cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Finding, Accessing, and Using Secondary Data for Research on Gifted Education and Advanced Academics:

Secondary data analysis can benefit researchers of advanced academics by providing large sample sizes and a variety of data on multiple topics. However, using secondary data comes with unique chall...
Hitos sobre hitos. Línea ecuatorial, monumentos geodésicos y el Museo Inti-Ñan

espanolEn el valle de Lulumbamba, a 20 kilometros de Quito, se encuentra un obelisco conmemorando la linea ecuatorial. Este articulo presenta, primero, un resumen de los lazos entre la ecuatorialidad andina y la ciencia geodesica, lazos que resultaron en la construccion de un monumento original en 1936, y el subsiguiente desarrollo de una economia vibrante turistica; segundo, una historia oral con el director de un museo ecuatorial alternativo, Fabian Vera, cuya familia ha estado ligada al turismo ecuatorial desde los anos 1950. Esta historia oral demuestra lo conflictivo que puede ser un hito imaginario como la linea ecuatorial y, ademas, las posibilidades del turismo casero. EnglishIn the Lulumbamba Valley, 20 kilometers from Quito, there is an obelisk celebrating the equator. This article presents a summary of the ties between the Andean equator and geodesic science, ties that resulted in the construction of an original monument in 1936 and a subsequent vibrant tourist economy. Secondly, it presents an oral history narrated by the director of an alternative equatorial museum, Fabian Vera, whose family has been linked with equatorial tourism since the 1950s. This oral history demonstrates the conflictive nature of an imaginary landmark, such as the equator, as well as the possibilities of homegrown tourism.
Future directions and concluding remarks

Abstract Review of the extensive body of literature examining the relations between stress, depression, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has confirmed that significant associations exist among these three parameters. Although evidence from epidemiologic, animal, and intervention research is the foundation of this body of research, the only causal associations detected consistently in this literature are that exposure to environmental stress increases the probability of diagnosed conditions of both depressive disorders and CVD in humans and comparable phenomena in animals. Conclusions that either depression leads to CVD or CVD leads to depression cannot be made at this point. Literature examining the physiological mechanisms that have been hypothesized to explain how the nervous system transduces environmental stress into depression and CVD was reviewed in this volume and reveals potentially important pathways through which stress gets “under the skin” to create both depression and CVD. A comprehensive model of these potential pathways integrating how numerous physiological systems are involved is introduced. Such an integrative model will hopefully guide future research into discovering clues into how psychological factors influence the process of atherosclerosis.
The Electrodynamics of the Superconducting State of κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 Cu(MCS) 2

We have measured the temperature dependence of the penetration depth λ and surface resistance Rs using a resonant microwave cavity technique for different orientations of the ac magnetic field with respect to the conducting layers. The behavior of λ(T) and Rs(T) strongly suggests singlet pairing, and the anisotropy of the penetration depth and surface resistance are suggestive weakly coupled superconducting layers.
Simulation of x-ray-induced acoustic imaging for absolute dosimetry: Accuracy of image reconstruction methods

PURPOSE Three-dimensional in-vivo dose verification is one of the standing challenges in radiation therapy. X-ray-induced acoustic tomography has recently been proposed as an imaging method for use in in-vivo dosimetry. The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) absolute dose using x-ray-induced acoustic tomography. We performed this investigation using two different tomographic dose reconstruction techniques. METHODS Two examples of 3D dose reconstruction techniques for x-ray acoustic imaging are investigated. Dose distributions are calculated for varying field sizes using a clinical treatment planning system. The induced acoustic pressure waves which are generated by the increase in temperature due to the absorption of pulsed MV x-rays are simulated using an advanced numerical modeling package for acoustic wave propagation in the time domain. Two imaging techniques, back projection and iterative time reversal, are used to reconstruct the 3D dose distribution in a water phantom with open fields. Image analysis is performed and reconstructed depth dose curves from x-ray acoustic imaging are compared to the depth dose curves calculated from the treatment planning system. Calculated field sizes from the reconstructed dose profiles by back projection and time reversal are compared to the planned field size to determine their accuracy. The iterative time reversal imaging technique is also used to reconstruct dose in an example clinical dose distribution. Image analysis of this clinical test case is performed using the gamma passing rate. In addition, gamma passing rates are used to validate the stopping criteria in the iterative time reversal method. RESULTS Water phantom simulations showed that back projection does not adequately reconstruct the shape and intensity of the depth dose. When compared to the depth of maximum dose calculated by a treatment planning system, the maximum dose depth by back projection is shifted deeper by 55 and 75 mm for 4 × 4 cm and 10 × 10 cm field sizes, respectively. The reconstructed depth dose by iterative time reversal accurately agrees with the planned depth dose for a 4 × 4 cm field size and is shifted deeper by 12 mm for the 10 × 10 cm field size. When reconstructing field sizes, the back projection method leads to 18% and 35% larger sizes for the 4 × 4 cm and 10 × 10 cm fields, respectively, whereas the iterative time reversal method reconstructs both field sizes with 96% gamma passing rate at 3%/2 mm. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the 3D x-ray acoustic reconstructed dose by iterative time reversal is considerably more accurate than the dose reconstructed by back projection. Iterative time reversal imaging has a potential for use in 3D absolute dosimetry.
Problematic use of screen media and mobile devices

