cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical coherence tomography angiography distortion correction in widefield montage images.

Background Optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging is inherently susceptible to distortion artifacts due to the natural curvature of the eye. This study proposes a novel model for widefield OCT angiography (OCTA) distortion correction and analyzes the effects of this correction on quantification metrics. Methods Widefield OCTA images were obtained on normal subjects at five fixation spatial positions. Radial and field distortion correction were applied and images stitched together to form a corrected widefield montage image. Vessel area density (VAD), vessel complexity index (VCI), and flow impairment area were quantified on the original and corrected montage images. Results This model allows for distortion correction and montaging of widefield images. There were either statistically insignificant or small magnitude changes in vessel density and vessel complexity between uncorrected and corrected widefield images. There was a significant and large difference in flow impairment area, both in the macular (+8.2%, P=0.049) and peripheral areas (+17.2%, P=0.011), following correction. The relationship between pre- and post-correction flow impairment area was non-linear. Conclusions Distortion correction of widefield OCTA images can result in clinically and statistically significant differences in important quantification metrics. This effect appears to be most pronounced in the periphery.
BOUNDARY THINGS IN THE EASTERN MAYA LOWLANDS: NEGOTIATING ALLIED RELATIONS FROM TERMINAL CLASSIC TO POSTCLASSIC TIMES

In this study, we offer a relational approach to theorizing boundaries for the Maya, adapting Mills’ (2018) concept of “boundary objects” as a means of understanding how people and things bridge or cross boundaries and were critical for developing and maintaining allied relations. We trace a network of sites on both sides of the Guatemala–Belize border dating to the Terminal Classic and Postclassic, which are generally characterized as times of increased conflict, movement and migration of people, and disruption in dynastic succession with an emphasis on shared governance. We examine the introduction of northern-style traits in the eastern Maya lowlands during the Terminal Classic and Postclassic periods, including circular and colonnaded buildings and distinctive portable goods such as molded-carved ceramics, phallic and turtle effigies, and other material forms. We suggest that during fractious periods in Maya history, northern traits were implicated in boundary crossing negotiations and entangled relations, which included marriage alliances with “foreigners” as a means of elite legitimation.
Anachronism: The Queer Pragmatics of Understanding the Past in the Present

How are contemporary researchers “present” in investigating the past, and how do they conduct research that acknowledges the reconstruction of the past without reducing it to what they already wanted to find? These perennial questions have become central to literature at the intersection of historical hermeneutics and sociological methodology. This paper provides a novel perspective on these questions by interrogating the notion of “anachronism” with the help of queer historiography and pragmatism. Queer historiographers make a case for how the present is experienced as multiple temporalities, how the sense of anachronism is dependent on dynamics of bodily identification with historical others, and how this sense may become a provocative hermeneutic strategy rather than a topic to be avoided. Pragmatists show how anachronism emerges as the socially-situated and embodied sense of surprise in encountering particular traces of the past in the actor’s present, and how this surprise may prompt analyses into the past that utilize the researcher’s value-commitments as a resource in sociological inquiry. The paper seeks to build conceptual tools for a pragmatic hermeneutics that can strengthen both the accuracy of our investigations into particular historical events and our democratically-inclusive ethical and political projects to reconstruct usable histories.
Communities behind the lens: A review and critical analysis of Visual Participatory Methods in biodiversity conservation

Abstract Social considerations lie at the core of conservation challenges and are increasingly motivating researchers to seek methodological approaches that illuminate these social aspects in nuanced and actionable ways. Thus, theoretical approaches and methods from social science fields such as public health, education, and environmental justice may offer productive insights for the conservation endeavor. One approach long-used in these fields are Visual Participatory Methods (VPMs), which incorporate community-generated images as data. VPMs emphasize community perspectives by coalescing and representing data in ways that are authentic to and embedded in local context while facilitating flexibility in the research toolkit. Yet conservation research has underused VPMs, specifically with regard to people-centered approaches, which VPMs have the potential to help evolve beyond standing critiques toward more inclusive, equitable, and productive formulations. To understand how conservation researchers have employed VPMs to date—including key goals, findings, and outcomes—we conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed literature. Through this process, our final sample identified 24 conservation-research studies that employed VPMs. Our review findings suggest that employing VPMs can lead to tangible conservation outcomes, and that they are useful to researchers across several dimensions: (1) understanding how residents' current perceptions of their social-ecological system have evolved over time, and how historical events have shaped them; (2) revealing residents' current perceptions of their surrounding environment, how they situate themselves within it, and how their values and worldviews may align or conflict with those of interacting institutions; and (3) uncovering potential avenues for reconciling those differences.
Return to work following ultrasound guided thread carpal tunnel release versus open carpal tunnel release: a comparative study.

