cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privacy-preserving matching of spatial datasets with protection against background knowledge

Private matching (or join) of spatial datasets is crucial for applications where distinct parties wish to share information about nearby geo-tagged data items. To protect each party's data, only joining pairs of points should be revealed, and no additional information about non-matching items should be disclosed. Previous research efforts focused on private matching for relational data, and rely either on space-embedding or on SMC techniques. Space-embedding transforms data points to hide their exact attribute values before matching is performed, whereas SMC protocols simulate complex digital circuits that evaluate the matching condition without revealing anything else other than the matching outcome.However, existing solutions have at least one of the following drawbacks: (i) they fail to protect against adversaries with background knowledge on data distribution, (ii) they compromise privacy by returning large amounts of false positives and (iii) they rely on complex and expensive SMC protocols. In this paper, we introduce a novel geometric transformation to perform private matching on spatial datasets. Our method is efficient and it is not vulnerable to background knowledge attacks. We consider two distance evaluation metrics in the transformed space, namely L2 and L∞, and show how the metric used can control the trade-off between privacy and the amount of returned false positives. We provide an extensive experimental evaluation to validate the precision and efficiency of our approach.
A putative precursor of isomalabaricane triterpenoids from lanosterol synthase mutants.

Known lanosterol synthase mutants produce monocyclic or tetracyclic byproducts from oxidosqualene. We describe Erg7 Tyr510 mutants that cause partial substrate misfolding and generate a tricyclic byproduct. This novel triterpene, (13αH)-isomalabarica-14(27),17E,21-trien-3β-ol, is the likely biosynthetic precursor of isomalabaricane triterpenoids in sponges. The results suggest the facile evolution of protective triterpenoids in sessile animals.
Layered polyelectrolyte-silica coating for nanocapsules.

This paper demonstrates the ability to grow silica directly on a deposited surface of polyelectrolyte. Using this strategy, we describe the deposition of layered polyelectrolyte−silica coating on negatively charged surfaces of polystyrene particles and latex nanocapsules, which could not be coated directly with silica alone. By etching away the underlying polystyrene bead, we were able to form polyelectrolyte−silica capsules that were mechanically robust. Using scanning and transmission electron microscopy, we imaged and studied the coating after the deposition of each layer of polyelectrolyte and silica. We then applied this new coating to latex nanocapsules that were loaded with fluorescein molecules. We found that the coating procedure did not cause the loaded molecules to leak out from the capsules, and we determined that the variation in the number of loaded molecules among capsules arose from differences in the volume of the nanocavities and was not caused by the loading and coating of the capsules....
Gene transfer as a strategy to achieve permanent cardioprotection II: rAAV-mediated gene therapy with heme oxygenase-1 limits infarct size 1 year later without adverse functional consequences

Extensive evidence indicates that heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) exerts potent cytoprotective effects in response to stress. Previous studies have shown that gene therapy with HO-1 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury for up to 8 weeks after gene transfer. However, the long-term effects of HO-1 gene therapy on myocardial ischemic injury and function are unknown. To address this issue, we created a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector carrying the HO-1 gene (rAAV/HO-1) that enables long-lasting transgene expression. Mice received injections in the anterior LV wall of rAAV/LacZ (LacZ group) or rAAV/HO-1 (HO-1 group); 1 year later, they were subjected to a 30-min coronary occlusion (O) and 4 h of reperfusion (R). Cardiac HO-1 gene expression was confirmed at 1 month and 1 year after gene transfer by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry analyses. In the HO-1 group, infarct size (% of risk region) was dramatically reduced at 1 year after gene transfer (11.2 ± 2.1%, n = 12, vs. 44.7 ± 3.6%, n = 8, in the LacZ group; P < 0.05). The infarct-sparing effects of HO-1 gene therapy at 1 year were as powerful as those observed 24 h after ischemic PC (six 4-min O/4-min R cycles) (15.0 ± 1.7%, n = 10). There were no appreciable changes in LV fractional shortening, LV ejection fraction, or LV end-diastolic or end-systolic diameter at 1 year after HO-1 gene transfer as compared to the age-matched controls or with the LacZ group. Histology showed no inflammation in the myocardium 1 year after rAAV/HO-1-mediated gene transfer. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that rAAV-mediated HO-1 gene transfer confers long-term (1 year), possibly permanent, cardioprotection without adverse functional consequences, providing proof of principle for the concept of achieving prophylactic cardioprotection (i.e., “immunization against infarction”).
Leukoproliferative response of splenocytes from english sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) exposed to chemical contaminants

