cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Framework for Developing Reliable and Valid Indicators of Students’ Performance in Marketing Courses

A major hazard associated with marketing educators’ increasing reliance upon test banks is that the test construction process becomes a causal undertaking, rather than a serious attempt at developing a reliable and valid indicator of student performance. The authors of this paper propose a more systematic approach to test construction based upon Churchill’s seven step procedure for developing better psychometric measures.
Deep Dive Into Visual Representation and Interrater Agreement Using Data From a High-School Diving Competition

In several sporting events, the winner is chosen on the basis of a subjective score. These sports include gymnastics, ice skating, and diving. Unlike for other subjectively judged sports, diving co...
Situating instructed language acquisition: facts about second language acquisition

What is the relationship between instructed second language acquisition (ISLA) and more general second language acquisition? To what extent is the former informed by the latter? In this essay, I review five facts about second language acquisition involving the nature of mental representation, the slow and ordered acquisition over time, the nature of internal constraints and mechanisms, the role of input, and the observation that most acquisition results in some kind of non-nativeness. I use these facts to ponder underlying assumptions and unasked questions in the research on ISLA. I conclude with some queries regarding the scope and purpose of ISLA.
Utility of Longitudinal Measurement of the Liver With Ultrasound in Comparison to Computed Tomography Liver Volume in Assessing Hepatomegaly

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study is to retrospectively compare the longitudinal measurement of the liver on ultrasound (US) with liver volume as measured on computed tomography (CT). This institutional review board-approved retrospective study with prospective image analysis included adult patients with US examinations of the liver and CT examinations of the abdomen performed within 2 weeks of each other from January 1, 2010, to April 30, 2016. We recorded the dome-to-tip longitudinal length measurement of the right lobe of the liver on the US study. The liver volume was calculated using manual 3-dimensional segmentation of the CT data set. Additional linear liver measurements and qualitative assessments were retrospectively made on the US and CT images. Hepatomegaly was defined as a liver volume 2000 mL or greater. The sample had 302 patients including 140 males and 162 females. Liver length measured on US had a moderate positive correlation with liver volume measured on CT, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.7078. The optimum cutoff of liver length (US) was found to be 17 cm by Youden index, with a sensitivity of 76.0% and specificity of 73.4% for hepatomegaly. Additional linear measurements and qualitative assessments of the liver did not significantly improve the diagnosis of hepatomegaly. In conclusion, liver length measured with US has only a moderate correlation with liver volume. Commonly used US liver length maximum values of 16 to 18 cm produce a significant number of false-negatives and false-positives for the diagnosis of hepatomegaly.
From the media fast to digital detox: Examining dominant discourses about technology use

Courses: Media and Society, Introduction to Mass Media, Digital Culture.Objectives: By the end of this activity, students will be able to: describe dominant news media discourse about digital and s...
Can artificial intelligence help identify elder abuse and neglect

A health care encounter is a potentially critical opportunity to detect elder abuse and initiate intervention. Unfortunately, health care providers currently very seldom identify elder abuse. Through development of advanced data analytics techniques such as machine learning, artificial intelligence has the potential to dramatically improve elder abuse identification in health care settings.
INTRODUCTION TO AND DISCUSSION SUMMARY OF PAULINE YU’S "DISORIENTATIONS: CHINESE LITERATURE IN THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY"

In the context of the Second International Conference on Humanistic Discourse, this text introduces Pauline Yu’s "Disorientations: Chinese Literature in the American University" and reports on the central concerns that emerged in its discussion.
Characterizing and Assessing the Quality of State K–12 Share Table Policies as a Potential Mechanism to Reduce Food Waste and Promote Food Security

Abstract Objective To identify the prevalence of state-level share table policies, assess the quality of available policies, and determine common policy characteristics. Design In this qualitative policy analysis, state-level share table policies and resources were collected from March to June, 2018 from the State Department of Education Child Nutrition Office Web sites and/or staff communication across 50 states and Washington, DC. Variables Measured Frequency of state-level policy documents assessed, as well as the allowable share table items, marketing and outreach guidance, and requirements for health code clearance, critical limits, monitoring, corrective actions, record keeping, redistribution plans, and allergy considerations. Analysis After a deductive analysis approach, each collected policy document was scored on 10 a priori components primarily derived from existing food safety policies. Descriptive statistics were used to present common policy characteristics. Results About half of the US (n = 27) had a state-level share table policy document. Most states with a policy document (81%; n = 22) allowed unused share table items to be redistributed through reservice, food donation, or use as a cooked ingredient in future meals. Few states provided adequate guidance on monitoring, corrective actions, record keeping, allergy considerations, and best practices for share table marketing and outreach. Conclusions and Implications The high prevalence of state share table guidance suggests that this is a common food recovery strategy. Yet, states differed in allowable share table items and on permitted future use of share table items.
Wresting Memory as We Wrestle with Holocaust Representation: Reading László Nemes’s Son of Saul

