cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing Partisan Bias in Political News: The Case(s) of Local Senate Election Coverage

Many studies of partisan bias in political news employ balance as a baseline. That is, the party/candidate receiving more or better coverage in any given source is automatically deemed the beneficiary of favorable treatment by the source. A study employing the balance baseline potentially exaggerates the amount of meaningful partisan bias in the source, however, for failure to control for nonpartisan, non-ideological news judgment criteria. This study models variation in the relative amount and tone of coverage received by candidates in 95 content analyses of newspapers' Senate election coverage from 1988–1992. This enables a direct test of the relative power of partisan and structural (nonpartisan, news-judgment-driven) biases in explaining the slant of election coverage. While news-organizational factors are found to dominate the amount model, a modest amount of residual slant toward the Democratic candidates remains in the tone of coverage, controlling for structural bias.
Oxidation of homogentisic acid to ochronotic pigment in connective tissue

Abstract Ochronotic pigmentation of connective tissues occurs in individuals with alcaptonuria. An enzyme system, termed homogentisic acid polyphenol oxidase, has been identified in mammalian skin and cartilage which catalyzes the oxidation of homogentisic acid to an “ochronotic-like” pigment. Benzoquinoneacetic acid, a probable intermediary compound in the oxidation and polymerization reactions also serves as a substrate for the oxidase. Benzoquinoneacetic acid has been identified as an intermediary metabolite in the oxidation of homogentisic acid to the pigmented polymerized product. Studies with partially purified enzyme from albino guinea-pig skin indicate that copper is essential for enzymatic activity. A pathway is proposed for the oxidation of homogentisic acid via benzoquinoneacetic acid to ochronotic pigment in the tissues of alcaptonuric individuals.
Obstructive sleep apnea syndromes.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndromes afflict various age groups. OSA is reported to be more prevalent in middle-aged men compared with women in the United States, but the true prevalence may be higher, because OSA syndromes are underdiagnosed. This article reviews the history of sleep apnea, discusses the clinical presentation of OSA-hypopnea and upper airway resistance syndrome, and presents the pertinent physical examination findings and the results of sleep laboratory testing. Associated significant comorbid conditions and treatment options are reviewed.
Incidence and Complications of Accidental Cannulation of Retroperitoneal Veins During Venography for Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement

Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and complications of accidental cannulation of retroperitoneal veins during venography for inferior vena cava (IVC) filter placement. Methods In total, 641 patients who underwent IVC filter placement were retrospectively reviewed. Incidence of accidental cannulation of retroperitoneal veins during venography (using 633 sheaths and 18 catheters, including 11 pigtail type and 7 end-hole–type catheters), along with the associated complications, were evaluated. Results The overall frequency of accidental cannulation of retroperitoneal veins was 5.4% (35 of 651) via venous approaches: 5.8% (24 of 411) via a right femoral approach, 3.9% (5 of 129) via a left femoral approach, and 5.4% (6 of 111) via a jugular approach. The most frequent veins cannulated were the ascending lumbar veins (4.6%, 25 of 540) via a femoral approach, and the median sacral vein (3.6%, 4 of 111) via a jugular approach. No significant difference in the frequency of accidental cannulation was observed between venography through sheaths and catheters (5.4% [n = 34] vs. 5.6% [n = 1; using an end-hole–type catheter]; P = 1.000). Injuries to 5 veins (0.8%), including 3 ascending lumbar veins, were observed. Inadvertent filter placement within the right ascending lumbar vein was observed in 1 patient (0.2%). Conclusions Accidental cannulation of retroperitoneal veins during venography for IVC filter placement is an infrequent occurrence, and in this patient series did not result in negative clinical outcomes. However, operators should be aware of the risk of accidental cannulation to prevent avoidable complications such as venous injury or filter misplacement.
Involvement of the protein kinase C system in calcium‐force relationships in ferret aorta

