cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning Disabilities and the LRE Mandate: An Examination of National and State Trends

This study was conducted to examine changes in the identification rates and national and state placement practices for school age students with learning disabilities (LD) between 1990–1991 and 2008–2009. Findings revealed that while identification rates of students with LD declined by about 4 percent during this time, general education placements increased over 166 percent, pullout placements declined by more than 50 percent, while students educated in highly restrictive separate class and separate school settings declined by approximately 60 percent. Unlike earlier studies, most states made at least some progress toward educating students with LD in less restrictive settings. Much of the change in placement practices for students with LD occurred since 2000.
Twentieth-century crustal deformation in the Garlock fault–Slate Range area, southeastern California

The Garlock fault–Slate Range area in southeastern California is known from geologic evidence to have been tectonically active during very late Cenozoic time. Historic fault scarps have not been observed, but comparisons of successive surveys along five bench-mark lines in the area indicate systematic elevation changes that can be explained as continued tectonic activity along known geological structures. The Garlock fault displays no vertical creep southeast of the Slate Range, but creep may be occurring west of that area. North of the fault, in the southwest corner of the Great Basin, the north-northwest–trending Slate Range anticline and Argus–Slate Range syncline appear to be active where bench-mark lines cross them. South of the fault, the east-northeast–trending Dome Mountain anticline and Pilot Knob Valley syncline appear active. Maximum rates of elevation change were 3.56 cm in 2 mo and 12.70 cm over 4 yr; surveys made decades apart, however, show rates that range from 0.07 to 0.27 cm/yr. Short periods of rapid change appear to be separated by long periods of no change (or reversals). The four bench-mark lines that were resurveyed 29 to 41 yr later had maximum elevation change rates of 0.01 to 0.02 cm · km −1 · yr −1 ; this would result in 45° of tilting along a 1-km line in 5 to 10 m.y. The axial trends of the two pairs of anticlines and synclines are nearly normal to each other. However, the stresses causing them do not appear to be decoupled along the Garlock fault inasmuch as east-northeast folding is apparently also occurring just north of it. Two stress patterns, either alternating or reflecting deformation in differing crustal horizons, appear required to explain the observed folding plus left slip on the fault. Neither stress pattern is compatible with extension tectonic theories of the Great Basin, and this region appears to be an anomalous block restricted to the southwest corner of the province.
Predictors of uncontrolled asthma in adult and pediatric patients: analysis of the Asthma Control Characteristics and Prevalence Survey Studies (ACCESS).

Background. Despite the availability of effective asthma treatments and evidence-based management guidelines focusing on asthma control, many patients have asthma that is inadequately controlled. The objective of this analysis was to identify risk factors for uncontrolled asthma among adult and pediatric patients. Methods. Two cross-sectional surveys assessing asthma control status were conducted between January 25 and May 2, 2008, among adult and pediatric patients with asthma. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire including demographics, medical history, and current asthma medication use. In addition, participants completed either the Asthma Control Test (ACT) or Childhood ACT (C-ACT). Uncontrolled asthma was defined as a score of ≤19 on the ACT or C-ACT. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify factors related to uncontrolled asthma. Results. A sample of 64 primary care provider sites (35 for adults and 29 for pediatric patients) across the United States enrolled. One study ...
Hydro: A Hybrid Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks

Existing routing protocols for sensor networks ei- ther exclusively focus on collection-based traffic, or optimize for point-to-point traffic in a homogeneous network. As these networks become more general, a mix of these workloads in a heterogeneous setting is expected, while still abiding by the resource constraints of low- power and lossy networks (L2Ns). Our design leverages the predominantly two-tiered topology of L2N deployments, with capable border routers supplementing resource-starved in- network nodes, and optimizes for the typical traffic workloads consisting mainly of collection based traffic with specific instances of point-to-point traffic. We present Hydro, a hybrid routing protocol that combines local agility with centralized control. In-network nodes use distributed DAG formation to provide default routes to border routers, concurrently forming the foundation for triangle point- to-point routing. Border Routers build a global, but typically incomplete, view of the network using topology reports received from in- network nodes, and subsequently install optimized routes in the network for active point-to-point flows. Building on the vast existing literature on distributed DAG for- mation in L2Ns and centralized routing in large-scale networks, our contribution lies in the merging of these ideas in the form of a routing protocol that addresses the needs of L2Ns while remaining grounded in their inherent constraints. Evaluations across testbeds and deployments demonstrate the performance and functionality of Hydro across a variety of workloads and network conditions.
How to draw a sphere. 1