This chapter argues that Holocaust overused cliches point to Hollywood’s overwhelming failure to offer accurate, authentic representations of the Shoah. Using examples from acclaimed Holocaust films, this chapter poses that the signifier “Holocaust” (or “Shoah”) does not designate “survival,” “life,” or “life affirming actions” when projected onto other signifying systems that carry meaning and come into play in Holocaust films. Rather, it signifies “death,” “dying,” and “killing” in their most extreme and violent forms that threaten acts of memorializing and remembrance. The examples included indicate that authentic representations of the Holocaust in film and in story offer unique insights into psychic fragmentation in the acutely traumatized individual and offer us new insights into the transformative/healing function of art and the revitalizing of memory.
Tethering transforming growth factor β1 to soft hydrogels guides vascular smooth muscle commitment from human mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold great promise for vascular smooth muscle regeneration. However, most studies have mainly relied on extended supplementation of sophisticated biochemical regimen to drive MSC differentiation towards vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs). Herein we demonstrate a concomitant method that exploits the advantages of biomimetic matrix stiffness and tethered transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) to guide vSMC commitment from human MSCs. Our designed poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels, presenting a biomimetic stiffness and tethered TGF-β1, provide an instructive environment to potently upregulate smooth muscle marker expression in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, it significantly enhances the functional contractility of vSMCs derived from MSCs within 3 days. Interestingly, compared to non-tethered one, tethered TGF-β1 enhanced the potency of vSMC commitment on hydrogels. We provide compelling evidence that combining stiffness and tethered TGF-β1 on poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels can be a promising approach to drastically enhance maturation and function of vSMCs from stem cell differentiation in vitro and in vivo.
1482-P: Effect of Age on Diabetes-Specific Autoantibodies in a Large Laboratory-Based Cohort

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) can occur at any age, the presence of diabetes related autoantibodies predicts increased risk of disease and supports an autoimmune etiology for T1DM. Since 2017, Mayo Clinic Laboratories has been offering a comprehensive type 1 diabetes autoantibody evaluation (DM1Eval) which includes testing for 4 autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GAD), protein tyrosine phosphatase-like islet antigen 2 (IA-2), insulin (IAA), and zinc transporter 8 protein (ZnT8). The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of individual antibodies and antibody clusters (2, 3 or 4) stratified into 4 ages groups (children 0-17, young adult 18-35, middle aged 36-55 and older >55 years). Over a 30 month period (June 2017-Nov 2019) the DM1Eval was performed on 6,446 samples. At least 1 autoantibody was found in 3596 (56%) of all samples: 68% of children, 49% of young adults, 40% of middle aged and 41% of older adults. In patients with at least 1 antibody positive, GAD 65 antibodies were the most common in all age groups followed by ZnT8 in those Autoantibody clusters of 3 or 4 antibodies were more frequently encountered in younger patients (41% of pediatric and 27% of young adult patients in contrast to just 12% in middle and older age groups). Disclosure A.R. Dahl: None. S. Pittock: None. A. McKeon: None. J. Foster: None. J. Mills: None.
Analytical Solutions for Seismic Fluid-Structure Interaction of Head-Supported Cylindrical Tanks

AbstractFluid-structure interaction (FSI) of earthquake shaking is a design consideration in the civil, nuclear, chemical, and mechanical industries. Preliminary sizing of structures and components...
Two determinations of the (223)Ra half-life.

Abstract Ra-223 is an alpha-emitter that is being used as a bone-seeking radiotherapeutic agent. The relatively large uncertainty on its evaluated half-life (0.26%, Be et al., 2011 ) is an impediment to precision activity assays, which often involve measurements by various methods over time spans of days or weeks. We have performed two series of measurements using an ionization chamber (IC) and a NaI(Tl) well counter (γ-wc) to determine new, precise values for the 223Ra half-life. We have endeavored to realistically assess the uncertainties on the derived half-lives, looking beyond the fit uncertainties to identify uncertainty components acting on multiple timescales. We recovered respective values of 11.447(6) d and 11.445(13) d from the IC and γ-wc measurements. Our values are in accord with the evaluated value of 11.43(3) d, but with smaller combined uncertainties.
Determination of the half-life and the absolute photon emission intensities for the main gamma-ray energies of 124I.

