cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Economies of Scale and Scope in Higher Education

In this chapter, we examine the range of methods used by researchers to assess economies of scale and scope in higher education. We begin by providing some context for why researchers and policy makers are interested in the relationship between an institution’s size and scope and their cost per unit of output. We then provide an explanation of the alternative methods that have been used in studies, the advantages and disadvantages of each method, and how they can be applied to different types of institutions. Next, we conduct a thorough review of the empirical literature on higher education. Finally, we use more current data from the 2012–2013 academic year on institutional finances to reexamine whether there are economies of scale and/or scope in higher education. Our findings show that across methods and sectors there is clear evidence of economies of scale, and that the results for economies of scope are more mixed due to methodological challenges with the models.
Frequency-difference beamforming with multiple realizations in an inhomogeneous environment

Frequency-difference beamforming is a sparse-array signal processing method that shifts the signal analysis to lower, out-of-band (difference) frequencies, provided that the difference frequency does not exceed the signal bandwidth. In an inhomogeneous environment with discrete scatterers, low-frequency fields may not be significantly affected, provided the scatterers are small relative to the signal wavelength. However, when the scatterer sizes are comparable to the signal wavelength, scattering effects are likely to be more significant. Previously, it was shown that frequency-difference beamforming can overcome some of the performance degradation from the high frequency scattering by shifting the processing to lower, out-of-band frequencies. In this case, the frequency-difference output was comparable to the output using a lower-frequency signal in the same environment. In this talk, theoretical fields that include scattering at the in-band frequencies are considered to predict the performance of the frequency-difference method. Furthermore, simulations and experiments in a 1.07-m-diameter water tank with a sparse array are used to determine the performance and robustness of the method in the presence of discrete high-contrast scatterers. Multiple realizations of randomly placed scatterers are combined to quantify performance statistics. [Sponsored by NAVSEA through the NEEC, and by ONR.]Frequency-difference beamforming is a sparse-array signal processing method that shifts the signal analysis to lower, out-of-band (difference) frequencies, provided that the difference frequency does not exceed the signal bandwidth. In an inhomogeneous environment with discrete scatterers, low-frequency fields may not be significantly affected, provided the scatterers are small relative to the signal wavelength. However, when the scatterer sizes are comparable to the signal wavelength, scattering effects are likely to be more significant. Previously, it was shown that frequency-difference beamforming can overcome some of the performance degradation from the high frequency scattering by shifting the processing to lower, out-of-band frequencies. In this case, the frequency-difference output was comparable to the output using a lower-frequency signal in the same environment. In this talk, theoretical fields that include scattering at the in-band frequencies are considered to predict the performance of the fr...
Theory of Inelastic Scattering and Absorption of X-rays

1. Introduction 2. Background 3. Tensor algebra 4. Group theory 5. Many-body effects I: Coulomb interactions 6. The scattering amplitude 7. Many-body effects II: solid-state effects 8. X-ray absorption and resonant x-ray scattering 9. Nonresonant and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering.
Learning Objects, Content Management, and E-Learning

For better or worse, e-learning is still primarily a matter of delivering course materials via the world-wide web. With the increasing ubiquity of high-bandwidth connections to the home, even multimedia materials like videos and simulations are commonly delivered in-browser. This melding of education with the web brings a new variety of problems to educators who are already required to have a wide-ranging set of interdisciplinary skills.
Evaluating dental zirconia.

Abstract Objectives To survey simple contact testing protocols for evaluating the mechanical integrity of zirconia dental ceramics. Specifically, to map vital material property variations and to quantify competing damage modes. Methods Exploratory contact tests are conducted on layer structures representative of zirconia crowns on dentin. Results Sharp-tip micro- and nano-indentations were used to investigate the roles of weak interfaces and residual stresses in veneered zirconia, and to map property variations in graded structures. Tests with blunt sphere indenters on flat specimens were used to identify and quantify various critical damage modes in simulated occlusal loading in veneered and monolithic zirconia. Significance Contact testing is a powerful tool for elucidating the fracture and deformation modes that control the lifetimes of zirconia dental ceramics. The advocated tests are simple, and provide a sound physical basis for analyzing damage resistance of anatomically-correct crowns and other complex dental prostheses.
The Risk of Tuberculosis among Populations Living in Slum Settings: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