I have written a special-purpose program that is highly optimized for drawing spheres. This program involves quite a variety of interesting tricks, but when I started to write about them, I realized that lot of matrix mathematics background is necessary to understand the sphere-rendering algorithm. I consider the matrix mathematics necessary to manipulate (and ultimately render) second-order surfaces. I wanted an algorithm that drew a texture-mapped sphere arbitrarily scaled, translated, and placed into perspective. It had to work for any view of the sphere and needed to be fast. >
Severe Karenia brevis red tides influence juvenile bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) behavior in Sarasota Bay, Florida

Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are natural stressors in the coastal environment that may be increasing in frequency and severity. This study investigates whether severe red tide blooms, caused by Karenia brevis, affect the behavior of resident coastal bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida through changes to juvenile dolphin activity budgets, ranging patterns, and social associations. Behavioral observations were conducted on free-ranging juvenile dolphins during the summer months of 2005–2007, and behavior during red tide blooms was compared to periods of background K. brevis abundance. We also utilized dolphin group sighting data from 2004 to 2007 to obtain comparison information from before the most severe recent red tide of 2005 and incorporate social association information from adults in the study area. We found that coastal dolphins displayed a suite of behavioral changes associated with red tide blooms, including significantly altered activity budgets, increased sociality, and expanded ranging behavior. At present, we do not fully understand the mechanism behind these red tide-associated behavioral effects, but they are most likely linked to underlying changes in resource availability and distribution. These behavioral changes have implications for more widespread population impacts, including increased susceptibility to disease outbreaks, which may contribute to unusual mortality events during HABs.
Reciprocal autoregulation of blood flow and blood pressure.

Der Eingangswiderstand verschiedener Arterien wurde im Niederfrequenzbereich (0,0005 bis 0,25 Hz) mittels sinusformig modulierter Pumpen-Perfusion mit arteriellem Blut an narkotisierten Hunden gemessen. Die Resultate lassen die Existenz zweier reziprok wirkender Autoregulationsmechanismen vermuten, deren Frequenzcharakteristik mit Hilfe eines einfachen linearen Modells simuliert werden konnte.
Effects of oral erythrosine (2',4',5',7'-tetraiodofluorescein) on the pituitary-thyroid axis in rats.

Erythrosine (FDC 10 min after the TRH injection, serum TSH levels were 80% greater than TSH levels of control rats. Short-term administration of erythrosine to rats decreased hepatic T3 production by decreasing its conversion of T4 to T3, indicating that erythrosine decreases hepatic 5'-deiodinase activity. These data demonstrate that dietary ingestion of 4% erythrosine disrupts the pituitary-thyroid axis as evidenced by an increased TSH response to TRH. This effect is mediated by erythrosine or an iodinated metabolite, since ingestion of its fluorescein nucleus had no effect. Erythrosine's effects were not likely mediated by iodide, because serum T4 and T3 levels were elevated and iodide administration did not increase the TSH response to TRH. These data suggest that erythrosine increases the pituitary's TSH response to TRH by altering thyrotroph cell conversion of T4 to T3. Chronic erythrosine ingestion may promote thyroid tumor formation in rats via chronic stimulation of the thyroid by TSH.
A Knowledge-Based Software Engineering Environment for Reusable Software Requirements and Architectures

This paper describes a prototype Knowledge-Based Software Engineering Environment used to demonstrate the concepts of reuse of software requirements and software architectures. The prototype environment, which is application-domain independent, is used to support the development of domain models and to generate target system specifications from them. The prototype environment consists of an integrated set of commercial-off-the-shelf software tools and custom developed software tools.
The ambiguity of symbols in the structure of healing.

In his article, 'The Effectiveness of Symbols,' Levi-Strauss contends that the details of a Cuna birth incantation evoke specific physiological responses from parturient women, aiding them through difficult labors. His argument, which analyzes the incantation as a text divorced from its social setting, has drawn criticism from students of Cuna society on a number of substantive points, primarily centering around the difficulties that the special linguistic form of ritual language would present to a non-adept. If the patient lacks a thorough comprehension of the mythic details, how can the incantation change her physiological processes? In an attempt to evaluate the effect of myth upon a woman in labor, this article calls upon Cuna and Malay ethnographic data, and presents a Malay birth incantation as interpreted by the ritual practitioner who recited it. Following a discussion of the non-semantic aspects of the incantation and the extent to which the patient shares the interpretation of the healer in both the Malay and Cuna societies, recent biomedical studies are cited in support of hypotheses concerning the physiological and biochemical effects of myth in the management of childbirth.
Physical rehabilitation in neurologic diseases

Neurologic diseases, particularly those affecting the central nervous system, are the focus of an immense amount of research. Although only a small part of that research is directly relevant to rehabilitation, many findings published during the last year have implications for practice. Strategies to affect neglect, sensory loss, paresis, and functional performance have been examined. Approaches as diverse as exercise, feedback, electrical stimulation, patient and environment adaptations, orthotics, and task practice have been advocated.
Can we predict depression in COPD

