cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copyright's Paradox: The Public Interest and Private Monopoly

There is nothing new under the sun. For centuries, scholars have noted that the Romans copied the Greeks, and Shakespeare copied the works of others with wild abandon and without attribution. Most of our favorite bedtime stories and childhood cartoons were copied from works that have come before. It is well recognized that there is no completely new idea; rather, all artists are dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants. A portion of all copyright activity is derivative. Appropriation has been an integral part of our creative process since the birth of mankind. Yet, over the last several decades, Congress has been in the practice of expanding the scope of protection granted to copyright owners. Given the importance of appropriation in various fields of art and other expressive activities, the current copyright system seems at least counterintuitive. Due to the continual practice of extending copyright terms, and the broad scope of the derivative right, the present copyright regime is not in line with the constitutional mandate of the Progress Clause. Rather than incentivizing creation for the sole purpose of facilitating learning and public access to information, Copyright, in its current state, acts as a hindrance to creativity. If the primary goal of copyright is to facilitate a thriving national culture, then the only reason for granting a limited property right is to incentivize creators to share their works with society. Congress promotes this goal by striking a deal with the creator – a grant of a monopoly for a limited time, in exchange for the requirement that, upon expiration of the limited term, the product of their genius will be given to the public domain. Since the sole interest is with the public, and not with rewarding private interests of the author, Congress should work towards finding the minimum level of incentives necessary to promote creation. Copyright in its current state presents two major concerns: 1) The broad scope of the derivative right undermines the idea/expression dichotomy and adds doubt in the minds of the secondary users; and 2) The custom of extending durations of “existing” copyrights is unconstitutional and is causing a stagnate public domain. As a consequence of these problems, the free flow of ideas and dissemination of information has been thwarted. In response to these problems, I have researched possible remedies, looking to copyright systems abroad, other legal scholars, our history, and other developed areas of law. There must be some kind of mechanism to limit Congress’ ability of extending existing copyright terms; otherwise the Constitutional mandate of a “limited” term will have no consequence. This comments suggests reinstating requisite formalities, the two-term copyright regime, and a new formulation of the derivative works right.
Regimes describing shock boundary layer interaction and ignition in shock tubes

Abstract Regimes of shock boundary layer interaction are proposed in consideration of shock tube kinetic experiments. For this, we examine three ways that the reflected shock wave interacts with the boundary layer: incipient separation occurs when the shock is just strong enough to subject the flow to an adverse pressure gradient leading to flow reversal; shear layer instabilities manifest after a certain length of time and can cause inhomogeneities in the test gas; and shock bifurcation occurs when the back pressure of the test gas is sufficient to contain the boundary layer fluid within a stagnation bubble causing severe inhomogeneities in the test gas. Theory delineating these regimes is developed, and these delineations are compared to simulations of shock tube experiments as well as experimental data, where reasonable agreement is found. Through the theory applied to the incipient separation regime, it is determined that boundary layer separation likely occurs in most shock tube experiments; however, separation is unlikely to affect a chemical kinetic experiment except at long test times. To quantify the effect of the boundary layer, a bifurcation Damkohler number is introduced, which is found to perform sensibly well at classifying strong and weak ignition in shock tubes, implying that these combustion phenomena are determined by a competition of physical and chemical timescales. Finally, simulations suggest that tailoring the incident shock Mach number for a given experiment could provide opportunities for mitigating inhomogeneities in the test gas.
Strategic change and American foreign policy: Perceptions of the Sino-Soviet conflict

Comparing U.S. policy behavior toward China in the two instances raises some apparent contradictions. For example, why did the United States support Beijing against Soviet pressures in 1969, but not in 1979? This would appear to invalidate the thesis set forth in the introduction of this essay that the United States moved to improve relations with China when it appeared that the U.S.-Soviet strategic weapons balance was becoming adverse. But a broader focus indicates that U.S. policy behavior was in fact consistent with the thesis, for Washington did move to improve relations with Beijing—through normalization—prior to the Sino-Vietnamese war. It was only after normalization and during that conflict, when Moscow threatened Beijing’s advance in Vietnam, that Washington declined to support the People’s Republic. Yet that, too, was consistent with the general structural objective of attempting to maintain a stable equilibrium of states on the Eurasian landmass. U.S. support for the People’s Republic during the attack on Vietnam would only have encouraged Beijing’s march on Hanoi in disregard of the Soviet threat, increasing the probability of a Sino-Soviet conflict, which the United States sought to avoid. Thus, the Carter leadership chose to decline support to Beijing in order to further the larger objective of regional stability, although at China’s expense.
Transjugular Liver Biopsy

This section provides a comprehensive procedural report for transjugular liver biopsy procedure with up-to-date explanatory notes, synopsis of the indications and contraindications, and potential complications in an organized and practical format.
Whatever Happened to Drama? A Configurational–Comparative Analysis of Genre Trajectory in American Cinema, 1946–2013