According to the WHO, half of the 10.4 million incident cases of TB in 2016 came from five countries where 20–50% of the urban population live in slums. Crowded living conditions and limited access to healthcare further contribute to the burden of TB in urban slums. This article aims to assess the odds of the burden of TB in urban slums through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Four electronic databases were searched for studies published between 1993 and 2017, with TB defined as at least one sputum smear-positive. The review followed the PRISMA protocol and information was extracted from articles for a full-text review to determine eligibility. Odds ratios were calculated for studies reporting sputum smear-positive TB cases in slum settings with national incidence as a comparison. Summary estimates were calculated using the random effects model (95% CI) and publication bias was assessed through funnel plot analysis. A quality assessment of included articles was also conducted. This meta-analysis was conducted across three categories: (1) across all 22 studies, (2) studies utilizing Active Case Finding, and (3) studies conducted in a high TB-HIV setting. The odds of sputum smear-positive TB were significantly higher across all three categories of analysis. Compared with national TB incidence rates, the combined odds ratio of smear-positive TB within slums was 2.96 (2.84, 3.09; p < 0.01). The combined odds ratio for smear-positive TB with active case finding across 15 studies was 2.85 (2.71, 2.99; p < 0.01). Among the 11 studies that reported incidence of smear-positive TB with prevalent TB-HIV coinfection in the community, the combined odds ratio for slum residents with the random effects model was 2.48 (2.34, 2.63; p < 0.01). Using Egger’s funnel plot, publication bias was not detected within the three categories of analysis. The findings of this analysis indicate that the odds of developing TB are almost five times as great in urban slums. Reaching the most vulnerable and often overlooked groups in slums is crucial to achieving the SDGs and End TB Strategy by 2035.
Adjustment to Life as a Cancer Survivor

As the population ages and oncologic treatments improve, the number of cancer survivors in the United States continues to grow. It is therefore important to understand survivors’ experience and offer evidence-based approaches to address concerns that arise or persist beyond the completion of primary oncologic treatments. Although most cancer survivors maintain or recover their psychological and physical health, a substantial minority exhibits sustained decrements. Focusing on the experience of cancer survivors after the completion of primary oncologic treatments, the authors of this chapter: (1) discuss the language and nature of cancer survivorship; (2) describe adaptive tasks during life after treatment; (3) characterize sociodemographic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal contributors to psychosocial and physical outcomes; (4) provide an overview of psychosocial interventions for long-term cancer survivors; and (5) offer suggestions for research on the promotion of well-being and health for cancer survivors.
What Is the Ideal Imaging Strategy for Diagnosing AAA, Abdominal Aortic Dissection, and Aortic Rupture?

The best imaging modality for diagnosis and preoperative management of abdominal aortic pathology is computed tomography angiography (CTA) due to its ability to quickly and accurately map the aneurysm or dissection, identifying location, size, and other involved arterial branches. Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice for rapid bedside diagnosis of abdominal aortic aneurysm in the emergency setting. It is also used for surveillance of known aneurysmal disease. Diagnostic studies should not delay operative management in patients with strong clinical suspicion for aortic rupture, especially if the patient is hemodynamically unstable and has a previous diagnosis of aortic aneurysm and/or dissection.
Quality and Safety in Pharmacy Practice

Edited by Terri L. Warholak, Ph.D., and David P. Nau, Ph.D., CPHQ, Published by McGraw-Hill Companies, 2 Penn Plaza, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298, 2010. 273 p. Price $54.95. This introductory book illustrates the principles of continuous quality improvement, providing the conceptual
Efficient Solution Methods for the Cumulative-Interference Channel Assignment Problem Using Integer Optimization and Constraint Programming

Interest in the channel assignment problem (CAP) has been growing rapidly with both the spread of wireless data networks and the increasing scarcity of electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. The ability to efficiently reuse available EM channels is heavily dependent on co-channel interference, i.e., interference occurring between two radios using the same channel but not communicating on the same network. The vast majority of CAP research considers only the interference between any pair of radios, but many radio systems – including the mobile ad-hoc networks we consider – are sensitive to the effects of cumulative interference. In previous work, we describe the vast computational challenges of considering cumulative interference within a CAP. We present a new method to solve this problem via heuristics, integer optimization, and constraint programming techniques. We apply our methods to realistic data sets from a large U.S. Marine Corps operational scenario and provide detailed performance results. To our knowledge, we are the first to describe algorithms for solving realistic, large-scale cumulative-interference minimum-order and minimum-cost channel assignment problems to global or near-global optimality.
Social and Emotional Development in the Context of the Family

Family relationships shape children's social and emotional behavior and understanding. When parents are warm, sensitive, and balance control with child autonomy, children learn to trust others and to regulate their negative emotions. Both discordant and supportive family interactions contribute to the development of social skills and social cognition. Repeated daily stressors at home increase physiological and emotional reactivity and promote maladaptive coping. Culture, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of the family's broader social context influence these critical dimensions of family life.
Future role of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors in preventive cardiology.