The leukoproliferative (LP) response of splenic leukocytes from the marine benthic fish English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) stimulated with the mitogens lipopolysaccharide (LPS), concanavalin A (Con A), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was examined as a biomarker of immunotoxic effects. English sole were exposed to contaminants, either by injection of an organic-solvent extract of a sediment containing polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) or placed for up to 5 weeks on a reference sediment containing 0.15 to 1.5% (v/v) of the PAC-contaminated sediment. English sole either injected with the contaminated extract or held on PAC-contaminated sediment had an augmented response to Con A. The LP response to LPS showed no relationship to PAC exposure in laboratory-exposed fish, while PWM showed no consistent relationship to exposure to PACs. In a field study, English sole captured from an urban area in Puget Sound, Washington, USA, contaminated with PACs and other chemical contaminants had a significantly augmented LP response to Con A and PWM in comparison to the LP response in fish from a nonurban reference site. Fish from another nonurban site also had an augmented LP response to Con A, indicating that the elevation of the Con A LP response can also result from factors other than chemical contaminant exposure. In addition, English sole from this site also had an augmented LP response to LPS, whereas fish from urban sites did not exhibit an augmented LP response to LPS. Overall, the results demonstrated that although the LP response in splenic leukocytes of English sole to Con A was linked to contaminant exposure, the LP response to Con A did not exhibit high specificity as an indicator of chemical contaminant exposure. However, the concerted use of Con A, LPS, and PWM allowed for identification of apparent chemical contaminant-induced alterations of the LP response in English sole from an urban area of Puget Sound.
On the copositive representation of binary and continuous nonconvex quadratic programs

In this paper, we model any nonconvex quadratic program having a mix of binary and continuous variables as a linear program over the dual of the cone of copositive matrices. This result can be viewed as an extension of earlier separate results, which have established the copositive representation of a small collection of NP-hard problems. A simplification, which reduces the dimension of the linear conic program, and an extension to complementarity constraints are established, and computational issues are discussed.
Chemistry of JP-10 Ignition

Ignition of JP-10 is addressed from computational and theoretical viewpoints. A detailed chemical mechanism consisting of 174 elementary steps among 36 chemical species is obtained by adding 27 steps, including JP-10, cyclopentene, and 1,3 butadiene, to an earlier system of 147 steps among 33 species that extend through C 3 hydrocarbons. The new steps and their rate parameters are derived by analogy with earlier studies of decane and heptane. Predictions of ignition times by the new detailed mechanism are found to be in good agreement with data from JP-10 shock-tube experiments. Systematically reduced mechanisms also are discussed on the basis of the detailed mechanism, resulting in a simplified correlation that performs well. The results can be helpful for applications in airbreathing propulsion involving JP-10.
Trial of antihypertensive intervention and management: Greater efficacy with weight reduction than with a sodium-potassium intervention

Abstract The Trial of Antihypertensive Intervention and Management evaluated nine diet-drug combinations in 878 mildly hypertensive, moderately obese participants using a 3 × 3 factorial design. Drugs evaluated were placebo, diuretic (chlorthalidone), and β-blocker (atenolol); diets were usual (no intervention), weight reduction, and low sodium/high potassium (NaK). This article reports 6-month dietary changes and the effect of dietary change on blood pressure. Six-month mean weight change was −4.7 kg in the weight reduction group, −0.3 kg in the NaK group, and −0.5 kg in the usual-diet group. At 6 months, daily electrolyte excretion had changed in the NaK intervention group. Daily sodium excretion decreased from 138.0 to 112.0 mmol in the NaK group and increased from 134.1 to 138.4 mmol in the weight reduction group and from 129.1 to 137.0 mmol in the usual-diet group. Daily potassium output increased from 58.7 to 71.4 mmol in the NaK group, from 57.0 to 60.5 mmol in the weight reduction group, and from 55.3 to 59.1 mmol in the usual diet group. Analysis of 3-day food records indicated that sodium intake decreased from 141.1 to 85.8 mmol and potassium intake increased from 76.4 to 90.5 mmol. Our results indicate that the goal for weight reduction was more easily achieved than the goal for electrolyte modification.
Circadian distribution of rest/activity in narcoleptic and control dogs: assessment with ambulatory activity monitoring

Like human narcoleptics, narcoleptic dogs display cataplexy, fragmented sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Cataplexy in dogs can easily be quantified using a simple behavioural bioassay, the Food Elicited Cataplexy Test. In contrast, daytime sleepiness and fragmented sleep are more difficult to measure, as long-term, labour-intensive polygraphic recordings in surgically-implanted animals are needed. In the current study, 24-h rest/activity patterns in genetically narcoleptic, asymptomatic heterozygous and control Dobermans were compared using small sized ambulatory activity monitoring devices under 12-h light/dark conditions. Control and heterozygous dogs were found to be more active during the light period than during the dark period, thus demonstrating a clear 24-h rest/activity cycle. In contrast, narcoleptic dogs were relatively inactive during the light period and did not show a clear rest/activity pattern, a result similar to that of human narcoleptics. Considering the fact that narcoleptic dogs show shorter sleep latency and sleep significantly more during the daytime than control dogs, the decrease in activity in narcoleptic dogs during the daytime is most likely a reflection of increased daytime napping in these animals. Ambulatory activity monitoring may be a useful non-invasive method for future pharmacological and developmental studies in the narcoleptic canine model.
Correlating multilingual documents via bipartite graph modeling