A retrospective review of hospital employees at a single employer institution who underwent ultrasound guided thread carpal tunnel release (TCTR) or open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) between January 2018 and August 2020 was performed to ascertain differences in return-to-work status. Patient age, sex, occupation, handedness, severity of carpal tunnel syndrome, prior treatments and surgical outcomes were reviewed. A total of 18 patients underwent TCTR and 17 patients underwent OCTR. The TCTR group averaged 12 days to return to work without restrictions, as opposed to 33 days for the OCTR group. Resolution of symptoms was afforded in all patients without any complications regardless of surgical technique. While both TCTR and OCTR were effective, our data indicates that TCTR resulted in a shorter return to work.Level of evidence: III.
POLYOSTOTIC FIBROUS DYSPLASIA WITH CUTANEOUS PIGMENTATION AND CONGENITAL ARTERIOVENOUS ANEURYSMS

1. A case of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia with cutaneous pigmentation in a male is presented, together with the diagnostic criteria of the disorder. 2. The presence of arteriovenous communications on the side of the predominant bone involvement is advanced as additional evidence for a congenital etiology of the condition. 3. Recognition of the nature of this osseous dystrophy may prevent unnecessary surgery and possible sacrifice of normal parathyroid glands.
The chemical determination of proteins.

Publisher Summary Proteins form a very diverse group of similar compounds of extraordinary complexity, with widely different compositions and properties, yet difficult to separate completely, to purify and to dry. Their amphoteric nature, high adsorptive capacity, hydration properties and sensitivity to electrolytes cause them to vary widely in behavior depending on the composition, pH and temperature of the solvent medium. Moreover, these proteins occur in mixture with each other in variable concentration ratios and in various solid and dissolved states. It is considered that the most fundamental problems of protein analysis, particularly as it is used for research purposes requiring absolute results, are the problems of precipitating proteins from other constituents and fractionating the separated proteins. At the present time, all methods for protein analysis are empirical by nature. All methods of separating and drying proteins have been more or less empirical, so uncertainties of a few per cent are usually unavoidable.
Argumentation, Rationality, and the Fragility of Reading and Literacy Research

When we began our editorial tenure, the RRQ office was located in a prime area in the main College of Education building: first f loor, next to the offices of the dean and the associate deans— high visibility. Both the heat and air conditioning worked well, and we had contemporary office furniture; it was a pleasant place to work long hours. Then, we were moved to a distant third floor office: It was not so visible, and the air conditioning and heat did not work so well, but the windows were large, and we had lots of natural light and great views. It did not take long before we were moved yet again—this time to the basement: no views, erratic heat and air conditioning. How quickly the glow goes. Daily, one has to look beyond the tedium of the mundane, bureaucratic, and repetitive nature of journal operations to envision the potential of the research imagination embodied in a journal.
Entry of Wal-Mart Supercenters and Supermarkets’ Profit Margins

This article quantifies the impact of Wal-Mart Supercenters on supermarkets’ profitability via a two-stage dynamic entry game, using method of simulated moments and milk scanner data from Dallas/Fort Worth supermarkets. The empirical findings show that the entry of Wal-Mart Supercenters accounts for about an average 50% decrease in milk profit margins for incumbent supermarkets. Effects of scale are found to be more significant for Wal-Mart Supercenters than for incumbent supermarkets, granting Wal-Mart a competitive edge.
Plankton Trophic Structure Within Lake Michigan as Revealed By Stable Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes

Abstract Within the last few decades Lake Michigan's plankton community has undergone substantial changes. Oligotrophication of the pelagic zone has led to a decrease in zooplankton biomass, while species composition has shifted, with copepod species becoming more dominant. Although these observations have been relatively well documented, their implications for the food web have not been well addressed. To define feeding relationships within the zooplankton community, we measured the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition and biomass of major zooplankton species, three seston size classes, and seston collected from three depths in southeastern Lake Michigan. Nitrogen stable isotope ratios suggest a complex plankton food web with zooplankton appearing to occupy at least three distinct trophic positions. The large calanoid copepod Limnocalanus macrurus occupied a tertiary consumer trophic position, more than one trophic position above all other zooplankton species sampled. Carbon stable isotopes revealed significant differences among zooplankton species. Though the mechanisms responsible for these differences are not clear, these results suggest that there is significant partitioning of resources at the base of the food web.
International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics

ISBEE, formed in 1989, is the first worldwide professional association to focus exclusively on the study of business, economics, and ethics, involving people not only with academic competencies but also with practical competencies in responsible management positions, as well as entrepreneurs of medium and small enterprises. Its mission is to provide a forum for the exchange of experiences and ideas; to enhance cooperation in cross-functional and cross-cultural projects; and to discuss the ethical dimension of economic, social, and environmental issues which affect companies nationally and international. A culminating event of ISBEE's activities is the World Congress of Business, Economics, and Ethics, held every four years. Past congresses have taken place in Tokyo (1996), Sao Paulo (2000), Melbourne (2004), Cape Town (2008), and Warsaw (2012). The next World Congress will take place in Shanghai (2016). Selected contributions to the congresses were published in books and special issues of journals. Web site: http://www.isbee.org. Keywords: business ethics; worldwide professional association of business ethics; regional and national networks of business ethics; ethical dimension of economic, social, and environmental issues; cross-disciplinary approach; World Congress of Business, Economics, and Ethics
The impact of the internet on community pharmacy practice: a comparison of a Delphi panel's forecast with emerging trends.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to forecast the impact of Internet pharmacy commerce on various stakeholders. A panel of experts assembled from a list of academicians in the social and administrative pharmaceutical sciences participated in a three-iteration Delphi procedure. Feedback from the aggregate responses of the panel was used to construct questionnaires employed in subsequent iterations of the Delphi. The panel converged to form a consensus upon a variety of issues. They forecasted the attainment of a 10-15% share in the market of prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals through on-line purchases, the formation of strategic alliances among stakeholders in the drug distribution process, a shift in marketing strategies by brick-and-mortar stores, an increase in the prevalence of niching among pharmacy service providers and a subsequent growth in the implementation of cognitive services throughout the industry. With few exceptions, the forecast produced by the Delphi panel appears to ...
Application of Cattle Waste on Sloping Cropland

Abstract Effects of applying cattle manure to sloping cropland on runoff water quality, corn yield and composition, and soil chemical composition were evaluated in a 4-yr field study. Dairy cattle slurry (6 to 8% dry matter) at 25 and 105t/ha during yr 1 and 2 and solid beef manure (22 to 24% dry matter) at 49 and 52t/ha during yr 3 and 4 were surface-applied to .81 and 1.05ha watersheds with a 6% slope. Manure applications increased corn yields compared to the control, especially with the higher rates of dry matter application the last 2 yr of the study. Corn leaf nutrient concentrations tended to reflect changes in nutrient loading from manure applications. Soil nitrate nitrogen, exchangeable phosphorus, and exchangeable potassium tended to increase with manure application. Nutrient concentrations in runoff water were not elevated adversely by manure application. Mild winter weather during the study allowed for some adsorption of waste nutrients in the soil. With relatively mild winter weather, applying up to 105t/ha of liquid cattle slurry or 52t/ha of solid cattle waste annually to cropped land with a 6% slope did not present a significant pollutant problem.
A Hybrid Language Understanding Approach for Robust Selection of Tutoring Goals

In this paper we explore the problem of selecting appropriate Knowledge Construction Dialogues (KCDs) for the purpose of encouraging students to include important points in their qualitative physics explanations that are missing. We describe a hybrid symbolic/statistical approach developed in the context of the WHY2 conceptual physics tutor (Vanlehn et al., 2002). Our preliminary results demonstrate that our hybrid approach outperforms both the symbolic approach and the statistical approach by themselves.
Clinical outcome in diagnostically ambiguous foci of 'gland crowding' in the endometrium.

Premalignant endometrial lesions (endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN)) are clonal neoplasms that arise focally and can be diagnosed using specific criteria: (1) area of glands exceeds that of stroma (glands/stroma >1), (2) nuclear and/or cytoplasmic features of epithelial cells differ between architecturally abnormal glands and normal background glands, and (3) maximum linear dimension exceeds 1 mm. However, localized groups of crowded endometrial glands may be encountered that do not fulfill all of the criteria for EIN, are interpreted as ambiguous, and are reported as ‘focal gland crowding’. We conducted a retrospective study of gland crowding using a free-text index search for this term in our pathology files. The age of the patients, number of subsequent specimens, the duration, and the outcome of the follow-ups were recorded. Of the 71 579 consecutive gynecological pathology reports, 206 (0.3%) ‘gland crowding’ cases were identified, in which 69% (143/206) had follow-up sampling. Of these, 33 (23%) had an outcome diagnosis of EIN (27 cases; 19%) or carcinoma (6 cases; 4%). Included were 18 cases (55%) diagnosed within the first year and presumed concurrent, and an additional 15 (45%) discovered after 1 year and interpreted as a later phase of disease or new events. The term ‘crowded glands’ is a highly significant finding that carries a substantial risk of an outcome of EIN and occasionally malignancy. It underscores the importance of follow-up when some but not all of the criteria for EIN are encountered in the appropriate clinical setting.
Update on Common Childhood Endocrine Disorders

