cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CREATING VISIBILITY FOR INSURANCE AND RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS IN HIGH SCHOOLS

Abstract: The author describes how a Summer Honors Course in Insurance and Risk Management for outstanding high school students has been devised to create visibility for the Insurance and Risk Management Program at Indiana State University. As the author points out, the same type of course could be devised at other institutions that have both 1) a Summer Honors Program, and 2) a strong undergraduate program in insurance and risk management.
Risk-Taking behavior, substance abuse disorders, and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has rapidly emerged as a public health crisis of unusual proportion. Despite the attention given to the association of AIDS and parenteral substance abuse, the relationship between AIDS and other aspects of substance abuse disorders such as risk taking, disinhibition and lack of self care has not been emphasized. In vitro and in vivo evidence of immune suppression as a result of substance abuse, coupled with behavioral disinhibition and co-existent psychiatric problems make the relationship between these two public health problems a likely area of concern. Substance abuse, increased risk taking and self destructiveness are co-factors involved in the transmission of AIDS which need to be studied epidemiologically. The authors address the relationship between the addictions and disinhibiton, suicidal behavior, and the clincal and therapeutic needs of patients, their families and staff.
Secondary-electron-production cross sections for electron-impact ionization of molecular nitrogen

Measurements of the double-differential cross section (DDCS), as a function of the ejected energy, angle, and primary energy for electron-impact ionization of molecular nitrogen are reported at incident energies of 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 eV. The ejection angle was varied from 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in steps of 15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The cross sections were obtained by use of a crossed-beam apparatus with an effusive gas source and a pulsed electron beam. Scattered and ejected electrons were energy analyzed by time-of-flight analysis from below 2 eV to the primary energy. The relative measurements were placed on an absolute scale by matching the experimental elastic differential cross sections to absolute measurements at each primary energy. Comparisons of the DDCS with previous reported values revealed significant differences. The DDCS were fitted to a Legendre polynomial expansion as a function of the ejection angle. Platzman plot analysis was carried out on the energy distributions determined from the fit coefficients. The total ionization cross sections at these primary energies were deduced from this plot. An autoionization feature at 2.3 eV was observed for the first time in measurements of this nature and has been assigned as due to a Rydberg state converging to the B ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{u}^{+}$ ionic state which decays to the X ${\mathrm{}}^{2}$${\ensuremath{\Sigma}}_{g}^{+}$ ground state of ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$${\mathrm{}}^{+}$. An analysis of the autoionization lines observed in the present work in the range 0.4\char21{}2.5 eV is also presented.
Studies of copper transport in cultured bovine chondrocytes

Abstract Copper serves as the cofactor for a number of important enzymes in cartillage, as well as in other tissues, including lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and cytochrome oxidase. Ceruloplasmin is resposible for the transport of approx. 95% of the copper in serum, but the mechanisms for intracellular copper transport are unknown. We have demonstrated recently that a high-molecular-weight cartilage glycoprotein, referred to as CMGP, has regions of sequence homology with ceruloplasmin. CMGP also binds copper and has at least some oxidase activity similar to that of ceruloplasmin. Other tissues synthesize intracellular ceruloplasmin-like proteins. The present report represents part of an effort examine the hypothesis the CMGP is a copper transport protein in chondrocytes and to characterize the enzymatic activities of CMGP. These studies demonstrate that CMGP is the principal chondrocyte protein labeled by 67 Cu in vitro and that the label is localized to the mitochondria, cytosol, and membrane fractions of sucrose gradients, suggesting copper transport through the cell. In parallel experiments, [ 3 H]leucine was incorporated into proteins corresponding to the subunits and fragments of CMGP, as described previously, and in a similar distribution among the subcellular fractions as labeled copper. Additionally, CMGP has oxidase and ferroxidase activities similar to those of ceruloplasmin.
Perimortem processing of human remains among the Great Basin Fremont

The perimortem butchering of human remains has been proposed for many sites in the Anasazi Culture Area of the southwestern United States at around ad 1000. This paper presents evidence that similar practices occurred in an adjacent culture area to the north. A cluster of Fremont sites in south-central Utah show evidence of this same processing pattern including scalping, dismemberment, cooking, and fracturing of long bones. The material from one of these Fremont sites, Backhoe Village, is presented to illustrate the similarities with butchering patterns found among the Anasazi. These parallels raise questions of contact between the two populations as well as having implications for the motives involved in these butchering practices. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Operating Rules for an Off-Stream Blending Reservoir to Control Nitrate in a Municipal Water System