1. Intracellular Ca2+-force relationships were investigated in ferret aortic smooth muscle by the simultaneous measurement of aequorin luminescence and isometric force. Complete calcium-force curves were constructed by plotting calibrated aequorin luminescence versus force, while intracellular [Ca2+] was made to change by increasing degrees of K+ depolarization or decreasing extracellular [Ca2+]. 2. The steady state calcium-force curve in response to K+ depolarization exhibited maximal force generation at an intracellular [Ca2+] of approximately 4 x 10(-7) M. Further increases in intracellular [Ca2+] did not yield additional increments in force. 3. Protein kinase C activation with the phorbol ester, 12-deoxyphorbol-13-isobutyrate 20 acetate (DPBA) produced contractions accompanied by no detectable increases in aequorin luminescence. DPBA significantly shifted the control [Ca2+]-force relationship leftward to lower intracellular [Ca2+] with an increase in the magnitude of maximal generated force. 4. In aorta maximally precontracted by K+ depolarization, the addition of DPBA resulted in a significant increase in force in the absence of further increases in intracellular [Ca2+]. Conversely, in muscles maximally precontracted with DPBA, responses to K+ depolarization resulted in subsequent increases in force in the presence of simultaneous sustained increases in intracellular [Ca2+]. 5. The relatively specific protein kinase C antagonist H-7 caused a significant decrease in intrinsic myogenic tone in the absence of any statistically significant decrease in intracellular [Ca2+]. 6. These results suggest that protein kinase C may be an important regulator of vascular smooth muscle contractility by: (1) providing a mechanism by which the apparent [Ca2+] sensitivity of the contractile apparatus during agonist-induced contractions is increased, and (2) maintaining intrinsic myogenic tone by a mechanism the [Ca2+] requirement of which is satisfied by the resting [Ca2+]i.
Crossover from non-Fermi liquid to Fermi liquid behavior close to a quantum critical point: A brief review

Abstract The nesting of the Fermi surfaces of an electron and a hole pocket separated by a nesting vector Q and the interaction between electrons gives rise to itinerant antiferromagnetism. The order can gradually be suppressed by mismatching the nesting and a quantum critical point is obtained as the Neel temperature tends to zero. We review our results on the specific heat, the quasi-particle linewidth, the electrical resistivity, the amplitudes of de Haas–van Alphen oscillations and the dynamical spin susceptibility.
SNFing Out Vulnerability in Cancer

Originally discovered in yeast but conserved in eukaryotes, the SWI/SWF complex is a group of proteins that remodel the packaging of DNA (the chromatin) to regulate transcription. Aside from its role in transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling was recently found also to be involved in the repair of DNA damage by allowing the DNA repair proteins access to damaged regions of the DNA. Watanabe et al. embarked on a set of experiments to understand the role of SWI/SNF proteins in the DNA damage response. First, they investigated the role of the ARID1A and ARID1B genes, which are frequently mutated in human cancers, in nonhomologous end-joining repair (NHEJ). They found that in lung cancer cell lines, ARID1A and ARID1B localize to DNA damage sites. When the researchers used small interfering RNA to suppress either gene, the result was reduced NHEJ, suggesting that both genes were required for full NHEJ activity. They also found that the recruitment of the green fluorescent protein–tagged DNA repair proteins KU70, KU80, and subsequently XRCC to the site of DNA double-strand breaks was impaired when either ARID1A or ARID1B were inhibited. Similar experiments suggested that several other proteins of the SWI/SWF complex were also necessary for fully functional NHEJ. Watanabe et al. demonstrated that the stability of several proteins in the SWI/SNF complex was interdependent, indicating that the loss of one SWI/SWF protein may lead to the instability of other proteins in the same complex. The investigators also found that the suppression of ARID1A, ARID1B, or any of several other members of the SWI/SWF complex sensitized cancer cells to cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug that induces DNA damage through intra- and interstrand DNA cross-links. This paper demonstrates that both ARID1 proteins are required for NHEJ and that cancer cells lacking these proteins or other SWI/SNF factors are more sensitive to DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin. Because these genes are frequently mutated in cancers, it is an important vulnerability that could be exploited therapeutically. R. Watanabe et al ., SWI/SNF factors required for cellular resistance to DNA damage include ARID1A and ARID1B and show interdependent protein stability. Cancer Res . 74, 2465–2475 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/74/9/2465
Determination of the imaging conditions in off-axis side-band STEM holography

Abstract A new method for the local determination of the transfer function parameters and the beam separation is proposed for high-resolution STEM off-axis side-band holography. The effects of the finite spatial resolution, dynamical scattering and the interference of the conjugate images on the refinement accuracy are discussed on the basis of a computer analysis.
DM642 digital media processor

This paper describes the new DM642 Digital Media Processor designed to support a broad range of video over packet applications. The DM642 includes the C64x VLIW DSP core optimized for video processing and flexible peripheral interfaces including three 20-bit video ports, a multi-channel audio serial port (McASP), Ethernet MAC, and PCI. The DM642 supports the full range of mature and emerging video compression algorithms including MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.261, H.263, H.264, Windows Media, Real Video, and On2 VP5.
Knowledge management approach in mobile software system testing

