cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impacts of land use and socioeconomic patterns on urban heat Island

Intensive land surface change and human activities induced by rapid urbanization are the major causes of the urban heat island UHI phenomenon. In this article, we examined the spatial variability of UHI and its relationships with land use and socioeconomic patterns in the Baltimore–DC metropolitan area. Census data, road network as well the digital elevation model DEM and average water surface percentage were selected to analyse the correlation between spatial patterns of UHI and socioeconomic factors. The impervious surface coefficient of determination R2 = 0.89 and normalized difference vegetation index R2 = 0.81 were the two most important landscape factors, and population density R2 = 0.57 was the most influential socioeconomic variable in contributing to the UHI intensity. Generally, the socioeconomic variables had smaller influence on the UHI intensity than the landscape variables. Based on the patch analysis, most of the socioeconomic variables influenced the UHI intensity indirectly through changing the physical environment e.g. impervious surface or forest cover. The selected landscape and socioeconomic variables, except impervious surface percentage, demonstrated third-order polynomial correlation with the UHI intensity. The higher correlations were found within certain ranges such as forest percentage from 0% to 30% and population density from 0 to 5000 km–2. This research provides a case study to understand the urban land surface, vegetation, and microclimate for urban management and planning.
The Early History of Voice Encryption

The evolution of voice encryption (a.k.a. ciphony) is detailed from the 1920s through the work of Alan Turing at the end of World War II. The systems covered are invertors, the A-3 Scrambler, SIGSALY, and Delilah. The human cost of poor voice encryption is illustrated by the failure of and consequent lack of trust in the A-3 Scrambler prior to and during World War II. The simple manner in which logarithms and modular arithmetic played a key role in SIGSALY is described, along with other key features. These may be put to use in the classroom to demonstrate practical and extremely important applications of basic mathematical ideas. Alan Turing’s work on SIGSALY is detailed along with his efforts to create an even better system, Delilah. Turing’s mission to Germany to ascertain the depth of the Nazi’s knowledge of ciphony is also discussed. Full historic context is provided to demonstrate the tremendous impact this technology had on the twentieth century.
× Polifreda ‘Lindstrom’, a Cross Between False Aloe and Mexican Tuberose

× Polifreda ‘Lindstrom’ was developed at the University of Arkansas to increase the range of perennials available to horticulture in the American South. The cultivar was selected from 14 viable seedlings produced by crossing Manfreda virginica (L.) Salisb. ex Rose (male) and Polianthes tuberosa L. (female) via controlled pollination. Specimens have been grown at the University of Arkansas Agricultural Research Station in Fayetteville, Arkansas (USDA Zone 6b) since 2005 and propagated by either division or micropropagation. Desirable characters inherited from P. tuberosa include two flowers per node, a pleasant fragrance, and heat and drought tolerance. Characteristics resembling M. virginica include finely-denticulate leaf margins, a scapose raceme inflorescence type, and tolerance of winter temperatures as low as −25C (−11F). The intergeneric hybrid represents the first cultivar of the nothogenus × Polifreda. The cultivar epithet ‘Lindstrom’ was chosen to honor the contribution to horticulture of the lat...
Design Your Mason Experience: Flipping the classroom to create a career exploration environment for undeclared and undecided students.

Through the Course (Re)Design Academy, I redesigned UNIV 220:AÂ Decide and Confirm Majors, as a flipped classroom. For UNIV 220 participants, this will mean a streamlined, self-directed learning and life-design experience. For UNIV 220 instructors, it will yield a detailed course outline, complete with resources, pre-work, and ideas for classroom management. They will also have a map of what students should learn, and which activities or assessments support the learning A¢â¬â a full context for their teaching. Instructors from all disciplines can see the outcomes of developing a course through a hands-on flipped learning environment, testing tools, techniques and strategies for teaching the course while creating a course outline, including Student Learning Outcomes, mapped to supporting course activities and assessments.
Exploring the Benefits of Affectionate Communication: Implications for Interpersonal Acceptance–Rejection Theory

In the past several decades, a robust line of research has developed in the field of communication exploring the interpersonal outcomes of receiving and giving affection. The present review offers an in-depth examination of research on affectionate communication and its implications for understanding interpersonal acceptance and rejection. The review begins by introducing the primary theoretical framework used to explore affectionate communication, followed by an overview of the benefits of receiving and giving affection. Following this review, the implications of affectionate communication for acceptance–rejection researchers are presented, including a discussion of the complexities of affection and what such intricacies may mean for future theorizing in this domain. Lastly, future directions for acceptance–rejection research in light of this review are presented.
Lumbar Scoliosis (Degenerative) MIS Surgery (PJK) Complication

Proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) is a common complication of thoracolumbar deformity surgery. It is usually defined as an increase of greater than 10° of kyphosis at the proximal segment of fusion, measured using the Cobb angle from the inferior end plate of the uppermost instrumented vertebra (UIV) to the superior end plate of the supra-adjacent segment 2 levels proximally (UIV + 2). PJK can be asymptomatic, with a limited impact on clinical outcome. However, it can be symptomatic resulting in worsened pain or neurologic deficit which is referred to as proximal junctional failure. There is no known single cause for PJK, though numerous risk factors have been proposed including advanced age, osteopenia/osteoporosis, inclusion of the sacrum in the fusion, severe deformity, and failure to achieve global sagittal balance among others. Injury of the posterior elements and muscular support due to exposure-related morbidity could also play a role in the development of PJK. Treatment options vary depending on the clinical scenario, with asymptomatic cases calling for observation and serial imaging, while others necessitate revision surgery. Revision surgery typically includes adequate decompression, if necessary, and extension of fusion with the goal of maintenance of appropriate sagittal alignment.
Effects of substrate temperature on magnetic properties of CoCrTa/Cr films

The effects of substrate temperature on CoCrTa/Cr thin films were investigated by depositing CoCrTa films on Cr underlayers/sur with various crystallographic textures at both room temperature and elevated temperature. Contrary to the notion that crystallographic textures of [1120] and [1100] are required to obtain high in-plane coercivity (H/sub c/) and low noise in Co/Cr based thin-film media, the present experimental results show that both H/sub c/ and Delta M depend more strongly on the sputter temperature of the magnetic layer than on its crystallographic texture. It was also found that the Delta M of [1101]/sub Co//[110]/sub Cr/ textured films is lower than that of the [1120]/sub Co//[200]/sub Cr /films with similar H/sub c/. This suggests that [1101]/sub Co//[110]/sub Cr /textured media might have better signal-to-noise properties. >
Innovations in Maternal and Child Health: Pairing Undergraduate and Graduate Maternal and Child Health Students in Summer Practica in State Title V Agencies.

Objective As part of the National MCH Workforce Development Center, an innovative internship program placed MCH undergraduate and graduate students in summer practica in state Title V agencies. Graduate student mentoring of undergraduates and leadership and professional development training and support are key features of the program. The objective of this paper is to report on the results of the evaluation of the MCH Paired Practica Program in its pilot years, 2014–2016. Methods Students completed pre and post internship questionnaires which included closed as well as open-ended questions. In addition, the Title V state health agency preceptors completed a questionnaire at the end of each summer. Results Over the 3-year pilot project, a total of 17 teams participated. Students were from 6 of the 13 graduate Centers of Excellence in MCH programs in Schools of Public Health and two undergraduate MCH Pipeline Programs. There were 11 participating states. After the practicum experience, there was a significant increase in students’ confidence in a number of measures related to working in complex, dynamic environments and in their ability to contribute to improvements in MCH population health. Students reported having more confidence in their ability to function effectively as an informal/formal MCH leader (p = 0.02), more confidence in their ability to contribute to improvements in MCH population health (p = 0.04), and being more prepared to enter the workforce after the practicum experience (p = 0.07), although there was no significant change in students’ (n = 22) interest in seeking a job in a Title V agency or a community based organization with a MCH focus. Nearly 60% of the students did state at the posttest that they would likely seek additional education in MCH. Overall, the Title V preceptors (n = 14) were very positive about the program although in some instances there was less confidence in the knowledge and skills of the undergraduate students. Conclusion The MCH Paired Practica Program is a unique effort to go beyond the academic training of undergraduate and graduate MCH students to provide them with direct exposure to the field, as well as leadership, mentorship, and professional development training. While some challenges emerged related to differences in skills between undergraduates and graduate MCH students, participating students demonstrated clear improvements in their leadership skills including increased confidence in their ability to take initiative, provide opinions and feedback, to function informally or formally as leaders, and to contribute to improvements in MCH population health.
High Spatial Resolution Multi-Organ Finite Element Modeling of Ventricular-Arterial Coupling.

While it has long been recognized that bi-directional interaction between the heart and the vasculature plays a critical role in the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system, a comprehensive study of this interaction has largely been hampered by a lack of modeling framework capable of simultaneously accommodating high-resolution models of the heart and vasculature. Here, we address this issue and present a computational modeling framework that couples finite element (FE) models of the left ventricle (LV) and aorta to elucidate ventricular - arterial coupling in the systemic circulation. We show in a baseline simulation that the framework predictions of (1) LV pressure - volume loop, (2) aorta pressure - diameter relationship, (3) pressure - waveforms of the aorta, LV and left atrium (LA) over the cardiac cycle are consistent with the physiological measurements found in healthy human. To develop insights of ventricular-arterial interactions, the framework was then used to simulate how alterations in the geometrical or, material parameter(s) of the aorta affect the LV and vice versa. We show that changing the geometry and microstructure of the aorta model in the framework led to changes in the functional behaviors of both LV and aorta that are consistent with experimental observations. On the other hand, changing contractility and passive stiffness of the LV model in the framework also produced changes in both the LV and aorta functional behaviors that are consistent with physiology principles.
Specificity Protein Transcription Factors and Cancer: Opportunities for Drug Development

Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors (TFs) such as Sp1 are critical for early development but their expression decreases with age and there is evidence that transformation of normal cells to cancer cells is associated with upregulation of Sp1, Sp3, and Sp4, which are highly expressed in cancer cells and tumors. Sp1 is a negative prognostic factor for pancreatic, colon, glioma, gastric, breast, prostate, and lung cancer patients. Functional studies also demonstrate that Sp TFs regulate genes responsible for cancer cell growth, survival, migration/invasion, inflammation and drug resistance, and Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 are also nononcogene addiction (NOA) genes and important drug targets. The mechanisms of drug-induced downregulation of Sp TFs and pro-oncogenic Sp-regulated genes are complex and include ROS-dependent epigenetic pathways that initially decrease expression of the oncogene cMyc. Many compounds such as curcumin, aspirin, and metformin that are active in cancer prevention also exhibit chemotherapeutic activity and these compounds downregulate Sp TFs in cancer cell lines and tumors. The effects of these compounds on downregulation of Sp TFs in normal cells and the contribution of this response to their chemopreventive activity have not yet been determined. Cancer Prev Res; 11(7); 371-82. ©2018 AACR.
Abstract WP40: "Good" Angiographic Collateral Circulation Correlates With Lower Dwi Infarct Volumes In Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and purpose Large artery occlusion leads to ischemic stroke which volume is influenced by time from symptom onset. This effect is modulated by several factors, including the presence and degree of collateral circulation. We analyze the correlation between a standard angiographic collateral grading system and DWI infarct volumes. Methods We reviewed a prospectively collected retrospective database of ischemic stroke patients admitted between august of 2006 and december of 2011. We included patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke presenting within 8 hours from symptom onset with large vessel occlusion, who underwent pre-treatment MRI and endovascular therapy. DWI infarct volumes were measured by region of interest. ASITN collateral grading system was used and grouped into “good collaterals” for grades 3 and 4, and “poor collaterals” for grades 0, 1 and 2. JMP statistical software was utilized. Results 152 patients (71 (46.7%) male, mean age: 68±15 years;) were included in the initial analysis. We identified 49 patients who had angiographic collateral circulation grading. Seven patients had ASITN collateral grade 0 with mean infarct volume of 27.6 cc, 25 had collateral grade of 1 with mean infarct volume of 27.9 cc, 10 had collateral grade of 2 with mean infarct volume of 23.4 cc, 5 had collateral grade of 3 with mean infarct volume of 6.3 cc, and 2 had collateral grade of 4 with mean infarct volume of 14.6 cc. Forty two patients had “poor collaterals” with a mean infarct volume of 26.8 cc. Seven patients had “good collaterals” with mean infarct volume of 8.7 cc. When comparing the infarct volumes between these two groups, the difference was statistically significant (p=0.017). Conclusions In anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke, “good” angiographic collateral circulation defined as ASITN grading system of 3 or 4, correlates with lower infarct volumes on presentation.
Dual edge apparatus and algorithm for measurement of x‐ray beam spot parameters

Purpose The shape, size, and location of the x-ray beam spot (where the electron beam strikes the target) in a linac-based radiation therapy machine are of potential clinical significance. Established techniques to measure the beam spot parameters involve specialized hardware and typically assess size and shape of the beam spot or its position, but not both. A simple apparatus and algorithm for measuring all beam spot parameters simultaneously is proposed here. Methods The apparatus is composed of two partially transmitting edge plates mounted at different vertical positions. The mount for the apparatus slides into the accessory tray of the linac treatment head so that it rotates with the collimator, and it is imaged by the existing electronic portal imaging device (EPID) over multiple collimator angles. A software algorithm takes the acquired images and uses a parallel-beam CT reconstruction technique to compute beam spot size, shape, and position in one computation. In addition, the wobble of the collimator assembly can be estimated. The overall method was validated with both Monte Carlo simulation and with comparison to in-house spot camera measurements on a radiation therapy system. Results The algorithm correctly predicted the beam spot parameters used for the Monte Carlo simulation to better than 50 μm accuracy in all cases. Furthermore, results from the dual edge method matched spot camera results with 30 μm accuracy for beam spot size and shape, with 80 μm average accuracy for beam spot position, and better than 200 μm accuracy for collimator assembly wobble. Conclusions We have developed a combination dual edge apparatus and image processing algorithm that, when used on a radiotherapy linac with an EPID, can accurately determine the size and shape of the electron beam spot, its position relative to collimator rotation axis, and the wobble of the collimator assembly.
Measuring maize production efficiency in the eastern Ethiopia: Stochastic frontier approach

