cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lower Extremity Amputation and Health Care Utilization in the Last Year of Life among Medicare Beneficiaries with ESRD.

Background Lower extremity amputation is common among patients with ESRD, and often portends a poor prognosis. However, little is known about end-of-life care among patients with ESRD who undergo amputation. Methods We conducted a mortality follow-back study of Medicare beneficiaries with ESRD who died in 2002 through 2014 to analyze patterns of lower extremity amputation in the last year of life compared with a parallel cohort of beneficiaries without ESRD. We also examined the relationship between amputation and end-of-life care among the patients with ESRD. Results Overall, 8% of 754,777 beneficiaries with ESRD underwent at least one lower extremity amputation in their last year of life compared with 1% of 958,412 beneficiaries without ESRD. Adjusted analyses of patients with ESRD showed that those who had undergone lower extremity amputation were substantially more likely than those who had not to have been admitted to—and to have had prolonged stays in—acute and subacute care settings during their final year of life. Amputation was also associated with a greater likelihood of dying in the hospital, dialysis discontinuation before death, and less time receiving hospice services. Conclusions Nearly one in ten patients with ESRD undergoes lower extremity amputation in their last year of life. These patients have prolonged stays in acute and subacute health care settings and appear to have limited access to hospice services. These findings likely signal unmet palliative care needs among seriously ill patients with ESRD who undergo amputation as well as opportunities to improve their care.
mRNA Degradation Rates Are Coupled to Metabolic Status in Mycobacteria

ABSTRACT The success of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) as a human pathogen is due in part to its ability to survive stress conditions, such as hypoxia or nutrient deprivation, by entering non-growing states. In these low-metabolic states, Mtb can tolerate antibiotics and develop genetically encoded antibiotic resistance, making its metabolic adaptation to stress crucial for survival. Numerous bacteria, including Mtb, have been shown to reduce their rates of mRNA degradation under growth limitation and stress. While the existence of this response appears to be conserved across species, the underlying bacterial mRNA stabilization mechanisms remains unknown. To better understand the biology of non-growing mycobacteria, we sought to identify the mechanisms by which mRNA stabilization occurs using the non-pathogenic model Mycobacterium smegmatis. We found that mRNA half-life was responsive to energy stress, with carbon starvation and hypoxia causing global mRNA stabilization. This global mRNA stabilization was rapidly reversed when hypoxia-adapted cultures were re-exposed to oxygen, even in the absence of new transcription. The stringent response and RNase protein levels did not explain mRNA stabilization, nor did transcript abundance. This led us to hypothesize that metabolic changes during growth cessation impact the activity of degradation proteins, increasing mRNA stability. Indeed, bedaquiline and isoniazid, two drugs with opposing effects on cellular energy status, had opposite effects on mRNA half-lives in growth-arrested cells. Taken together, our results indicate that mRNA stability in mycobacteria is not directly regulated by growth status, but rather seems to be dependent on the status of energy metabolism. IMPORTANCE The logistics of treating tuberculosis are difficult, requiring multiple drugs for at least six months. Mtb is able to survive within the human host in part by entering non-growing states in which it is metabolically less active, thus rendering it less susceptible to antibiotics. Basic knowledge on how Mtb survives during these low-metabolic states is incomplete, and we postulate that optimized energy resource management –such as transcriptome stabilization—is important for survival. Here we report that mRNA stabilization (increased mRNA half-lives) is a common feature of mycobacteria under stress (e.g. hypoxia and nutrient deprivation) but is not dependent on the mechanisms that have been most often postulated in the literature. Finally, we found that mRNA stability and growth status can be decoupled by a drug that causes growth arrest but increases metabolic activity, indicating that mRNA stability responds to metabolic status rather than to growth rate changes per se. Our findings suggest a need to re-orient the study of global mRNA stabilization to identify novel mechanisms that are presumably responsible.
ExerciseCheck: data analytics for a remote monitoring and evaluation platform for home-based physical therapy

Home-based exercising is a vital part of any physical therapy program. With correct execution of the exercises, faster recovery from physical impairments can be achieved. With the conventional approaches, however, a home-based physical therapy program may not be as effective due to the lack of supervision by the therapist at home. ExerciseCheck is designed as a remote monitoring and evaluation platform for individuals involved in home-based physical therapy. The goal of ExerciseCheck is to provide patients and physical therapists with real-time visual feedback and quantitative analysis. In this paper, we discuss the progress we have made toward (1) a more comprehensive analysis of the performance of the patient and (2) informative feedback to the patient and the physical therapist. Furthermore, in order to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of our system, we have performed an experiment in a clinical setting involving five patients with Parkinson disease. We describe how ExerciseCheck can quantitatively evaluate the user's performance and identify their problems. We assessed how ExerciseCheck can impact the performance and the overall experience of the patient. Our results show that ExerciseCheck is a user-friendly system that patients and physical therapists can easily interact with. Patients benefit from visual and quantitative feedback and apply this to subsequent repetitions of the exercises.
Quantum Mechanics and Consciousness: Some Views from a Novice

In this purely conjectural paper we attempt to define how consciousness may be related to a measure of information. We use the quantum-like approach to formulate a possible relationship.
Ecological systems in relation to Latinx youth in the juvenile justice system: A narrative literature review.

