cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Peer academic reputation in elementary school : Associations with changes in self-concept and academic skills

The developmental significance of children's academic reputation among peers was examined in a longitudinal study of 400 children in Grades 3, 4, and 5. In the fall of Year 1, teachers rated children's academic skills and behavior, and peers provided nominations describing classmates' academic skills, social acceptance versus rejection, and aggressive behavior. In the fall and spring of Year 1, children provided reports of their academic self-concept, social self-concept, and global self-worth. In the fall of Year 2, teachers rated children's academic skills. Results indicated that 4 items assessing peer academic reputation formed an internally consistent scale that was correlated moderately and distinctively with teacher-rated academic skills. Peer academic reputation and teacher-rated academic skills each contributed independently to the prediction of fall-to-spring changes in children's academic self-concept. Peer academic reputation and academic self-concept contributed uniquely to the prediction of changes in teacher-rated academic effort and skills over a 1-year period.
Morbidity and mortality conference: a survey of academic internal medicine departments.

This study sought to determine the prevalence and characteristics of morbidity and mortality conferences (M&MCs) in U.S. internal medicine training programs. Two hundred ninety-five of 416 (71%) surveys were returned. Ninety percent of programs have an M&MC. Most meet monthly, have a designated leader, and entail case discussions of 3 or fewer patients. Cases are selected on the basis of unexpected bad outcomes, teaching value, and to a lesser extent, suspected medical error. Two thirds of the sites use M&MCs to meet administrative requirements for quality assurance. M&MC, while prevalent in internal medicine training programs, has a heterogeneity of focus. Hence, the goals and role of the conference, as judged by this survey, do not appear to be well defined and may warrant further clarification.
Cell biology: divining cancer cell weaknesses.

Tumour cells tend to carry many gene mutations, but at a potential cost to their overall fitness. Studying the interactions between genes on a large scale could be a way of identifying the chinks in the tumour cell armour.
Base incorporation and extension at a site-specific ethenocytosine by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I Klenow fragment

Abstract Ethenocytosine (ϵC) is a highly mutagenic exocyclic DNA lesion induced by carcinogens vinyl chloride and urethane. We have examined base incorporation and extension at a site-specific ϵC residue by a quantitative gel electrophoretic assay using an exonuclease-deficient version of Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I (Klenow fragment) as the model enzyme. The data show that the Km for incorporation of adenine or thymine opposite ϵC by is about 5 orders of magnitude higher than that for the incorporation of guanine opposite normal cytosine. The KM for base extension past ϵC:A and ϵC:T pairs is 1–2 orders of magnitude higher than that observed for a C:G pair. Although adenine misinsertion is favored over that of thymine, base extension occurs more rapidly when the base incorporated opposite ϵC is thymine.
A treatise on crash sensing for automotive air bag systems

Car air bags are effective safety features, but have caused some fatalities and injuries. An essential focus of potential enhancements ("smart air bags") centers around crash sensing. This paper provides a basic yet thorough discussion of underlying technical challenges and design approaches for the subject matter. Mechanical sensors are analyzed to reveal their functioning characteristics. Discussions of design approaches for electronic sensor are elaborated with analysis of sensing algorithms. Subsequently, the shortcomings of current systems are cited. Definitions and compositions of smart air bags are then summarized. Included in the discussions are occupant sensing and integrated systems. Also presented is a perspective on system design of occupant restraints that relates to the concept of energy management. The implementation of air bags and related occupant restraints requires extensive knowledge from various engineering disciplines, in particular mechanical, chemical, electrical, and increasingly electronic expertise. The market is evolving toward a greater usage of electronic contents. The demand of advanced functions is stimulating the integration of various sensing technologies.
THE MECHANICAL POWER OUTPUT OF A CRAB RESPIRATORY MUSCLE

Summary The mechanical power output was measured from scaphognathite (SG = gill bailer) muscle L2B of the crab Carcinus maenas (L.). The work was determined from the area of the loop formed by plotting muscle length against force when the muscle was subjected to sinusoidal length change (strain) and phasic stimulation in the length cycle. The stimulation pattern (10 stimuli per burst, burst length = 20 % of cycle length) mimicked that which has been recorded from muscle L2B in intact animals. Work output was measured at cycle frequencies ranging from 0-5 to 5 Hz. The work output at optimum strain and stimulus phase increased with increasing cycle frequency to a maximum at 2-3 Hz and declined thereafter. The maximum work per cycle was 2-7 J kg" 1 (15 °C). The power output reached a maximum (8-8 W kg" 1 ) at 4 Hz. Both optimum strain and optimum stimulus phase were relatively constant over the range of burst frequencies examined. Based on the fraction of the total SG musculature represented by muscle L2B (18%) and literature values for the oxygen consumption associated with ventilation in C. maenas and for the hydraulic power output from an SG, we estimate that at a beat frequency of 2 Hz the SG muscle is about 10 % efficient in converting metabolic energy to muscle power, and about 19 % efficient in converting muscle power to hydraulic power.
Creating collections with automatic suggestions and example-based refinement