Abstract The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) performed new standardization measurements for 124I. As part of this work the absolute photon emission intensity for the main gamma-rays of 124I were determined using several high-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors. In addition, the half-life for 124I was also determined using an HPGe detector. Ionization chamber measurements were performed for additional sources, but it was not possible to obtain a precise half-life value.
Automated Classification of Electrocardiograms Using Wavelet Analysis and Deep Learning

For the 2020 PhysioNet/Computing in Cardiology Challenge, we applied wavelet analysis to develop multiple deep learning models, creating a unique model for each lead. This approach leverages the ability of different leads, based upon their anatomical placement, to better observe different arrhythmias. A voting scheme is implemented amongst the leads, allowing for confirmation of arrhythmia diagnosis from multiple leads, thereby increasing confidence in the diagnosis while also allowing for diagnosis of multiple concurrent arrhythmias. We leverage transfer learning to simplify training our deep learning network by utilizing a modified version of SqueezeNet for training. Since SqueezeNet is designed for image classification, the ECG signals are converted to scalograms prior to training. Using this method, our team, Eagles, achieved a challenge validation score of 0.214 and a full test score of 0.205, placing us 20th out of 41 in the official ranking. While this method has shown promise, improvements are needed to improve classification accuracy in order to make it a clinically viable technique.
Creating a world where anyone can belong anywhere: Consumer equality in the sharing economy

Abstract The platform model of business has allowed peer-to-peer interactions that expand the universe of opportunity for providers and users of goods and services. In addition to the numerous benefits of the platform model, it has been fraught with its share of unanticipated challenges to consumer equality – a critical measure of the social welfare. Grounded in the Power-Responsibility Equilibrium framework, this study examines the most aggressive form of consumer action, filing a lawsuit against the platform company, in response to discrimination experienced by consumers on the platform. An analysis of the five legal cases brought by consumers against Roommates.com, Airbnb, and Uber highlights how current laws may be ineffective in addressing the problem of discrimination in the online marketplace against members of protected categories such as race, sexual orientation, and disability. We provide implications for platform companies and public policy makers for changes to promote equality in the sharing economy.
Optical Spectroscopy Sequential Wavelength Selection Using a Higher Leverage Approach

The problem of minimizing wavelength usage and, therefore, decreasing measurement time in spectroscopy experiments has been studied over the years, under many different scenarios. These solutions offer optimal or suboptimal $N$ wavelengths for systems with $N$ substances. In this letter, we propose a deterministic algorithm for wavelength selection for substance detection and classification of spectral data, generated by overdetermined systems, that is, when the number of wavelengths is greater than the number of substances. This type of problem is common when the increasing popular low signal-to-noise portable thermal sensors are used. A cardinality penalizing constrained multivariate regression is also proposed as the criterion for evaluating the mean-squared error. As a practical example, the spectrum of five different substances [i.e., 1) lignin, 2) cellulose, 3) petroleum jelly, 4) pentaerythritol tetranitrate, and 5) hexamine] were chosen as a proof of concept to the proposed method and compared with a similar method and were shown to achieve lower mean-squared error.
Non-positive spreads and trading venue halts: Are investors harmed?

Abstract Locked and crossed quotations in U.S. equity markets have, surprisingly, increased in number since their 2007 prohibition. In 2019, there are 260 million occurrences where the National Best Bid is equal to, or greater than, the National Best Offer. Although non-positive spreads clear quickly, their presence can still harm investors. When the bid–ask spread changes from positive to non-positive, many dark markets suspend trading, which results in a decrease in the percentage of dark trades. Dark markets often match trades at/within the spread, so the decline in dark trading coincides with more trading outside of best market prices.
Nled Gedankenexperiment for Modified ZPE and Planck’s ‘constant’, h, in the Beginning of Cosmological Expansion, Partly Due to Nled

We initially look at a non singular universe representation of entropy, based in part on what was brought up by Muller and Lousto This is a gateway to bringing up information and computational steps ( as defined by Seth Lloyd) as to what would be available initially due to a modified ZPE formalism. The ZPE formalism is modified as due to Matt Visser’s alternation of k (maximum) ~ 1/(Planck length), with a specific initial density giving rise to initial information content which may permit fixing the initial Planck’s constant, h, which is pivotal to the setting of physical law. The settings of these parameters depend upon NLED.
Somatic Embryogenesis from Immature Fruit of Juglans Cinerea

Butternut (Juglans cinerea L.) (Fig. la), also known as white walnut or oilnut, is a hardwood species in the family Juglandaceae, section Trachycaryon (Manning, 1978), or more appropriately, section Cardiocatyon (Fjellstrom & Parfitt, 1994). This hardwood species is valued for its wood and edible nuts. Native to North America from New Brunswick to Georgia, and west to Minnesota and Arkansas (Fig. lb), butternut is not an abundant species and is seldom found in pure stands, but rather in association with several other tree species such as cherry, basswood, oak, walnut, ash, maple, elm, and hemlock (Rink, 1990). A relatively slow-growing tree, butternut attains an average height of 12–18 m and grows best on moist, rich, deep soils of bottom lands, although it also grows quite well in drier, rocky soils (Dirr 1990). Quality butternut wood commands a high market price for many uses including furniture, veneer, cabinets, paneling, and fine woodworking, and the nut is an important food source for wildlife. Historically, the inner bark of butternut and its nut husks were used to yield an orange or yellow dye for Confederate troop uniforms, and the inner bark has mild cathartic properties (Dirr, 1990; Peattie, 1950). Native Americans extracted oil from crushed butternuts by boiling them in water, and the sap of butternut has been used to make syrup (Goodell, 1984). There has been limited selection of butternuts for superior genotypes, other than for nut quality and production (Goodell, 1984; McDaniel, 1981; Milikan & Stefan, 1989; Milikan et al., 1990).
Effects of leaf maturity and wind stress on the nutrition of the generalist caterpillar Lymantria dispar feeding on poplar