Although usually conceived of and studied as individual types, genres are frequently combined in practice. This research examines how genres are combined in popular American films, and how the popularity of particular combinations changed between 1946 and 2013. Distinguishing between “contextual genres” (which identify a film's subject matter) and “affective genres” (which identify a film's intent), we find marked differences between the postwar and blockbuster eras of the Hollywood film industry. The blockbuster era exhibits less generic diversity than the earlier postwar era. Furthermore, the popular postwar-era films dealt with serious subjects and were set in realistic settings. The blockbuster era replaced these with intense, nonrealistic films. We also find that the relationship between contextual and affective genres changes within industry eras, with affective genres dominating at the beginning of new periods and the popularity of contextual genres growing as the period progresses.
On URL Changes and Handovers in Social Media

Social media sites (e.g. Twitter and Pinterest) allow users to change the name of their accounts. A change in the account name results in a change in the URL of the user’s homepage. We develop an algorithm that extracts such changes from streaming data and discover that a large number of social media accounts are performing synchronous and collaborative URL changes. We identify various types of URL changes such as handover, exchange, serial handover and loop exchange. All such behaviors are likely to be automated behavior and, thus, indicate accounts that are either already involved in malicious activities or being prepared to do so.
Patagonia, without Dams! Lessons of a David vs. Goliath campaign

Abstract In an age of democratization and heightened awareness of citizen rights in Latin America, the expansion of extractive industries frequently involves conflict. In those conflicts marginalized, rural, poor, ethnic and racial subaltern social groups, and their allies often stand in the front lines of resistance. This paper asks: Under what conditions might challenges from below induce Latin American governments to adopt policies, programs, and processes conducive to broader based inclusiveness in the struggle over environment and development? It uses a successful campaign against a mega-hydroelectric power project in remote Chilean Patagonia to shed light on this question. The case underscores the utility of combining political ecology with social movement theory to disentangle factors conducive to positive outcomes from protest to aggressive extractive projects. It stresses the necessity of building the associational and collective power of resistance movements. It reveals the importance of forming rural-urban coalitions to overcome government divide and rule tactics. It finds that major policy impacts of resistance movements, including advancements of alternative policy agendas, are of necessity politically mediated.
Accuracy and Measurement Error of the Medial Clear Space of the Ankle

Background:Measurement of the medial clear space (MCS) is commonly used to assess deltoid ligament competency and mortise stability when managing ankle fractures. Lacking knowledge of the true anat...
A Bottom-Up Theory of Public Opinion about Foreign Policy

If public opinion about foreign policy is such an elite-driven process, why does the public often disagree with what elites have to say? We argue here that elite cue-taking models in International Relations are both overly pessimistic and unnecessarily restrictive. Members of the public may lack information about the world around them, but they do not lack principles, and information need not only cascade from the top down. We present the results from five survey experiments where we show that cues from social peers are at least as strong as those from political elites. Our theory and results build on a growing number of findings that individuals are embedded in a social context that combines with their general orientations toward foreign policy in shaping responses toward the world around them. Thus, we suggest the public is perhaps better equipped for espousing judgments in foreign affairs than many of our top-down models claim.
Submillimeter-Wave Coherent and Incoherent Sensors for Space Applications

Most of the radiation in the Universe is emitted at wavelengths longer than 10 microns (30 THz), and this peaks at about 100 microns (3 THz), if we exclude contributions from the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Radiation in these wavelengths highlights warm phenomena, processes of change such as star formation, formation of planetary systems, and galaxy evolution; atmospheric constituents and dynamics of the planets and comets and tracers for global monitoring and the ultimate health of the earth. Sensors at far-infrared and submillimeter wavelengths provide unprecedented sensitivity for astrophysical, planetary, earth observing, and ground-based imaging instruments. Very often, for spaced based platforms where the instruments are not limited by atmospheric losses and absorption, the overall instrument sensitivity is dictated by the sensitivity of the sensors themselves. Moreover, some of the cryogenic sensors at submillimeter wavelengths provide almost quantum-limited sensitivity. Frequency sources at submillimeter wavelengths with adequate output power for transmitters and local oscillators are not easily available, and pose the greatest challenge for advancement of this field. This article provides an overview of the state-of-the-art of submillimeter-wave sensors for a variety of space-borne applications and their performance and capabilities.
Little plant, big city: a test of adaptation to urban environments in common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