There is enormous amount of multilingual documents from various sources and possibly from different countries describing a single event or a set of related events. It is desirable to construct text mining methods that can compare and highlight similarities and differences of those multilingual documents. We discuss our ongoing research that seeks to model a pair of multilingual documents as a weighted bipartite graph with the edge weights computed by means of machine translation. We use spectral method to identify dense subgraphs of the weighted bipartite graph which can be considered as corresponding to sentences that correlate well in textual contents. We illustrate our approach using English and German texts.
Long-term clinical experience with transtracheal oxygen catheters.

Objective To evaluate and discuss the use of transtracheal oxygen catheters for the treatment of chronic hypoxemia and to discuss the complications associated with the placement and care of these devices. Design We conducted a retrospective study at a tertiary medical center and reviewed the pertinent literature. Material and Methods The medical records of 56 patients who received a transtracheal oxygen catheter between January 1987 and June 1992 at our institution were reviewed for demographic data, diagnosis leading to catheter placement, complications related to catheter use, reason for catheter removal, and duration of use. Follow-up results were established by documentation in the medical records or telephone interview. Results During the study period, 39 men and 17 women received a transtracheal catheter. More than half the patients (52%) had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The duration of use of the catheter ranged from 2 days to more than 6 years, and the most frequent cause for removal of the catheter was death. Of the 56 patients, 42 died with the catheter in place, 24 within the first year after placement. Complications ranged from mucous plugging (38% of patients) to pneumothorax (4%), and no patient died of a catheter-related complication. Overall, 55% of patients had their catheter for less than 1 year after placement Conclusion In patients with transtracheal oxygen catheters, problems related to mucous plugging are common, but severe complications such as pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum are uncommon. Although selection factors that would identify ideal candidates for transtracheal oxygen therapy have not been established, such a catheter is best placed in highly motivated patients who can physically manage the daily care of this device.
Brazil's Bolsa Familia: Does it work for adolescents and do they work less for it?

Abstract In 2008, Brazil's conditional cash transfer program Bolsa Familia expanded to cover poor adolescents’ school attendance up to age 17; prior the maximum age was 15. In the first year of implementation, I find an increase in attendance among the 16-year-olds of 6 percentage points, with urban boys responsible for most of this, raising their attendance rates by 16 percentage points. I find no change in attendance for the 17-year-olds who had a gap year in treatment: though they had previously had received Bolsa Familia until age 15, they were not eligible as 16-year-olds in 2007 and once again became eligible in 2008. My findings suggest this expansion of Bolsa Familia was sufficient to maintain youth in school who were already attending, but not powerful enough to reclaim drop-outs. Additionally, I find little evidence that Bolsa Familia impacts the adolescents’ time devoted to work and chores.
The cAMP-regulated transcription factor CREB interacts with a component of the TFIID complex

cAMP regulates the expression of a number of genes through the protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation of CREB at Ser-133. The effects of Ser-133 phosphorylation appear to be primarily transmitted through a modulatory kinase-inducible domain in CREB that functions cooperatively with a 120-amino acid glutamine-rich region (Q2) to stimulate transcription. Indeed, the kinase-inducible domain activity alone is not sufficient to sustain a transcriptional response as illustrated by the CREM family of repressors, which contain the kinase-inducible domain but lack the Q2 region. Here we demonstrate that Q2 functions as a potent constitutive activator in vitro. The transcription factor TFIID fraction supports transcriptional activation by Q2, although the "TATA" binding protein alone does not, suggesting that other components of the TFIID complex mediate the response to CREB Q2. In fact, Q2 associates with the TATA binding protein-associated factor dTAFII110. As the transcriptionally inactive CREM alpha and beta proteins lack sequences in Q2 that are necessary for binding dTAFII110, our results suggest that these proteins may repress transcription because they are unable to interact with the basal transcription complex.
Burn Severity and Non-Native Species in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

We examined non-native species density three years after the Tuolumne Fire, which burned 1540 ha in upper montane forest in California, USA. We sampled 60 plots, stratified by burn severity (low, moderate, or high severity) and landscape position (lowland or upland). We detected non-native species in 8 of 11 (73 %) of high severity lowland sites and in 5 of 10 (50 %) of moderate severity lowland sites but, overall, richness and abundance was low. We detected only five non-native species, of which bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare [Savi] Ten.) was the most common. Although non-native abundance is currently low, we recommend continued low intensity monitoring, especially on high severity burned lowland sites.
An Investigation of European American Therapists’ Approach to Counseling African American Clients