AbstractMunicipal water supply systems dependent on surface water sources that are susceptible to both low flows and contamination can use off-stream blending reservoirs (OSBR) both to increase their yield and avoid investments in expensive treatment technology. Three water quality operating rules (WQORs) are simulated from a retrospective planning perspective using the OSBR system that controls nitrate contamination for Pontiac, Illinois as an example case. These rules regulate pumped reservoir inflow based on (1) a maximum river concentration (Riv-CR), (2) a maximum reservoir concentration (Res-CR), and (3) a hybrid rule incorporating both maximum reservoir and river concentrations (Hyb-CR). The Hyb-CR rule typically registers the highest yield when nitrate is modeled as a conservative contaminant, while Res-CR tends to produce the highest yields when nitrate losses are considered. In general, reservoir concentration-based WQORs are effective for increasing the yield of OSBR systems that control the con...
Infrared conductivity from spin and charge density waves: (TMTSF) 2X

Abstract Infrared conductivity from an incommensurate spin density wave occurs due to even-order charge density wave harmonics which interact with the host lattice. Phonon states within the density-wave-induced energy gap for single-particle excitations lead to conductivity much different from that of an incommensurate charge density wave including counter-ion ordering. The conductivity expected for relaxed and quenched states of (TMTSF)2ClO4 is discussed.
Soil microbial biomass alterations during the maize silage growing season relative to tillage method

Tillage method can significantly alter soil microbial populations and activities. Although considerable literature exists on microbial and soil chemical alterations under various tillage methods, little information exists on soil microbial biomass C (SMB) alterations during the growing season, and especially on the relationship of SMB to crop N use. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of notillage (NT) or conventional tillage (CT), and soil location, on SMB during the growing season. A maize (Zea mays L.) silage/{sup 15}N field experiment, under NT or CT for 3 yr before this study, was used during the fourth growing season. Averaged over sampling times and location (within-row or between-row), SMB in the 0- to 3.8-cm and 3.8- to 7.5-cm soil layers under NT was 87 and 33% greater, respectively, than under CT. Linear regression of soil surface layer (0--3.8 cm) SMB on day-of-year revealed a significant (P {le} 0.10) relationship only within-row and under NT, with a 29% SMB decrease during the growing season. Similar regressions for the other layers and treatments were significant (P > 0.10) or had small seasonal differences. SMB was consistently higher in the between-row locations under both tillage methods. Despite substantial tillage method-induced differencesmore » in SMB (50% overall, accompanied by small differential seasonal differences) in the more surficial layers, these alterations appear to have been of little practical consequence, since previous work on these plots revealed essentially no differences in silage utilization of either fertilizer N or soil N relative to tillage method. Thus, the importance of SMB in significantly affecting crop N use in this within-row, banded, maize silage system is questioned.« less
Medullary carcinoma, provocative now as then

The recent observation that studies of BRCA1-associated tumors contain a high proportion of medullary carcinomas and ductal carcinomas with medullary features has re-introduced pathologists to an old diagnostic problem. The term "medullary carcinoma" dates to the 19th century, but the modern entity was introduced in 1949 by Moore and Foote, who described a carcinoma with a lymphoid infiltrate, a favorable prognosis, and low frequency of metastasis. Almost three decades later, Ridolfi et al proposed specific criteria for diagnosis, resulting in an entity with an even more favorable prognosis and a lower incidence. The reproducibility and clinical relevance of the diagnosis have been questioned recently, and new criteria have been proposed and compared. The tumors typically express cytokeratin 7, often vimentin and S100-protein, but not cytokeratin 20. The usual ones are positive for p53 and negative for estrogen receptor, Her2/neu, and bcl-2. Medullary carcinomas express e-cadherin and beta-catenin more often than ordinary high-grade ductal carcinomas, and the former have genetic differences from the latter. The lymphoid infiltrate of medullary carcinomas is related to beta-actin fragments exposed by apoptotic cells. The present review discusses historical and recent developments and emphasizes diagnostic criteria.
Light control of extractable nitrate reductase activity in higher plants

Light regulation of extractable nitrate reductase (NR) activity of higher plants is complicated by: 1) involvement of several photoreceptors, 2) differences in the relative importance of the several photoreceptors among species and among developmental stages of the same species, 3) two types of effects – alteration of activity of existing NR and influences on de novo synthesis of NR, and 4) differing forms of NR within the same species. The interrelationships of all of these factors are not clear. It may be that each system will have to be understood separately before a general model can be developed. Immunochemical quantification of NR from systems exposed to varied light regimes may enhance our understanding of this area. Currently few general conclusions can be made; however, we think that the following statements are true or are usually true: (1) Phytochrome influences extractable NR activity by the low irradiance response and high irradiance response in etiolated tissues. (2) In de-etiolated tissues phytochrome can influence NR activity decay at the end of a light period by the low irradiance response. (3) The phytochrome equilibrium or the absolute level of Pfr influences extractable NR activity in green tissues under white light. (4) Blue light influences extractable NR activity through phytochrome and another, unknown, blue light-absorbing pigment. Flavins may be involved in vitro in reactivation of inactivated NR. (5) Photosynthesis does not directly influence the induction of the forms of NR that require substrate and light for induction. (6) In some tissues there appears to be a close link between nitrite-reducing and nitrate-reducing capabilities. (7) Much circumstantial evidence from kinetic and protein-synthesis-inhibitor studies and the only available immunochemical data indicate that light induces de novo synthesis of NR, resulting in increased extractable activity.
The effects of requiring different response strategies following caching in Clark’s nutcrackers (Nucifraga columbiana)

