cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Omnivory as a stabilizing feature of natural communities.

Omnivory—defined broadly as feeding on more than one trophic level—occupies a prominent position in discussions of food web architecture and dynamics, due in large part to an enduring conflict regarding omnivory's role in community dynamics. According to classical re- sults from mathematical food web theory, omnivory destabilizes ecological communities, whereas more recent conceptual syntheses suggest that omnivory should be a strongly stabilizing factor in food webs. Working with an arthropod assemblage at Mount Saint Helens, I experimen- tally addressed this controversy using a two-way factorial design that crossed a manipulation of the degree of omnivory with another ''disturbance'' manipulation that targeted a specific compo- nent of the assemblage. In this statistical design, significant interaction effects (i.e., how the com- munity impacts of the disturbance varied with the degree of omnivory) identified key stabilizing or destabilizing influences of omnivory. Overall, my experimental results indicated that increas- ing the degree of omnivory stabilized community dynamics, in keeping with recent conceptual syntheses.
Practical aspects of planning, building, and interpreting tissue microarrays: The Cooperative Prostate Cancer Tissue Resource experience

This is a review of several new approaches developed at or adopted by the Cooperative Prostate Cancer Tissue Resource (CPCTR) to resolve issues involved in tissue microarray (TMA) construction and use. CPCTR developed the first needle biopsy TMA, allowing researchers to obtain 200 or more consecutive cancer sections from a single biopsy core. Using radiographs of original paraffin blocks to measure tissue thickness we developed a method to produce TMAs with a larger number of usable sections. The modular approach to plan TMA construction is also a novel concept wherein TMAs of different types, such as tumor grade TMAs, metastasis TMA and hormone refractory tumors TMA can be combined to form an ensemble of TMAs with expanded research utility, such as support for tumor progression studies. We also implemented an open access TMA Data Exchange Specification that allows TMA data to be organized in a self-describing XML document annotated with well-defined common data elements. It ensures inter-laboratory reproducibility because it offers information describing the preparation of TMA blocks and slides. There are many important aspects that may be missed by both beginners and experienced investigators in areas of TMA experimental design, human subjects protection, population sample size, selection of tumor areas to sample, strategies for saving tissues, choice of antibodies for immunohistochemistry, and TMA data management.
Two-dimensional viscoelastic flows: experimentation and modeling

Abstract Extensive experimental data on the birefringence in converging and diverging flows of a polymeric melt have been obtained. The birefringence and pressure drop measurements were carried out in working cells of planar geometry having different contraction angles and contraction ratios. For investigation of diverging or abrupt expansion flow, the direction of flow in the cells was reversed. The theoretical predictions are based upon the Leonov constitutive equation and a finite element scheme with streamwise integration. In contrast to Newtonian and second-order fluids, viscoelastic fluids at high shear rates show significant differences in pressure drop and birefringence (i.e. stresses) in converging and diverging flows. For a constant flow rate, the pressure drop is higher and the birefringence smaller in diverging flows than in converging flows. This difference increases with increasing flow rate. Further, for the same contraction ratio but different contraction angles, the birefringence maximum increases considerably with contraction angle. In addition, an increase in contraction ratio has the same effect. The viscoelastic constitutive equation of Leonov has been shown to describe all the above viscoelastic effects observed in the experiments. In general, a reasonable agreement between theory and experiment has been obtained, which shows the usefulness of the Leonov model in describing actual flows.
The Development and Effects of a Presentation Skill Improvement Program for Medical School Students

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to develop and examine a program that was designed to improve the presentation skills of medical school students. METHODS The program was implemented in 2-day workshops for 36 third-grade medical students in 2009, using the following procedures in order: needs assessment; an initial group presentation and peer evaluation; an initial self-evaluation with video recording; viewing of a model presentation; a second presentation in a group and peer evaluation; and a second self-assessment. Two types of survey questionnaires were used: a self-evaluation checklist and a questionnaire on workshop satisfaction and confidence of presentation. RESULTS Eighty-three percent of the students recognized the importance of presentation skills. There were significant differences in 3 factors of self-evaluation-constructing contents, utilizing audio-visual media, and delivery skills- but not with regard to understanding content. In the post workshop satisfaction survey, participants reported that the workshop was helpful in improving their own presentation skills. They also stated that presentation in a group, peer feedback, and video analysis of the recording were helpful. After the workshop, students claimed that their confidence scores in utilizing audio-visual media were the highest. CONCLUSION Medical students realize the importance of presentation skills training and workshops in increasing presentation skills and improving confidence in presenting. Video analysis and feedback of each participant's presentation within the group was effective in upgrading the student's presentation skills.
Evaluation of excess soil phosphorus supply for corn by the ear-leaf test