To create collections, like music playlists from personal media libraries, users today typically do one of two things. They either manually select items one-by-one, which can be time consuming, or they use an example-based recommendation system to automatically generate a collection. While such automatic engines are convenient, they offer the user limited control over how items are selected. Based on prior research and our own observations of existing practices, we propose a semi-automatic interface for creating collections that combines automatic suggestions with manual refinement tools. Our system includes a keyword query interface for specifying high-level collection preferences (e.g., "some rock, no Madonna, lots of U2,") as well as three example-based collection refinement techniques: 1) a suggestion widget for adding new items in-place in the context of the collection; 2) a mechanism for exploring alternatives for one or more collection items; and 3) a two-pane linked interface that helps users browse their libraries based on any selected collection item. We demonstrate our approach with two applications. SongSelect helps users create music playlists, and PhotoSelect helps users select photos for sharing. Initial user feedback is positive and confirms the need for semi-automated tools that give users control over automatically created collections.
MAGNETIC RESONANCE STUDIES OF SELENIUM CONTAINING COMPOUNDS

Abstract The utility of selenium-77 nuclear magnetic resonance in studying the properties of a range of selenium-containing compounds from small organoselenium molecules to macromolecules which contain selenium bound covalently is discussed. Relaxation times, chemical shifts and spin-spin coupling constants are all useful indicators of structure, function and bonding in these systems. The origin of selenium-77 chemical shifts in organoselenium compounds as a function of the polarizability of the selenium electron cloud and the well-known y-effect are explored. Finally, the use of selenium-77 NMR spectroscopy in investigating biochemical systems is illustrated. For example, we show that selenium-containing inhibitors and substrates reflect the mechanism of their binding to enzymes as a result of the sensitivity of the selenium-77 chemical shift.
Immunotoxicological profile of chloramine in female B6C3F1 mice when administered in the drinking water for 28 days.

Monochloramine has been used to provide a disinfecting residual in water distribution systems where it is difficult to maintain an adequate free-chlorine residual or where disinfection by-product formation is of concern. The goal of this study was to characterize the immunotoxic effects of chloramine in female B6C3F1 mice when administered via the drinking water. Mice were exposed to chloramine-containing deionized tap water at 2, 10, 20, 100, or 200 ppm for 28 days. No statistically significant differences in drinking water consumption, body weight, body weight gain, organ weights, or hematological parameters between the exposed and control animals were noted during the experimental period. There were no changes in the percentages and numbers of total B-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, natural killer (NK) cells, and macrophages in the spleen. Exposure to chloramine did not affect the IgM antibody-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) or anti-SRBC IgM antibody produ...
Fiducial registration for tracking systems that employ coordinate reference frames

An algorithm is presented that is designed for image-guidance systems that employ coordinate reference frames. It is common in image-guided surgery (IGS) to use a tracking system to determine the position of fiducial markers in physical space. Typically a “Coordinate Reference Frame” (CRF), is also employed, which is rigidly attached to the object being tracked. The positions of markers attached to the object are then measured in physical space relative to the CRF, and hence it is acceptable to allow the object to move during tracking. It is known that errors are introduced while localizing markers in image space and also while localizing markers in physical space using a probe. The use of a CRF causes additional error, which is anisotropic in nature and varies with the position of the marker being tracked relative to the CRF. This additional error has heretofore not been accounted for in the process of registering image space to physical space. We present in this paper a new rigid-body, point-based registration algorithm that accounts for the fiducial localization errors that arise in tracking systems that employ a coordinate reference frame. Simulations are presented that show that for such systems the new algorithm has the capability to perform better than the standard registration algorithm. The effect is enhanced for small CRFs and for marker configurations that are widely spaced relative to their mean distance from the CRF.
Synthesis and polymerization of vinylbenzylphosphonate diethyl ester

Preparation du monomere par reaction d'Arbusov a partir du chlorure de (vinyl-) benzyle. Polymerisation radicalaire
An equivalent-square formula for head-scatter factors.

A simple formula is evaluated for calculating the equivalent square collimator setting that gives the same headscatter factor as a given rectangular field. The expression requires that one parameter is determined experimentally. It is found that one single value of this parameter can be used for the six x‐ray beams studied (two accelerators, two energies, with and without wedge).
Stress distribution in the proximal femur after surface replacement: effects of prosthesis and surgical techniques.