This study evaluated the technical, economic and allocative efficiency of maize production in eastern Ethiopia using cross-sectional data collected from 480 maize plots. The stochastic production f...
Love, Consent, and Arousal: Deterritorialising Virtual Sex

A feminist-inspired, Deleuzo-Guattarian conception of love can be a model of designing virtual reality experiences that pursue their liberating rather than enslaving trajectories.
Egypt's Nile Delta in Late 4000 Years BP: Altered Flood Levels and Sedimentation, with Archaeological Implications

ABSTRACT Stanley, J.-D., 2019. Egypt's Nile Delta in late 4000 years BP: Altered flood levels and sedimentation, with archaeological implications. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(5), 1036–1050. Coc...
Deleveraging Creative Capital: A Decade of YouTube Campaigning

The purpose of this research is to improve understanding of how democratized video technology is changing the market for video communication during political campaigns. The same content analysis me...
Satisfaction with Innovation Training Processes and Outcomes: A Field Study across Two Cultures.

Research shows that innovation training can increase the number of innovative ideas that are proposed and successfully executed by an organization. Training satisfaction is also a strong predictor ...
Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant (HCT) Recipients

PROs are increasingly used in HCT to capture symptoms, quality of life, and functional status. At the Cleveland Clinic, PROs are systematically collected prior to ambulatory visits and used in routine clinical care to identify patients (pts) with distress in real-time through a data capture initiative called the "Knowledge Program." Instruments include the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer (DT), and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Health (PH) and Mental Health (MH) assessments. There are limited data on the use of these instruments in the HCT population. We evaluated these PRO measures in HCT recipients and their association with post-HCT outcomes. We identified 292 adult pts undergoing first allogeneic HCT from 2015-2018. Of those, 257 had at least one PRO assessment and were included in this analysis. Time intervals evaluated were: pre-HCT (within 3 months [mos]), 0-6 mos, 6-12 mos, 1-2 years (yrs), and 2-5 yrs post HCT. PHQ-9 assesses depression and categorized as minimal (score 0-4), mild (5-9), moderate (10-14), moderately severe (15-19), and severe (20-27). Higher DT scores indicate more distress and categorized as mild (0-3), moderate (4-7), severe (8-10). Lower scores on PROMIS indicate poorer PH or MH respectively. We evaluated PRO data descriptively for each time interval. Pre-HCT scores were analyzed for association with grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), relapse, non-relapse mortality (NRM), and survival. Figure 1 shows boxplots for mean PHQ-9 and DT scores pre- and post-HCT. Mean scores for the PHQ-9 ranged from 1.1 ± 2.4 (SD) occurring >2 yrs post-HCT to 2.4 ± 3.0 pre-HCT. Mean DT scores were overall low, with highest distress (2.0 ± 2.2) seen pre-HCT. Mean scores for PH and MH were similar at each time intervals, with means ranging 47-48 for PH and 49-51 for MH. Higher PHQ-9 pre-HCT was associated with higher NRM (HR 1.21, 95% CI 1.09-1.34, P PROs such as the PHQ-9, DT, and PROMIS have important clinical utility in allogeneic HCT recipients. Routine clinical use of these assessments not only help identify pts with high levels of distress or depression in real-time, they also demonstrate prognostic value for post-HCT survival outcomes.
HOW BODY COMPOSITION AFFECTS CARDIAC REHABILITATION OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

An obesity paradox, the phenomenon of higher BMI associated with improved outcomes, has been observed in several cardiovascular disease populations, such as heart failure and coronary artery disease (CAD). This study explores the relationship between body composition and outcomes, specifically risk
Deconstructing EdTech frameworks based on their creators, features, and usefulness

Several theoretical frameworks have been released in recent years to inform how educational technology (edtech) can be used in the classroom. These frameworks range from providing a holistic view o...
Stress-Induced Eating Among Racial/Ethnic Groups in the United States: a Systematic Review

Racial/ethnic disparities in obesity may be due, in part, to minority groups consuming more energy-rich diets in response to greater stress exposure. The present study systematically reviewed the literature describing the effects of stress on food consumption among various racial/ethnic groups in the US. PubMed and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies reporting associations between stress and food consumption by different racial/ethnic groups, conducted between January 1, 1999 to November 25, 2019. The search included terms related to food consumption, stress, and race/ethnicity. After screening 3660 records, 30 studies were included for review. The selected studies assessed diverse stressors and eating constructs; African-American and Hispanic/Latinx were the most commonly studied minority groups. Studies generally supported that diverse forms of stress exposure are associated with reduced healthy eating patterns and increased obesogenic eating patterns across racial/ethnic groups. However, studies that directly compared stress–eating associations among multiple racial/ethnic groups showed mixed results. Members of diverse racial/ethnic groups are susceptible to stress-induced unhealthy eating patterns, though evidence is insufficient to conclude whether the degree of susceptibility differs among groups. Additional studies utilizing observational measures of food intake and culturally sensitive measures of stress are needed to identify the most influential stressors on dietary behaviors, to assess whether some stressors are more salient for given racial/ethnic groups, and to examine the extent to which stress-induced eating contributes to racial/ethnic disparities in obesity and obesity-related diseases.
Patrimônios e sociedade: desafios ao futuro

