cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RL agents Implicitly Learning Human Preferences.

In the real world, RL agents should be rewarded for fulfilling human preferences. We show that RL agents implicitly learn the preferences of humans in their environment. Training a classifier to predict if a simulated human's preferences are fulfilled based on the activations of a RL agent's neural network gets .93 AUC. Training a classifier on the raw environment state gets only .8 AUC. Training the classifier off of the RL agent's activations also does much better than training off of activations from an autoencoder. The human preference classifier can be used as the reward function of an RL agent to make RL agent more beneficial for humans.
Transformational Leaders Help Their Employees Overcome Their Technophobia

The lack of technology acceptance in the workplace has haunted companies in the past and it seems that it will continue to do so in the future. One of the many variables that impact employees' acceptance of a new technology is technophobia; which previously has been studied within the narrow context of computers or few other technologies that are now outdated. In a novel approach, the current study examines employees' technophobia and how it impacts their technology acceptance. In addition, the moderating influence of transformational leadership is studied to determine whether that type of leadership would influence employees to overcome their technophobia. The data analysis confirms that technophobia and its subdimensions are still an issue that haunts the workplace. However, having a leader who's identified as a transformational leader can help employees overcome their technophobia. This study argues that it is vital for companies to understand the level and type of technophobia as well as what type of leadership their employees have before implementing any new technologies.
Current Management of Gynecologic Trauma.

Abstract Introduction To date, there are few reports describing the management of traumatic gynecologic injuries leaving physicians with little guidance. Objective Describe the injury patterns and the preferred management of these injuries. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed using the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) from years 2011 to 2013. Female patients age 16 years and older with internal gynecologic injuries were identified based on diagnosis codes. Demographics, associated diagnoses and procedure codes were compiled for the cohort. Results 313 patients met inclusion criteria. The mechanism of injury was blunt in 236 (75%) patients, penetrating in 68 (21%), and other in 9 (4%). The mean Injury Severity Score was 16.6 ± 14.6. Mean age was 34 ± 21 years old. 226 (74.8%) patients had an ovarian and/or fallopian tube injury, 71 (25.2%) had a uterine injury, 8 (3%) had both, and 8 (3%) had injury to the ovarian or uterine vessels only. Of the 226 patients with ovarian and/or fallopian tube injury, 11(5%) underwent repair and 10 (4%) underwent salpingo-oophorectomy. Of the 71 uterine injuries, 15 (21%) underwent repair and 5 (7%) required a hysterectomy. Conclusions Most traumatic internal gynecologic injuries result from blunt mechanism. Currently, these injuries are largely managed non-operatively. When surgery was performed, ovarian and uterine repair was more common than salpingo-oophorectomy and hysterectomy. Prospective large-scale studies are needed to establish a standard of treatment for the management of gynecologic trauma and to assess both short and long term outcomes and fertility rates.
Flexural Behavior of Concrete Beams Strengthened with Polyurethane-Matrix Carbon-Fiber Composites

Abstract Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) materials have been increasingly used for external strengthening of reinforced concrete (RC) infrastructure. However, the focus has been almost exclusively o...
Chapter 2 – Transmitters

Publisher Summary This chapter aims to discuss optical transmitters for fiber optic systems. It discusses the basic fiber optic communications light sources, such as LEDs, different types and wavelengths of lasers, and optical modulators. It focus primarily on communication and sensor systems. Certain types of optical transmitters have become optimized for fiber optic communications and other sources used for illumination and imaging have different specifications and operating principles. It also discusses many types of optical fiber because a number of different applications use the same type of fiber. This chapter describes the type of transmitters used in fiber optic links and discusses LEDs, lasers, and optical modulators. LEDs are used for multimode fiber optic links. The two types of LEDs, surface emitting LEDs and edge emitting LEDs (ELEDs), have high divergence of the output light. While direct modulation is common for LEDs, it causes various problems with lasers, including turn-on delay, relaxation oscillation, mode hopping, and frequency chirping. External modulators used with continuous wave (CW) diode lasers are one possible solution.
Early precursor T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current paradigms and evolving concepts:

Early precursor T cell-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL) is a rare entity characterized by chemo-resistance and a paucity of data regarding optimal management. We review here the literature regarding the management of ETP-ALL and focus on the recent, emerging data, regarding the potential role of molecularly targeted approaches with a focus on venetoclax.
Deep brain stimulation and electromagnetic interference