A full understanding of how cities shape adaptation requires characterizing genetically-based phenotypic and fitness differences between urban and rural populations under field conditions. We used a reciprocal transplant experiment with the native plant common ragweed, (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and found that urban and rural populations have diverged in flowering time, a trait that strongly affects fitness. Although urban populations flowered earlier than rural populations, plants growing in urban field sites flowered later than plants in rural field sites. This counter-gradient variation is consistent adaptive divergence between urban and rural populations. Also consistent with local adaptation, both urban and rural genotypes experienced stronger net selection in the foreign than in the local habitat, but this pattern was not significant for male fitness. Despite the evidence for local adaptation, rural populations had higher lifetime fitness at all sites, suggesting that selection has been stronger or more uniform in rural than urban populations. We also found that inter-population differences in both flowering time and fitness tended to be greater among urban than rural populations, which is consistent with greater drift or spatial variation in selection within urban environments. In summary, our results are consistent with adaptive divergence of urban and rural populations, but also suggest there may be greater environmental heterogeneity in urban environments which also affects evolution in urban landscapes.
Field-Flow Fractionation for Assessing Biomolecular Interactions in Solution

Many biological systems are primarily governed by protein-protein interactions. It is important to develop sensitive analytical techniques to identify and characterize these bimolecular interactions in order to understand their fundamental roles in biological processes and in disease. In this book chapter, we summarize three case studies that applied asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AF4) to access the protein-protein interactions of therapeutic proteins with their counterparts. These new applications of AF4 provide a unique and innovative tool that extends the bioanalytical capability to study protein complexes beyond micro-molar affinity.
"Bleb" carcinoma of the lung.

The association of peripheral carcinoma of the lung with pre-existing parenchymal scars is widely known. Since blebs are usually associated with subpleural scars, it is surprising that the clinical association of peripheral carcinoma and blebs has received scant attention in the surgical literature. Four surgical cases which illustrate this association are presented. This does not imply that large bullae require exploration or excision to exclude a possible occult carcinoma, but it is reasonable to conclude that any parenchymal lesion in association with large bullae in older patients should be viewed with more than ordinary suspicion of carcinoma.
Examining the Impact of Social Behavior on Peer Status

Scholars and practitioners have devoted considerable attention during the last decade to the creation of and evaluating programs for enhancing children’s peer relations. These efforts are based on the assumption that peer acceptance and rejection are the direct results of how children interact with their peers. Assuming this hypothesis to be true, creating an effective social skills training program requires specifying those behaviors functionally related to peer status. In other words, investigators must isolate pivotal social behaviors which children of different ages need to acquire to function effectively with peers in situations they routinely encounter. This requires in turn that they develop methods for deciding which of the myriad of interpersonal behaviors cause fluctuations in peer acceptance.
Spectral Response of Soil Organic Matter by Principal Component Analysis

Soil organic matter (SOM) can be used as an indicator to guide fertilization and chemical input management of farmland. It increases soil porosity and water holding capacity. Monitoring the spatial distribution of SOM timely and accurately is very important for fertilization management in precision agriculture. Imaging hyperspectrometer carried on the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has been developed rapidly in recent years. The study aimed to test the practicability of monitoring SOM by imaging hyperspectrometer in a small scale. The 132 soil samples in the study were collected from three regions. The quantitative relationships between SOM and spectral reflectivity with different pixel sizes were analyzed by the transformation method of principal component analysis (PCA). After screening sensitive bands and spectral parameters, partial least square method (PLS) was used to develop the inversion models of SOM to evaluate the optimal scale of imaging hyperspectrometer application in monitoring SOM. Two-third of SOM samples were used to develop the PCA-PLS models. Results showed that the first two principal components of hyperspectral image could reach 99.80% relative information, which were chosen as spectral parameters of SOM. The correlations between SOM and PCA1 or PCA2 were analyzed with five resampling sizes, all of which reached above 0.4. One-third of SOM samples were used to evaluate the accuracy of the inversion with determination coefficient (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE). Results showed that all PCA-PLS models of predicting SOM could get good accuracy, all R2 above 0.3. With the resampling size increasing, the accuracies of PCA-PLS models increased first and then decreased. The model with 3*3 resampling size reached highest accuracy, of which the R2 was 0.3411, while RMSE was 3.071 g/kg. It indicated that the PCA method could make the best of hyperspectrum information to monitor SOM effectively.
Bridging the gaps: using an NHP model to predict single dose radiation absorption in humans

AbstractPurpose: Design and characterization of a radiation biodosimetry device are complicated by the fact that the requisite data are not available in the intended use population, namely humans e...
Measuring Ice Thickness with Cygnss Altimetry

Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) is collecting GPS signals reflected from two high altitude lakes with ice cover during Winter 2017–2018. Coherent reflections occur at the ice/water interface and carrier phase altimetry is used to estimate the draft of the ice cover. Simulated data are created using a forward model. Signal processing methodology is presented to show how relative phase information can be extracted from the simulated data most accurately, and how the phase can be related to draft.
The Usefulness of Acquired Intangible Asset Fair Values in Predicting Future Payoffs

