cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Task Force on Civic Education Statement of Purpose

Democracies, from nations to small communities, cannot survive and thrive without robust engagement in the political controversies (and the well-earned celebrations) that sustain them. Civic engagement in, and a personal sense of responsibility for, the health of our inescapably political life are the lifeblood of a liberal democracy. And yet Americans, at this century's end seem indifferent, cynical, and perhaps afraid of politics. The evidence for the rise of political apathy and cynicism is convincing. While particular studies can be debated and their findings disputed, we take it as a given that something is amiss, both in our national political life and in our willingness to enbrace the political challenges of our immediate communities. We do not pretend to propose recovering some imagined Golden Age of universal political engagement. We have no wish to rally tens of thousands of concerned citizens into the streets. We know that
Characterizing Residual Structure in Disordered Protein States Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

The importance of disordered protein states in biology is gaining recognition, and can be attributed in part to the participation of unfolded and partially folded states of globular proteins in normal and abnormal biological functions, such as protein translation, protein translocation, protein degradation, protein assembly, and protein aggregation (1-5). There is also a growing awareness that a significant fraction of gene products from various genomes, including the human genome, fall into a category that includes low complexity, low globularity, or intrinsically unstructured proteins (6-9). Unlike native states of globular proteins, disordered protein states, by definition, do not adopt a fixed structure that can be determined using classical high-resolution methods. Nevertheless, there has long been evidence that many disordered states contain detectable and significant residual or nascent structure (10-16). This structure has been found to be important for nucleating local structure, as well as mediating long range contacts upon either intramolecular folding to the native state (17-21) or intermolecular folding with specific binding partners (22-24), and is also predicted to influence intermolecular folding into structured aggregates (25,26). The primary tool for the characterization of such structure is high-resolution solution state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Advances in NMR instrumentation and methods have greatly facilitated this task and in principle can now be accomplished by those without extensive prior experience in NMR spectroscopy. This chapter describes how this can be accomplished.
Exercise-induced near syncope in a patient with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Abstract. We report on near syncope due to exercice-induced outflow tract obstruction in a patient with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
Utilization of nucleosides and nucleobases by the lager yeast, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis.

The addition of nucleobases (adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, and uracil) to a synthetic medium inoculated with lager yeast had a significant effect on yeast growth. In simulated commercial bre...
Plant Population and Replant Method Effects on Peanut Seeded in Single Rows

ABSTRACT The University of Georgia Extension recommendation for optimum plant stand in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is 13.1 plants/m, although previous work has shown that yield potential can be ma...
Nurse faculty as international research collaborators

Nursing faculty who desire to expand their research portfolios will benefit from collaboration with researchers with complimentary interests from different universities across the world. International collaboration can enhance the productivity of researchers who seek to conduct studies with similar populations in different environments, and who desire a larger impact based on the findings of their studies. International collaborative teams have the potential to make important discoveries that affect the health of populations across the world. Communication is a critical step in defining the roles and professional relationships of researchers involved in international collaboration. Researchers need to be cognizant of rules affecting data security, intellectual property, data ownership, and funding sources in each country. International collaborative research can be exciting and rewarding, especially when participants are culturally aware, respect universities' policies, and are mindful of the ethical and legal principles for the countries in which the research is conducted. This article describes ways to enhance the success of nursing faculty who desire a rich experience with international research collaborators.
Meta-analysis of ascorbic acid for prevention of postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

Purpose Results of a systematic review and meta-analysis of published data on use of ascorbic acid to prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery are presented. Methods MEDLINE and other sources were searched for reports on trials evaluating the effects of preoperative and/or postoperative use of ascorbic acid in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. For each study selected for meta-analysis, an assessment for risks of methodological bias was performed. Data on POAF frequency and length of stay (LOS) outcomes were pooled and analyzed via random-effects modeling. Results The 11 identified studies involved patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafts with or without valve replacement; both i.v. and oral ascorbic acid formulations were used. Analysis of pooled outcomes data on treatment and control groups indicated that ascorbic acid prophylaxis was associated with reductions in POAF frequency (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32 to 0.61), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS (difference in means, −0.24 day; 95% CI, −0.45 to −0.03 day), and total hospital LOS (difference in means, −0.94 day; 95% CI, −1.65 to −0.23 day). Significant statistical, methodological, and clinical heterogeneity were observed. Conclusion A meta-analysis revealed that, compared with use of a placebo or a nonplacebo control, perioperative administration of ascorbic acid to patients undergoing cardiac surgery was associated with a reduced frequency of POAF and a shorter ICU LOS and total hospital LOS.
Abstract 212: MicroRNA-663 is a Novel Regulator of Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotypic Switch in vitro and Neointimal Formation in vivo