Interviews were conducted with 9 European American psychologists, asking them to recall their first 12 counseling sessions with a current or recent successful case with an African American client. Using consensual qualitative research (CQR) methodology, the psychologists revealed that they generally attended to differences in race between themselves and clients directly and openly within the first two sessions. This was done to acknowledge this difference and convey to the client comfort and trust; psychologists also intended to engender client trust and participation in therapy. The psychologists saw race as a central component to be discussed and continually attended to in establishing and maintaining a trusting and solid working relationship. They typically saw race-related issues as relevant to clients’ concerns. Despite wide variability in theoretical orientations and variety of client presenting problems, they typically reported using Rogerian core skills to engage the client and establish the relat...
Converting Carbon Dioxide to Butyrate with an Engineered Strain of Clostridium ljungdahlii

ABSTRACT Microbial conversion of carbon dioxide to organic commodities via syngas metabolism or microbial electrosynthesis is an attractive option for production of renewable biocommodities. The recent development of an initial genetic toolbox for the acetogen Clostridium ljungdahlii has suggested that C. ljungdahlii may be an effective chassis for such conversions. This possibility was evaluated by engineering a strain to produce butyrate, a valuable commodity that is not a natural product of C. ljungdahlii metabolism. Heterologous genes required for butyrate production from acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) were identified and introduced initially on plasmids and in subsequent strain designs integrated into the C. ljungdahlii chromosome. Iterative strain designs involved increasing translation of a key enzyme by modifying a ribosome binding site, inactivating the gene encoding the first step in the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetate, disrupting the gene which encodes the primary bifunctional aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase for ethanol production, and interrupting the gene for a CoA transferase that potentially represented an alternative route for the production of acetate. These modifications yielded a strain in which ca. 50 or 70% of the carbon and electron flow was diverted to the production of butyrate with H2 or CO as the electron donor, respectively. These results demonstrate the possibility of producing high-value commodities from carbon dioxide with C. ljungdahlii as the catalyst. IMPORTANCE The development of a microbial chassis for efficient conversion of carbon dioxide directly to desired organic products would greatly advance the environmentally sustainable production of biofuels and other commodities. Clostridium ljungdahlii is an effective catalyst for microbial electrosynthesis, a technology in which electricity generated with renewable technologies, such as solar or wind, powers the conversion of carbon dioxide and water to organic products. Other electron donors for C. ljungdahlii include carbon monoxide, which can be derived from industrial waste gases or the conversion of recalcitrant biomass to syngas, as well as hydrogen, another syngas component. The finding that carbon and electron flow in C. ljungdahlii can be diverted from the production of acetate to butyrate synthesis is an important step toward the goal of renewable commodity production from carbon dioxide with this organism.
Are the Kids All Right? A Qualitative Study of Adults with Gay and Lesbian Parents

Based on semi-structured, in-depth interviews, this article examines the experiences of twenty adults with gay and lesbian parents. Faced with ruptures in significant childhood attachments and stra...
Poxvirus-based vaccine therapy for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

An open-label Phase 1 study of recombinant prime-boost poxviruses targeting CEA and MUC-1 in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer was conducted to determine safety, tolerability and obtain preliminary data on immune response and survival. Ten patients with advanced pancreatic cancer were treated on a Phase I clinical trial. The vaccination regimen consisted of vaccinia virus expressing tumor antigens carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and mucin-1 (MUC-1) with three costimulatory molecules B7.1, ICAM-1 and LFA-3 (TRICOM) (PANVAC-V) and fowlpox virus expressing the same antigens and costimulatory molecules (PANVAC-F). Patients were primed with PANVAC-V followed by three booster vaccinations using PANVAC-F. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was used as a local adjuvant after each vaccination and for 3 consecutive days thereafter. Monthly booster vaccinations for up to 12 months were provided for patients without progressive disease. Peripheral blood was collected before, during and after vaccinations for immune analysis. The most common treatment-related adverse events were mild injection-site reactions. Antibody responses against vaccinia virus was observed in all 10 patients and antigen-specific T cell responses were observed in 5 out of 8 evaluable patients (62.5%). Median overall survival was 6.3 months and a significant increase in overall survival was noted in patients who generated anti CEA- and/or MUC-1-specific immune responses compared with those who did not (15.1 vs 3.9 months, respectively; P = .002). Poxvirus vaccination is safe, well tolerated, and capable of generating antigen-specific immune responses in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Comparison of osteopenic changes in cancellous bone induced by ovariectomy and/or immobilization in adult rats