Clark’s nutcrackers use spatial memory to recover stored food in the field and have performed very well in laboratory tests of spatial memory. During the present experiment, two groups of nutcrackers cached seeds every 4 days. Following each cache session, the stay group was tested with seeds in their caches; the shift group found seeds in novel sites. The stay group performed accurately throughout the experiment, but the shift group gave no indication of being able to learn to avoid sites where they had stored seeds. These results suggest that although nutcrackers can learn to shift away from remembered locations during some memory experiments, they cannot learn to shift away from cache sites. This raises interesting questions about the relationship between task characteristics, response strategies, and memory.
Uptake and trafficking of mildly oxidized LDL and acetylated LDL in THP-1 cells does not explain the differences in lysosomal metabolism of these two lipoproteins.

Foam cells in the atherosclerotic lesion have substantial cholesterol stores within large, swollen lysosomes. This feature is mimicked by incubating THP-1 macrophages with mildly oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL). Incubation of THP-1 cells with acetylated LDL produces cytoplasmic cholesteryl ester accumulation rather than lysosomal storage. The differences could be due to differences in uptake and delivery of lipoprotein to lysosomes or to lysosomal and post-lysosomal processing events. We compared uptake and lysosomal trafficking of acetylated and oxidized LDL using colloidal gold-labeled lipoproteins. Labeling did not alter cellular cholesterol accumulation. We found that uptake and delivery to lysosomes are not different for acetylated and oxidized LDL. In fact, both oxidized and acetylated LDL can be delivered to the same lysosomes. Sequential incubation with oxidized LDL followed by acetylated LDL showed that the lipid-engorged lysosomes are long-lived structures, continuously accepting newly ingested lipoprotein. Comparison of acetylated and oxidized LDL in mouse peritoneal macrophages, a cell which does not accumulate substantial lysosomal lipid, also revealed no differences in uptake. This indicates that in THP-1 cells, the differences in metabolism of oxidized and acetylated LDL are due to cell-specific lysosomal or post-lysosomal events not present in B 6 C 3 F 1 mouse macrophages.
Thermal-Mechanical Response of Non-Uniformly Heated Nominally Flat and Curved LEU Foil Based Target

Technetium-99m is a radiopharmaceutical currently used in 85% of all diagnostic imaging procedures. The relative long lived parent isotope of technetium-99m is molybdenum-99, which is commonly produced by irradiating highly enriched uranium. In accordance with the Department of Energy: National Nuclear Security Administration’s Global Threat Reduction Initiative an effort is underway to develop low enriched uranium based molybdenum-99 production concepts. Achieving comparable molybdenum-99 yields in a low enriched uranium target effectively mandates the use of a high density metal low enriched uranium foil. Using a foil requires a significant modification to the current highly enriched uranium dispersion target designs. One design concept uses a low enriched uranium foil sandwiched between either two flat or curved aluminum plates. The low enriched uranium is enclosed in the sandwiched structure by welding the aluminum plates together about their edges. The plate design is inspired by low enriched uranium fuel plates with the exception that the low enriched uranium is not bonded to the aluminum plates nor is it necessary to clamp the plate edges to prevent lateral translation. The lack of bonding between the low enriched uranium foil and the plates allows easy removal of the foil after irradiation for chemically processing and separation. The un-heated edges of the plate target produce three-dimensional temperature gradients inducing deformations and stress. This paper will review the thermal mechanical response of a low enriched uranium foil based molybdenum-99 production target. This study describes the effect of various curvatures, thermal loads, and heat transfer coefficients on the thermal-induced deflection and stress.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Cotton Fiber Fineness Distributions and Their Effects on the Tenacities of Randomly Sampled HVI Tapered Beards: Linear Density Effects

Determining cotton fiber tenacity with high volume instrumentation (HVI) requires an accurate measure of specimen linear density. Indirect measurements of linear density such as light attenuation, by which the Zellweger Uster Spinlab HVI system accom plishes this, require additional knowledge about fiber numbers or fiber fineness, usually by introducing a Micronaire correction factor. The effectiveness of this correction is less applicable than fiber fineness determinations obtained by direct weighing methods. Furthermore, fiber fineness distribution is not accounted for, and this factor may be important to enhanced HVI technology. For purposes of discussion, length-fineness distributions by number count and direct weighing methods have been determined for twenty cotton samples using Suter-Webb sorting techniques. Ramifications of fine ness distributions across length groups on cumulative fiber fineness distribution within a randomly prepared test specimen are presented in the context of breaking load nor...
Supramolecular main-chain liquid crystalline polymers and networks with competitive hydrogen bonding: a study of increased flexibility on distonic mesogenic hydrogen bond acceptors with networks created from tetrakis-, tris- and bis-functionalised pyridyl networking agents