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has evolved into an approved and efficacious treatment for movement, obsessive-compulsive, and epilepsy disorders that are refractory to medical therapy, with current investigation into other disease conditions. However, there are unintentional and intentional sources of external electromagnetic interference (EMI) that can lead to either malfunctioning or damaged DBS devices, as well as injury to human tissue. Comprehensive studies and guidelines on such topics in the medical literature are scarce. Herein, we review the principles behind EMI, as well as the various potential sources of interference, both unintentional (e.g. stray EMI fields) and intentional (e.g. MRI scans, "brainjacking"). Additionally, we employ the Manufacturer and User Device Facility Experience (MAUDE) database to assess real-world instances of EMI (e.g., airport body scanners, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and electrosurgery) affecting DBS devices commonly implanted in the United States (US).
Accurate Thermochemistry of Complex Lignin Structures via Density Functional Theory, Group Additivity, and Machine Learning

A molecular-level understanding of lignin structures and bond dissociation energies could facilitate depolymerization technologies. Still, this information is currently limited due to the lack of databases and the simplification of surrogate models. Here, substitution effects on seven common linkages in lignin polymers are systematically investigated. An automated reaction network generator is employed to create a database of structures. A new group additivity (GA) model based on principal component analysis (PCA) descriptors is introduced and trained on gas-phase density functional theory data of 4100 species at the M06-2X/6-311++G(d,p) level. Hydrogen bonds, local steric, and nonaromatic ring contributions are also incorporated. Finally, we improve the accuracy of the group additivity model to reach the G4 theory by computing a data set of 770 species at this level and using a data fusion approach.
Effect of surface topography on in vitro osteoblast function and mechanical performance of 3D printed titanium

Critical-sized defects remain a significant challenge in orthopaedics. 3D printed scaffolds are a promising treatment but are still limited due to inconsistent osseous integration. The goal of the study is to understand how changing the surface roughness of 3D printed titanium either by surface treatment or artificially printing rough topography impacts the mechanical and biological properties of 3D printed titanium. Titanium tensile samples and discs were printed via laser powder bed fusion. Roughness was manipulated by post-processing printed samples or by directly printing rough features. Experimental groups in order of increasing surface roughness were Polished, Blasted, As Built, Sprouts, and Rough Sprouts. Tensile behavior of samples showed reduced strength with increasing surface roughness. MC3T3 pre-osteoblasts were seeded on discs and analyzed for cellular proliferation, differentiation, and matrix deposition at 0, 2, and 4 weeks. Printing roughness diminished mechanical properties such as tensile strength and ductility without clear benefit to cell growth. Roughness features were printed on mesoscale, unlike samples in literature in which roughness on microscale demonstrated an increase in cell activity. The data suggest that printing artificial roughness on titanium scaffold is not an effective strategy to promote osseous integration.
From the Editors: Reach Out and Touch Someone: The two killer apps that have best defined the Internet Age have been e-mail and the Web. Now we have a third: IM.

Note that two of the three are entirely focused on person-to-person communication ? no great surprise since work demands that we find increasingly efficient and effective means to communicate with colleagues, customers, and suppliers. And then out in that big world beyond day-to-day commerce are all those other people we really want to be able to connect directly with in some convenient yet meaningful way. For millions of computer and wireless phone users, IM has become a preferred means for doing just that.
Culturally Responsive Social Emotional Learning for International Students: Professional Development for Higher Education

This qualitative study demonstrates how a culturally responsive teaching (CRT) approach builds the capacity of faculty and staff to create a social and emotional learning (SEL) environment that is conducive to success for international students. The researchers propose a CRT-SEL model to address the increasing needs of mid-sized universities with emerging international students. The findings from 14 faculty and staff participants point to professional development strategies that can help reduce or remove barriers for working with international students. This study highlights the need to build upon the CRT and SEL tenets and align them with the existing support networks within the mid-size higher education institutions for classroom learnings and off-campus activities to bolster international students’ overall success. The results also indicate the faculty and staff’s varying priorities and diverging trajectories.
The "Three on a Stick" Incision-A Curvilinear Solution for the Occipital and Suboccipital Region.

BACKGROUND Different conditions of the posterior fossa such as Chiari malformations, tumors, and arachnoid cysts require surgery through a suboccipital approach, for which a typical midline vertical linear incision is used. Curvilinear incisions have been carried in all other scalp regions other than the sub region for better cosmetic outcomes; a vertical curvilinear incision in the occipital and suboccipital region has not been reported. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cosmetic value and safety of the "3 on a stick" vertical suboccipital curvilinear incision. METHODS We compared curvilinear to linear incisions, considering the scar's width, color, how conspicuous, and how well the scar could be covered by hair naturally. RESULTS Between 2010 and 2016, 68 children with Chiari I malformation were surgically intervened. The curvilinear incision was performed in 56 (82.4%) while a linear incision in 12 (17.6%) children. There were only 2 (2.9%) wound related complications (superficial dehiscences) in the curvilinear group and 1 additional dehiscence in a linear incision case. There were no neural or vascular complications. Scars were very similar among the 2 groups; both were equally conspicuous but curvilinear ones seemed to get covered better by hair. CONCLUSION The "3 on a stick" curvilinear incision of the suboccipital region is safe and allows for better hair coverage of the scar. It can be used for multiple conditions requiring a midline suboccipital or even occipital approach, such as Chiari malformations, tumors, and cysts.
Quantitative Approaches to Language in CSCL