Background Abnormal phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) is a hallmark of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after angioplasty. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) emerge as critical regulators for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) function. Our initial study identified miR-663 as one of the most sharply downregulated miRNAs in human proliferative aortic smooth muscle cells. Hypothesis MiR-663 is implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch and the development of neointima formation. Methods and Results By using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), we found that microRNA-663 (miR-663) was significantly downregulated in cultured human aortic VSMCs upon platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment, whereas its expression was markedly increased during VSMC differentiation as induced by either retinoid acid or SMC differentiation medium, a condition which induces SMC differentiation and inhibits cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that overexpression of miR-663 significantly increased the expression of VSMC differentiation marker genes, such as SM22α, SM α-action, calponin, and SM myosin heavy chain, suggesting that miR-663 is a novel modulator implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch. Moreover, miR-663 potently inhibited PDGF induced VSMC proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, we identified JunB as a downstream target of miR-663 in human VSMCs. Indeed, overexpression of miR-663 markedly inhibited the expression of the transcription factor JunB as well as its downstream molecules including matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and myosin light chain-9 (Myl9), thus inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration. Finally, we showed that adeno-miR-663 markedly suppressed the neointimal lesion formation by approximately 50% in mice after vascular injury induced by carotid artery ligation, specifically via decreased JunB expression. Conclusion These results indicate that miR-663 is a novel modulator implicated in human VSMC phenotypic switch through targeting JunB expression and suggest that specific modulation of miR-663 in human VSMCs may represent a novel and attractive approach for the treatment of vascular proliferative diseases.
Effects of environmental exposure on solvent- and water-based epoxy systems

The dielectric properties of latex water-cast and conventional solvent-cast epoxy neat resin systems were investigated under three formation conditions: solvent-based as-made, water-based as-made, and water-based following a boiling fluid extraction procedure to remove residual surfactant. Samples from each of these three groups were cast, cured, and exposed to controlled humidities in an environmental chamber at room temperature and elevated temperature, a steam bath at various temperatures, and soaked in boiling water. Composite laminates, press fabricated using solvent and latex-based epoxy impregnated glass cloth, were subjected to similar environmental exposure. The microwave frequency dielectric properties of these materials, after each environmental exposure, were measured at 9.4 GHz. These dielectric measurements revealed that under identical exposure conditions, water-borne epoxy systems absorbed more water than solvent-based systems and also allowed more free water into the samples. Extraction of water and soluble components in the resin had no effect on the dielectric properties of the water-borne samples. The presence of high quantities of free water at moisture fractions beyond 4.0 wt %, suggests that the differences between the dielectric properties of solvent and water-borne epoxy systems are due to void morphology, which was confirmed by optical and electron microscopy. ©1999Kluwer Academic Publishers
Does Documented Brief Intervention Predict Decreases in Alcohol Use in Primary Care

Background: Brief intervention (BI) is recommended for patients with unhealthy alcohol use, but the effectiveness of BI in usual care settings remains unclear. Objective: We evaluated whether BI pr...
Crystal Structure of Apo MEF2B Reveals New Insights in DNA Binding and Cofactor Interaction

The myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors plays important roles in developmental processes and adaptive responses. Although MEF2 proteins are known to bind DNA in the nucleus to regulate specific gene expression, there are reports that show that MEF2 also functions in the cytoplasm. Previous structural studies of MEF2 focused exclusively on DNA-bound MEF2 with and without various corepressors or coactivators. While these studies have established a comprehensive structural model of DNA recognition and cofactor recruitment by MEF2, the structure of MEF2 not bound to DNA, which include cytoplasmic MEF2 and free MEF2 in the nucleus, is unknown. Here we determined the structure of the MADS-box/MEF2 domain of MEF2B without DNA nor cofactor. The Apo structure of MEF2B reveals a largely preformed DNA binding interface that may be important for recognizing the shape of DNA from the minor groove side. In addition, our structure also reveals that the C-terminal helix of the MEF2-specific d...
Using Information Modeling to Define Business Requirements

For the most part, developing business requirements is still treated as an art as opposed to a science. The concept of using the rigor and precision necessarily associated to code with the process of defining business requirements is not widely known or accepted. In a few instances atUSAA, we have attempted to use our limited knowledge of Information Modeling to achieve that goal and make explicit all of the information necessary to develop systems that satisfy the business requirements. This document describes a small instance.
Large-Scale Realistic Network Data Generation on a Budget

Many novel problems in computer networking require relevant network trace data during the research process. Unfortunately, such data can often be hard to find, which becomes a problem within itself. While generating appropriate data using in-lab network testbeds and simulators are feasible solutions, the former has limitations in terms of network scale, while the latter has limitations in the generated data. To help address these issues, we present an approach for the generation of realistic network trace data in a contained, large-scale network environment. We use network emulation to enable large-scale, in-lab networking, and a software framework we developed to support autonomous client-side protocols and services, including user-behavioral models which scale in a shared CPU environment. Our framework also enables quick experiment setup and monitoring. We show through experimentation on a low-end laptop that our approach enables network scale into the hundreds of nodes, allowing anyone with even basic hardware to generate potentially relevant, realistic network data.
Labral hypertrophy correlates with borderline hip dysplasia and microinstability in femoroacetabular impingement: a matched case-control analysis.