Abstract The aim of this chapter is to help professionals understand the importance of assessing screen media use by their patients. A brief review of the recent research on media use and its effects will be provided. Clarification will be provided to help clinicians distinguish between normative versus problematic use of screen media during childhood. Lastly, readers will be provided with tools to screen for problematic media use, as well as will receive guidance on how to prevent and address problematic media use.
Predictors of outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilatation in strictures after esophageal atresia repair: A retrospective study.

Predictors of outcomes of endoscopic balloon dilatation in strictures after esophageal atresia repair: A retrospective study
The Adaptive Stress Testing Formulation.

Validation is a key challenge in the search for safe autonomy. Simulations are often either too simple to provide robust validation, or too complex to tractably compute. Therefore, approximate validation methods are needed to tractably find failures without unsafe simplifications. This paper presents the theory behind one such black-box approach: adaptive stress testing (AST). We also provide three examples of validation problems formulated to work with AST.
Clinical heterogeneity of pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often a chemoresistant neoplasm with a poor prognosis. Pediatric HCC may reflect unique biological and clinical heterogeneity. Procedure An IRB-approved retrospective institutional review of patients with HCC treated between 2004 and 2015 was undertaken. Clinical, radiographic, and histologic data were collected from all patients. Results Thirty-two patients with HCC, median age 11.5 years (range 1-20) were identified. Seventeen patients had a genetic or anatomic predisposition. Histology was conventional HCC (25) and fibrolamellar HCC (7). Evans staging was 1 (12); 2 (1); 3 (10); 4 (9). Sixteen patients underwent resection at diagnosis and five patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Surgical procedures included liver transplantation (LT, 11), hemihepatectomy (9), and segmentectomy (1). Eighteen patients had medical therapy (13 neoadjuvant, 5 adjuvant). Most common initial medical therapy included sorafenib alone (7) and cisplatin/doxorubicin-based therapy (8). Overall, 14 (43.8%) patients survived with a median follow-up of 58.8 months (range 26.5-157.6). Cause of death was most often linked to lack of primary tumor surgery (11). Of the survivors, Evans stage was 1 (11), 2 (1), and 3 (2, both treated with LT). Four of 18 patients (22%) who received medical therapy, 8 of 17 patients with a predisposition (47%), and 14 of 21 patients (66%) who underwent surgery remain alive. Conclusions Genetic and anatomic predisposing conditions were seen in over half of this cohort. Evans stage 1 or 2 disease was linked to improved survival. LT trended toward improved survival. Use of known chemotherapy agents may benefit a smaller group of pediatric HCC and warrants formal prospective study through cooperative group trials.
Effects of glucocorticoid on bone density and osteoblasts in children with acute ITP and the intervention of vitamin D

Objective To investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on bone density and osteoblasts of children with acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and the changes of indicators after application of vitamin D.Methods Patients were divided into two groups,the control group were treated with glucocorticoid and oral calcium lactate 0.5/day(daily prednisone 2 mg/kg for 3 weeks,n =20),the treatment group were treated with glucocorticoid,oral calcium lactate 0.5/day and oral vitamin D 800 IU/day (n =20).At the same time,the levels of bone metabolism indexes of serum PICP,BGP,AKP,Ca and P were measured.Results After 3 weeks treatment,BGP,PICP,AKP,Ca,BMD in the control group significantly decreased than before treatment (P ＜ 0.05),phosphorus increased obviosly (P ＜ 0.05),and there was no significant difference in the treatment group(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The bone density and osteoblast synthesis of acute idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura children treated with glucocorticoid significantly decrease but when combined with vitamin D,synthesis of bone cells is not inhibited,there is no significant change in bone density. Key words: Glucocorticoid; Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura(ITP) ; Bone density; Osteoblasts ; Vitamin D
The Effectiveness of an Augmented Reality Head-Mounted Display in Learning Skull Anatomy at a Community College.