The P concentrations of ear leaves at silking are often used to assess P status of corn (Zea mays L.). The ear-leaf test has been evaluated for its ability to detect P deficiencies, but little attention has been given to its ability to quantify excess P supplies. The quantification of high P supplies is important for both economic and environmental reasons and because fertilization has increased P supplies of many soils to levels where additional yield responses are not likely. Grain yields and tissue samples were collected from 41 site-years corresponding to 2 long-term and 24 short-term P-response trials from 1980 to 1990. The sites included a wide variety of soil types, soil-test P values, and management practices. Phosphorus fertilization increased corn yields at 13 site-years and leaf P concentrations at 24 site-years. Fertilization increased leaf P concentrations at 85% of the soils where fertilization increased yields but at only 46% of the soils where fertilization did not increase yields. The determined critical concentration range for the leaf test, based on various models fit to relationships between yields and leaf P concentrations, was 2.3 to 2.5 g kg -1 . This range is below or within the lower range of previously published critical concentrations for this test. Leaf P concentrations increased curvilinearly with increasing soil-test values, and there were small or no increases at high soil-test values. This trend, together with the failure of fertilization treatments to increase leaf P concentrations at many high-testing soils, indicates limited luxury uptake of P in the leaves. The results of this study show that the ear-leaf test does not evaluate excess soil P supplies appropriately and is not a reliable diagnostic tool for regions having abundant high-testing soils. The inappropriate evaluation of excess P and the high variability in leaf P concentrations due to growth factors other than P availability limit the value of this test to the diagnosis of severe P deficiency.
Model-based joint detection/estimation approach for multisensor data fusion

A nonlinear adaptive detector/estimator is introduced for single and multiple sensor data processing. The problem of target detection from returns of monostatic sensor(s) is formulated as a nonlinear joint detection/estimation (JDE) problem on the unknown parameters in the signal return. The unknown parameters involve the presence of the target, its range, and azimuth. The problems of detecting the target and estimating its parameters are considered jointly. A bank of spatially and temporally localized nonlinear filters is used to estimate the a posteriori likelihood of the existence of the target in a given space-time resolution cell. Within a given cell, the localized filters are used to produce refined spatial estimates of the target parameters. A decision logic is used to decide on the existence of a target within any given resolution cell based on the a posteriori estimates reduced from the likelihood functions. The inherent spatial and temporal referencing in this approach is used for automatic referencing required when multiple sensor data is fused together.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of Surfactants on Solvolysis of p-Nitrophenyl Alkanoates Catalyzed by 4-(Dialkylamino)pyridine-Functionalized Polymer in Aqueous Methanol Solution

Catalysis of the solvolysis of p-nitrophenyl alkanoates 2 (n = 2-18) by 4-(dialkylamino)pyridine-functionalized polymer 1 in the presence of sodium n-dodecyl sulfate (SDS), n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and heptaethylene glycol n-dodecyl ether (HEGDE) was investigated in 50:50 (v/v) methanol-water buffer (0.05 M H 2 PO 4 - /HP0 4 2- , pH 8.0) solution. Strikingly, a large rate enhancement is observed in the presence of anionic surfactant SDS for the solvolysis of 2 (n = 10-18) as compared with the corresponding reaction catalyzed by 1 or SDS alone. SDS is believed to bind both substrate and catalyst within micellar aggregates and influence reactivity by a combination of catalyst-substrate proximity and micellar microenvironment. In the presence of HEGDE, no significant effects on the 1-catalyzed solvolysis of 2 (n < 8) were observed. At (2.5-7.5) x 10 -5 unit mol L -l 1, the solvolysis rate exhibits a modest decrease for 2 (n = 10 and 12) and a modest increase for 2 (n = 14, 16, and 18) with added nonionic surfactant HEGDE. The solvolysis rate for 1-catalyzed solvolysis of 2 (n = 2 -18) was found to be unchanged by cationic surfactant DTAB in aqueous methanol solution.
Molecular mechanisms regulating the differential association of kainate receptor subunits with SAP90/PSD-95 and SAP97.

Recent studies have demonstrated that kainate receptors are associated with members of the SAP90/PSD-95 family (synapse-associated proteins (SAPs)) in neurons and that SAP90 can cluster and modify the electrophysiological properties of GluR6/KA2 kainate receptors when co-expressed in transfected cells. In vivo, SAP90 tightly binds kainate receptor subunits, while SAP97 is only weakly associated, suggesting that this glutamate receptor differentially associates with SAP90/PSD-95 family members. Here, green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged chimeras and deletion mutants of SAP97 and SAP90 were employed to define the molecular mechanism underlying their differential association with kainate receptors. Our results show that a weak interaction between GluR6 and the PDZ1 domain of SAP97 can account for the weak association of GluR6 with the full-length SAP97 observed in vivo. Expression studies in HEK293 cells andin vitro binding studies further show that although the individual Src homology 3 and guanylate kinase domains in SAP97 can interact with the C-terminal tail of KA2 subunit, specific intramolecular interactions in SAP97 (e.g. the SAP97 N terminus (S97N) binding to the Src homology 3 domain) interfere with KA2 binding to the full-length molecule. Because receptor subunits are known to segregate to different parts of the neuron, our results imply that differential association of kainate receptors with SAP family proteins may be one mechanism of subcellular localization.
Pseudopseudotumor of the lung. Hepatic herniation into the right major fissure imitating a pseudotumor on chest roentgenogram.