Background: Ovariectomy (OVX) and immobilization (IMM) in rats are useful models of osteopenia, replicating some aspects of osteoporosis in humans. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in cancellous bone after OVX and/or IMM. Methods: Differences in cancellous bone were determined at 6 and 12 weeks after OVX or IMM. Comparisons were also made when rats were ovariectomized or immobilized for 6 weeks and then immobilized (OVX/IMM) and ovariectomized (IMM/OVX), respectively, for 6 more weeks. The femurs were used to determine bone mineral content (BMC) using single photon absorptiometry (SPA) and for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tibias were collected for microradiography, image analysis, and histomorphometry of metaphyseal cancellous bone. Results: Six and 12 weeks after OVX, there was less cancellous bone mass, compared with controls, as indicated by SPA, SEM, microradiography, image analyses, and histomorphometry. Bone was lost primarily from the central metaphyseal regions in the OVX animals, whereas the loss occurred throughout the metaphyses in the IMM animals. There were more rodlike bone spicules and fewer platelike trabecule in the OVX and IMM groups compared with controls. Differences in the structural aspects of the cancellous bone, including differences in the types of bone struts and marrow star volumes, indicated less trabecular connectivity and greater trabecular separation in the OVX and IMM animals, compared with controls. Endochondral growth indices in the IMM groups tended to be less, whereas the OVX groups tended to be greater than controls. Cancellous bone formation rates were generally greater in the OVX groups but less in the IMM groups compared with controls. Osteoclastic resorption surfaces were substantially elevated in the IMM and OVX groups, particularly the IMM groups. Changes reflecting OVX and IMM, independently, were apparent in the OVX/IMM and IMM/OVX groups and indices of osteopenia were different from controls, including less bone mass, trabecular connectivity, and greater trabecular separation, bone turnover rates, and osteoclastic surface. Conclusions: These results demonstrate differences in the osteopenic changes that occur in cancellous bone following OVX or IMM. The changes were generally more dramatic in the IMM than in the OVX animals. When OVX and IMM were applied in combination, the osteopenic changes are particularly severe, emphasizing the importance of mechanical usage even with a deficiency of gonadal hormones. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Planning a Pharmacy-Led Medical Mission Trip, Part 3: Development and Implementation of an Elective Medical Missions Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) Rotation

With an increasing number of new pharmacy schools/colleges and expansion of existing ones, pharmacy schools/colleges are often in need of elective rotation experiences as part of the final year advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) program. Offering a medical missions elective APPE in either a domestic or international setting is a unique opportunity to expose pharmacy students to direct patient care. APPE students can be involved in triaging patients, compounding and dispensing medications, and providing patient education. As part of this APPE, pharmacy students are expected to complete projects such as formulary development, case presentations, book club discussions, journal reflections, manuscript preparations, and trip logistics planning. An elective APPE focused on medical missions facilitates the learning process and promotes the emergence of team leaders and leadership skills in general.
A new class of B/W halftoning algorithms

A new class of dithering algorithms for black and white (B/W) images is presented. The basic idea behind the technique is to divide the image into small blocks and minimize the distortion between the original continuous-tone image and its low-pass-filtered halftone. This corresponds to a quadratic programming problem with linear constraints, which is solved via standard optimization techniques. Examples of B/W halftone images obtained by this technique are compared to halftones obtained via existing dithering algorithms. >
Expanded Role for the Nitrogen Assimilation Control Protein in the Response of Klebsiella pneumoniae to Nitrogen Stress

Klebsiella pneumoniae is able to utilize many nitrogen sources, and the utilization of some of these nitrogen sources is dependent on the nitrogen assimilation control (NAC) protein. Seven NAC-regulated promoters have been characterized in K. pneumoniae, and nine NAC-regulated promoters have been found by microarray analysis in Escherichia coli. So far, all characterized NAC-regulated promoters have been directly related to nitrogen metabolism. We have used a genome-wide analysis of NAC binding under nitrogen limitation to identify the regions of the chromosome associated with NAC in K. pneumoniae. We found NAC associated with 99 unique regions of the chromosome under nitrogen limitation. In vitro, 84 of the 99 regions associate strongly enough with purified NAC to produce a shifted band by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Primer extension analysis of the mRNA from genes associated with 17 of the fragments demonstrated that at least one gene associated with each fragment was NAC regulated under nitrogen limitation. The large size of the NAC regulon in K. pneumoniae indicates that NAC plays a larger role in the nitrogen stress response than it does in E. coli. Although a majority of the genes with identifiable functions that associated with NAC under nitrogen limitation are involved in nitrogen metabolism, smaller subsets are associated with carbon and energy acquisition (18 genes), and growth rate control (10 genes). This suggests an expanded role for NAC regulation during the nitrogen stress response, where NAC not only regulates genes involved in nitrogen metabolism but also regulates genes involved in balancing carbon and nitrogen pools and growth rate.
The Effects of Environmental Uncertainty and Dependence on Organizational Structure and Performance: A Comparative Study