Despite an increase in the use of technology in undergraduate anatomy education, and the rising popularity of online anatomy courses at community colleges in the United States, there have been no reports on the efficacy of augmented reality on anatomy education in this population. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that augmented reality is an effective and engaging tool for learning anatomy in community college students. Participants recruited from Cuyahoga Community College (Cleveland, OH) studied skull anatomy using either traditional tools (i.e., textbook and plastic skull model) or an augmented reality head-mounted display with an interactive virtual skull application. Comparison of knowledge before and following the study period revealed that augmented reality was an effective tool for learning skull anatomy: pre-quiz = 32.7% (± 25.2); mean (± SD), post-quiz = 61.8% (± 19.5); n = 15; t(28) = 3.53; P = 0.001. The traditional tools were equally effective: pre-quiz = 44.9 % (± 18.6), post-quiz = 67.9 % (± 17.3); n = 17; t(32) = 3.73; P = 0.0007. Students rated the augmented reality device as 9.6 (± 1.0); mean (± SD) when asked if it fit the statement "fun to use" on a semantic differential scale from 1 (poor) to 10 (excellent). In conclusion, this study found that augmented reality is an effective and engaging tool for the instruction of skull anatomy at a community college.
What a Surgeon Needs to Know About the Diagnosis and (Medical) Treatment of Hydatid Disease

Echinococcal disease is an important but neglected tropical disease that has significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It is mostly found in the rural grazing areas of the world, especially where there is close contact between farm animals, canines, and humans. Diagnosis remains challenging, as it relies on epidemiologic factors, clinical history, and imaging. Ultrasound is the method of choice for screening and for follow-up, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used along with ultrasound. Serology is less reliable and should be used as an adjunct. Cystic echinococcal treatment relies on four different approaches: chemotherapy, percutaneous methods, surgery, and watch and wait (surveillance). Choice of treatment relies on an approach based on World Health Organization (WHO) cyst stage and size. Current experience is limited to case series and cohort studies; and future clinical trials are needed to determine optimal therapy. Complicated hydatid disease is a significant cause of morbidity and managed by different approaches. Public health campaigns have made strides in eradicating echinococcal disease in some countries, and vaccines along with medical treatment of animals have been effective in decreasing the prevalence of echinococcus.
Transitioning to online teaching: a phenomenological analysis of social work educator perspectives

Online education in social work has been proliferating and is now ubiquitous due to COVID-19. To optimize instructor pedagogical wisdom and ensure student benefit, critical reflection is needed on ...
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Agriculture: an Overview of IoT-Based Scenarios

The agricultural sector is experiencing a new revolution, giving birth to the so‐called Agriculture 4.0 paradigm. It brings digital technologies in the field to support the farmers' work, enhancing the productivity of farms. In this chapter, attention is focused on the role that both Internet of things ( IoT ) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle ( UAVs ) can play in this regard, whether used in a joint manner or not. We analyze the work being done both in recent research projects and in the literature on those topics, taking into account the role of long‐range wireless communications to enable such scenarios, and the potential of 5G and the upcoming multi‐access edge computing ( MEC ) technology, especially in rural areas, where lack of connectivity still hampers the process of digital transformation.
Household factors affecting confidence in financial institutions

This paper looks at household level data from the General Social Survey to examine the influence of demographic factors on household confidence in financial institutions. The paper finds that being...
Eventual Judicial Review

The SEC’s recent—and controversial—choice to make more frequent use of internal enforcement actions has raised several questions. Some have asked whether the SEC has attempted to advantage itself by prosecuting in-house; others have asked whether the SEC’s internal enforcement scheme is unconstitutional. This Note asks a largely overlooked threshold question: Do—and just as importantly, should—federal district courts have parallel subject matter jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to an SEC internal proceeding while this proceeding is underway? If exercise of parallel jurisdiction is not expressly prohibited by statute, Thunder Basin Coal Co. v. Reich instructs Article III courts to presume claims are not confined to administrative channels if (1) jurisdictional preclusion would prevent “meaningful judicial review,” (2) the suit is “wholly collateral” to a statute’s review apparatus, and (3) the claims are “outside agency expertise.” In Tilton v. SEC, a split Second Circuit panel considered an attempted parallel constitutional challenge to the SEC’s internal enforcement scheme and concluded jurisdiction was indeed precluded. In doing so, Tilton followed a line of recent cases interpreting Thunder Basin to suggest that “meaningful judicial review” is satisfied if a scheme provides any eventual judicial review. This Note argues that this equating of meaningful and eventual judicial review under Thunder Basin unwisely limits the ability of Article III courts to monitor agency constitutionality, deprives parties of truly meaningful review, and undercuts the SEC’s legitimacy. This Note proposes two responses: Legislatively, the SEC—or ideally, Congress—should promulgate binding forum selection guidelines granting Article III courts jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to SEC proceedings; doctrinally, Article III courts should employ standard injunction analysis, exercising jurisdiction over constitutional claims and gauging their likelihood of success on the merits.
Daily and Monthly Rhythm in the Blood Pressure of a Man With Hypertension: A Three-Year Study

Excerpt In a given case of hypertension much information is desired which is not obtained by the occasional examination of the blood pressure. It is desirable to know when the blood pressure became...
Fission Product Release and Fuel Behavior of Irradiated Light Water Reactor Fuel Under Severe Accident Conditions: The ST-1 Experiment

High-burnup uranium dioxide reactor fuel was heated in-pile at ∼2490 K in a reducing atmosphere (33% H2 in argon) for 16 min. Fission product aerosols and vapors released from the fuel were collect...
Il Codice Del Processo Civile Collettivo. Un Modello Per I Paesi Di Diritto Civile (The Class Action Code: A Model for Civil Law Countries)