A young man presented to us with an asymptomatic ovoid mass which appeared to be in the right major fissure. The roentgenographic appearance of the lesion was that of a pseudotumor. The computerized tomography scan suggested tissue density leading to exploration. At surgery, we found the mass to be a portion of liver herniated through a diaphragmatic defect. Thus, we add type 2 hepatic herniation to congestive heart failure, empyema, hemothorax, postmflammatory "fibromas," and malignancies as a cause of interlobar pleural densities.
Development of a virtual level of detail scene graph for terrain modeling in Java3D (non-reviewed)

Summary form only given. Three-dimensional modeling of geographic information systems has become a reality due to the low cost of relatively powerful workstations, improved performance and memory capabilities of graphics hardware, and the introduction of cross-platform standards such as OpenGL and Java3d. The work presented in this paper is part of an ongoing project whose goal is to create efficient algorithms that support real-time display and fly through capabilities of large virtual world based on NASA and USGS mapping data. The size and resolution of the virtual world should not be limited to the size of RAM or even virtual memory; rather the segments should be loaded, as they are required. This requires the creation of a virtual level of detail segments (LOD) (based on Java3D geometry objects) that are dynamically retrieved as the user moves through the virtual world. To accomplish this it is necessary to have both an efficient storage and retrieval mechanisms and employ efficient rendering techniques. The algorithms employed should use a reasonable amount of disk space and does not unduly burden the network or processor. In addition to having efficient use of resources, the algorithm should minimize visual artefacts associated with LOD processing, namely gaps and checker boarding.
THE EFFECTS OF QUINIDINE ON THE METABOLISM OF GLUCOSE-U-C14 AND PALMITATE-U-C14 BY HEART MUSCLE.

Abstract Quinidine sulfate in low concentrations suppressed the oxygen consumption of myocardial tissue slices by inhibiting the oxidative pathways for the metabolism of glucose and free fatty acid. Anaerobic glycolysis, measured directly, was unaffected. H gher and presumably toxic concentrations of quinidine sharply inhibited the oxidation of glucose and free fatty acids and accelerated the breakdown of glycogen. This profound effect of quinidine on oxidative myocardial metabolism may be an important factor in depressing myocardial excitability and contractility.
Towards practical private processing of database queries over public data

Privacy is a major concern when users query public online data services. The privacy of millions of people has been jeopardized in numerous user data leakage incidents in many popular online applications. To address the critical problem of personal data leakage through queries, we enable private querying on public data services so that the contents of user queries and any user data are hidden and therefore not revealed to the online service providers. We propose two protocols for private processing of database queries, namely BHE and HHE. The two protocols provide strong query privacy by using Paillier's homomorphic encryption, and support common database queries such as range and join queries by relying on the bucketization of public data. In contrast to traditional Private Information Retrieval proposals, BHE and HHE only incur one round of client server communication for processing a single query. BHE is a basic private query processing protocol that provides complete query privacy but still incurs expensive computation and communication costs. Built upon BHE, HHE is a hybrid protocol that applies ciphertext computation and communication on a subset of the data, such that this subset not only covers the actual requested data but also resembles some frequent query patterns of common users, thus achieving practical query performance while ensuring adequate privacy levels. By using frequent query patterns and data specific privacy protection, HHE is not vulnerable to the traditional attacks on k-Anonymity that exploit data similarity and skewness. Moreover, HHE consistently protects user query privacy for a sequence of queries in a single query session.
Passive millimeter-wave imaging with compressive sensing

Passive millimeter-wave (PMMW) imagers using a single radiometer, called single pixel imagers, employ raster scanning to produce images. A serious drawback of such a single pixel imaging system is the long acquisition time needed to produce a high-fidelity image, arising from two factors: (a) the time to scan the whole scene pixel by pixel and (b) the integration time for each pixel to achieve adequate signal to noise ratio. Recently, compressive sensing (CS) has been developed for single-pixel optical cameras to significantly reduce the imaging time and at the same time produce high-fidelity images by exploiting the sparsity of the data in some transform domain. While the efficacy of CS has been established for single-pixel optical systems, its application to PMMW imaging is not straightforward due to its (a) longer wavelength by three to four orders of magnitude that suffers high diffraction losses at finite size spatial waveform modulators and (b) weaker radiation intensity, for example, by eight orders of magnitude less than that of infrared. We present the development and implementation of a CS technique for PMMW imagers and shows a factor-of-ten increase in imaging speed.
Wavelength and Coherence Independent Method of Optically Exciting Mechanical Resonance