In this chapter, we provide a survey of language quantification practices in CSCL. We begin by defining quantification of language and providing an overview of the different purposes it serves. We situate language quantification within the spectrum of more to less quantitative research designs to help the reader understand that both quantitative and qualitative researchers can quantify language. We then provide a review of articles published in IJCSCL from 2006 to 2018 to provide the reader with an understanding of who is quantifying language, in what contexts, how they are quantifying it, and for what purpose. The articles were sorted by theoretical stance to show how theoretical leanings influence (1) how researchers perceive language as a tool for learning and (2) how they quantify language. Finally, we discuss the future of language quantification in CSCL, including grand challenges we face, emerging practices, and new directions.
Transmural gradients of preferential diffusion motility in the normal rat myocardium characterized by diffusion tensor imaging

Background In recent years, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has emerged as a powerful noninvasive tool that infers the cardiac tissue organization through measuring water molecule motility.[1] Previous DTI studies [2] on normal hearts largely assumed that the measured diffusion magnitude along the 3 preferred directions and the measured degree of diffusion anisotropy remain the same over the endo-, meso-, and epi-cardial layers of the left ventricular (LV) wall. Our goal is to test the validity of this assumption.
Think Tanks and a New Order in East Asia: The Council of Foreign Relations and the Institute of Pacific Relations During World War II

This article considers the work of American think tanks in foreign policy-making immediately before and during World War ii. It argues that two well established organizations, the Council on Foreign Relations and the Institute of Pacific Relations, were particularly influential. Both became involved in government planning for future u.s. policy in East Asia through their wartime programs. They collaborated with official u.s. government planners through outsourcing projects, hosted official and unofficial discussion groups and conferences, supported networking, and funded policy-relevant research and publications. The activities of these two organizations helped to define the range of policy options planners and politicians considered, include the ideas of outside experts into the work of government, and facilitate cooperation between the United States and its allies on postwar planning. The interaction between the u.s. government and interwar think tanks had a lasting impact on American-East Asian relations.
Myoepithelial Tumors: An Update

Primary myoepithelial neoplasms of soft tissue are uncommon, and have been increasingly characterized by clinicopathologic and genetic means. Tumors are classified as mixed tumor/chondroid syringoma, myoepithelioma, and myoepithelial carcinoma, and they share morphologic, immunophenotypic, and genetic features with their salivary gland counterparts. However, soft tissue myoepithelial tumors are classified as malignant based on the presence of cytologic atypia, in contrast to the criterion of invasive growth in salivary gland sites. This review discusses the clinicopathologic and morphologic characteristics, distinct variants, and currently known genetic alterations of myoepithelial neoplasms of soft tissue, skin, and bone.
Stamped with Glory: Lewis Tappan and the Africans of the Amistad

Abolitionism came relatively late to Lewis Tappan. Devotional, benevolent and hardworking are all words that describe Tappan in his twenties and thirties. Social reformer he was not. In 1818, Tappan abandoned the Calvinism of his mother for Unitarianism, then fashionable for a socially ambitious merchant. For the next eight years, Tappan enjoyed the typical life of an upper-middle-class New England merchant. He took his new faith seriously, however, editing a Unitarian journal, and becoming the first treasurer of the American Unitarian Association. In the mid-1820's, America experienced The Great Second Awakening, a widespread revival of religion and religious debate and Tappan became a zealous Christian. Around 1830, at the age of forty-one, Tappan began to take an interest in the slavery question. In the summer of 1833, Tappan resolved to do whatever he could for the abolitionist cause. It turned out to be a lot.In 1839 when word of the arrest of the Amistad Africans reached Lewis Tappan in New York, he called a meeting of the city's leading abolitionists. Tappan recognized that the Amistad story could be used to bring to the attention of the public the plight of the hundreds of thousands American slaves. Not content to merely collect donations, Tappan set off for New Haven. He met the Africans for the first time at the city jail. The usually quiet town of Hartford took on a carnival atmosphere as the time of trial approached. The great excitement surrounding the case pleased Tappan and his fellow abolitionists. Lewis Tappan published his account of the complicated legal maneuverings which, not surprisingly, reflected his abolitionist bias. As much as he might have wished it would be so, Tappan could not have expected any federal district judge to issue a decision repudiating the institution of slavery. In October 1840, Lewis Tappan visited John Quincy Adams at his home in Massachusetts. Tappan asked Old Man Eloquent to join Roger Baldwin in arguing the Africans' case in Washington. The former President at first resisted. But Adams believed firmly in the rightness of the cause. He finally agreed to join Baldwin in arguments before the Court. By the blessing of God, I will argue the case before the Supreme Court, Adams told Tappan. On March 9, 1841, the Supreme Court announced its decision that the Negroes were kidnapped Africans, who by the laws of Spain itself were entitled to their freedom.Lewis Tappan sat in the audience at Cooper Hall in January 1863 as Negro minister Henry Garnat opened the Emancipation Jubilee with a reading of Lincoln's Proclamation freeing the slaves. When the reading finished, Tappan joined the crowd in giving three cheers for the President. The abolitionist movement had come along way since the Amistad turned up along Long Island's coast and Tappan as much as anyone was responsible for its progress.
A Note on Buyer's Agent Commission and Sale Price