Italian Abstract: L’obiettivo di questo progetto e’ di ispirare l’elaborazione di un Codice del Procedimento Civile Collettivo che si adatti il meglio possibile alla realta’ dei paesi di tradizione legale continentale-europea, tenuto conto dell’esperienza della pratica internazionale delle azioni civili collettive. Il lavoro che segue rappresenta la scelta dell’Autore tra le possibili soluzioni dei problemi che la tutela giurisdizionale collettiva presenta, ciascuno dei quali offre propri vantaggi, svantaggi e si presta ad abusi. English Abstract: This is the Italian translation of a paper originally published in 2002, in which the author proposes the enactment of a Class Action Code in civil law countries. The proposed Model Code extensively regulates all aspects of modern class actions, including standing, adequacy, prerequisites, certification, notice, proof, settlement, judgment, res judicata, lis pendens, attorney fees, injunctive class actions, class action for damages, calculation of damages, distribution of the award, fund for group rights, defendant class actions, etc. The objective is to inspire the creation of the best possible code for class action suits, in light of the needs and peculiarities of civil law countries and the international experience with class actions. Although the proposal is focused primarily on civil-law countries, it may also prove useful to common law countries considering the adoption or improvement of class action rules. The English version of this document can be found at: http://ssrn.com/abstract=930439 A versao em portugues deste artigo pode ser encontrada em: http://ssrn.com/abstract=947207 La version francaise de ce document se trouvent a: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1406310 La version en espanol de este articulo puede encontrarse en: http://ssrn.com/abstract=952455
Helios Images of Coronal Mass Ejections

The zodiacal light photometers on board the HELIOS spacecraft can be used to form images of coronal mass ejections in the interplanetary medium. Several aspects of these data are unique: they trace coronal mass ejections using Thomson scattering techniques to distances from the Sun greater than 0.5 AU; their perspective from the HELIOS orbits allow information to be gained about the three-dimensional shapes of specific mass ejections viewed both by coronagraphs and HELIOS; the global view afforded by the spacecraft photometers can image the mass ejection from within and thus relate in situ measurements to the shape of the whole structure. To date, the HELIOS photometers have been used to study coronagraph-observed mass ejections including those which originated at the Sun on 7 May, 24 May and 27 November 1979, and 21 May, 18 June, 29 June and 6 November 1980.
The Federalist Perspective in Elections to the European Parliament

The literature on elections to the European Parliament establishes that both national and EU-relevant considerations influence the decision to participate in EP elections as well as the likelihood that EP voters will switch their support between different parties. However, there have been relatively few efforts to identify the conditions that prompt individuals to consider the EU when deciding to participate or when casting a ballot. This article theorizes that individuals from decentralized political systems are more keenly aware of the distribution of functional responsibilities within the EU and are thus more likely to vote on EU-relevant concerns in EP elections. The results from analyses of survey data from the 2009 European Election Study, together with contextual measures of decentralization, suggest that individuals from decentralized systems are more likely to participate in EP elections and that vote-switchers are more likely to be motivated by evaluations of the EU's performance.
Behavioral effects of 6-methylene naltrexone (nalmefene) in rhesus monkeys.

Nalmefene [17-N-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14-beta-dihydroxy-4,5-alpha-epoxy-6- methylenemorphinan hydrochloride (also NIH 10365)], a 6-methylene derivative of naltrexone, was compared to naltrexone for its behavioral effects in rhesus monkeys. Nalmefene had opioid antagonist actions under all conditions, having a potency similar to that of naltrexone. In morphine-treated monkeys, discriminating between 0.01 mg/kg of naltrexone and saline, nalmefene substituted completely for naltrexone at doses larger than 0.001 mg/kg. The onset of discriminative stimulus effects was similar for nalmefene and naltrexone. A dose of 0.032 mg/kg of either antagonist occasioned > or = 90% naltrexone-level responding beginning 6 to 8 min after s.c. administration; the effects of this dose of either antagonist persisted for more than 1 hr. Like the parent compound naltrexone, nalmefene also antagonized the discriminative stimulus effects of opioid agonists. Nalmefene prevented the discriminative stimulus effects of morphine in monkeys acutely deprived of morphine and antagonized the discriminative stimulus effects of nalbuphine in a separate group of monkeys discriminating between nalbuphine and saline. At the dose of naltrexone and nalmefene that produced an equivalent antagonism of morphine when the antagonist was administered 0.25 hr before morphine (0.01 mg/kg), the duration of antagonist action was 6 hr, respectively. Nalmefene also attenuated the antinociceptive effects of the mu agonist alfentanil and the kappa agonist CI-977 [5R-(5,7,8-beta)-N-methyl- N-[7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)1-oxaspiro[4,5]dec-8-yl]-4-benzofuranaceta mide], being 55 times more potent in attenuating the antinociceptive effects of alfentanil as compared to Cl-977.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Planktonic Euryarchaeota are a significant source of archaeal tetraether lipids in the ocean