This study investigated the joint effects of perceived environmental uncertainty and dependence on resources on organizational structure and performance. Findings from two diverse settings that are considered in light of historical developments indicate that organic structures are associated with low resource dependence and that performance is not explained by the fit between environment and organization structure, but is significantly related to organic structure.
The importance of complexity in model selection

Abstract Model selection should be based not solely on goodness-of-fit, but must also consider model complexity. While the goal of mathematical modeling in cognitive psychology is to select one model from a set of competing models that best captures the underlying mental process, choosing the model that best fits a particular set of data will not achieve this goal. This is because a highly complex model can provide a good fit without necessarily bearing any interpretable relationship with the underlying process. It is shown that model selection based solely on the fit to observed data will result in the choice of an unnecessarily complex model that overfits the data, and thus generalizes poorly. The effect of over-fitting must be properly offset by model selection methods. An application example of selection methods using artificial data is also presented.
Administration: Leadership Challenges: Difficult Conversations

At some point in time, all leaders face the issue of having to initiate a conversation considered to be “difficult.” This article discusses what makes conversations difficult and addresses the bene...
Connectivity, scale‐dependence, and the productivity–diversity relationship

We surveyed freshwater ponds (localities) nested within watersheds (regions) to evaluate the relationship between productivity and animal species richness at different spatial scales. In watersheds where the ponds were relatively distant from one another (likely reducing the level of interpond dispersal of many organisms), we found a scale-dependent productivity–diversity relationship; at local scales (among ponds), diversity was a hump-shaped function of productivity, whereas at regional scales (among watersheds), diversity monotonically increased with productivity. Furthermore, this relationship emerged because there was a strong relationship between productivity and pond-to-pond species compositional differences. Alternatively, in watersheds where ponds were relatively close together (likely leading to higher rates of dispersal of many organisms), we found no scale-dependence; diversity was a hump-shaped function of productivity at both local and regional scales. Here, the relationship between species compositional dissimilarity and productivity was much weaker. We conclude that whether or not scale-dependence is observed in productivity–diversity relationships will depend, at least in part, on the degree of connectivity among localities within regions.
Emergency telecommunication support for IP telephony

As universal high speed internet access becomes a reality, phone calls are increasingly being made over the Internet rather than the conventional PSTN. The danger to this trend is the un-availability of priority mechanisms for communication between emergency response personnel during times of disaster. We define a proposed architecture to enable ETS support for SIP-based VOIP systems.
Differential expression of CD300a/c on human TH1 and TH17 cells

Background Human memory CD4+ T cells can be either CD300a/c+ or CD300a/c- and subsequent analyses showed that CD4+ effector memory T (TEM) cells are mostly CD300a/c+, whereas CD4+ central memory T (TCM) cells have similar frequencies of CD300a/c+ and CD300a/c- cells.
Posttraumatic Stress and Behavior Problems in Infants and Toddlers With Burns

This study assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and behavior problems in young children with burns and examined individual, injury-related, and family-related determinants. Seventy-six children, aged 12-49 months, were assessed at an average of 15 months after their burn injury, using parents as informants on the posttraumatic stress disorder semi-structured interview and observational record for infants and young children and the child behavior checklist. Ten children (13.2%) met the alternative criteria for PTSD proposed by Scheeringa et al. Number of PTSD symptoms were associated with family-related variables (maternal PTSD, quality of family relations). Compared to community norms, children with burns showed less externalizing behavior problems, and internalizing behavior problems were within the normal range. Overall, behavioral adjustment was associated with the quality of family relations (cohesion, expressiveness, conflicts). Whereas behavior was found to be normal in young children with burns, this study provides evidence for a substantial prevalence of PTSD.
Twenty years of ribosome assembly and ribosomopathies.