Abstract We conducted a narrative review of literature focused on Latinx youth in the Juvenile Justice System (JJS). The goal of this review was to identify the behavioral health needs and social and cultural factors that place Latinx youth at disproportionate risk for contact and entrenchment with the JJS. Ecodevelopmental Theory (ET) was used as the guiding framework for this review, and a total of 16 peer reviewed articles from Embase, PsychINFO, and Pubmed were collected, analyzed, and summarized. Consistent with ET, we organized themes from the literature into the following sections: (a) microsystem (i.e., family, psychiatric care, sexual health care, school); (b) mesosystem (i.e., family and social environment); (c) exosystem (i.e., family and neighborhood context, and bicultural stress); and (d) macrosystem (i.e., generational status, cultural stress, social class). Sociopolitical disparities, such as disproportionate sentencing by social class and trauma stemming from political violence, and intersections of cultural variables (e.g., generational status and acculturation) should be closely considered in any prevention and intervention efforts targeting Latinx youths. More research to understand and address the unique needs of this population is also needed.
Perceived Stress and Coping Among Law Enforcement Officers: an Empirical Analysis of Patrol Versus Non-patrol Officers in Illinois, USA

The purpose of this paper is to examine the main perceived stressors and coping among law enforcement officers. Based on Stress Management for Law Enforcement Officers surveys of 427 law enforcement officers in Illinois, USA, descriptive analysis and one-way ANOVA tests were performed to analyze perceived stress and coping among patrol versus non-patrol police officers. The findings suggest that financial situation, situation when fellow officer killed or witnessing a fatality, poor personal relationships with supervisor(s), and unfair promotional opportunities are the leading causes of stress. One-way ANOVA test showed a marginal difference in the mean of perception of stress when fellow officer killed or witnessing a fatality among officers in patrol in comparison to non-patrol officers. One-way ANOVA test showed a significant marginal difference in the mean of relationship with supervisor(s) stress perception scores among non-patrol officers in comparison to patrol officers. Non-patrol officers had a higher relationship with supervisor(s) stress perception scores than officers in patrol. The study reveals that exercising is the main stress reliever for law enforcement officers. The study refutes the notion that alcohol is a preferred stress reliever as has been indicated in other studies. Analysis of stress perception and coping is allowing for a more rich understanding of stress and coping among law enforcement officers and provides recommendation for implementation of stress reduction techniques in police departments.
Impact of Export and Import on Economic Growth: Time Series Evidence from India

This paper examines the cointegration and causal relationships between export, import, and economic growth in India using quarterly data from 1996:Q2 to 2019:Q2. Stationarity properties of the time series data are investigated using Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Perron (PP) unit root tests, and the existence of cointegrating relationship is studied using Johansen’s cointegration test. Finally, the causal relationships between the variables are examined using Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). The results show that, under both tests, the time series variables are non-stationary at their levels and are stationary at their first differences. The Johansen’s cointegration test shows the existence of a long run equilibrium relationship among the variables. The results from the VECM indicate that there is a unidirectional causal relationship running from economic growth to import in India. This implies that with an increase in the income of the nation, the nation’s spending will increase, and some of the spending will be on import.
Left Pulmonary Artery Ligation and Chronic Pulmonary Artery Banding Model for Inducing Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Hypertension in Sheep.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a progressive disease that leads to cardiopulmonary dysfunction and right heart failure from pressure and volume overloading of the right ventricle (RV). Mechanical cardiopulmonary support has theoretical promise as a bridge to organ transplant or destination therapy for these patients. Solving the challenges of mechanical cardiopulmonary support for PH and RV failure requires its testing in a physiologically relevant animal model. Previous PH models in large animals have used pulmonary bead embolization, which elicits unpredictable inflammatory responses and has a high mortality rate. We describe a step-by-step guide for inducing pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular hypertrophy (PH-RVH) in sheep by left pulmonary artery (LPA) ligation combined with progressive main pulmonary artery (MPA) banding. This approach provides a controlled method to regulate RV afterload as tolerated by the animal to achieve PH-RVH, while reducing acute mortality. This animal model can facilitate evaluation of mechanical support devices for PH and RV failure.
Clinical Reasoning: A 33-Year-Old Patient With Left-Sided Hemiparesis and Anarthria.

