cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immobilization of enzymes to silver island films for enhanced enzymatic activity.

Hypothesis The performance of the enzyme-based biosensors depends on the enzymatic activity and the use of an appropriate technique for immobilization of enzymes. The incorporation of silver island films (SIFs) into the enzyme-based biosensors is expected to enhance the enzymatic activity and to increase the detectability of analytes of interest.
Numerical grid generation in arbitrary surfaces through a second-order differential-geometric model

Abstract In this paper a set of second-order partial differential equations for the generation of coordinates in a given surface has been developed and then solved numerically to demonstrate its potential for surface coordinate generation. The proposed equations are not some arbitrarily chosen equations but are a consequence of the formulae of Gauss and thus carry with them an explicit dependence on the geometric properties of the given surface. Furthermore, these equations are easy to solve and require only the specification of the bounding curves to provide the Dirichlet boundary conditions for their solution. Results of coordinate generation both in simply and doubly connected regions on some known surfaces, with the option of coordinate redistribution, have been presented. Extension of this technique to arbitrary surfaces seems to be straightforward.
Information systems research centers: an initial survey

Abstract The concept of the Information Systems Research Center (ISRC) is not new, yet its purpose, structure and activities are not universally agreed upon. This paper compares ten centers in the U.S.A. as to their objectives, organizational structure, curriculum, current research areas, and activities. The ISRCs are then examined in an attempt to assess benefits and problems.
Highly sensitive detection of cancer cells using femtosecond dual-wavelength near-IR two-photon imaging

We describe novel imaging protocols that allow detection of small cancer cell colonies deep inside tissue phantoms with high sensitivity and specificity. We compare fluorescence excited in Styryl-9M molecules by femtosecond pulses at near IR wavelengths, where Styryl-9M shows the largest dependence of the two-photon absorption (2PA) cross section on the local environment. We show that by calculating the normalized ratio of the two-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) intensity at 1200 nm and 1100 nm excitation wavelengths we can achieve high sensitivity and specificity for determining the location of cancer cells surrounded by normal cells. The 2PEF results showed a positive correlation with the levels of MDR1 proteins expressed by the cells, and, for high MDR1 expressors, as few as ten cancer cells could be detected. Similar high sensitivity is also demonstrated for tumor colonies induced in mouse external ears. This technique could be useful in early cancer detection, and, perhaps, also in monitoring dormant cancer deposits.
The Transformation of Employment Relations Systems in Central and Eastern Europe

During the 1990s, employment relations systems in Central and Eastern Europe experienced a complex, multilevel process of transformation. In this article, we discuss the transformation of employment relations systems under the impact of privatization, foreign direct investment, and pressures for the accession to the European Union enlargement at the enterprise, industry, and national levels. We argue that the pattern of embeddedness of employment relations in the former planned economic system, the developmental role of the state during the period of transition and the timing of the changes at a moment of intensified international competition resulted into unique configurations of employment relations in the different Central and Eastern European countries, not necessarily converging toward the incremental adjustments of Western European employment relations.
Tearful Relationships? Sex, Hormones, the Lacrimal Gland, and Aqueous-Deficient Dry Eye

Abstract Sex and the endocrine system exert a significant influence on the physiology and pathophysiology of the lacrimal gland. The purpose of this article is to briefly review the nature and magnitude of these interactions between sex, hormones and lacrimal tissue, and to address how they may relate to the pathogenesis of aqueous-deficient dry eye. Towards this end, this article has a 3-fold approach: first, to summarize the influence of androgens, estrogens, glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, retinoic acid, prolactin, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, growth hormone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, thyroxine, parathyroid hormone, insulin, glucagon, melatonin, human chorionic gonadotropin and cholecystokinin on the structure and function of the lacrimal gland; second, to discuss the mechanism of action of each hormone on lacrimal tissue; and third, to discuss the clinical relevance of the endocrine-lacrimal gland interrelationship, with a particular focus on each hormone's role (i.e. if relevant) in the development of aqueous-tear deficiency.
Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) transfer tokens repeatedly with a partner to accumulate rewards in a self-control task.