The article examines whether and to what extent the level of a buyer's agent commission will affect the sale price of a house. The estimation results suggest that a higher commission rate leads to a higher sale price, although only for lower-priced houses. It is suggested that, at least for this market segment, there may be a principal-agent problem: buyer's agents do not act in the best interest of their clients because of the institutional structure of sales commissions.
Perceptual Representation and Reasoning

A common view of reasoning in cognitive science is that it is a process that operates on abstract sentential representations. This view implies a separation of reasoning from sensory perception. Consequently, the study of perception has proceeded relatively independently of the study of various reasoning strategies that humans employ. In this paper we argue that there are many commonsense situations in which human reasoning is tightly coupled with perception, in particular with perceptually represented experiential knowledge. This type of reasoning is referred to as perceptual reasoning. We explain perceptual reasoning in terms of experientially acquired perceptual inference rules, and briefly discuss how this relates to a previous proposal about representations that underlie visual perception and imagery [5]. Finally, the implications of this stance are discussed.
Combating Gender Disparity in Education: Guidelines for Early Childhood Educators

Research has indicated a gender disparity in early education environments. This disparity has been recognized in terms of the student–teacher interaction, the differing types of play fostered, the varying use of praise and gender-specific messages, and the stereotypical messages evident in children's literature or play materials. The purpose of this article is to outline areas within a classroom that prospective teachers or childcare providers can update to reflect a more gender-fair environment. Suggestions for assessing classrooms for an antibiased environment are also offered.
Nonresectable recurrent pelvic neoplasm. Outcome in patients explored for pelvic exenteration.

Abstract Recurrent disease continues to be a major problem in the management of pelvic neoplasms. Of 90 patients explored for pelvic exenteration, 45 were found unsuitable for the surgery because of nonresectable malignancy. Pain was the most common and most debilitating postoperative problem with progressive cancer. Additional radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy were not effective in treating recurrent disease, with 90% of the patients dead within 2 years. The findings would suggest that exenteration should not be performed for palliation.
A multiresolution approach for image morphing

A new multiresolution approach for image morphing is proposed in this research. By exploring the fact that the human visual system recognizes primarily global features of objects in a fast changing image sequence, we use mainly the low frequency information of images in morphing. Besides, we consider the morphing process in the wavelet domain rather than in the spatial domain and, as a consequence, both spatial and frequency characteristics of the initial and final images in a range of resolution scales can be effectively used. Experimental results of morphing of two face images are given 20 illustrate the performance of the proposed method. >
Generation, propagation, and detection of squeezed state light

Squeezed-state light is a radiation field without a classical analog whose field-quadrature noise is optically phase sensitive with a minimum level below that of a coherent state. A massive and growing body of theory concerning the generation, propagation, detection, and application of such light is presently available.
Orbitofrontal Cortex and Representation of Incentive Value in Associative Learning

Clinical evidence indicates that damage to ventromedial prefrontal cortex disrupts goal-directed actions that are guided by motivational and emotional factors. As a consequence, patients with such damage characteristically engage in maladaptive behaviors. Other research has shown that neurons in the corresponding orbital region of prefrontal cortex in laboratory animals encode information regarding the incentive properties of goals or expected events. The present study investigates the effect of neurotoxic orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) lesions in the rat on responses that are normally influenced by associations between a conditioned stimulus (CS) and the incentive value of reinforcement. Rats were first trained to associate a visual CS with delivery of food pellets to a food cup. As a consequence of learning, rats approached the food cup during the CS in anticipation of reinforcement. In a second training phase, injection of LiCl followed consumption of the food unconditioned stimulus (US) in the home cage, a procedure used to alter the incentive value of the US. Subsequently, rats were returned to the conditioning chamber, and their responding to the CS in the absence of the food US was tested. Lesions of OFC did not affect either the initial acquisition of a conditioned response to the light CS in the first training phase or taste aversion learning in the second training phase. In the test for devaluation, however, OFC rats exhibited no change in conditioned responding to the visual CS. This outcome contrasts with the behavior of control rats; after devaluation of the US a significant decrease occurred in approach to the food cup during presentation of the CS. The results reveal an inability of a cue to access representational information about the incentive value of associated reinforcement after OFC damage.
FOUR DIMENSIONAL NON-CRITICAL STRINGS