The course of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often complicated by multiple systemic co-morbidities ([1]). Depression, one of these co-morbidities, is often undiagnosed and undertre...
Analysis of Ras:RasGEF interactions by phage display and static multi-angle light scattering

Abstract Molecular switches such as small GTPases of the Ras family cycle between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states. Their essential role in controlling development and cell homeostasis requires mechanisms which determine amplitude and timing of activation. This is achieved in part by the action of guanine nucleotide exchange factors, which function as highly controlled enzymes whose activity relies on spatial segregation and intra- and intermolecular regulation. Here, we describe two experimental methodologies that permit the identification and characterization of GTPase binding sites on activators by assaying complex formation within a broad range of affinities. In the first assay system, proteins presented on the surface of filamentous phage are used to probe affinity determinants of protein–protein interactions. In this application, a protein-displayed phage library is generated by random mutagenesis and a plate-based selection is performed to identify mutations that confer higher binding affinity to an immobilized target. The second method uses light scattering as a tool for measuring the molecular weight, stoichiometry, and polydispersity of protein complexes in solution. In this application, conventional gel filtration chromatography provides initial fractionation, and in-line light scattering measurements allow accurate determination of molar masses of the eluent. This technique also provides information about conformational homogeneity which can be used as a quality control step for example prior to crystallization trials.
Dmodel: Online Taxicab Demand Model from Big Sensor Data in a Roving Sensor Network

Investigating passenger demand is essential for the taxicab business. Existing solutions are typically based on dated and inaccurate offline data collected by manual investigations. To address this issue, we propose Dmodel, using roving taxicabs as real-time mobile sensors to (i) infer passenger arriving moments by interactions of vacant taxicabs, and (ii) infer passenger demand by a customized online training with both historical and real-time data. Such huge taxicab data (almost 1TB per year) pose a big data challenge. To address this challenge, model employs a novel parameter called pickup pattern (accounts for various real-world logical information, e.g., bad weather) to increase the inference accuracy. We evaluate Dmodel with a real-world 450 GB dataset of 14, 000 taxicabs, and results show that compared to the ground truth, Dmodel achieves a 76% accuracy on the demand inference and outperforms a statistical model by 39%.
The Philippine Sea plate; a sinking towel?

Abstract Two sub-parallel arc chains bound the Philippine Sea plate: southwest Japan, Ryukyu, Taiwan and the Philippines on the west mark the site of downthrust for the Philippine Sea plate and Izu, Bonin, Mariana, Yap and Palau that of the Pacific plate. The presence of tensile features in the eastern part of the Philippine Sea plate and the apparent passive nature of the Asian plate in relation to the Philippine Sea plate may indicate that the latter is sinking by itself along the western boundary.
Meal patterns in male rats during and after intermittent nicotine administration.

Previously we observed in male rats that intermittent administration of nicotine (NIC) during the dark phase reduces food intake (FI) by initially decreasing only dark phase meal size. This was followed several days later by an increase in dark phase meal frequency such that FI returned to normal, while body weight remained suppressed. Termination of NIC treatment resulted in a modest dark phase hyperphagia. Since some human females use NIC as a weight control drug, the present study investigated changes in FI and body weight regulation in adult female rats treated for five estrous cycles with saline or a 1.40 mg/kg/day (free base) dose of NIC, which was given in four equal i.p. doses during the dark phase. The rats were followed for 15 days after cessation of NIC. Initially both dark and light phase FI were reduced and this was caused by an immediate decrease in dark and light phase meal size; the attenuation of meal size continued after cessation of NIC. On day 7 of NIC, the rats compensated by significantly increasing the number of dark, but not light, phase meals they took. This resulted in a normal 24-h FI, which was caused by a dark phase increase in FI coupled with a continued decrease in light phase FI. Importantly, these changes in meal patterns persisted for some time after termination of NIC. Upon NIC cessation, the NIC group showed no hyperphagia even though their body weight was significantly decreased. These results document that administration of NIC during the dark phase resulted in a reorganization of the microstructure of FI in females rats that resembles, but does not exactly duplicate, that observed in male rats. Like males, long lasting alterations in the microstructure of FI (e.g., meal size and meal number), were noted in female rats for up to 2 weeks after cessation of NIC. These results differ from studies in which NIC was given continuously 24-h per day and indicate that dark phase NIC administration in rats may represent an appropriate model to study the impact of NIC on meal patterns.
The Determination of Phosphates using Ion Chromatography: An Evaluation of Influential Factors