There is a long-standing debate on the recognition of intangible assets. Proponents of recognition argue intangibles are a key source of value and profitability, while opponents note that recognizing intangibles involves considerable measurement uncertainty. Using a broad sample of business combinations in the U.S. from 2003 to 2014, we find that the recorded values of acquired intangibles are a significant predictor of future operating income at one-, three-, five-, and seven-year horizons, using both in- and out-of-sample tests. Further, the predictive ability of intangibles dominates that of acquired tangibles, with goodwill being more important, but identifiable intangibles contributing as well. However, in cross-sectional tests we find that the predictive ability of intangibles weakens in settings where the relevance and measurement reliability of intangibles are lower. These results are informative to policy makers considering whether the costs of identifying and valuing intangible assets are justified.
U. S. Social work dissertations with a group work focus 1970-2012: interviews with authors

This study explored the historical landscape of U.S. social work doctoral dissertations focusing on group work. It investigated whether generating these dissertations factors into ongoing connectio...
Funding Sources and Perceived Financial Insecurity in Pediatric Subspecialty Fellowship Programs

Abstract Objective Shortages of pediatric subspecialists exist in many fields with insufficient recruitment of new fellows. The current system of funding graduate medical education is inadequate. We examined funding sources for trainee salary and educational expenses in pediatric fellowship programs, effects of funding constraints, and program characteristics associated with financial insecurity as reported by fellowship program directors (FPD). Methods We conducted a national survey of FPD between November 1, 2016 and February 9, 2017. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between perceived financial insecurity, program characteristics, and funding sources for fellow salary. Results We obtained data from 519 FPD, representing 14 different pediatric subspecialties. FPD reported that funding limitations restricted program size and educational resources in 22% and 36% of programs, respectively. Nineteen percent of FPD perceived funding of their program to be insecure. Programs with 7 or more fellows (OR .50 [95% CI .27–.90], P = .03) or hospital or graduate medical education/Children's Hospital graduate medical education funding (OR .58 [95% CI .35–.96], P = .04) were less likely to be perceived as insecure. Conversely, programs with extramural (OR 1.74 [95% CI 1.07–2.81], P = .03) or division funding (OR 1.70 [95% CI 1.02–2.82], P = .04) or in subspecialties with more than 25% unfilled positions or programs (OR 1.86 [95% CI 1.11–3.09], P = .02) were more likely to be perceived as insecure. Conclusions Perceived financial insecurity of fellowship programs was strongly associated with program size, funding source, and unfilled positions, limiting recruitment and resources. Stable funding of fellowship programs is critical to maintain an adequate pediatric subspecialty workforce.
The association between maternal occupation and down syndrome: A report from the national Down syndrome project

Abstract Background Among live births, Down syndrome (DS) due to trisomy 21 is the most commonly occurring autosomal trisomy, typically resulting from meiotic nondisjunction. Currently, advanced maternal age and altered recombination patterns are the only well-known risk factors for nondisjunction. Maternal occupation has not been investigated as a risk factor for maternally-derived cases of trisomy 21. Objectives This study explored the association between maternal occupation and chromosome 21 nondisjunction, stratified by the stage of maternal error – either Meiosis I (MI) or Meiosis II (MII). Additionally, we investigated specific toxic agents associated with occupation classes. Methods Using narrative job descriptions from the National Down Syndrome Project (NDSP), a population-based case-control study, occupation was coded using the 2010 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). Odds ratios were calculated for the association between occupation class and having a child with DS, stratified by meiotic stage. An exposure analysis was performed within occupational classes that were statistically significant predictors of having a child with DS. Odds ratios were calculated to analyze associations between individual exposures and having a child with DS. Results The odds of MII nondisjunction were increased among Production Workers (OR = 3.15; 95%CI = 1.52,6.55). Women who worked as Life, Physical and Social Scientists or in Food Preparation and Serving-Related Occupations experienced greater likelihood of MI errors (OR = 5.72(1.80,18.20), and OR = 1.87(1.08,3.24), respectively). Exposure to solvents within the Production Worker group was a significant predictor (p Discussion Specific maternal occupation classes were associated with MI and MII chromosome 21 nondisjunction. These occupation classes were selected for an exposure analysis, which determined solvents as highly predictive of MI nondisjunction among Production Workers. Findings from this analysis will serve to further explore the relationship between maternal occupation and chromosome 21 nondisjunction.
Grandmothering and Social Old Age: Aotearoa New Zealand Variations on a Universal Theme