The increasing number of reported femoral neck fractures following surface replacement indicates a potentially serious problem in this procedure. A comparison of the stress levels in the proximal femur before and after hip surface replacement was made using the finite element technique. A proposed surgical bone graft procedure utilizing a strut of cortical bone placed through the femoral head into the neck to help support the surface replacement was also studied as an adjunct for use in avascular necrosis. The findings indicate that stress magnitudes and distributions in the proximal femur are markedly altered after surface replacement when compared to a femur without a prosthesis. Stress levels in the femoral head with surface replacement were found to be significantly lowered suggesting future problems with stress shielding. Lateral neck stresses were found to be equal to or greater than stress levels in the femur without a prosthesis. Stress orientation in the femoral neck is also markedly altered. Sur...
Effect of hoop stress fracture on micromotion of textured ingrowth stems for radial head replacement.

Background Successful bone ingrowth around cementless implants requires adequate initial stability. Hoop stress fractures during stem insertion can potentially hinder prosthesis stability. Hypothesis We hypothesized that an oversized radial head prosthetic stem (1 mm “too large” and causing a hoop stress fracture during insertion) would result in an unacceptable amount of micromotion. Materials and methods Grit-blasted radial head prosthetic stems were implanted into cadaveric radii. Rasp and stem insertion energies were measured, along with micromotion at the stem tip. The sizes were increased until a fracture developed in the radial neck. Results Prosthetic radial head stems that were oversized by 1 mm caused small cracks in the radial neck. Micromotion of oversized stems (42 ± 7 μm) was within the threshold conducive for bone ingrowth ( P ≥ .4). Discussion Contrary to our hypothesis, hoop stress fractures caused by implantation of a stem oversized by 1 mm did not result in loss of stability. Stem micromotion remained within the range for bone ingrowth and was not significantly diminished after the fracture. This suggests that if a crack occurs during the final stages of stem insertion, it may be acceptable to leave the stem in place without adding a cerclage wire. Conclusion A small radial neck fracture occurring during insertion of a radial head prosthetic stem oversized by 1 mm does not necessarily compromise initial stability.
Self-phase-locked divide-by-2 optical parametric oscillator as a broadband frequency comb source

We investigate, both theoretically and experimentally, spectral, temporal, and coherence properties of a degenerate synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator (SPOPO) as a divide-by-2 subharmonic generator. Periodically poled lithium niobate was used as the nonlinear gain medium and 180 fs pulses from a mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser as the pump. A regime of stable SPOPO operation at degeneracy was achieved, where the SPOPO longitudinal modes were phase-locked to the pump, even without active cavity-length stabilization. Phase locking was confirmed by interference measurements between the pump and the frequency-doubled optical parametric oscillator output, as well as by beat frequency measurements using an independent continuous-wave laser. We have found that the stability range of such a phase-locked state, with respect to external perturbations, increased with the pump power and decreased with the cavity Q at a constant number of times above threshold, in excellent agreement with our model based on coupled nonlinear wave equations. At degeneracy (around 1550 nm), the SPOPO produced 70 fs output pulses with the full width at half-maximum spectral width of 210 cm−1, which manifests significant pulse compression and spectral broadening with respect to the pump laser.
Song-induced ZENK gene expression in auditory pathways of songbird brain and its relation to the song control system

The ZENK gene encodes a zinc-finger-containing transcriptional regulator and can be rapidly activated in songbird brain by presentation of birdsong (Mello et al., 1992). Here we map the areas of the songbird forebrain that show this genomic response to birdsong, using in situ hybridization. After 30 min of song presentation ZENK mRNA levels reach a peak in the caudomedial telencephalon, in areas adjacent to or closely related with primary auditory structures. These areas include subfields of field L (L1 and L3), the caudomedial neostriatum (NCM), the caudomedial hyperstriatum ventrale (CMHV) anterior to field L, the caudal paleostriatum, and two field L targets, HVC shelf and RA cup. In contrast, ZENK induction is absent in some areas that show a response to song by other measures and where ZENK induction might have been expected. These include the direct thalamo-recipient field L subfield L2, and the nuclei of the circuit involved in the acquisition and production of learned song. These results demonstrate that ZENK induction following song presentation occurs only in a subset of areas physiologically activated by song, and draw attention to areas previously unsuspected as related to processing of complex auditory stimuli. Based on what is known about ZENK function in mammalian systems (Christy et al., 1989; Cole et al., 1989; Wisden et al., 1990), we speculate that areas revealed by ZENK induction might correspond to sites where critical neuronal modifications occur in response to birdsong presentation, possibly leading to the formation of song-related memories.
Time-scaled coordination of multiple manipulators

