cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Slow Learner— Changing His View of Math:

Many school systems have, without fanfare, been creating attractive and effective opportu nities by which slow learners can get somewhere in mathematics. These demonstrate, among other things, that the day of the locally-made curriculum is by no means over.
Measuring the Potentially Infinite

Georges Lemaitre (1894–1966) was born in Charlerio, Belgium. He studied religion, humanities and classical languages at a Jesuit school before enrolling at the Catholic University of Louvain in 1911. His engineering studies were interrupted by the World War, in which he served as a soldier in the Belgian army. Returning to the university, he turned his attention to physics and mathematics, earning a doctor of sciences in mathematics in 1920. Lemaitre was ordained into the priesthood in 1923, later serving as the president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences from 1960 until his death. During the time between his ordination and his appointment as university professor in 1927, Lemaitre travelled to Cambridge, where he studied under Arthur Eddington, and to the United States, where he received his Ph.D. under the guidance of Harlow Shapley. He was increasingly drawn to recent developments in cosmology and astrophysics, and in 1927 Lemaitre published a paper in which he suggested that the universe originated from the radioactive disintegration of a single primeval atom and that its size was increasing according to what is now known as Hubble’s law. The ideas presented in this paper were initially rejected by many prominent cosmologists since they suggested that the universe had a beginning—a notion which contradicted the prevailing static view of the universe. Nonetheless, Lemaitre’s ideas profoundly shaped modern Big Bang cosmology. The reading selections that follow were taken from the 1950 English translation by Betty H. Korff and Serge A. Korff of Lemaitre’s 1946 publication entitled L’hypothese de l’atome primitif. Lemaitre begins this book on The Primeval Atom by inquiring as to the actual size and shape of the universe taken as a whole. In attempting to answer this ancient question, considered over two millennia earlier by both Archimedes and Aristotle, Lemaitre draws upon the recent work of Poincare, Einstein, Hubble, De Sitter and Friedmann.
Computerized tomographic quantification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as the principal determinant of frontal P vector.

Verticalization of the P-wave axis is characteristic of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We studied the correlation of P-wave axis and computerized tomographically quantified emphysema in patients with COPD/emphysema. Individual correlation of P-wave axis with different structural types of emphysema was also studied. High-resolution computerized tomographic scans of 23 patients >45 years old with known COPD were reviewed to assess the type and extent of emphysema using computerized tomographic densitometric parameters. Electrocardiograms were then independently reviewed and the P-wave axis was calculated in customary fashion. Degree of the P vector (DOPV) and radiographic percent emphysematous area (RPEA) were compared for statistical correlation. The P vector and RPEA were also directly compared to the forced expiratory volume at 1 second. RPEA and the P vector had a significant positive correlation in all patients (r = +0.77, p
Novel morphological approaches for the study of oocyte maturation.

Recent advances in light microscopy are discussed with respect to their application for the study of cell surface, cytoskeletal and organellar changes that occur during meiotic maturation in mammalian oocytes. Three techniques are considered: 1) multiple fluorochrome labeling using immunocytochemical or pharmacological probes to analyze the spatial and temporal disposition of components in oocytes fixed at various stages of meiosis, 2) the use of vital fluorescence stains to study the actual movement of organdIes in living oocytes, and 3) video image intensification microscopy of living cells to record dynamic cellular changes with enhanced optical capabilities for fluorescence, polarization and differential interference contrast microscopy. A method is described for simultaneously localizing chromosomes, microtubules and f-actin in fixed rodent oocytes using, respectively, Hoechst 33258, antitubulin antibodies and NBD-phallicidin. Acridine orange and the laser dye rhodasnine 123 are employed as vital stains to visualize lysosomes and mitochondria, respectively, in rat oocytes undergoing meiotic maturation. Finally, the application of time-lapse video image intensification microscopy for the study of fluorescently labeled cellular components is discussed with special reference to extended monitoring of cellular organelles for the analysis of dynamic movements of oocyte constituents during maturation.
Use and Effectiveness of Washington State's Extension Forest Stewardship Program

This paper describes the use by family forest landowners of educational programs provided by Washington State University Cooperative Extension (WSUCE), and the associated use of technical assistance programs provided by state and federal agencies and the private sector. Approximately 100,000 family forest owners controlled 19% or over 1.2 M ha of Washington’s forestland and accounted for 29% of the timber harvested in the state on a volume basis in 1998. A variety of public and private assistance and education programs are available to encourage and help family forest owners manage their forests. In 1999 a mail survey was conducted to evaluate use and effectiveness of Washington’s family forest assistance and education programs. Over half of the 872 responding family forest landowners had contact with an extension educator, program or educational material, and about three quarters of these respondents gave an overall rating of the usefulness of extension programs and materials as good or excellent. Respondents attending WSUCE forestry educational programs have larger median land ownership size, are older, have owned their forests longer, have a higher rate of absentee ownership, and are better educated than non-users. They are more likely to actively manage their forests for timber production and exhibit a clearer understanding of the multiple-use capabilities of their forests.
Regional Industrial Identity: Cluster Configurations and Economic Development