We have developed and demonstrated a technique for optical excitation of mechanical resonance that does not require coherent, monochromatic, or time-varying light. Previous methods for optically exciting mechanical motion in microscale devices required monochromatic, coherent light or time varying light. This technology could allow sunlight (or other ambient light source) to drive a MEMS device. It could also be used to convert sunlight to mechanical energy and subsequently to electrical energy through piezoelectric or capacitive techniques, essentially a micromechanical analog to the photovoltaic cell. We have demonstrated this method of optical excitation of a MEMS cantilever using simple cantilever beam structures fabricated using Sandia National Laboratories’ SUMMiT V™ process. The bimorph structure was created with polysilicon and aluminum. The minimum power to induce resonance was 3.5–4 mW of optical power incident on the cantilever under a vacuum of less than 1 mTorr. Resonance was observed at 45.6 kHz (slightly less than the 48.5 kHz predicted by FEA).© 2009 ASME
Microscopic Symmetry Imposed by Rotational Symmetry Boundary Conditions in Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

A large number of viral capsids, as well as other macromolecular assemblies, have an icosahedral structure or structures with other rotational symmetries. This symmetry can be exploited during molecular dynamics (MD) to model in effect the full viral capsid using only a subset of primary atoms plus copies of image atoms generated from rotational symmetry boundary conditions (RSBC). A pure rotational symmetry operation results in both primary and image atoms at short-range, and within nonbonded interaction distance of each other, so that nonbonded interactions cannot be specified by the minimum image convention and explicit treatment of image atoms is required. As such, an unavoidable consequence of RSBC is that the enumeration of nonbonded interactions in regions surrounding certain rotational axes must include both a primary atom and its copied image atom, thereby imposing microscopic symmetry for some forces. We examined the possibility of artifacts arising from this imposed microscopic symmetry of RSBC...
Mothers in Trouble: Coping With Actual or Pending Separation From Children due to Incarceration

Although female offenders are the fastest growing population in prison today, relatively few studies focus on their unique experiences as mothers. In this study, the authors utilize 74 semistructured interviews with mothers before trial and during incarceration to document coping strategies employed to deal with potential or actual separation from their children. From the study data, seven strategies emerge: being a good mother, mothering from prison, role redefinition, disassociation from prisoner identity, self-transformation, planning and preparation, and self-blame. The findings show that mothers used multiple strategies and tended to employ emotion-focused and adaptive coping techniques. The policy implications are discussed.
Gaspar Castaño de Sosa: El primer fundador de Monterrey

Resumen es: Este trabajo presenta una breve biografia de uno de los mas importantes personajes en la historia del Nuevo Reino de Leon: Gaspar Castano de Sosa, hombre...
Cystic fibrosis and the workplace: A review of the literature

Objective To perform a comprehensive literature review pertaining to cystic fibrosis (CF) and employment. Methods We performed extensive searches of the Pub Med and the EBSCOhost electronic databases to discover articles pertaining to CF and employment. Results Nine journal articles published between 1979 and 2009 pertaining to CF and employment aspects were reviewed and analyzed. Strengths and limitations of the studies are discussed and recommendations for future research are provided. Conclusions There is limited psychosocial research in the area of CF and its employment aspects. The findings from this literature review indicate that maintaining employment depends on multiple variables. Further research on CF and employment is necessary to improve vocational outcomes. Understanding the interplay of CF and employment informs the rehabilitation knowledge base and is essential in order for professionals involved in employment outcomes such as rehabilitation counselors to deliver vocational services.
Preface: Phys. Status Solidi A 206/2

The Seventh International Symposium on Semiconductor Light Emitting Devices (ISSLED 2008) was held in Phoenix, Arizona, on the week of 27 April to 2 May 2008. This Symposium is a new edition of the International Symposium on Blue Laser and Light Emitting Diodes (ISBLLED) series which has been held biannually to provide a platform for scientists and engineers to discuss progress and future trends in the rapidly advancing wide band gap semiconductor science and technologies and their applications into visible and ultraviolet light emitting diodes and diode lasers. The first symposium in the series was organized by Prof. Akihiko Yoshikawa and was held in Chiba, Japan, in 1996. The following symposia were held in Chiba, Japan, in 1998; Berlin, Germany, in 2000; Cordoba, Spain, in 2002; Geongju, Korea, in 2004; and more recently in Montpellier, France, in 2006. The participants were 33 from Asia (16 from Japan), 19 from Europe, and 66 from North America. The ISSLED 2008 scientific program included a total of 14 invited talks and 63 contributed talks. This symposium covered materials and their devices based on GaN, ZnSe, and ZnO semiconductors. The topics included materials growth and characterization, optoelectronic properties, device design and fabrication, white light emitting diodes, ultraviolet emitters and detectors, photonics, device performance and reliability, novel optoelectronic devices and applications, spintronics, and biological applications. The next meeting in this series was proposed, and accepted by the International Advisory Committee, to be held in China, in May 2010, to be organized by Prof. Guoyi Zhang of Peking University (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Support vector regression with noisy data: a second order cone programming approach