Software testing is the last phase in the software development life cycle (SDLC) which aims to test and capture any defects before the software is being deployed. System test is more concentrated on black box testing whereby the functionality and integration between software, hardware and computer system is tested. Motorola Global Software Group Malaysia, Penang (GSG Penang) is the core test team for iDENtrade phone software system testing. The main activity of iDENtrade phone software system test is to conduct phone software functionality test, mobile data (such as GPS and circuit data call) test as well as software stress test through the iDENtrade network simulation in Penang. This paper discusses the proposal of implementing test knowledge management framework in iDENtrade phone software system testing and how the knowledge management approach can benefit the testing team in terms of cost and productivity.
Type I Interferon and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex systemic autoimmune disease associated with multiple immunologic abnormalities. Prominent among these is upregulation of type I interferon (IFN)?a powerful immune adjuvant. IFN is, in part, produced in SLE in response to autoantigens in the form of self-nucleic acids and their associated nuclear proteins. Sources of these autoantigens include apoptotic and necrotic cells as well as neutrophils undergoing a specific form of cell death called NETosis. Although plasmacytoid dendritic cells are the main producers of IFN-a, other cells are important regulators of this process. Both genetic and environmental risk factors play a role in the development and pathogenesis of SLE. Further highlighting the importance of IFN, candidate gene and genome-wide association studies have identified a number of genes involved in type I IFN pathways associated with SLE. In this review, 3 monogenic deficiencies that result in lupus-like phenotypes and several polygenic variants that have been consistently associated with SLE are highlighted, and the relationship of these genes to IFN-a production is discussed. Clinical associations of the type I IFN pathway and the use of IFN-blocking agents as therapeutic agents in SLE are also reviewed.
A latent virus of rats isolated in tissue culture.

Abstract Several strains of a new virus (RV) have been isolated from rat tumors under conditions which suggest that it may be a latent agent in these animals. The virus is characterized by its ability to multiply and to cause a marked cytopathogenic effect (CPE) in rat embryo cells in tissue culture. The virus is associated with a hemagglutinin for guinea pig red cells, and circulating antibodies against these strains have been found in a number of laboratory and wild rats, suggesting that it is widely disseminated. Viral antibodies were detected in a germ-free rat, suggesting that the agent may be vertically transmitted. The virus resembles SE polyoma virus in a number of respects, including heat stability, resistance to ether, agglutination of red cells without spontaneous elution and the destruction of red cell receptors by cholera vibrio filtrates containing receptor-destroying enzyme (RDE). The virus differs from SE polyoma virus in that there is no detectable antigenic relationship and the agent does not grow in mouse embryo tissue nor does it cause tumors or other detectable pathology on inoculation into rats. However, the resemblances suggest that the two agents may represent mouse and rat variants of a similar class of virus agent.
Treating cofactors can reverse the expansion of a primary disease epidemic

Cofactors, "nuisance" conditions or pathogens that affect the spread of a primary disease, are likely to be the norm rather than the exception in disease dynamics. Here we present a "simplest possible" demographic model that incorporates two distinct effects of cofactors: that on the transmission of the primary disease from an infected host bearing the cofactor, and that on the acquisition of the primary disease by an individual that is not infected with the primary disease but carries the cofactor. We constructed and analyzed a four-patch compartment model that accommodates a cofactor. We applied the model to HIV spread in the presence of the causal agent of genital schistosomiasis, Schistosoma hematobium, a pathogen commonly co-occurring with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We found that cofactors can have a range of effects on primary disease dynamics, including shifting the primary disease from non-endemic to endemic, increasing the prevalence of the primary disease, and reversing demographic growth when the host population bears only the primary disease to demographic decline. We show that under parameter values based on the biology of the HIV/S. haematobium system, reduction of the schistosome-bearing subpopulations (e.g. through periodic use of antihelminths) can slow and even reverse the spread of HIV through the host population. Typical single-disease models provide estimates of future conditions and guidance for direct intervention efforts relating only to the modeled primary disease. Our results suggest that, in circumstances under which a cofactor affects the disease dynamics, the most effective intervention effort might not be one focused on direct treatment of the primary disease alone. The cofactor model presented here can be used to estimate the impact of the cofactor in a particular disease/cofactor system without requiring the development of a more complicated model which incorporates many other specific aspects of the chosen disease/cofactor pair. Simulation results for the HIV/S. haematobium system have profound implications for disease management in developing areas, in that they provide evidence that in some cases treating cofactors may be the most successful and cost-effective way to slow the spread of primary diseases.
A critical look at current applications of fracture mechanics to the failure of fibre-reinforced composites

Abstract While successful for failure analysis of many commonly used structural materials, fracture mechanics applications to fibre-reinforced composites have so far not been as effective. The paper explores some basic reasons for this. A brief review of the micromechanical events involved in composite fracture is given first. Then a critical appraisal is made of various analytical contributions that have appeared in the literature. It is found that these are generally empirical extensions of linear elastic fracture mechanics that are no capable of coping with the complexity of the crack extension process as seen from the micromechanical point of view. It is concluded that innovative fracture mechanics techniques are required: one possibility is suggested.
Can Psychology Be A Unified Science