The growth rates of insect herbivores commonly decrease when they feed on mature leaves due to the combined effects of several nutritional and physiological mechanisms. Environmental stresses during leaf development may also decrease herbivore performance. The present study tests two main hypotheses to help clarify the importance of these factors for the nutrition and growth of an insect herbivore: (i) decreases in nutrient levels, consumption rates and nutrient assimilation efficiencies impact negatively on herbivores feeding on mature leaves and (ii) wind stress has a negative impact on herbivores feeding on mature leaves. The results show that mature poplar (Populus alba × Populus tremula) leaves have decreased levels of protein and increased levels of fibre, and that growth rates of gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) are decreased on mature leaves in association with decreased consumption rates. However, in contrast to the first hypothesis, protein and carbohydrate are assimilated efficiently (74–82% and 84–87%, respectively) from immature and mature poplar leaves. The larvae are able to chew mature leaves as efficiently as immature leaves, potentially maximizing nutrient extraction. By contrast to the second hypothesis, wind-stressed leaves have no significant detrimental effects on nutrient assimilation efficiencies, and the lower growth rates of L. dispar larvae feeding on mature wind-stressed leaves can be explained by lower consumption rates. Therefore, the availability of nutrients to herbivores feeding on mature tree leaves is not necessarily impacted by lower assimilation efficiencies, even when leaves develop under wind stress. These results help explain some of the large variation between the nutritional qualities of trees for forest Lepidoptera.
Turning the Corner on Mass Incarceration

For the first time in forty years, the national incarceration rate is flattening out, even falling in state prisons. For the first time in three decades, the number of adults under any kind of correctional supervision — in prison or jail or on probation or parole — fell in 2009. At the same time, legal reforms that might have seemed impossible in prior years have increasingly been adopted, reducing penalties for certain crimes, eliminating mandatory sentencing for others, and increasing expenditures for reintegration of prisoners into society. And racial disparities, a persistent and deep-rooted problem in the American criminal justice system, after rising for decades, have begun to drop from their highest levels.This essay examines these trends and asks what might be done to accelerate them. I survey the reforms that states and Congress have adopted and look at the interplay of such reforms with the historic racial disparities that have characterized the criminal justice system. I then speculate about the forces that have contributed to these developments, including drops in crime rates, budget pressures, and, paradoxically, the war on terror.We still have a long way to go. If we are to reduce incarceration in any significant measure, it is essential that legislatures (1) authorize more non-incarceration responses to low-level crimes, especially drug offenses; (2) shorten sentences substantially for crimes generally, to bring them more in line with those of other industrialized nations; and (3) invest in inner-city communities where children face the biggest barriers to achieving law-abiding, productive careers. In the essay’s final section, I discuss strategies that might encourage such developments.
Patterns in technical writing guidelines

From an analysis of technical communication and research source materials, it is argued that the field of technical communication does not yet have guidelines supporting an engineered approach to document production. A total of 392 writing guidelines were collected by looking at college texts, writing guidebooks, journal articles, and company standards. The authors have gained several kinds of information from the guidelines: the manner in which guidelines are stated, the number of guidelines about each topic, and the amount of research supporting each guideline. It is concluded that, if technical communicators are to successfully defend their writing suggestions to engineers and scientists, they may need to bolster the basic science on which their guidelines rest. >
Chapter 17 Culture media for the isolation and enumeration of pathogenic Vibrio species in foods and environmental samples

The genus Vibrio contains over 20 described species, of which 12 are known human pathogens, and of these, eight are food-associated. The vibrios are normal microflora in estuarine waters, and thus occur in high numbers in seafood. V. cholerae, V. parahaemolyticus , and V. vulnificus are the most important vibrios worldwide, causing diseases ranging from mild gastroenteritis to fatal infections. A large number of media have been developed over the last 40 years, both for the selective enrichment and for the isolation of these pathogens. Of these, alkaline peptone water (APW) and thiosulphate citrate bile salts sucrose agar are the most widely employed for the enrichment and isolation of V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus . For V. vulnificus , cellobiose polymyxin colistin agar is the most widely used selective medium. These media, numerous others which have been described, their modes of action, their use, and typical results, are the topic of this review.
Conducting Organic Polymers: Doped Polyacetylene