A 33-year-old man with a history of cardiac thrombus (noncompliant with warfarin) and a prior stroke presented with left-sided weakness and inability to speak. Head CT showed a hyperdense right middle cerebral artery. He received IV tissue plasminogen activator followed by thrombectomy.
The inverse function theorem and the Jacobian conjecture for free analysis

We establish an invertibility criterion for free polynomials and free functions evaluated on some tuples of matrices. We show that if the derivative is nonsingular on some domain closed with respect to direct sums and similarity, the function must be invertible. Thus, as a corollary, we establish the Jacobian conjecture in this context. Furthermore, our result holds for commutative polynomials evaluated on tuples of commuting matrices.
Book Review Essay

Jerome C. Branche, editor. Post/Colonialism and the Pursuit of Freedom in the Black Atlantic. Routledge, 2018. Daphne V. Taylor-Garcia. The Existence of the Mixed Race Damnes: Decolonialism, Class, Gender, Race. Rowman & Littlefield International, 2018. Magdalena J. Zaborowska, Me and My House: James Baldwin’s Last Decade in France. Duke UP, 2018.
Conductive Cooling Technology Applied to Free-stall Beds for Holstein Cows in Central California

Most dairies with free-stall barns in central or southern California use cooling systems consisting of fans combined with water soakers or misters to deal with the effects of heat stress on lactating dairy cattle during hot summer temperatures. Although these systems have been widely adopted and have been shown to be effective for minimizing losses in milk production related to summer heat stress, these systems require consumption of significant amounts of electricity and water for their operation. Conductive cooling technology was retrofitted into a free-stall barn to evaluate its potential effectiveness for cooling cows compared to a conventional cooling system. An overall purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility of installing heat exchanger mats in beds of an existing free-stall barn. The primary research objective was to measure milk production for a short period of time during the summer in a randomized clinical trial comparing cows using freestall housing with fans and soakers with cows having access only to free-stall beds with heat exchanger mats providing conductive cooling.
Democracy and Economic Openness in an Interconnected System: Complex Transformations

In this book, Quan Li and Rafael Reuveny combine the social scientific approach with a broad, interdisciplinary scope to address some of the most intriguing and important political, economic, and environmental issues of our times. Their book employs formal and statistical methods to study the interactions of economic globalization, democratic governance, income inequality, economic development, military violence, and environmental degradation. In doing so, Li and Reuveny cross multiple disciplinary boundaries, engage various academic debates, bring the insights from compartmentalized bodies of literature into direct dialogue, and uncover policy tradeoffs in a growingly interconnected political-economic-environmental system. They show that growing interconnectedness in the global system increases the demands on national leaders and their advisors; academicians and policy makers will need to cross disciplinary boundaries if they seek to better understand and address the policy tradeoffs of even more complex processes than the ones investigated here.
Give the Students Science: Creation and Implementation of a Fourth Grade STEM Unit

In America, students often are not taught science curricula until sixth grade or later, giving them roughly six years to become scientifi cally literate. Science has historically been taught separately from other interconnected disciplines, including technology, engineering, and math. As a result, the number of students entering science careers remains low. In response, educators have recently implemented STEM integration—a pedagogy geared toward combining major tenets of these disciplines. Theoretically, connecting STEM integration with scientifi c literacy should encourage student interest and improve preparedness to enter into STEM careers. As part of an EDCI605 Teaching Science class, the instructor and Purdue students created and implemented a STEM unit for fourth grade students combining STEM integration with the nature of science instruction. The students were motivated and engaged throughout the lesson, and the instructor was interested in furthering this initiative in the future.
Alopecia in Women

Alopecia can be divided into disorders in which the hair follicle is normal but the cycling of hair growth is abnormal and disorders in which the hair follicle is damaged. Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss in women. Other disorders include alopecia areata, telogen effluvium, cicatricial alopecia, and traumatic alopecias. The diagnosis is usually based on a thorough history and a focused physical examination. In some patients, selected laboratory tests or punch biopsy may be necessary. Topically administered minoxidil is labeled for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women. Corticosteroids and other agents are typically used in women with alopecia areata. Telogen effluvium is often a self-limited disorder. Because alopecia can be devastating to women, management should include an assessment for psychologic effects.
Measuring the Sensitivity of Graph Metrics to Missing Data

The increasing energy consumption of high performance computing has resulted in rising operational and environmental costs. Therefore, reducing the energy consumption of computation is an emerging area of interest. We study the approach of data sampling to reduce the energy costs of sparse graph algorithms. The resulting error levels for several graph metrics are measured to analyze the trade-off between energy consumption reduction and error. The three types of graphs studied, real graphs, synthetic random graphs, and synthetic small-world graphs, each show distinct behavior. Across all graphs, the error cost is initially relatively low. For example, four of the five real graphs studied needed less than a third of total energy to retain a degree centrality rank correlation coefficient of \(0.85\) when random vertices were removed. However, the error incurred for further energy reduction grows at an increasing rate, providing diminishing returns.
Meaning, Dispositions and Normativity