Archaea are ubiquitous in marine plankton, and fossil forms of archaeal tetraether membrane lipids in sedimentary rocks document their participation in marine biogeochemical cycles for >100 million years. Ribosomal RNA surveys have identified four major clades of planktonic archaea but, to date, tetraether lipids have been characterized in only one, the Marine Group I Thaumarchaeota. The membrane lipid composition of the other planktonic archaeal groups—all uncultured Euryarchaeota—is currently unknown. Using integrated nucleic acid and lipid analyses, we found that Marine Group II Euryarchaeota (MG-II) contributed significantly to the tetraether lipid pool in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre at shallow to intermediate depths. Our data strongly suggested that MG-II also synthesize crenarchaeol, a tetraether lipid previously considered to be a unique biomarker for Thaumarchaeota. Metagenomic datasets spanning 5 y indicated that depth stratification of planktonic archaeal groups was a stable feature in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre. The consistent prevalence of MG-II at depths where the bulk of exported organic matter originates, together with their ubiquitous distribution over diverse oceanic provinces, suggests that this clade is a significant source of tetraether lipids to marine sediments. Our results are relevant to archaeal lipid biomarker applications in the modern oceans and the interpretation of these compounds in the geologic record.
Kinetics of the Reaction of Iron Blast Furnace Slag/Hydrated Lime Sorbents with SO2 at Low Temperatures: Effects of the Presence of CO2, O2, and NOx

The effects of the presence of CO2, O2, and NOx in the flue gas on the kinetics of the sulfation of blast furnace slag/hydrated lime sorbents at low temperatures were studied using a differential fixed-bed reactor. When O2 and NOx were not present simultaneously, the reaction kinetics was about the same as that under the gas mixtures containing SO2, H2O, and N2 only, being affected mainly by the relative humidity. The sulfation of sorbents can be described by the surface coverage model and the model equations derived for the latter case. When both O2 and NOx were present, the sulfation of sorbents was greatly enhanced, forming a great amount of sulfate in addition to sulfite. The surface coverage model is still valid in this case, but the model equations obtained show a more marked effect of relative humidity and negligible effects of SO2 concentration and temperature on the reaction. The effect of sorbent composition on the reaction kinetics was entirely represented by the effects of the initial specific...
Cellular variable stiffness materials for ultra-large reversible deformations in reconfigurable structures

Structures that can physically adapt to fulfill many roles can enable a new generation of high-performance military systems. The key to achieving substantial benefit from shape-changing operations is large changes in structural geometry and stiffness. In this study, we demonstrate variable stiffness cellular materials capable of large global changes in area through local buckling modes. Furthermore, stiffness properties and Poisson ratios may be tailored to provide desirable structural reconfiguration properties such as negative Poisson ratio and highly anisotropic stiffness. However, stiffness properties of cellular materials are two to three orders of magnitude below their constitutive materials properties. Their elastic properties can vary considerably as a function of the applied strain level due to the redistribution of structural material within the cells. Another complication is the difficulty in controlling the local buckling mode due to sensitivity to boundary conditions and loading conditions.
Ultrafast, room-temperature, resonance-enhanced third-order optical susceptibility tensor of an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well.

The ultrafast, room-temperature, resonance-enhanced third-order nonlinear susceptibility tensor of an AlGaAs/GaAs quantum well is determined. A single 6-nm GaAs quantum well embedded in a waveguide of 382-nm mode size increases the |χ(3)| from a bulk-material level of 8 × 10−11 esu ±20% to 6 × 10−10 esu ±20%. The anisotropy of the diagonal elements ∣χ1111(3)∣,∣χ2222(3)∣ and their correlation with the off-diagonal elements ∣χ1212(3)∣,∣χ2121(3)∣ are consistent with the one-photon resonance mechanism.
How thin is too thin? diagnosis and treatment of anorexia nervosa

Abstract Anorexia nervosa is a chronic, progressive illness that is difficult to treat. Four years after diagnosis, less than 50% of patients have recovered, and 25% of anorexic patients progress to chronicity and invalidism. Because anorexia nervosa typically begins in adolescence, teenagers should be watched closely for signs that may reflect an eating disorder. In the early stages of the disease, thoughtful intervention by a primary care physician can prevent the long-term physical and psychological consequences associated with anorexia nervosa.
Metabolic changes in cherry flower buds associated with breaking of dormancy in early and late blooming cultivars

Changes of metabolic activities during dormancy and breaking of dormancy in the cherry flower buds of early blooming (EB) cultivar (Prunus avium L. cv. Coeur de Pigeon) and late blooming (LB) cultivar (Prunus serrulata Lindl. cv. Kwanzan) were determined. The LB buds had higher polyamines, protein and 1-(malonylamino) cyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (MACC) content than the EB buds. During the dormant state, the DNA, RNA, protein and polyamines in the EB buds were low but increased slowly and steadily, whereas those in the LB buds remained at a consistently higher level. The transition from dormancy to the active state in both cultivars was characterized by a sharp increase in DNA, RNA, protein, polyamines, S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) and MACC. After initial swelling and development of flowers, the levels of all these components decreased. Polyamine and ethylene biosyntheses did not seem to be competing for their common substrate, SAM, during flower bud development.
Impact of terrorism on hospitality stocks and the role of investor sentiment.

