cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relationship between medical students' learning approaches and performance on a summative high-stakes clinical performance examination.

Background: A learning approach embeds the intention of the student when starting a task and the learning processes and strategies used to carry out a task. Student approaches to learning have been categorized as deep, strategic, and surface. Aim: To explore the relationships among medical students’ learning approaches, gender, and performance on a summative highstakes clinical performance examination (CPX). Methods: We measured medical students’ learning approaches at the beginning of year four using the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students and compared results with CPX scores. Results: Student scores in the top two quartiles of the CPX were significantly higher on the deep approach than student CPX scores in the bottom quartile, and student scores in the bottom quartile of the CPX were significantly higher on the surface approach than scores for the other three CPX quartiles. CPX patient–physician interaction scores showed a significant positive correlation with deep approach scores, and CPX overall patient satisfaction scores showed a significant positive correlation with deep and strategic approach scores. Surface approach scores correlated negatively with all CPX score categories. Conclusion: Approach to learning was associated with performance on a high-stakes CPX.
Endothelin B Receptor, a New Target in Cancer Immune Therapy

The endothelins and their G protein-coupled receptors A and B have been implicated in numerous diseases and have recently emerged as pivotal players in a variety of malignancies. Tumors overexpress the endothelin 1 (ET-1) ligand and the endothelin-A-receptor (ET A R). Their interaction induces tumor growth and metastasis by promoting tumor cell survival and proliferation, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling. On the basis of results from xenograft models, drug development efforts have focused on antagonizing the autocrine-paracrine effects mediated by ET-1/ET A R. In this review, we discuss a novel role of the endothelin-B-receptor (ET B R) in tumorigenesis and the effect of its blockade during cancer immune therapy. We highlight key characteristics of the B receptor such as its specific overexpression in the tumor compartment; and specifically, in the tumor endothelium, where its activation by ET-1 suppresses T-cell adhesion and homing to tumors. We also review our recent findings on the effects of ET B R-specific blockade in increasing T-cell homing to tumors and enhancing the efficacy of otherwise ineffective immunotherapy.
Los Caminos Latino/a Youth Forging Pathways in Pursuit of Higher Education

This article draws from data collected as part of a 3-year ethnographic study that followed two groups of Latino/a students through their final years of high school, the college application process...
Efficient prediction of Marsaglia-Zaman random number generators

We show that the random number generator of Marsaglia and Zaman (1991) produces the successive digits of a rational b-adic number. (The b-adic number system generalizes p-adic numbers to an arbitrary integer base b.) Using continued fractions, we derive an efficient prediction algorithm for this generator.
A multi-class SLIPPER system for intrusion detection

Varied data mining techniques have been developed for intrusion detection. However, it is unclear which data mining technique is most effective. In this paper, we present our research work in developing a Multi-Class SLIPPER (MC-SLIPPER) system for intrusion detection to learn whether we can get benefit from boosting based learning algorithm. The key idea is to use the available binary SLIPPER as a basic module, which is a rule learner based on confidence-rated boosting. Multiple arbitral strategies based on prediction confidence are proposed to arbitrate results from all binary SLIPPER modules. Our system is evaluated on the KDDCUP'99 intrusion detection dataset. The experimental results show that we get best performance using a 5-7-5 BP neural network; and the performance using other arbitral strategies are better than the winner of the contest does in term of misclassification cost (MC)
Perceptions of research and practice among domestic violence researchers

This article presents the results of a study involving 261 domestic violence researchers representing a variety of professional disciplines. The purpose of this study was to identify researchers' perceptions of the connections between research and practice in domestic violence. The study builds on previous literature that identified a gap between research and practice in domestic violence. Through a factor analysis of the Domestic Violence Research‐Practice Perceptions Scales: Researcher Form, a new instrument developed for this study, a four‐factor conceptual framework for understanding the domestic violence research‐practice gap was identified. The four factors identified were labelled as follows: (a) personal practice orientation, (b) beliefs about practitioners, (c) beliefs about researchers, and (d) beliefs about a research‐practice gap. Researchers were shown to differ in their scores on the first factor subscale based on whether they had prior experience of providing services to clients affected by domestic violence and whether domestic violence is the primary focus of their research agenda. Implications of the findings for integrating research and practice in domestic violence are then discussed.
Livers with Constitutive mTORC1 Activity Resist Steatosis Independent of Feedback Suppression of Akt