Purpose:The goal of this study was to: (1) investigate the association between labral hypertrophy and radiographic and computed tomography (CT) imaging measurements of dysplasia in a femoroacetabul...
Generation of Stable Expression Mammalian Cell Lines Using Lentivirus

Lentiviruses are used very widely to generate stable expression mammalian cell lines. They are used for both gene down-regulation (by using shRNA) or for gene up-regulation (by using ORF of gene of interest). The technique of generating stable cell lines using 3rd generation lentivirus is very robust and it typically takes about 1-2 weeks to get stable expression for most mammalian cell lines. The advantage of using the 3rd generation lentivirus are that are very safe and they are replication incompetent.
Soil Moisture Retrieval Using full Wave Simulations of 3-D Maxwell Equations for Compensating Vegetation Effects

In this paper we introduce an approach to enhance the precision of the vegetation parameterization in soil moisture retrieval using passive microwave observations. We present an algorithm that utilizes conventionally defined scattering (S) parameters to represent the propagation of the electromagnetic radiation through the vegetation layer over soil. The S-parameters can be determined with full wave simulations of 3-D Maxwell Equations enabled by recent advances in numerical simulation techniques. Traditional retrieval algorithms have relied on approximation of the radiative transfer equation in order to find simple parameterization for the equation. This results in added uncertainty when the attenuation and scattering within the vegetation layer increases. The presented method provides a way to model the radiative transfer accurately while preserving a reasonable complexity and number of parameters in the algorithm. The results show that the presented method improves the brightness temperature modelling accuracy significantly when vegetation water content reaches about 5 kg/m2, depending on the scattering properties of the vegetation type.
Self-administered vaginal lidocaine gel for pain management with intrauterine device insertion: a blinded, randomized controlled trial.

Background A major barrier to intrauterine device use is fear of pain during insertion. Trials exploring analgesic interventions for intrauterine device insertion have yielded mixed results, and no standardized pain management guidelines currently exist for this procedure. In an abortion-related study, self-administered lidocaine gel over a prolonged time interval showed promise as a method of pain control. Objective(s) The objective of the study was to assess pain control with intrauterine device insertion after patient-administered lidocaine gel compared with placebo. Study Design We conducted a randomized, blinded trial of women undergoing levonorgestrel or copper intrauterine device insertion in an outpatient gynecology clinic between July 2016 and April 2017. Participants self-administered either 20 mL of 2% lidocaine gel or placebo gel vaginally at least 15 minutes prior to intrauterine device insertion. No other analgesics were administered. The primary outcome was pain during intrauterine device insertion, measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (0 being no pain and 100 being worst pain imaginable). Secondary outcomes included anticipated and baseline pain and pain with speculum insertion and tenaculum placement. In a postprocedure questionnaire, participants reported acceptability of vaginal gel and willingness to wait for pain control. Median values were assessed because of the nonnormal distribution of visual analog scale scores using the Mann-Whitney U test. Predictors of intrauterine device insertion pain were assessed using a multiple linear regression. Results In total, 220 women were randomized and 215 were included in analysis (108 in lidocaine gel, 107 in placebo gel groups). Median (range) time from gel administration to speculum insertion was 21 (14–74) and 20 (12–43) minutes in the lidocaine and placebo groups, respectively (P = .13). The median pain scores during intrauterine device insertion were not significantly different: 65 (1–99) mm in the lidocaine group and 59 (5–100) mm in the placebo group (P = .09). Among secondary outcome time points, only median pain scores at speculum insertion were significantly different between the lidocaine and placebo groups (7 [0–81] mm vs 11 [0–80] mm, respectively; P = .046). Anticipated pain and menstrual pain were both predictors of pain with intrauterine device insertion. The majority of women in both groups found the amount of vaginal leakage following gel insertion to be acceptable (>80%). Ninety-two percent of participants (n = 194) stated they would be willing to wait before intrauterine device placement for a potential analgesic effect. Conclusion Self-administered lidocaine gel at least 15 minutes before intrauterine device insertion does not appear to reduce pain compared with placebo but may help with speculum insertion. We found that women are willing to extend visit time to gain pain control. Self-administration of local anesthetic is acceptable to patients and should be considered in future research.
SELECT: A Phase II Trial of Adjuvant Erlotinib in Patients With Resected Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Mutant Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