Coordinating multiple manipulators in a shared workspace while considering their dynamics is an important problem. This problem of collision-free coordination arises in assembly, materials transfer, and welding workcells. Previous approaches that considered robot dynamics have typically been restricted to coordinating just two or three manipulators, even when their paths are specified. We address the task of coordinating the motions of multiple manipulators when either their trajectories or their paths are given. By exploiting a fundamental time scaling law for manipulators based on their dynamics, we identify sufficient conditions for collision-free coordination of the robots when the velocity profiles can be uniformly time-scaled and the robot start times can be varied. We describe an approach that develops mixed integer programming formulations of these problems, where the time scaling factors are linear variables, to automatically minimize completion time. This method can potentially coordinate the motions of many manipulators.
Some remarks on the problem of drainage of fluids on vertical surfaces

Prediction of the thickness of the liquid film during draining of the liquid on a vertical surface has considerable importance in various practical cases such as in lubrication, in drainage and in estimation of the amount of liquid adhering to walls of pipetes, burettes, and capillary viscometers after emptying. The thickness of the liquid film draining from a vertical surface depends upon the interrelationship among surface tension, the gravitational force, and the viscous force. The effect of surface tension depends upon the curvature of the outer surface of the liquid layer which can be expressed as the change of the coating thickness h with height. For the case of a flat plate which is partially immersed in the liquid, the change of thickness with distance from the top will be relatively small at places well above the main surface of the liquid bath. However, near the bath surface the
Global practical stabilization of third order integrator chain with actuator saturation and input additive disturbances

In this paper, third order integrator chain system with actuator saturation and input additive disturbance is considered. A nonlinear state feedback law is proposed such that the closed-loop system is globally practically stabilized. Effectiveness of the proposed control law will be shown through simulation.
Assisted living expansion and the market for nursing home care.

Objective To analyze the effect of market-level changes in assisted living supply on nursing home utilization and resident acuity. Data Sources Primary data on the supply of assisted living over time were collected from 13 states from 1993 through 2007 and merged with nursing home-level data from the Online Survey Certification and Reporting System and market-level information from the Area Resource File. Study Design Least squares regression specification incorporating market and time-fixed effects. Principal Findings A 10 percent increase in assisted living capacity led to a 1.4 percent decline in private-pay nursing home occupancy and a 0.2–0.6 percent increase in patient acuity. Conclusions Assisted living serves as a potential substitute for nursing home care for some healthier individuals with greater financial resources, suggesting implications for policy makers, providers, and consumers.
TinySeRSync: secure and resilient time synchronization in wireless sensor networks

Accurate and synchronized time is crucial in many sensor network applications due to the need for consistent distributed sensing and coordination. In hostile environments where an adversary may attack the networks and/or the applications through external or compromised nodes, time synchronization becomes an attractive target due to its importance. This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of TinySeRSync, a secure and resilient time synchronization subsystem for wireless sensor networks running TinyOS. This paper makes three contributions: First, it develops a secure single-hop pairwise time synchronization technique using hardware-assisted, authenticated medium access control (MAC) layer timestamping. Unlike the previous attempts, this technique can handle high data rate such as those produced by MICAz motes (in contrast to those by MICA2 motes). Second, this paper develops a secure and resilient global time synchronization protocol based on a novel use of the μTESLA broadcast authentication protocol for local authenticated broadcast, resolving the conflict between the goal of achieving time synchronization with μTESLA-based broadcast authentication and the fact that μTESLA requires loose time synchronization. The resulting protocol is secure against external attacks and resilient against compromised nodes. The third contribution consists of an implementation of the proposed techniques on MICAz motes running TinyOS and a thorough evaluation through field experiments in a network of 60 MICAz motes.
A New Species in the Ibatia Species Complex in Matelea s. l. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae: Asclepiadeae) from Colombia

A new species of Matelea s.l. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae, Asclepiadeae, Gonolobinae) is described from coastal Colombia: Matelea dugandii. The species belongs to the Ibatia species complex in Matelea s.l., but exhibits distinct differences in floral characters from previously known taxa, particularly in the terminal style-head appendage. An updated key to members of the complex in northern South America and the West Indies is provided, including M. cumanensis, M. fontana, M. maritima, M. pacifica, and M. rubra.
Impacted Science: Impact Is Not Importance

ABSTRACT The journal impact factor (IF) exerts a tremendous influence on the conduct of scientists. The obsession with IF has been compared to a medical condition, sometimes referred to as “IF mania” or “impactitis.” Here, we analyze the difference between impact and importance, using examples from the history of science to show that these are not equivalent. If impact does not necessarily equal importance, but scientists are focused on high-impact work, there is a danger that misuse of the IF may adversely affect scientific progress. We suggest five measures to fight this malady: (i) diversify journal club selections, (ii) do not judge science on the publication venue, (iii) reduce the reliance on journal citation metrics for employment and advancement, (iv) discuss the misuse of the IF in ethics courses, and (v) cite the most appropriate sources. If IF mania is indeed a medical condition, the most appropriate course of action may be disimpaction.
Effects of Intensity Variations on Auditory Processing in Aphasia I. Equal Intensities at Each Ear