A robust convex optimization approach is proposed for support vector regression (SVR) with noisy input data. The data points are assumed to be uncertain, but bounded within given hyper-spheres of radius η. The proposed Robust SVR model is equivalent to a Second Order Cone Programming (SOCP) problem. SOCP formulation with Gaussian noise models assumption is discussed. Computational results are presented both on real world and synthetic data sets. The robust SOCP approach is compared with several other regression algorithms such as SVR, least-square SVR, and artificial neural networks by injecting Gaussian noise to each of the data points. The proposed approach out performs the other regression algorithms for some data sets. Moreover, the generalization behavior of the SOCP method is better than the traditional SVR with increasing the uncertainty level η until a threshold value.
The origin of β-strand bending in globular proteins

Many β-strands are not flat but bend and/or twist. However, although almost all β-strands have a twist, not all have a bend, suggesting that the underlying force(s) driving β-strand bending is distinct from that for the twist. We, therefore, investigated the physical origin(s) of β-strand bends. We calculated rotation, twist and bend angles for a four-residue short frame. Fixed-length fragments consisting of six residues found in three consecutive short frames were used to evaluate the twist and bend angles of full-length β-strands. We calculated and statistically analyzed the twist and bend angles of β-strands found in globular proteins with known three-dimensional structures. The results show that full-length β-strand bend angles are related to the nearby aromatic residue content, whereas local bend angles are related to the nearby aliphatic residue content. Furthermore, it appears that β-strands bend to maximize their hydrophobic contacts with an abutting hydrophobic surface or to form a hydrophobic side-chain cluster when an abutting hydrophobic surface is absent. We conclude that the dominant driving force for full-length β-strand bends is the hydrophobic interaction involving aromatic residues, whereas that for local β-strand bends is the hydrophobic interaction involving aliphatic residues.
Distribution of Q When Testing Equality of Matched Proportions

Abstract The asymptotic distribution of Cochran's Q statistic is obtained under the null hypothesis H 0 for comparing proportions in matched samples under the multinomial model. Simulation studies show that a Satterthwaithe-type approximation provides a better approximation to the limiting distribution than does the chi-square distribution. Also, if by the nature of the problem, H 0 implies the side condition H, which is necessary for Q to have a limiting chi-square distribution, then Q has the same Pitman efficiency as a Wald statistic that is known to have some optimal asymptotic properties and that has the χ2 distribution in the limit under H 0 whether or not H holds.
The effects of a laughing versus a nonlaughing model on humor responses in preschool children

Abstract Three groups of preschool children, 2–4 years old, were observed individually as they listened to a humorous tape recording either alone (Group 1), or after they had observed a nonlaughing (Group 2) or laughing peer model (Group 3) listen to the tape and then leave. There was a significant difference between the laughing model group and the nonlaughing model group in time spent smiling as well as significant differences in time spent laughing among the no model group, the nonlaughing model group, and the laughing model group. It was concluded that imitation learning plays a role in determining whether or not children will laugh or smile in a humorous situation.
Two antennas GPS-aided INS for attitude determination

This paper describes a navigation system incorporating inertial and two-antenna carrier phase differential global positioning system (GPS) measurements. The major objective is to demonstrate full attitude determination even for a nonaccelerating vehicle. The motivating application for this project is vehicle control. Therefore, the system is designed to operate reliably whether or not GPS measurements are available. The navigation system estimates vehicle position, velocity, acceleration, attitude, and angular rates at 150 Hz with accuracy (standard deviation) of 1.5 cm, 0.8 cm/s, 2.2 cm/s/s, 0.03 deg (pitch and roll), 0.1 deg (yaw), and 0.1 deg/s using a 1.01 m baseline between antennas. The navigation state vector is processed to produce a control state vector at 30 Hz. The control demonstrations involve basic trajectory following as well as trajectory relative maneuvering (i.e., tracking sinusoidal perturbations and performing lane changes). During experimental testing, a magnetic system was available to provide a ground truth reference. The demonstrated accuracy is sufficient for control of vehicles in an automated highway system. Other possible applications include precision farming, aircraft and satellite control, and control or guidance of automated mining or highway maintenance vehicles.
A Titania Nanotube-Array Room-Temperature Sensor for Selective Detection of Low Hydrogen Concentrations

A tremendous variation in electrical resistance, from the semiconductor to metallic range, has been observed in titania nanotube arrays at room temperature, ≈ 25°C, in the presence of low ppm hydrogen gas concentrations (≤ 1000 ppm). The nanotube arrays are fabricated by anodizing titanium foil in an aqueous fluoride containing electrolyte solution. Subsequently, the arrays are annealed in an oxygen ambient, then coated with a 10 nm layer of palladium by evaporation. Electrical contacts are made by sputtering a small (e.g. 1 mm diameter) platinum disk atop the Pd coated nanotube-array. These sensors exhibit a resistance variation of the order of over 107 (1,000,000,000%) in the presence of 1000 ppm hydrogen at 23°C. To the best of our knowledge this dynamic change in electrical resistance the largest known response of any material, to any gas, at any temperature. The sensors demonstrate complete reversibility, repeatability, high selectivity, no drift and wide dynamic range. The nanoscale geometry of the nanotubes, in particular the points of tube-to-tube contact, is believed to be responsible for the outstanding hydrogen gas sensitivities.
Health and the Education of Children from Racial/Ethnic Minority and Immigrant Families.