This study examines a comprehensive data set of all terrorist activities that directly affected Americans between 1973 and 2003, exploring the reaction of hospitality stocks to these events. Hospit...
Evolution: Aging Up a Tree?

Summary Evolutionary theories of aging predict that species in low-risk habitats will evolve longer lifespans. A new study comparing lifespan in arboreal and terrestrial mammals provides further support for this prediction. But is the prediction valid?
A role for islet neogenesis in curing diabetes.

Endogenous insulin deficiency is the tie that binds all forms of diabetes. Definitive treatment or cure of type 1 and type 2 diabetes cannot occur without a durable reversal of relative or absolute endogenous insulin deficiency. Current efforts to restore physiological insulin secretion include (1) islet or pancreas transplant; (2) exogenous cell therapies, including differentiation of bone marrow cells and embryonic stem cells (ESCs); and (3) islet regeneration from endogenous pancreatic cells. Although they would represent advances, islet or beta cell transplant [1, 2], the artificial pancreas [3, 4], gene therapy [5], and even stem cell therapy [6, 7] cannot be considered restorative approaches unless the results are durable and have an acceptable safety profile. Islet transplantation, both alloand xeno-, as a means of reversing diabetes has been limited by graft durability and/ or donor supply, as well as the complications of surgery and immunosuppression. However, progress is being made to resolve these issues [1, 8]. Minimally invasive techniques for the transplant of donor islets into the liver have been developed, and extensive studies have refined the immunosuppression required for transplant survival. At present, the limiting problem for islet transplantation is obtaining sufficient islets for the broad application of the technique. It is hoped that work with stem cells will resolve this issue. Early studies showed that ESCs did not achieve terminal differentiation and had a low insulin content and a poor response to glucose. Growth of the islet-like clusters from ESCs was unbridled and, despite production of insulin, they failed to cure diabetic mice [9]. Israeli scientists found insulin-producing cells in embryoid bodies formed spontaneously from ESCs when they stop growing, but these did not make sufficient insulin to reverse diabetes [10]. Soria and colleagues used gene-trapping techniques to isolate insulin-producing cells and transfected an antibiotic resistance gene adjoined to the insulin promoter. When these cells formed three-dimensional structures, the cells increased insulin production to therapeutic levels but insulin secretion remained insensitive to glucose [11]. More recent Diabetologia (2009) 52:735–738 DOI 10.1007/s00125-009-1322-y
Application of living systems process analysis to army organizations: A review and critique

This paper reviews the first major application of living systems theory (LST) at the level of the organization. The research, based on data from more than 5000 respondents in 35 U.S. Army battalions in the United States and West Germany, examines the relationship between conventional assessments of organizational effectiveness and evaluations of LST processes. The research findings indicate that living systems process analysis (LSPA) provides a methodology for understanding the dynamics of organizational effectiveness and for diagnosing problems which can impede this effectiveness. Also considered are difficulties encountered in attempting to derive an empirically relevant methodology from living systems theory.
Negative surface-plasmon dispersion coefficient: A physically illustrative, exact formula

It is shown that in the nonretarded regime, the frequency of the long-wavelength surface plasmon of a free-electron metal is directly related to the overlap of the metal's unperturbed electron density and the normalized, fluctuating potential of the surface plasmon. This result directly expresses the idea that the surface plasmon's frequency depends on the efficiency with which its electric potential energy can be interchanged with electron kinetic energy. It shows that a negative surface-plasmon dispersion coefficient can be interpreted in terms of decreasing overlap of the fluctuating potential and the unperturbed electron density, as the plasmon wave vector increases.
Damage tolerance in glass reinforced polymer laminates

Abstract Ten glass-reinforced, rubber-toughened polymer laminate panels were tested in 3-point bending in a series of loading–unloading cycles, with increasing deflection. Damage was quantified by the stiffness decrease, hysteresis and residual strain. The threshold for unacceptable damage occurred when the strain reached ca. 0.6%. Acoustic emission (AE) was monitored by four sensors on the compressive side of the samples; the correspondence between the damage threshold and different AE measures was explored, with hit strength (i.e., the measured area under the rectified signal envelope, or MARSE) providing the clearest correlation. Separating events with AE hits that were recorded by all four sensors (“associated”) from those recorded by three or fewer sensors (“unassociated”), distinguished matrix from fiber damage. Viscoelastic effects were identified by separating hits that occurred during loading from those that occurred during hold and unloading.
Polaron defects in a charge density wave: a model for lightly doped BaBiO3