During the 20 years of RNA extraordinary progress has been made in the study of ribosomes, beyond that of ribosome structure, which will be well covered by others.
Geometrical interpretation of Gaussian beam optics

The relationship between conventional optics and Gaussian beam optics is discussed. Geometrical concepts such as image and object planes, pupil plane, F-number, resolution, and depth of field are discussed for Gaussian beams and are given a precise meaning in terms of the Gaussian beam parameters. The approach is useful in the design of laser scanning systems and holographic optical memory systems.
Creep-fatigue modelling for solder-joint reliability predictions including the microstructural evolution of the solder

A model is developed for the effect of microstructural evolution (precipitation and dissolution of tin particles) during the thermal-cycling fatigue of low-tin, lead-tin solders. It is shown that the effect of changing the cycle frequency is intertwined with the effect of change the cyclic temperature limits. Because both the precipitation rate and the dissolution rate depend on temperature, it is expected that the boundary between low frequency and high frequency depends on the temperature limits involved. The situation is complicated by the fact that the dissolution rate depends not just on alloy composition and dissolution temperature, but also on the temperature at which precipitate structure was formed. A proper estimate of the frequency boundary must take this into account. It is concluded that a proper extrapolation of the mechanical behavior from one set of conditions to another must take the microstructural evolution into account. >
K+ Channels: a Survey and a Case Study of Kch of Escherichia coli

K+ is apparently crucial in dealing with biological water on Earth, even today. Dehydration, i.e., external osmotic upshift, demands an adjustment of cellular osmolarity, lest the pressure difference break the membrane. In cases more thoroughly studied, uptake of K+ constitutes the first line of defense against de hydration. Cells from all animal tissues express K+ channels but not necessarily the Na+ and Ca2+ channels. Thus, K2+ channels seem to underlie some basic functions required by all cells, except a few extreme parasitic bacteria, and their variations far outnumber those of Na2+ and Ca22+ channels, which seem to have evolved by gene duplication and filter mutations of ancestral K2+ channels. The cell physiology of Escherichia coli is better documented than that of any other cells, and it is amenable to genetic or molecular biological manipulation. Flowering plants and frolicking animals are the minority, even among eukaryotes. The plant-like Chara sp. and Nitella sp., for example, exhibit a depolarization-activated K+ current. It is therefore reasonable to focus attention on Kch in E. coli in the hope of gaining insights into the functions of prokaryotic K+ channels, even though the electric activities of Kch have not yet been reported. The topic of prokaryotic channels will likely not attract many microbiologists’ attention either, unless their biological roles are illustrated. That nearly every bacterial or archeal genome includes at least one K+ channel gene, however, leaves little doubt that these channels provide selective advantages.
From High School to Lawyer in 4 1/2 Years . . And No Bar Exam

This brief introduction to New Zealand’s system of legal education describes how high school graduates can become licensed to practice law within 4 ½ years of entering a university.
The function of factor VIIa in hemophilia A: An hypothesis

Since accepting the assignment to talk about this subject, I have reminded myself that I informed my host I hadn’t the slightest idea of how Factor Vila functions in hemophilia! This disclaimer notwithstanding, I do have an hypothesis, albeit one with no experimental validation nor any particular intellectual appeal. It is simply that the activation of Factor VII (F.VII) in vivo is the rate-limiting step in hemostasis, at least in hemophiliacs. I will discuss this concept below.
Not “Weary Willies” or “Tired Tims”: The Work Imperative in the Poor Law World

The Dudley Herald frightened its readers with the “The Demon of Unemployment” in November 1908, describing a depressed region where workers struggled for survival. Worst of all, the “full extent [of] the sufferings of a large proportion of the people” in the district would be difficult to ascertain, because they were “unwilling to parade their poverty, and would rather put up with a pinch than apply for pauper relief.” The “people” about whom the writer was concerned were “honest, decent, hard-working men” who were unable to find employment: “many of them being encumbered with large families, their cases deserve the utmost commiseration and timely assistance.”1
The gendered contours of North Korean Migration: sexualized bodies and the violence of phenotypical normalization in South Korea

This article examines the gendered and sexualized contours of North Korean experiences in South Korea at a time when nearly 70% of the North Korean emigrants are women. South Korean television shows – e.g. reality programs – and marriage matchmaking organizations seek to portray North Korean women in a ‘positive’ way to the South Korean public, although, as this article will illustrate, these representations are of a very particular, sexualized kind. These representations are sometimes negative, and there is stigma attached to North Korean women, in which South Koreans assume, for example, that they are victims of human trafficking or that they have had relations with Chinese men during their migration. Furthermore, poor nutrition and other forms of structural violence in North Korea have molded North Korean bodies; there are often physical disparities between North and South Koreans. In South Korean society where short height is viewed as undesirable and where idealized, surgical notions of beauty domina...
Public Welfare Spending and Private Social Services in U.S. States

Social services in the United States are supplied by both the public and private sectors. Previous political science research has focused on public transfers or Medicaid; I study “Other Public Welfare” programs that include contracts and grants to private social services providers, focusing on the relationship between the two sectors. My results imply that an increase in either Other Public Welfare spending or private individual and family services employees leads to an increase in the other sector. I find weaker evidence of similar relationships involving private residential care or day care services, and private social services employment is generally independent of public spending on transfers and Medicaid. My results have implications for the full effects of changes in public welfare spending, including the effects on the private sector, as well as the effects of organized interests on public welfare spending.
Overall Clinical Experience with Aztreonam in the Treatment of Intraabdominal Infections