Building on a conceptual model of the transition to elementary school, this study explored the role of health in the early cognitive achievement of children from various racial/ethnic minority and immigrant families by applying multilevel modeling to data from a nationally representative sample of American kindergarteners. Whites tended to have the best physical health before transitioning to first grade. Children from immigrant Latino/a and Asian families had the worst physical health but the best mental health. Compared to white children from native families, these health differentials partially explained the lower math achievement and achievement growth of black children (whether from native or immigrant families) in first grade as well as the lower math achievement of children from Latino/a immigrant families and the lower achievement growth of children from Asian immigrant families during this period.
Basin-Scale Carbon Monoxide Distributions in the Parallel Ocean Program

Abstract As a primary photochemical constituent in upper-ocean and tropospheric geocycling, carbon monoxide is of interest to a variety of global change research communities. Dynamic three-dimensional simulations of its marine concentration patterns, emphasizing Pacific surface waters, are presented. Calculations were driven by nitrogen/iron ecodynamics within the Parallel Ocean Program (POP) transport framework. Photoproduction was estimated following broadband transfer of ultraviolet A radiation down to and penetrating the mixed layer. Quantum efficiency, absorption, the chromophoric fraction of dissolved organics, and related microchemical parameters were all varied, in some cases collectively. Bacterial uptake was parameterized through stages of refinement ranging from a single global average time constant to the application of steady-state zooplanktonic grazing pressure. Major features of basin-spanning ship track data can be reproduced including tropical to gyre and temperate frontal ratios. Evidenc...
The dynamic tree protocol: avoiding 'graceful degradation' in the tree protocol for distributed mutual exclusion

A modification of the tree protocol for distributed mutual exclusion is presented. The existing tree protocol is very efficient as long as all nodes in the system are accessible, but if suffers from performance degradation during the time when some nodes are down or partitioned. Although failures may be infrequent, once a node is down, it may remain down for a relatively long time. In the modified protocol, a node requesting mutual exclusion may experience performance degradation at most once after some failures occur but then it adapts to a new system topology and its performance returns to normal. In the case when all nodes in the system are accessible, the protocol exhibits the same performance as the existing tree protocol. >
Intelligent microscopes: a scientific poem

This paper, written in the form of a scientific poem, reviews the current status of automated intel ligent microscopes based on computer technology. The basic concepts of image analysis for cytology and histology are presented and illustrated. Limitations of commercial devices and research endeavors are examined, and remedies are suggested.
Development and preliminary evaluation of a quality of life measure targeted at dementia caregivers

Providing care for individuals with a progressive, debilitating condition such as dementia can adversely impact the quality of life (QOL) of informal caregivers. To date, there is no existing caregiver quality of life measure for dementia caregivers with breadth of coverage or that is applicable to caregivers of diverse ethnic backgrounds. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a caregiver-targeted quality-of-life measure (CGQOL) for informal caregivers of persons with dementia that can be used with caregivers from a variety of ethnicities. 91 items were field tested by telephone interviews with 179 English-speaking and 21 monolingual Spanish-speaking caregivers of persons with dementia. Repeat interviews were conducted with 71 caregivers. Administration time, scale score distributions, item-scale correlations, reliability, and associations of scales with patient and caregiver demographic and caregiving characteristics were estimated. Structure of associations among scales was examined using exploratory factor analysis. Item analysis yielded 80 items distributed across 10 scales, with median administration time of 17 minutes [IQR 13.5–22 minutes] and minimal missing data. There were few floor or ceiling effects in scale score distributions. Internal consistency reliability was ≥ 0.78 for all scales; test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation) estimates exceeded 0.70 for 6 scales. More hours weekly spent in caregiving was uniquely associated with worse quality of life on 8 scales (p's ≤ 0.05). Three higher-order dimensions of caregiving assistance, emotional and social concerns, and spirituality and benefits were identified. These preliminary results support subsequent evaluation of test-retest reliability, construct validity, and responsiveness to change of this quality-of-life measure for caregivers from diverse ethnicities.
The Pliocene paradox (mechanisms for a permanent El Niño).