There has been extensive research investigating self-control in humans and nonhuman animals, yet we know surprisingly little about how one’s social environment influences self-control. The present study examined the self-control of chimpanzees in a task that required active engagement with conspecifics. The task consisted of transferring a token back and forth with a partner animal in order to accumulate food rewards, one item per token transfer. Self-control was required because at any point in the trial, either chimpanzee could obtain their accumulated rewards, but doing so discontinued the food accumulation and ended the trial for both individuals. Chimpanzees readily engaged the task and accumulated the majority of available rewards before ending each trial, and they did so across a number of conditions that varied the identity of the partner, the presence/absence of the experimenter, and the means by which they could obtain rewards. A second experiment examined chimpanzees’ self-control when given the choice between immediately available food items and a potentially larger amount of rewards that could be obtained by engaging the token transfer task with a partner. Chimpanzees were flexible in their decision-making in this test, typically choosing the option representing the largest amount of food, even if it involved delayed accumulation of the rewards via the token transfer task. These results demonstrate that chimpanzees can exhibit self-control in situations involving social interactions, and they encourage further research into this important aspect of the self-control scenario.
Comparison of the MMPI-2 and Niederhoffer Cynicism Scales for a Sample of Police Academy Trainees

This study compared the Niederhoffer Cynicism Scale, as a less costly alternative, to the MMPI-2 measure of cynicism. Data were collected on both scales from a sample of male and female police academy trainees to compare reliability and construct validity. Subgroup analyses by race and sex yielded comparable Cronbach alpha estimates for minority (.71) and majority (.83) males to MMPI-2 norms. The Niederhoffer reliability values were marginally smaller (.73 to .77) but within the acceptable range. Construct validity correlations between both scales were significant for minority and majority males. However, sample size was too small for both minority and majority females groups to use appropriate statistical techniques to determine reliability or validity. Continued use of the Niederhoffer is recommended for minority and majority males.
Resonance Raman complete polarization studies of oxyhemoglobin in the long- and short-wavelength regions: evidence of anomalous resultsag]

Abstract Circularly polarized radiation in the long-wavelength absorption region for oxyhemoglobin (≈5600 A) produces increased scattering present neither with linearly polarized radiation nor with radiation in the short-wavelength absorption region (≈ 4500–5000 A). The result is increased probability of inelastic light scattering, but at the same frequencies.
Ferrocement bolted shear joints: Failure modes and strength prediction

Abstract An experimental investigation was carried out to study the behavior of ferrocement bolted shear joints. Twenty-eight different pin-loaded ferrocement plate configurations and eight control specimens were tested. The test variables were the type of mesh (square, hexagonal, mixed), mesh orientation ( 0 90 ° or ±45 °), number of mesh layers (2 to 8 corresponding to a volume fraction from 1.68% to 6.72%), and ratio between end distance and hole diameter ( e d = 4 or 6 ). Three failure modes were observed, net tensile section failure, cleavage failure, and crushing compression failure at the bolt. Cleavage failure was predominant for e d = 4 , and net-section tension failure or compression crushing for e d = 6 . The strength of the mesh reinforcement was closely related to the strength of the specimens that failed in the cleavage and net-section modes. Prediction equations are developed based on the Limit analysis Lower Bound Theorem to predict the net tension or cleavage failure loads, and a conservative equation is proposed to predict compression crushing failure. A comparison was made with other prediction equations available in the literature.
The calculation of nuclear spin coupling constants from Ab Initio wavefunctions

Abstract The contact contribution to nuclear spin coupling is calculated using single determinant ab initio wavefunctions and the Finite Perturbation Method. For the small number of molecules studied, minimal Slater-type basis sets do not appear promising for reproducing experimental magnitudes and trends.
The Role of the Global Telecommunications Network in Bridging Economic and Political Divides, 1989 to 1999

This research explores the role of telecommunicative globalization in bridging world political and economic divides. Current approaches define globalization primarily in terms of increased density of network ties between nations, a perspective the present article extends into a more comprehensive framework. Exchange and balance theories are combined into a multitheoretical, multilevel model consisting of hypotheses regarding the mutuality, transitivity, and cyclicality of telephonic flows between nations that differed in economic and democratic attributes in 1989 and 1999. Statistical p* procedures demonstrate that tendencies toward mutuality and transitivity in the world telecommunications network have significantly increased between 1989 and 1999. These findings hold both for telecommunication flows among a full set of 110 nations of the world and for links between rich and poor and democratic and nondemocratic nations. The article concludes by examining implications of these results for network globalization theories.
Meniscus is more susceptible than cartilage to catabolic and anti-anabolic effects of adipokines