In a recent paper, Paul Coates defends a sophisticated dispositional account which allegedly resolves the sceptical paradox developed by Kripke in his monograph on Wittgenstein‘s treatment of following a rule (Kripke, 1982). Coates‘ account appeals to a notion of ’homeostasis‘, unpacked as a subject‘s second-order disposition to maintain a consistent pattern of extended first-order dispositions regarding her linguistic behavior. This kind of account, Coates contends, provides a naturalistic model for the normativity of intentional properties and thus resolves Kripke‘s sceptical paradox. In this paper I argue that Coates‘ second-order dispositional account cannot solve the sceptic‘s problems regarding meaning and normativity. My main contention is that in order for second-order dispositions to be able to effectively regulate the coordinated responses constitutive of first-order dispositions, those first order dispositions must be independently identifiable. Yet that‘s precisely what Kripke‘s sceptical argument calls into question. I shall also argue, in a more positive fashion, that Coates‘ own appeal to practical breakdowns may suggest a different – and more effective – response to the sceptic‘s concern.
Statistical Process Control

Statistical Process Control (SPC) has become a major factor in the reduction of manufacturing process errors over the past years. Sometimes known as the Demming methods for the person that introduced them to Japan and then the United States, they have become necessary tools in quality control processes. Since many of the employees in the manufacturing area have limited background in statistics, a large dependency has been built on the creation of charts and their interpretation. The statistics which underlay these charts are often those we have introduced in previous sections. The unique aspect of SPC is in the presentation of data in the charts themselves.
Quantifying Organization of Atmospheric Turbulent Eddy Motion Using Nonlinear Time Series Analysis

Using three methods from nonlinear dynamics, we contrast the level of organization inthe vertical wind velocity (w) time series collected in the atmospheric surface layer(ASL) and the canopy sublayer (CSL) for a wide range of atmospheric stability (ξ)conditions. The nonlinear methods applied include a modified Shannon entropy, waveletthresholding, and mutual information content. Time series measurements collected overa pine forest, a hardwood forest, a grass-covered forest clearing, and a bare soil, desertsurface were used for this purpose. The results from applying all three nonlinear timeseries measures suggest that w in the CSL is more organized than that in the ASL, and that as the flows in both layers evolve from near-neutral to near-convective conditions, the level of organization increases. Furthermore, we found that the degree of organization in w associated with changes in ξ is more significant than the transition from CSL to ASL.
How Chaperones Protect Virgin Proteins

How the rod-like pili that enable pathogenic bacteria to adhere to host tissues are built up from their protein (pilin) subunits is one of the great wonders of molecular biology. In a Perspective, [Eisenberg][1] describes new findings about how pili are assembled, revealed by analysis of the crystal structures of pili subunits bound to their molecular chaperones ([ Choudhury et al .][2] and [ Sauer et al .][3]). The chaperone proteins transport the pili subunits to the bacterial surface (preventing them from interacting with other proteins prematurely) and release them there, enabling them to attach to the growing pilus rod. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/285/5430/1021 [2]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/285/5430/1061 [3]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/285/5430/1058
Evaluation of single port access gastropexy and ovariectomy using articulating instruments and angled telescopes in dogs.

Objective To describe in dogs, a technique for single port access gastropexy and ovariectomy (SPAGO) using a commercially available multitrocar port and to evaluate short-term outcome. Design Retrospective case series. Animals Dogs (n = 18). Procedures A commercially available multitrocar port was inserted into the abdomen lateral to the rectus abdominis muscle and 2–5 cm caudal to the right rib. Dogs were tilted 45° in both left and right recumbency and bilateral ovariectomy performed using articulating graspers, a bipolar vessel sealing device and a 30° telescope. The laparoscopic assisted incisional gastropexy was performed after ovariectomy at the multitrocar port insertion site by grasping the antral portion of the stomach with a 10 mm DuVall forceps and suturing the seromuscular layer of the antral region of the stomach to the transversus abdominis muscle. Results Eighteen dogs (median weight, 34.5 kg; range, 14.7–59.2 kg) met the inclusion criteria. Median surgical time for SPAGO was 65 minutes (range, 50–225 minutes). Intra-operative complications included, incorrect multitrocar port placement location (n = 3) and mild hemorrhage from a splenic laceration (1) All dogs recovered from surgery and were discharged from the hospital. Conclusions Single port access gastropexy and ovariectomy is a feasible procedure to provide prophylaxis against gastric dilation-volvulus and a simultaneous means of sterilization in female dogs. Careful and accurate initial multitrocar port insertion is necessary to have optimal operative viewing as well as to reduce the chances of inadvertent splenic laceration.
Opioids affect acquisition of LiCl-induced conditioned taste aversion: involvement of OT and VP systems.