Clinical observations have led several authors to suggest that talking louder improves auditory comprehension for the aphasic patient, while others suggest that it does nothing to help comprehension. To clarify these observations under experimental conditions, four measures of auditory processing (cortical-evoked responses, nonverbal intensity sequencing, phoneme in word discrimination and sequencing, and a semantic-syntactic measure of comprehension) were used in diotic presentation of stimuli to 10 aphasic subjects with left temporal lobe damage. The stimuli were presented at 70, 85, and 100 dB SPL. Results suggest that a simple diotic (true binaural) increase of stimulus intensity is not a potent variable for influencing auditory processing in patients with aphasia. Although a few subjects improved their performances on selected levels when stimulus intensity was increased, the performances of others decreased. Auditory-evoked response (AER) latencies and amplitudes generally were not significantly different between the damaged and intact hemispheres. The time-intensity trading function was demonstrated with the AER, particularly for the N2 component. The ear with the greatest advantage on dichotic listening was contralateral to the lesion and was contralateral to the hemisphere that had the shorter P1 latencies, longer N2 latencies, and smaller AER amplitudes.
A Wavefront Notation Tool for VLSI Array Design

This paper presents an overview of an extension to a mathematically based methodology for mapping an algorithmic description into a concurrent implementation on silicon. The result of this methodology yields a systolic array [4]. The basic mathematical method was initially described by Cohen [1]. Extensions were made by Weiser and Davis [5]; Johnsson, Weiser, Cohen, and Davis [2]; Cohen and Johnsson [3]; and Weiser [6]. This approach focuses on the correspondence between equations defining a certain computation and networks which perform the computation. As the complexity of problems increases, a hierarchical approach can reduce the complexity by hiding detail and thus reduce the design complexity at each level. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a method for treating sets of data as wavefront entities in the equations of the mathematical methodology and in the graphical representation.
The In-Between Places Where Children Are Socialized

In Between Home and School, Professor Rosenbury makes a splendid contribution to the emerging legal scholarship on the influence of cultural contexts on children's socialization. Scholars in this field have begun to study the effects on children of the media, peer relationships, civic institutions, and early caregiving environments. Professor Rosenbury's is a bold new voice in this genre offering a normative paradigm of space to replace the traditional dyadic model of state-parent authority over children. At the heart of the spatial paradigm is the view that in-between spaces socialize children in ways that differ both procedurally and substantively from the kinds of socialization that take place at home or at school. Professor Rosenbury sets out to show how "the spaces between home and school may be distinct from both home and school, rendering analogies to either concept ultimately inapposite." In this Response, I explore briefly the unstated assumptions about both the mechanisms of socialization and the substantive content of socialization that underlie her claim that the socialization of children between home and school is unique and thus deserving of special treatment in family law.
Management of Phimosis and Balanoposthitis in a Pet Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)

Abstract A 9-year-old male castrated pet chinchilla ( Chinchilla lanigera ) with a 5-day history of lethargy, inappetence, and weight loss was diagnosed with extensive adhesions between the glans penis and the prepuce, resulting in phimosis. Secondary accumulation of smegma and bacterial balanoposthitis was present. Treatment of the phimosis included repeated breakdown of the adhesions between the prepuce and glans penis, regular extrusion of the glans penis, and topical application of a steroid ointment. The adhesions between the prepuce and glans penis reoccurred despite repeated treatments. Overall, 31 months after the initial diagnosis, phimosis persists, however, concurrent balanoposthitis is not evident nor are any overt clinical disease signs. This report is the first description of phimosis in a rodent species.
Workshop on Research Directions and Oppurtunities II: Prospects and Open Problems

The workshop consisted of an informal and unstructured discussion of research prospects and open problems by the panel members supplemented by questions and suggestions from the audience. This paper is an attempt to capture the primary points of emphasis on which there was, at least, some partial consensus or agreement. Since the proceeding were not recorded, many significant points of view will not be reported here due to limited capabilities of recall rather than any deliberate attempt at selective filtering.
Red Cloud’s Mark: When Peace Treaties Become Weapons of Mass Destruction