Purpose of reviewThe use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to target proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) represents a novel approach to the management of hypercholesteremia and prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We review the most recent literature relevant to
Depressive symptoms, physical symptoms, and health-related quality of life among older adults with HIV

In the United States, approximately 45% of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) are ≥ 50 years of age. Many older PLHIV have multi-morbidities that complicate HIV infection and/or interfere with, or are exacerbated by, antiretroviral treatment. Physical health symptoms and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression, can worsen life quality in older PLHIV. This study assessed associations among physical symptoms, indicators of HIV-related health status (i.e., time since diagnosis; ever diagnosed with AIDS; having attained viral suppression), depressive symptoms, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in older PLHIV. Regression analyses examined data from 296 PLHIV ≥ 50 years of age living in Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, OH, and New York City. Depressive symptoms and physical symptoms, particularly those related to appearance and sexual functioning, most strongly predicted HRQoL. Indicators of HIV health status did not significantly predict HRQoL. Depressive symptoms were a particularly robust predictor of HRQoL, even when accounting for physical health symptoms. Findings suggest that symptom management is critical to HRQoL in older PLHIV, and symptoms related to physical appearance and sexual functioning should not be overlooked in this growing population.
Long-term benefit of intra-arterial bevacizumab for recurrent glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVE Standard treatment for recurrent GBM is not yet established. We present a case demonstrating the benefit of intra-arterial (IA) bevacizumab with blood brain barrier disruption (BBBD) for the treatment of recurrent GBM. A 31 year-old man diagnosed with GBM, following primary resection, received temozolomide. After a second resection, he received one dose of IA bevacizumab with BBBD using mannitol, preventing regrowth for 2.5 years. Following tumor regrowth, the patient received another dose of IA bevacizumab with BBBD, which has prevented regrowth for another year.
Unmanned aircraft systems for precision weed detection and management: Prospects and challenges

Abstract Modern precision weed management relies on site-specific management tactics to maximize resource use efficiency and yield, while reducing unintended environmental impacts caused by herbicides. Scouting for weeds is an important activity to assist weed management decision making, and has been carried out by trained specialists through extensive and routine visual examination of the fields. Recent advancements in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)-based tools and geospatial information technology have created enormous applications for efficient and economical assessment of weed infestations as well as site-specific weed management. The utilization of UAS-based technologies for weed management applications is currently in its infancy, but this field has witnessed rapid growth in recent times in terms of aerial data acquisition and analysis. Challenges exist in UAS platform reliability, sensor capability and integration, image pre-processing, quantitative assessment and prediction, final product development, and product delivery. This review summarizes current knowledge on the utility of UAS platforms and remote sensing tools for weed scouting and precision weed management. Further, it critically examines potential opportunities and limitations to current UAS technologies, with particular emphasis on the lessons learned from UAS-based weed management research conducted at Texas A&M University.
The internet market for Kratom, an opioid alternative and variably legal recreational drug.

Abstract Background Amidst the opioid crisis, many people are turning to plant-based kratom for self-treatment of pain, opioid addiction, and for recreational use. Its legality is variable and its safety and medicinal effects are not agreed upon. It is broadly available from Internet Kratom Vendors (IKVs). Methods An examination of the online marketplace for kratom was conducted to provide context to the market amidst regulatory attempts by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state legislatures. A complex search strategy identified 663 English-language IKVs selling kratom for home delivery. The 100 most popular were selected for in-depth content analysis. IKVs were visited once for content analysis data collection in December, 2017 and revisited in April 2018 to assess responses to FDA action. IKV website and social media profiles were coded for topics including location, payment and shipping options, age verification, health warnings and disclaimers, and grassroots advocacy regarding upcoming state/federal regulations. Results Forty-seven percent of IKVs claimed that kratom provides pain relief, 25% claimed it provides relief from opioid withdrawal, 81% featured a disclaimer that kratom is addictive, 54% stated that kratom is not FDA approved, and 66% featured disclaimers that it was not intended for consumption. Only 5% of vendors advertised effective age verification (such as verifying age at delivery). Compliance on the vendor's part with state and local bans varied by ban location, with only 27% prohibiting sales to Rhode Island while 65% did not ship to Indiana. Conclusions IKVs provide easy access to a wide variety of unregulated intoxicating products with poor age verification and low adherence to US state- and local-level restrictions. There is a high prevalence of vendors featuring health claims forbidden by the Food and Drug Administration. Lessons learned from regulating the Internet cigarette sales industry could be effectively applied to IKVs with future efforts.
In silico APC/C substrate discovery reveals cell cycle degradation of chromatin regulators including UHRF1

The Anaphase-Promoting Complex/Cyclosome (APC/C) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase and critical regulator of cell cycle progression. Despite its vital role, it has remained challenging to globally map APC/C substrates. By combining orthogonal features of known substrates, we predicted APC/C substrates in silico. This analysis identified many known substrates and suggested numerous candidates. Unexpectedly, chromatin regulatory proteins are enriched among putative substrates and we show that several chromatin proteins bind APC/C, oscillate during the cell cycle and are degraded following APC/C activation, consistent with being direct APC/C substrates. Additional analysis revealed detailed mechanisms of ubiquitylation for UHRF1, a key chromatin regulator involved in histone ubiquitylation and DNA methylation maintenance. Disrupting UHRF1 degradation at mitotic exit accelerates G1-phase cell cycle progression and perturbs global DNA methylation patterning in the genome. We conclude that APC/C coordinates crosstalk between cell cycle and chromatin regulatory proteins. This has potential consequences in normal cell physiology, where the chromatin environment changes depending on proliferative state, as well as in disease.
Association between algal productivity and phycosphere composition in an outdoor Chlorella sorokiniana reactor based on multiple longitudinal analyses.

