenic apical plate and that delineate the several further subdivisions into which the oral ectoderm per se is partitioned. Comprehensive regulatory state maps, including all spatially expressed oral ectoderm regulatory genes, were established. The circuitry at each boundary deploys specific repressors of regulatory states across the boundary, identified in this work, plus activation by broadly expressed positive regulators. These network linkages are integrated with previously established interactions on the oral/aboral axis to generate a GRN model encompassing the 2D organization of the regulatory state pattern in the pregastrular oral ectoderm of the embryo.
HORSE HEART CYTOCHROME c AS AN ELECTRON ACCEPTOR FROM CHLOROPHYLL TRIPLET IN NEGATIVELY CHARGED LIPID BILAYER VESICLES

— Cytochrome c has been shown to bind via electrostatic interactions to egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles which contain 5–30 mol percent of negatively-charged surfactant (dihexadecylphosphate) in a low ionic strength medium. Under these conditions the oxidized cytochrome can function as a direct one-electron acceptor from membrane-bound triplet state chlorophyll to produce chlorophyll cation radical and reduced cytochrome. Kinetic experiments using laser flash photolysis have demonstrated that triplet quenching and the yield of electron transfer products increase, and product lifetime decreases, with an increase in the magnitude of the negative charge on the vesicles, and with a decrease in the ionic strength of the medium. Both triplet quenching and product formation rates and yields showed saturation behavior as the cytochrome concentration was increased, and reached limiting values at 20–30 μM cytochrome when the vesicle contained 20 mol percent of the negatively-charged surfactant. This behavior is interpreted in terms of saturation of the vesicle surface binding sites. Under optimum conditions in this system, approximately 20% of the chlorophyll triplet molecules could be converted to electron transfer products which had a halftime for the reverse reaction of approximately 1.5 ms.
Stereo+Kinect for High Resolution Stereo Correspondences

In this work, we combine the complementary depth sensors Kinect and stereo image matching to obtain high quality correspondences. Our goal is to obtain a dense disparity map at the spatial and depth resolution of the stereo cameras (4-12 MP). We propose a global optimization scheme, where both the data and smoothness costs are derived using sensor confidences and low resolution geometry from Kinect. A spatially varying search range is used to limit the number of potential disparities at each pixel. The smoothness prior is Based on available low resolution depth from Kinect rather than image gradients, thus performing better in both textured areas with smooth depth and texture-less areas with depth gradient. We also propose a spatially varying smoothness weight to better handle occlusion areas, and the relative contribution of the two energy terms. We demonstrate how the two sensors can be effectively fused to obtain correct scene depth in ambiguous areas, as well as fine structural details in textured areas.
Experimental confirmation of effectiveness of fenestration in acute aortic dissection

Abstract Background . Aortic fenestration is used clinically to treat organ ischemia in acute descending aortic dissection. However, fenestration has not been studied experimentally. This study does so using an animal model. Methods . Descending aortic dissection was created in six dogs, with subsequent fenestration of the infrarenal aorta. Blood flow (femoral, cephalic, and renal), blood pressure (femoral and carotid), and aortic distensibility were measured at baseline, after dissection, and after fenestration. Values were compared using paired t tests. Results . Baseline femoral, cephalic, and renal arterial flows were 53 ± 37, 78 ± 65, and 83 ± 52 mL/min, respectively. Baseline femoral and carotid pressures were 82 ± 13 and 81 ± 11 mm Hg, respectively. After dissection, femoral, cephalic, and renal arterial flow decreased to 20 ± 21 ( p p p p p p Conclusions . Experimental aortic fenestration restored blood pressure and flow to hypoperfused organs in acute descending aortic dissection. The continued clinical application of fenestration is supported.
A Sweat‐Patch Test for Alcohol Consumption: Evaluation in Continuous and Episodic Drinkers

We evaluated the sweat-patch test for its ability to detect alcohol consumption. During an 8-day study, volunteers drank whisky while wearing sweat-patches that collected sweat continuously at a steady rate. We offered 1.0, 2.0, or 5.0 g ethanol/kg/day to 6 continuous drinkers, and 5.0 g ethanol/kg/day for 2 days to 8 episodic drinkers, and removed sweat patches after 2, 4, 6, and 8 days. The concentration of ethanol in the collected sweat (Cs) rose: (1) progressively with the amount of alcohol consumed: and (2) linearly with the mean concentration of ethanol in the blood (Cb) during the sweat collection period (In Cs = 0.80 In Cb - 1.40; r = 0.93, p 0.0067 G/L when 0.5 G ethanol/kg/day consumed and when Cb > 0.013 G/L). The sweat patch test provides an objective index of drinking behavior with potential applications in clinical practice and research.
Drug/diet synergy for managing malignant astrocytoma in mice: 2-deoxy-D-glucose and the restricted ketogenic diet.

Background: Astrocytomas are largely dependent on glycolysis to satisfy their bioenergetic requirements for growth and survival. Therapies that target glycolysis can potentially manage astrocytoma growth and progression. Dietary restriction of the high fat/low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (KD-R) reduces glycolysis and is effective in managing experimental mouse and human astrocytomas. The non-metabolizable glucose analogue, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), is a potent glycolytic inhibitor that can mimic effects of energy restriction both in vitro and in vivo, but can also produce adverse effects when administered at doses greater than 200 mg/kg. The goal here was to determine if low doses of 2-DG could act synergistically with the KD-R to better manage growth of the CT-2A malignant mouse astrocytoma. Methods: The therapeutic effect of a KD-R supplemented with a low dose of 2-DG (25 mg/kg) was examined in adult C57BL/6J mice bearing the syngeneic CT-2A malignant astrocytoma grown orthotopically. Mice were fed the standard unrestricted diet for the first 3 days after tumor implantation prior to their separation into one of four diet groups fed either a standard rodent diet in unrestricted amounts (SD-UR) or a KD-R with or without 2-DG for 10 days. The KD-R was restricted to reduce body weight by about 20%. 2-DG was initiated 6 days after tumor implantation and was continued for 7 days. Brain tumors were excised and weighed. Results: Energy intake, body weights, and CT-2A tumor weights were similar in the SD-UR and the SD-UR+2-2DG mouse groups over the dietary treatment period (days 3–13). Tumor weights were about 48% and 80% lower in the KD-R and in the KD-R+2-DG groups, respectively, than in the SD-UR group. Mouse health and vitality was better in the KD-R group than in the KD-R+2-DG group. Conclusion: Astrocytoma growth was reduced more in the KD-R mouse group supplemented with 2-DG than in the mouse groups receiving either dietary restriction or 2-DG alone, indicating a synergistic interaction between the drug and the diet. The results suggest that management of malignant astrocytoma with restricted ketogenic diets could be enhanced when combined with drugs that inhibit glycolysis.
A Framework for the Statistical Analysis of Large Radar and Lightning Datasets: Results from STEPS 2000

AbstractA framework for the statistical analysis of large radar and lightning datasets is described and implemented in order to analyze two research questions in atmospheric electricity: storms dominated by positive cloud-to-ground (+CG) lightning and estimating the probability of lightning in convection. The framework—a collection of computer programs running in series—is fully modular, allowing the analysis of a variety of datasets based on a study’s objectives, including radar observations, lightning data, observations of meteorological environments, and other data. The framework has been applied to over 2 months of observations of 28 463 cells. The results suggest that +CG-dominated cells contain midlevel positive charge (−10° to −30°C), in contrast to cells dominated by −CG lightning, which typically had positive charge at upper (near −40°C) and lower levels (0° to −10°C). The +CG cells also were larger and more intense, and were associated with environments that were more convectively favorable—in t...