Insulin resistance is an important contributing factor in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. AKT and mTORC1 are key components of the insulin pathway, and play a role in promoting de novo lipogenesis. However, mTORC1 hyperactivity per se does not induce steatosis in mouse livers, but instead, protects against high-fat diet induced steatosis. Here, we investigate the in vivo mechanism of steatosis-resistance secondary to mTORC1 activation, with emphasis on the role of S6K1-mediated feedback inhibition of AKT. Mice with single or double deletion of Tsc1 and/or S6k1 in a liver-specific or whole-body manner were generated to study glucose and hepatic lipid metabolism between the ages of 6–14 weeks. Following 8 weeks of high-fat diet, the Tsc1-/-;S6k1-/- mice had lower body weights but higher liver TG levels compared to that of the Tsc1-/- mice. However, the loss of S6k1 did not relieve feedback inhibition of Akt activity in the Tsc1-/- livers. To overcome Akt suppression, Pten was deleted in Tsc1-/- livers, and the resultant mice showed improved glucose tolerance compared with the Tsc1-/- mice. However, liver TG levels were significantly reduced in the Tsc1-/-;Pten-/- mice compared to the Pten-/- mice, which was restored with rapamycin. We found no correlation between liver TG and serum NEFA levels. Expression of lipogenic genes (Srebp1c, Fasn) were elevated in the Tsc1-/-;Pten-/- livers, but this was counter-balanced by an up-regulation of Cpt1a involved in fatty acid oxidation and the anti-oxidant protein, Nrf2. In summary, our in vivo models showed that mTORC1-induced resistance to steatosis was dependent on S6K1 activity, but not secondary to AKT suppression. These findings confirm that AKT and mTORC1 have opposing effects on hepatic lipid metabolism in vivo.
Lower Lateral Cartilage Repositioning: Objective Analysis Using 3-Dimensional Imaging

ImportanceIn recent years, with the advent of 3-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques, it has become possible to objectively measure rhinoplasty results. However, few studies have used 3D imaging sof...
The Formation of Laser Active Composite Films from Silicate Ceramics

Composite films containing solid state laser nanoparticles have been created which show optical amplification in the technologically important near IR range. The solid state laser materials studied, Cr-forsterite (Cr-Mg{sub 2}SiO{sub 4}) and Cr-diopside (Cr-CaMgSi{sub 2}O{sub 6}), were prepared using a dispersion polymerized polymer precursor. The nanoparticles produced during the polymer synthesis acted as size templates, creating fine crystalline powders of the Cr-forsterite and Cr-diopside upon calcination. These fine powders were dispersed in a refractive index matched polymer matrix and cast as 5--10 {micro}m thick films. The resulting composite containing Cr-forsterite showed optical amplification of 300 dB/m at 1.24 {micro}m.
Family-Centered Rounding: Can It Impact the Time of Discharge and Time of Completion of Studies at an Academic Children’s Hospital?

Background and Objective: Family-centered rounds (FCR) involve multidisciplinary rounds at the patient bedside with an emphasis on physicians partnering with patients and families in the clinical decision-making for the patient. Although the purpose of FCR is to provide patient-centered care, an unanticipated benefit of FCR may be to improve time to discharge. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of FCR on time to discharge for pediatric patients in an academic medical center. Methods: We retrospectively compared the timing of patient discharges from July 2007 to June 2008 (before FCR) versus those from July 2008 to May 2009 (after FCR) on the pediatric hospital medicine service. We further compared time from order entry to study completion on a subset of patients receiving head MRIs and EEGs, studies that typically occurred on the day of discharge. Results: In our center, before FCR, 40% of patients were discharged before 3:00 pm ( n = 912). After FCR, 47% of children were discharged before 3:00 pm ( n = 911) ( P = .0036). Time from order entry to study completion for MRIs and EEGs decreased from 2.15 hours before FCR ( n = 225) to 1.73 hours after FCR ( n = 206) ( P = .001). Conclusions: FCR provided a modest improvement in the timeliness of the discharge process at our institution. * Abbreviations: ED : emergency department EEG : electroencephalography FCR : family-centered rounds MRI : magnetic resonance imaging
Origins of theory of mind, cognition and communication.

There has been a revolution in our understanding of infant and toddler cognition that promises to have far-reaching implications for our understanding of communicative and linguistic development. Four empirical findings that helped to prompt this change in theory are analyzed: (a) Intermodal coordination —newborns operate with multimodal information, recognizing equivalences in information across sensory-modalities; (b) Imitation —newborns imitate the lip and tongue movements they see others perform; (c) Memory —young infants form long-lasting representations of perceived events and use these memories to generate motor productions after lengthy delays in novel contexts; (d) Theory of mind —by 18 months of age toddlers have adopted a theory of mind, reading below surface behavior to the goals and intentions in people’s actions. This paper examines three views currently being offered in the literature to replace the classical framework of early cognitive development: modularity-nativism, connectionism, and theory-theory. Arguments are marshaled to support the “theory-theory” view. This view emphasizes a combination of innate structure and qualitative reorganization in children’s thought based on input from the people and things in their culture. It is suggested that preverbal cognition forms a substrate for language acquisition and that analyzing cognition may enhance our understanding of certain disorders of communication. © 1999 by Elsevier Science Inc. Educational Objectives: The reader will: (a) be introduced to Piaget’s classic theory of infant and toddler cognitive development; (b) understand recent findings that undermine this view; (c) be presented with three theoretical frameworks seeking to replace the classical theory; and (d) consider implications of the new empirical findings for communicative development in normally-developing and atypical populations.
On the Formalization of Gamma Function in HOL