Abstract The factors that influence ion chromatographic measurements of phosphates have been evaluated using a system equipped with anion suppressor. If an equilibrium condition prevails in the suppressor column, only one form of phosphate will be detected regardless of the eluent pH. The solution pH controls the interactions of phosphates with other chemical species, such as cations, that might be present. These interactions render the phosphates undetectable. Under optimum conditions with a 50-μg/mL sample loop, a detection limit of 0.02 μg/mL phosphorus can be achieved. Upon comparing ion chromatography (IC) with direct current plasma spectrometry (DCP), IC can only provide information on ionic phosphates while DCP can allow the determination of all forms of phosphorus. However, a combination of the two techniques can provide a powerful tool for separating, identifying, and measuring all forms of phosphorus.
Stability of the bacterial communities supported by a seven-stage biological process treating pharmaceutical wastewater as revealed by PCR-DGGE

The stabilities of the bacterial community structures supported by seven full-scale biological reactors treating pharmaceutical wastewater were investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Effluent quality from this treatment process was consistently high with respect to BOD5 (<30 mgl(-1)), soluble COD (<500 mgl(-1)), and total ammonia (< 5 mgl(-1) as N) concentrations. Long-term community structure stability was studied by comparing the similarity of PCR-DGGE fingerprints from samples collected 87 days apart between which the influent wastewater characteristics were relatively stable. The Dice index (Cs) of similarity was moderately high for the first four reactors (Cs = 0.61-0.77) and very high for the last three reactors (Cs = 0.89-0.91). Short-term community structure stability was studied by comparing PCR-DGGE fingerprints from samples collected 15 days apart between which the influent wastewater characteristics changed significantly, while the effluent quality remained consistently high. The bacterial community composition of each of the seven bioreactors showed a moderate community shift (Cs = 0.70-0.76). Short-term variability in influent wastewater composition, therefore, affected a greater community shift than did long-term operation treating a wastewater of relatively consistent composition. These results indicate that functionally stable wastewater treatment bioreactors have stable microbial community structures under normal operating conditions but are able to adapt in response to perturbations to sustain high effluent quality.
Pectin and nickel pectinate in acute and chronic bacillary dysentery

A comparative study is submitted showing the effects of pure pectin and nickel pectinate. Pure pectin was found to be ineffective; nickel pectinate possesses detoxifying bactericidal and anti-hemorrhagic properties, proven to be effective in the treatment of bacillary dysentery. Ninety-five cases of bacillary dysentery composed of two groups; one group of ten adult females at the Elgin State Hospital and another consisting of adult females and children at the Dixon State Hospital were treated with nickel pectinate for varied periods of time. The results in a large majority of cases were excellent. Definite improvement was observed in every patient in the appearance and general condition accompanied by the disappearance of all acute symptoms, tenesmus and bloody diarrhea and an increase in weight. Nickel pectinate is a valuable contribution to the treatment of bacillary dysentery.
Infiltration of liquid metals in a nanoporous carbon

Gallium and mercury are employed as liquid phases in a nanoporous carbon-based energy absorption system. Owing to the large surface tensions, the nanopore surface is non-wettable. Pressure-induced infiltration is observed and defiltration is difficult. The energy absorption efficiency is much higher than that of previously investigated nanoporous silica-based systems. The nominal solid–liquid interfacial tension is dependent on the nanopore size.
Comparison of urographic and cholegraphic contrast enhanced CT liver scanning

Abstract Six consecutive patients referred for CT scanning because of suspected hepatic metastases were scanned without contrast enhancement, with intravenous urographic contrast enhancement and 24 hr later with intravenous cholegraphic contrast enhancement. Unenhanced and intravenous urographic contrast enhanced scans were complementary in detecting hepatic metastases. Intravenous Cholegrafin was not effective as a contrast agent in detecting hepatic metastases.
The effect of labeling on employee perceptions of residents living on Alzheimer's disease specialized care units.

Objectives This study examined whether labeling influenced nursing home employees’ perceptions of residents and how those perceptions could affect resident-caregiver interactions. Design This was a small descriptive study using vignettes and questionnaires. Setting Two nursing homes (one rural, one urban) in New England. Participants Forty-three nursing home employees including registered nurses, certified nursing assistants, activities staff, and others. Measurements All participants read a vignette based on the behavior of a fictional resident and rated their perceptions of the behavior, indicated whether and how they would report the event, and made recommendations for possible courses of action. Although vignettes were the same, the resident label varied: Alzheimer’s disease specialized care unit (ADSCU) resident or resident of a non-specialized long-term care unit. Results Employees who read the vignette for the ADSCU resident rated the resident's behavior as more problematic, inappropriate, and aggressive than the same behavior for non-ADSCU residents. Conclusion The effect of the label of “ADSCU resident” may have implications for care provided in specialized long-term care environments.
Correlating small mammal abundance to climatic variation over twenty years