During the early Pliocene, 5 to 3 million years ago, globally averaged temperatures were substantially higher than they are today, even though the external factors that determine climate were essentially the same. In the tropics, El Nino was continual (or "permanent") rather than intermittent. The appearance of northern continental glaciers, and of cold surface waters in oceanic upwelling zones in low latitudes (both coastal and equatorial), signaled the termination of those warm climate conditions and the end of permanent El Nino. This led to the amplification of obliquity (but not precession) cycles in equatorial sea surface temperatures and in global ice volume, with the former leading the latter by several thousand years. A possible explanation is that the gradual shoaling of the oceanic thermocline reached a threshold around 3 million years ago, when the winds started bringing cold waters to the surface in low latitudes. This introduced feedbacks involving ocean-atmosphere interactions that, along with ice-albedo feedbacks, amplified obliquity cycles. A future melting of glaciers, changes in the hydrological cycle, and a deepening of the thermocline could restore the warm conditions of the early Pliocene.
Transesophageal echocardiography and the intraoperative management of pediatric congenital heart disease: initial experience with a pediatric esophageal 2D color flow echocardiographic probe.

Abstract Intraoperative color Doppler transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was performed in 26 patients undergoing corrective or palliative surgery for congenital heart disease. Age ranged from 1 day to 15 years, and body weight ranged from 2.9 to 42 kg. Objectives of the study were to determine the smallest infant in whom the pediatric probe could be used safely, additional diagnostic value, and its role in the intraoperative assessment of the surgical repair. The insertion of the pediatric probe was possible in all 26 patients. The smallest infant in this series was a newborn weighing 2.9 kg. Excellent correlation was obtained with preoperative transthoracic echocardiographic findings and operative findings. Assessment of the surgical repair was obtained in the immediate postcardiopulmonary bypass period. No short-term complications occurred in this series. Intraoperative color Doppler TEE provided a detailed and accurate assessment of the morphology, the function of the heart, and altered the management of at least two patients.
Accessibility of Cotton Cellulose by Deuterium Exchange

Dechant's method for determining the total accessibility of cellulose by exchange with deuterium oxide was modified for routine use with cotton fibers. Deuterated cotton was allowed to re-exchange with water or aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and the deuterium oxide content of the liquid used for re-exchange was determined by measurement of ir absorb ence at 2510 cm 1. Sodium hydroxide solution (20%) was found to bring about re-exchange of that fraction of OD-groups which resist re-exchange with water, as demonstrated by ir spectra of deuterated and rehydrogenated cotton fibers. Ac cessibility to deuterium exchange was determined for selected cotton and rayon fibers and three series of immature cotton fibers. 'I'hese measurements correlated well with measurements of moisture regain and iodine sorption value made to obtain other estimates of the accessibility of the fibers.
Self-Synchronizing Circuits and Nonfundamental Mode Operation

The self-synchronizing (SS) sequential circuits proposed by Chuang and Das, as well as by Rey and Vaucher are analyzed and compared. A variation of the latter system is proposed. It is shown that none of the above approaches can be used for unrestricted input change (UIC) operation. Procedures for synthesizing Huffman type asynchronous circuits suitable for UIC operation are improved. Data handling rates for the SS and Huffman type circuits are compared for SIC and MIC operation.
Work Response to Income Maintenance: Economic, Sociological, and Cultural Perspectives

The assumption that income maintenance creates disincentives to work is reviewed in the context of economic, sociological, and cultural perspectives on work among the poor and tested with data from the New Jersey Negative Income Tax Experiment. Contrary to predictions derived from economic theory and culture of poverty speculations, the results show: (1) no such disincentive effects among male heads of households; (2) consistent and significant effects on work activity of prior labor force history and extent of participation, age, health, family structure, education, and welfare status; and (3) even those who exhibit a variety of allegedly detrimental personality traits, as described by the culture of poverty thesis, and those least integrated into the work ethic still show no work reduction as a result of NIT.
On improving the classification of myocardial ischemia using Holter ECG data

In this paper, a method is proposed to improve an algorithm for myocardial ischemia classification created by Langley et al. The Langley classifier achieves a very high sensitivity (99.0%), but a lower specificity value (93.3%). In order to improve the specificity, the proposed algorithm attempts to reclassify the events that the Langley classifier labels ischemic. The classifier used is a support vector machine. The features used are the mean of the ST deviation, maximum value of the ST deviation, and the initial ST deviation. The classifier is able to increase the specificity from 92.3% to 93.3%. The drawback is that the sensitivity is reduced from 99.0% to 97.5%. This causes the overall accuracy to decrease slightly from 95.6 to 94.8. The algorithm shows promise in being able to increase specificity, but work must be done to find features that do not cause such a large decrease in the sensitivity.
EFFECTS OF ARSENIC-AZOPROTEINS ON MOUSE LYMPHOMA CELLS IN VIVO WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECTS OF OTHER ANTI-LYMPHOMA AGENTS, AND ON THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THESE EFFECTS OF LYMPHOMA CELLS OF VARIOUS TYPES