PurposeGiven the pivotal role of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in advanced EGFR-mutant non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we tested adjuvant erlotinib in patients with EGFR-mu...
An Investigation of Item Difficulties in Energy Aspects Across Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Physics

This study examined assessment item difficulty patterns in two energy aspects, energy source/form/transfer and energy degradation/conservation, across and within science disciplines. The participant students were taking at least one college-level introductory science course. Findings showed a common pattern of item difficulties for the two energy aspects across science disciplines; energy degradation/conservation items were, in general, more difficult than energy source/form/transfer items. The effects of energy aspects on item difficulty were not found to be significantly different across disciplines. However, item difficulty levels for energy source/form/transfer items varied more than those of energy degradation/conservation items. Further analysis of item difficulties for energy aspects by science content topics within each discipline revealed different sequences of item difficulty between the two energy aspects across science content topics. Together, these findings showed more promising characteristics of energy degradation/conservation than the energy source/form/transfer aspect as a cross-disciplinary energy concept.
GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION AND TRENDS IN OUTCOMES OF TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT IN UNITED STATES

Although nationwide use of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has grown rapidly since approval, trends in TAVR use among individual states and counties across the United States are unknown. Among Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries ≥65 years of age, county-level TAVR volume (per 100
Reimagining HBCU Leaders as Policy Actors

This study takes a strengths-based approach in constructing a conceptual framework for how presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can employ and improve their current advocacy skillsets for use in the policy arena. Drawing on the literature on HBCU leadership and the higher education policy, this study reimagines the existing skills of HBCU leadership for the policy arena to encourage HBCU leaders to participate in policymaking and collaborate with other policy actors at both state and federal levels. I outline how current skills held by successful HBCU presidents—especially those of communication and collaboration—can make them successful policy actors who can not only advocate for their institutions, but also for educational inequalities still reflected in American educational policy. Recommendations for future approaches to expanding strengths-based research for HBCUs follow.
Patients at Risk for Exceeding CJR Cost Targets After Total Ankle Arthroplasty.

Background:The Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model includes total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), under which a target reimbursement is established. Whether this reimbursement is suffici...
High Speed Chemical Vapor Communication Using Photoionization Detectors in Turbulent Flow

We consider data transfer between a chemical vapor emitter and photoionization detectors (PIDs) in a constrained airstream (flow tube). Owing to flow unsteadiness, the system is stochastic so that Karhunen–Loeve (K–L) channel characterization is useful. We project sensor traces onto a K–L-derived signal space, formulate likelihood ratios and obtain high bit rates (≥10 bps) at low probability of error ( $\ll ~0.01$ ) over meter-scale emitter-sensor separations. At higher data rates (30 and 40 bps) inter-symbol interference (ISI) requires we enlarge the K–L characterization window to include earlier bit intervals. By taking prior bits into account we achieve error rates on the order of ≈ 0.01 at 40 bps. We consider the effects of flow rate and timing jitter on performance. Within the limits of our experimental apparatus, the probability of error decreases with increasing wind speed, owing to decreased ISI at higher wind velocity, but perhaps also as a result of previously derived fundamental bounds related to jitter.
Fractional Laplacians on the sphere, the Minakshisundaram zeta function and semigroups

Fil: de Napoli, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Oficina de Coordinacion Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Investigaciones Matematicas "Luis A. Santalo". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Matematicas "Luis A. Santalo"; Argentina
Opportunities for optimism in contended main-memory multicore transactions

Optimistic concurrency control, or OCC, can achieve excellent performance on uncontended workloads for main-memory transactional databases. Contention causes OCC's performance to degrade, however, and recent concurrency control designs, such as hybrid OCC/locking systems and variations on multiversion concurrency control (MVCC), have claimed to outperform the best OCC systems. We evaluate several concurrency control designs under varying contention and varying workloads, including TPCC, and find that implementation choices unrelated to concurrency control may explain much of OCC's previously-reported degradation. When these implementation choices are made sensibly, OCC performance does not collapse on high-contention TPC-C. We also present two optimization techniques, commit-time updates and timestamp splitting, that can dramatically improve the high-contention performance of both OCC and MVCC. Though these techniques are known, we apply them in a new context and highlight their potency: when combined, they lead to performance gains of 3.4X for MVCC and 3.6X for OCC in a TPC-C workload.
Influence of strain on the InAs1 – xSbx composition