Jaegwon Kim has argued that if psychological kinds are multiply realizable then no single psychological theory can describe regularities ranging over psychological states. Instead, psychology must be fractured, with human psychology covering states realized in the human way, martian psychology covering states realized in the martian way, and so on. I show that even if one accepts the principles that motivate Kim’s argument, his conclusion does not follow. I then offer a dilemma that forces Kim to concede the possibility of a unified psychology. I close with a discussion of what, according to Jerry Fodor, is “really bugging” Kim.
Catholics and Coeducation: Rhetoric and Reality in Europe before Divini Illius Magistri

When Pius XI condemned coeducation in the encyclical “Divini Illius Magistri” in 1929, he echoed over half a century of anxious Catholic rhetoric about the moral, social, and political dangers of mixing the sexes in school, especially at the secondary level. Yet by the time of this encyclical, predominantly Catholic countries had adopted widely differing practices with regard to mixed schooling. This essay explores the interplay of rhetoric about and realities of coeducation in such countries, with particular focus on France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, and Ireland.
Demotion and Dissent in the Canadian Liberal Party

Those who have not witnessed the making of a government have reason to be happier than those who have. It is a thoroughly unpleasant and discreditable business in which merit is disregarded, loyal service is without value, influence is the most important factor and geography and religion are important supplementary considerations. Prime ministers can typically rely on ideological agreement and norms of loyalty to deliver them a modicum of party cohesion. Beyond that, they have at their disposal a variety of institutional tools with which to enforce discipline. The powers to invoke the confidence convention and to dissolve parliament are the most well known and powerful of these tools, but these heavy-handed measures are ill-suited for securing unity on an on-going basis. The prime minister's monopoly over the distribution of preferment is a far more reliable means of ensuring members' loyalty. The rules of the game are simple: if the member of parliament (MP) wishes to climb the parliamentary career ladder, he or she must toe the party line. The prime minister's power over MPs' parliamentary careers is not without limit, of course. Some MPs must be brought into cabinet because they are too powerful and dangerous to leave on the backbench where they can openly challenge the prime minister. Representational concerns also have to be addressed. Inevitably, prime ministers find themselves in a position where, to quote de Tocqueville, 'talents and ambitions are more numerous than places', and where 'there are bound to be many who cannot rise quickly enough by making use of the body's privileges and who seek fast promotion by attacking them.' 2 Prime ministers, in short, exercise their power of appointment under constraints, and when they withhold or cannot provide their members with parliamentary advancement, their ability to compel loyalty is diminished. In this respect, the prime minister's control over the distribution of preferment is the linchpin of party unity. This Note argues that party unity is built upon a quid pro quo with party leaders and MPs exchanging career advancement and loyalty. Furthermore, when party leaders cannot or do not provide their members with advancement, they expose their party to potentially divisive electoral and ideological forces. The theoretical basis of the Note is a decision-theory model of parliamentary behaviour in which MPs dissent when the blandishments of career advancement fail to offset the electoral costs of unpopular party policies. Empirical support for this model is drawn from the quasi-experimental case of the Canadian Liberal party's transition to power in 1993. At the start of the 1993-97 Parliament, Jean Chretien, the new Liberal prime minister, withheld government
PowerTune: Differentiated Power Allocation in Over-Provisioned Multicore Systems

Exponentially increasing transistor density with each processor generation, along with constant chip-level power budgets and a slower rate of improvement in transistor power dissipation, exponentially decreases the percentage of transistors that can switch on simultaneously. Such 'over-provisioned multicore' systems require active power management technologies to maintain normal operation constraints. Given the increasing use of shared virtualized infrastructure, these power management capabilities must address the highly diverse behavior of different applications in their processor usage and performance requirements. This paper presents a solution 'Power Tune' to perform software managed QoS-aware power allocation for over-provisioned multicore processors. Power proportions can be user-specified or dynamically determined based on QoS-policy. When doing so, platform power constraints are modeled using 'power credits' allocated to virtual machines. Budget constraints are enforced by repeatedly transitioning the CPU into active and idle-states. The solution is implemented in the Xen hypervisor by augmenting its existing credit scheduler. Experimental evaluations are carried out using multiple allocation policies (HWAlloc, FixAlloc, and QoSAlloc), with results showing effectiveness of software-controlled power allocation for VMs with diverse performance requirements and dynamic execution behavior.
Upregulation of the Host SLC11A1 Gene by Clostridium difficile Toxin B Facilitates Glucosylation of Rho GTPases and Enhances Toxin Lethality