The electronic structure of polyenes has been a subject of interest for many years. The unsaturated bonds which characterize the polyenes have an important effect on their electronic structure and the corresponding electronic properties. In a polyene (see Fig, 1) three of the four carbon valence electrons are in sp2 hybridized orbitals; two of the σ-type bonds are links in the backbone chain while the third forms a bond with some side group (e.g., H in Fig. 1). The remaining valence electron has the symmetry of the 2pZ orbital and forms a π bond in which the charge density is perpendicular to the plane of the molecule. In terms of an energy-band description, the σ bonds form low-lying completely filled bands, while the π bond would correspond to a half-filled band. The π bond could be metallic provided there is negligible distortion of the chain, and an independent-particle model proved to be satisfactory.
The biology of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its analogs

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is one of the hormones involved in the complex hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis which regulates the release of testosterone from the testes or estrogen from the ovaries. The development of GnRH analogs has helped elucidate the mechanism of action of the natural hormone, and provided possible new ways to treat hormonally related conditions including hormone-dependent cancers, precocious puberty, and endometriosis. The effectiveness of GnRH agonists in clinical use lies in their ability, with long-term administration, to suppress sex-hormone production. GnRH antagonists may eventually replace agonists because they are able to reduce hormone levels without the initial, temporary rise caused by agonists.
GeV-TeV emission from γ-ray bursts

Abstract Most of the current knowledge about γ-ray bursts (GRB) is based on electromagnetic observations at MeV and lower energies. Here, we focus on some recent theoretical work on GRB, in particular the higher energy (GeV–TeV) photon emission, and the expected TeV and higher energy neutrino emission.
Distribution and elimination of the herbicide propanil in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus).

1. The uptake, elimination and tissue distribution of total radioactivity derived from the herbicide, [14C]propanil (3,4-dichloropropionanilide) and its metabolites were examined in individual farm-raised Channel Catfish which were exposed for 24 h to water containing 1 ppm of 14C-propanil under static conditions. Uptake and elimination of total radioactivity was monitored in individual animals over time in respective exposure (24 h) and depurating (144 h) aquaria.2. Maximal uptake was reached between 8 and 12 h with approx. 38% of the absorbed radioactivity remaining in the animal after 144 h of depuration. Whole body depuration of radioactivity was biphasic with a and β half-lives of 20 and 444 h, respectively.3. Tissue distribution of total radioactivity was monitored at various time points in 12 tissues and bile over 48 h. Intestine, abdominal fat and liver possessed the greatest levels of radioactivity per gram of tissue over time. Radiolabel was shown to slowly increase in bile and intestine indicat...
Lubricant layer formation during the dip-coating process: influence of adsorption and viscous flow mechanisms

Thickness and structure of Z03, Z-Dol, Z-tetraol and AM2001 lubricant layers dip-coated on amorphous carbon surfaces were studied as a function of the dwell time in solution and the pull-out speed. The results demonstrate that the lubricant layer is formed via the joint action of surface adsorption and viscous flow mechanisms. Surface adsorption creates the bonded layer in the case of functionalized lubricants, whose thickness was found to be dependent on dwell time. The observed kinetics of the surface adsorption was described as a reversible second order process. The viscous flow mechanism is responsible for the formation of the mobile layer, whose thickness only depends on the pull-out speed.
Inhibition of fern spore germination by lipophilic solvents

Several alcohols and other solvents inhibit germination of spores of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis L. The inhibition is reversible when spores are transferred to solvent-free media. The effectiveness of different solvents, measured by the concentration needed to inhibit germination by 50%, increases with their lipid solubility. The activity of straight-chain alcohols from methanol through n-heptanol is highly correlated with lipid solubility, whereas the correlation is weaker for several other solvents. The results indicate that some lipophilic site in the spore is important in germination. THE NUCLEUS of Onoclea spores moves during germination from the center of the spore to one
Safety Design of Wind Turbine’s Mobile Low Voltage Ride through Test Device

Wind turbine’s Low Voltage Ride Through(LVRT) ability must be verified by site-test, safety design was key factor of wind turbine’s mobile LVRT test device design and development. Based on research of protection scope, design principal of safety design, this paper realized five aspects of safety design: switchgear selection, relay configuration and setting value, routine operation, self-check failure lock, operation regulations. Safety design realized by this paper did not affect normal test process, colud provided perfect protection to operator, wind farm facilities and test device. Test device complied with this design had been used in wind turbine site-test and perfected well.
A Total Flow Perspective of Atmospheric Mass and Angular Momentum Circulations: Boreal Winter Mean State

AbstractThis paper reports a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of mass and angular momentum (AM) circulations and their budgets in boreal winter using the 32-yr daily NCEP–Department of Energy (DOE) reanalysis (1979–2010). The diagnosis is performed using instantaneous total flows before taking time and zonal average without decomposition of time mean and transient flows and separation of zonal mean and wavy flows. The analysis reveals that embedded in a broad hemispheric thermally direct meridional mass circulation in each hemisphere are three distinct but interconnected thermally direct meridional cells. They are the tropical Hadley cell, the stratospheric cell, and the extratropical zonally asymmetric Hadley cell. The tropical Hadley cell corresponds to the Hadley cell of the classic three-cell model whereas the extratropical Hadley cell and the stratospheric cell correspond to the eddy-driven extratropical residual circulation.The joint consideration of meridional mass and AM circulations helps to sub...
Acute weakness syndromes in the critically ill patient