Little is known about abundance–climate relationships for animals because few long-term field studies address the issue. We present results from a 20-year study of abundance of Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) and Microtus pennsylvanicus (meadow vole). P. leucopus exhibited a biennial cycle with an overall population increase. M. pennsylvanicus did not exhibit a population cycle, and population size declined. We attribute longterm changes in abundance of both species to succession from grass-dominated to tree-dominated vegetation. The only significant association we found between abundance of either species over 20 years and 4 climate variables was a positive relationship between M. pennsylvanicus and summer precipitation. However, all but 1 of the potential abundance–climate relationships were significant when temporal subsets of the original data were analyzed. Weak associations may exist between climate and abundance that are contingent upon other unidentified factors, which further suggests that abundance–climate correlations are sensitive to the particular time frame of a study. DOI: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-267R.1.
Spatiotemporal signalling in plant development

Plants, being sessile organisms, need to respond to changing environments, and as a result they have evolved unique signalling mechanisms that allow rapid communication between different parts of the plant. The signalling mechanisms that direct plant development include long-range effectors, such as phytohormones, and molecules with a local intra-organ range, such as peptides, transcription factors and some small RNAs. In this Review, we highlight recent advances in understanding plant signalling mechanisms and discuss how different classes of signalling networks can integrate with gene regulatory networks and contribute to plant development. In some cases, we also address the evolutionary context of mechanisms and discuss possible links between the lifestyle of plants and selection for different signalling mechanisms.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair: Evolution of therapy, patterns of use, and results in a 10-year experience

Objective The introduction of aortic stent grafting in the treatment of thoracic aortic disease has pioneered unique treatment options and gained rapid clinical adoption despite a paucity of long-term outcome data. The purpose of this analysis is to examine all operations performed using thoracic aortic stent grafts at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Methods A total of 502 operations involving thoracic aortic stent grafting were performed between April 1999 and April 2009. Patients were followed in a prospectively collected clinical perioperative registry, and long-term outcomes were determined from administrative data sources. Aortic pathologies included aortic aneurysm, acute aortic dissection (types A and B), hybrid arch repairs, reinterventions with additional stents, pseudoaneurysm, chronic type B dissection, traumatic transection, penetrating aortic ulcer, and other unique indications. Results Patients' mean age at the time of thoracic endovascular aortic repair was 70.1 ± 12.4 years, and 51% of the patients were aged more than 70 years. Some 41% of patients were female, and the majority of patients (87%) were hypertensive. Overall 30-day mortality was 10.1%. Multivariable risk factors for 30-day mortality included urgent/emergency, Stanford type A aortic dissection, perioperative spinal ischemia, type C aortic coverage, hybrid arch operation, aortic transection, chronic renal failure, and age. Neurologic complications included permanent complete or incomplete paraplegia in 17 patients (3.4%), reversible spinal cord ischemia in 26 patients (5.1%), transient stroke in 16 patients (3.2%), and permanent stroke in 23 patients (4.6%). Greater extent of aortic coverage was not associated with risk of spinal cord ischemia. Access complications, stroke, and endoleaks diminished with increased operative experience over time. Risk factors for late mortality included urgent/emergency indications, hybrid procedures, traumatic aortic transection, age, perioperative paralysis, and chronic renal failure. Patients undergoing stent grafting for type B dissection were more likely to survive than patients undergoing stent grafting for aneurysms or other indications. Conclusions Thoracic aortic stent grafting has evolved to be a viable option to complement, augment, or even replace traditional treatments for aortic disease. These data illustrate the applicability of this evolving technology in the establishment of new treatment paradigms for complex aortic pathologies.
Modelling and economic analysis of gas production from hydrates by depressurization method

Gas production from a hydrate reservoir involves decomposition of the solid hydrate. An analytical model is developed to predict reservoir performance for gas production by the depressurization method from a hydrate reservoir containing associated free gas. The model is developed by combining the intrinsic kinetics of hydrate decomposition, which is of interest to chemical engineers, with gas inflow performance relationship and material balance equations. An economic analysis model is also developed and incorporated with the reservoir performance model. These models are used in a case study of gas production from a hydrate reservoir in the Alaskan North Slope. The results show that gas transportation cost is the main factor controlling feasibility of commercial gas production. The hydrate zone contributes significantly to overall reservoir performance by arresting pressure decline and maintaining gas production rate. La production de gaz a partir d'un reservoir d'hydrates fait intervenir la decomposition d'hydrates solides. On a mis au point un modele analytique afin de predire la performance du reservoir pour la production de gaz par la methode de la depressurisation a partir d'un reservoir d'hydrates contenant un gaz libre associe. Dans ce modele, on combine les cinetiques intrinseques de la decomposition des hydrates, ce qui est interessant pour les ingenieurs chimistes, avec la relation de performance du debit de gaz et les equations de bilans de matiere. Un modele d'analyse economique a egalement ete elabore et incorpore au modele de performance du reservoir. Ces modeles sont utilises dans une etude de cas sur la production de gaz a partir d'un reservoir d'hydrates du North Slope d'Alaska. Les resultats montrent que le couCt du transport de gaz est le principal facteur qui conditionne la faisabilite de la production commerciale de gaz. La region des hydrates contribue considerablement a la performance globale du reservoir en stoppant la chute de pression et en maintenant la vitesse de production de gaz.
Teamed Internships in Environmental Engineering and Technology: A Project Report