Conjugates made by coupling diazotized arsanilic acid with one or another of a variety of proteins regularly brought about the complete regression of established 6C3HED lymphomas in living mice without perceptibly harming the latter, while untreated control animals regularly died with lymphomatosis. Histologic studies made plain that the lymphoma cells promptly die in mice treated with the arsenic-azoproteins, while those in untreated control animals continue to proliferate. Various inorganic and organic arsenicals (including arsanilic acid and 4-arsonophenyldiazotate) were essentially devoid of effect on the lymphoma cells in vivo, and this proved true as well of the proteins employed (serum albumins and globulins procured from several species, casein, and ovalbumin). Mixtures of arsanilic acid and the several proteins, various sulfur-azoproteins, and a number of other substances-viz., amethopterin, chlorambucil, 6-mercaptopurine, 8-azaguanine, azaserine, 6-azauracil, 5-fluorouracil, thioTEPA, and DON, each given in maximal tolerated amounts-also failed to influence notably the course of established 6C3HED lymphomas in vivo. Although readily overcoming Lymphoma E9514 cells growing in the subcutaneous tissues of susceptible mice, the arsenic-azoproteins had little or no effect once these cells had reached the livers and spleens of susceptible hosts. Furthermore the arsenic-azoproteins had little or no effect in vivo on the cells of Lymphoma AKRL1, L1210, and L4946. The findings were considered in relationship to the respective susceptibilities of several types of lymphoma cells to other anti-lymphoma agents-notably guinea pig serum, immune serums prepared in rabbits with mouse lymphoma cells as antigens, and a variety of chemical compounds. Taken together, the observations provide proof that lymphoma cells of various types, although resembling one another quite closely in growth characteristics following transplantation in susceptible hosts, and in morphology as disclosed by ordinary microscopy, differ notably in susceptibility to the effects of the several anti-lymphoma agents.
Macrolide Treatment Failure in Streptococcal Pharyngitis Resulting in Acute Rheumatic Fever

Macrolide resistance (MR) in group A Streptococcus (GAS) has been well documented in several countries and has become clinically significant since the large increases in macrolide usage during the 1970s. Macrolides are recommended as an alternative therapy for GAS pharyngitis, the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis. Macrolide resistance has been associated with certain emm types, a sequence-based typing system of the hypervariable region of the GAS M-protein gene. Clinical failure of macrolide treatment of GAS infections can be associated with complications including acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease, the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children worldwide. Here we report 2 pediatric cases of MR and/or treatment failure in the treatment of GAS pharyngitis with the subsequent development of acute rheumatic fever. We also review the literature on worldwide MR rates, molecular classifications, and emm types, primarily associated with GAS pharyngeal isolates between the years of 2000 and 2010. The use of macrolides in the management of GAS pharyngitis should be limited to patients with significant penicillin allergy.
The Link between Neighborhood Poverty and Health: Context or Composition?

Cross-sectional studies of neighborhood context and health are subject to upward bias due to unobserved heterogeneity and to downward bias due to overadjustment for potential mediators in the pathway between neighborhood context and health. In this study, the authors employed two strategies that addressed these two sources of bias. First, to mitigate overadjustment of mediators, they adjusted for baseline characteristics observed just prior to the measurement of neighborhood context, using a combined propensity score and regression strategy. Second, to mitigate underadjustment of unmeasured confounders, they employed a fixed-effects modeling strategy to account for unobserved non-time-varying heterogeneity. Analyses were based on a nationally representative sample of the nonimmigrant US population from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (1980-1997) in which respondent-rated health was regressed on neighborhood poverty. The samples consisted of approximately 6,000 respondents for the propensity score/regression models and 45,000 person-years for the fixed-effects models. Both modeling strategies yielded significant estimates of neighborhood poverty and supported a causal link between neighborhood context and health.
A Computer Implementation of a Theory of Human Stereo Vision

Recently, Marr & Poggio (1979) presented a theory of human stereo vision. An implementation of that theory is presented, and consists of five steps. (i) The left and right images are each filtered with masks of four sizes that increase with eccentricity; the shape of these masks is given by delta 2G, the Laplacian of a Gaussian function. (ii) Zero crossings in the filtered images are found along horizontal scan lines. (iii) For each mask size, matching takes place between zero crossings of the same sign and roughly the same orientation in the two images, for a range of disparities up to about the width of the mask's central region. Within this disparity range, it can be shown that false targets pose only a simple problem. (iv) The output of the wide masks can control vergence movements, thus causing small masks to come into correspondence. In this way, the matching process gradually moves from dealing with large disparities at a low resolution to dealing with small disparities at a high resolution. (v) When a correspondence is achieved, it is stored in a dynamic buffer, called the 2 1/2-dimensional sketch. To support the adequacy of the Marr-Poggio model of human stereo vision, the implementation was tested on a wide range of stereograms from the human stereopsis literature. The performance of the implementation is illustrated and compared with human perception. Also statistical assumptions made by Marr & Poggio are supported by comparison with statistics found in practice. Finally, the process of implementing the theory has led to the clarification and refinement of a number of details within the theory; these are discussed in detail.