This issue focuses on a number of common childhood endocrine disorders. Dr. Stacy Meyer and her contributing colleagues have done an excellent job putting together a very readable overview of those disorders. The article begins with a topic that is “front and center” on most parents minds when they see their child’s primary clinician: is my child growing normally? Following the formula for estimating genetic linear growth potential (for both boys and girls) and tips on an appropriate physician examination when there are concerns about linear growth, Dr. Meyer reviews the differential diagnosis and treatment of children with short stature—including familial short stature and growth hormone deficiency. This practical approach for primary care clinicians continues throughout the article. Growth is followed by an overview of normal pubertal development, another common parental concern (for teens too!) in primary care. The management of precocious puberty (central and peripheral) and delayed puberty are addressed in this section. Dr. Meyer then reviews conditions that produce euthyroid states in which the efficacy of treatment is controversial—e.g., TSH elevation in obese children. Of course, there are numerous hypothyroid and hyperthyroid diseases of childhood that respond to therapy and Dr. Meyers carefully reviews important aspects of the management of these childhood diseases, including childhood thyroid cancer. As Dr. Meyer and her colleagues note in their conclusion, pediatric endocrinology is evolving with new effective treatment options for children with endocrine disorders. Because the presentation of pediatric endocrine disease can be quite variable the primary care clinician must have an index of suspicion to identify children who will benefit from therapy early in their disease. Within this issue Dr. Meyer and her contributing colleagues have given the primary care clinician the “gift” of a well organized, easily readable compendium of childhood endocrine disorders as well as an overview of normal growth and pubertal development. This issue is a valuable resource for all clinicians who provide primary health care to children and their families.
Effect of Intercurrent Operation and Cerebral Oxygenation on Developmental Trajectory in Congenital Heart Disease.

Background Children with congenital heart disease are at increased risk of abnormal neurodevelopment (ND). Demographic and perioperative physiologic factors have both been associated with developmental outcome. The acute physiologic effect of a surgical procedure, anesthesia, and hospitalization may offset any potential advantage gained from anatomic correction and circulatory palliation. The specific risk/benefit balance on ND outcome of the insult of the operation, offset by the benefit of improved anatomy and physiology, has not been addressed. We therefore sought to identify interval procedural and physiologic factors assessed at outpatient ND evaluation visits that were associated with outcome. Methods The study included children with congenital heart disease at high risk for impaired ND performance with at least three ND assessments using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III during the first 3 years of life. The number of cardiac procedures, duration of hospitalization, feeding status, height, weight, and arterial, cerebral, and somatic oxygen saturations by near-infrared spectroscopy were recorded at each visit and used as predictors of language, motor, and cognitive composite scores and slopes (change over time) in general linear models. Results Data on 178 children derived from 632 visits (median, 4 visits/child) were analyzed, with ages at first and last assessment of 7.7 and 30.2 months. Fifty-one had 1 ventricle (1V), 88 had 2 ventricles, and 39 had genetic syndrome conditions. Motor performance increased with age in all diagnostic categories. Cognitive and language performance increased with age in 1V patients but exhibited no significant change in 2-ventricle and genetic syndrome groups. At the first visit, 1V patients performed less well than 2-ventricle patients in the motor domain, but the rate of improvement was higher for 1V patients; by 24 months, there were no differences, and both groups were normal in all domains. Performance in genetic syndrome patients was below normal in all domains at the first visit and did not improve. Higher arterial saturation and narrower arterial-cerebral and arterial-somatic near-infrared spectroscopy saturation differences were associated with better or improving motor performance. Incremental cardiopulmonary bypass time, cumulative hospital length of stay, and tube feedings were risk factors in all domains. Total and incremental times for deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, total open and total surgical procedures, and birth weight were not risk factors. Conclusions Patient physiologic status assessed by cerebral and somatic near-infrared spectroscopy is associated with ND performance. Incremental surgical procedures are not associated with ND performance when adjusted for cardiopulmonary bypass time and physiologic status. Treatment strategies that target improved physiologic status may also improve ND outcome.
Motor map reliability and aging: a TMS/fMRI study

This study compared the reliability of motor maps over 3 sessions from both neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data between younger and older adults. Seven younger (ages 19-31) and seven older (ages 64-76) adults participated in three joint TMS/fMRI assessment sessions separated by 7 or 14 days. Sessions involved mapping of the right first dorsal interosseous muscle using single-pulse TMS immediately followed by block-design fMRI scanning involving volitional right-hand index finger to thumb oppositional squeeze. Intersession reliability of map volume, evaluated by intraclass correlation and Jaccard Coefficient between testing sessions, was more consistent for younger adults in both fMRI and TMS. A positive correlation was evidenced between fMRI and TMS map volumes and Jaccard Coefficients indicating spatial consistency across sessions between the two measures. Comparisons of map reliability between age groups showed that younger adults have more stable motor maps in both fMRI and TMS. fMRI and TMS maps show consistency across modalities. Future interpretation of motor maps should attempt to account for potential increased variability of such mapping in older age groups. Despite these age group differences in reliability, fMRI and TMS appear to offer consistent and complementary information about cortical representation of the first dorsal interosseous muscle.
Illusory motion from change over time in the response to contrast and luminance