This is a set of lectures on the gauge/string duality and non-critical strings, with a particular emphasis on the discretized, or matrix model, approach. After a general discussion of various points of view, I describe the recent generalization to four dimensional non-critical (or five dimensional critical) string theories of the matrix model approach. This yields a fully non-perturbative and explicit definition of string theories with eight (or more) supercharges that are related to four dimensional CFTs and their relevant deformations. The space-time as well as world-sheet dimensions of the supersymmetry preserving world-sheet couplings are obtained. Exact formulas for the central charge of the space-time supersymmetry algebra as a function of these couplings are calculated. They include infinite series of string perturbative contributions as well as all the non-perturbative effects. An important insight on the gauge theory side is that instantons yield a non-trivial 1/N expansion at strong coupling, and generate open string contributions, in addition to the familiar closed strings from Feynman diagrams. We indicate various open problems and future directions of research.
Activation of DNA primer for DNA polymerase as an ultrasensitive assay for a subgroup of enzymes with deoxyribonuclease activity.

Pretreatment of native DNA with nucleases which hydrolyze phosphodiester bonds with liberation of 3′-hydroxyl terminal groups is known to increase the rate of incorporation of nucleotides into DNA by E. coli DNA polymerase I and similar enzymes. Concentration ranges and conditions for this reaction have been established which allow specific detection and quantitative assay of such nucleases. The method permits detection of as little as 0.1 pg of pancreatic deoxyribonuclease, is simple, and requires only commercially available components. It has been utilized to monitor purification of a nuclease from HeLa cell nuclei at concentrations which could not be detected by other methods.
Pre-entry screening for tuberculosis: the need for better evidence.

Invited Commentary on ‘Pre-entry screening programmes for tuberculosis in migrants to low-incidence countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis’ by R. W. Aldridge et al.Migrant screening for t...
Small-signal modeling of pulse-width modulated switched-mode power converters

The state-space averaging method, associated with power converters, is discussed, Emphasis is on the motivation and objectives of modeling by equivalent circuits based on physical interpretation of state-space averaging. The discussion is limited to pulse-width-modulated DC-to-DC converters. >
Intraluminal contrast agents for MR imaging of the abdomen and pelvis

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the abdomen and pelvis with use of gastrointestinal (GI) contrast agents is slowly emerging as a valuable diagnostic tool. In the past few years, considerable effort has been expended on developing an oral contrast agent to serve as a bowel marker during abdominal and pelvic imaging. Four major categories of agents have been studied: compounds with positive contrast-enhancing characteristics (ie, which increase signal intensity), which may be either miscible or immiscible with bowel contents, and compounds with negative contrast-enhancing characteristics (ie, which decrease signal intensity), which also may be miscible or immiscible. Compared with precontrast images, MR images acquired after administration of GI contrast agents have shown increased anatomic delineation of the bowel lumen, pancreas, and paraaortic nodes, allowing increased detection of pancreatic lesions, improved assessment of bowel wall lesions, and distinction between intrahepatic and extrahepatic lesions. This review focuses on the general physics and requirements for intraluminal GI contrast media for MR imaging, the currently used intraluminal agents and their regulatory status, current and near-future availability, and cost considerations.
Effects of the Mueller maneuver on global and regional left ventricular function in angina pectoris with or without previous myocardial infarction.

Abstract In patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular (LV) regional wall akinesia can develop during the Mueller maneuver.15 The present study determines if the presence of myocardial ischemic disease with no infarction is a sufficient condition for this to occur, or if the presence of prior acute myocardial infarction (MI) is necessary. In men, first-pass radionuclide ventriculography was performed in the 30 ° left anterior oblique supine position to measure LV ejection fraction, end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes and heart rate, and to obtain an image of the LV cavitary perimeter. This procedure was performed in 4 subject groups: 13 normal volunteers, 25 patients with coronary artery disease but no prior MI, 13 patients with coronary artery disease and prior nontransmural MI, and 36 patients with coronary artery disease and prior transmural MI. All patients had angina and underwent routine contrast coronary angiography; 60 also underwent contrast LV angiography. Ejection fraction decreased during the Mueller maneuver in each of all the coronary artery disease groups (p
Perineuronal nets and GABAergic cells in the inferior colliculus of guinea pigs