The composition of III–V semiconductor alloys with multiple group V elements results from a complex interaction of each group V species with each other and with group IIIs. Molecular beam epitaxy growth conditions, such as the group V absolute fluxes and flux ratios, substrate temperature, group III growth rate, the presence of surfactants, and the alloy's strain state, all affect the composition of InAs1 – xSbx. These factors are codependent in a manner that is far from completely established. In this work, the authors examine how the sign and degree of strain affects the film’s composition. In this study, the authors show that InAs1 – xSbx alloys have some ability to resist the creation of strain by self-adjusting the incorporation of the group V elements that would otherwise be changed in an unfavorable way (by, for example, a substrate temperature change). This self-latching to the substrate lattice constant is beneficial, since it means that the fluxes may not have to be adjusted as precisely as otherwise needed.
Exploding head syndrome: new observations.

Background and purpose The etiology of 'exploding head syndrome' (EHS) is currently highly controversial and its management is unknown. The object was to explore these. Methods This observational study describes my personal experience of EHS and discusses its implications. Results I experienced, while suffering from EHS, recurrent episodes of transient cardiac arrests due to sick sinus syndrome. Implantation of a cardiac pacemaker resulted in immediate, dramatic, permanent cessation of both cardiac arrest episodes and EHS. This has not been reported previously. Conclusions This striking temporal relationship indicates a possible association between EHS and sick sinus syndrome.
Conflict over fertilization underlies the transient evolution of reinforcement

ABSTRACT When two populations or species hybridize, their offspring often experience reductions in fitness relative to either parental population. The production of low fitness hybrids may be prevented by the evolution of increased prezygotic isolation; a process known as reinforcement. Theoretical challenges to the evolution of reinforcement are generally cast as a coordination problem — e.g., linkage disequilibrium between trait and preference loci is difficult to maintain in the face of recombination. However, the evolution of reinforcement also poses a potential conflict between mates. For example, the opportunity costs to hybridization may differ between the sexes or species. This is particularly likely for postmating prezygotic isolation, as the ability to fertilize both conspecific and heterospecific eggs is beneficial to male gametes, but heterospecific mating may incur a cost for female gametes. Motivated by this problem, we develop a population genetic model of interspecific conflict over reinforcement, inspired by ‘gametophytic factors’, which act as postmating prezygotic barriers among Zea mays subspecies. We demonstrate that this conflict results in the transient evolution of reinforcement – after female preference for a conspecific gamete trait rises to high frequency, male traits adaptively introgress into the other population. Ultimately the male gamete trait fixes in both species, and prezygotic isolation returns to pre-reinforcement levels. We interpret geographic patterns of isolation among Z. mays subspecies in light of these findings, and suggest when and how this conflict can be mediated. Our results suggest that sexual conflict may pose an understudied obstacle to the evolution of reinforcement via postmating prezygotic isolation.
Feasibility of replacing the ICD-10-CM with the ICD-11 for morbidity coding: A content analysis.

OBJECTIVE The study sought to assess the feasibility of replacing the International Classification of Diseases-Tenth Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) with the International Classification of Diseases-11th Revision (ICD-11) for morbidity coding based on content analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The most frequently used ICD-10-CM codes from each chapter covering 60% of patients were identified from Medicare claims and hospital data. Each ICD-10-CM code was recoded in the ICD-11, using postcoordination (combination of codes) if necessary. Recoding was performed by 2 terminologists independently. Failure analysis was done for cases where full representation was not achieved even with postcoordination. After recoding, the coding guidance (inclusions, exclusions, and index) of the ICD-10-CM and ICD-11 codes were reviewed for conflict. RESULTS Overall, 23.5% of 943 codes could be fully represented by the ICD-11 without postcoordination. Postcoordination is the potential game changer. It supports the full representation of 8.6% of 943 codes. Moreover, with the addition of only 9 extension codes, postcoordination supports the full representation of 35.2% of 943 codes. Coding guidance review identified potential conflicts in 10% of codes, but mostly not affecting recoding. The majority of the conflicts resulted from differences in granularity and default coding assumptions between the ICD-11 and ICD-10-CM. CONCLUSIONS With some minor enhancements to postcoordination, the ICD-11 can fully represent almost 60% of the most frequently used ICD-10-CM codes. Even without postcoordination, 23.5% full representation is comparable to the 24.3% of ICD-9-CM codes with exact match in the ICD-10-CM, so migrating from the ICD-10-CM to the ICD-11 is not necessarily more disruptive than from the International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification to the ICD-10-CM. Therefore, the ICD-11 (without a CM) should be considered as a candidate to replace the ICD-10-CM for morbidity coding.
Cultivation of the macrophytic red alga Palmaria mollis (Pacific dulse) on vertical arrays of mesh panels in aerated tanks