ABERTURA: No mundo de hoje tudo muda e se renova velozmente, exceto a conviccao de que este mundo, por ser um so, permanece um universo inalterado. Vestigios historicos, como as ruinas, porem, tendem a demonstrar como essa mudanca e naturalizada quando resulta do lento correr do tempo e dos usos demorados das coisas. Um pouco por todo o lado pontuam marcas de trajetos passados plurais, umas gastas pela erosao do tempo e outras pela mera antecipacao da decadencia. Umas remetem a historias urbanas e publicas, ou tambem os ambientes familiares e domesticos, enquanto outras prenunciam o presente ou mesmo o possivel futuro coletivo. Como lidar com elas? Ou seja, como viver os sinais do envelhecimento de edificios, bairros, cidades e paises e as paisagens de envelhecimento, decadencia e mesmo ruina?
Parent values, civic participation, and children’s volunteering

Abstract While numerous studies have examined civic engagement among adolescents and adults, there is limited research on civic engagement in preadolescent populations. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining the child dispositions and family processes related to children’s civic participation. Specifically, this study explored the degree to which children’s civic dispositions (i.e., social responsibility, civic values) and parents’ civic engagement (i.e., humanitarian-egalitarian values, civic participation) were associated with children’s volunteering. Survey data were collected from 359 ethnically and economically diverse 4th-6th grade students (M age = 10.56) and their parents. Results from logistic regressions showed that children with a greater sense of community responsibility were more likely to volunteer. Additionally, parents who more strongly endorsed humanitarian-egalitarian values and those with greater civic participation were more likely to have children who volunteered, even after controlling for child and family background variables. Findings suggest that parent values and civic participation, and children’s own beliefs about social responsibility contribute to children’s civic participation. Practical implications are discussed.
Force sensors for measuring microenvironmental forces during mesenchymal condensation

Mechanical forces are an essential element to early tissue formation. However, few techniques exist that can quantify the mechanical microenvironment present within cell-dense neotissues and organoid structures. Here is a versatile approach to measure microscale, cellular forces during mesenchymal condensation using specially tailored, hyper-compliant microparticles (HCMPs). Through monitoring of HCMP deformation over both space and time, measurements of the mechanical forces that cells exert, and have exerted on them, during tissue formation are acquired. The current study uses this technology to track changes in the mechanical microenvironment as mesenchymal stem cells self-assemble into spheroids and condense into cohesive units. An array analysis approach, using a high-content imaging system, shows that cells exert a wide range of tensile and compressive forces during the first few hours of self-assembly, followed by a period of relative equilibrium. Cellular interactions with HCMPs are further examined by applying collagen coating, which allows for increased tensile forces to be exerted compared to non-coated HCMPs. Importantly, the hyper-compliant nature of our force sensors allows for increased precision over less compliant versions of the same particle. This sensitivity resolves small changes in the microenvironment even at the earliest stages of development and morphogenesis. The overall experimental platform provides a versatile means for measuring direct and indirect spatiotemporal forces in cell-dense biological systems.
Determints of CEO Bonus Compensation

The primary purpose of this study is to explore the determinants of CEO bonus compensation: to examine CEO bonuses and to explore whether or not the independent variables are associated with CEO bonus compensation. For the purposes of this study, a sample of 2,448 CEO bonus compensations across 1,622 firms from 1997 to 2002 was used to test several hypotheses. The dependent variable in this model is the CEO bonus compensation. Bonus is the dollar value of the bonus (cash and non-cash) earned by the named executive officer during the fiscal year. Corporate diversification was divided into two categories; international diversification and industry diversification. Firm performance is measured by both Market-based, Performance (RET) and Accounting-based, Performance (ACE). The results show that the higher the degree of international diversification, and the higher accounting earnings performance, the more CEOs receive in bonuses. In addition, this study found that international diversification is associated with a greater use of bonuses and with a greater reliance on accounting-based, rather than market-based measures of firm performance. The results also demonstrated that CEOs in firms with more investment opportunities will receive higher bonuses than CEOs in firms with fewer investment opportunities and CEOs in larger firms will receive higher bonuses than CEOs in smaller firms.
Cationic Xylene Tag for Increasing Sensitivity in Mass Spectrometry