Microalgae as a biofuel source are of great interest. Bacterial phycosphere inhabitants of algal cultures are hypothesized to contribute to productivity. In this study, the bacterial composition of the Chlorella sorokiniana phycosphere was determined over several production cycles in different growing seasons by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and identification. The diversity of the phycosphere increased with time during each individual reactor run, based on Faith's phylogenetic diversity metric versus days post-inoculation (R = 0.66, P < 0.001). During summer months, Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus, an obligate predatory bacterium, was prevalent. Bacterial sequences assigned to the Rhizobiales, Betaproteobacteriales and Chitinophagales were positively associated with algal biomass productivity. Applications of the general biocide, benzalkonium chloride, to a subset of experiments intended to abate V. chlorellavorus appeared to temporarily suppress phycosphere bacterial growth, however, there was no relationship between those bacterial taxa suppressed by benzalkonium chloride and their association with algal productivity, based on multinomial model correlations. Algal health was approximated using a model-based metric, or the 'Health Index' that indicated a robust, positive relationship between C. sorokiniana fitness and presence of members belonging to the Burholderiaceae and Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium clade. Bacterial community composition was linked to the efficiency of microalgal biomass production and algal health.
Plate tectonics from crust to core

Compositional signatures of subducted crust in the deep-mantle sources of ocean island volcanoes in the Atlantic Ocean but not the Pacific reveal that plate motions on Earth’s surface influence the characteristics of Earth’s deepest interior.
A systems approach to examine hospital-acquired infections in a paediatric CICU

Objective: We aimed to apply systems engineering principles to address hospital-acquired infections in the paediatric intensive care setting. Design: Mixed method approach involving four steps: perform time–motion study of cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) care processes, establish a meaningful schema to classify observations, design a web-based system to manage and analyse data, and design a prototypical computer-based training system to assist with hygiene compliance. Setting: Paediatric CICU at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Patients: Paediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Interventions: Extensive time–motion study of CICU care processes. Measurements: Non-compliances were recorded for each care process observed during the time–motion study. Results: Guided by our observations, we introduced a novel categorisation schema with action types, observation categories, severity classes, procedure classifications, and personnel categories that offer a systematic and efficient mechanism for reporting and classifying non-compliance and violations. Utilising these categories, a web-based database management system was designed that allows observers to input their data. This web analytic tool offers easy summarisation, data analysis, and visualisation of findings. A computer-based training system with modules to educate visitors in hospital-acquired infections hygiene was also created. Conclusion: Our study offers a checklist of non-compliance situations and potential development of a proactive surveillance system of awareness of infection-prone situations. Working with quality improvement experts and stakeholders, recommendations and actionable practice will be synthesised for implementation in clinical settings. Careful design of the implementation protocol is needed to measure and quantify the potential improvements in outcomes.
Environmental exposomics and lung cancer risk assessment in the Philadelphia metropolitan area using ZIP code–level hazard indices

To illustrate methods for assessing environmental exposures associated with lung cancer risk, we investigated anthropogenic based air pollutant data in a major metropolitan area using United States-Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) (1987-2017), and PM2.5 (1998-2016) and NO2 (1996-2012) concentrations from NASA satellite data. We studied chemicals reported according to the following five exposome features: (1) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) cancer grouping; (2) priority EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); (3) component of diesel exhaust; (4) status as a volatile organic compound (VOC); and (5) evidence of lung carcinogenesis. Published articles from PubChem were tallied for occurrences of 10 key characteristics of cancer-causing agents on those chemicals. Zone Improvement Plan (ZIP) codes with higher exposures were identified in two ways: (1) combined mean exposure from all features, and (2) hazard index derived through a multi-step multi-criteria decision analysis (MMCDA) process. VOCs, IARC Group 1 carcinogens consisted 82.3% and 11.5% of the reported TRI emissions, respectively. ZIP codes along major highways tended to have greater exposure. The MMCDA approach yielded hazard indices based on imputed toxicity, occurrence, and persistence for risk assessment. Despite many studies describing environmental exposures and lung cancer risk, this study develops a method to integrate these exposures into population-based exposure estimates that could be incorporated into future lung cancer screening trials and benefit public health surveillance of lung cancer incidence. Our methodology may be applied to probe other hazardous exposures for other cancers.
Rounding the base: A lower extremity biomechanical analysis in softball players:

Contacting the base is a common injury mechanism for base runners in softball, with ankle sprains being the most common type of injury, but it is not known how the base affects lower extremity mech...
Hippocampal subfield imaging and fractional anisotropy show parallel changes in Alzheimer's disease tau progression using simultaneous tau-PET/MRI at 3T.

Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized primarily by abnormal aggregation of two proteins, tau and amyloid beta. We assessed tau pathology and white matter connectivity changes in subfields of the hippocampus simultaneously in vivo in AD. Methods Twenty-four subjects were scanned using simultaneous time-of-flight 18F-PI-2620 tau positron emission tomography/3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging and automated segmentation. Results We observed extensive tau elevation in the entorhinal/perirhinal regions, intermediate tau elevation in cornu ammonis 1/subiculum, and an absence of tau elevation in the dentate gyrus, relative to controls. Diffusion tensor imaging showed parahippocampal gyral fractional anisotropy was lower in AD and mild cognitive impairment compared to controls and strongly correlated with early tau accumulation in the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices. Discussion This study demonstrates the potential for quantifiable patterns of 18F-PI2620 binding in hippocampus subfields, accompanied by diffusion and volume metrics, to be valuable markers of AD.
DIR-Floortime: Sob o Olhar da Gestalt- Terapia

RESUMO: O presente trabalho consiste numa pesquisa bibliografica qualitativa, que tem por objetivo correlacionar o modelo de intervencao precoce em criancas com autismo, DIR-Floortime aos principios da Gestalt-Terapia. Para cumprimento de tal objetivo, foi realizada uma revisao bibliografica a fim de caracterizar o autismo, descrever o modelo DIR-Floortime, fundamentar a Gestalt-terapia e por fim relacionar a Gestalt-Terapia ao modelo DIR-Floortime. Os principais autores que favoreceram a construcao desse trabalham foram Stanley Greenspan, Serena Wieder, Jorge Ponciano Ribeiro, Luciana Aguiar, entre outros. A fundamentacao consistiu na descricao e caracterizacao do autismo, desde seu historico ate as suas possibilidades de intervencao, assim como na exposicao dos conceitos fundamentais que regem a aplicacao do DIR-Floortime, bem como na fundamentacao da Gestalt-Terapia desde sua historia ate sua clinica com criancas. De fato, a problematica central refere-se a possibilidade de o modelo ser aplicado na Gestalt-Terapia com criancas dentro do TEA. E o desfecho se deu na compreensao de conceitos semelhantes entre as duas teorias, dos quais ressaltam a relacao dialogica, a compreensao de totalidade do ser, e a valorizacao da familia junto ao processo terapeutico da crianca. Palavras-chaves: DIR-Floortime, Gestalt-Terapia, Autismo, Criancas.
Rainfall Quality, Land Use, and Runoff Quality

Previous investigators have indicated that air quality may contribute to surface water pollution through rainfall or dry fallout, or both, even to the extent that pollutants travel via the air from industrial and agricultural regions may be deposited in undeveloped areas. Data collected from a heavily developed area in Houston and a forested area 40 miles north were used to estimate the contribution of rainwater quality to stream pollution.
Determining Strain Occupancy in Soybean Nodules by Gel Immunodiffusion

In this experiment, two serologically distinct strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum are mixed in equal numbers to obtain mixed-strain inocula for studying interstrain competition for nodulation on soybean (Glycine max). The immunodiffusion technique, which is commonly employed for the detection of soluble antigens, is adopted for determining the identities of the strains occupying the nodules. The soluble somatic antigen characteristics of a particular strain and its bacteroid form are demonstrated as useful markers in identifying strains in competition experiments.
Daniel, Esther, and the Minority Politics of the Hebrew Bible

Hebraic political theory is in the midst of a renaissance. Contemporary scholarship, however, overlooks prominent discussions in Biblical texts about the ways in which the Jews, as an exiled minority, ought to interact with majority political power. Through an analysis of the books of Daniel and Esther, this article argues that the Hebrew Bible advances different positions on this question. Daniel enjoins a politics of conviction focused on the preservation of the Jews as adherents of God’s law, while Esther recommends a savvy politics of responsibility that will preserve the Jews as a people. I explore the implications of my reading of Daniel and Esther for prominent contemporary engagements with the Hebraic political tradition and discuss the debate’s implications for the Hebraic renaissance.
Flow network modeling: a case study in expedient system prototyping

Fortunately for engineers responsible for thermal management of today's electronic systems, many tools exist that provide for efficient, comprehensive thermal design. These tools, including heat transfer correlations, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solvers, and Flow Network Modeling (FNM) techniques, assist engineers in answering complex layout questions and proposing thermally feasible design alternatives quickly. This paper presents the use of FNM as proposed by G. Ellison (1984), to perform a first order thermal analysis on a next-generation mid-range computer design. Ellison's method is used to predict system level pressure drops and air-mover performance in the complex computer system prior to building hardware, performing sub-system flow measurements or completing system level CFD analyses. In this application, the use of FNM allowed a small design team to sufficiently validate the system layout early in the product's design cycle, enabling continued sub-system layout, detailed design; and prototype production within the constraints of the project's aggressive schedule. Results of the Ellison based approach are compared with those of a commercially available FNM software package and with data taken from a system prototype. Comparison shows that the results agree well, validating the use of FNM as an aid in developing thermally feasible computer designs.
Will the Russians return from the near abroad