A striking illusion of motion is generated by static repeated asymmetric patterns (RAPs) such as Kitaoka's (2003) "Rotating Snakes" and Fraser and Wilcox's (1979) peripheral drift illusion. How do RAPs generate spurious motion signals, and what critical difference between RAPs and natural static scenes prevents the latter from appearing to move? Small involuntary eye movements during fixation have been suspected to play a critical role in these illusions, but here we give an account that does not depend on fixation jitter. We propose that these illusions result primarily from fast and slow changes over time in the neuronal representation of contrast ("contrast-driven RAPs") or luminance ("luminance-driven RAPs"). We show that temporal phase advance in the neural response at high contrast can account for the early, fast motion in contrast-driven RAPs (such as "Rotating Snakes") after each fixation change. An essential part of this explanation is that motion detectors fail to compensate for the dynamics of neuronal encoding. We argue that static natural patterns also generate local gain changes, but that these signals do not often trigger illusory motion because they are not usually aligned to drive global motion detectors. Movies in which real luminance changes over time, to mimic the proposed neuronal adaptations to contrast and luminance, evoke qualitatively similar percepts of motion. Experimental data are consistent with the explanation. Color and overall contrast both enhance the illusion.
Constructions of two-dimensional nonseparable Malvar wavelets

Malvar wavelets or lapped orthogonal transform has been recognized as a useful tool in eliminating block effects in transform coding. Suter and Oxley extended the Malvar wavelets to more general forms, which enable one to construct an arbitrary orthonormal basis on different intervals. In this paper, we generalize the idea in Suter and Oxley from 1D to 2D cases and construct nonseparable Malvar wavelets, which is potentially important in multidimensional signal analysis. With nonseparable Malvar wavelets, we then construct nonseparable Lemarie-Meyer wavelets which are band-limited.
Management of Acute Infrarenal Aortic Occlusion Secondary to Type A Dissection

Infrarenal aortic occlusion is a well described complication of type A aortic dissection that carries a significant mortality rate. A technique of immediate reperfusion of the lower extremities through an axillo-bi-femoral graft is described in 2 patients with good results.
Reversible Formation of a Bose-Einstein Condensate

We present a method of adiabatically changing the local phase-space density of an ultracold gas using a combination of magnetic and optical forces. Applying this method, we observe phase-space density increases in a gas of sodium atoms by as much as 50-fold. The transition to Bose-Einstein condensation was crossed reversibly, attaining condensate fractions of up to $30%$. Measurements of the condensate fraction reveal its reduction due to interactions.
Modulation of semantic processing using word length and complexity: an ERP study

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess changes in semantic priming in two experiments which separately manipulated word length and the location of a semantic incongruence within spoken compound words. All words began 1500 ms after the presentation of related, partially unrelated, or totally unrelated picture-primes. Using a picture of a dogbone as an example, either the spoken words DOGBONE, WISH BONE, DOG HOUSE , or MAILBOX could occur as targets (underscores indicate semantically unrelated parts). In practice, only one of the four possible targets occurred with each prime. Subjects made speeded responses by pressing one of two buttons (related/unrelated) while event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were collected from various scalp locations. Them behavioral analyses of response time and accuracy were sensitive to changes in word length, but inconclusive for semantic relatedness. However, repeated-measures ANOVAs of peak amplitude, latency, and mean area amplitude of the N400 ERP revealed significant effects of word length and semantic priming. Comparison of related compounds with partially unrelated word-initial violations of context (e.g., WISH BONE) revealed diminished activity following the peak of the N400. Comparison of partially unrelated word-final contextual violations (e.g., DOG HOUSE ) revealed an N400 effect delayed by approximately the mean length of the word-initial component. These results demonstrate the dynamic sensitivity of the cortical semantic processor.
The effects of surfactant type, pH, and chelators on the oxidation of salmon oil-in-water emulsions.