Response to aztreonam (1-2 g administered intravenously three or four times daily) was evaluated in a multiclinic study of 113 patients with intraabdominal infections due to gram-negative aerobic organisms. Appropriate therapy with an antibiotic (usually clindamycin) active against gram-positive and/or anaerobic organisms was administered concomitantly for mixed-pathogen infections. A favorable clinical response and microbiologic cure occurred in 90% of the patients treated. All of the 13 patients with infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa responded clinically, and 11 of the 13 patients experienced microbiologic cure. In a comparative study, 59 patients were treated with aztreonam and 56 were treated with tobramycin (3-5 mg/kg per day); 95% of the patients in the aztreonam group and 81% of those in the tobramycin group experienced microbiologic cure.
Megakaryocyte abnormalities in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Morphologic and enzymatic abnormalities were found in megakaryocytes obtained from bone marrow of four patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. These abnormalities included large megakaryocytes resembling those in essential thrombocythemia, abnormalities in nuclear segmentation and “doughnut-hole” nuclei, multiple cytoplasmic vacuoles, erythrophagocytosis by megakaryocytes, small “reticuloid” megakaryocytes, and markedly increased activity of cytoplasmic LDH. These observations suggest the possibility of an intrinsic and perhaps neoplastic abnormality of megakaryocytes in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
A Spectroscopic Analysis of the Role of Side Chains in Controlling Thermochromic Transitions in Polydiacetylenes

A systematic study has been carried out to investigate the role of the side chains in lowering the reversible thermochromic transition temperature of polydiacetylenes. The type of interacting groups also proved to be crucial. Polymers with hydrogen-bonded side chains have consistently behaved differently as compared to polymers with less specific interactions associated with metallic ions. The most striking factor is the orderliness of the polymethylene portion of the side chains. The length of the side chains is critical in determining the transition temperature. In some cases, the packing order of the side chains is of sufficient order to crystallize. When high order exists, a reversible thermochromic transition is difficult to achieve. Conversely, if the side chains are disordered at any temperature, the transition temperatures are low and the transition is always reversible. This is the case for side chains stabilized by the presence of metallic ions. It is apparent that the presence of long-range non...
An efficient approach to computing third- order scattering of sound by sound with application to parametric arrays

A mathematical description of third-order scattered sound fields is derived using a multi-Gaussian beam (MGB) model that describes the sound field of any arbitrary axially symmetric beam as a series of Gaussian base functions. The third-order intermodulation (IM3) frequency components are produced by considering the cascaded nonlinear secondorder effects when analyzing the interaction between the firstand second-order frequency components during the nonlinear scattering of sound by sound from two noncollinear ultrasonic baffled piston sources. The theory is extended to the modeling of the sound beams generated by parametric transducer arrays, showing that the MGB model can be efficiently used to calculate both the second- and third-order sound fields of the array. Measurements are presented for the IM3 frequency components and parametric array sound fields and comparisons of the model are made with traditional simulation results from direct numerical integration.
Crystal Growth and Scintillation Properties of CeCl_3 Doped LaBr_3 Crystal with 2-inch Diameter

LaBr3 crystals doped with CeCl3(LBC crystals for short) were grown from the melt of powders in vacuum-sealed fused silica crucibles by modified Bridgman technique.LBC crystal with the size of 50 mm×50 mm and 5 mole% CeCl3 was successfully made.And X-ray excited luminescence,light yield,decay time and energy resolution of the relative samples were measured at room temperature.The results show that the LBC crystal has strong emissions peaking at 365 nm and 385 nm under X-ray excitation,and that it has also excellent scintillation properties with the energy resolution of 3.1% under γ-ray excitation of 137 Cs radioactive source,the light yield of about 156% of NaI(Tl),and the decay time of 17 ns.
Probing personalized genetic platforms for novel molecular clues for circadian chronotype.

Chronotype (also referred to as morningness-eveningness or diurnal preference) is the tendency to be an early “lark” (alert and preferring to be active early in the day) or a late “owl” (alert and preferring to be active later in the day). Chronotype shows considerable interindividual variation and is the most frequently measured circadian rhythm trait. This trait can be evaluated in an individual via the completion of a self-reported questionnaire, such as the Horne-Ostberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (1)or the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (2). These are the most commonly utilized measures of circadian phase preference (3,4).
Radiotherapy in the Management of Stage C Carcinoma of the Prostate

A small number of patients with limited stage C carcinoma of the prostate have been treated with combined interstitial and external beam radiotherapy with gratifying results. Whereas more patients will have to be followed for at least 10 to 15 years to completely evaluate this modality of treatment, the results continue to encourage us in its use.