A prominent American Sovietologist examines a range of issues surrounding the involuntary migration of Russian populations from the non-Russian republics of the former USSR. Among the questions addressed are possible magnitudes of in-migration into Russia (with special attention paid to conditions in one of the major source regions, Central Asia), attitudes in Russia regarding appropriate policy with respect to treatment of co-nationals in the near abroad and whether their return to Russia would have a positive or negative impact, and conditions in areas of Russia that presently are absorbing the greatest numbers of migrants. The assertion that Russian policy should seek aggressively to prevent the out-migration of Russian populations in the near abroad is assessed critically. 1 table, 1 figure, 10 references.
Gay Rights and Moral Panic: The Origins of America's Debate on Homosexuality by Fred Fejes

It has been 33 years since the dramatic campaigns of 1977 and 1978 that arguably produced what Fred Fejes calls “the first major national debate about gay rights” (p. 4). A key focus of this book i...
Intraspecific Variation in the Behavioral Ecology of a Tropical Carnivore, the Spotted Hyena

Abstract The spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) has been the subject of many short-term studies as well as two long-term studies that have been underway since the 1980s. This species occupies a wide range of habitat types, and exhibits remarkable plasticity in many aspects of its behavioral ecology. After reviewing the few traits in this species that appear to be highly invariant among habitats, we discuss the plasticity otherwise characteristic of spotted hyenas as documented in studies conducted throughout sub-Saharan Africa. We then compare the behavioral ecology of two hyena populations inhabiting savanna habitats less than 100 km apart in eastern Africa to show that surprising variation in the behavioral ecology of this species can occur even within a single ecosystem. Finally, we consider responses of hyenas to anthropogenic disturbance, and suggest that documentation of the limits of their behavioral plasticity is critical to the conservation of these and other large African carnivores.
Development of the alternate entry port for the ATF

We discuss a second entry port for the Accelerator Test Facility (ATF) injection system at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which consists of a photocathode rf gun and a straight-ahead beamline directly into the 50 MeV linac. The proposed second entry port should improve the beam quality and lower the emittance needed for FEL (Free Electron Laser), and laser-acceleration experiments. A discussion on the laser driven high brightness photoelectrons through the primary entry port (a low energy 180 degrees achromatic double bend transport line) now in operation, and a beam analysis for the proposed secondary port is also given. >
Introducing Start Expression Genes to the Linkage Learning Genetic Algorithm

This paper discusses the use of start expression genes and a modified exchange crossover operator in the linkage learning genetic algorithm (LLGA) that enables the genetic algorithm to learn the linkage of building blocks (BBs) through probabilistic expression (PE). The difficulty that the original LLGA encounters is shown with empirical results. Based on the observation, start expression genes and a modified exchange crossover operator are proposed to enhance the ability of the original LLGA to separate BBs and to improve LLGA's performance on uniformly scaled problems. The effect of the modifications is also presented in the paper.
Warping and vacua of (2+1)-dimensional super Yang-Mills theory

We use dielectric branes to find nonsingular string theory duals of a perturbed (2+1)-dimensional gauge theory living on D2-branes. By adding fermion masses we obtain theories with reduced supersymmetry. The Higgs vacua of the perturbed theory correspond to polarization of the D2-branes into D4-branes. The confining vacua correspond to polarization of the D2-branes into NS5-branes. We consider different mass perturbations. Adding three equal masses preserves $\mathcal{N}=2$ supersymmetry. In this case there are no confining vacua. By adding a fourth fermion mass we break all the supersymmetry, and find confining vacua. We also obtain duals for domain walls, condensates, baryon vertices, glueballs and flux tubes. We comment on the K\"ahler potentials for the Higgs and confining phases. In the course of the calculations we also find a nontrivial consistency check of the NS5-brane action in a D2-brane background.
Thermal expansivity for sI and sII clathrate hydrates.