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis associated with Clostridium difficile infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients being treated with antibiotics. Two closely related large protein toxins produced by C. difficile, TcdA and TcdB, which act identically but at different efficiencies to glucosylate low-molecular-weight Rho GTPases, underlie the microbe's pathogenicity. Using antisense RNA encoded by a library of human expressed sequence tags (ESTs), we randomly inactivated host chromosomal genes in HeLa cells and isolated clones that survived exposure to ordinarily lethal doses of TcdB. This phenotypic screening and subsequent analysis identified solute carrier family 11 member 1 (SLC11A1; formerly NRAMP1), a divalent cation transporter crucial to host defense against certain microbes, as an enhancer of TcdB lethality. Whereas SLC11A1 normally is poorly expressed in human cells of nonmyeloid lineage, TcdB increased SLC11A1 mRNA abundance in such cells through the actions of the RNA-binding protein HuR. We show that short hairpin RNA (shRNA) directed against SLC11A1 reduced TcdB glucosylation of small Rho GTPases and, consequently, toxin lethality. Consistent with the previously known role of SLC11A1 in cation transport, these effects were enhanced by elevation of Mn(2+) in media; conversely, they were decreased by treatment with a chelator of divalent cations. Our findings reveal an unsuspected role for SLC11A1 in determining C. difficile pathogenicity, demonstrate the novel ability of a bacterial toxin to increase its cytotoxicity, establish a mechanistic basis for these effects, and suggest a therapeutic approach to mitigate cell killing by C. difficile toxins A and B.
Diffusion in polymer systems, measured with the pulsed-gradient NMR method

Abstract The pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR method of measuring diffusion has long been used to investigate a large variety of non-glassy polymer systems. The large-gradient variant of this method, including several refinements as developed in the author's laboratory, is briefly reviewed. Several examples of recent work are presented: effects of molecular shape anisotropy of the diffusion of plasticizers in PVC above the glass transition; the retarding effects of the emerging branching on the diffusion of epoxies during curing; and the characterization of the sol remaining in bimodal PDMS networks after partial extraction.
Trouble with physics: The roots of reality

What makes us so sure that mathematics can reveal nature's deepest workings, asks cosmologist Brian Greene
Igf system components as prognostic markers in breast cancer

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family of ligands, receptors, and binding proteins can regulate breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro, and interruption of these pathways inhibits IGF-mediated cell proliferation. If the IGF family members are key regulators of breast cancer growth and progression in vivo, we would expect their expression to be an indicator of the prognosis of the disease. Thus, measurement of IGF expression may provide an indicator of the growth effect within a tumor, and provide new targets for treatment of the disease. In this review we will summarize the data generated thus far indicating that IGF family members are indicators of prognosis of breast cancer, and that measurement of the whole IGF family in concert may provide useful information for treatment strategies of breast cancer.
Modeling granular crushing in ring shear tests : Experimental and numerical analyses

A fault consists of a zone of heavily fragmented granular rock (gouge), which is confined between two rough walls made of fractured rock. The granular gouge is the result of previous fracturing of the wall rock by the combined effect of compressive and shear stresses. Through time, the granular fault gouge will experience various episodes of further fragmentation (crushing) as a result of the mobilization by shear of the fault walls. The evolution of crushing in a simulated gouge material was studied using laboratory ring shear tests and DEM ring shear simulations. The laboratory ring shear tests were developed using sugar as a weak granular material. It was found that the residual friction coefficient of this material maintained a constant value regardless of the severe degradation of the particles. This degradation was induced by increasing the angular deformation or increasing the applied vertical stress. Moreover, it was found that the grain size distribution of the original uniform material evolved toward a fractal distribution of sizes. The results from the DEM simulations confirmed those from the laboratory tests and provided also a visualization of the evolution of crushing. Event though originally DEM does not consider particle breakage, this was allowed by replacing particles fulfilling a predefined tensile failure criterion with an equivalent group of smaller particles.
Management of Ano-Rectal Malformations in a Tertiary Level Children’s Hospital of Nepal

Introduction: Ano-rectal malformation (ARM) comprises a wide spectrum of diseases that involves the distal anus and rectum as well as the urinary and genital tracts. The factors that need to be considered during treatment are the type of anomaly, associated anomalies and patients general condition. The aim of this study is to analyze the types of anorectal malformations and their management in a tertiary level children’s hospital. Materials and Methods: The medical records of patients with the diagnosis of anorectal malformation managed in the hospital during a period of January 2009 to January 2014 were reviewed. Results: There were 187 cases of ARM 126 (67.37%) males and 61 (32.62%) females. High/Intermediate type was 129 (68.98%). Low ARM was 58 (31.01%). In male high type ARM with recto-urethral fistula was seen in 60 (47.61%). ARM with Rectovestibular fistula(RVF) was seen in 40 (65.5%) female. High and intermediate ARMs were managed initially with colostomy and low ARM with primary anoplasty. ARM with rectovestibular fistula in females were managed with Anterior Sagittal Anorectoplasty without colostomy. Common cloaca in female was managed initially with colostomy followed by posterior sagittal ano-recto-vagino-urethroplasty. Colostomy closure was done after adequate size of anus was achieved with anal dilation. Conclusion: The type of ARM in newborn is diagnosed by perineal examination and X-rays. Low type ARM was managed by primary surgery without colostomy. High anomaly and complex defect was treated with stage surgeries. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v33i3.8190 J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. 2013;33(3):196-200
Post‐release movements and habitat use of robust redhorse transplanted to the Ocmulgee River, Georgia