This study assessed the productivity of the red alga Palmaria mollis (Pacific dulse) plantlets immobilized on a vertical array of mesh panels in aerated tank culture. Biomass productivity rates based on panel surface area, as well as areal productivity based on liquid surface area, were assessed at different panel spacing intervals in a greenhouse with continuous illumination (500 µmol photons m−2 s−1) and weekly f/2 nutrient enrichment, as well as outdoors with natural solar irradiance and continuous natural seawater inflow at 10 exchanges per day. The temperature of all cultivations averaged 12 °C. For greenhouse cultivation in 60-L aerated tanks (0.8 L air L−1 culture min−1), as the panel spacing decreased from 12 to 6 cm, biomass productivity per panel on the 30 × 30 cm panels decreased from to 165 to 112 g FW (fresh weight) m−2 panel day−1, due to reduced growth associated with light attenuation by fronds crowding into the space between panels. However, areal productivity was maintained at 17–18 g AFDW (ash-free dry weight) m−2 day−1, because twice as many panels were present in the same liquid surface area. Areal productivity for tumble culture was statistically higher at 21 g AFDW m−2 day−1. For outdoor cultivation in an 850-L tank with 30 × 80-cm panels, the same trends were observed, but the best panel productivity was 72 g FW m−2 panel day−1 at 25 cm spacing, and the best areal productivity was 8.0 g AFDW m−2 day−1 at 6-cm spacing. Overall, the immobilization of P. mollis on a vertical array of mesh panels offers a modular and flexible cultivation platform, but further optimization is needed to maximize productivity.
Maternal depressive symptoms and maternal child-directed speech: A systematic review.

Abstract Background Up to 1 in 5 children are exposed to maternal depressive symptoms. Children exposed to maternal depressive symptoms have poorer language skills than children not exposed to maternal depressive symptoms. Due to the crucial role of children's language skills in school readiness and academic achievement, it is imperative to understand the factors that underlie the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and children's language skills. Previous reviews have examined the mechanistic role of social-pragmatic features of mother-child interactions. However, the literature on the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and data-providing aspects of mother-child interactions, including child-directed speech, has yet to be consolidated. In this systematic review, we present maternal child-directed speech as a potential pathway through which maternal depressive symptoms influence children's language skills. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, three database searches produced 546 articles related to maternal depressive symptoms, child-directed speech, and children's language skills, ten of which examined the relation between maternal depressive symptoms and child-directed speech. Results Findings revealed that increases in maternal depressive symptoms may be associated with decreases in amount of child-directed speech but not necessarily with decreases in the complexity of child-directed speech. Limitations The studies in this review varied in sample size, the inclusion of important sociodemographic factors, and the operationalization of depression and child-directed speech, thereby limiting conclusions, especially about whether maternal depressive symptoms are associated with the complexity of child-directed speech. Conclusions This review has implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed at optimizing children's language skills; child-directed speech is modifiable, and mothers experiencing depressive symptoms may benefit from resources encouraging rich child-directed speech.
Weak policy in an open economy: The US with a floating exchange rate, 1974-2009

Abstract This paper examines the effectiveness of US macroeconomic policy in an open economy model focused on the exchange rate and trade balance. Yearly data cover the period of the dollar float from 1974 to 2009. Monetary expansion raises output weakly but depreciates the dollar and lowers the trade balance. Fiscal “expansion” decreases output. There is a polar deficit effect between the government budget and trade balance. These results question a number of standard policy prescriptions. The implied structural coefficients suggest rethinking a number of accepted theoretical assumptions.
The design and synthesis of a novel series of androgen receptor antagonists leading to the discovery of the clinical candidate BMS-641988

1314 Carcinoma of the prostate (CaP) is the 2 nd leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. Androgen ablation via surgical or chemical castration or by treatment with an antiandrogen is currently the treatment of choice for advanced CaP. Although this therapy initially shows an 80-90% response rate, approximately 50% of patients progress to fatal androgen independent CaP (AI-CaP) after about 18 months of treatment. Recent advances in the field have shown that reactivation of the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway is the root cause for the development of AI-CaP. The identification of the role of the AR in AI-CaP suggests that new agents that act at the level of the AR may be effective in the treatment of this disease. Here will be presented structure-based design efforts to identify novel chemotypes that show potent binding to, and antagonism of, the AR. In particular, a series of [2.2.1]-oxobicyclic imide-based AR antagonists showed great promise and the structure activity relationships (SAR) of this novel series will be presented in detail. All new analogs were screened via whole cell competitive binding and transactivation assays in MB-MDA-453 cells to generate in vitro SAR around the wild-type AR. Promising leads from these in vitro assays were then screened through an immature rat prostate weight PK/PD model (IRPW, PO, QD x 4 days). Analogs showing optimal PK and PD effects in the IRPW were then tested in the human cancer xenograft model CWR22, implanted in nude mice. These approaches resulted in the identification of BMS-641988 as a development candidate for the treatment of advanced CaP.
Modelling of compositional flow in naturally fractured reservoirs