Knowledge of thermal expansivity can aid in the understanding of both microscopic and macroscopic behavior of clathrate hydrates. Diffraction studies have shown that hydrate volume changes significantly (as much as 1.5% over 50 K) as a function of temperature. It has been demonstrated previously via statistical mechanics that a minor change in hydrate volume (e.g., a 1.5% change in volume or 0.5% change in lattice parameter) can lead to a major change in the predicted hydrate formation pressure (e.g., >15% at >100 MPa for methane). Because of this sensitivity, hydrate thermal expansivity measurements, for both Structures I and II with various guests, are needed help quantify volume distortions in hydrate lattices to ensure accurate hydrate phase equilibria predictions. In addition to macroscopic phase equilibria, the thermal expansion of different hydrates can give information about the interactions between the guest molecules and the host lattice. In this work, the hydrate lattice parameters for four Str...
Molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis

Abstract The first clue to the etiology of pemphigus was established in 1964, when Beutner and Jordon 1 demonstrated that serum from pemphigus patients contained autoantibodies that bound to an intercellular substance (ICS) of skin and mucosa. Subsequently, skin biopsies revealed in vivo deposition of auto-antibodies in the epidermis of pemphigus patients. 2 While these results were intriguing, they did not prove that antibody played a role in the acantholytic process. The following three lines of evidence do support a role for antibody in the induction of acantholysis in pemphigus: correlation of antibody titers with disease activity 3,4 ; induction of acantholytic lesions in the skin of neonatal mice 5 or in grafts of human oral mucosa on nude mice 6 following passive transfer of patient IgG; and induction of acantholytic lesions in expiants of normal human skin following incubation with patient IgG. 7,8 The first two lines of evidence have been discussed in other chapters of this volume. It is our intention to describe experimental results from several laboratories confirming the pathologic events induced in normal human skin by serum or IgG preparations from pemphigus patients and to discuss the molecular events leading to the pathophysiology of pemphigus.
MassExodus: modeling evolving networks in harsh environments

Consider networks in harsh environments, where nodes may be lost due to failure, attack, or infection--how is the topology affected by such events? Can we mimic and measure the effect? We propose a new generative model of network evolution in dynamic and harsh environments. Our model can reproduce the range of topologies observed across known robust and fragile biological networks, as well as several additional transport, communication, and social networks. We also develop a new optimization measure to evaluate robustness based on preserving high connectivity following random or adversarial bursty node loss. Using this measure, we evaluate the robustness of several real-world networks and propose a new distributed algorithm to construct secure networks operating within malicious environments.
An atypical case of Canavan disease with stroke-like presentation.

Abstract Background Canavan disease is an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy caused by a deficiency of aspartoacylase. The disease has a severe course, with death occurring in the first few years of life. Atypical patients with mild courses have been reported, but acute presentations similar to stroke have not been well described. Patient Description We present a boy who presented at 4 months of age with seizures after an episode of cardiopulmonary arrest is discussed. Results He was initially thought to have an ischemic watershed stroke based on his initial clinical presentation and magnetic resonance imaging. However, biochemical and follow-up radiologic evaluation were consistent with mild Canavan disease. DNA sequencing of the ASPA gene indicated one known mutation (A305E) and a novel mutation, L30V. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging did not reveal the atrophy which would have been expected with watershed ischemia. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated elevated N-acetyl aspartate to creatinine and N-acetyl aspartate to choline ratios. At 4 years of age, he was normocephalic, with mild clumsiness, speech delay, and seizures. Conclusions This child's unusual acute presentation, along with his prolonged mild course, raises questions about the relationship between biochemical signs of abnormal aspartoacylase function and clinical findings. This patient highlights the need for long-term clinical follow-up of children with mild Canavan disease to clarify the significance of these biochemical abnormalities.
Analysis of the fluorescence temporal point-spread function in a turbid medium and its application to optical imaging

A time-domain optical method to evaluate the concentration (n), lifetime (), and depth (d) of a fluorescent inclusion is described by the complete analysis of the fluorescence temporal point-spread function (TPSF). The behavior of parameters in the fluorescence TPSF is explored, and we demonstrate the method with experimental data from a localized fluorescent inclusion in scattering media to recover images of n, , and d. The method has potential application for in vivo fluorescence imaging.
Biochemical and morphological studies of ammonium perfluorooctanoate-induced hepatomegaly and peroxisome proliferation

Ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO) is known to induce a striking hepatomegaly in rats. The purpose of these studies was to determine the causes of the hepatomegaly and compare the effect to other liver-enlarging compounds. Since the total hepatic DNA content was similar in control and APFO-treated rats, the hepatomegaly represented a hypertrophic rather than a hyperplastic response. The cytochrome P-450 content and activity of benzphetamine N-demethylase increased in the livers of APFO-treated rats, indicating the proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast to the membrane-bound enzymes, the soluble enzymes glutathione S-transferase and UDPglucuronyltransferase were unaffected by APFO treatment. The activity of carnitine acetyltransferase was disproportionately increased relative to carnitine palmitoyltransferase in the livers of APFO vs that in control rats, confirming the predominant proliferation of peroxisomes vs that of mitochondria. Morphological studies confirmed the proliferation of the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and peroxisomes in the livers of APFO-treated rats. In contrast to many other peroxisome proliferating agents, APFO did not possess hypolipidemic activity.
Cattail invasion and persistence in a coastal salt marsh: The role of salinity reduction