N-(2-(Bromomethyl)benzyl)-N,N-diethylethanaminium bromide, that we designate as CAX-B (cationic xylyl-bromide), is presented as a derivatization reagent for increasing sensitivity in mass spectrometry. Because of its aryl bromomethyl moiety, CAX-B readily labels compounds having an active hydrogen. In part, a CAX-tagged analyte (CAX-analyte) can be very sensitive especially in a tandem mass spectrometer (both ESI and MALDI). This is because of facile formation of an analyte-characteristic first product ion (as a xylyl-based cation) from favorable loss of triethylamine as a neutral from the precursor ion. This loss is enhanced both by resonance stabilization of the xylyl cation, and by anchimeric assistance from the ortho hetero atom of the attached analyte. High intensity of a first product ion opens up the opportunity for a CAX-analyte to be additionally sensitive when it is prone to a secondary neutral loss from the analyte part. For example, we have derivatized and detected 160 amol of thymidine by CAX-tagging/LC-MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS in this way, where the two neutral losses are triethylamine and deoxyribose. Other analytes detected at the amol level as CAX derivatives (as diluted standards) include estradiol and some nucleobases. The tendency for analytes with multiple active hydrogens to label just once with CAX (an advantage) is illustrated by the conversion of bisphenol A to a single product even when excess CAX-B is present. A family of analogous reagents with a variety of reactivity groups is anticipated as a consequence of replacing the bromine atom of CAX-B with various functional groups.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis for chromosome abnormalities

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is the earliest form of prenatal diagnosis and has been used in over 5000 infertile patient procedures to improve pregnancy outcome for in vitro fertilization (IVF). PGD has also been used to limit spontaneous abortions and chromosomally unbalanced or aneuploid offspring in patients of advanced maternal age or carriers of translocations or other chromosome abnormalities. Keywords: recurrent miscarriages; recurrent pregnancy loss; translocations; aneuploidy; down syndrome; inversions
Interval finite-difference methods for digital MOS circuits simulation

Interval finite-difference methods, a group of interval methods, can offer users interval solutions of the ODE which can be used to model and represent digital MOS circuits. Intuitively, these methods generate interval difference equations from the original equations. The interval solutions of the interval difference equations include the solution set of the ODE. The proof of inclusion can be based on interval arithmetic. >
Does Emissions Trading Encourage Innovation

This article questions the conventional theory purporting to establish that emissions trading encourages innovation better than comparable traditional regulation. The conventional theory relies upon the incentive emissions trading creates for polluters to make additional reductions in order to sell credits. But emissions trading also creates incentives for half of the pollution sources (the credit buyers) to make less reductions than they would under a traditional regulation. By focusing analysis only upon the sellers of credits, the traditional theory systematically biases results. The induced innovation hypothesis - that innovation occurs in response to high costs - would suggest that emissions trading would tend to discourage innovation by lowering the cost of compliance through conventional techniques. Even innovation that costs a lot now can prove economically and environmentally superior over the long run, because innovation can make costs of new techniques fall over time and some innovations provide very wide ranging environmental benefits. But emissions trading encourages selection of the techniques with the cheapest current cost, not the cheapest long-term cost or the greatest long-term value. This article forms part of a larger project arguing for an economic dynamic approach to environmental law and law and economics. The author's forthcoming book, "The Economic Dynamics of Environmental Law" (MIT Press 2003) sets out the full theory.
Financial Sector Reform and Central Banking in Centrally Planned Economies

This paper reviews key areas of central banking reform in a sample of centrally planned economies undergoing transition to market-based systems. The discussion draws mainly on the experiences of four countries, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and China. Significant efforts have been made, or are under consideration, in all countries to develop a more efficient framework for monetary management, and to provide greater autonomy to central banks in macro stabilization policies. These objectives call for a coordinated approach to strengthening a wide range of central banking functions simultaneously, and require that a core mass of supporting financial sector reforms be implemented to ensure effective transformation and stabilization with minimal transitional costs.
Risks and Profits

Deceit and Denial . The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution. Gerald Markowitz and David Rosner. University of California Press, Berkeley, and Milbank Memorial Fund, New York, 2002. 428 pp. $34.95, £24.95. ISBN 0-520-21749-7. The authors, historians whose work has long focused on issue of occupational disease, describe the efforts of the chemical and lead industries to hide the dangers of their products to workers, consumers, and the public.
The effect of temperature and moisture on the mechanical properties of extruded cornstarch

The viscoelastic properties of extruded cornstarch were measured as a function of process conditions. The extruded cornstarch samples were conditioned in the moisture range of 12.9–31.2% (dry basis). Dynamic and creep behavior of the extrudate were evaluated using a dynamic mechanical analyzer. The storage (G′) and loss moduli (G″) were determined in the temperature range of 30–100C and oscillation frequency range of 0.1–51 Hz. The G′ and G″ values showed an increasing trend with a decrease in temperature and moisture content and an increase in frequency. This implied an increase in solid-like behavior when the temperature and moisture content were reduced or the frequency was increased. Rheological parameters based on creep behavior were assessed at 30, 60 and 85C. Creep data, fitted using Burger's model, were highly dependent on both moisture content and temperature. Practical Applications The viscoelastic properties obtained in this experimental research can be used for solving the non-Fickian fluid transport model for studying the expansion of starch during extrusion. The viscoelastic properties also provide an indication about the textural characteristics of starch as a function of extrusion conditions.
Locally Adaptive Wavelet Empirical Bayes Estimation of a Location Parameter