Lipid oxidation in emulsions is influenced by the ability of transition metals to associate with emulsion droplets. The oxidative stability of 5% salmon oil-in-water emulsion was influenced by surfactant type, with oxidation rates being greatest in emulsions stabilized by anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) followed by nonionic Tween 20 and cationic dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB). EDTA inhibited lipid oxidation in all the emulsions, and apo-transferrin inhibited oxidation in the Tween 20-stabilized emulsions at pH 7.0, suggesting that continuous-phase iron was an active prooxidant. Iron associated with Tween-20 stabilized hexadecane emulsion droplets could be partitioned into the continuous phase by lowering the pH to ≤4.0 or by the presence of EDTA, which could help explain why low pH and EDTA decrease lipid oxidation rates. These data suggest that iron is an important lipid oxidation catalyst in salmon oil emulsions, and factors that increase iron-emulsion droplet interactions will increase ox...
Electron Beam Injection Experiments In The University Of New Mexico (UNM) Betatron

We performed experiments on the injection of a high-power relativistic electron beam (130 A, 300 keV) into the UNM Betatron. The beam entered at an angle of 20° with respect to the main axis of the accelerating ring. An electrostatic inflector provided a transverse electric field which bent the beam onto the main axis of the machine. An electron beam current of 30 A was contained in a well-defined core, as measured at the exit of the first 180° curved section of the ring.
Effects of fish species richness and assemblage composition on stream ecosystem function

– Biodiversity is declining across aquatic ecosystems because of biological invasions and species extinctions. Because fishes have pervasive effects on ecosystems through species-specific food web interactions, alterations to species and functional richness, and composition of natural assemblages could have negative effects on aquatic ecosystem function. In this study, I tested the effects of fish species and functional richness, and assemblage composition on primary production (PPR), benthic invertebrate density, and benthic particulate organic matter (BPOM) in a 42-day experiment in artificial stream mesocosms. I found that fish species richness and assemblage composition were important predictors of PPR in stream mesocosms. However, the effect of species richness on PPR increased with time, suggesting that richness-related effects might strengthen as the magnitude of community-level interactions increases in ecosystems. There was no effect of fish species or functional richness or assemblage composition on benthic invertebrate densities or BPOM. These data provide additional support that fishes can be important regulators of ecosystem function in aquatic systems, and suggest that positive effects of fishes on ecosystems can be strengthened by increased species richness and composition of the assemblage. This study broadens the applicability of the biodiversity ecosystem-function literature to a new suite of taxa, supporting the overall hypothesis that ecosystem functions and services are likely to decline in response to species extinctions.
Computer construction of isokinetic sucrose centrifugation gradients

Abstract The mathematical framework of isokinetic sucrose density gradients for the ultracentrifuge is discussed, and based on this development a highly automated computer program to calculate those gradients is presented. The program utilizes the iterative chord method and Marquardt's NLIN program to respectively calculate and fit the isokinetic gradient to a gradient making apparatus function.
Controlled delivery of plasmid DNA and siRNA to intracellular targets using ketalized polyethylenimine.

A new polyethylenimine (PEI)-derived biodegradable polymer was synthesized as a nonviral gene carrier. Branches of PEI were ketalized, and capabilities of nucleic acid condensation and delivery eff...
Laboratory and Field Evaluations of Chemosterilants for the Gypsy Moth in 1964, 1965

Pupal dip tests with tests using gypsy moth, Porthetria dispar (L.), male pupae less than 12 hours old in 0.05% tepa solutions led to high mortality, but survivors were not sterile. Residual film treatments with hempa at 40 mg per gallon bottle led to high moth mortality but inconclusive sterility. Tepa residue film treatments varying from ½ to 12 mg per gallon bottle indicated that either long treatments (24 hours) with low residual film concentrates (1 mg per gallon bottle) or short treatments (4 hours) with high film concentrations (12 mg per gallon bottle) and long posttreatment holding times (24 hours) will lead to a high degree of moth sterility. Practical sterilizing conditions are probably best represented by an 8 mg per gallon bottle film with an 8-hour treatment and no posttreatment holding of the moths, Field competition tests using moths sterilized for 8 hours at the 8 mg per gallon bottle level indicated that the sterilized moths are competitive with untreated normal moths.
The Inquisition: A Parody for Christian Student Evaluation.

The present phenomenological case study examined the experiences of 21 faculty members at a Christian university regarding anonymous student evaluations that include destructive criticism that tear down rather than edify their professor and use unnecessarily harsh words. The study revealed that most student criticism of teaching is instructive in nature and provides valuable feedback to the professor. It focuses on teaching improvement and is characterized by the absence of finger-pointing and assignment of blame for learning shortfalls. However, a few students use the student evaluation of teaching process for destructive criticism directed toward the professor. The present study used interactive interviews to identify multiple themes associated with faculty experiences upon receipt of destructive criticism. Implications regarding the integration of faith and learning and the spiritual development of both students and faculty members are discussed. When the truth is delivered with love and the intent to ...
Event detection with spatial latent Dirichlet allocation

A large number of news articles are generated every day on the Web. Automatically identifying events from a large document collection is a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose two event detection approaches using generative models. We combine the popular LDA model with temporal segmentation and spatial clustering. In addition, we adapt an image segmentation model, SLDA, for spatial-temporal event detection on text. The results of our experiments show that both approaches outperform the traditional content-based clustering approaches on our datasets.
Inhibition of Endothelial Cell-Mediated Oxidation of Low-Density Lipoprotein by Rosemary and Plant Phenolics