Aversive properties of lithium chloride (LiCl) are mediated via pathways comprising neurons of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) and oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) cells in the hypothalam...
Estimating the crush zone size under a cutting tool in coal

As part of an effort to understand the mechanics of fine fragment formation in coal, which is important in studies of respirable dust due to mining, fracture toughness measurements and the strain energy density (SED) theory were applied to calculate the crush zone size under a cutting tool in coal. This zone is the major source of fine fragments in the 1 to 10 µm size range. The model used in these calculations is a boundary element program containing a failure criterion based on the SED theory. The boundary element program calculates linear elastic stresses at numerous points in the coal material ahead of a cutting bit. These stresses are then input to a subroutine called critical flaw length and orientation (CFLO) which uses the SED theory to determine the CFLO for a small crack at the boundary element stress computation point. The extent of crushing is based on earlier postulates about the role of inherent flaws in a fragmentation process. To form 1 to 10 µm fragments requires firstly a local stress strong enough to activate flaws with a characteristic length less than 1 to 10 µm and secondly, a flaw density sufficient to provide an average spacing between flaws also on the order of 1 to 10 µm. The locus of active 10 µm flaws represents the maximum possible extent of fine fragmentation in the 10 µm or less size range assuming that a sufficient inherent flaw density exists. The approach offers a first order approximation to the extent of crushing under a tool tip. The size and shape of the crush zone volume is affected by the attack angle and geometry of the tool.
Prevalence of delta antigen/antibody in B‐viral‐associated hepatocellular carcinoma

Sera from 39 patients with B-viral associated hepatocellular carcinoma were studied for the presence of delta antibody using solid-phase blocking radioimmunoassay. Only one patient (2.5%) had circulating delta antibody in the serum, and stainable delta antigen in the nuclei of the nontumor liver. A similar study of the sera of 57 patients with chronic B-viral disease without hepatocellular carcinoma revealed 18 patients (31.5%) with delta antibody. This significant difference (P less than 0.001) in the prevalence of delta antibody among these two groups is probably related to the epidemiologic background, reflected as a racial difference.
Merging complexes: properties of membrane raft assembly during lymphocyte signaling.

In the lipid raft model, cell membranes contain detergent-resistant membrane domains, or rafts, that function in cell signaling. Recent findings have shown rafts are assembled to form macrodomains that are micrometers in diameter, one example of which is the immune synapse in stimulated lymphocytes. Because immune synapses are necessary for lymphocyte activation, deciphering the mechanism of their assembly has been an active topic of research. A current model, in which macrodomains are formed and maintained through association of rafts with the actin cytoskeleton, is discussed here. Recent evidence that either supports or challenges this model is presented, as well as data suggesting that macrodomain assembly might act as a gatekeeper to lymphocyte signaling and functioning.
Interpretation of electrocardiograms by first-year residents: the need for change

Abstract Background Prior studies have shown that misinterpretation of the electrocardiogram (ECG) can lead to inappropriate diagnoses and clinical decisions. This may be particularly true during the first month of postgraduate training. This study was designed to assess proficiency in ECG interpretation among residents at the start of their internal medicine (IM) residency. Methods Ten ECGs were selected from IM department teaching files. All were representative of conditions that a starting IM resident should be able to identify. The ECGs had 1 correct primary diagnosis and a short list of secondary findings as determined by 2 cardiologists who reviewed them independently. Fifty-two first-year IM residents were given copies and asked to record their interpretations and an assessment of their certainty in each interpretation. Certainty was scored on a scale of 0 to 4 (0 representing a guess and 4 representing 100% certainty). Two blinded, independent graders scored each interpretation on a scale of 0 to 2 (0 = incorrect, 1 = partially correct, 2 = correct). Results Overall, only half of all ECGs were read correctly. For the most critical diagnoses, the mean scores were as follows: 1.73/2.0 for acute myocardial infarction, 1.5/2.0 for atrial flutter, 1.11/2.0 for ventricular tachycardia, and 0.23/2.0 for complete heart block. The average level of certainty recorded by all participants was low at 18.5 of a maximum of 40. Conclusions Internal medicine residents at the beginning of their residency training demonstrated low overall proficiency in interpreting ECGs and self-perceived confidence. Nearly all residents felt that their training was insufficient. These findings emphasize the need for improved and more effective training in ECG interpretation for physicians starting residency.
Application of a gradient-projection method to minimum weight design of a delta wing with static and aeroelastic constraints

Abstract A structural optimization algorithm based on gradient-projection is presented. The algorithm is applied to minimum-weight design of a delta wing subject to multiple constraints. Examples are provided for the following sets of constraints: stress and minimum-gage; flutter and minimum-gage; stress, flutter and minimum-gage. Analytical expressions are employed for evaluating constraint gradients, which are calculated only for active constraints. Due to nonlinearity of the constraints, the optimization algorithm incorporates constraint tolerances and provides for returning to the constraints if they are violated. For a triangular wing having 10 design variables and subject to stress, flutter (supersonic) and minimum-gage constraints a 44% weight reduction was obtained in 6 design steps; a 59% weight reduction was obtained in 17 steps.
Shell use by juvenile fiddler crabs Uca pugnax and U. pugilator