The traditional empirical Bayes (EB) model is considered with the parameter being a location parameter, in the situation when the Bayes estimator has a finite degree of smoothness and, possibly, jump discontinuities at several points. A nonlinear wavelet EB estimator based on wavelets with bounded supports is constructed, and it is shown that a finite number of jump discontinuities in the Bayes estimator do not affect the rate of convergence of the prior risk of the EB estimator to zero. It is also demonstrated that the estimator adjusts to the degree of smoothness of the Bayes estimator, locally, so that outside the neighborhoods of the points of discontinuities, the posterior risk has a high rate of convergence to zero. Hence, the technique suggested in the paper provides estimators which are significantly superior in several respects to those constructed earlier.
Nonequivalent Binding to Human Methemoglobin THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC COMPARISON

Abstract The reactions of thiocyanate and fluoride with the iron of methemoglobin A may each be analyzed with a single association constant at pH 6.0 and at 22°. This implies that the four protein sites bind independently and with identical intrinsic affinities. In contrast the reactions of cyanide and imidazole under the same experimental conditions require two association constants for a minimal description of their binding isotherms. This apparent contradiction may be resolved by making the formal assumption that the high-low spin equilibria of the protein irons are not identical. The reaction kinetics of these four iron-coordinating ligands display a different pattern. Fluoride and cyanide react with a simple, pseudo-first order time dependence. Thiocyanate and imidazole show biphasic kinetics, requiring two constants to adequately describe the results. This lack of correspondence between kinetic and thermodynamic results suggests the ligand-binding mechanism contains a minimum of two reaction steps. This conclusion is verified by the lack of agreement between thermodynamically and kinetically calculated association constants, and the observation of a mixed order dependence of the thiocyanate reaction on ligand concentration.
A Note on Learning DNF Formulas Using Equivalence and Incomplete Membership Queries

In this note, we prove with derandomization techniques that a subclass of DNF formulas with nonconstant number of terms is polynomial time learnable using equivalence and incomplete membership queries. Although many concept classes are known to be polynomial time learnable using equivalence and membership queries, so far only two concept classes are known to be polynomial time learnable (see, [AS] and [GM]) when incomplete membership queries are used.
Thymoma removal in a cat with acquired myasthenia gravis: a case report and literature review of anesthetic techniques

Abstract History and presentation A 12 year old, 4.2 kg, domestic long hair, castrated male cat was presented with regurgitation, inability to retract the claws, general weakness, cervical ventroflexion and weight loss. A thymic mass was evident on radiographs. Acetylcholine receptor antibody titer was positive for acquired myasthenia gravis (MG). Thymectomy via midline sternotomy was scheduled. Anesthetic management Oxymorphone and atropine were administered subcutaneously as premedication, and anesthesia was induced with etomidate and diazepam given intravenously to effect. The cat’s trachea was intubated and anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen, and continuous infusions of remifentanil and ketamine. Epidural analgesia with preservative-free morphine was administered prior to surgery. Postoperative analgesia was provided by oxymorphone subcutaneously, interpleural bupivacaine, and fentanyl infusion. Postoperative complications included airway obstruction, hypoxemia and hypercapnia. Follow-up The cat was discharged 3 days after surgery. Discharge medications included pyridostigmine and prednisone. Nine days after surgery, the cat had a significant increase in its activity level, and medications were discontinued. Histopathologically, the mass was consistent with a thymoma. Approximately 6 weeks later the cat became weak again and pyridostigmine and prednisone administration was resumed. Conclusion The perioperative management of patients with MG for transsternal thymectomy is a complex task. The increased potential for respiratory compromise requires the anesthesiologist to be familiar with the underlying disease state, and the interaction of anesthetic and non-anesthetic drugs with MG. Careful monitoring of ventilation and oxygenation is indicated postoperatively.
Level set with embedded conditional random fields and shape priors for segmentation of overlapping objects

Traditional methods for segmenting touching or overlapping objects may lead to the loss of accurate shape information which is a key descriptor in many image analysis applications. While experimental results have shown the effectiveness of using statistical shape priors to overcome such difficulties in a level set based variational framework, problems in estimation of parameters that balance evolution forces from image information and shape priors remain unsolved. In this paper, we extend the work of embedded Conditional Random Fields (CRF) by incorporating shape priors so that accurate estimation of those parameters can be obtained by the supervised training of the discrete CRF. In addition, non-parametric kernel density estimation with adaptive window size is applied as a statistical measure that locally approximates the variation of intensities to address intensity inhomogeneities. The model is tested for the problem of segmenting overlapping nuclei in cytological images.
Abundance, territory sizes, and pairing success of male Henslow's Sparrows in restored warm- and cool-season grasslands