This paper explores change in definition and relevance of the grandparenting role in a population of young-old (ages sixty-five to eighty) women in urban New Zealand, and compares the experience of European and Maori women. I focus on how becoming and being a grandparent is configured into perceptions of social old age and seniority. New Zealand women of both ethnic groups recognize becoming a grandmother as still commonly considered a key marker of social old age by society at large. Differences are evident in ideas about how the role contributes to today's self-definitions. In women's own definitions, being a grandmother is treated as part of a configuration of role change in later life, of which new commitments to social generativity, for example, or expanded opportunities for social integration are also a part. The significance of the grandmother role varies according to how it connects with these other role developments.
Evaluation of Exclusion Netting for Coffee Berry Borer (Hypothenemus Hampei) Management

Exclusion nets are increasingly being used to protect a variety of agricultural crops from insect pests as a sustainable alternative to chemical controls. We examined the efficacy of exclusion nets in controlling the world’s most damaging insect pest of coffee, Hypothenemus hampei (coffee berry borer), on two small-scale coffee farms on Hawai’i Island. We recorded microclimate data, fruit infestation, population per fruit, sex ratio, mortality by Beauveria bassiana, coffee yield and quality in four paired exclusion and control (un-netted) plots on both farms. Mean and maximum daily temperature and relative humidity were similar between treatments, while mean and maximum daily solar radiation was reduced by ~50% in exclusion plots. Green and ripe fruit from exclusion plots had significantly lower infestation compared to un-netted control plots at both farms. We observed no significant difference between exclusion and control plots in the number of CBB per fruit or the female:male sex ratio. CBB mortality was significantly higher in control relative to exclusion plots in one of the two farms. Ripe fruits harvested from exclusion plots were on average significantly heavier and wider than those from control plots; however, there was no significant difference in the average yield per tree between treatments. Lastly, coffee quality was not significantly different between control and exclusion plots. Our results suggest that with complete sanitation prior to net installation in an environment where CBB is actively circulating, exclusion netting can successfully control CBB on small-scale coffee farms without reducing coffee yield or quality, and has the potential to lower production and labor costs by eliminating the need to spray pesticides.
Stress effects on the energy barrier and mechanisms of cross-slip in FCC nickel

Abstract The energy barrier for homogeneous cross-slip of a screw dislocation in face-centered cubic (FCC) nickel is calculated using atomistic simulations as a function of the Escaig stress on the glide plane, the Escaig stress on the cross-slip plane, and the Schmid stress on the cross-slip plane. Two cross-slip mechanisms, Friedel-Escaig (FE) and Fleischer, are examined and their energy barriers are calculated for a large number of stress combinations. For each mechanism, the energy barrier as a function of three stress components can be reduced into a one-dimensional function of an effective stress. The stress domains in which FE and Fleischer mechanisms operate respectively are determined. The FE mechanism dominates when the Escaig stress on the glide plane (in the direction that reduces the stacking fault width) is the largest stress component. Increasing the Schmid stress and Escaig stress (in the direction that expands the stacking fault width) on the cross slip plane promotes the Fleischer mechanism. The cross slip energy barrier functions obtained here can be used as input functions for computing cross slip rates in mesoscale dislocation dynamics simulations.
The Dilemma of a Federal Bureaucracy’s Rulemaking Process

This article focuses on two factors, the first is to extricate patterns of populations’ input and its influence in federal administrative agency rulemaking. The second is to test democratic theory models, utilizing systematic data generated by this study. The results in this research shows the characteristics of issue networks. Additionally, organizations and individuals participated in the rulemaking process based on policy type. An assessment of each rule revealed that public interest and individual citizens, to a large degree coalesced, via the Notice and Comment process, to establish influential issue networks. The evidence of these very tangible phenomena may show some “soft evidence” of democratic authority in our federal administrative agency rulemaking process. As a final point, this research illuminates the many aspects of who participates and how influential participants are in non-regulatory agency rulemaking processes.
"The Mirrlees Review: A U.S. Perspective"

The recently completed Mirrlees Review focuses on reforming the UK tax system. It represents an unusual blend of “best practice” application of economic theory and evidence to realistic policy design; it lays out policy proposals with suffi cient justifi cation and specifi city that they go well beyond a statement of principles for reform. This paper examines the lessons that can be drawn from the analysis and conclusions of the Mirrlees Review, which have broad value especially for advanced countries like the United States that share many of the characteristics of the UK and face many of the same issues of tax policy design.
Open Methods of Resection and Reconstruction for Subtotal and Total Gastrectomy