Perineuronal nets (PNs) are aggregates of extracellular matrix that have been associated with neuronal plasticity, critical periods, fast-spiking cells and protection from oxidative stress. Although PNs have been reported in the auditory system in several species, there is disagreement about the distribution of PNs within the inferior colliculus (IC), an important auditory hub in the midbrain. Furthermore, PNs in many brain areas are preferentially associated with GABAergic cells, but whether such an association exists in the IC has not been addressed. We used Wisteria floribunda agglutinin staining and immunohistochemistry in guinea pigs to examine PNs within the IC. PNs are present in all IC subdivisions and are densest in the central portions of the IC. Throughout the IC, PNs are preferentially associated with GABAergic cells. Not all GABAergic cells are surrounded by PNs, so the presence of PNs can be used to subdivide IC GABAergic cells into “netted” and “non-netted” categories. Finally, PNs in the IC, like those in other brain areas, display molecular heterogeneity that suggests a multitude of functions.
Evaluation of carbon accrual in afforested agricultural soils

Afforestation of agricultural lands can provide economically and environmentally realistic C storage to mitigate for elevated CO2 until other actions such as reduced fossil fuel use can be taken. Soil carbon sequestration following afforestation of agricultural land ranges from losses to substantial annual gains. The present understanding of the controlling factors is inadequate for understanding ecosystem dynamics, modeling global change and for policy decision-makers. Our study found that planting agricultural soils to deciduous forests resulted in ecosystem C accumulations of 2.4 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 and soil accumulations of 0.35 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Planting to conifers showed an average ecosystem sequestration of 2.5 and 0.26 Mg C ha−1 yr−1 in the soils but showed greater field to field variability than when planted to deciduous forest. Path analysis showed that Ca was positively related to soil C accumulations for both conifers and deciduous afforested sites and played a significant role in soil C accumulations in these sites. Soil N increases were closely related to C accumulation and were two times greater than could be explained by system N inputs from atmospheric deposition and natural sources. Our results suggest that the addition of Ca to afforested sites, especially conifers, may be an economical means to enhance soil C sequestration even if it does not result in increasing C in aboveground pools. The mechanism of N accumulation in these aggrading stands needs further investigation.
Falls in the nursing home setting: does time matter?

OBJECTIVES: Falls increase morbidity and mortality among nursing home residents and have varied causes and risk factors. The purpose of this study was to assess whether falls in nursing home residents were more prevalent at particular times of the day. DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS: This study was a retrospective chart review for falls in a skilled nursing facility in New York from January to June, 2007. RESULTS: There were 220 falls during the 6-month period. Most falls (66%) occurred in the resident's room and almost half (48%) resulted in an injury. Falls during the evening were likely to result in a more serious injury than daytime falls (P = .03). A statistically significant higher percentage of falls (27%) occurred between 4 pm and 8 pm (compared with expected number in a 4-hour period, P < .001). Among the 3 nursing shifts, the lowest percentage of falls occurred during the 11 pm to 7 am night shift (16%). CONCLUSION: This study reveals a variation in the prevalence of falls in the nursing home based on time of day that is different from the pattern of falls in the hospital setting. More research is needed to evaluate possible causes of this temporal pattern of falls in the nursing home. Perhaps these data can be used to implement specific interventions at times when falls are more common to reduce the risk of falls. Language: en
Inter-subband relaxation due to electron–electron scattering in quantum well structures

Abstract We present a full RPA formalism, and an efficient computational scheme for the inter-subband relaxation processes due to the electron–electron interactions in quantum well structures. Based on a full self-energy calculation, our formalism includes both single particle (e.g. Auger) and collective (plasmon) processes, and is applicable to strongly inhomogeneous, non-equilibrium steady-state systems. To show the efficacy of our formalism, we analyze two recent experiments which report different scattering rates for similar structures and similar carrier densities. We obtain quantitative agreement with the experimental results, showing that the observed difference is due to different excitation levels of the electron population. We have also shown, that the electron–plasmon scattering dominates inter-subband electron–electron scattering at low temperatures.
A Case Study of a Community Affected by the Witch and Guejito Wildland Fires

Wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires occur when fire spreads through both wildland and community (structures and vegetation) fuels. These fires are capable of causing significant destruction to both the built and the natural environments. When these fires occur under extreme fire danger conditions (e.g., high winds, low humidity) and in areas of significant population (e.g., San Diego, California) firefighters, and other emergency responders, are significantly challenged by the combination of firefighting and aiding the public. This paper presents the results of an in-depth case study of a community of 274 residences which was subjected to two wildland fires (within 2.5 h of each other) during the October 2007 firestorm in southern California. A significant amount of effort was spent obtaining information from residents and emergency responders to determine the fire spread timeline, structure ignition mechanisms, and defensive actions. Of the 274 residences, 245 were within the fire perimeter, 74 were destroyed, and 16 were damaged. When the first fire front arrived, the rate of structure ignitions peaked at 21 per hour. Direct and indirect ember, or firebrand, attack was responsible for the ignition of 2/3 of the destroyed homes. Defensive actions were taken on one of every three homes. Of the 16 damaged homes, 15 were successfully defended. Further study of this community is ongoing to investigate what currently recommended pre-fire hazard reduction actions could be, and were, implemented and their effectiveness at reducing the likelihood of structure ignition.
Geometric phases and Bloch-sphere constructions for SU ( N ) groups with a complete description of the SU(4) group