A series of novel liquid crystalline supramolecular networks formed through hydrogen bonds have been synthesised. These networks based on a bis benzoic acid and two types of pyridyl species (a distonic bis stilbazole capable of forming liquid crystalline phases and a polyfunctional non-mesogenic pyridyl species) can compete for available hydrogen bond donor molecules. It was found that the networks display monotropic nematic character at high concentrations of disrupting netpoints – up to 60% for tetrapyridyls, 50% for tripyridyls and 42.5% for bipyridyls.
Management of a remote backup copy for disaster recovery

A remote backup database system tracks the state of a primary system, taking over transaction processing when disaster hits the primary site. The primary and backup sites are physically isolated so that failures at one site are unlikely to propogate to the other. For correctness, the execution schedule at the backup must be equivalent to that at the primary. When the primary and backup sites contain a single processor, it is easy to achieve this property. However, this is harder to do when each site contains multiple processors and sites are connected via multiple communication lines. We present an efficient transaction processing mechanism for multiprocessor systems that guarantees this and other important properties. We also present a database initialization algorithm that copies the database to a backup site while transactions are being processed.
Effects of activation frequency on dynamic performance of human fresh and fatigued muscles

The force-frequency relationship for an individual muscle depends on the fatigue state, the length at which it is activated, and the muscle's activation history. The relationship among stimulation ...
Mapping of symmetric and partially-symmetric functions to the CA-type FPGAs

This paper presents a new approach to technology mapping of symmetric and partially-symmetric logic functions to Fine-Grain Cellular-Architecture FPGAs. The method is based on Ordered Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs). Properties of symmetric functions are used to generate Reduced Ordered BDDs for symmetric and partially symmetric functions that can be easily mapped to the rectangular, locally connected arrays of CA-type FPGAs. The mapping method is presented for the existing FPGA architecture, and routing domain modification is suggested for improved mapping. Examples of FPGA layouts are given.
Cognitive-impairing effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate in the rat: independent and interactive effects across time

Rationale The synthetic progestin medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), widely used in hormone therapy (HT) and as the contraceptive Depo Provera, is implicated in detrimental cognitive effects in women. Recent evidence in aged ovariectomized (Ovx) rodents shows that short-term MPA treatment impairs cognition and alters the GABAergic system.
Dietary acid increases blood and renal cortical acid content in rats

We examined whether dietary acid that increases net acid excretion (NAE) without measurably decreasing plasma pH or total CO2(tCO2) causes net acid retention. Control rats drinking distilled H2O we...
Chemokines in myocardial infarction: translating basic research into clinical medicine.

Marcin Dobaczewski & Nikolaos G Frangogiannis† †Author for correspondence Baylor College of Medicine, Section of Cardiovascular Sciences, One Baylor Plaza M/S F-602, Houston, TX 77030, USA Tel.: +1 713 798 4188; Fax: +1 713 796 0015; ngf@bcm.tmc.edu ‘Our goal is no longer to nonspecifically inhibit inflammation in order to reduce ‘inflammatory injury’, but rather to modulate carefully selected cellular and molecular mediators of inflammation in order to promote optimal cardiac repair.’
Effects of dimethyl fumarate on lymphocyte subsets

Abstract Objective To evaluate changes in absolute lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte subsets, and infections in patients treated with dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in comparison to the baseline pre-DMF levels. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted of 23 MS patients treated with DMF. Absolute lymphocyte counts and lymphocyte subsets were obtained at baseline and after at least 3 months of DMF treatment. Data on infections requiring medical attention were also collected. Results A total of 23 patients were included in this analysis, 11 male (48%), 12 female (52%), with a mean age of 44.5±14.1 years, disease duration of 13.7±8.9 years, and EDSS of 3.5±1.7. The time between baseline and treatment lymphocyte counts was 3.9±1.2 months. Significant reductions in absolute lymphocyte counts by 35% ( p + by 34% ( p + by 34% ( p + by 40% ( p + counts by 48% ( p =0.0098) were found. Grade 2 lymphopenia occurred in 24% of patients and grade 3 lymphopenia occurred in 1 patient. Infections occurred in 26% of patients, mainly as urinary tract infections (22%) and one fatal case of West Nile encephalitis in a patient with grade 3 lymphopenia, who had been on DMF for 5 months. A detailed summary of this fatal case is provided. Conclusion Lymphocyte subsets may help to provide better understanding of immunologic and safety impact of DMF.
Iridium-192 interstitial brachytherapy for equine periocular tumours; treatment results and prognostic factors in 115 horses