The Gamma function is a special transcendental function that is widely used in probability theory, fractional calculus and analytical number theory. This paper presents a higher-order logic formalization of the Gamma function using the HOL4 theorem prover. The contribution of this paper can be mainly divided into two parts. Firstly, we extend the existing integration theory of HOL4 by formalizing a variant of improper integrals using sequential limits. Secondly, we build upon these results to formalize the Gamma function and verify some of its main properties, such as pseudo-recurrence relation, functional equation and factorial generalization. In order to illustrate the practical effectiveness and utilization of our work, we formally verify some properties of Euler's generalized power rule of differentiation, Mittag-Leffler functions and the relationship between the Exponential and Gamma random variables.
Localization for large-scale underwater sensor networks

In this paper, we study the localization problem in large-scale under-water sensor networks. The adverse aqueous environments, the node mobility, and the large network scale all pose new challenges, and most current localization schemes are not applicable. We propose a hierarchical approach which divides the whole localization process into two sub-processes: anchor node localization and ordinary node localization. Many existing techniques can be used in the former. For the ordinary node localization process, we propose a distributed localization scheme which novelly integrates a 3-dimensional Euclidean distance estimation method with a recursive location estimation method. Simulation results show that our proposed solution can achieve high localization coverage with relatively small localization error and low communication overhead in large-scale 3-dimensional underwater sensor networks.
Evolutionary responses to environmental stress by the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii

We performed truncation selection for increased fitness (rc) under conditions of chronic stress from the combined effects of low nutrients and high temperature, representative of extremes likely to be encountered in nature by the pitcher-plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii. We performed selection on geographical parental populations and their hybrids to determine whether hybridization would facilitate or constrain adaptation under our selection protocol. The stressful environment decreased fitness (rc) by 54% averaged across all populations relative to near-optimal conditions. After ≈10 generations of selection under chronically stressful conditions, exactly one-half of the parental and one-half of the hybrid populations had gone extinct. Thus hybridization had no effect on the likelihood of population persistence. Fitness (rc) of the surviving populations did not show any response to selection. Despite initial hybrid vigour under stressful conditions, the fitness (rc) of surviving hybrid populations was either equal to, or worse than, the fitness (rc) of surviving parental populations after ≈10 generations of selection. These results suggest that outcrossing populations to augment genetic variation and facilitate adaptation to a rapidly changing environment may not be useful over longer time scales, even in cases where hybridization does initially increase fitness. Although we detected no direct response to selection for increased fitness (rc) under lifetime chronic stress, selected populations showed a strong correlated response for survivorship through transient, acute heat and desiccation shock. In evaluating how organisms might respond to future climate change, biologists must maintain a clear distinction between lifelong performance in chronically stressful environments and short-term survivorship through transient, acute stress.
Hitech chess: from master to senior master with no hardware change

Hitech is a chess computer program that has been the dominant force in computer chess from September 1985 to July 1988. During this time it has continued to use the same hardware and yet has improved its standing in the US chess community from being initially in the top 2% to its present top 0.5%. The author explains how this has been achieved, using better management of the resources that have been available. >
Bounds for heat transport in a porous layer

Strongly nonlinear heat transport across a porous layer is studied using Howard's (1963) variational method. The analysis explores a bifurcation property of Busse's (1969) multi-a solution of this variational problem and complements the 1972 study of Busse & Joseph by further restricting the fields which are allowed to compete for the maximum heat transported a t a given temperature difference. The restriction arises, as in the case of infinite Prandtl number convection studied by Chan (1971), from letting a parameter tend to infinity from the outset; here, however, the parameter which is assumed infinitely large (the Prandtl-Darcy number) is actually seldom smaller than O(107).The theoretical bounding heat-transport curve is computed numerically. The maximizing Nusselt number (Nu) curve is given a t first by a functional of the single-a solution; then this solution bifurcates and the Nusselt number functional is maximized for an interval of Rayleigh numbers (R) by the two-a solution. The agreement between the numerical analysis and recent experiments is striking. The theoretical heat-transport curve is found to be continuously differentiable but has piecewise discontinuous second derivatives.The results of an asymptotic (R → ∞) analysis following Chan (1971) are in qualitative agreement with the results of numerical analysis and give the asymptotic law Nu = 0.016R. This law is consistent with the result of the porous version of the well-known dimensional argument leading to the one-third power law for regular convection. The asymptotic results, however, do not appear to be in good quantitabive agreement with the numerical results.
Effects of Grazing on Legume Persistence, Forage Production, and Steer Performance in Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue Pastures1