Summary Objective This study compared the effects on cartilage and meniscus matrix catabolism and biosynthesis of several adipokines implicated in osteoarthritis (OA). Design Bovine cartilage and meniscus explants were cultured for 1 or 9 days in serum-free medium alone or with 0.02, 0.2, or 2 μg/ml of leptin, visfatin, adiponectin, or resistin. Media were supplemented with 3 H-proline or 35 S-sodium sulfate to evaluate protein and sulfated glycosaminoglycan (sGAG) accumulation on the last day of culture. Explants were assayed for radiolabel, sGAG, and DNA contents. Cultured media were assayed for sGAG, nitrite and lactate dehydrogenase. Results Cartilage tissue was minimally affected by adipokines, with only the highest resistin dose increasing sGAG release and nitrite production compared to controls. In sharp contrast, meniscus tissue was responsive to several adipokines, with elevated sGAG and nitrite release following treatment with resistin, leptin, or visfatin. Cartilage sGAG content was unaltered by adipokine treatment whereas meniscal sGAG content significantly decreased with resistin dosage. Protein ( 3 H) incorporation was unaffected by adipokine treatment in both tissues. sGAG ( 35 S) incorporation did not significantly vary with adipokine treatment in cartilage but was inhibited by treatment with leptin, visfatin, and resistin in meniscus. Conclusion Our results indicate that meniscal tissue is more susceptible to adipokine-stimulated catabolism than is cartilage. Resistin had the strongest effect of the adipokines tested, inducing sGAG release in both tissues and depleting sGAG content in meniscus. These results suggest that increased adipokine levels due to obesity or joint injury may alter the mechanical integrity of the knee joint through biological pathways.
Language death. David Crystal. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Pp. 208.

“On 4 November 1995 Kasabe existed; on 5 November it did not.” This brief obituary in David Crystal's book (p. 1) does not refer to a creature. It refers to an African language, known as Luo, that had been spoken in Cameroon; on the day in question, Bogon, the last speaker of Kasabe, died, taking his language with him. According to Crystal, half of the world's current languages are in danger of dying, and the situation is so grave that an international and interdisciplinary effort must be mounted to rescue them. Crystal has written this book to alert us to the peril and to suggest ways in which our linguistic diversity might be maintained.
Felis pardalis (Ocelot)

No telocentric chromosomes (Group F of the cat karyotype), but an extra metacentric pair in Group G.
Adipogenesis: From Stem Cell to Adipocyte

Excessive caloric intake without a rise in energy expenditure promotes adipocyte hyperplasia and adiposity. The rise in adipocyte number is triggered by signaling factors that induce conversion of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to preadipocytes that differentiate into adipocytes. MSCs, which are recruited from the vascular stroma of adipose tissue, provide an unlimited supply of adipocyte precursors. Members of the BMP and Wnt families are key mediators of stem cell commitment to produce preadipocytes. Following commitment, exposure of growtharrested preadipocytes to differentiation inducers [insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), glucocorticoid, and cyclic AMP (cAMP)] triggers DNA replication and reentry into the cell cycle (mitotic clonal expansion). Mitotic clonal expansion involves a transcription factor cascade, followed by the expression of adipocyte genes. Critical to these events are phosphorylations of the transcription factor CCATT enhancerbinding protein β (C/EBPβ) by MAP kinase and GSK3β to produce a conformational change that gives rise to DNA-binding activity. “Activated” C/EBPβ then triggers transcription of peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ (PPARγ )a nd C/EBPα ,w hich in turn coordinately activate genes whose expression produces the adipocyte phenotype.
HIV Awareness and Knowledge among Viewers of a Documentary Film about HIV among Racial- or Ethnic-Minority Older Adults

A documentary film on HIV was developed based on social cognitive theory and entertainment educational methods in an effort to increase awareness and encourage protective behavior change related to HIV among older adults. The documentary includes perspectives from racial- or ethnic-minority older adults who are living with HIV and those of health care providers, and was screened in several venues. Authors of this article conducted thematic content analysis of anonymous, written, open-ended responses from 341 film viewers (clinicians and laypeople) who described what they learned about HIV after viewing the film. Four key themes emerged from the analysis: (1) increased awareness about the epidemiology of HIV among older, minority groups and about sexuality among older people; (2) improved general HIV knowledge, including risk reduction strategies and details about HIV testing; (3) awareness of lack of sexual health education among health care providers, and that a call to action is needed; and (4) awareness that HIV reinfection can occur in certain circumstances with people who are already infected. Findings suggest that an educational documentary can be used to effectively increase awareness and knowledge about the impact of HIV among minority older adults, and may also encourage HIV prevention action steps by providers.
Comparison of Unit-Level Automated Test Generation Tools

Data from projects worldwide show that many software projects fail and most are completed late or over budget. Unit testing is a simple but effective technique to improve software in terms of quality, flexibility, and time-to-market. A key idea of unit testing is that each piece of code needs its own tests and the best person to design those tests is the developer who wrote the software. However, generating tests for each unit by hand is very expensive, possibly prohibitively so. Automatic test data generation is essential to support unit testing and as unit testing is achieving more attention, developers have a greater need for automated unit test data generation tools. However, developers have very little information about which tools are effective. This experiment compared three well-known public-accessible unit test data generation tools, JCrasher, TestGen4j, and JUB. We applied them to Java classes and evaluated them based on their mutation scores. As a comparison, we created two additional sets of tests for each class. One test set contained random values and the other contained values to satisfy edge coverage. Results showed that the automatic test data generation tools generated tests with almost the same mutation scores as the random tests.
The gender factor performing visualization tasks on computer media