The hypothesis thatTypha domingensis (cattail) can invade tidal marshes only after soil salinities are substantially reduced was tested experimentally by comparing the salt tolerance of seeds, seedlings, and plants reared from rhizomes. Germination rates for four southern California populations reached 100% in fresh water, decreasing to 2% at 20‰. The salt tolerance of seeds from three coastal populations was lower than that of the Salton Sea population. Salt tolerance of plants grown in the lab did not increase with age for seedlings up to 8 weeks old. Rhizome-bearing plants had greatly decreased growth at 10‰ and no growth at 25‰ However, rhizomes of about 5% of the plants survived 9 months at 45‰. The seeds and seedlings are salt sensitive, which explains why invasion into tidal marshes is restricted to prolonged periods of low soil salinity. The older, rhizome-bearing plants are salt tolerant, which explains how invading plants persist persist under hypersaline conditions.
The complexity of forecast testing: abstract

Consider a weather forecaster predicting a probability of rain for the next day. We consider tests that given a finite sequence of forecast predictions and outcomes will either pass or fail the forecaster. Sandroni shows that any test which passes a forecaster who knows the distribution of nature can also be probabilistically passed by a forecaster with no knowledge of future events.We look at the computational complexity of such forecasters and exhibit a linear-time test and distribution of nature such that any forecaster without knowledge of the future that can fool the test must be able to solve computationally difficult problems. Thus, unlike Sandroni, a computationally efficient forecaster cannot always fool this test independent of nature.
An orthogonal subspace projection-based for estimation of virtual dimensionality for hyperspectral data exploitation

A recently introduced concept, virtual dimensionality (VD) has been shown promise in many applications of hyperspectral data exploitation. It was originally developed for estimating number of spectrally distinct signal sources. This paper explores utility of the VD from various signal processing perspectives and further investigates four techniques, Gershgorin radius (GR), orthogonal projection subspace (OSP), signal subspace estimation (SSE), Neyman-Pearson detection (NPD), to be used to estimate the VD. In particular, the OSP-based VD estimation technique is new and has several advantages over other methods. In order to evaluate their performance, a comparative study and analysis is conducted via synthetic and real image experiments.
Mesodermal Deletion of Transforming Growth Factor-β Receptor II Disrupts Lung Epithelial Morphogenesis CROSS-TALK BETWEEN TGF-β AND SONIC HEDGEHOG PATHWAYS

In vertebrates, Sonic hedgehog (Shh) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathways occur in an overlapping manner in many morphogenetic processes. In vitro data indicate that the two pathways may interact. Whether such interactions occur during embryonic development remains unknown. Using embryonic lung morphogenesis as a model, we generated transgenic mice in which exon 2 of the TβRII gene, which encodes the type II TGF-β receptor, was deleted via a mesodermal-specific Cre. Mesodermal-specific deletion of TβRII (TβRIIΔ/Δ) resulted in embryonic lethality. The lungs showed abnormalities in both number and shape of cartilage in trachea and bronchi. In the lung parenchyma, where epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are critical for normal development, deletion of mesenchymal TβRII caused abnormalities in epithelial morphogenesis. Failure in normal epithelial branching morphogenesis in the TβRIIΔ/Δ lungs caused cystic airway malformations. Interruption of the TβRII locus in the lung mesenchyme increased mRNA for Patched and Gli-1, two downstream targets of Shh signaling, without alterations in Shh ligand levels produced in the epithelium. Therefore, we conclude that TβRII-mediated signaling in the lung mesenchyme modulates transduction of Shh signaling that originates from the epithelium. To our knowledge, this is the first in vivo evidence for a reciprocal and novel mode of cross-communication between Shh and TGF-β pathways during embryonic development.
The effect of alcohol stress on nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD + ) levels in Drosophila

Previous studies carried out in mammalian systems indicated that an organism's NAD+/NADH balance is carefully regulated but can be destabilized by dietary stresses. Since Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) uses NAD+ to remove a hydrogen from ethanol in the first step of alcohol catabolism, it is possible that under alcohol stress conditions the in vivo NAD+ levels in Drosophila may decrease. In this study genetically homozygous flies were stressed with maximally sublethal concentrations of ethanol (10%) for periods of up to 24 hr. The results indicate that NAD+ levels do in fact drop by at least 20% in response to ethanol stress. Evidence is presented that suggests that this decrease is the direct result of ADH-mediated catabolism.
Energy harvesting roads via pyroelectric effect: a possible approach

Thermal energy in the environment is a potential and possible source of electric energy for low-power electronics. The ambient temperature variation can be converted into electrical current or voltage via pyroelectric effect. The possibility of the utilizing pyroelectric materials in energy harvesting from roads warrants systematic exploration to take advantage of heat absorbed by the pavements. In terms of voltage generated, the simulated performances, of a few important pyroelectric materials, including fabricated in our laboratory, shall be described by employing real pavement temperature data obtained from climatic database of MEPDG.