Over the past three decades there has been increasing interest in acute weakness syndromes in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients. Many of these patients require rehabilitation, and some understanding of potential etiologies and functional outcomes for these syndromes is useful to rehabilitation practitioners. A clearer understanding of these syndromes has evolved over time, as has the terminology to describe these conditions. This article will review commonly encountered causes of acute weakness in critically ill patients, including disorders of the peripheral nerves, the neuromuscular junction, and muscle.
Moving up the dominance hierarchy in young sooty mangabeys

Abstract In contrast to the matrilineal dominance system reported for several primate species, sooty mangabeys,Cercocebus torquatus atys, exhibit a dominance system that is independent of matriline except in the first years of life. Beginning as early as 2-3 years of age, juveniles may begin to outrank both their mothers and other initially higher-ranking individuals. The present study followed 12 juvenile sooty mangabeys ranging in age from 2 to 5 years over a 6-month period to assess the means by which higher dominance rank is attained. Four behavioural patterns were identified: (1) directly challenge a higher-ranking animal (57·1%); (2) join with an aggressor against a higher-ranking opponent (27·6%); (3) challenge a higher-ranking individual while seated next to or in the general area of (and/or grooming) an even higher-ranking animal and then enlist their support against the former (13·4%); and (4) challenge a higher-ranking animal when an adult male is in the area and enlist support of the male (1·8%). The use of the above strategies was not affected by age group or sex. The main points of interest are that juvenile sooty mangabeys do move up the dominance hierarchy using a variety of behavioural patterns and that this is accomplished without aid from matrilineal kin.
Fusion cross sections for ^(10,11)B+^(12)C at sub-Coulomb energies

Total fusion cross sections for the ^(10)B + ^(12)C and ^(11)B + ^(12)C reactions have been determined over a 5 MeV (c.m.) energy range extending to ≈ 3 MeV below the Coulomb barrier. Absolute γ-ray yields for specific transitions in the de-excitation of the heavy products following compound nucleus decay were measured using a Ge(Li) detector. Statistical model calculations of the decay modes of the compound nucleus have been used to deduce, from the γ-ray data, cross sections for single proton, neutron and α-particle emission, and to determine total cross sections for compound nucleus formation. No evidence has been found for sub-Coulomb resonances in either reaction. The total reaction cross sections are compared with optical model calculations using different parameter sets and the observed trend in the very low energy cross sections is discussed relative to other reactions in the same mass region.
Physical Activity, Other Life‐style Patterns, Cardiovascular Disease and Longevity

Longitudinal study of 16,936 Harvard alumni, followed for life-style experiences as related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and longevity, identified 572 first coronary heart disease (CHD) attacks, 1962-1972, and 1,413 all-cause deaths, 1962-1978. Men expending 8.4+ MJ (2,000+ kcal) per week in walking, stair-climbing, and sports play were at 39% lower risk of developing CHD than less active classmates. Attributable risk estimates suggested: there might have been 16% fewer CVD deaths in the alumni population if every man had exercised 8.4+ MJ per week; 25% fewer from total cigarette abstinence; 9% fewer from abolition of hypertension; 6% fewer with less obesity; and 11% fewer CVD deaths in the absence of parental CHD. Discounting the influence of blood pressure status, cigarette habit, net weight gain since college, and parental history of early death, the more active alumni (39% of the population) are estimated to have lived on average one and one-quarter years longer than less active men.
Solid-state chemistry on a surface and in a beaker: Unconventional routes to transition metal chalcogenide nanomaterials

Abstract This article focuses on two different approaches to create nanoscale transition metal chalcogenide materials. First, we used chemical nanofabrication, a combination of top-down patterning and bottom-up solid-state synthesis, to achieve control over the shape, size, and ordering of the patterned nanomaterials. We demonstrated orientational control over nanocrystals within sub-300 nm patterns of MoS2 and formed free-standing nanostructures of crystalline NiS2. In addition, crossed line arrays of mixed metal chalcogenide nanostructures were achieved, and TaS2 nanopatterns were made by the chemical transformation of tantalum oxide templates. Second, we developed a one-pot procedure using molecular precursors to synthesize two-dimensional NbSe2, TaS2 and TaSe2 nanoplates and one-dimensional NbSe2 wires depending on the relative amount of surfactants in the reaction mixture. Prospects for these transition metal chalcogenide nanomaterials with controlled shapes and morphologies will be discussed.
Cyclic adenosine 3′, 5′ - monophosphate and luteinizing hormone stimulated protein kinase from bovine corpus luteum: Evidence for activation through separate mechanisms