Abstarct A total of 135 steers (Bos taurus) grazed high endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum Glen, Bacon, Price, and Hanlin) ‘Kentucky 31’ tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) pastures in 1998, 1999, and 2000 that had been previously interseeded with either lespedeza (Lespedeza stipulacea Maxim.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), or ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.) during 1995, 1996, and 1997 to determine the effects of grazing on legume persistence, forage production, and steer performance. Steers grazed fescue-legume pastures continuously from early spring to mid fall each year and were then finished for slaughter. Legume coverage was very low in the post-seeding years for all treatments except for ladino clover in 1998, which averaged >9%. The ladino clover treatment had greater (P 0.05) among legume treatments in 1999 and 2000. In 1998, finishing BW gains of steers that grazed pastures interseeded with red clover were 9% greater (P
Tape dynamics in a high-speed helical recorder

Tape dynamics in a helical recorder were measured at head speeds up to 75 m/s. The onset and amplitude of transverse waves are studied as a function of head velocity, tape tension, and tape thickness. Wave patterns are plotted over a range of these parameters. The tape deflection directly behind the head, in front of the head, and at the tape edge is investigated and compared to theoretical predictions of tape deflections reported in the literature. For the range of parameters studied, damping of tape dynamics was increased in cases with lower head velocity, higher tape tension, and thinner tape. Chevron-shaped wave patterns were found to wrap around the head. The general deflection of the waves, particularly the short waves preceding the head and the dip trailing the head, correlate well with predictions existing in the literature. However, the chevron-shaped wave pattern that extends to the tape edges at high head speeds has not been predicted in the literature. The present measurements indicate that free tape-edge boundary conditions should be assumed in a high-speed model, and that the tape behavior in the vicinity of the head is a strong function of head speed, tape tension, and tape thickness. >
Maimonides’ Arguments for Creation Ex Nihilo in the Guide of the Perplexed

Maimonides’ arguments for creation ex nihilo are a centerpiece of The Guide of the Perplexed and, like many other issues discussed in the Guide, the question of whether the universe is created or eternal is still a matter of controversy, as is Maimonides’ real opinion regarding it. Then, as now, the Aristotelian theory of an eternal material universe seemed more plausible to many people than did the Biblical view of creation ex nihilo. While creation is the orthodox view in both Judaism and Christianity, the tension between those two explanatory models goes back a long way. Maimonides believed that prior to Abraham, the religion was Sabianism (paganism), believing in an eternal universe and worshipping the stars ( Guide III, 29). Referring to the heretical views of Elisha ben Abuya, in the early Talmudic period, David Hartman argues as follows.
No Correlation Between Porous Silicon Photoluminescence and Surface Hydrogen Species

The photoluminescence (PL) of porous silicon has been attributed to quantum confinement, amorphous silicon, or surface species such as hydrogen, polysilanes or siloxene. Our research has tested the early claims that surface hydrogen is responsible for PL. Our initial studies examined the effect of thermal annealing on surface hydrogen and PL in situ in an ultrahigh vacuum chamber. The results showed that the PL decreased between 450–550 whereas H2 was desorbed from surface SiH2 species between 500- 575 K. There was no direct correlation between the PL and the loss of SiH2 surface species. Our most recent investigations have monitored PL and surface hydrogen species as a function of HF etching time for electrochemically anodized porous silicon samples that were not initially photoluminescent. While the surface hydrogen species continually decreased versus HF etching time, the photoluminescence did not appear until after HF etching times of 20–80 minutes depending on initial sample porosity. These results again illustrated that there is no direct correlation between the PL and surface hydrogen species.This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014- 92-J-1353.
Games, Social Simulations, and Data-Integration for Policy Decisions: The SUDAN Game

In this article, the authors discuss the development of the SUDAN GAME, an interactive model of the country in the time period leading up to the Sudanese referendum on the secession of the South. While many simulations are designed to educate about their subjects, the SUDAN GAME is intended to be a prototype for policy making via gameplay. It is implemented within COSMOPOLIS, a massively multiplayer online game that is currently undergoing development. In this article, the authors discuss the game's design and how it can be used for policy development, with a focus on the underlying model and some discussion of the COSMOPOLIS implementation. They situate the game relative to other games that have crowdsourced serious problems and discuss the meaning of the policy solutions and collaboration witnessed along players. They conclude with a discussion of future development to be done to improve and expand upon the concepts used in their game.
MOLECULAR CONTROL POINTS IN RHIZOSPHERE FOOD WEBS