Gastric resection offers the highest rate of long-term survival for patients with localized gastric cancer and should be the ultimate goal in patients that are appropriate candidates for surgery. Chemotherapy and chemoradiation therapy are important adjunct treatment modalities: patients who receive adjuvant or perioperative therapy demonstrate higher overall survival rates compared with patients who undergo only surgery. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend an extensive preoperative evaluation for patients with gastric cancer, including endoscopic ultrasonography, computed tomography, positron emission tomography/computed tomography, and diagnostic laparoscopy. Proximal and mid-body tumors are treated with total gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y esophagojejunostomy. Surgeons at our institution currently do not perform proximal gastrectomy due to concerns over severe reflux and gastroparesis. Tumors in the distal body and antrum of the stomach are typically resected via subtotal gastrectomy with reconstruction either by a Billroth II gastrojejunostomy or Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy. This chapter outlines standard open methods for subtotal gastrectomy and total gastrectomy and reconstruction techniques.
A Petrographic Analysis of the Relationship between Porosity and Organic Matter in the Permian Phosphoria Formation of Northeastern Utah

The Permian Phosphoria Formation is a reservoir for oil and gas in the western United States, as well as a major source of phosphate. This study examined the relationship between phosphate richness and porosity exhibited in the formation. Petrographic analysis was carried out on rock samples collected from the Phosphoria (Park City) Formation located north of Vernal, Utah, on the southern flank of the Uinta Mountains. The analysis demonstrated an inverse relationship between organic richness and porosity in the Phosphoria Formation. Porosity is controlled by lithology, amount of cementation, weathering, and amount of fecal pellets, which are the source of phosphate within the unit. Fecal pellets in the Phosphoria Formation contain and concentrate phosphate. Porosity is highest in strata with low levels of organic matter, near the middle of the geological unit, with increased organic matter near the upper and lower contacts, yet the relationship between porosity and organic matter is not necessarily a linear one, as other factors likely control the amount of porosity observed in the unit. Contributing factors include acidic ground waters, diagentic history, and the amount of calcite cement. A clear understanding of what controls porosity within the Phosphoria Formation has important implications for evaluating the unit as it is an important reservoir unit, as well as assessing phosphate richness for mineral extraction in the Western United States. Introduction As an important source for phosphate, a century of research has gone into the study of the Phosphoria Formation (Cheney, 1957 & Maughan, 1979). The formation is Permian in age and varies in thickness from 0 meters up to 67 meters (Maughan, 1979).
Comparison of Thyroid Hormone and Cortisol Measurements with APACHE II and TISS Scoring Systems as Predictors of Mortality in the Medical Intensive Care Unit

Thyroid and adrenal functions were evaluated in 49 consecutive critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) at Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, TX. On admission, severity of illness was assessed by Acute Physiological Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS) scores. Thyrotropin Stimulating hormone (TSH) measured with a sensitive assay, thyroxine (T4), tri-iodothyronine (T3), T3 resin uptake, and Cortisol levels were measured on the first MICU day at 8 am, and results were assessed based on ability to predict mortality. It was shown that severe hypothyroxinemia (T4 30 μg/mL) was associated with a 56% mortality versus 0% in patients with Cortisol values less than 30 μg/dL (p < 0.005), whereas a high APACHE II ...
A sigma-delta ADC with a built-in anti-aliasing filter for Bluetooth receiver in 130nm digital process

A discrete-time sigma delta ADC is presented, that filters and decimates by two the input data samples, while providing amplification in its input sampling stage. This compact architecture allows operating preceding blocks at twice the ADC's clock frequency, thus improving the noise performance of the receive channel. The presented approach has been validated and incorporated in a commercial Bluetooth receiver IC, realized in a 1.5 V, 130 nm digital CMOS process.
The Background of Ecology: Concept and Theory

Preface Acknowledgments 1. Antecedents of ecology 2. The crystallization of ecology 3. Dynamic ecology 4. Quantitative community ecology 5. Population ecology 6. Ecosystem ecology, systems ecology, and big biology 7. Theoretical approaches to ecology 8. Ecology and environment References Name index Subject index.
An Analysis of the SEC's Growing Fondness for the IFRS: Implications of the Movement Away from U.S. GAAP

Recent years have seen strong signs that the United States Securities and Exchange Commission is moving towards accepting the International Financial Reporting Standards which signals the end of the dominance of the U.S. GAAP as the preeminent financial reporting standard. This paper surveys economic studies that have been conducted on other countries which have moved away from national reporting standards and to the IFRS. This paper then analyzes those results in conjunction with the tightened regulatory framework that issuers face when entering American exchanges and suggests specific mitigating measures that American regulators should implement in order to remain a competitive capital market.
Titanium Complexes of Tartarate for Ethylene Polymerization

Titanium complexes of tartarate were synthesized by complexation of titanium tetrachloride with tartarate. The isolated products were characterized by compositional, infrared and thermogravimetric analysis. Synthesized complexes in combination with methylaluminoxane as cocatalyst polymerize ethylene to produce high‐density polyethylene. The efficiency of catalysts is found to be dependent on polymerization parameters and nature of cocatalyst. The polyethylene was characterized for melting temperature and molecular weight characteristics by DSC and GPC, respectively.
Laparoscopic assisted surgical removal of a congenital rectal hamartoma in a foal