There has been a recent trend to develop new, complex, and often predominantly visual, user interfaces as media front ends' to computer applications. This trend assumes that varied user groups have equivalent propensities to perceive, interpret, and understand the multidimensional spatial properties and relationships of objects visually presented through the on-screen medium. However, it is well known that there exist gender differences in certain spatial abilities, suggesting that there may be gender biases to effectively utilize certain visual cues presented through computer-mediated interfaces. We test this notion with three experiments (object matching, positioning, and resizing) using 2D and 3D computer screen media. Whereas female subjects under-perform male subjects in the object matching and positioning tasks, they outperform male subjects in the resizing task. Implications for the design of gender-effective user interface media are discussed.
VMtorrent: virtual appliances on-demand

Virtual Appliances (VAs) are Virtual Machines (VMs) geared towards a specific set of tasks. They require little or no configuration, working out-of-the-box. VAs fit neatly into the Cloud Computing paradigm - many copies of an identical machine can be launched in a data center, or home/business users can grab the appliance they need from the cloud to run locally just for so long as required. Companies and projects whose sole offerings are VAs ready for either desktop or data center use [3, 11] attest to the growing popularity of VAs. VMware's Appliance directory alone currently lists over 1400 VAs available for the VMware family of Virtual Machine Monitors (VMMs) [13].Current VA distribution generally requires download of the complete virtual disk image, only after which the VA can be run. Given that compressed VA sizes run anywhere from several hundred MB to a few GB, there can be significant delays from the time a user decides he/she wants to run a particular VA until the time that VA can be used. These problems are only exacerbated when demand for particular VAs spikes and server bandwidth resources become the distribution bottleneck.
Assessment of older combat veterans with the clinician-administered PTSD scale.

A study of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among older combat veterans of World War II and the Korean Conflict was conducted. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) was given to 125 older combat veterans, along with a computerized variant of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R for PTSD, the SCID-DTREE. (The SCID-DTREE was itself validated against the full SCID). Results showed the CAPS to be a good discriminator of PTSD: Out of the 125 cases, only 9 were misclassified using the SCID-DTREE as the base measure, a 93% efficiency. An alpha on the full CAPS was .95. This suggests that the CAPS is an appropriate scale for use with older combat veterans.
Trajectory formation for imitation with nonlinear dynamical systems

Explores an approach to learning by imitation and trajectory formation by representing movements as mixtures of nonlinear differential equations with well-defined attractor dynamics. An observed movement is approximated by finding a best fit of the mixture model to its data by a recursive least squares regression technique. In contrast to non-autonomous movement representations like splines, the resultant movement plan remains an autonomous set of nonlinear differential equations that forms a control policy which is robust to strong external perturbations and that can be modified by additional perceptual variables. This movement policy remains the same for a given target, regardless of the initial conditions, and can easily be re-used for new targets. We evaluate the trajectory formation system in the context of a humanoid robot simulation that is part of the Virtual Trainer project, which aims at supervising rehabilitation exercises in stroke-patients. A typical rehabilitation exercise was collected with a Sarcos Sensuit, a device to record joint angular movement from human subjects, and approximated and reproduced with our imitation techniques. Our results demonstrate that multijoint human movements can be encoded successfully, and that this system allows robust modifications of the,movement policy through external variables.
Evaluating U.S. Rural Entrepreneurship Policy

We explore the role of entrepreneurship in economic growth and development, paying particular attention to types of entrepreneurship (such as necessity- versus opportunity-based) and the various means by which entrepreneurship can be modeled. This includes a model of knowledge accumulation as a function of investments in stocks of scientists and codified knowledge such as patents. The difficulty of carrying out such work with currently available data is emphasized and we describe how an "ideal" evaluation in terms of data and metho- dology could be carried out. We also present an overview of some of the evaluations con- ducted on popular programs aimed at the promotion of entrepreneurship in the U.S.
Naturally occurring genotype 2b/1a hepatitis C virus in the United States

Background: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infected patients are frequently repeatedly exposed to the virus, but very few recombinants between two genotypes have been reported. Findings: We describe the discovery of an HCV recombinant using a method developed in a United States clinical lab for HCV genotyping that employs sequencing of both 5’ and 3’ portions of the HCV genome. Over twelve months, 133 consecutive isolates were analyzed, and a virus from one patient was found with discordant 5’ and 3’ sequences suggesting it was a genotype 2b/1a recombinant. We ruled out a mixed infection and mapped a recombination point near the NS2/3 cleavage site. Conclusions: This unique HCV recombinant virus described shares some features with other recombinant viruses although it is the only reported recombinant of a genotype 2 with a subtype 1a. This recombinant represents a conundrum for current clinical treatment guidelines, including treatment with protease inhibitors. This recombinant is also challenging to detect by the most commonly employed methods of genotyping that are directed primarily at the 5’ structural portion of the HCV genome.
Antinociceptive effects of saccharose and aqueous extract of Cordyline dracaenoides kunth (uvarana) in experimental models after induction of hyperalgesia using capsaicin