A double porosity model of multidimensional, multicomponent, three- phase flow in naturally fractured reservoirs is derived first on the basis of physical intuition and then by the mathematical theory of homogenization. A fully compositional model is considered when there are N chemical components, each of which may exist in any or all of the three phases: gas, oil, and water. The equations of the interaction between matrix and fracture systems are obtained from the mass, momentum, and energy balance laws and the entropy condition, and a mechanical potential tensor is introduced to describe the matrix boundary condition. Various types of flow in naturally fractured reservoirs are treated as particular cases of the present techniques.
Issues in the performance and covertness of UWB communications systems

UWB systems hold significant potential to serve as covert communications systems with a low probability of detection (LPD). In this paper, the performance and covertness of binary and M-ary pulse position modulation, bipolar as well as bipolar PPM modulation schemes are evaluated for UWB. The effect of channel coding on the covertness of UWB is also considered. Two radiometer-based detection systems are compared for use in the detection of impulse radio.
Poisson and Normal Distributions

The Poisson distribution is of great importance in theory and in practice. It has the added virtue of being a simple mathematical object. We could have introduced it at an earlier stage in the book, and the reader was alerted to this in §4.4. However, the belated entrance will give it more prominence, as well as a more thorough discussion than would be possible without the benefit of the last two chapters.
Review of River Basin Trajectories: Societies, Environments and Development by François Molle and Philippus Wester

This book is volume 8 in the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture series, but its scope is in no way limited to agriculture. The series editor, David Molden, sets the tone for this volume by reminding readers of water’s role in the UN’s Millennium Development Goals MDGs . The MDGs were designed to eliminate income poverty, hunger, maternal and child mortality, disease, inadequate shelter, gender inequality, and environmental degradation, and to improve global partnership http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/ . The goals were adopted in 2000 and are set to be achieved in 2015, i.e., only five years from now http://www.undp.org/mdg/basics.shtml . It is almost certain that none of these goals can be achieved by the deadline, and it is highly unlikely that they will be achieved in the near future. Nevertheless, it is good to keep them in front of us and to keep working toward their accomplishment. Of course water is intrinsic to a number of these goals. Thus, managing water in order to provide access to the billions of people who still live without a safe source of this precious resource is crucial. River Basin Trajectories, edited by F. Molle and P. Wester, comprises 12 chapters. The editors have assembled a cluster of experts 27, including themselves who are known for their contributions in the water resources subject area to write the chapters. In chapter 1, the editors highlight human influence on watersheds. They argue that the hydrological cycle is not an independent entity; it is intertwined with the socioeconomic cycle, thus creating a hydro-social cycle. The human relationship with water, and vice versa, has not always been positive. Humans have had to deal, for example, with extreme events, such as droughts, floods, and water quality degradation. On the other hand, water resources have not always been developed and managed well. Indeed abuse and misuse of water resources is widespread throughout the world. The unambiguous link to and dependency on water have directly influenced society and have prompted an ongoing set of institutional changes. From the perspective of integrated water resources management, the watershed is the geographical unit from which everything else branches out. This ranges from surface and groundwater interaction to water quantity and quality manage-
Cementless total hip arthroplasty using the omnifit system: An 8.2 year follow-up study of 166 hips

One hundred and sixty-six cementless primary total hip arthroplasties were performed in 133 patients with porous coated Omnifit prosthesis. The average age was 49.7 years. The mean follow-up period was 8.2 years with a minimum of 5 years. Good to excellent clinical results were achieved in 93% of patients. The overall revision rate was 5.4%. Radiographically, bone ingrowth occurred in all unrevised cups, and in 95% of unrevised stems. Osteolytic lesions appeared at an average of 3.8 years postoperatively. Femoral and pelvic osteolysis were seen in 21% and 4% of the surviving hips respectively. All femoral osteolytic lesions were found in the proximal Gruen zones 1 and 7. The mean annual polyethylene wear rate was 0.15 mm. Approximately one-third of the hips were observed to have excessive wear. Our experience with cementless Omnifit total hip prosthesis is encouraging. Of significant concern is the high incidence of excessive polyethylene wear and osteolysis.
The Private Equity Premium Puzzle