Summary One hundred and fifteen horses with periocular tumours were treated with iridium-192 interstitial brachytherapy. Tumours included squamous cell carcinomas (n=52) and sarcoids (n=63). All horses were scheduled to receive 60 Gy (minimal tumour dose) given at a low dose rate (0.034 ± 0.010 Gy/h). The mean and median follow-up times to last contact or death were 24 and 16 months, respectively. Chronic radiation reactions included palpebral fibrosis (10.4%), cataract (7.8%), keratitis and corneal ulceration (6.9%). Cosmetic changes included permanent epilation (21.7%) and hair dyspigmentation (78.3%). The one year progression-free survival (PFS) rates for sarcoids and carcinomas were 86.6% and 81.8% and the 5 year PFS rates were 74.0% and 63.5%, respectively. The horse age and sex, histopathological type, anatomical subsite and classification (WHO T1-3) were included in the analysis of prognostic factors. The only significant prognostic factor that independently affected PFS time was the WHO T-classification (P=0.009, relative risk=0.85). When compared to horses with T1 lesions, horses with T2 and T3 lesions had 1.8-fold and 3.4-fold increased risks, respectively, for tumour recurrence (relative excess risk). The one year PFS rates for T1, T2 and T3 lesions were 95.2%, 89.5% and 66.2%, respectively. The 5 year PFS rates were 72.2%, 74.0% and 53.1%, respectively. The results of this study indicate that irradiation is an effective treatment option for horses with T1-2 lesions and should be part of a combined treatment modality for horses with T3 lesions.
Improved procedures for maintaining and breeding the short-tailed fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) in a laboratory setting

Improved methods have been developed for maintaining and breeding the neotropical short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata, in an easily-reproduced, laboratory setting. Bipartite, all-metal cages have been designed which permit efficient, non-injurious handling of the animals. Also, a fruit-based liquid diet, which is simple and inexpensive to prepare, has been formulated from readily-available canned and powdered components. When efforts were initiated to breed wild-caught animals at 3-6 months after capture, this progressed slowly in most (but not all) cages. Breeding took place more rapidly when the bats had been in captivity for 11-24 months. Most females (122/144, 84.7%) then bred within 30 days of the introduction of a stud male, and the overall conception rate was 94.3% in those females which bred. This pattern of breeding activity, evidence that this bat is a spontaneous ovulator, and observed intervals between successive breeding periods (apparently representing much or all of non-pregnant cycles) in some individuals suggest that the cycle length in many of these bats probably falls between 20 and 30 days. Analysis of the breeding data also showed that certain patterns of breeding activity were frequently associated with a failure of females to establish ongoing pregnancies. Most laboratory-bred females (69/81) that were permitted to carry their pregnancies to term did so and successfully reared their young. The laboratory-reared young have generally exhibited excellent body condition, and many have proved to be fertile. The bats were found to exhibit a post-partum oestrus, which in nearly all cases (35/36) was fertile. The interval between the discovery of a new baby and the detection of a sperm-positive vaginal aspirate varied between 3-10 days, but most frequently was 3-6 days. Females which aborted non-term fetuses also had a post-partum oestrus with similar timing. These findings indicate that the short-tailed fruit bat, which is widely abundant in the lowland tropics of the New World, can be successfully maintained under controlled conditions, in cages of modest dimensions, for research purposes.
Improving Preceptor Behavior Through Formative Feedback in Preceptor Training

Context: Clinical instructor educators (CIEs) prepare athletic trainers (ATs) to serve as preceptors. Structured performance observation and supervisory conferencing is a well-established method to...
American Woodcock and Golden-Winged Warbler Abundance and Associated Vegetation in Managed Habitats

Abstract Vermivora chrysoptera (Golden-winged Warbler) and Scolopax minor (American Woodcock, hereafter, Woodcock) are 2 young-forest-dependent species of eastern North America that are experiencing population declines due to loss of breeding habitat. The goals of our study were to compare avian abundance and habitat similarities and differences in sites used by the 2 species. A portion of our survey plots were manipulated under Woodcock or Golden-winged Warbler habitat prescriptions in managed shrublands, and others were on regenerating timber-harvest sites. In north-central PA, we compared Woodcock abundance in 10-ha experimental plots assigned to one of 3 habitat prescriptions: uncut controls, Woodcock strip plots, and Golden-winged Warbler mosaic plots. We also quantified vegetation characteristics in each 10-ha study plot. Woodcock density was higher in the strip (4.8 males/10 ha) and mosaic (5.1 males/10 ha) plots compared to the uncut reference plots (3.3 males/10 ha). Woodcock density was negative...
WIGWAM Reverberation Revisited