OBJECTIVE: There is evidence that sweet substances such as saccharose can enhance the analgesic properties of endogenous opioids, leading to pain relief; it is also known that Cordyline dracaenoides Kunt, commonly known as uvarana, is used in folk medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent. The aim of the present study was to compare the antinociceptive effects of uvarana aqueous extracts vs. saccharose in rats. METHOD: Twenty-four Wistar rats were used, divided into two groups of twelve, namely a uvarana and a saccharose group. Capsaicin was used to induce hyperalgesia and the nociceptive threshold was assessed every five minutes for a total of 50 minutes Baseline values were obtained and this was followed by administration of uvarana or saccharose at threedifferent concentrations (100, 250 and 300 g/L) The nociceptive threshold was assessed using the tail flick test. RESULT: In comparison to baseline values, uvarana and saccharose provoked significant and comparable antinociceptive effects at concentrations of 250 g/L and 300 g/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both substances caused similar antinociceptive effects in comparison to baseline values.
Source based commutation in matrix converter fed power electronic transformer for power systems application

This paper proposes a source based commutation method for a matrix converter fed power electronic transformer. Two converters produce high frequency voltage across a transformer, with open ended primary. A third matrix converter converts the high frequency chopped voltage to line frequency. The leakage inductance of the transformer creates a commutation delay in the primary side to secondary side voltage transfer. During the commutation interval, difference in the load current and secondary leakage current flows to the clamp circuit. Thus, power is lost in the clamp circuit during every commutation interval. The source based commutation described in this paper minimizes the power loss during commutation interval. No additional switching is needed at the primary side power converters for source based commutation. The proposed method has been simulated in SIMULINK and the results have been presented.
Automated physical design in database caches

Performance of proxy caches for database federations that serve a large number of users is crucially dependent on its physical design. Current techniques, automated or otherwise, for physical design depend on the identification of a representative workload. In proxy caches, however, such techniques are inadequate since workload characteristics change rapidly. This is remarkably shown at the proxy cache of SkyQuery, an Astronomy federation, which receives a continuously evolving workload. We present novel techniques for automated physical design that adapt with the workload and balance the performance benefits of physical design decisions with the cost of implementing these decisions. These include both competitive and incremental algorithms that optimize the combined cost of query evaluation and making physical design changes. Our techniques are general in that they do not make assumptions about the underlying schema nor the incoming workload. Preliminary experiments on the TPC-D benchmark demonstrate significant improvement in response time when the physical design continually adapts to the workload using our online algorithm compared with offline techniques.
A Gröbner-Sylvester Hybrid Method for Closed-Form Displacement Analysis of Mechanisms

The displacement analysis problem for planar and spatial mechanisms can be written as a system of multivariate polynomial equations. Elimination theory based on resultants and polynomial continuation are some of the methods that have been used to solve this problem. This paper presents a new approach to displacement analysis using the reduced Grobner basis form of a system of equations under degree lexicographic (dlex) term ordering of its monomials and Sylvester's Dialytic elimination method. Using the Grobner-Sylvester hybrid approach, a finitely solvable system of equations F is transformed into its reduced Grobner basis G using dlex term ordering. Next, using the entire or a subset of the set of generators in G, the Sylvester's matrix is assembled. The vanishing of the resultant, given as the determinant of Sylvester's matrix, yields the necessary condition for polynomials in G (as well as F) to have a common factor, The proposed approach appears to provide a systematic and rational procedure to the problem discussed by Roth, dealing with the generation of (additional) equations for constructing the Sylvester's matrix, Three examples illustrating the applicability of the proposed approach to displacement analysis of planar and spatial mechanisms are presented. The first and second examples address the forward displacement analysis of the general 6-6 Stewart mechanism and the 6-6 Stewart platform, whereas the third example deals with the determination of the I/O polynomial of an 8-link 1-DOF mechanism that does not contain any 4-link loop.
An improved view-based navigation by adjustable position resolution