A model for BaBiO3 was introduced by Rice and Sneddon, which treats this material as a simple three-dimensional version of a Peierls insulator, where the insulating gap is a consequence of the ordered distortion of the oxygen atoms. Charge accumulates on half the atoms and depletes from the other half. Experimentally, when holes are added to BaBiO3 by doping, it remains insulating until a very large hole concentration is reached, at which point it becomes superconducting. In the Rice-Sneddon model, at large enough electron-phonon coupling, a mechanism for insulating behavior of doped samples is formation of small polarons or bipolarons which trap carriers in bound states in the Peierls gap. A variational calculation of the polaron binding in this model is given, and compared with “exact” numerical results on large clusters with periodic boundary conditions.
Excitation of Surface Plasmon Polaritons and Leaky Modes with Dielectric Gratings over Metallic Substrates

A dielectric grating on a metallic substrate permits excitation of both surface-plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and resonant leaky-modes. We compare the spectral characteristics and local field structure of the excited classical SPPs and mixed leaky-mode SPPs.
Automated information retrieval in science and technology.

The rapid advances in computer and communication technology in the 19709s have enabled large interactive scientific and technical information retrieval systems to be implemented. Major search services today offer on-line access to millions of bibliographic citations and an increasing number of "electronic handbooks." In addition, development of knowledge bases is well under way. Despite the impressive speed and flexibility of interactive retrieval systems, their impact has been lessened by limited awareness of their existence, uneven quality of retrieval, inadequate linkages among data bases, and reliance on specially trained intermediaries.
Oceanographic conditions during 1973 in Russell Fjord, Alaska

Abstract Russell Fjord appears to be in the process of being dammed and isolated from marine influence by the advancing Hubbard Glacier. This study was initiated to understand the present circulation of the fjord and to provide a basis for comparison in the event that closure should occur. Observations made during 1973 indicate that the deep water is continuously renewed by near-surface source water added over the sill. ‘NO’ (Broecker, 1974) appears to be useful in tracing these additions. The probable consequences of glacial damming are considered.
Surface Characterization of Plasma Treated Carbon Fibers and Adhesion to a Thermoplastic Polymer

Abstract The surface chemistry of IM7 carbon fibers was characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The fiber surface energetics were determined from a two-liquid tensiometric method. The adhesion between as-received and plasma-treated carbon fibers and polyethersulfone (PES) was measured by the microbond pull-out test. The surface characterization techniques showed that the effect of any plasma treatment is attained within less than 15 seconds. It was found that both argon and air plasmas increased the oxidation state of the fiber surface and that they reduced the dispersive component (γs d) of the fiber surface free energy considerably. The ammonia plasma treatment resulted in a cleaning of the surface. This plasma treatment was also effective in improving the fiber/matrix adhesion of quenched samples. A similar adhesion enhancement between as-received fibers and PES is obtained by annealing the samples above the Tg of the polymer. The air plasma treatment did not have any significant effec...
Outcomes after intrauterine insemination are independent of provider type

Objective We sought to determine whether the success of intrauterine insemination (IUI) varies based on the type of health care provider performing the procedure. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study set at an infertility clinic at an academic institution. The patients who comprised this study were 1575 women who underwent 3475 IUI cycles from late 2003 through early 2012. Cycles were stratified into 3 groups according to the type of provider who performed the procedure: attending physician, fellow physician, or registered nurse (RN). The primary outcome was live birth. Additional outcomes of interest included positive pregnancy test and clinical pregnancy. Repeated measures log binomial regression was used to estimate the risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the outcomes and to evaluate the effect of potential confounders. All tests were 2-sided, and P values Results Of the 3475 IUI cycles, 2030 (58.4%) were gonadotropin stimulated, 929 (26.7%) were clomiphene citrate stimulated, and 516 (14.9%) were natural. The incidences of clinical pregnancy and live birth among all cycles were 11.8% and 8.8%, respectively. After adjusting for female age, male partner age, and cycle type, the incidence of live birth was similar for RNs compared with attending physicians (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.58–1.1) and fellow physicians compared with attending physicians (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.58–1.2). Similar results were seen for positive pregnancy test and clinical pregnancy. Conclusion There was no significant difference in live birth following IUI cycles in which the procedure was performed by a fellow physician or RN compared with an attending physician.
Optimum propulsion of an oscillating hydrofoil

A study is made on the optimization aspect of marine propulsion in the light of optimum control theory for distributed parameter systems. In particular, the problem of determining the motion of a thin hydrofoil or a "thin fish" to maximize the average thrust in the presence of instantaneous or average power limitation constraint is considered. Solutions are obtained for the case of an oscillating hydrofoil having a finite number of spatial harmonics. Numerical results are presented for the special case of a flat oscillating hydrofoil. Their meaning is interpreted from the physical standpoint.
Seasonal clustering technique for time series data