Plant roots play diverse roles in the rhizosphere. They function as organs responsible for structural support, for acquisition of mineral and water resources, and for fostering of symbiotic bacteria and fungi. They also sustain a complex food web of pro- karyotes and eukaryotes in, on, and near the root. In addition to these well-known functions, roots have a recently discovered role with potentially profound coevolutionary implications for the rhizosphere food web, as well as for terrestrial ecological communities in general. Roots are both a source and a receptor of molecular signals important for mutualistic bacteria and perhaps other soil organisms. Fluid-borne rhizosphere compounds flow in the opposite direction from airborne signals that emanate from plant shoots. The powerful transpiration stream around roots naturally concentrates molecular data in a cafeteria of information about the surrounding soil. These molecular signals, such as N-acylated homoserine lactones and phenazines produced by bacteria, can be interpreted simultaneously by multiple species as well as by the root. We propose a model of multitrophic molecular signals in the rhi- zosphere that implies multiple roles of roots, as hosts, regulators, and sustainers of terrestrial productivity. We suggest a framework of regulation in the rhizosphere that functions through molecular ''control points.'' We define control points as regulatory elements that are op- erated on by selection processes to confer fitness on individual organisms and thereby have effects that propagate through other trophic levels. Identification of a control point creates a hypothesis that can be tested to assess the quantitative significance of that regulatory element. Some control points may transmit or perceive signals between organisms, but others probably integrate changing environmental conditions or external resources into individual life histories and community functions. The promise of understanding the new molecular signals is that genes must closely underlie these control points. This could offer ecology access to the power of molecular biology and allow a deep understanding of the evolutionary significance of these phenomena. One major strength of rhizospheres for addressing these issues is that realistic ecological interactions can be examined in a restricted microcosm under environmentally controlled conditions with organisms whose genomes have been completely defined and/or partially modified.
Bile acid secretion and direct targeting of mdr1-green fluorescent protein from Golgi to the canalicular membrane in polarized WIF-B cells.

The bile canalicular membrane contains several ATP-dependent transporters that are involved in biliary secretion. Canalicular transporters are synthesized in ER, modified in Golgi and transported to the apical plasma membrane. However, the route and regulation of intracellular trafficking of ATP-dependent transporters have not been elucidated. In the present study, we generated a translational fusion of mdr1 and green fluorescent protein and investigated bile acid secretion and intracellular trafficking of mdr1 in WIF-B cells, a polarized liver derived cell line. Similar to hepatocytes, WIF-B cells secrete bile acids and organic cations (i.e. rhodamine-123) into the bile canaliculi. Canalicular secretion of fluorescein isothiocyanate-glycocholate was stimulated by taurocholate and a decapeptide activator of phosphoinositide 3-kinase and was decreased by wortmannin. WIF-B9 cells were transiently and stably transfected with a mdr1-GFP construct. Fluorescence was observed in the canalicular membrane, pericanalicular punctate structures and Golgi region. Time lapse microscopy revealed that mdr1-GFP is transferred from Golgi as tubular vesicular structures the majority of which traveled directly to the canalicular membrane. Recycling between the canalicular membrane and subapical region was also observed. At no time was mdr1-GFP detected in the basolateral plasma membrane. At 15 degrees C, mdr1-GFP accumulated in Golgi; after a shift to 37 degrees C, fluorescence moved directly to the canalicular membrane. This process was enhanced by taurocholate and blocked by wortmannin. In these studies as well, no mdr1-GFP fluorescence was observed at any time in basolateral membranes or other intracellular organelles. In conclusion, in WIF-B cells, there is a direct route from Golgi to the canalicular membrane for trafficking of mdr1, a bile canalicular ATP-dependent transporter of organic cations. As in normal hepatocytes, phosphoinositide 3-kinase regulates bile acid secretion and intracellular trafficking of mdr1 in WIF-B cells. WIF-B cells stably transfected with mdr1-GFP provide an important model in which to study trafficking and regulation of canalicular transporters. Movies available on-line: http://www.healthsci.tufts.edu/LABS/IMArias+++/Sai_F9.html
Predictive Factors for Prophylactic Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) Tube Placement and Use in Head and Neck Patients Following Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) Treatment: Concordance, Discrepancies, and the Role of Gabapentin

The prophylactic placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube in the head and neck cancer (HNC) patient is controversial. We sought to identify factors associated with prophylactic PEG placement and actual PEG use. Since 2010, data regarding PEG placement and use were prospectively recorded in a departmental database from January 2010 to December 2012. HNC patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were retrospectively evaluated from 2010 to 2012. Variables potentially associated with patient post-radiation dysphagia from previous literature, and our experience was evaluated. We performed multivariate logistic regression on these variables with PEG placement and PEG use, respectively, to compare the difference of association between the two arms. We identified 192 HNC patients treated with IMRT. Prophylactic PEG placement occurred in 121 (63.0 %) patients, with PEG use in 97 (80.2 %) patients. PEG placement was associated with male gender (p < .01), N stage ≥ N2 (p < .05), pretreatment swallowing difficulties (p < .01), concurrent chemotherapy (p < .01), pretreatment KPS ≥80 (p = .01), and previous surgery (p = .02). Concurrent chemotherapy (p = .03) was positively associated with the use of PEG feeding by the patient, whereas pretreatment KPS ≥80 (p = .03) and prophylactic gabapentin use (p < .01) were negatively associated with PEG use. The analysis suggests there were discrepancies between prophylactic PEG tube placement and actual use. Favorable pretreatment KPS, no pretreatment dysphagia, no concurrent chemotherapy, and the use of gabapentin were significantly associated with reduced PEG use. This analysis may help refine the indications for prophylactic PEG placement.
Changes in Spatiotemporal Precipitation Patterns in Changing Climate Conditions