Henslow's Sparrows (Ammodramus henslowii) are known to breed in restored grasslands consisting of either warm- or cool-season grasses, but additional information is needed concerning their breeding biology in these two types of grasslands. We compared the abundance, territory sizes, and pairing success of male Henslow's Sparrows in grasslands in west-central Missouri in 2010 and 2011 using a paired-treatment design, where warm- and cool-season grasslands were located in close proximity. Selection indices indicated no apparent preference by male Henslow's Sparrows for either type of grassland, and the territory sizes and pairing success of males in cool- and warm-season grasslands did not differ. In addition, we found no significant differences in habitat structure between these grassland types. Thus, our results suggest that the warm- and cool-season grasslands in our study provided suitable habitat for Henslow's Sparrows. Other investigators have drawn similar conclusions for Henslow's Sparrows and for grassland birds in general, with the structural characteristics and, for some species, the size of grasslands being more important for grassland birds than plant species composition. RESUMEN Abundancia, tamano de territorio y exito de emparejamiento en machos de Ammodramus henslowii en pastizales de temporada caliente y fria, restaurados Se sabe que Ammodramus henslowii se reproduce en pastizales compuestos por pastos de temporadas calientes o frias, pero se necesita informacion adicional sobre la biologia reproductiva en estos dos tipos de pastizales. Comparamos la abundancia, tamano de territorios y exito de emparejamiento en machos de A. henslowii en pastizales en el oeste central de Missouri en el 2010 y 2011 usando un diseno pareado, en el cual pastizales de temporada caliente y fria fueron localizados en estrecha proximidad. Los indices de seleccion no indican aparente preferencia de machos de A. henslowii por alguno de los tipos de pastizales, y no hubo diferencia en el tamanos del territorio o el exito de emparejamiento de machos en pastizales de temporada caliente y fria. Adicionalmente, no encontramos diferencias significativas en la estructura del habitat entre estos tipos de pastizales. Por lo tanto, nuestros resultados sugieren que pastizales de temporada caliente y fria proporcionan habitat adecuado para A. henslowii. Otros investigadores han llegado a conclusiones similares para A. henslowii y en general para aves de pastizales, en donde caracteristicas de la estructura y, para algunas especies, el tamano del pastizal es mas importante para las aves de pastizales que las especies de plantas que lo componen.
Conjugational Complementation Analysis of Transfer-Deficient Mutants of Flac in Escherichia coli

A series of 102 transfer-deficient (tra−) mutants of Flac (84 of which have been previously described) were classified as carrying frameshift, amber, ochre, UGA, and nonsuppressible mutations. Techniques were evolved for using cultures of F prime strains as efficient recipients in matings, for measuring the number of (F′/F′) heterozygote cells in transient populations, and for measuring complementation between different Flac tra− mutants. These techniques were used to define nine tra cistrons and to assign most of the tra− mutations to one or other of these.
A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Antihunger Advocacy Organizations

Food insufficiency is a major public health problem that has been linked to poor nutritional intake, poor diabetes management, poor cognitive development in children, and other adverse health outcomes. Since the 1960s, antihunger advocacy organizations (AHAOs) have fought to alleviate hunger at the local, state, and federal levels. Few studies have investigated the organizational structure, programs, advocacy activities, and outcomes of these organizations, although many organizations have been instrumental in advocating for state and federal food policy, creating measurements for hunger, and conducting research. Four state-level AHAOs were studied by using multiple case study methodology and grounded theory for analysis to assess organizational effectiveness. The findings highlight a conceptual framework that identified 19 important organizational characteristics that reflect organizational capacity, performance, achievement, and effectiveness. The conceptual framework may be useful in assessing effectiveness of public health organizations and coalitions.
Platforms, systems competition, and innovation

Focusing on the effects of policy on investment and innovation this paper examines whether the conceptual foundations of sector regulation are aligned with the current technological and economic conditions of advanced communications. One conclusion is that the prevailing theories and practices are only adequate if the policy challenge can be reasonably approximated as a static or steady-state problem but they may have serious shortcomings if this is not possible. The article proceeds with a review and critical examination of two approaches that could augment or possibly replace the traditional approach under conditions of dynamic competition-the theory of platform markets and systems approaches. Both frameworks model aspects of competition in interconnected systems in more detail and offer novel insights to inform communications policy in an era of continuous change. Nonetheless, important theoretical and implementation gaps remain that will require additional efforts by researchers and practitioners. Discusses the foundations of regulatory theory and practice.Assesses the strengths and weaknesses of regulatory economics.Examines the contributions of platform economics and system approaches.Draws lessons for the governance of advanced ICT.