In data mining, the unsupervised learning technique of clustering is a useful method for ascertaining trends and patterns in data. Most general clustering techniques do not take into consideration the time-order of data. In this paper, mathematical programming and statistical techniques and methodologies are combined to develop a seasonal clustering technique for determining clusters of time series data. We apply this technique to weather and aviation data to determine probabilistic distributions of arrival capacity scenarios, which can be used for efficient traffic flow management. In general, this technique may be used for seasonal forecasting and planning.
Interactions between nitrate and ammonium uptake: variation with growth rate, nitrogen source and species

The interaction between nitrate and ammonium uptake was examined as a function of preconditioning growth rate and nitrogen source by adding nitrate, ammonium, or both to nitrogen-sufficient,-deficient, and-starvedSkeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve and nitrogen-deficientChaetoceros debilis Cleve. By simultaneously measuring the internal accumulation of intermediates of nitrogen assimilation and the rates of nitrogen assimilation, the metabolic control of nitrogen uptake could be assessed. After the simultaneous addition of nitrate and ammonium to culture, both nitrate and ammonium uptake rates were decreased in comparison with the rates observed when each was added alone, although nitrate uptake was usually decreased more than ammonium uptake. Since both nitrate and ammonium uptake rates vary with time, preconditioning growth conditions, nitrogen sources present, and species, it was necessary to use several different indices to quantify inhibition. In general, ammonium inhibition of nitrate uptake inS. costatum was greatest in cultures preconditioned to ammonium and those at low growth rates, whereas ammonium uptake was inhibited most in cultures preconditioned to nitrate. In nitrogen-deficientC. debilis, nitrate uptake was more inhibited by ammonium, but uptake returned to normal rates more quickly than inS. costatum, whereas inhibition of ammonium uptake was similar. These results explain why the interaction between nitrate and ammonium uptake in the field can be so variable. Inhibition of uptake is not controlled by internal ammonium or total amino acids, nor is it related to the inability to reduce nitrate. Instead, inhibition must be determined in part by the external concentration of nitrogen compounds and in part by some intermediate(s) of nitrogen assimilation present inside the cell.
Target Marketing and Ethics: Brand Advertising and Marketing Campaigns

Marketing to a targeted minority can provide a competitive advantage for an organization. However, there are ethical and legal concerns that must be carefully evaluated. Youth, children, and protected minorities, including women and the elderly, are a high target of advertising because of the increasing importance of these segments in making purchasing decisions. Recent population and demographic factors continue to impact marketing to address minority marketing issues with careful attention to ethics and social responsibility. This paper examines ethical concerns of advertising, the use of animated spokes-characters, marketplace discrimination, misleading practices, ethical concerns in minority marketing, and related advertising regulations. The authors conclude with recommendations for future research and implications for advertising and marketing practice. Policy implications are made for socially responsible advertising and marketing.
Integration of an Activity-based Model System and a Residential Location Model:

We present an integrated discrete choice model system of a household's residential location choice and its members' activity and travel schedules. A daily schedule consists of tours, characterised by destinations, times of day and travel modes. The activity and travel models supply the residential model with an accessibility measure for each household member, namely the expected maximum utility among available daily activity schedules, conditioned by the chosen pattern of tours and, for workers, the workplace. A nested logit model system is estimated and applied for Boston. It does not fit the data quite as well as a work-trip-based comparison model, but its predictions capture additional effects attributable to the more comprehensive accessibility measure.
Topographic segregation of genioglossus motoneurons in the neonatal rat

Abstract The location of the motoneurons that innervate the main tongue protrusor muscle, genioglossus, was studied in the 1–2 day old, 10–14 day old and adult rat. Following injection of the retrograde axonal tracer WGA-HRP into the genioglossus muscle, labeled neurons were localized to a discrete column within the ventral division of the hypoglossal nucleus in both the neonatal and adult rats. These results demonstrate an adult pattern of genioglossus innervation in the neonatal rat.
Adaptive cooperative spectrum sensing based on a novel robust detection algorithm

The optimal data fusion rule for multiple sensor detection systems based on the Bayesian criterion has been derived by Chair and Varshney in 1986. However, most of the following works are focused on how to implement such a fusion rule, since the probability of false alarm and the probability of miss detection are hard to evaluate in practice. Till now, although more and more satisfactory data-fusion implementation schemes are available, most of the cooperative spectrum sensing techniques are based on the simple energy-detection algorithm, which only relies on the energy of the received signal. However, when noise is relatively large or the time-varying characteristics of the signal are conspicuous, the energy-detection spectrum sensing algorithm is more prone to fail. Thus, in this paper, we propose a new adaptive cooperative spectrum sensing scheme, which is based on a novel detection algorithm involving JB (Jarque-Bera) statistic. The ROC (receiver-operating characteristic) curves show that our new cooperative spectrum sensing scheme is more robust than that based on the energy-detection spectrum sensing algorithm. Besides, the performance comparison also implies that the optimal data-fusion rule in our new cooperative spectrum sensing scheme is superior to the commonly adopted “OR” and “AND” rules in the existing literature.