1. Robust redhorse Moxostoma robustum is an imperiled, potadromous fish in the south-eastern USA. Initial recovery efforts have focused on supplementing existing populations and establishing refugial populations through extensive stocking programmes. However, assessment of the success of these programmes has not yet been conducted, and there are few reports evaluating the effectiveness of such programmes with other potadromous species. 2. Radio telemetry was employed to assess the effectiveness of a stocking programme aimed at addressing whether stocked individuals would remain in an area free of introduced predators and ascertaining the ability of stocked fish to integrate into a resident population. 3. Hatchery-reared robust redhorse were captured from refugial populations established in other river systems and were transferred to the Ocmulgee River, Georgia where a population of hatchery-reared individuals and an unknown number of wild fish reside. 4. These transferred robust redhorse exhibited an exploratory phase for the first 3 months before adopting behaviour patterns, including spawning migrations, that were consistent with those reported for wild fish in other systems. However, some individuals seemed unable to locate suitable spawning habitat. 5. Approximately half of the radio-tagged fish remained within the area free of introduced predators. 6. At least some radio-tagged robust redhorse fully integrated into the resident population as evidenced by their presence in spawning aggregations with resident individuals. 7. The effectiveness of a stocking programme is dependent upon the ability of stocked individuals to integrate into an existing population or replicate the behaviour and functionality of a resident population. Evaluations of stocking programmes should incorporate assessments of behaviour in addition to surveys to estimate abundance and survivorship and genetic assessments of augmentation of effective population sizes. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A cell ID assignment scheme and its applications

Location management is one of the most important issues in the design of future cellular systems. It consists of two basic operations: location update and paging. The paging operation is dependent on the corresponding location update operation. The time based, movement based, and distance based location update schemes are three of the most popular dynamic location update schemes. It has been shown that the distance based scheme is more efficient than the movement based. However the distance between two cells is difficult to obtain. The author proposes a coordinate system which can be used to systematically assign IDs to the cells in a cellular system. With this cell ID assignment scheme, the distance between any two cells can be computed easily. Based on our distance computation scheme, a speed adaptive location update scheme is presented. It is shown that the speed adaptive location update scheme is a generalization of both time based and distance based schemes.
Systematic errors in the measurement of neutrino masses due to baryonic feedback processes: Prospects for stage IV lensing surveys

We examine the importance of baryonic feedback effects on the matter power spectrum on small scales and the implications for the precise measurement of neutrino masses through gravitational weak lensing. Planned large galaxy surveys such as the Large Synoptic Sky Telescope and Euclid are expected to measure the sum of neutrino masses to extremely high precision, sufficient to detect nonzero neutrino masses even in the minimal mass normal hierarchy. We show that weak lensing of galaxies, while being a very good probe of neutrino masses, is extremely sensitive to baryonic feedback processes. We use publicly available results from the Overwhelmingly Large Simulations project to investigate the effects of active galactic nuclei feedback, the nature of the stellar initial mass function, and gas cooling rates on the measured weak lensing shear power spectrum. Using the Fisher matrix formalism and priors from $\mathrm{CMB}+\mathrm{BAO}$ data, we show that, when one does not account for feedback, the measured neutrino mass may be substantially larger or smaller than the true mass, depending on the dominant feedback mechanism, with the mass error $|\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}{m}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}|$ often exceeding the mass ${m}_{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ itself. We also consider gravitational lensing of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and show that it is not sensitive to baryonic feedback on scales $\ensuremath{\ell}l2000$, although CMB experiments that aim for sensitivities $\ensuremath{\sigma}({m}_{\ensuremath{\nu}})l0.02\text{ }\mathrm{eV}$ will need to include baryonic effects in modeling the CMB lensing potential. A combination of CMB lensing and galaxy lensing can help break the degeneracy between neutrino masses and baryonic feedback processes. We conclude that future large galaxy lensing surveys such as Large Synoptic Sky Telescope and Euclid can only measure neutrino masses accurately if the matter power spectrum can be measured to similar accuracy.
Diagnostic consequences of cytomegalovirus glycoprotein B polymorphisms

Failure of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) real-time PCR assay targeting glycoprotein B (gB) was investigated. A multiplex assay targeting gB and immediate-early 2 (IE2) genes showed discordant results (gB negative and IE positive or a >10-fold-higher viral load with IE primers) in saliva from 14.6% of CMV-infected newborns. Sequencing revealed 3 patterns of gB variations.
Monte Carlo simulation of electromagnetic scattering from two-dimensional random rough surfaces