AbstractClimate models robustly imply that some significant change in precipitation patterns will occur. Models consistently project that the intensity of individual precipitation events increases by approximately 6%–7% K−1, following the increase in atmospheric water content, but that total precipitation increases by a lesser amount (1%–2% K−1 in the global average in transient runs). Some other aspect of precipitation events must then change to compensate for this difference. The authors develop a new methodology for identifying individual rainstorms and studying their physical characteristics—including starting location, intensity, spatial extent, duration, and trajectory—that allows identifying that compensating mechanism. This technique is applied to precipitation over the contiguous United States from both radar-based data products and high-resolution model runs simulating 80 years of business-as-usual warming. In the model study the dominant compensating mechanism is a reduction of storm size. In s...
A Review of: INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY MICROECONOMICS by Vivian Charles Walsh

(1971). A Review of: INTRODUCTION TO CONTEMPORARY MICROECONOMICS by Vivian Charles Walsh. The Engineering Economist: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 149-151.
Can I Say I'm Sorry? Examining the Potential of an Apology Privilege in Criminal Law

This paper is written for the purpose of addressing the power and possibility of early apologies in the criminal justice system. As constructed, our criminal justice system rewards defendants that learn early in their case to remain silent, and punishes those that talk. Defendants that may want to offer an apology or allocution for the harm they’ve caused are often required to wait until a sentencing hearing, which may come months, or even years after the event in question. This paper proposes that the Arizona Rules of Criminal Procedure be modified to provide an exception for apology to criminal defendants. Apologies can play an invaluable role in the healing process for victims, defendants, family members and others tied together by the unfortunate events of a criminal prosecution. This paper seeks to further the comprehensive law movement approach that promotes a healing process for those involved in the criminal justice system.
Comments on "O(n/sup 2/) algorithms for graph planarization

For the original article see ibid., vol.8, no.3, p.257-67 (1989). The commenters point out that their parallel algorithm provides the maximum planar subgraph, and they compare it to the maximal planar subgraph provided by R. Jayakumar et al. in the above-mentioned paper. The space-time product complexity is also compared. >
E-Mail Etiquette in the Business World

The Beauty of E-Mail E-mail can be an efficient and effective tool in the business world. E-mail allows us to communicate with multiple individuals simultaneously. It provides a permanent record of our message in an easily searchable database. It enables us to carefully word, organize, and edit our message to maximize its effectiveness. However, misuse of e-mail can strain interpersonal relationships and negatively affect your professional image. Therefore, this article aims to provide practical tips on the proper use of e-mail so that your e-mail communications will foster good relationships with your colleagues and clients and advance rather than hinder your reputation as a competent professional.
Potentiation of Experimental Meningitis Due to Haemophilus influenzae by Influenza A Virus

When Haemophilus influenzae type b was given intranasally to infant rats, a very large dose was required to produce histologic evidence of meningitis in even half of the animals tested; meningitis developed in 16 of 31 rats that received 10(7) viable bacteria at the age of five days. However, when the animals first received influenza virus, the dose of bacteria required to produce meningitis was reduced 100-fold; meningitis occurred in 10 of 21 rats given virus at two days and 10(5) viable bacteria at five days. These results suggest that prior viral infection of the upper respiratory tract may be a factor in the pathogenesis of haemophilus meningitis.
Analysis of AIDS High-risk Behaviors among Drug Addicts in Different Areas of Qingyuan City in 2009

[Objective] To understand the situation of high-risk behaviors and prevalence of HIV infection among drug users and offer scientific evidence for further comprehensive prevention of AIDS among drug users.[Methods]Totally 866 drug addicts in 3 compulsory detoxification centers(Qingchen, Yingde and Fogang)of Qingyuan City were interviewed face to face by using the unified questionnaire in 2009, and 5 ml vein blood were collected for HIV and syphilis antibody detection.[Results]Of 866 drug addicts, most were young males with low educational level. Among injection drug addicts, 33.45% had shared syringes with others in 6 months, and the proportions in different compulsory detoxification centers were Qingchen (40.90%), Yingde (34.12%) and Fogang (24.58%), the differences were significant (P0.01). And 26.10% (226/866) respondents experienced commercial sexual activities in nearly 1 year, the proportion of condom use every time 24.78%(56/226), that in different compulsory detoxification centers were Yingde (37.66%), Qingchen (21.11%) and Fogang (16.95%), the differences were significant (P0.01). In nearly 1 year, 29.10% (205/866) of drug addicts had had accepted HIV prevention services and 22.94% (131/571) of injection drug addicts had received HIV testing, the highest proportions of compulsory detoxification centers were also Qingchen (40.90%,31.08% , respectively) . The positive rates of HIV and syphilis antibody were 2.56 %( 11/861) and 2.79%(24/861), the highest proportions compulsory detoxification centers were Yingde (6.64%) and Fogang (3.83%).[Conclusion]The high-risk behaviors, which promote the transmission of HIV, exist universally among drug addicts in different areas of Qingyuan city, and the proportion of receiving intervention measures is low, thus it is very necessary to implement integrated intervention measures among drug addicts
Interactive Pattern Exploration: Securely Mining Distributed Databases