In 1851 and again in 1868, in a remote military outpost called Fort Laramie in what is now Wyoming, the United States government signed treaties with American Indian tribes of the Great Plains. The mass westward migration of whites that was accompanying the California gold rush was an incursion into what the federal government had previously regarded as "Permanent Indian Territory," and the tribes were understandably wary and defiant. The two Fort Laramie treaties were designed to compensate and pacify the tribes while allowing for continual westward expansion. They were conceived, negotiated and executed in bad faith as part of a long term governmental strategy to subjugate, domesticate and at times, to use General Sherman’s word, "exterminate" these tribes. This strategy was promoted by a judicial system willing, and often eager, to circumscribe the treaty rights of American Indian tribes to such an extent that they were left utterly unprotected from the depredations of the other two branches of government. This article draws on historical, literary and political sources, but is primarily a work of legal scholarship that uses court opinions and other original documents to explain the various strategies the federal government implemented throughout the 19th and 20th centuries to neutralize and subjugate the tribes of the plains and how, derelict in its checking and balancing function, the U.S. Supreme Court gave its imprimatur to these policies by reading the rights of Indian tribes out of the legal documents under their consideration. After an explication of the general history of hegemony and legal chicanery animating the relationship between the U.S. government and the tribes, and the sometimes genocidal policies of military planners like Generals Sherman and Sheridan, this article focuses its attention on the unique plight of the Lakota peoples and the still-rankling impact of the U.S. government’s violation of the law and their trust.
Trauma system impact on admission site: a comparison of two states.

Objective: To introduce a measure assessing statewide hospital admission patterns for trauma and evaluate its utility in identifying significant admission redistributions in neighboring states as a function of trauma system implementation. Methods: A retrospective claims database analysis was performed of hospitalized trauma patients in Washington and Oregon. The site of hospitalization and diagnostic information were used to determine an admission rate difference for each hospital : the rate of index patient admissions minus the rate of non-index patient admissions. Mean admission rate differences for Level II and III versus other hospitals in each state were compared as a function of time. Results: A bias in favor of admitting more serious injuries to Level II and III hospitals was seen with trauma system implementation in both states, but it was more pronounced in the Oregon trauma system. Conclusion: Assessment of admission rate differences is a helpful method of characterizing the evolution of statewide trauma systems.
Checkpoints for Autoreactive B Cells in the Peripheral Blood of Lupus Patients Assessed by Flow Cytometry.

Objective Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are diagnostic in several autoimmune disorders, yet the failure to achieve B cell tolerance in these diseases is still poorly understood. Although secreted ANAs detected by an indirect immunofluorescence assay are the gold standard for autoreactivity, there has been no convenient assay with which to measure the frequency of circulating B cells that recognize nuclear antigens (ANA+ B cells) in patients. The aim of this study was to generate an assay to easily identify these B cells and to examine its utility in a study of autoreactive B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods We developed and validated a novel flow cytometry–based assay that identifies ANA+ B cells using biotinylated nuclear extracts, and utilized it to examine B cell tolerance checkpoints in peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from SLE patients and healthy controls. Results We observed progressive selection against ANA+ B cells as they matured from transitional to naive to CD27+IgD− and CD27+IgD+ memory cells in both healthy subjects and SLE patients; however, ANA+ naive B cells in SLE patients were not anergized to the same extent as in healthy individuals. We also showed that anergy induction is restored in SLE patients treated with belimumab, an inhibitor of BAFF. Conclusion This assay will enable studies of large populations to identify potential genetic or environmental factors affecting B cell tolerance checkpoints in healthy subjects and patients with autoimmune disease and permit monitoring of the B cell response to therapeutic interventions.
Warm Molecular Clouds

Warm molecular gas is important in a large range of astronomical contexts. We discuss here determinations of the temperature and mass of warm material in protostellar disks and cores, photon dominated regions, and molecular material shocked by protostellar outflows. We then compare these results to heating and cooling models. The models of dense cores and photon dominated regions are not adequate to explain the large amounts of warm material observed. This conclusion raises the possibility that there may be other heating mechanisms at work in these regions which theorists have not yet included in their models.
Endoscopic Ultrasonography: Role of EUS sampling in Cystic Lesions

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) have been detected more frequently as a result of the increasing use of high-resolution cross-sectional imaging and the growth of the aging population in recent years. Among the common types of PCLs, the mucinous cystic neoplasms and the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms are well known with their malignant potential. Therefore, their differentiation from nonmucinous cysts is very important to help guide further management and prevention of invasive cancers. Cross-sectional imaging is very helpful for screening and detection of PCLs, but their value to differentiate types of cysts is limited. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) allows for high-frequency imaging of the pancreas and provides morphologic characteristics of cystic lesions. However, its capability to differentiate benign and malignant cysts or mucinous and nonmucinous lesions is still limited. Besides, it is an operator-dependent technique and interobserver agreement is not high. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) provides cyst fluid for further analysis and improves significantly the differentiation of benign/malignant and mucinous/nonmucinous PCLs. Gross appearance of fluid, cytological examination, fluid amylase, and CEA levels are helpful in certain lesions for differential diagnosis. Molecular analysis of KRAS and GNAS mutations have been proposed in recent years to further improve the mucinous/nonmucinous discrimination. New tests and methods are still under investigation to improve the diagnostic yield of EUS-FNA. In this chapter, the key issues of EUS-FNA in the differential diagnosis of PCLs are reviewed based on the recent literature.
A Study on the Factors Affecting the Dairy Policy Opinions of the 2013 Turkey National Dairy Summit Participants