A two-sphere (``Bloch'' or ``Poincare'') is familiar for describing the dynamics of a spin-$1∕2$ particle or light polarization. Analogous objects are derived for unitary groups larger than SU(2) through an iterative procedure that constructs evolution operators for higher-dimensional $\mathrm{SU}(N)$ in terms of lower-dimensional ones. We focus, in particular, on the SU(4) of two qubits which describes all possible logic gates in quantum computation and entangled states in quantum-information sciences. For a general Hamiltonian of SU(4) with 15 parameters, and for Hamiltonians of its various subgroups so that fewer parameters suffice, we derive Bloch-like rotation of unit vectors analogous to the one familiar for a single spin in a magnetic field. The unitary evolution of a quantal spin pair is thereby expressed as rotations of real, many-dimensional vectors. Correspondingly, the manifolds involved are Bloch two-spheres along with higher dimensional manifolds such as a four-sphere for the SO(5) subgroup and an eight-dimensional Grassmannian manifold for the general SU(4). The latter may also be viewed as two, mutually orthogonal, real six-dimensional unit vectors moving on a five-sphere with an additional phase constraint. This geometrical picture for two spins provides the extension and generalization of the Bloch sphere that has proved invaluable for the understanding of the dynamics of a single spin.
From Drafts to Checks: The Evolution of Correspondent Banking Networks and the Formation of the Modern U.S. Payments System, 1850–1914

Checks remained local payments instruments throughout virtually the entire nineteenth century. Their significant use in interregional transactions dates only to the 1890s. We explain their lagged spatial diffusion by the evolution of centralized payments institutions to coordinate transactions among myriad banks, not real technological changes to “annihilate” distance. The pivotal institutions were large correspondent banks, especially in New York. After the Civil War, New York funds constituted a national settlement medium, and the concentration of bankers’ balances in New York yielded liquidity and other externalities smoothing the flow of check payments.
Development of binding assays to screen ligands for Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin and glutathione reductases by ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry

To identify potential lead compounds for malaria drug discovery, ultrafiltration and liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (UF and LC/MS) based binding assays were developed for the first time for Plasmodium falciparum thioredoxin (PfTrxR) and glutathione (PfGR) reductases. In the binding assays, curcuminoids (bis-demethoxycurcumin 1, demethoxycurcumin 2, and curcumin 3) were used to study the binding affinity for PfTrxR and PfGR enzymes. The optimum binding was observed when the curcumimoids mixture (1 microM) was incubated with 1 microM PfTrxR and 0.5 microM PfGR enzymes separately for 60 min at 25 degrees C. The peak areas of the ligands in the chromatogram corresponding to incubation with active PfTrxR and PfGR enzymes increased by 1.6- and 2.0-fold respectively compared to the chromatogram of test compounds incubated with denatured enzymes. Further, binding assay experiments were carried out for compound 2 under non-competitive and competitive incubation conditions with 1 microM PfTrxR and 0.5 microM PfGR enzymes, separately. The binding affinity of compound 2 was higher for both the enzymes under non-competitive incubation conditions. To validate the binding assay developed, we have tested bis-2,4-dinitrophenyl sulfide (4) which is reported as an inhibitor of PfTrxR and PfGR enzymes. Compound 4 showed greater binding affinity for both enzymes under competitive incubation conditions. The relative peak area of compound 4 increased by 3.2- and 6-fold when incubated with active PfTrxR (1 microM) and PfGR (0.5 microM) enzymes respectively compared to the peak areas of the compound in control experiments. The current method developed has a potential for automated high-throughput screening to rapidly determine the binding affinity of ligands for these enzymes.
Studies of electrolyte metabolism in 2 patients with pituitary insufficiency.

THE relative ease and accuracy of sodium and potassium determinations made possible by the introduction of the flame photometer a few years ago has led to intensified interest in the electrolyte metabolism in a variety of diseases. In this clinic, as elsewhere, investigators have been repeatedly confronted with the problem, of edema formation in the presence of low serum electrolyte concentrations. This was first noted by us in 2 patients with Addison's disease. At the time of these observations, both patients were receiving added salt and desoxycorticosterone. It is well known that either of these agents in excess will produce edema in patients with this disease, but the simultaneous observation of low serum electrolyte levels seemed somewhat unusual. Furthermore, in spite of chloride levels as low as 80 milliequivalents per liter, neither patient showed signs of intravascular dehydration or circulatory inadequacy. Other clinics have reported low concentrations of serum electrolytes in certain cases of c...
Low-abundance 32-kilodalton nuclear protein specifically enriched in the central nervous system