Abstract The present study documents for the first time shell use by juvenile fiddler crabs in the salt marsh. Twenty visits were made to six salt marsh sites at Tybee Island, Georgia between 2007 and 2009. One hundred empty Littorina irrorata shells were collected at each site on each field trip. Juvenile carapace width was measured, crabs sexed, and species identification completed using RFLP analysis. Shell use of up to 79% was observed. Two species of fiddler crabs were found in empty shells, Uca pugnax and U. pugilator . U. pugnax was the dominant species at all sites representing 62–84% of the juvenile fiddler crab population. Juvenile sex ratios were female-biased (1.7:1) at all six sites. Juvenile size did not vary significantly between species but males of both species were significantly larger than females. Size frequency distribution of carapace width revealed that shell use varied with size and sex. In the 3 to 4 mm size class, juvenile females outnumbered juvenile males in empty L. irrorata shells while in the 5 to 6 mm size class and greater, juvenile males outnumbered juvenile females in shells. Significantly more juvenile fiddler crabs were found in empty shells during flood than ebb tide at 3 of the sites. This discovery illuminates the resourcefulness of juvenile fiddler crabs and provides another mechanism that might enhance survival.
512x512 high-speed grayscale optical correlator

Jet Propulsion Laboratory has developed a new 512 X 512 high-speed grayscale optical correlator (GOC) for real-time automatic target recognition (ATR) applications. As compared with a previous developed 128 X 128 grayscale optical correlator, the utilization of a pair of high-resolution input spatial light modulator (SLM) has increased the input field of view by 16 times. The use of a matching high- resolution filter SLM has increased the sharpness of the correlation peak. Key features of this GOC include: a grayscale input SLM (Kopin 640 X 480, 8-bit) to accommodate direct interface with the input imaging sensor. A real-valued (bipolar-amplitude) filter SLM (512 X 512, 4-bit) to enable use of a MACH (Maximum Average Correlation Height) composite correlation filter algorithm, compact and portable. This GOC architecture has greatly improve the system complexity by removing the need of preprocessing (binarization) the input, and the powerful MACH composite filter has greatly reduced the number of filter templates. In this paper, the criterion of selection of both input and filter SLM will be discussed. System analysis of building a compact correlator will also be provided. Experimental ATR verification of the 512 X 512 GOC will also be illustrated.
Quality of Care at School-Aged Child-Care Programs: Regulatable Features, Observed Experiences, Child Perspectives, and Parent Perspectives

This study investigates children's experiences at 30 school-aged child-care (SACC) programs. Regulatable features such as total enrollment, child-staff ratio, and staff education were assessed via director report. Observers recorded positive/neutral and negative staff-child interactions, and rated programs in terms of flexibility and age appropriateness. Negative staff-child interactions were more frequent when child-staff ratios were larger and when staff had less formal education. The presence of a greater number of different types of program activities was associated with staff having more frequent positive interactions with children and with observers rating programs as flexible and age appropriate. These regulatable and observed features were examined in relation to children's (N = 180) and parents' (N = 152) perceptions of program psychosocial climate. Children's reports of overall climate, emotional support from staff, and autonomy/privacy provisions were predicted by program features. Children reported poorer program climate when programs had larger enrollments and when observers recorded more frequent negative staff-child interactions. Children had more positive program perceptions when programs offered a greater variety of activities. Children's reports of program climate in addition to observed child-staff ratios were associated with parental perceptions of the programs. Parents had more positive perceptions when child-adult ratios were smaller and when their children reported more positive climates. This study suggests a convergence between observer, child, and parent about factors contributing to quality of after-school programs.
Adult Mouse Myometrial Label‐Retaining Cells Divide in Response to Gonadotropin Stimulation

Conditional deletion of β-catenin in the Mullerian duct mesenchyme results in a degenerative uterus characterized by replacement of the myometrial smooth muscle with adipose tissue. We hypothesized that the mouse myometrium houses somatic smooth muscle progenitor cells that are hormonally responsive and necessary for remodeling and regeneration during estrous cycling and pregnancy. We surmise that the phenotype observed in β-catenin conditionally deleted mice is the result of dysregulation of these progenitor cells. The objective of this study was to identify the mouse myometrial smooth muscle progenitor cell and its niche, define the surface marker phenotype, and show a functional response of these cells to normal myometrial cycling. Uteri were labeled with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) and chased for up to 14 weeks. Myometrial label-retaining cells (LRCs) were observed in the myometrium and stroma throughout the chase period. After 12 weeks, phenotypic analysis of the LRCs by immunofluorescence demonstrated that the majority of LRCs colocalized with α-smooth muscle actin, estrogen receptor-α, and β-catenin. Flow cytometry of myometrial cells identified a myometrial Hoechst 33342 effluxing “side population” that expresses MISRII-Cre-driven YFP. Functional response of LRCs was investigated by human chorionic gonadotropin stimulation of week 12 chase mice and demonstrated sequential proliferation of LRCs in the endometrial stroma, followed by the myometrium. These results suggest that conventional myometrial regeneration and repair is executed by hormonally responsive stem or progenitor cells derived from the Mullerian duct mesenchyme. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
Constraints on the degree of dynamic partial melting and source composition using concentration ratios in magmas