The fast multipole method fast Fourier transform (FMM-FFT) method is developed to compute the scattering of an electromagnetic wave from a two-dimensional (2-D) rough surface. The resulting algorithm computes a matrix-vector multiply in O(N log N) operations. This algorithm is shown to be more efficient than another O(N log N) algorithm, the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA), for surfaces of small height. For surfaces with larger roughness, the MLFMA is found to be more efficient. Using the MLFMA, Monte Carlo simulations are carried out to compute the statistical properties of the electromagnetic scattering from 2-D random rough surfaces using a workstation. For the rougher surface, backscattering enhancement is clearly observable as a pronounced peak in the backscattering direction of the computed bistatic scattering coefficient. For the smoother surface, the Monte Carlo results compare well with the results of the approximate Kirchhoff theory.
Self-Blood Pressure Monitoring in an Urban, Ethnically Diverse Population A Randomized Clinical Trial Utilizing the Electronic Health Record

Background—Hypertension is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Although control rates have improved over time, racial/ethnic disparities in hypertension control persist. Self-blood pressure monitoring, by itself, has been shown to be an effective tool in predominantly white populations, but less studied in minority, urban communities. These types of minimally intensive approaches are important to test in all populations, especially those experiencing related health disparities, for broad implementation with limited resources. Methods and Results—The New York City Health Department in partnership with community clinic networks implemented a randomized clinical trial (n=900, 450 per arm) to investigate the effectiveness of self-blood pressure monitoring in medically underserved and largely black and Hispanic participants. Intervention participants received a home blood pressure monitor and training on use, whereas control participants received usual care. After 9 months, systolic blood pressur...
It's All News to Me: The Effect of Instruments on Ratings Provision

In this paper, we address an issue of design in online rating systems: how many items should be elicited from the ratings provider. Recommender and reputation systems have traditionally relied on single-dimension ratings to reduce user burden, but for some types of information this amount of feedback may be insufficient. We presented users of an online news rating service with different numbers of items in a news rating exercise. We find that users show the highest satisfaction and greatest rating accuracy with a multi-item reviewing instrument
On the focusing of seismic body waves at the epicentre's antipode

Summary. This note reports on the remarkable focusing of seismic body waves at or near the antipode (Δ= 180°) of an earthquake's epicentre. The particular seismic velocity structure and sphericity of the Earth cause body-wave phases such as P(diff), PKP, PP, PPP, PcPPKP, SKSSKS, SS, etc. to converge individually at antipodal distances after being diffracted, reflected or refracted at discontinuities. This focusing strongly amplifies each signal up to almost one order of magnitude with respect to the normal phase recorded two or more degrees away. Since the signal/noise ratio is enhanced in the same proportion, seismograms at antipodal distances provide clear and strong arrivals of otherwise weak phases. Antipodal monitoring of seismic waves is suggested as a powerful means of exploring the Earth's interior. The study of these ‘seismic images’ generated at focal points of seismic rays will yield information on the departures from lateral homogeneity and sphericity of the core, as well as stronger constraints on earth models. To interpret the observations correctly, the data must be compared with theoretically generated seismograms. Since the appropriate ray theory equations (see, e.g. Scholte; Gilbert & Helmberger; Richards) are singular at Δ=180°, a corrective measure is taken which provides a formal expression for the wave amplitude that remains finite at the antipode, and reproduces the usual expressions at other distances.
Phylogeny of Lepiota (Agaricaceae) — Evidence from nrITS and nrLSU sequences

The phylogeny of Lepiota, Cystolepiota, Melanophyllum, Coprinus comatus, and Chamaemyces fracidus was examined with molecular techniques, and the consequences for morphological classification were considered. This group (excluding Chamaemyces fracidus and Coprinus comatus and allies) can be split up into several clades, which do not correspond to currently recognized genera, subgenera and sections. Structure of the pileus covering appears to be a key morphological character; colour and shape of the spores do not reflect the new phylogeny. Lepiota sect. Ovisporae is not monophyletic, and a separate genus for Cystolepiota, Lepiota sect. Echinatae, Melanophyllum and Pulverolepiota combined seems warranted. More research, especially on developmental morphology and on more tropical taxa, will be necessary to solidly erect a new classification.
Descriptive Versus Interpretive Phenomenology: Their Contributions to Nursing Knowledge

A number of articles in the nursing literature discuss the differences between descriptive and interpretive approaches to doing phenomenology. A review of studies demonstrates, however, that many researchers do not articulate which approach guides the study, nor do they identify the philosophical assumptions on which the study is based. Such lack of clarity makes it difficult for the reader to obtain a sense of how the knowledge produced by the study is to be evaluated and used. In this article, the authors compare the philosophical components of descriptive and interpretive approaches to doing phenomenology and illustrate types of knowledge produced by each through reviewing specific studies. They focus on the various uses of phenomenology in generating useful knowledge for health care practice.
Optimal bit allocation via the generalized BFOS algorithm