This paper is a summary report of the “Teamed Internships Program” (TIP), an Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant through the National Science Foundation (NSF). This three-year project created internships encompassing regional industries, federal research facilities, and two- and four-year educational institutions. The project cultivated teamwork and communication skills for environmental technician and engineering students, developed instructional materials, and provided valuable contacts with industry. To foster faculty and teacher enhancement and student interest in environmental science and technology, insights from the program were incorporated into instructional materials and educational modules for dissemination to local secondary schools.
Quaternary stratigraphy and geoarchaeology of the colorado and concho rivers, west texas

Geoarchaeological investigations in an area surrounding the confluence of the upper Colorado and Concho Rivers, Edwards Plateau of West Texas, have produced a detailed landscape evolution model which provides a framework for discussion of the influences of geomorphic processes on the development, preservation, and visibility of the archaeological record. Field mapping within the study area has differentiated six allostrati-graphic units of fluvial origin in both valleys, as well as extensive eolian sand sheets along the Colorado River. Early to middle Pleistocene terrace remnants cap many upland areas, whereas two distinct late Pleistocene terrace surfaces are widespread within the study area at somewhat lower elevations. Fluvial activity during the time period of human occupation is represented by an extensive Holocene terrace and underlying valley fill, which is up to 11 m in thickness. Valley fill sediments can be subdivided into allostratigraphic units of early to middle Holocene (ca. 10,000–5000 yr B.P.) and late Holocene age (ca. 4600–1000 yr B.P.), which are separated by a buried soil profile. The modern incised channels and very narrow floodplains represent the last millennium. Eolian sand sheets of early to middle Holocene age overlie limestone- and shale-dominated uplands, Pleistocene terraces, and in some cases the Holocene valley fill along the Colorado River. Pleistocene terraces have been stable features in the landscape and available for settlement through the time period of human occupation. Archaeological materials of all ages occur at the surface, and the record preserved in individual sites range from that associated with discrete periods of activity to longer-term palimpsests that represent repeated use over millennia. Sites within early to middle Holocene and late Holocene fills represent short-term utilization of constructional floodplains during the Paleoindian through early Archaic and middle to late Archaic time periods respectively. By contrast, those that occur along the buried soil profile developed in the early to middle Holocene fill record middle to late Archaic cultural activity on stable terrace surfaces, and represent relatively discrete periods of activity to longer-term palimpsests that represent repeated use over the 3000–4000 years of subaerial exposure. Late Prehistoric sites occur as palimpsests on soils developed in late Holocene alluvium or stratified within modern floodplain facies. Paleoindian through Late Prehistoric sites occur stratified within eolian sand sheets or along the unconformity with subjacent fluvial deposits. The landscape evolution model from the upper Colorado and Concho Rivers is similar to that developed for other major valley axes of the Edwards Plateau. This model may be regionally applicable, and can be used to interpret the geomorphic setting and natural formation processes for already known sites, as well as provide an organizational framework for systematic surface and subsurface survey for new archaeological records. 0 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Trends in the incidence, demographics, and outcomes of end‐stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis in the US from 1995 to 2006