We explore the concept of regional industrial identity as an important missing component in our understanding of the development of metropolitan regions and the spatial arrangements of industries. While economists and sociologists have explained the location of industry clusters on the basis of unevenly distributed resources, and historians have provided rich descriptive insight into the developmental dynamics of particular metropolitan regions, little systematic theory has been advanced to explain cross-regional inflows and outflows of resources, especially with respect to patterns in cluster development. This paper examines the concept of regional industrial identity as a social code that (1) arises from the shared understandings of residents and external audiences about the suitability of a region for particular kinds of business activity and (2) influences decisions about where to locate investments. We argue that such understandings are principally informed by configurations of industry clusters that have already formed in a region. Clusters, which are the results of historical investments, are also important signals about the types of business that can thrive in the future. We develop theoretical propositions linking characteristics of regional industry cluster configurations, in particular cluster dominance and cluster interrelatedness, to the strength and focus of regional identity and, as a result, to the types and amounts of resources that will develop within and flow into and out of regions.
Equalization with oversampling in multiuser CDMA systems

Some of the major challenges in the design of new-generation wireless mobile systems are the suppression of multiuser interference (MUI) and inter-symbol interference (ISI) within a single user created by the multipath propagation. Both of these problems were addressed successfully in a recent design of A Mutually Orthogonal Usercode-Receiver (AMOUR) for asynchronous or quasisynchronous code division multiple access (CDMA) systems. AMOUR converts a multiuser CDMA system into parallel single-user systems regardless of the multipath and guarantees ISI mitigation, irrespective of the channel null locations. However, the noise amplification at the receiver can be significant in some multipath channels. In this paper, we propose to oversample the received signal as a way of improving the performance of AMOUR systems. We design Fractionally Spaced AMOUR (FSAMOUR) receivers with integral and rational amounts of oversampling and compare their performance with the conventional method. An important point that is often overlooked in the design of zero-forcing channel equalizers is that sometimes, they are not unique. This becomes especially significant in multiuser applications where, as we will show, the nonuniqueness is practically guaranteed. We exploit this flexibility in the design of AMOUR and FSAMOUR receivers and achieve noticeable improvements in performance.
Characterization of power IGBTS under pulsed power conditions

The power insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) is used in many types of applications. Although the use of the power IGBT has been well characterized for many continuous operation power electronics applications, little published information is available regarding the performance of a given IGBT under pulsed power conditions. Additionally, component libraries in circuit simulation software packages have a finite number of IGBTs. This paper presents a process for characterizing the performance of a given power IGBT under pulsed power conditions. Specifically, signals up to 4.5 kV and 1 kA with approximately a 5 µs pulse width will be applied to a given IGBT. This process utilizes curve fitting techniques with collected data to determine values for a set of modeling parameters. These parameters are used in the Oziemkiewicz implementation of the Hefner model for the IGBT that is utilized in some circuit simulation software packages [1, 2]. After the nominal parameter values are determined, they can be inserted into the Oziemkiewicz implementation to simulate a given IGBT.
Regulation of mRNA decapping

Decapping is a critical step in the control of mRNA stability and the regulation of gene expression. Two major decapping enzymes involved in mRNA turnover have been identified, each functioning in one of the two exonucleolytic mRNA decay pathways in eukaryotic cells. The Dcp2 protein cleaves capped mRNA and initiates 5' to 3' degradation; the scavenger decapping enzyme, DcpS, hydrolyzes the cap structure generated by the 3' to 5' decay pathway. Consistent with the important role of decapping in gene expression, cap hydrolysis is exquisitely controlled by multiple regulators that influence association with the cap and the catalytic step. In this review, we will discuss the functions of the two different decapping enzymes, their regulation by cis-elements and trans-factors, and the potential role of the decapping enzymes in human neurological disorders.
Control of smart exercise machines. II. Self-optimizing control

For pt. I see ibid. p. 237-47 (1997). Concerns the design of an intelligent controller for a class of exercise machines. The control objective is to cause the user to exercise in a manner that optimizes a criterion related to the user's mechanical power. The optimal exercise strategy is determined by an a priori unknown biomechanical behavior, called the Hill surface, of the individual user. Consequently, the control scheme must simultaneously: 1) identify the user's biomechanical behavior; 2) optimize the controller; and 3) stabilize the system to the estimated optimal states. We address the self-optimization problem in which both the determination and the eventual execution of the optimal exercise strategy are accomplished, when the user's biomechanical behavior is unknown. This is achieved by a combination of an adaptive controller and a reference generator. The latter switches the desired exercise strategy between a training strategy and the estimated optimal strategy. Depending on the switching scheme chosen, it is shown that, asymptotically, the user will either execute the optimal exercise with probability one or operate close to it. Experimental results of the overall system verify the efficacy of the design.
Full Scale Treatment of Wastewater Effluent with High Energy Electrons