Recently, a low-abundance nuclear protein, p32/6.3, has been identified in brain tissue (Egle and Shelton: Journal of Biological Chemistry 261:2294-2298, 1986). Using a Western blot procedure, we describe its distribution in the nervous system, determine its relative enrichment in brain versus liver, kidney, and certain other tissues, and describe an isolation procedure from brain. Selective enrichment occurs in basal ganglia, diencephalon, hippocampus, cerebellum, brainstem, spinal cord, and cerebral cortex but not in retina, dorsal root ganglia, and sympathetic ganglia. Thus, enrichment is limited to areas of the central nervous system. p32/6.3 appears to be preferentially enriched in neurons, because in bulk-isolated fractions from rat grey matter it is more abundant in neuron-enriched fractions than in astrocyte-enriched fractions. p32/6.3 is approximately 20-fold more concentrated in an insoluble nuclear protein or matrix fraction from forebrain than from kidney, liver, adrenal gland, or retina. This degree of enrichment is an ancient trait, detectable in the chicken as well as mammals.
Linear equivalence of ideal topologies

It is proved that whenever P is a prime ideal in a commutative Noetherian ring such that the P-adic and theP-symbolic topologies are equivalent, then the two topologies are equivalent linearly. Several explicit examples are calculated, in particular for all prime ideals corresponding to non-torsion points on nonsingular elliptic cubic curves.
Fast three-dimensional random access multi-photon microscopy for functional recording of neuronal activity

The dendritic processes of neurons have been shown to possess active and dynamic properties that give them the ability to modulate synaptic integration and shape individual synaptic responses. Effectively studying these properties at multiple locations on a live neuron in highly light scattering brain tissue requires an imaging/recording mechanism with high spatio-temporal resolution as well as optical sectioning and random access site selection capabilities. Our lab has made significant steps in developing such a system by combining the spatial resolution and optical sectioning ability of advanced imaging techniques such as confocal and multi-photon microscopy with the temporal resolution and random access capability provided by acousto-optic laser scanning. However, all systems that have been developed to date restrict fast imaging to two-dimensional (2D) scan patterns. This severely limits the extent to which many neurons can be studied since they represent complex three-dimensional (3D) structures. We have previously demonstrated a scheme for fast 3D scanning which utilizes a unique arrangement of acousto-optic deflectors and does not require axial movements of the objective lens. We have also shown how, when used with the ultra-fast laser pulses needed in multi-photon microscopy, this scheme inherently compensates for the spatial dispersion which would otherwise significantly reduce the resolution of acousto-optic based multi-photon microscopy. We have now coupled this scanning scheme to a modified commercial research microscope and use the combined system to effectively image user-defined sites of interest on fluorescent 3D structures with positioning times that are in the low microsecond (µs) range. The resulting random-access scanning mechanism allows for functional imaging of complex 3D structures such as neuronal dendrites at several thousand volumes per second.
Strategic combination therapy overcomes tyrosine kinase coactivation in adrenocortical carcinoma.

Background Coactivation of tyrosine kinase limits the efficacy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We hypothesized that a strategic combination therapy could overcome tyrosine kinase coactivation and compensatory oncogenic signaling in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Methods We profiled 88 tyrosine kinases before and after treatment with sunitinib in H295R and SW13 ACC cells. The effects of monotherapy and strategic combination regimens were determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (ie, MTS) assay. Results The minimum inhibitory concentrations (IC min ) of sunitinib quenched its primary targets: FLT-3, VEGFR-2, and RET. In contrast, ERK, HCK, Chk2, YES, CREB, MEK, MSK, p38, FGR, and AXL were hyperactivated. Monotherapy with sunitinib or PD98059 at their IC min reduced proliferation by 23% and 19%, respectively, in H295R cells and by 25% and 24%, respectively, in SW13 cells. Sunitinib and PD98059 in combination decreased proliferation by 68% and 64% in H295R and in SW13 cells, respectively ( P Conclusion We describe the first preclinical model to develop strategic combination therapy to overcome tyrosine kinase coactivation in ACC. Because many tyrosine kinase inhibitors are readily available, this model can be immediately tested in clinical trials for patients with advanced ACC.
Prevalence of Cuterebra emasculator in squirrels in Mississippi.

Between 1977 and 1979,1997 gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and 290 fox squirrels (S. niger) were examined for Cuterebra emasculator myiasis. Approximately 19% of the gray and 5% of the fox squirrels were infested with 1.9 and 2.5 larvae per host, respectively. Myiasis was seen between 14 August and 29 October. Peak infestations occurred in the second week of September. Adult and subadult squirrels had higher infestations than juveniles. Multiple infestations occurred in 51% of the hosts. Larval development sites were most prevalent in the axillary and back regions. The parasite was most prevalent in bottomland or flatland topography and hardwood habitat in east-central Mississippi. Fecundity of four virgin female flies averaged 771 eggs.