Operation WIGWAM was a test of a 30 kt nuclear depth charge conducted in deep water 500 miles southwest of San Diego on 14 May 1955. Its primary purpose was to determine the effectiveness of that device as an antisubmarine weapon. The acoustic pulse from the test, initially an intense shockwave, radiated throughout the North and South Pacific Oceans. Acoustic reflections from topographic features were recorded for several hours after the explosion by SOund Fixing And Ranging (SOFAR) hydrophones at Point Sur, California, and Kaneohe, Hawaii. Sheehy and Halley (1957) identified peaks of the recorded coda with reflections from specific topographic features at great distances (e.g., the Hawaiian Islands, French Polynesia, or Fiji). With modern data for seafloor topography and ocean sound speed, these coda were computed with surprising accuracy using simple geodesic rays reflected from islands and seamounts. The intensity variations of the coda are mostly determined by simple ray geometry, together with modest attenuation. Coda peaks are often obtained from rays arriving simultaneously from multiple, but disparate, topographic features. Online Material: Figures of computed and measured coda and associated geodesic paths.
Bayesian Inference of Subglacial Topography Using Mass Conservation

We develop a Bayesian model for estimating ice thickness given sparse observations coupled with estimates of surface mass balance, surface elevation change, and surface velocity. These fields are related through mass conservation. We use the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm to sample from the posterior probability distribution of ice thickness for three cases: a synthetic mountain glacier, Storglaci\"aren, and Jakobshavn Isbr\ae. Use of continuity in interpolation improves thickness estimates where relative velocity and surface mass balance errors are small, a condition difficult to maintain in regions of slow flow and surface mass balance near zero. Estimates of thickness uncertainty depend sensitively on spatial correlation. When this structure is known, we suggest a thickness measurement spacing of one to two times the correlation length to take best advantage of continuity based interpolation techniques. To determine ideal measurement spacing, the structure of spatial correlation must be better quantified.
Land Grabs, Women's Farming, and Women's Activism

Rarely in the discussion of the impacts of land grabs on food security is the cultural construction of the African patriarchal farm family investigated. This is unfortunate because understanding the roles and unequal power of senior men as household heads, junior men as family laborers, and women as both dependent family labor and as independent food farmers producing on their own account is critical to understanding the impacts of agricultural and land policies on male and female farmers. Drawing on my own studies of smallholder farming in Cameroon and Senegal and on the work of economic anthropologists and feminist economists, this paper develops an empirically derived model of the relations of production and distribution in African farm households. Focusing on the economic and land constraints on women as independent farmers, the model helps elucidate the potential impacts of agricultural and land policies on women as food producers. The paper also suggests how pervasive cultural constraints make it risky for women farmers to engage in the public struggle for women’s land rights, thereby helping to explain why the needs of women farmers are so often ignored in the public discourse on agricultural and land issues.
Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome characterized by clonal Epstein-Barr virus genome

Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndromes are a heterogeneous group of disorders in which viral infection is associated with a proliferation of hemophagocytic histiocytes throughout the reticuloendothelial system. The authors report the case of a 24-year-old Vietnamese male who developed a hemophagocytic syndrome associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and who died following a rapidly progressive course. A proliferation of reactive-appearing lymphoid cells was associated with an extensive proliferation of erythrophagocytic histiocytes. Immunophenotypically, the lymphoid infiltrate consisted of CD56+ natural killer cells, predominantly CD8+ T-cells and rare B-cells (CD20+). Double-label immunohistochemical studies showed CD3+ T-cells and CD56+ natural killer cells to be distinct cell populations. Combined immunohistochemical-in situ hybridization studies localized EBV to CD43+, CD3-, CD68-, lymphoid-appearing cells, indicating the presence of EBV within natural killer cells. Southern hybridization analysis of EBV genomic termini revealed clonal EBV genome. However, there was no detectable immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements. The findings indicate that this case of hemophagocytic syndrome represents a clonal proliferation of natural killer cells containing EBV and highlights the importance of the analysis of EBV genomic termini for determination of clonality in EBV-associated proliferations. It is possible that other cases of fulminant EBV-associated hemophagocytic syndromes represent clonal natural killer cell proliferations.
Microscopic Theory of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering in Noble-Metal Nanoparticles Vitaliy

We study the role of a strong electron confinement on the surface-enhanced Raman scattering from molecules adsorbed on small noble-metal nanoparticles. We describe a novel enhancement mechanism which originates from the different effect that confining potential has on s-band and d-band electrons. We demonstrate that the interplay between finite-size and screening efects in the nanoparticle surface layer leads to an enhancement of the surface plasmon local field acting on a molecule located in a close proximity to the metal surface. Our calculations, based on time-dependent local density approximation, show that the additional enhancement of the Raman signal is especially strong for small nanometer-sized nanoparticles.
Social demographics of crime in a military community in the United States

Prior research has focused on relationships between the socio-demographics of a neighborhood and neighborhood crime levels. The current study contributes to the growing body of neighborhoods and crime research by examining socio-demographics of neighborhoods in a new context – a military community. Military communities provide an interesting context in which to study the connection between socio-demographic features and crime as they tend to be tightly knit, with strong informal and formal ties. This research adds to the neighborhoods and crime research by exploring the influence of the larger context in which neighborhoods are imbedded. The results demonstrate that certain socio-demographic indicators correlate with crime in a manner that is consistent with that found in past research, but that relationship is amplified when models include measurement of the percentage of residents who are military service members. Implications for research and theory are discussed.
Utilization of fecal occult blood test in the acute hospital setting and its impact on clinical management and outcomes.