The use of high energy electrons for treatment of waste residuals is an emerging technology. Some work on treatment effects has been done at a laboratory scale, but virtually no data are available from full scale installations. The information that exists relates to domestic sludge irradiation only, and these data are quite meager.
Optimal Case Selection by Law Enforcement Agencies

This article has been significantly revised. Please refer to the revised version, titled “Allocating Regulatory Resources”, which is available on SSRN at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2304434.This article incorporates the concept of legal placebo effects into law enforcement agencies’ case selection criteria. The article critiques the case selection framework that views enforcement as a tradeoff between enforcement costs and deterrence of wrongdoing (i.e., the effect of enforcement on potential wrongdoers’ risk perception), because it ignores the placebo effect of law enforcement: the effect of enforcement on potential victims’ risk perception. The article then identifies enforcers’ private interests that result in under- or over-enforcement. The concept of bias arbitrage (creation of legal placebos for private gain) identifies when actors have incentives for inefficient enforcement. The role of bias arbitrage in an agency’s case selection grows the more politically-sensitive the agency is. Political-sensitivity depends, in turn, on the applicable enforcement allocation structure: rules that determine which actors set the constraints that determine case selection.
A Functionalist Approach to Comparative Abortion Law

Courts in countries as diverse as Portugal, South Africa, Mexico, and Colombia have relied on comparative law to balance constitutional values along a spectrum legislative regimes on abortion. An emerging consensus about a highly stylized and abstract set of rights has often produced liberalization of abortion law, but without necessarily improving access to abortion services. The fifth chapter of Abortion Law in Transnational Perspective maintains a methodological focus but departs from constitutional law as the primary field of engagement. This chapter questions the costs of continuing to prioritize the relationship between constitutional values and regulatory regimes, rather than that between law and practice. It makes the case that the practice of abortion – whether abortion services are more available, affordable or accessible – is not determined by legislative form or constitutional norms, but by a complex relationship among formal, informal, and background rules. The chapter concludes by setting out an alternative functionalist methodology to capture this web of rules and to study its practical impact on access to services.
Dispersion Statistics and Sample Size Estimates for House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae and Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acari: Macrochelidae) in Poultry Manure

The precision of the density estimate for a given population depends upon the population's density and degree of clumping and upon sampling characteristics, such as the number and surface area of the quadrats. The parameters k of the negative binomial distribution and b of Taylor's power law (s2 = a mean b) were determined for third instars of the muscaedomesticae (Scopoli), which were sampled by random quadrats at two shallow-pit, caged-layer poultry houses. Most calculated values of k were < 1, but agreement with the negative binomial distribution was found only in 4, 18, and 14 of the 27 weekly samples for house fly larvae, female mites, and male mites, respectively. Taylor's power law provided the best fit for the distribution (P < 0.01 for all regression coefficients) with s2 = 9.08 mean 1.83 (r2 = 0.97) for third-instar house flies and s2 = 4.65 mean 1.76 (r2 = 0.97) for both sexes of M. muscaedomesticae. Two ecological processes, social clustering and environmental heterogeneity, were hypothesized as the mechanisms determining aggregation of house fly larvae and the macrochelid mites. Regardless of the biological model influencing their distributions, Taylor's power law provided a reliable index for measuring their degree of aggregation. Reliability defined by the coefficient of variability and Taylor's regression coefficients was used to calculate optimum sample size-density estimates for each species with coefficients of variability of 10, 15, 20, and 25%.
Including Finite Surface Span Effects in Empirical Jet-Surface Interaction Noise Models

The effect of finite span on the jet-surface interaction noise source and the jet mixing noise shielding and reflection effects is considered using recently acquired experimental data. First, the experimental setup and resulting data are presented with particular attention to the role of surface span on far-field noise. These effects are then included in existing empirical models that have previously assumed that all surfaces are semi-infinite. This extended abstract briefly describes the experimental setup and data leaving the empirical modeling aspects for the final paper.
Reclaiming crime prevention in an age of punishment: An American history:

Crime prevention has long figured prominently in the scholarly and applied traditions of criminology. Using a socio-historical approach, this article examines the developments of and influences on the concept of crime prevention in the USA over the last century. We argue that crime prevention is a unique social and environmental strategy for reducing crime and is distinct from crime control or punishment. Prevention’s main characteristics include a focus on intervening in the first instance – before a crime has been committed – and operating outside of the formal justice system. The historical record of the scholarship and practice of crime prevention in the USA embraces this view. A more current perspective sees crime prevention as the full range of techniques, from prenatal home visits to prison sentences, defined more by its outcome – the prevention of a future criminal event – than its character or approach. A return to the original meaning of prevention is considered.
Occurrence, Parasitization, and Sampling of Liriomyza Species (Diptera: Agromyzidae) Infesting Celery in California

Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess) and L. sativae Blanchard were found in all of the major celery-producing counties in California. L. trifolii was the dominant species and reached economically damaging populations in Orange, Ventura, and Monterey Counties in 1981.Density of L. trifolii increased more than 100% in experimental celery plantings in Orange County from 1980 to 1981, but ca. 90% of the larvae were parasitized at harvest in both years. Estimation of parasitism by leaf examination was more efficient than calculation of parasitism from adult emergence. Diglyphus species were the most common parasites reared from leafminers, but Halticoptera circulus Walker, predominated in samples collected with a suction machine. L. sativae were more numerous than L. trifolii in suction samples but not in concurrent rearing tests.
Play beliefs and responsive parenting among low-income mothers of preschoolers in the United States

ABSTRACTThis study examined associations between parents’ developmentally appropriate beliefs about young children’s play and responsive parenting. Low-income parents and their children enrolled in Head Start programmes (n = 231) in the United States participated in the study. Responsive parenting skills (characterized by high levels of warmth and responsiveness, and lower levels of hostility) were related to parents’ beliefs endorsing play as valuable (Play Support) for promoting preschool children’s social skills and school readiness. Additionally, higher levels of parent depression were negatively associated with Play Support beliefs while higher levels of parent efficacy were positively associated. Parent education showed a positive relation with Play Support beliefs and a negative relationship with beliefs regarding focusing on academic readiness of children without playful learning (Academic Focus). Implications for understanding play-based approaches for promoting children’s developmental outcomes ...
54 MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION-ANGIOPLASTY-CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTS ≤ AGE 45: ATHEROTHROMBOSIS.

Although heritable thrombophilias and hypofibrinolysis predominantly cause venous thrombosis, they may also promote arterial thrombosis, synergistic with atherosclerosis, producing atherothrombotic cardiovascular (ATCVD) events. In 70 men and 16 women with ≥ 1 premature myocardial infarction (n = 60)-angioplasty (n = 52)-coronary artery bypass grafts (n = 33) (≤ age 45 years), we assessed whether and to what degree heritable thrombophilia-hypofibrinolysis contributed to 145 ATCVD events ≤ age 45. Hereditary thrombophilias studied by PCR included the G1691A factor V Leiden, G20210A prothrombin, MTHFR C677T-A1298C, and platelet glycoprotein PL A1/A2 mutations, with serologic studies of ACLA IgG and IgM, the lupus anticoagulant, proteins C and S, antithrombin III, homocysteine, and factors VIII and XI. Hypofibrinolysis studies included the 4G4G plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 mutation (PAI), PAI activity (PAI-Fx), and Lp(a). Cases were compared with healthy normal controls (149 men for PCR, 40 for serologic tests, 109 women for PCR and for serologic tests). At entry, hypertension was present in 46% of men and 31% of women, diabetes in 19% and 13%, and cigarette smoking in 26% and 13%, respectively. In the 70 male cases, mean ± SD age was 49 ± 11, BMI 29.5 ± 4.2, LDLC 102 ± 45, HDLC 41 ± 15, and TG 204 ± 229 mg/dL. In 16 female cases, mean ± SD age was 43 ± 7, BMI 28.1 ± 5.5, LDLC 103 ± 32, HDLC 45 ± 11, and TG 191 ± 170 mg/dL. Male cases were more likely than male controls to have factor V Leiden (6 of 60, 10% vs 4 of 149, 3%, p = .035), high Lp(a) (≥ 35 mg/dL) (25 of 69, 36% vs 7 of 40, 18%, p = .039), high PAI-Fx (> 21.1 U/mL) (15 of 61, 25% vs 3 of 39, 8%, p = .036), high (> 150%) factor VIII (15 of 57, 26% vs 1 of 38, 3%, p = .003), and high (> 150%) factor XI (9 of 55, 16% vs 0 of 38, 0%, p = .0096). Female cases were more likely then female controls to have high factor VIII (5 of 14, 36% vs 13 of 109, 12%, p = .033) and were more likely to have low free protein S (3 of 14, 21% vs 3 of 107, 3%, p = .02). In patients sustaining MI-angioplasty-CABG events ≤ age 45, we speculate that hereditary thrombophilias (factor V Leiden, factor VIII, factor XI, low free protein S) and hypofibrinolysis (PAI-Fx, Lp(a)) promote arterial thrombosis that may be synergistic with atherosclerotic endothelial injury. In patients with MI-angioplasty-CABG events ≤ age 45 and concurrent hereditary thrombophilia, we speculate that thromboprophylaxis may have value in secondary prevention of subsequent ATCVD.
Using the shortwave infrared to image middle ear pathologies