Summary: In this report we describe a 3-week-old Paint horse filly that presented with rectal bleeding associated with a protruding mass. Rectal bleeding in neonates can be caused by infectious agents, trauma, congenital defects, rectal tears or tumours. Histopathology was performed on an avulsed piece of tissue. A second mass was identified endoscopically and was removed using a stapling instrument per rectum under endoscopic guidance and laparoscopic assistance. The mass was diagnosed as a rectal hamartoma. Recovery was uneventful.
Red Star Rising

McKenna talks about China's rise as space superpower. Jade Rabbit's successful launch, landing and exploration is evidence of China's meteoric rise in the space stakes, and one that will only accelerate. From the sophisticated communications network that guided the rover to its destination, to emerging satellite technology that's the envy of other nations, to its plans for a new International space station, China is a force other space superpowers ignore at their peril.
Full waveform seismic inversion using a distributed system of computers

The aim of seismic waveform inversion is to estimate the elastic properties of the Earth’s subsurface layers from recordings of seismic waveform data. This is usually accomplished by using constrained optimization often based on very simplistic assumptions. Full waveform inversion uses a more accurate wave propagation model but is extremely difficult to use for routine analysis and interpretation. This is because computational difficulties arise due to: (1) strong nonlinearity of the inverse problem; (2) extreme ill-posedness; and (3) large dimensions of data and model spaces. We show that some of these difficulties can be overcome by using: (1) an improved forward problem solver and efficient technique to generate sensitivity matrix; (2) an iteration adaptive regularized truncated Gauss–Newton technique; (3) an efficient technique for matrix–matrix and matrix–vector multiplication; and (4) a parallel programming implementation with a distributed system of processors. We use a message-passing interface in the parallel programming environment. We present inversion results for synthetic and field data, and a performance analysis of our parallel implementation. Copyright c © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protein phosphatase 1α is required for murine lung growth and morphogenesis

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) plays important roles in cell cycle control and apoptosis, two processes that impinge on morphogenesis and differentiation. Following the precedent set by other molecules regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis, we hypothesized that PP1 may have context-specific roles in development. Therefore, we have studied the spatial and temporal expression of PP1α during murine lung development and determined the consequences of loss of PP1α function on branching morphogenesis. By using an immunohistochemical approach, we show here that PP1α was expressed throughout the epithelium and mesenchyme upon the emergence of the lung primordium on embryonic day 10, with immunostaining exclusively extranuclear. During the late pseudoglandular stage, PP1α was predominantly expressed in the distal lung epithelium, whereas the mesenchyme contained very little or no PP1α protein. Peri- and postnatally, PP1α immunostaining was mostly nuclear in apparently differentiated cells, as judged by colocalization with well-known markers for lung differentiation. Exposure of fetal lung explants to antisense oligodeoxynucleotides against PP1α, resulted in decreased overall size of the cultured lung, a defect in forming new airways, lack of expression of surfactant protein C, and histologic signs of poor differentiation. These data suggest that PP1α is required for branching morphogenesis and differentiation. Developmental Dynamics 229:791–801, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The role of pharmacists and emergency contraception: are pharmacists' perceptions of emergency contraception predictive of their dispensing practices?

Abstract Background Pharmacists can play a critical role in the access to emergency contraception (EC). We assessed if knowledge and attitudes were predictive of EC dispensing among a statewide sample of Florida pharmacists, who have legal authority to refuse to dispense medications. Study Design In 2008, surveys were mailed to a random sample of 1264 pharmacists registered with the Florida Board of Pharmacy. Data from 272 pharmacists (22% response rate) were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Fifty-six percent of respondents incorrectly answered that EC causes birth defects, and 46% replied that it causes abortion. Only 22% said that EC can be purchased in advance of need. Many felt uncomfortable dispensing to adolescents (61%) and men (58%). Knowledge about EC was the most important predictor of dispensing [odds ratio (OR)=1.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22���2.03]. In particular, pharmacists who reported that EC does not act as an abortifacient were more likely to dispense it (OR=4.64, 95% CI 2.15���10.00). Conclusions Correct information about EC was the most important predictor of pharmacists' dispensing EC. To expand availability of EC, pharmacists will have to become better informed.
Reservoir volumetric and sedimentation survey data: A necessary tool for evaluating historic sediment flux and appropriate mitigation response