Background: Despite lack of evidence supporting the use of fecal occult blood test (FOBT) in the acute hospital setting, FOBT is commonly used in the inpatient setting for reasons other than colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Aims: To evaluate practice trends in utilizing FOBT on inpatients and its impact on affecting clinical management and outcomes. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of consecutive adult patients undergoing FOBT from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011 during an acute medical admission at a large urban safety net hospital was performed. Indications for FOBT, and the impact of FOBT results on endoscopic procedures performed and clinical outcomes were assessed. The number of inpatient endoscopic procedures before and after discontinuing inpatient FOBT was also assessed. Results: A total of 207 inpatient FOBTs were performed in 2011. The most common reason cited for FOBT was anemia (36%, n = 74) followed by gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (27%, n = 55). Interestingly, 23% (n = 47) of the patients undergoing inpatient FOBT had overt GI bleeding. As expected, patients with positive FOBT were significantly more likely to undergo endoscopic examinations (P < 0.01). After discontinuing the availability of inpatient FOBT, patients were less likely to undergo endoscopic examinations [odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.75-0.85]. Conclusion: Inappropriate utilization of FOBT in the inpatient setting is common, even when the indication does not support its use. Setting limitations on inpatient FOBT may reduce the inappropriate utilization of inpatient FOBT. Quality improvement initiatives are needed to educate clinicians on the appropriate use of FOBT, which is primarily for average risk CRC screening.
Effectiveness and Safety of Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban, and Apixaban Versus Warfarin in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

BackgroundThe introduction of non–vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants has been a major advance for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation; however, outcomes achieved in clinical trials may n...
Plasma Hormone Profile in Anovulation

Daily plasma hormones, including luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone (T), were measured in 16 anovulatory patients for a span of 3 to 4 weeks. The clinical diagnoses in this group of patients included the following: anovulation-eumenorrhea (n = 5), anovulation-polymenorrhea (n = 1), anovulation-oligomenorrhea (n = 3), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (n = 1), polycystic ovarian disease (n = 4), severe hypothalamic amenorrhea (n = 1), and postpartum amenorrhea-galactorrhea (n = 1). Follicular activity was evident in polymenorrheic and oligomenorrheic patients, and menstruation occurred in these patients following estrogen withdrawal. No follicular maturation was noted in the group of patients with anovulation-eumenorrhea, and menstruation in these patients was considered breakthrough bleeding. Low FSH levels were observed in anovulatory patients with eumenorrhea, polymenorrhea, and oligomenorrhea. Significantly high LH values were noted in both classic and non-classic polycystic ovarian disease. Extremely low E1 and E2 levels were found in patients with severe hypothalamic amenorrhea and postpartum amenorrhea-galactorrhea. Slightly elevated progesterone levels were observed in polymenorrheic and oligomenorrheic patients prior to menstruation; this was frequently associated with an LH surge or elevation. Elevated T levels were consistently associated with hirsutism but not with obesity.
Presidential Campaigns in Latin America: Electoral Strategies and Success Contagion

How do presidential candidates in new democracies choose their campaign strategies, and what strategies do they adopt? In contrast to the claim that campaigns around the world are becoming more similar to one another, Taylor Boas argues that new democracies are likely to develop nationally specific approaches to electioneering through a process called success contagion. The theory of success contagion holds that the first elected president to complete a successful term in office establishes a national model of campaign strategy that other candidates will adopt in the future. He develops this argument for the cases of Chile, Brazil, and Peru, drawing on interviews with campaign strategists and content analysis of candidates' television advertising from the 1980s through 2011. The author concludes by testing the argument in ten other new democracies around the world, demonstrating substantial support for the theory.
Senghor's Anxiety of Influence

An examination of the question of influence in Senghor's work, with particular attention to the concept of assimilation - which I argue allows Senghor to responsibly adopt notions from French vitalist and life-philosophy traditions, despite their close ties to colonial and imperial histories.
Defining Noncovalent Ubiquitin Homodimer Interfacial Interactions through Comparisons with Covalently Linked Diubiquitin

Covalently linked diubiquitin (diUbq) is known to adopt specific interfacial interactions owing to steric hindrance induced by the covalent tether. K48-linked diUbq preferentially forms hydrophobic interfacial interactions between the two I44 faces under physiological conditions, whereas K63-linked diUbq preferentially forms electrostatic interfacial interactions. Here, we show using collision-induced unfolding ion mobility-mass spectrometry that the recently reported noncovalent dimer of ubiquitin exhibits structural preferences and interfacial interactions that are most similar to that of K48-linked diUbq.
Engineering principles and production technology: automation and skill–based design in the US