Visualizing structures deep inside opaque biological tissues is one of the central challenges in biomedical imaging. Optical imaging with visible light provides high resolution and sensitivity; however, scattering and absorption of light by tissue limits the imaging depth to superficial features. Imaging with shortwave infrared light (SWIR, 1-2 μm) shares many advantages of visible imaging, but light scattering in tissue is reduced, providing sufficient optical penetration depth to noninvasively interrogate subsurface tissue features. However, the clinical potential of this approach has been largely unexplored because suitable detectors, until recently, have been either unavailable or cost prohibitive. Here, taking advantage of newly available detector technology, we demonstrate the potential of SWIR light to improve diagnostics through the development of a medical otoscope for determining middle ear pathologies. We show that SWIR otoscopy has the potential to provide valuable diagnostic information complementary to that provided by visible pneumotoscopy. We show that in healthy adult human ears, deeper tissue penetration of SWIR light allows better visualization of middle ear structures through the tympanic membrane, including the ossicular chain, promontory, round window niche, and chorda tympani. In addition, we investigate the potential for detection of middle ear fluid, which has significant implications for diagnosing otitis media, the overdiagnosis of which is a primary factor in increased antibiotic resistance. Middle ear fluid shows strong light absorption between 1,400 and 1,550 nm, enabling straightforward fluid detection in a model using the SWIR otoscope. Moreover, our device is easily translatable to the clinic, as the ergonomics, visual output, and operation are similar to a conventional otoscope.
Introduction to Kähler manifolds

Let M be a compact C∞ manifold. A Riemannian metric g on M is a smooth section of T * M ⊗ T * M defining a positive definite symmetric bilinear form on T x M for each x ∈ M. In local coordinates x1,…, x n , one has a natural local basis \( \frac{\partial }{{\partial {{x}_{1}}}}, \cdots ,\frac{\partial }{{\partial {{x}_{n}}}}\) for TM, then g is represented by a smooth matrix-valued function {g ij }, for TM, then g is represented by a smooth matrix-valued function {g ij }, where $$ {{g}_{{ij}}} = g\left( {\frac{\partial }{{\partial {{x}_{i}}}},\frac{\partial }{{\partial {{x}_{j}}}}} \right)$$ .
Posture, Locomotion and Bipedality: The Case of the Gerenuk (Litocranius walleri)

Most explanations for the origin of hominin bipedality cannot be comparatively tested, because there are no other striding bipeds among mammals. However, there are other mammals that stand bipedally for long periods of time. One such is the gerenuk (Litocranius walleri), an African gazelle that browses while standing bipedally, with extended hips and knees and a marked lumbar lordosis. Despite these behavioral resemblances to humans, Richter’s (1970) extensive comparative study of gerenuk anatomy found only one skeletal apomorphy specifically related to bipedality – namely, a reduction in the lumbar spinous processes, which permits that lumbar lordosis. Our data show that gerenuks lack two other features – an expanded cranial sector of the acetabular semilunar surface, and “wedging” of the lumbar vertebral bodies – that we had expected from their bipedal positional behavior. We infer that even prolonged and extensive postural bipedality results in little or no postcranial remodeling, unless selection favoring the maintenance of efficient quadrupedal locomotion is relaxed. This conclusion undercuts theories, such as Hunt’s (1994) “postural feeding hypothesis,” that portray early hominin postcranial apomorphies as having originated as adaptations to bipedal feeding postures rather than to bipedal locomotion.
The Enduring Significance of Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Male Violent Victimization, 1973–2010

Latino and Black males are more likely to suffer serious violent victimization compared to White males, and it is likely that economic disadvantage and other individual level differences play a key role in these disparities. This study of self-reported data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (1973–2010) is the first effort to assess three important issues: 1) the extent to which the relationship between serious violent victimization and race and ethnicity can be accounted for by age, location of residence, poverty status, and employment; 2) whether these factors have similar influences among Black, White, and Latino males; and 3) whether the net risk for violence associated with race and ethnicity has diminished over time. Our results show that disparities between Black and White male violent victimization decrease approximately 70% once age, location of residence, poverty status, and employment are taken into account, and that differences between Latinos and White males are fully accounted for by these factors. Poverty status is the only factor that varies in the strength of its association with violence across groups. We also find little evidence to suggest that the association between race, ethnicity and victimization risk changed significantly from 1973 to 2010, once other factors are considered. Despite notable declines in violence over this time period, Black and White disparities in male victimization persist over the past four decades; however, the relationship between poverty status and violence has increased some for Black and White males.
Can interactive parental education impact health care utilization in pediatric asthma: A study in rural Texas:

Objective It is well known that parent/patient education helps to reduce the burden of asthma in urban areas, but data are scarce for rural areas. This study explored the impact of asthma education in Ector County, a rural part of Health Services Region 9 in Texas, which has one of the highest prevalence rates of asthma in the state. Methods This prospective study investigated an interactive asthma education intervention in pediatric patients aged 2-18 years and their caregivers. Change in parental/caregiver knowledge about their child's asthma along with frequency of missed school days, emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions was obtained via telephone surveys before and after the educational intervention was delivered. Results The study enrolled 102 pediatric patients and their parents/caregivers. Asthma education was associated with significantly fewer school absences, ED visits and hospitalizations. Parents/caregivers reported feeling better educated, knowing what triggers an asthma exacerbation, identifying the signs of a severe asthma attack in their child, feeling confident about managing asthma and feeling that the asthma was under control. Conclusion Asthma education of caregivers and children was associated with better symptom management and fewer acute exacerbations, pointing to the relevance and importance of asthma education among pediatric patients in rural areas.
Ice surface and bed roughness estimation of petermann Glacier

Understanding the subglacial conditions is crucial in determining the ice dynamics and predicting the stability of ice sheets. Radio echo sounding (RES) surveys have been extensively carried out to map the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica. Using RES data, basal conditions of ice sheets can be determined from estimated reflectivity that is affected by ice surface and bed roughness. Roughness is also one of the important parameters to explain ice dynamics. In this paper the ice surface and bed roughness of Petermann Glacier, one of the largest outlet glacier of Greenland, is estimated with the Multi-Channel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS) data by fitting the echo amplitude distribution to statistical models. The roughness derived from MCoRDS data is compared and verified with the roughness estimations from Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) and Ku-band altimeter measurements. It has been observed that Petermann glacier has rougher ice inland and a smoother bed towards the trunk of the glacier.
Hydrogen Production by Water Biophotolysis

The use of microalgae for production of hydrogen gas from water photolysis has been studied for many years, but its commercialization is still limited by multiple challenges. Most of the barriers to commercialization are attributed to the existence of biological regulatory mechanisms that, under anaerobic conditions, quench the absorbed light energy, down-regulate linear electron transfer, inactivate the H2-producing enzyme, and compete for electrons with the hydrogenase. Consequently, the conversion efficiency of absorbed photons into H2 is significantly lower than its estimated potential of 12–13 %. However, extensive research continues towards addressing these barriers by either trying to understand and circumvent intracellular regulatory mechanisms at the enzyme and metabolic level or by developing biological systems that achieve prolonged H2 production albeit under lower than 12–13 % solar conversion efficiency. This chapter describes the metabolic pathways involved in biological H2 photoproduction from water photolysis, the attributes of the two hydrogenases, [FeFe] and [NiFe], that catalyze biological H2 production, and highlights research related to addressing the barriers described above. These highlights include: (a) recent advances in improving our understanding of the O2 inactivation mechanism in different classes of hydrogenases; (b) progress made in preventing competitive pathways from diverting electrons from H2 photoproduction; and (c) new developments in bypassing the non-dissipated proton gradient from down-regulating photosynthetic electron transfer. As an example of a major success story, we mention the generation of truncated-antenna mutants in Chlamydomonas and Synechocystis that address the inherent low-light saturation of photosynthesis. In addition, we highlight the rationale and progress towards coupling biological hydrogenases to non-biological, photochemical charge-separation as a means to bypass the barriers of photobiological systems.
‘Greener’ Organic Syntheses Under Non-Traditional Conditions Using Microwave and Ultrasound Irradiation and Mechanochemical Mixing

Solvent-free mechanochemical methods that involve the use of hypervalent iodine reagents at room temperature are described for the synthesis of heterocyclic entities and conversion of ketones into β-keto sulfones in high yields. A solvent-free approach that involves microwave (MW) exposure of neat reactants (undiluted) catalyzed by the surfaces of lessexpensive and recyclable mineral supports such as alumina, silica, clay, or ‘doped’ surfaces is presented; it is applicable to a wide range of cleavage, condensation, cyclization, rearrangement, oxidation, and reduction reactions, including rapid one-pot assembly of heterocyclic compounds from in situ generated reactive intermediates. The strategy is adaptable to multicomponent reactions, e.g. Ugi and Biginelli reactions, for rapid assembly of a library of compounds. Synthesis of a wide variety of significant precursors and intermediates, namely enones, imines, enamines, nitroalkenes, and oxidized sulfur species, is possible and their value in concise MW synthesis of 2-aroylbenzofurans and thiazole derivatives is illustrated. Ultrasoundand MW-assisted solventless preparation of ionic liquids and their application in alkylation and metal-catalyzed multi-component reactions is described. Efficient reaction of epoxides with carbon dioxide (CO2) provides ready access to cyclic carbonates using only a catalytic amount of recyclable indium-based ionic liquid. MW heating in aqueous reaction media enables expeditious N-alkylation reactions of amines and hydrazines to afford a series of heterocyclic ring systems, such as N-azacycloalkanes, 4,5-dihydropyrazoles, and pyrazolidines. A general and expeditious MW-enhanced nucleophilic substitution approach uses easily accessible starting materials, such as halides or tosylates, in reaction with alkali azides, thiocyanates, or sulfinates in the absence of any phase transfer catalyst to produce azides, thiocyanates, and sulfones, respectively, wherein a variety of reactive functional groups are tolerated.
The NF-kappaB regulatory network.

Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is a family of seven structurally related transcription factors that play a central role in cardiovascular growth, stress response, and inflammation by controlling gene network expression. Although the NF-κB subunits are ubiquitously expressed, their actions are regulated in a cell-type and stimulus-specific manner, allowing for a diverse spectrum of effects. For example, NF-κB is activated by cytokines, reactive oxygen species, bacterial cell wall products, vasopressors, viral infection, and DNA damage. Recent molecular dissection of its mechanisms for activation has shown that NF-κB can be induced by the so-called “canonical” and “noncanonical” pathways, leading to distinct patterns in the individual subunits activated and down-stream genetic responses produced. The canonical pathway involves activating the IκB kinase (IKK) with subsequent phosphorylation-induced proteolysis of the IκBα inhibitors and consequent nuclear translocation of the Rel A transcriptional activator. Recent work using high-density oligonucleotide arrays have begun to systematically dissect the scope of the gene network under canonical NF-κB control and have yielded important insights into biological pathways controlled by it. This pathway controls expression of noncontiguous, functionally discrete groups of genes (“regulons”), whose temporal expression occurs in waves. Moreover, its mode of activation (oscillatory or monophasic) plays an important role in determining the spectrum of target genes expressed. By contrast, the noncanonical NF-κB activation pathway involves activating the NF-κB inducing kinase (NIK) to stimulate IKKα-induced phosphorylation and proteolytic processing of the 100-kDa cytoplasmic NF-κB2 precursor. Activated NF-κB2 then forms a complex with Rel B and NIK to translocate into the nucleus thereby activating a distinct set of genes. Although the noncanonical pathway has been most clearly linked to control of adaptive immunity, recent intriguing studies have implicated this pathway in viral induced stress response and in the metabolic syndrome. In this way, a single family of transcription factors can respond to diverse stimuli to regulate cardiovascular homeostasis.
Assessing Therapist Competence in the Context of PCIT Training

Assessing therapist competence is an essential aspect of ensuring that parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT) services are delivered with fidelity. Currently PCIT International requires all PCIT therapists to complete a highly structured training process in which therapist competence is evaluated at several points. Pre- and post-training measures evaluating therapist knowledge of PCIT, observing therapist performance during role-plays and DPICS coding exercises, and review of therapist work samples during the year-long consultation period following a PCIT training are all useful techniques that are routinely used when assessing the competence of trainee PCIT therapists. Several “code the coach” systems are also gaining popularity as a way to offer structured feedback related to a therapist’s coaching style. Still, the specific methods used to assess therapist competence may vary between individual PCIT trainers. We discuss possible future directions in the assessment of therapist competence and present a case example of how the competence of one trainee therapist was assessed.
A digital event-recording ocean bottom seismometer capsule

The ocean bottom seismometer capsule contains a 1 Hz. vertical seismometer and triggerable or programmable digital recording system. The output of the seismometer is continuously digitized at a preselected rate of 64, 128, or 256 samples/sec. The digital data words are mixed with a time code and synchronization characters, serialized and passed through a 1536 sample shift register which acts as a delay line. The serial output bits are then encoded and recorded on a SONY TC800B tape recorder which is turned on when a seismic event occurs. The event trigger occurs when the seismic signal jumps to 8 times the time averaged input signal. A memory may be programmed to run the recorder on a schedule so that small amplitude signals from refraction shots are sure to be recorded. Data are recovered using the same recorder for playback and a decoder which provides an analog output for field data interpretation or a digital output for computer analysis. An acoustic transponder allows precise ranges between the capsule and ship to be determined. In addition, commands for the capsule to release or to transmit diagnostic data may be given from the surface ship. The capsule falls freely to the ocean bottom. After a predetermined time or when a release command is received, it is released from a 68 kg steel tripod and floats to the surface. A dual timer and explosive bolt system is used to increase recovery reliability. The first capsules were designed and constructed between October 1972 and October 1973. Good results were obtained from 38 out of 43 launchings made on six expeditions in 1974, 1975, and 1976. Four capsules have been lost.
Diverse spinal commissural neuron populations revealed by fate mapping and molecular profiling using a novel Robo3 Cre mouse