Objective This study was undertaken to investigate whether recent advances in lupus nephritis treatment have led to changes in the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) secondary to lupus nephritis, or in the characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of patients with lupus nephritis ESRD. Methods Patients with incident lupus nephritis ESRD (1995–2006) were identified in the US Renal Data System. Trends in sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were assessed. We tested for temporal changes in standardized incidence rates (SIRs) for sociodemographic groups using Poisson regression. Changes in rates of waitlisting for kidney transplant, kidney transplantation, and all-cause mortality were examined using crude and adjusted time-to-event analyses. Results We identified 12,344 incident cases of lupus nephritis ESRD. Mean age at ESRD onset was 41 years; 81.6% of the patients were women and 49.5% were African American. SIRs for lupus nephritis ESRD among those who were ages 5–39 years, African American, or lived in the southeastern US increased significantly from 1995 to 2006. Increases in body mass index and in the prevalence of both diabetes mellitus and hypertension were detected. Mean serum hemoglobin level at ESRD onset increased, while that of serum creatinine decreased over time. More patients received hemodialysis and fewer received peritoneal dialysis. There was a slight increase in the frequency of preemptive kidney transplantation at ESRD onset, but kidney transplantation rates within the first 3 years of ESRD declined. Mortality did not change over the 12 years of study. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the characteristics of patients with lupus nephritis ESRD and initial therapies have changed in recent years. While SIRs rose in younger patients, among African Americans, and in the South, outcomes did not improve in over a decade of evaluation.
The hepatitis B virus ribonuclease H as a drug target

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a leading cause of hepatitis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcinoma. An outstanding vaccine is available; however, the number of infections remains high. Current anti-HBV treatments with interferon α and nucleos(t)ide analogs clear the infection in only a small minority of patients, and either induce serious side-effects or are of very long duration. HBV is a small, enveloped DNA virus that replicates by reverse transcription via an RNA intermediate. The HBV ribonuclease H (RNaseH) is essential for viral replication, but it has not been exploited as a drug target. Recent low-throughput screening of compound classes with anti-Human Immunodeficiency Virus RNaseH activity led to identification of HBV RNaseH inhibitors in three different chemical families that block HBV replication. These inhibitors are promising candidates for development into new anti-HBV drugs. The RNaseH inhibitors may help improve treatment efficacy enough to clear the virus from the liver when used in combination with existing anti-HBV drugs and/or with other novel inhibitors under development. This article forms part of a symposium in Antiviral Research on "An unfinished story: from the discovery of the Australia antigen to the development of new curative therapies for hepatitis B."
Revised chronostratigraphy of the Kenai Group from 40Ar/39Ar dating of low-potassium bearing minerals, Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska

Thirty-seven tephra beds, primarily from coal partings in the Sterling and Beluga formations, were successfully dated by the 40Ar/39Ar method providing a new and revised understanding of the chronostratigraphy of late Tertiary strata within Cook Inlet Basin. Meticulous sample preparation, multiple analyses, and statistical evaluation of the data were required for these low-K, plagioclase- and hornblende-bearing tephras. Dating of subsurface core material provides the first subsurface-to-outcrop tie in Cook Inlet between well 212-24 in the Beluga River Unit and deposits in the Clam Gulch, Diamond Creek, and Fox Creek areas. The new 40Ar/39Ar chronostratigraphic framework place the age of upper part of the Kenai Group strata between 4.6 and 9.4 Ma and support the 8-Ma interpretation of the boundary between the Homerian and Clamgulchian paleobotanical stages. The 49-Ma age from core data in Pioneer Unit suggests the Tyonek Formation is older than previously thought or that these units belong to an older form...
Preventing postoperative Staphylococcus aureus infections: the search continues.

Among carefully selected patients, cardiac surgery can enhance both quality and duration of life. Today, procedures such as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and valve replacement/repair are commonplace, with more than 400 000 median sternotomies for these and other procedures performed annually in the United States.1 Despite the potential benefits, infectious complications remain a significant source of postoperative morbidity, with Staphylococcus aureus infections topping the list2- 4; in the setting of a new valve or endograft, such infections are associated with case-fatality rates of nearly 50%.
Bidirectional signaling of mammary epithelium and stroma: implications for breast cancer—preventive actions of dietary factors

The mammary gland is composed of two major cellular compartments: a highly dynamic epithelium that undergoes cycles of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in response to local and endocrine signals and the underlying stroma comprised of fibroblasts, endothelial cells and adipocytes, which collectively form the mammary fat pad. Breast cancer originates from subversions of normal growth regulatory pathways in mammary epithelial cells due to genetic mutations and epigenetic modifications in tumor suppressors, oncogenes and DNA repair genes. Diet is considered a highly modifiable determinant of breast cancer risk; thus, considerable efforts are focused on understanding how certain dietary factors may promote resistance of mammary epithelial cells to growth dysregulation. The recent indications that stromal cells contribute to the maintenance of the mammary epithelial 'niche' and the increasing appreciation for adipose tissue as an endocrine organ with a complex secretome have led to the novel paradigm that the mammary stromal compartment is itself a relevant target of bioactive dietary factors. In this review, we address the potential influence of dietary factors on mammary epithelial-stromal bidirectional signaling to provide mechanistic insights into how dietary factors may promote early mammary epithelial differentiation to decrease adult breast cancer risk.
Permutation-matrix groups with positive sum

Abstract Explicit forms are given for all commutative sets of permutation matrices which sum to a positive matrix, and for nonabelian groups of permutation matrices of order twice an odd prime which sum to the matrix of all ones. A relationship to circulants of level k is indicated.
Rapid emission angle selection for rotating-shield brachytherapy.