Interactive patterns embedded and stored in multiple related databases can provide valuable insights into the domain of data exploration. Yet, the owners of individual databases may want to protect the privacy of their data while still allowing enough collaboration for the patterns to be discovered. In this paper, we show how data can be accessed securely through the use of data mining algorithms. We also investigate some methods that discover unique data patterns interactively, while still preserving data and user privacy, as much as possible.
The Language Acquisition Process: A Reinterpretation of Selected Research Findings

ABSTRACT In contrast to traditional interpretations, relations rather than elements were considered as the basic information in the language acquisition process. As relational information is acquired the child will engage simultaneously in two types of intellectual processes: (1) He will identify the elements (words) and abstract their meaning by intersecting various relations such as ZEBRA-ANIMAL; ZEBRA-STRIPEs; ZEBRA-AFRICA; ZEBRA-RUNs; etc. (2) He will recognize the free elements of relations intersecting at one or (more likely) several points as members of classes, such as “animals,” “toys,” “places,” “animated actions,” etc. In the main body of the paper research findings on the identification of both the elements and classes of the natural language were reviewed. A final section dealt with the more complex operations of combination and transformation: (1) Combinations either assemble several relations into long strings or–more important–combine classes. In discussing different types of combinations, such as those implying logical, spatial, or temporal orders, we touched upon the topic of logical syntax, syllogistic and analogical reasoning. (2) Transformations imply the reversal in the direction of one or more of the relations combined. The generality of such a process in regard to psycholinguistic, cognitive, and social performances was emphasized. Our interpretations need to be supplemented by discussions of extralingual and interlingual relations. The former relate objects, actions and emotions to labels. The latter connect terms across different language under bilingual conditions.
Role of the Krüppel-Type Zinc Finger Transcription Factor ZBP-89 In Human Globin Gene Regulation and Erythroid Development

Abstract 2067 The molecular mechanisms underlying developmental globin gene regulation remain incompletely understood. Prior studies have identified key cis-regulatory elements within the beta globin locus that contain core regions of closely spaced functional binding sites for GATA, NF-E2p45/maf and GT/GC box binding transcription factors. We recently identified the GT/GC-box binding transcription factor ZBP-89 as a novel GATA-1 interacting partner, and showed that it is involved in erythroid development in mice (Woo et al. 2008. Mol. Cell Bio. 28:2675-2689). Brand et al. independently isolated ZBP-89 in NF-E2p45/mafk complexes from induced mouse erythroid leukemia (MEL) cells (Brand et al. 2004. Nat. Struct. Mol Biol. 11:73-80). In the current study, we show that ZBP-89 protein levels increase during in vitro erythroid differentiation of human bone marrow derived CD34 + cells. This correlates with the onset of alpha and beta globin gene transcription. ChIP-chip studies using ENCODE v2.0 arrays demonstrate that ZBP-89 occupies key cis-regulatory elements within both the beta globin (locus control regions HS3, HS2; delta and beta proximal promoters; and an intergenic region between gamma1 and delta globin) and alpha globin (HS-48, HS-40, HS-10 and alpha globin proximal promoters) loci in primary human erythroid precursors. Comparative analysis across the entire ENCODE array reveals a strong positive correlation between ZBP-89 occupancy, RNA polymerase II occupancy, and the activating histone marks acetylated histone 3 (AcH3) and trimethylated histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4me3); and a negative correlation with the repressive mark trimethylated histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Motif analysis under the ZBP-89 occupancy peaks indicates a preference for GGGG(G/A)NGGGG in vivo binding sites. Lentiviral shRNA mediated knock down of ZBP-89 in the in vitro differentiated CD34 + cells results in 30–50% reduction of alpha-, gamma-, and beta-globin gene expression, as well as modestly decreased expression of a number of additional erythroid-specific genes. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate physical association between ZBP-89 and the GCN5/Trapp histone acetyltransferase complex. Based on these findings, we propose that ZBP-89 participates with GATA-1 and NF-E2 in the final epigenetic changes required for high-level expression of globin and other erythroid genes in terminally differentiating human erythroid cells. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Effects of donor proliferation in development aid for health on health program performance: a conceptual framework.