The two sides of the nervous system coordinate and integrate information via commissural neurons, which project axons across the midline. Commissural neurons in the spinal cord are a highly heterogeneous population of cells with respect to their birthplace, final cell body position, axonal trajectory, and neurotransmitter phenotype. Although commissural axon guidance during development has been studied in great detail, neither the developmental origins nor the mature phenotypes of commissural neurons have been characterized comprehensively, largely due to lack of selective genetic access to these neurons. Here, we generated mice expressing Cre recombinase from the Robo3 locus specifically in commissural neurons. We used Robo3 Cre mice to characterize the transcriptome and various origins of developing commissural neurons, revealing new details about their extensive heterogeneity in molecular makeup and developmental lineage. Further, we followed the fate of commissural neurons into adulthood, thereby elucidating their settling positions and molecular diversity and providing evidence for possible functions in various spinal cord circuits. Our studies establish an important genetic entry point for further analyses of commissural neuron development, connectivity, and function.
Estimation of mechanical parameters in cancers by empirical orthogonal function analysis of poroelastography data

Abstract Ultrasound poroelastography is a non-invasive imaging modality that has been shown to be capable of estimating mechanical parameters such as Young's modulus (YM), Poisson's ratio (PR) and vascular permeability (VP) in cancers. However, experimental poroelastographic data are inherently noisy because of the requirement of relatively long temporal data acquisitions often in hand-held mode conditions. In this paper, we propose a new method, which allows accurate estimation of YM and PR from denoised steady state axial and lateral strains by empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis of poroelastographic data. The method also allows estimation of VP from the time constant (TC) of the first expansion coefficient (EC) of the temporal axial strain, which has larger dynamic range and lower noise in comparison to the actual temporal axial strain curve. We validated our technique through finite element (FE) and ultrasound simulations and tested the in vivo feasibility in experimental data obtained from a cancer animal model. The percent relative errors (PRE) in the estimation of YM, PR and VP using the EOF analysis as applied to ultrasound simulation data were 3.27%, 3.10%, 14.22%, respectively (at SNR of 20 dB). Based on the high level of accuracy by EOF analysis, the proposed technique may become a useful signal processing technique for applications focusing on the estimation of the mechanical behavior of cancers.
Left ventricular myxoma: A contractile mass causing intracavitary obstruction and severe pulmonary hypertension

Cardiac myxomas can be fatal and left ventricular (LV) myxomas with papillary muscle and mitral valve (MV) involvement are rare. The following case is that of a 55-year-old woman who developed signs and symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Imaging revealed a contractile mass in the LV that was in continuum with the papillary muscles and affected MV function. Her clinical course, radiologic, and hemodynamic findings are discussed. Finally, her surgical extraction technique is described in addition to potential complications encountered.
Teaching Livestock Production for Niche Markets

Niche markets for livestock products are growing both nationally and within Iowa. Broadly, niche markets address consumer demand for product differentiation while enabling producers to take a more active role in price determination. This creates opportunities for individuals who are interested in raising livestock following a production model different from typical commodity production. Student interest in pursuing livestock production for niche markets is strong at Iowa State University. In response to exit-interview requests for coursework addressing production of livestock for niche markets, a course was developed by the authors. In the first semester (Fall 2008), 42 students enrolled in the course. Animal Science 312X: Livestock Production for Niche Markets is a course offered by the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University that helps prepare students to participate in this growing market for livestock products.
Lexical-Level Predictors of Reading Comprehension in Third Grade: Is Spelling a Unique Contributor?

Purpose Considerable research effort has focused on understanding reading comprehension and reading comprehension difficulties. The purpose of this correlational study was to add to the small but g...
El rol de la incoherencia: pedagogía poscolonial y teología en la narrativa de la conquista de la Nueva corónica y buen gobierno

Este ensayo estudia aspectos de la narrativa de la conquista de la Nueva coronica y buen gobierno de Guaman Poma de Ayala que han recibido limitada atencion. El argumento central es que el objetivo del autor andino era producir un cambio en la forma en que los lectores le daban sentido al mundo que los rodeaba. Para ello, adopto una estrategia pedagogica: confrontar al lector con aparentes incoherencias, absurdos historicos, para sorprenderlo y que se preguntase, dudase y, fnalmente, se diera cuenta de que eran las premisas que tenia sobre la realidad las que hacian que esos elementos pareciesen raros, absurdos o incoherentes, no los elementos en si. Es decir, eran acertijos, medios de una estrategia con fnes decoloniales.