Purpose: The authors present a rapid emission angle selection (REAS) method that enables the efficient selection of the azimuthal shield angle for rotating shield brachytherapy (RSBT). The REAS method produces a Pareto curve from which a potential RSBT user can select a treatment plan that balances the tradeoff between delivery time and tumor dose conformity. Methods: Two cervical cancer patients were considered as test cases for the REAS method. The RSBT source considered was a Xoft Axxent{sup TM} electronic brachytherapy source, partially shielded with 0.5 mm of tungsten, which traveled inside a tandem intrauterine applicator. Three anchor RSBT plans were generated for each case using dose-volume optimization, with azimuthal shield emission angles of 90 Degree-Sign , 180 Degree-Sign , and 270 Degree-Sign . The REAS method converts the anchor plans to treatment plans for all possible emission angles by combining neighboring beamlets to form beamlets for larger emission angles. Treatment plans based on exhaustive dose-volume optimization (ERVO) and exhaustive surface optimization (ERSO) were also generated for both cases. Uniform dwell-time scaling was applied to all plans such that that high-risk clinical target volume D{sub 90} was maximized without violating the D{sub 2cc} tolerances of the rectum, bladder, and sigmoid colon.more » Results: By choosing three azimuthal emission angles out of 32 potential angles, the REAS method performs about 10 times faster than the ERVO method. By setting D{sub 90} to 85-100 Gy{sub 10}, the delivery times used by REAS generated plans are 21.0% and 19.5% less than exhaustive surface optimized plans used by the two clinical cases. By setting the delivery time budget to 5-25 and 10-30 min/fx, respectively, for two the cases, the D{sub 90} contributions for REAS are improved by 5.8% and 5.1% compared to the ERSO plans. The ranges used in this comparison were selected in order to keep both D{sub 90} and the delivery time within acceptable limits. Conclusions: The REAS method enables efficient RSBT treatment planning and delivery and provides treatment plans with comparable quality to those generated by exhaustive replanning with dose-volume optimization.« less
Some Asymptotic Theory for Functional Regression and Classification

Exploiting an expansion for analytic functions of operators, the asymptotic distribution of an estimator of the functional regression parameter is obtained in a rather simple way; the result is applied to testing linear hypotheses. The expansion is also used to obtain a quick proof for the asymptotic optimality of a functional classification rule, given Gaussian populations.
Text Message Copy in Print Ads: A Shrewd Communicative Strategy?

Although text messaging as a communication tool in society is rampant, research on its effects within print advertisements is lacking. To help fill this void, we employ three between-subject experiments (i.e., Study 1: text message vs. no text message; Studies 2 and 3: text message vs. traditional language). We posit that using text message copy in print ads is a unique (as grounded in distinctiveness theory) and fitting (as grounded in communication trust theory) approach to commune with targeted viewers and, therefore, should lead to favorable advertising outcomes. The experimental results confirm this notion. For example, responses concerning ad novelty, attention toward the ad, attitude toward the ad, purchase intention, and perceived brand trust are more favorable toward the text message condition ads. Implications and directions for future text message-related research are discussed.
R 2n is a universal symplectic manifold for reduction

We show that R 2n with its standard symplectic structure is ‘universal’ in that, subject to a mild topological restriction, essentially all symplectic manifolds can be obtained from it by reduction.
PARASITIC NEOPLASIA IN THE GOLDEN PHEASANT

A neoplastic process considered to be a leiomyoma was seen in the cecal wall of three golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus). In each neoplasm, remnants of Heterakis sp. were present. This parasite caused inflammation which developed into the tumor. The reaction was unusual as Aves ordinarily react to focal intestinal insult by granuloma formation.
Caring to confront in the workplace: an ethical perspective for nurses.

Because women's sense of integrity appears to be entwined with an ethic of care, so that to see themselves as women is to see themselves in a relationship of connection; the major transitions in women's lives would seem to involve changes in the understanding and activities of care...when the distinction between helping and pleasing frees the activity of taking care from the wish of approval by other, the ethic of responsibility can become a self-chosen anchor of personal integrity and strength)
Strategic group membership and nonprofit organization performance

This study analyzed the resource characteristics of a sample of university foundations and identified five distinct strategic groups. We found significant performance differences among them. Specifically, the group that focused most heavily on fundraising activities had the highest financial performance. Also performing well was the group with the highest ratio of contributions to total revenues combined with the highest level of slack. The research and managerial implications of this study's findings are discussed.