Abstract We present a dynamic melting inversion (DMI) method that permits calculation of the degree of partial melting for cogenetic primary magmas in the context of the dynamic melting model of Langmuir et al. (1977). The method uses variations of between-magma concentration ratios for two incompatible trace elements that have different bulk distribution coefficients, and does not require assumptions regarding source incompatible element concentrations or ratios. Source concentrations can be calculated after obtaining the partial melting degree. The method is applied to the nephelinitic Koloa suite of Kauai, the Honolulu volcanics of Oahu, and alkalic basalts from southeastern Australia. Results, which display remarkable intersuite and interelement consistency, suggest that melilitites and alkali olivine basalts are formed by 2–4% and 8–11% partial melting, respectively, of a LREE-enriched mantle source. This result for basalts that are characterized by positive eNd argues persuasively that the often-invoked “recent source enrichment event” is actually an integral part of the total melting process.
Numerical Simulation of the Evolution of a Three-Dimensional Field of Cumulus Clouds. Part I: Model Description, Comparison with Observations and Sensitivity Studies.

Abstract A surface boundary layer model was developed which utilizes the single-level surface mesonet data and the results of a surface energy and moisture budget calculation. The heat and moisture fluxes calculated using this model were employed in the three-dimensional simulation of a cumulus cloud field. The analytical treatment of the surface layer represents a significant computational advantage. The cloud field simulation represents seven hours of the 20 June 1981 case of the Cooperative Convective Precipitation Experiment (CCOPE) conducted in Montana. The model results are compared .with the available radar and aircraft data, with the record of hourly surface observations and with the available cloud photographs. The results of the numerical experiments suggest that dynamical inhomogeneities imposed on the flow by the terrain plays a leading role in the rate of development of the convective cloud field. The thermodynamical inhomogeneities generated by such things as the type of soil and vegetation ...
The Source Region and Melting Mineralogy of High-Titanium and Low-Titanium Lunar Basalts Deduced from Lu-Hf Isotope Data

Five high-Ti basalts from the Apollo 11 and 17 landing sites have been analyzed for their hafnium isotope composition. These data serve to better constrain the hafnium isotope variation of the Moon’s mantle. Variations in initial ϵHf and ϵNd values of low- and high-Ti basalts imply that the source region mineral assemblages of these lunar magma types are distinct. Low-Ti basalts have higher initial ϵHf values, at a given ϵNd value, than high-Ti basalts. The differences in the hafnium and neodymium isotopic composition of low- and high-Ti basalts reflect the fact that the source of low-Ti basalts had a [Lu/Hf]n ratio approximately four times greater than its [Sm/Nd]n ratio. In contrast, the high-Ti source region had subequal [Lu/Hf]n and [Sm/Nd]n ratios. If it is assumed that mare basalts are partial melts of the Moon’s cumulate mantle, the differences between low- and high-Ti basalts can only be explained by these mare magma types being generated from melting sources with distinctly different mineral assemblages. The large Lu/Hf fractionations, relative to Sm/Nd fractionations, of low-Ti basalts can best be produced by an assemblage of olivine and orthopyroxene with trace amount of clinopyroxene that crystallized early in the history of the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO). The subequal [Lu/Hf]n and [Sm/Nd]n fractionations of high-Ti basalts can be produced from a variety of ilmenite-bearing mineral assemblages. Low- and high-Ti basalts have similar Lu/Hf ratios, approximately 0.6 times chondrite. The low Lu/Hf ratios measured for these mare magmas contrast sharply with the high Lu/Hf ratios (greater than chondritic) calculated for their sources from initial ϵHf values and an assumed chondritic bulk moon initial ϵHf value. The difference between the measured Lu/Hf of a lava, vs. the calculated Lu/Hf of its source, implies that during partial melting, Lu was preferentially retained in the residual source, relative to Hf. In order to explain the extreme fractionation of measured Lu/Hf ratios we suggest mare basalts can best be explained using a polybaric melting model. Initial melting of a garnet bearing source followed by continued melting in the spinel stability field can produce the required Lu/Hf fractionations and produce a liquid that last equilibrated with a residuum of olivine and orthopyroxene.
Small town growth in the United States: An analysis by size class and by place.