Protein kinases catalyze the transfer of the terminal phosphate of ATP to a variety of acceptor proteins [ 11. It has been demonstrated that cyclic adenosine 3’, 5’-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) activates protein kinase (holoenzyme, RC) by forming a complex with the regulatory subunit (R) to release the catalytic subunit (C) in the active state [2,3]. In a previous communication from this laboratory the purification and properties of two protein kinases (KI and KII) from bovine corpus luteum has been described [4]. In addition to stimulation by cyclic AMP, KII was also stimulated directly by luteinizing hormone (LH). From these studies it was inferred that LH may have a direct control on the activity of KII and that this effect is independent of cyclic AMP. The present investigation was undertaken to compare the effect of LH with that of cyclic AMP on the stimulation of KII from bovine corpus luteum. Evidence is presented to suggest that cyclic AMP stimulates the activity of KII by binding to the regulatory subunit thereby releasing the activated catalytic subunit whereas LH acts without dissociating the regulatory-catalytic subunit complex.
A Nonparametric Test for the Ordered Alternative Based on Kendall's Correlation Coefficient

Several methods have been developed for testing the ordered alternative. These include the Jonckheere–Terpstra (JT) test (Jonckheere, 1954; Terpstra, 1952), a modified JT test (MJT) (Tryon and Hettmansperger, 1987), and a test proposed by Terpstra and Magel (TM) (Terpstra and Magel, 2003), among others. This article proposes a new method for testing the ordered alternative. The proposed test is based on Kendall's tau statistic. The asymptotic distribution of the test statistic is given. A Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted comparing the estimated powers of the proposed test with existing tests under a variety of sample sizes and distributions.
The Analysis of Multidimensional Contingency Tables

Ecological data often come in the form of multidimensional tables of counts, referred to as contingency tables. During the last decade several new methods of analyzing such tables have been proposed. Here, a class of models analogous to those used in the analysis of variance is discussed, and a method for computing the expected cell counts for the different models is presented. Two differenet tests for checking the goodness—of—fit of a particular model are then examined. The first is the simple generalization of the Pearson chi—square test statistic, while the second is referred to as the likelihood—ratio chi—square test statistic. Both have the same asympototic g2 distribution. The likelihood—ratio statistic can be used in the selection of a suitable model, via the technique of partitioning. All of the methods presented are illustrated using data collected by Schoener on lizards from the West Indies. See full-text article at JSTOR
Intracellular sodium content of a wall-less strain of Neurospora crassa and effects of insulin: a 23Na-NMR study.

Abstract 23 Na-NMR has been used to investigate some factors influencing the sodium content of a wall-less strains of Neurospora crassa . The shift reagent Tm(DOTP)H 2 (NH 4 ) 3 proved useful for this purpose, while several other reagents, previously used by others, were found to be unsuitable for use with these cells. When the cells were grown, washed and resuspended in medium containing sodium (25.3 mM), the intracellular sodium concentration was calculated to be 11.9 ± 1.4 mM. This value rose within two minutes of addition of glucose (100 mM), to > 14 mM. Preincubation of cells with insulin (100 nM) had a significant effect on the subsequent rate of sodium accumulation during the period 3–12 minutes following glucose addition. Insulin-treated cells showed a slow, continued accumulation of sodium during this period (+1.14 ± 0.39%/min), while control cells lost sodium very slowly (−0.63 ± 0.29%/min; P of difference = 0.005).
Susceptibility to type I diabetes: HLA-DQ and DR revisited

Abstract The HLA class II region encodes the strongest genetic contribution to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); however, the complex HLA associations with IDDM are not yet fully understood. Here, Jin-Xiong She argues that all DR and DQ molecules in an individual act in concert to determine the overall HLA-encoded susceptibility to IDDM and that apparent inter-racial discrepancies of HLA associations can be explained by DR-DQ linkage disequilibrium or by DQ αβ trans-complementation.
Contactless electromodulation and surface photovoltage spectroscopy for the nondestructive, room temperature characterization of wafer-scale III–V semiconductor device structures

Abstract This paper will review the use of the contactless methods of photoreflectance, contactless electroreflectance, and surface photovoltage spectroscopy for the nondestructive, room temperature characterization of a wide variety of wafer-scale III–V semiconductor device structures. Some systems that will be discussed include heterojunction bipolar transistors (including determination of collector and emitter doping levels, alloy composition, and dc current gain factor, pseudomorphic GaAlAs/InGaAs/GaAs high electron mobility transistors (including the determination of the composition, width, and two-dimensional electron gas density in the channel), edge emitting lasers [InGaAsP/InP (including the detection of p -dopant interdiffusion), graded index of refraction separate confinement heterostructure GaAlAs/GaAs/InGaAs], and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (determination of fundamental conduction to heavy-hole excitonic transition and cavity mode). These methods are already being used by more than a dozen industries world-wide for the production-line qualification of these device structures.
Orbital angular momentum transmission (Invited Paper)

This paper will discuss recent advances in using orbital angular momentum as a domain for multiplexing multiple data channels to increase capacity and spectral efficiency. We will describe Tbit/s transmission results as well as basic demonstrations of switching and networking functions.
Human economics: A non-human perspective