View-based navigation has been proposed for navigating a robot with an image sensor in the field of robot vision. In existing view-based navigations, their position resolution is defined depending on the change of scenery around robots. However, when applying the view-based navigation in actual environments, requirements for the position resolution are different in accordance with the environments given and the tasks assigned to a robot. Therefore, the position resolution in the view-based navigation is required to be easily controlled to consider the environments and the tasks. We have previously proposed the view-based navigation robust to the change of illumination conditions such as the sunshine from windows and fluorescent lights by using edge images. However, using edge images tends to become sensitive in capture noises. To prevent this over-sensitiveness, we used a smoothing effect of approximate plane of brightness. We also found that the smoothing effect used here is not only robust to delicate changes in an image, but also available the changes of scenery around robots. Thus, in this paper we suggest an improved view-based navigation that is applicable to the changes of scenery by easily adjusting the position resolution. We also could confirm through the experiments that the improved navigation method is able to control the position resolution, and then flexibly respond to the change of surroundings and tasks of a robot.
The rocky path to complex-systems indicators

Abstract Traditional economic and social indicators are briefly discussed and a number of deficiencies and misuses pointed out. Significantly, many economic indicators have lost their predictive capability, and most of the social indicators have been collected outside a theoretical framework. The importance of the current collection of ecological and large-scale natural environmental indicators is stressed. It is proposed that the world ecosystem or force-field can provide more immediately powerful and convincing evidence of instability and structural change than can the intersecting world societal-field. The paper's main substantive emphasis is on the recognition of indicators within some spatiotemporal context that are emergent at the level of the dynamics of complex systems. Such indicators are no mere aggregates. The author's theoretical development of the Kondratiev cycle/structure as a macropsychological order parameter is extended. Instabilities at both the beginnings and ends of the Kondratievs are discussed. A number of new kinds of indicators related to the evolutionary phases of the Kondratiev, some considered to the “surprising,” are identified. The paper emphasizes that the US national and world economies are in the phase of depression of Kondratiev Number Four, and that the world natural environment is in a precariously metastable state. The paper concludes with an interpretation of the research that suggests some perhaps radically different directions for further study and practice.
Multichannel Satellite Retrieval of Cloud Parameter Probability Distribution Functions.

Abstract A retrieval method has been developed to directly retrieve statistics of cloud parameters from Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) visible and infrared imager data. This method retrieves cloud parameter probability density functions (PDFs) directly from distributions of multichannel satellite-observed radiances. For example, the joint probability distribution of ice water content and effective radius can be retrieved from a four-dimensional histogram of GOES radiances. A forward radiative transfer model creates a mapping from cloud parameter space to satellite radiance space. The cloud parameter space is described by vertically inhomogeneous liquid and ice cloud layers with variable liquid water path, effective radius, height, and thickness. A Monte Carlo procedure uses the mapping to transform probability density from the observed satellite radiance histogram, or radiance PDF, to a two-dimensional cloud property PDF. An estimate of the uncertainty in the retrieved PDF is cal...
MOS capacitance under punchthrough conditions

A shallow P-N junction parallel to the surface of a semiconductor can materially alter the C-V characteristic of an MOS structure. This paper is a discussion of the theory of such structures. The analysis is based on a numerical solution of the continuity equations for electrons and holes, and of Poisson's equation in the presence of an applied ac signal as well as a dc gate voltage. The result of the calculation, for any given substrate doping profile, is a C-V characteristic for any given ac signal frequency. The most striking anomaly in the C-V characteristic occurs in the inversion region and is caused by a punch-through condition—that is, the merging of the gate-induced surface depletion region with the P-N junction depletion region. A simple equivalent circuit model, which does not require frequency-dependent capacitors, is proposed.
Microsampling for Blood-Lead Analysis

We detail the technique, procedure, and equipment required to properly obtain a micro-scale capillary (fingerstick) blood specimen for subsequent determination of its lead content. We divide the microsampling procedure into preparation of sampling equipment and subject, the fingerstick, micro blood collection devices, and transport and storage. The concept of a total-system approach to quality control for sampling and analysis is presented. For realistic quality control, the sampling component and the analysis component are inseparable. We describe types and sources of errors encountered. Most of the variability in the total system is associated with sampling.
A Century of Selection

Over 100 years of psychological research on employee selection has yielded many advances, but the field continues to tackle controversies and challenging problems, revisit once-settled topics, and expand its borders. This review discusses recent advances in designing, implementing, and evaluating selection systems. Key trends such as expanding the criterion space, improving situational judgment tests, and tackling socially desirable responding are discussed. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which technology has substantially altered the selection research and practice landscape. Other areas where practice lacks a research base are noted, and directions for future research are discussed.
Trends in male wild turkey abundance and harvest following restoration efforts in the southeast region of Missouri, 1960–2010