Development aid for health increased dramatically during the past two decades, raising concerns about inefficiency and lack of coherence among the growing number of global health donors. However, we lack a framework for how donor proliferation affects health program performance to inform theory-based evaluation of aid effectiveness policies. A review of academic and gray literature was conducted. Data were extracted from the literature sample on study design and evidence for hypothesized effects of donor proliferation on health program performance, which were iteratively grouped into categories and mapped into a new conceptual framework. In the framework, increases in the number of donors are hypothesized to increase inter-donor competition, transaction costs, donor poaching of recipient staff, recipient control over aid, and donor fragmentation, and to decrease donors' sense of accountability for overall development outcomes. There is mixed evidence on whether donor proliferation increases or decreases aid volume. These primary effects in turn affect donor innovation, information hoarding, and aid disbursement volatility, as well as recipient country health budget levels, human resource capacity, and corruption, and the determinants of health program performance. The net effect of donor proliferation on health will vary depending on the magnitude of the framework's competing effects in specific country settings. The conceptual framework provides a foundation for improving design of aid effectiveness practices to mitigate negative effects from donor proliferation while preserving its potential benefits.
The Ground State and Evolution of Promoter Region Directionality.

Eukaryotic promoter regions are frequently divergently transcribed in vivo, but it is unknown whether the resultant antisense RNAs are a mechanistic by-product of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription or biologically meaningful. Here, we use a functional evolutionary approach that involves nascent transcript mapping in S. cerevisiae strains containing foreign yeast DNA. Promoter regions in foreign environments lose the directionality they have in their native species. Strikingly, fortuitous promoter regions arising in foreign DNA produce equal transcription in both directions, indicating that divergent transcription is a mechanistic feature that does not imply a function for these transcripts. Fortuitous promoter regions arising during evolution promote bidirectional transcription and over time are purged through mutation or retained to enable new functionality. Similarly, human transcription is more bidirectional at newly evolved enhancers and promoter regions. Thus, promoter regions are intrinsically bidirectional and are shaped by evolution to bias transcription toward coding versus non-coding RNAs.
Integrated Communication and Control for Collective Motion with Limited Communication

Abstract Decentralized collective motion coordination is a rapidly developing field, motivated by its extensive applications in mobile sensor networks, cooperative robotics, and unmanned aerial vehicles. In most existing results, the distributed controller for collective motion coordination is designed in the continuous-time domain in order to conform to the continuous kinetic dynamics of vehicle systems, and discretization of the continuous controller is used in implementation since the information can only be exchanged at discrete-time instants among these systems. However, this approach cannot guarantee the original design performance since discretization may harm or even destabilize the closed-loop system. Inspired by pulse-based synchronization among biological pulse-coupled oscillators, we propose an integrated communication and control approach for collective motion coordination which can circumvent discretization and guarantee the design performance in final implementation. Not only can heading control be achieved to coordinate vehicle headings, but also spacing control is achievable for the circular motion. Numerical simulations are provided to confirm the theoretical results.
Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope signatures of goethite hydration waters by thermogravimetry-enabled laser spectroscopy

Abstract The hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope composition (δ2H and δ18O values) of mineral hydration waters can give information on the environment of mineral formation. Here we present and validate an approach for the stable isotope analysis of mineral hydration waters based on coupling a thermogravimetric analyzer with a laser-based isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy instrument (Picarro L-2130i), which we abbreviate as TGA-IRIS. TGA-IRIS generates δ2H and δ18O values of liquid water samples with precision for δ2H of ± 1.2‰, and for δ18O of ± 0.17‰. For hydration waters in goethite, precision for δ2H ranges from ± 0.3‰ to 1.6‰, and for δ18O ranges from ± 0.17‰ to 0.27‰. The ability of TGA-IRIS to generate detailed water yield data and δ2H and δ18O values of water at varying temperatures allows for the differentiation of water in varying states of binding on mineral surfaces and within the mineral matrix. TGA-IRIS analyses of hydrogen isotopes in goethite yields δ2H values that reflect the hydrogen of the OH− phase in the mineral and are comparable to that made by IRMS and found in the literature. In contrast, δ18O values on goethite reflect the oxygen in OH− groups bound to Fe (Fe-OH group), and not the oxygen bound only to Fe (Fe-O group) in the mineral crystal lattice, and may not be comparable to literature δ18O values made by IRMS that reflect the total O in the mineral. TGA-IRIS presents the possibility to isotopically differentiate the various oxygen reservoirs in goethite, which may allow the mineral to be used as a single mineral geothermometer. TGA-IRIS measurements of hydration waters are likely to open new avenues and possibilities for research on hydrated minerals.
Language attitudes in Algeria

This article examines language attitudes among Algerian first and second year engineering students at an Algerian university. A sample of 101 participants responded to a 51-item questionnaire. The results of the questionnaire showed a strong preference of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), English, and French by native speakers of Algerian Arabic (Derja). Native speakers of Tamazight (a Berber language) preferred MSA, English, French, and Tamazight. Participants were divided on many questions regarding MSA and Tamazight. It was also found that respondents favored English as a useful vehicle of economic opportunity and knowledge transfer. An overwhelming majority of respondents viewed multilingualism in Algeria positively. Interestingly, both Derja and Tamazight native speakers unanimously rejected promoting Derja to an official political status, and they indicated support for the teaching of English and French in school. Possible motives behind the attitudes are discussed and implications are suggested.