This study has three main objectives. Firstly, to put forward 2013 Turkey National Dairy Summit participants’ opinions about milk policy; secondly, to determine the possible factors affecting these opinions and finally; to put forth the solutions which were suggested by the participants for the determined problems. To achieve these goals, 83 participants were interviewed in the dairy summit. 43% of participants were agricultural engineers, 19% food engineers, 14% veterinarians, and 24% of them were from other occupations. The opinions of the participants on current milk policies in Turkey have been categorized as; ‘effective’, ‘undecided’,’ ineffective’, ‘not effective at all’. When responses of ‘effective’ were compared to the other three opinion groups using multinomial logistic regression, the results showed that factors such as, participants’ being an agricultural engineer, a veterinary practitioner, their education levels and their involvement in milk related issues within their occupation have distinguishing characteristics. Among the participants, 40% were of the opinion that the subsidiaries should be subject to milk quality and hygiene standards. Study findings indicated that a milk strategy plan should be prepared for the milk market to gain stability in the long term. To be effective in the market, this plan also should include regional feed and production strategy and should be prepared together with dairy farmer organizations.
ПРОБЛЕМИ ВИКЛАДАННЯ КОМП'ЮТЕРНИХ ДИСЦИПЛІН У СИСТЕМІ ГУМАНІТАРНОЇ ОСВІТИ

With the formation of information society and implementing e-government, computer skills are an important part of all activities. Acute problem is the computer science teaching in the humanities higher education. The article analyzes the issues of computer education in modern terms. Considered terminological questions, trends and methods to improve the structure, teaching courses in computer cycle scholarship system. Proposed to use the term "eomlogy" to describe computer science, task approach to training, the four components of the disciplines: course of informatics, general questions eomlogy, information systems, information and communication technologies.
European integration as a peace project

Using the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s justification for awarding the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize to the European Union (EU) as a foil, this article examines the EU through the prism of being a peace pro...
Learner profiles of attitudinal learning in a MOOC

The aims of the study were to investigate learner profiles in a MOOC focused on attitudinal learning, Science of Happiness, based on learner self-assessment of happiness and relationships with demographics, attitudinal learning gains and preferred instructional activities. A sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used in the attitudinal learning survey. The survey assessed cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning, and was followed by interviews with 12 participants. Latent profile analysis identified two profiles based on the differences in the levels and trends of happiness reported by learners during the 10-week course. Results indicated that MOOC learners described different preferences for exploratory or instructor-directed instructional strategies. Identified implications for the instructional design of MOOCs for attitudinal learning included recognizing that MOOC learners often view MOOCs more as entertainment as opposed to formal education. Therefore, course length, pace, scope, and difficulty should be considered in this light. Furthermore, supporting varied learner goals and interests, and instructional preferences are important. Finally, special consideration must also be paid to the design and facilitation of course discussions. Latent profile analysis identified 2 profiles based on happiness levels and trends.Learners identified different instructional preferences: instructor-led versus self-directed.Course design should consider views of MOOCs as entertainment.Design should support varied learner goals and preferences.MOOC discussion challenges merit focus on design and facilitation.
Politics and Management: Revisiting the Politics/Administration Dichotomy to Build a More Complete Understanding of Public Management

Despite persistent scholarly interest in the politics-administration dichotomy, we know relatively little about the ways in which administrators influence political decision making. This essay briefly reviews the evidence that exists and argues that an assessment of the bureaucratic role in policy formulation is vital to a comprehensive model of public management.
A Role for 2-Methyl Pyrrole in the Browning of 4-Oxopentanal and Limonene Secondary Organic Aerosol

Reactions of ammonia or ammonium sulfate (AS) with carbonyls in secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced from limonene are known to form brown carbon (BrC) with a distinctive absorption band at 505 nm. This study examined the browning processes in aqueous solutions of AS and 4-oxopentanal (4-OPA), which has a 1,4-dicarbonyl structural motif present in many limonene SOA compounds. Aqueous reactions of 4-OPA with AS were found to produce 2-methyl pyrrole (2-MP), which was detected by gas chromatography. While 2-MP does not absorb visible radiation, it can further react with 4-OPA eventually forming BrC compounds. This was demonstrated by reacting 2-MP with 4-OPA or limonene SOA, both of which produced BrC with absorption bands at 475 and 505 nm, respectively. The formation of BrC in the reaction of 4-OPA with AS and ammonium nitrate was greatly accelerated by evaporation of the solution suggesting an important role of the dehydration processes in BrC formation. 4-OPA was also found to produce BrC in aqueous...
Educational Sorting and Peer Effects: The Impacts of Compulsory Schooling Laws