Small town population change is an important factor in the urbanization process. We analyzed changes in incorporated places under 10,000 in the United States during the 1940–60 period, making a distinction between changes in population size classes and changes in places grouped by initial size. We made balance sheets for size classes under 1,000, 1,000–2,500, and 2,500–10,000 in order to divide the percent increase by size class into five additive components: (1)growth of places staying in the class, (2) net shifts of growing towns into and out of the class, (8) net shifts of declining towns into and out of the class, (4) addition of new places, and (5) disappearance of places during the time period. Separate tabulations were made by metropolitan location, region, and decade. p ]Places under 10,000 population the initial year grew during both census decades considered. Growth differentials paralleled those generally found for the total population, with the most rapid growth near large cities in the West and (except for non-metropolitan places) over the 1940–60 decade.
Educating 21st Century Engineers

It has been well established that economic growth is stimulated by technology innovation. Most technology innovation is made by engineers. Despite the importance of engineering to the economic growth of the U.S., as the U.S. economy has become increasingly driven by global competition, U.S. citizens are exhibiting decreased interest in a career in engineering. This declining interest is evidenced by a major decrease of U.S. citizen enrollment in U.S. undergraduate engineering programs and an even larger decrease of U.S. citizens in engineering graduate programs. In response to declining enrollment, despite the increase in complexity of engineering, colleges of engineering have decreased degree requirements - typically about 20 credit hours over a generation; yet, declining enrollment continues. Because of the importance of engineering to economic growth and the constraints of the global economy on the salary growth of engineers, (1) it is time for the U.S. government to declare engineering a public good and (2) it is time for U.S. corporations to fill a major role in engineering education. Therefore, we recommend that companies willing to employ cooperative engineering students and direct their on-the-job education be permitted to pay the undergraduate and graduate school tuition of students and deduct their education costs as a tax credit. (Note that Medicare pays hospital for the coop education of medical students and physician residents.) The practical work experience would be a major element of the students' engineering education and the certainty of immediate, secure employment would be a draw to new engineering students.
Changes in insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, and B-cell function in regularly exercising subjects

To determine the relative contributions of changes in glucose effectiveness, B-cell function, and insulin sensitivity to changes in glucose tolerance upon exercise cessation in regularly exercising individuals, we studied seven young subjects who were performing aerobic exercise on a regular schedule. Each subject was studied 12 and 84 hours after the last bout of exercise with an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) to quantify insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness at zero insulin (GEZI) using the minimal model of glucose kinetics. Additionally, B-cell function was quantified as the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRglucose), and intravenous glucose tolerance as the glucose disappearance constant (Kg). Twelve hours after the last bout of exercise, SI was 8.47 +/- 1.12 x 10(-5) min-1/pmol/L, as compared with 6.98 +/- 1.17 x 10(-5) min-1/pmol/L 84 hours after exercise (mean +/- SE, P = .005). No changes was observed in GEZI (0.020 +/- 0.004 min-1 at 12 hours v 0.019 +/- 0.002 min-1 at 84 hours, P = NS) or AIRglucose (588 +/- 213 pmol/L at 12 hours v 687 +/- 271 pmol/L at 84 hours, P = NS). Thus, the difference in intravenous glucose tolerance observed 12 hours after exercise as compared with 84 hours after the last bout of exercise (Kg, 2.91 +/- 0.70%/min at 12 hours v 2.23 +/- 0.60%/min at 84 hours, P < .05) would appear to be entirely related to a difference in SI and not to differences in glucose effectiveness or B-cell function.
A tree-ring reconstruction of streamflow in the Santa Fe River, New Mexico

Summary The upper Santa Fe River provides up to 50% of the water supply for the growing population of Santa Fe, NM. Recent droughts have dramatically lowered reservoir levels and raised concern about the future of the water supply, particularly when combined with projections of a warmer and drier future climate. In this study, new and updated tree-ring chronologies are used to reconstruct annual discharge for the upper Santa Fe River and place the short period of gaged flows, 1914–2007, in a long-term context. Principal components analysis and forward stepwise multiple linear regression were used to produce two reconstructions: (1) a better fit, “short reconstruction” (adjusted R2 = 0.62, 1592–2007) and (2) a less robust, “long reconstruction” (adj. R2 = 0.50, 1305–2007). Both reconstructions indicate that recent extreme low flow events (e.g., 2002) are rare (5th percentile) in the long-term records and that the 1950s drought contained the lowest 7-year mean flows over the past 400–700 years. However, longer, multi-decadal dry periods not present in the gaged flows occurred in the past. For example, the 40-year mean for 1544–1583 is estimated at just 86% of the 1914–2007 mean. During extended dry periods in the 16th and 18th centuries the probability that annual flow would not meet the current surface water allocation and instream flow target (7.52 million cubic meters, MCM) was up to 10% greater (78.7% non-exceedence probability) than during the instrumental period. The results indicate that the gaged record does not contain the full range of high and low flows or the variability in the probability distributions of flows present in the long-term record. Therefore current and future water management and planning based on the instrumental period may not adequately buffer against the natural variability in the climate and streamflow systems. This valuable paleo-hydrologic information is in the process of being incorporated into water supply planning for the City of Santa Fe (e.g., modeling future water supply scenarios directly from reconstructed periods of streamflow).