P.H. Westerink et al. (1988) developed an optimal bit allocation algorithm that is simplified when all operational distortion-rate functions (which are referred to as quantizer functions) are convex. This algorithm is restated using the generalized Breiman, Friedman, Olshen, and Stone (BFOS) algorithm (a recently developed technique for variable rate vector quantizer design) for both cases of convex and nonconvex quantizer functions (QFs), and its complexity is analyzed. The use of the generalized BFOS algorithm for optimal bit allocation is analysed. It is shown that if each source has a convex quantizer function then the complexity of the algorithm is low. >
Fasting Induces a Large, Leptin-Dependent Increase in the Intrinsic Action Potential Frequency of Orexigenic Arcuate Nucleus Neuropeptide Y/Agouti-Related Protein Neurons

The neuropeptide Y (NPY)/Agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus are thought to promote feeding. Here, we demonstrate that feeding state in vivo, through a leptin-dependent process, induces large and persistent changes in the electrophysiological activity of these neurons as measured extracellularly in vitro. Consistent with an orexigenic role, fasting induced a 4-fold increase in the basal action potential frequency of NPY/AgRP neurons. Leptin, when injected into fasted wild-type mice, induced a dose- and time-dependent decrease in spike frequency, which approached fed levels 2-3 h post treatment. In leptin-deficient (lep(ob)/lep(ob)) and leptin receptor-deficient (lepr(db)/lepr(db)) mice, NPY/AgRP spike frequency was not significantly increased by fasting, and even in mutant mice fed ad libitum, spike frequency was at least as high as in fasted wild-type mice. All recordings included GABA(A) and ionotropic glutamate receptor antagonists, suggesting that expression of this modulation is potentially intrinsic and not synaptically dependent. Recorded neurons were unambiguously identified using NPY-Sapphire transgenic mice. This is a remarkably straightforward example of a very robust in vitro electrophysiogical effect produced by a simple behavioral manipulation, food restriction.
Arterial dysfunction and functional performance in patients with peripheral artery disease: A review

Functional performance influences quality of life in individuals with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and is also a powerful prognostic marker in these patients. The pathophysiology of impaired functional performance in patients with PAD is incompletely understood. The severity of atherosclerotic burden, non-invasively assessed by the ankle—brachial index (ABI), does not reliably predict the degree of functional impairment observed in PAD patients. We review associations of measures of arterial function (arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction) with functional performance in PAD patients, and also review potential therapies for arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction that could improve functional performance in PAD. Recent studies suggest that measures of arterial function, such as arterial stiffness and endothelial function, are associated with exercise performance in the setting of PAD. These studies have provided new insights into (1) the pathophysiology of functional impairment in PAD, (...
Immunologic Graft Rejection in Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty and Penetrating Keratoplasty for Endothelial Disease

Objective To evaluate and compare the cumulative incidence and risk factors for first-episode immunologic graft rejection in Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) and penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and to identify potential risk factors for rejection. Design Retrospective chart review. Participants All patients who underwent PK or DSAEK for endothelial disease at the Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore LIJ, between January 2004 and June 2010. Methods One hundred sixty-nine PK cases and 122 DSAEK cases were reviewed. All patients had a minimum of 3 months of follow-up, with median follow-up of 36 months in the PK group and 29 months in the DSAEK group. Main Outcome Measures Cumulative incidence of first-episode immunologic graft rejection in PK and DSAEK cohorts. Risk factors for graft rejection were reviewed. Results Cumulative incidence of rejection was not significantly different between the DSAEK and PK cohorts ( P P Conclusions Descemet's stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty and PK did not show a statistically significant difference in the incidence of rejection; however, among nonglaucomatous eyes, there were significantly fewer rejections in those that underwent DSAEK. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Does the policy trilemma still hold? Fresh evidence and its implications

Economic success of any nation intrinsically hinges on the tradeoff between external policy choices and their internal consequences. An enduring challenge that countries confront is the ‘trilemma’ of choices between three desirable, yet jointly unattainable objectives of maintaining a fixed exchange rate regime, unfettered cross-border capital flows and monetary policy independence. This study examines the extent of monetary autonomy for over 130 nations spanning the period 1999–2011. Using both pooled cross-sectional as well as time series analyses I find more loss of monetary sovereignty for fixed regimes than non-fixed ones, supporting the trilemma's predictions. However, I do note this difference is only marginal and several floaters exhibit ‘fear of floating’ behaviour allowing sufficient transmission of foreign interest rates. Finally, I examine the macroeconomic consequences of the three tenets of the trilemma. I find higher monetary independence, greater capital openness as well as greater regime flexibility to promote economic stability.