Plant-derived phenolic compounds possess antioxidant activity that may be applicable to such diverse areas as human health and the preservation of food lipids. The potential antioxidant activities of a variety of plant phenolics were investigated using human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) to mediate the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmarinic acid, present in rosemary extract, and thymol, carvacrol, and zingerone, present in thyme, origanum, and ginger, were individually incubated with HAEC and LDL for 12 h. The extent of oxidation was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance (at 234 nm) of conjugated dienes. All antioxidants produced dose-dependent inhibition of LDL oxidation. Their relative antioxidant activities decreased in the order carnosol > carnosic acid ≈ rosmarinic acid >>> thymol > carvacrol > zingerone. The antioxidant activity of these plant phenolics in the HAEC system suggests that they may have potential benefits in human health...
Tonic GABA secretion of cultured rat hippocampal neurons rapidly transformed by Zn2+ into quantal release

Different mechanisms of neurotransmitter secretion at synapses have been ascribed to quantal, transient signals [4-9] and to continuous, tonic activity [11, 21, 25]. Quantal transmission is imputed to be the release of transmitter packets, or quanta [6], assembled and stored in vesicles present in presynaptic terminals [2,8]. We report that 300 microM Zn2+ rapidly transformed tonic Cl- conductance mediated by the transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) into transient synaptic-like signals. After addition of Zn2+, the size of the elementary fluctuations in the Cl- current progressively increased while randomly activated Cl- channel kinetics remained unchanged and accounted for the bi-exponential time course of average transient decay. The results suggest that Zn2+ rapidly transforms tonic GABA secretion into quantal-like transient release.
Poor Prognosis Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Poor prognosis AML consists of 3 clinically definable groups of patients whose response to therapy is substantially worse than that of standard prognosis patients. The response rate is lowest for those patients who have more than a single risk factor and for the patients who have low platelet and serum albumin levels at diagnosis. The treatment associated mortality of the latter patients is quite high. Even if one avoids the high mortality rate by carefully selecting patients the likelihood that drug resistant disease is present is very high. Since the basis for resistance is multifactorial, a variety of strategies will have to be explored as means to improve treatment outcome. At the present time, the greatest chance for long term survival is found in relatively young patients whose AML is induced into complete remission and who then receive a matched allogeneic bone marrow transplant.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake and completion at an urban hospital.

Abstract Background Despite the benefit of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in preventing cervical cancer, fewer than half of eligible young women in the United States have initiated the three-vaccine series. Among those who initiate HPV vaccination, large proportions do not complete the three-dose regimen. Purpose To evaluate racial and health insurance-related disparities in HPV vaccination. Methods We analyzed outpatient claims data for 8069 patients, ages 9–26 years, who had gynecologic visits at the University of Maryland Medical Center outpatient clinic from August 2006 to January 2010. Results Thirty-five percent of our sample initiated the vaccine series, including 91% of those ages 9–13. Only 11% of the sample and 33% of the 9–13 age group completed the 3 dose series. A higher proportion of blacks than whites (38% vs. 32%; p Conclusions Of the population of gynecologic service seekers seen at our university-based outpatient practice clinics, a significant minority initiate but do not complete the HPV vaccine series. More blacks than whites initiate the series, but similar proportions of the two races complete. Lack of insurance appears to be a major barrier to initiation, despite free vaccination programs.
Roadmap for catalysis science in the 21st century: a personal view of building the future on past and present accomplishments

In the past, the focus of research in catalysis science was activity to optimize turnover rates. In the future, selectivity to form the desired product without the formation of byproducts will be the major research challenge. Our understanding of the molecular ingredients of selectivity needs to be improved. New synthetic methods of catalyst preparation are needed for precise control of size, structure, location of additives and location of catalyst particles on supports. Characterization of the catalysts under reaction conditions is essential as the catalyst restructures in the presence of the reactant mixture. Short contact time, high-temperature catalytic processes (catalytic combustion and pyrolysis) are frontier areas of catalysis science. Our concerns with clean air, water and soil provide challenges for catalytic solutions. Global catalytic processes that occur in oceans and in the soil should be explored. The field of enzymatic, heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis are likely to merge that provide opportunities for developing new catalytic processes.
Teaching the Federal Budget, National Debt, and Budget Deficit: Findings from High School Teachers

The issues surrounding the federal budget, national debt, and budget deficit are complex, but not beyond the reach of young students. This study finds scant treatment of the federal budget, national debt, and budget deficit in high schools today. It is hardly surprising that high school teachers spend so little time discussing these topics in their classrooms, another finding of this study. As bleak as we found the current state of education about these topics, we also found significant opportunities to teach them in high school classrooms. Specifically, we discuss four recommendations for teachers to infuse the federal budget, national debt, and budget deficit into high school social studies courses.
Delineation of first-order closures for plastic properties requiring explicit consideration of strain hardening and crystallographic texture evolution