Abstract Tools (or ‘man-made capital’, i.e., the ‘capital’ of economists) are the exosomatic equivalent of organs. Both are created from ‘natural capital’ (i.e., environmental resources) for the better exploitation of natural capital, promoting net energy flow from the environment to the owner. Current human economic behavior differs from that of non-human organisms in the following ways: 1. 1. Large-scale and quasi-irreversible transformation of natural capital into tools, toys and weapons designed further to speed up this very process. 2. 2. Extensive use of exosomatic energy to fuel such transformation, and to subsidize ecologically non-sustainable economic practices. 3. 3. Storage of energy reserves overwhelmingly exosomatically and not as food, including the accumulation of weapons arsenals. 4. 4. Bequeathing of energy stores, tools, and weapons beyond one generation, leading to the accumulation of wealth and power, which further promote resource transformation. 5. 5. Succesful channeling of interspecific energy interactions between humans and other organisms so as to benefit almost exclusively humans. 6. 6. Standardization of intraspecific energy interactions so as to be reciprocal in the form of business deals. 7. 7. Regulation of intraspecific competition by social agreements such as licenses, tariffs, insurance, pensions, etc. 8. 8. Use and storage of money as a symbol of energy credit in reciprocal intraspecific transactions. 9. 9. Debt, i.e., delayed reciprocity, with unharvested natural capital as the ultimate collateral. 10. 10. Practice of and belief in open-ended economic growth as a solution to economic injustice. In a nutshell, humans are characterized by (1) exploding their economic interactions (i.e., the transformation of natural to man-made capital and its use, storage, accumulation and transmission to the next generation) into the exosomatic sphere; (2) standardizing net energy flow (largely one-way interspecific, and reciprocal intraspecific); and finally by (3) debt which, as today's sale of tomorrow's yet unharvested and unowned natural capital, temporarily stretches the world's carrying capacity while irreversibly corrupting its foundations.
Intratesticular papillary mucinous cystadenocarcinoma.

Abstract The first case of intratesticular papillary mucinous cystadenocareinoma is described. The tumor was histopathologically different from other types of papillary carcinoma related to the testicle and is believed to have originated from an intratesticular mullerian duct remnant.
Evaluation of primary rumen epithelial cell incubation techniques in sheep

Abstract Objectives of this study were to determine if the number of cells incubated in primary rumen epithelial cell cultures affects production rates of metabolites and to establish an ideal mode of data expression in order to standardize the reporting criteria for primary cell incubation. Epithelial tissue was excised from five Suffolk×Dorset cross-bred sheep and subjected to serial tryptic digestion to isolate cells. Isolated cells were incubated for 90 min in 25 mM propionate and 10 mM butyrate at concentrations of 0.5, 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 million cells per flask (total volume=3 ml). Production of acetoacetate (ACAC), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), lactate (LAC) and pyruvate (PYR) were measured. Data were expressed as either cell number, cell dry matter (DM) or cell crude protein (CP) alone or per epithelial wet tissue weight, body weight (BW) or metabolic BW to generate 12 different forms of data expression. Coefficients of variation (CVs) were calculated for all 12 modes of expression. Expressing data per cell number resulted in the lowest variation ( P P P P
Mutants of Volvox carteri affecting nitrogen assimilation

Three genes of Volvox carteri f. nagariensis have been identified which affect nitrogen assimilation. Mutants in two unlinked genes, nitA and nitC, were isolated as chlorate resistant and they exhibit no measureable nitrate reductase activity. The mutant in the nitB gene which is linked to nitA has slightly reduced levels of nitrate reductase activity and grows poorly on the nitrate concentration in standard medium but grows normally if the level of nitrate is increased. All of the mutants utilize ammonia, urea or nitrite for growth.
A Linear Programming Based Tone Injection Algorithm for PAPR Reduction of OFDM and Linearly Precoded Systems

This work investigates the improvement of power amplifier efficiency through the reduction of peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of linearly precoded QAM data signals. In particular, we focus on the special cases of linear precoded modulation including the practical OFDM, OFDMA, and SC-FDMA signals that have been widely adopted in W-LAN and W-MAN. We apply the method of tone injection optimization for PAPR reduction. To reduce numerical complexity, we propose a linear programming algorithm which closely approximates the original tone injection optimization problem. Our comprehensive numerical results demonstrate substantial PAPR reduction and superior BER performance using several practical examples.
An examination of pricing accuracy at retail stores that use scanners

This study examined the pricing accuracy at retail stores using scanners. Reports from weights and measures inspectors in nine states were analyzed over a four‐year period. Findings are reported on the number of pricing errors, the number and percentage of overcharges, and the number and percentage of undercharges. The results revealed an error rate of 3.86 percent. Undercharges represented 2.21 percent of the total errors, while overcharges represented 1.65 percent. In addition, the research found that error rates declined over the four‐year period. The implications of these findings for retailers and consumers are discussed.