New approaches to industrial technology design are often ignored in attempts by manufacturers to reorganize their production processes. By reviewing engineering texts, surveying leading manufacturing firms, and conducting in–depth case studies, we find that predominant approaches to technology design often fail to consider the human dimension of production. However, there is a small minority of companies using skill–based approaches to technology design to enhance product quality, manufacturing productivity, system flexibility, and the quality of working life. We discuss factors that make those design approaches increasingly important for enhancing the competitiveness of manufacturing.
Who Gets Covered? Ideological Extremity and News Coverage of Members of the U.S. Congress, 1993 to 2013:

Does the news media cover ideological extremists more than moderates? We combine a measure of members of Congress’ ideological extremity with a content analysis of how often lawmakers appear in the...
Utility of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score in predicting bacteremia in critically ill burn patients.

Abstract Background We evaluated whether qSOFA ≥2 and an increase in SOFA (ΔSOFA) ≥2 can help predict bacteremia in a critically ill burn population. Methods Patients age ≥15 and TBSA ≥15% admitted between 2009 and 2015 were included. All blood cultures were recorded, and positive and negative blood culture days were defined based on the culture results. SOFA and qSOFA scores were compared between positive and negative blood culture days. Results There were 50 patients in our study with a mean age of 47yrs and mean TBSA burn of 37%. Bacteremic patients had larger TBSA and full thickness burns, higher revised Baux score, and longer hospital LOS, without a difference in mortality, compared to non-bacteremic patients. There was no difference in qSOFA and SOFA scores between positive and negative blood culture days. A ΔSOFA ≥5 was highly specific for positive blood culture days. Conclusions SOFA and qSOFA have limited ability to predict bacteremia in critically ill burn patients.
Implementation of ultra-miniaturised frequency-selective structures based on 2.5D convoluted segments

A novel methodology for synthesising ultra-miniaturised frequency-selective structures (FSSs) is proposed. The methodology is based on interconnecting the convoluted segments, which are arranged alternately on both sides of the substrate. Three advantages of ultra-compact unit cell size, independent control of filtering performance for different polarisations, and promising extension of multiband response are achieved. To verify this concept, two different structures are designed and fabricated. The first one is a single-band FSS operating at 2.5 GHz, with a unit cell size of only (λ 0/34) × (λ 0/34). The second one is an ultra-miniaturised dual-band FSS with a band ratio of only 1.18, and its centre frequencies are located at 2.2 and 2.6 GHz. Stable dual-polarised responses under various angles up to 60° are obtained.
Method for the design of nonaxially symmetric optical systems using free-form surfaces

A systematic method for the design of nonaxially symmetric optical systems is described. Free-form optical surfaces are constructed by superposition of a conic segment and a polynomial, and successfully applied to design relatively fast wide field-of-view optical systems.
Assessment of Gifted Children with the WISC-III

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the actual assessment of gifted children with the help of Wechsler intelligence scale for children-third edition (WISC-III). The appropriate instrument used for this purpose is probably the WISC-III as it is extensively used in different schools in the United States at present. Usually, most school systems recognize the gifted child or adolescent as gifted either intellectually, academically, or even both. According to the national survey of assessment practices, it has been noted that the Wechsler scales have emerged as the overwhelming priority for the assessment of gifted children. This chapter also discusses that the identification of gifted children is largely done on the basis of appropriate educational placement and planning whereas the educational institutions are primarily charged with developing children's academic achievement and development and not their artistic, musical, or creative development. The chapter emphasizes that it is very important to note and understand that an experienced professional psychologist uses stern clinical procedures to aid in the development and classification of children and adolescents.
Neuroendocrine Lung Tumors

Morphologic and clinical characteristics of neuroendocrine tumors (NE) of the lung represent a wide spectrum of entities. At one end of the spectrum is the clinically and biologically indolent typical carcinoid (TC). At the other end of the spectrum, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) and small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) show aggressive behavior and shorter survival. The clinical behavior of atypical carcinoid (ATC) lies somewhere between these two extremes. NE tumors of the lung may occur in pure or mixed forms with other types of non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). In contrast to NE tumors occurring in other organ sites, histologic diagnostic criteria for lung neuroendocrine tumors are well defined and correlate with clinical behavior and outcome. Diagnosis of TC, ATC, and SCLC is usually made on morphology alone, while diagnosis of LCNEC requires immunohistochemical confirmation of neuroendocrine differentiation. The majority of NE tumors of the lung occur as sporadic isolated tumors, although rare cases are components of complex familial endocrine, such as multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). The most important goal of molecular profiling studies of NE tumors of the lung to date has been to identify diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic targets for these tumors. This chapter will briefly review the current literature regarding pathways involved in tumorigenesis of these tumors. Recent advances in understanding of potential prognostic and diagnostic markers discovered by RNA- and DNA-based analysis will be discussed.