Abstract Microstructure Sensitive Design (MSD) is a novel mathematical framework that facilitates development of invertible linkages between statistical description of the material’s microstructure and its effective properties. Property closures are an important outcome of the MSD methodology, and delineate the complete set of theoretically feasible effective (homogenized) anisotropic property combinations in a given material system for a selected homogenization theory. In recent publications, we have reported first-order closures for the elastic and yield properties of both cubic and hexagonal polycrystalline materials. In this paper, we present major extensions to the previously reported framework to enable rigorous consideration of strain hardening and the concomitant evolution of the crystallographic texture with imposed plastic strain. These new extensions facilitate delineation of first-order closures for properties associated with finite plastic strains (e.g. ultimate tensile strength, uniform ductility). The proposed approach has been successfully applied to an aluminum alloy and a copper alloy, and the results are presented and discussed in this paper.
The Role of Client Satisfaction in Evaluating University Counseling Services.

Though ubiquitously used for evaluating university counseling services, client satisfaction assessment has been hampered by inadequate instrumentation. Systematic use of a short form of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) in one such center over the past 5 years is described, together with strategies to ensure maximal accuracy and utilization of results. Several method factors were investigated. Optional respondent identification was not found to reduce response rate or increase reported satisfaction compared to anonymity, while a substudy obtaining very high response suggested bias from nonresponse to the routine survey (response rate = 40%) was not great. The CSQ was found to have excellent psychometric properties and many advantages for use in student service settings. Relationships between satisfaction and a number of other variables such as demographics, precounseling expectancies, problem type and severity, counselor differences, and duration of counseling are reported. Ways such findings were incorporated in service planning are briefly discussed.
Heparin Metabolism: Isolation and Characterization of Uroheparin

THE naturally occurring mucopolysaccharides (MPS) of mammals include the chondroitin sulphates, hyaluronic acid, heparitin sulphate, keratosulphate, chondroitin, and heparin. Most are located extracellularly, primarily in connective tissue. Only heparin is stored intracellularly, chiefly in mast cells and basophils. Little is known of its metabolism in humans, although rat tissues rapidly take it up after injection1. Although in dogs small amounts of circulating heparin bound to protein have been reported2, circulating extracellular heparin has not been demonstrated in humans and several attempts to detect heparin excretion in normal human urine have so far been unsuccessful.
Changes in language usage of Puerto Rican mothers and their children: Do gender and timing of exposure to English matter?

This longitudinal study investigated changes in reported language usage between Puerto Rican mothers and their preschoolers over a 4-year period. It also examined whether differences in language usage occurred depending on the timing of children's exposure to English and children's gender. Seventy-six mothers reported the languages they and their children used when talking to each other during 2 years in Head Start, kindergarten, and first grade. Mothers of children who were exposed to Spanish and English prior to preschool entry reported using more English to their children than mothers of children who were not exposed to English until after preschool entry. The language usage of the children followed the same patterns as their mothers. The difference between the groups was maintained over the 4 years, although both groups increased their English usage. A gender effect was observed. Mothers of girls were five times more likely to use “More or All Spanish” than mothers of sons. In addition, girls who were exposed to Spanish only prior to preschool entry were six times more likely to speak to their mothers in “More or All Spanish” than other participating children. The bidimensional model of acculturation is used to present and interpret the findings.
Pre-applied Inter Chip Fill Material and Process for Advanced 3D Chip Stack

To pursue further performance improvement of semiconductor devices, three-dimensional (3D) chip integration using TSV would be one of the key technologies. Inter Chip Fill (ICF), resin to fill gaps between chips, would be an important component for highly reliable and durable 3D integrated devices. Technology using the pre-applied ICF, designed for advanced 3D chip-stack with narrow gap of less than 10um-pitch TSV connections, was developed and successful stack of chips was demonstrated. This paper describes the characteristics of the fill resin material, process conditions required for the stack joining and the cause of mechanical stress within the stacked chip and required material features of the pre-applied ICF and device structure to reduce the stress.
Sex and Hemispheric Differences in the Recall of Verbal and Spatial Information

Summary arrays of four digits were presented in a 3 × 3 matrix for 80 msec to either the left or right visual field. Women recalled digits presented to the left and right visual fields equally well, while men recalled digits more accurately after presentation to the right visual field. Both men and women recalled the positions of the digits presented to the left and right visual fields equally well. Overall, men's recall of positions was superior to that of women. Handedness correlated only with recall of positions presented to the right visual field, positively for women and negatively for men.