Long-term estimates of abundance can be useful in elucidating wildlife population and hunter dynamics as well as other potential factors affecting populations. We used estimated vulnerability coefficients from a statistical population reconstruction (SPR) analysis (1996–2010), along with a 50-year time series of harvest and hunter-effort data to reconstruct a male wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population in southeastern Missouri, USA (1960–2010; Gast et al. 2013). Following restoration efforts, the male wild turkey population in the Ozarks East turkey productivity region grew rapidly following a logistic growth pattern, from 2,932 turkeys in 1960 to 15,764 in 1980, and vacillated around a stable equilibrium from 1980 to 2010. Distance from St. Louis, Missouri, explained 19.8% of the variation in hunter density while turkey density only explained 1.1%, suggesting that factors beyond game density influenced hunter distribution. To explain the high inter-annual variation of abundance found in the historical reconstruction, we examined the relationship between spring weather, recruitment, and abundance metrics. A multiple linear regression found total precipitation in June to be positively correlated and the number of cold days in April to be negatively correlated with yearling male (1 year old): adult male ratios in the following spring. Our results suggest the current wild turkey population is controlled primarily by extrinsic factors through effects on reproduction. Evidence of a stable population with high inter-annual variation lends support for using consistent harvest regulations rather than altering regulations annually to accommodate short-term trends in abundance. Our research highlights the utility of SPR models to assess factors affecting historical wildlife population demographics. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Families of Adolescent Drug Abusers: Systemic Interventions to Attain Drug-Free Behavior

Adolescent drug use in the community is a widespread social problem. The abuse of alcohol and/or other illegal drugs ranges from random experimentation to a complex pattern of regular use of a combination of drugs. This paper addresses systemic therapeutic interventions which have been constructed to achieve drug-free behavior. The family is considered the unit of treatment. Contextual goals (necessary to attain a therapeutic climate) and family goals are delineated. These include unity and action within a parental coalition, therapeutic utilization of urinalyses, the bogeyman cometh, probation, home detoxification, and countering adolescent sabotage. Family structural and interactional features outside the explicit arena of drug-taking, such as marital conflict or adolescent autonomy/dependence issues, are not addressed but are discussed elsewhere. Clinical illustrations to document interventions discussed are provided.
Entertainment—Education and Elaboration Likelihood: Understanding the Processing of Narrative Persuasion

The impact of entertainment—education messages on beliefs, attitudes, and behavior is typically explained in terms of social cognitive theory principles. However, important additional insights regarding reasons why entertainment—education messages have effects can be derived from the processing of persuasive content in narrative messages. Elaboration likelihood approaches suggest that absorption in a narrative, and response to characters in a narrative, should enhance persuasive effects and suppress counterarguing if the implicit persuasive content is counterattitudinal. Also, persuasion mediators and moderators such as topic involvement should be reduced in importance. Evidence in support of these propositions are reviewed in this article. Research needed to extend application of these findings to entertainment—education contexts, to further develop theory in the area of persuasion and narrative, and to better account for other persuasive effects of entertainment narrative, such as those hypothesized in cultivation theory, are discussed.
Compensation of Mutual Coupling in the Formation of the Bus Impedance Matrix

This paper introduces a new philosphy in the formation or modification of the bus impedance matrix used in short circuit studies of a coupled system. The mutual is first ignored in generating the matrix. Later the effect of mutual coupling is added at one time by a new algorithm. Programming considerations for successful implementation are discussed.
MOTILITY, AGGRESSION, AND THE BODILY I: AN INTERPRETATION OF WINNICOTT

Among the central ideas associated with the name of Winnicott, scant mention is made of motility. This is largely attributable to Winnicott himself, who never thematized motility and never wrote a paper specifically devoted to the topic. This paper suggests both that the idea of motility is nonetheless of central significance in Winnicott's thought, and that motility is of central importance in the development and constitution of the bodily I. In elaborating both these suggestions, the paper gives particular attention to the connections between motility, continuity, aggression, and creativity in Winnicott's work.
Fecal steroids of the coprolite of a Greenland Eskimo mummy, AD 1475: a clue to dietary sterol intake

Background Sterols in feces reflect sterols in the diet. In previous analyses of the fecal steroids in 1000-2000-y-old Native American coprolites found in the dry caves of Nevada, we showed that the sterol nucleus was stable. The coprolites provided useful dietary information. Objective In the present study, we analyzed the fecal steroids of an Eskimo mummy buried and frozen >500 y ago in Greenland. We compared these analyses with our findings in the coprolites from Nevada and in present-day stool samples from Tarahumara Indians of Mexico and Americans consuming low- and high-cholesterol diets. Design The fecal material from the Eskimo mummy was subjected to saponification, extraction, and digitonin precipitation. The sterols and bile acids were further analyzed by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography. Results The fecal steroids of the Greenland Eskimo mummy were remarkably similar to those of present-day stool samples. However, unlike in the stool of modern humans, a portion of the neutral steroids in the coprolite had been converted to sterol epimers. Instead of deoxycholic acid, 3alpha,6beta,12alpha-trihydroxycholanic acid was one of the major fecal bile acids. The plant sterol output in the coprolite was only 0.4% of the output of Americans consuming 250-400 mg plant sterols/d. The ratio of bile acid to cholesterol in the coprolite was similar to that in stool from Tarahumara Indians consuming a low-cholesterol diet. Conclusion The sterol nucleus is stable when frozen. The analysis of coprolite showed that the young Eskimo woman had consumed a diet very low in plant sterols and moderate to low in cholesterol content.
A 20 Year Practice Review of Electroconvulsive Therapy for Adolescents