This paper provides new evidence on both the positive and negative externalities arising from compulsory schooling laws. I find that stricter schooling laws push above average students to take more honors classes. These students are similarly driven to take college entrance exams and score higher on such exams as a result of the educational sorting set in motion by raising the dropout age. Conversely, below average students who share classrooms with would-be dropouts are greatly harmed by raising the dropout age. Overall, below-average white and above-average black students have experienced some negative consequences from more stringent schooling laws, while Hispanics have tended to benefit. The pattern of results across students of different ability suggests that any policy endogeneity would have to be sufficiently complex to account for the findings of this paper.
On the propagation of pulses

The diffraction of a plane or cylindrical electromagnetic or acoustic pulse by a perfectly reflecting wedge is investigated. The method applied is based upon the representation of a function by aLaplace transform and upon the solution of the corresponding time harmonic problem. Other problems will be considered in a forthcoming paper.
The Ethylene Receptor Gene Family in Arabidopsis

A fundamental question of biology is how a cell senses its environment and responds to it. This process of perceiving and responding is critical to a unicellular organism for its survival in variable conditions. It is equally critical to a multicellular organism for its adaptation, as well as its coordinated development. In plants, some growth regulators have long been shown to act as signals to cany out this process. However, until recently little was known about how a plant cell perceives these signals and how the signals are transduced to cellular responses.
Regulatory Mutations in Human Hereditary Deafness

Moderate to profound deafness is a common sensory deficit that is estimated by the World Health Organization to affect more than 275 million people worldwide (WHO 2010). The etiology of hearing loss is varied and can include environmental noise, physical trauma to the head, infections, ototoxic compounds, and the natural aging process. Heritable hearing loss segregating as a Mendelian trait is thought to constitute but a fraction of cases; nonetheless, its study has yielded rich information about the biology of hearing and its pathophysiology. This chapter is a critical review of gene regulation in the auditory system and draws upon the dissection of human hereditary nonsyndromic hearing loss and relevant animal models. This body of work encompasses mutant alleles of transcription factors, promoters, long-range enhancers, and microRNAs that have been associated with hearing loss including genes such as ESSRB, EYA4, GRHL2, HGF, MIR96, POU3F4, and POU4F3. At the conclusion of this chapter, we speculate how future studies can capitalize on new sequencing technologies to broaden our knowledge of gene regulation in both normal hearing and deafness.
Incorporating Ameriflux Data into LVT

This paper describes a new generic data reader that was developed in Fortran to handle the Ameriflux data for the LIS Verification Toolkit (LVT). Researchers at the Hydrological Sciences Branch of NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have created a high resolution land surface modeling and data assimilation system known as the Land Information System (LIS), which provides an infrastructure to integrate state-of-the-art land surface models, data assimilation algorithms, observations of land surface from satellite and remotely sensed platforms to provide estimates of land surface conditions such as soil moisture, evaporation, snowpack and runoff. These model predictions are typically evaluated by comparing them with data from observational networks. The observational data; however, are usually available in disparate data formats and require significant effort to process them into a structure amenable for use with the model data. The motivation to develop a uniform approach for land surface verification as a way to alleviate these processing efforts has led to the development of LVT which is designed to enable the rapid evaluation of land surface modeling and analysis products from LIS. LVT focuses on the use of observational datasets in their native format. As the formats of these datasets vary widely, a major part of LVT is creating programs to read and process the native datasets. The primary goal of this project is to enhance LVT capabilities by incorporating observational datasets from Ameriflux
Kaposi's Sarcoma in the Immunosuppressed

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a virally induced tumor most commonly appearing in the immunosuppressed. It is caused by infection with human herpesvirus-8, which in healthy individuals causes no symptoms. However, in patients with weakened immune systems, such as in HIV and organ transplant patients, the virus can proliferate leading to KS. Following the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV and AIDS, the prevalence of AIDS-related KS has fallen, but it has begun to appear in subsets of patients on treatment. Treatments for KS vary depending on the cause of immunosuppression. In the case of HIV, ART is the first-line treatment, but other therapies are initiated based on tumor response. In transplant patients, primary treatment involves stopping or reducing immunosuppression and similarly advancing to other therapies based on response. This presents a dilemma in many cases where chemotherapy will reduce an already-weakened immune system or in strengthening an immune system in patients at risk for transplant rejection. This review will focus on summarizing the effects of immunosuppression in HIV-related (epidemic) and iatrogenically immunosuppressed transplant patients with KS and its etiology, pathophysiology, current treatments, and management along with novel therapies.