We document that investment in private equity is extremely concentrated. Yet despite the very poor diversification of entrepreneurs' portfolios, we find that the returns to private equity are surprisingly low. Given the large premium required by investors in public equity, it is puzzling why households willingly invest substantial amounts in a single privately held firm with a far worse risk-return tradeoff. We examine various explanations and conclude that private nonpecuniary benefits of control must be large and/or entrepreneurs must greatly overestimate their probability of success in order to explain the observed concentration of wealth in private equity.
A relaxed interior approach to nonlinear programming

This paper contains the mathematical validation of a new approach to mathematical programming problems based on a penalty function method. The given problem is replaced by a second „auxiliary“ problem which, in many cases may be solved by standard methods since it involves the maximization of a concave function of a single variable over an interval. The auxiliary problem is defined implicitly in therms of the constituents of the original problem. Examples are presented in order to illustrate the theoretical results.
A perturbation solution for batch extraction with double emulsions: role of continuous phase mass transfer resistance

The effect of the continuous phase mass transfer resistance on solute extraction with double emulsions in a batch reactor is investigated. A model presented by Ho et al. (1982) for diffusion controlled mass transfer into the double emulsions is solved by perturbation analysis. In the case of a significant continuous phase mass transfer resistance, the extraction of solute is a function of the inverse Biot modulus, m. For values of m greater than 0.01 the external phase resistance must be taken into account in order to accurately predict extraction rates. Such conditions will exist when double emulsion drops are relatively small or when stirring rates in the batch extractor are low.
UVB-induced gene expression in the skin of Xiphophorus maculatus Jp 163 B

Xiphophorus fish and interspecies hybrids represent long-standing models to study the genetics underlying spontaneous and induced tumorigenesis. The recent release of the Xiphophorus maculatus genome sequence will allow global genetic regulation studies of genes involved in the inherited susceptibility to UVB-induced melanoma within select backcross hybrids. As a first step toward this goal, we report results of an RNA-Seq approach to identify genes and pathways showing modulated transcription within the skin of X. maculatus Jp 163 B upon UVB exposure. X. maculatus Jp 163 B were exposed to various doses of UVB followed by RNA-Seq analysis at each dose to investigate overall gene expression in each sample. A total of 357 genes with a minimum expression change of 4-fold (p-adj < 0.05) were identified as responsive to UVB. The molecular genetic response of Xiphophorus skin to UVB exposure permitted assessment of; (1) the basal expression level of each transcript for each skin sample, (2) the changes in expression levels for each gene in the transcriptome upon exposure to increasing doses of UVB, and (3) clusters of genes that exhibit similar patterns of change in expression upon UVB exposure. These data provide a foundation for understanding the molecular genetic response of fish skin to UVB exposure.
COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS: LESSONS FROM NEW HAVEN

Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) are a new tool for labor-community coalitions, designed to ensure that economic development projects benefits workers and residents. In 2006, a labor-community coalition in New Haven, Connecticut won a CBA with Yale-New Haven Hospital after a two-year campaign, and much longer campaign to unionize hospital workers. The CBA included provisions for affordable housing, job training, local hiring, access to healthcare, environmental and planning protections, and a commitment to union-organizing rights. This article analyzes the campaign for the CBA and examines some outcomes, including its implementation. The CBA campaign was successful in building labor-community alliances and political power, and had resulted in some concrete gains for residents. However, the Hospital has blatantly violated the union-organizing rights part of the agreement, highlighting some of the limits of the CBA strategy in the face of a hostile employer.
Linear stochastic models for forecasting daily maxima and hourly concentrations of air pollutants

Abstract Two related time series models have been developed to forecast concentrations of various air pollutants and have been tested on carbon monoxide and oxidant data for the Los Angeles basin. One model forecasts daily maximum concentrations of a particular pollutant using only past daily maximum values of that pollutant as input. The other model forecasts 1-h average concentrations using only the past hourly average values. Both are found to be significantly more accurate than persistence, i.e. forecasting for tomorrow what occurred today (or yesterday). Model forecasts for 1972 of the daily instantaneous maxima for total oxidant made using only past pollutant concentration data were found to be somewhat more accurate than those made by the Los Angeles APCD using meteorological input as well as pollutant concentrations. Although none of these models forecast as accurately as might be desired for a health warning system, the relative success of simple time series models, even though based solely on pollutant concentration, suggests that models incorporating meteorological data and using either multi-dimensional times series or pattern recognition techniques should be tested.
Intracavity Phase Interferometry for magnetic field sensing

Application of a phase to frequency conversion is demonstrated to measure small magnetic fields with a sensitivity of 10nT corresponding to a polarization rotation of 2×10−9rad.