Multi-frequency reservoir survey techniques offer a technological means to verify historic sediment delivery estimates and to quantify the effectiveness of conservation implementation. A multi-year, multi-frequency acoustic survey of Granger Lake, Texas, was undertaken to demonstrate the application of this technology and the value of its derivatives. Granger Lake is a drinking water resource for surrounding cities, perceived as being threatened by agriculture-driven sedimentation, and the focus of a watershed conservation implementation programme. Objectives of the present study were to (i) conduct sub-bottom profiling to verify the pre-impoundment capacity of the reservoir; (ii) plot historic bathymetric datasets, including pre-impoundment surface determined by low-frequency acoustics, identifying any changes in annualized sediment delivery curve to date; and (iii) quantify changes in sediment delivery resulting from agricultural conservation practices implemented as part of the Granger Lake Watershed Assessment and Implementation Project. The sediment-profiling results indicated that the pre-impoundment design estimates were overstated, thereby skewing historic sediment delivery estimates. Adjusting the 1980 pre-impoundment volume of Granger Lake indicated that the historic trend in Granger Lake sedimentation/water storage loss was markedly less acute. Although sedimentation did accelerate somewhat in the mid-1990s, the intervals following the 1995–2002 survey period revealed a trend of decelerating sedimentation. Reduced sedimentation as a response to conservation implementation is not distinguishable beyond what is seen as a steady downward trend in sediment delivery. Insights from this study highlight the important role of multi-frequency reservoir survey techniques for refining watershed conservation and/or reservoir sustaining strategies.
Subscale Validation of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire: Comparison of Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Cohorts

Objective Neuropsychiatric symptoms are prevalent in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD) and commonly measured using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Based on existing exploratory literature, we report preliminary validation of three NPI Questionnaire (NPI-Q-10) subscales that measure clinically meaningful symptom clusters. Methods Cross-sectional results for three subscales (NPI-Q-4-Frontal, NPI-Q-4-Agitation/Aggression, NPI-Q-3-Mood) in amnestic MCI and AD dementia cases from the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) and Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) databases were analyzed using confirmatory unrotated principal component analysis. Results ADNI contributed 103 MCI, 90 MCI converters, and 112 AD dementia cases, whereas NACC contributed 1,042 MCI, 763 MCI converters, and 3,048 AD dementia cases. NACC had higher baseline mean age (75.7 versus 74.6), and more impaired mean scores (at month 24) on Mini-Mental State Exam (19.5 versus 22.4) and NPI-Q-10 (5.0 versus 4.3), and all NPI-Q subscales than ADNI. Medians were not different between cohorts for NPI-Q-4-Agitation/Aggression, and NPI-Q-3-Mood, however. Each item on all scales/subscales contributed variance in principal component analysis Pareto plots. All items in Factor (F) 1 for each scale/subscale projected in a positive direction on biplots (revealing coherence), whereas F2 and F3 items showed more spatial separation (revealing independence). There were remarkable similarities between cohorts for factor loadings and spatial patterns of item projections, although factor item identities varied somewhat, especially beyond F1. Conclusion The similar pattern of results across two cohorts support validity of these subscales, which are worthy of further psychometric evaluation in MCI and AD patients and preliminary application in clinical settings.
Computer and Internet applications for psychological treatment: Update for clinicians

Computers and the Internet have the potential to be used to deliver psychological treatments. This article provides a selective review of applications involving little or no therapist contact, applications involving asynchronous and synchronous communication with providers, and applications that have been used as adjuncts to standard psychotherapy. Data on the efficacy of these applications most strongly support using the Internet to complete and submit behavioral assignments, to obtain social support from peers, and to receive education, feedback, and support from therapists in the form of e-mail or chatroom communications. General practice recommendations are given with an emphasis on ways to encourage use of the Internet as an information and communication tool as an adjunct to regular psychotherapy.
Simulation of aphasic naming performance in non-brain-damaged adults.

Discussion abounds in the literature as to whether aphasia is a deficit of linguistic competence or linguistic performance and, if it is a performance deficit, what are its precise mechanisms. Cons...
One-Hundred and Thirty Small- and Large-Bowel Injuries Associated with Gynecologic Laparoscopic Operations

One-hundred and thirty cases of laparoscopically associated intestinal perforations are reported in this paper. This series consisted of 81 small intestinal and 49 large intestinal injuries. Seventy-seven percent of the former and 41% of the latter were entry-related, that is, trocar-associated injuries, whereas 59% of large bowel and 23% of small bowel injuries were associated with the operative procedure. The majority of injuries were diagnosed postoperatively, and 70% of small bowel and 51% of large bowel perforations were diagnosed late. The most useful laboratory studies leading to the correct diagnosis were the computed axial tomography scan with contrast and the complete blood count with differential. Many of the patients experienced unnecessary delays before an exploratory laparotomy procedure was undertaken. Because of the delay, sepsis intervened in every colonic perforation, and in 50% of small bowel perforations when the diagnosis was delayed >48 hours. Many of the patients had collateral comp...
Multidimensionality of Rotter's Locus of Control Scale:

McInish and Srivastava recently examined the multidimensionality of Rotter's Locus of Control Scale for common stock investors. Following principal-component analysis with a varimax rotation, these...