Abstract Objective: Clinical reviews of practice outcomes of adolescent patients who have received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) remain relatively rare. This study reports the clinic practice and outcome of adolescents receiving ECT at a tertiary medical center. Methods: From April 1991 through November 2013, 51 adolescents (30 female; mean [SD] age, 16.8 [1.6] years) received ECT. The electronic medical record at the time of the first ECT session was reviewed for the clinical diagnosis, ECT lead placement and general administration, seizure duration, adverse effects, concurrent medications, and clinical outcome. Results: ECT was recommended for primary mood and psychotic disorders or catatonia. Patients received a mean (SD) of 9.3 (3.5) treatments, with initial bitemporal lead placement in 36 patients (71%). Thirty-nine patients (77%) were much or very much improved based on Clinical Global Impressions–Improvement scale at the end of the acute treatment. Prolonged seizure duration (>120 seconds) was re...
Energy and time constrained task scheduling on multiprocessor computers with discrete speed levels

Energy and time constrained task scheduling on multiprocessor computers with discrete clock frequency and supply voltage and execution speed and power levels is addressed as combinatorial optimization problems. It is proved that the problem of minimizing schedule length with energy consumption constraint and the problem of minimizing energy consumption with schedule length constraint are NP-hard even on a uniprocessor computer with only two speed levels. A class of algorithms is developed to solve the above two problems. These algorithms include two components, namely, a list scheduling algorithm for task scheduling and a list placement algorithm for speed determination. A worst-case asymptotic performance bound and an average-case asymptotic performance bound are derived for our algorithms on uniprocessor computers, and a worst-case asymptotic performance bound is derived for our algorithms on multiprocessor computers. Extensive simulations are performed to verify our analytical results. It is found that our algorithms produce solutions very close to optimal and are practically very useful. Address energy and time constrained task scheduling with discrete speed levels.Prove the NP-hardness even on a uniprocessor computer with only two speed levels.Develop algorithms with two components: task scheduling and speed determination.Derive worst-case asymptotic performance bounds and average-case asymptotic per- formance bounds.Perform extensive simulations to verify the analytical results.
A Compelling New Diagnostic Option for Identification of Orthopaedic Infections: Commentary on an article by M.C. Wyatt, BSc(Hons), MBChB, MRCS(Ed), FRACS(Tr&Orth), et al.: "The Alpha-Defensin Immunoassay and Leukocyte Esterase Colorimetric Strip Test for the Diagnosis of Periprosthetic Infection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis".

Accurate diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a clinical challenge, particularly in subacute or chronic infections, in patients with previous antibiotic treatment, and in the setting of a microbial species that does not easily or rapidly grow when cultured. Wyatt et al. have provided a welcome and balanced assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of 2 tests that may improve our ability to detect joint infection: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for alpha-defensins and leukocyte esterase colorimetric test strips. The authors quantitatively pooled data on sensitivities, specificities, and areas under the curves (AUCs) from 6 studies on alpha-defensins and 5 studies on leukocyte esterase colorimetric test strips. Only high-quality studies that used the Musculoskeletal Infection Society definition of PJI were included. The authors provide thorough background information on these tests. In brief, alpha-defensins, otherwise known as human neutrophil peptides, are small proteins found primarily within neutrophils and macrophages. They are released in the presence of pathogens and have antimicrobial function against bacteria, …
Reform of the Soviet Price System

Rather than presenting an abstract discussion of price reforms in a hypothetical socialist centrally-planned economy, this paper considers the concrete case of the Soviet Union. It examines in turn the three main components of the price system: state industrial producer prices, agricultural producer prices, and retail prices. For each, it briefly analyses some important features of current pricing practice; discusses recent and prospective changes; and, by way of illustration, identifies some unresolved issues.1
Sleep and Movement Disorders

Sleep disorders are extremely common in many movement disorders. This chapter will focus on the sleep complaints associated with disorders of α-synuclein deposition, such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Evidence-based treatment options for these conditions are reviewed in detail. Rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM parasomnias, restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder are also reviewed.
Mortality associated with gastrointestinal bleeding in children: A retrospective cohort study.

Mortality associated with gastrointestinal bleeding in children: A retrospective cohort study