cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Report of the Wingspread Conference: Preparing Teachers to Work with Diverse Learners

The need to enhance our efforts in preparing teachers for diversity is widely recognized across many educational fronts. Educational organizations with a vested interest in teacher preparation have mobilized to address this need. There are, however, few collaborative efforts across organizations to address this important task, The Wingspread Conference described in this paper was designed to be one step in the process of forging interorganizational alliances to promote teacher preparation for diversity. The goal of this conference was to establish a set of guiding principles and suggested actions that could be embraced and cooperatively supported by all participating organizations.
Data bases, compound objects, and networked workstations: Beyond distributed computing (Abstract)

Requirements for future data base systems are developed from the perspective of the user of a networked workstation who naturally deals with compound objects. Objects considered include full text, diagrams, maps, sound recordings, images from film and video and of art objects, spreadsheets, etc. Searching requirements and strategies over multi-objects are also considered. The context of such data base systems is the library, in its electronic or digital version. Comments are presented with respect to the digital learning environment of the future. Current related projects at Berkeley are described.
Do Missed Opportunities Stay Missed? A 6-Month Follow-up of Missed Vaccine Opportunities in Inner City Milwaukee Children

Objectives. To determine 1) the frequency of missed vaccine opportunities (VOs) in inner city children ≤3 years of age; 2) whether the recommended vaccine(s) were given within 6 months of the missed opportunity (MO); 3) whether these vaccinations were age-appropriate according to the guidelines of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices; and 4) variables associated with MOs. Design. Retrospective chart review with a nested retrospective cohort of children with MOs. Setting. Two inner city practice settings in Milwaukee: a community health center and an academic continuity care practice. Patients/Selection Procedure. A consecutive sample of 710 visits of inner city children ≤3 years of age with VOs, seen between January 1 and March 31, 1995. A VO was defined as any encounter when the child was vaccine-eligible according to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices guidelines. Results. MOs occurred in 47% (330/710) of the VOs. Only 40% of the children with MOs received age-appropriate immunizations within 6 months; 30% received the vaccinations beyond the age-appropriate time. The remaining 30% either did not return or were not vaccinated on return. The variables significantly associated with MOs were 1) age: children with MOs were older than those without, with a mean age of 15.5 months vs 10.9 months; 2) minor febrile illness; 3) moderate/severe illness; 4) acute illness encounters; and 5) patient9s being seen at the community health center. Only 15.5% of all MOs were justified by the presence of moderate/severe illness. Conclusions. VOs are frequently missed in inner city children. Most of the MOs were not justified by the valid contraindication of moderate/severe illness. Sixty percent of the children with MOs did not receive age-appropriate immunizations within 6 months. These children are vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and pertussis.
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Effect of solvent on the H2-D2 isotopic exchange rate over an activated cobalt catalyst

The effect of solvent on the hydrogen-deuterium isotopic homomolecular exchange over a traditional Fischer-Tropsch cobalt catalyst (25 % Co/Al2O3) was investigated using a plug flow reactor at two different reaction temperatures (room temperature (26 °C) and –20 °C) and at atmospheric pressure. In this study, three different solvents were tested, including n-pentane, n-hexadecane, and C-30 oil. The consumption of H2 and D2 is the same, and the concentration of the HD produced is twice the consumption of H2 or D2 at dry (without solvent) conditions. At room temperature and at –20 °C, conditions without solvent exhibited 100 mol% exchange with the formation of H2:HD:D2 having a 1:2:1 ratio. For n-pentane solvent, the exchange rates were ∼97 and ∼80 mol% at 26 and −20 °C, respectively. For the n-hexadecane and C30 oil solvents, the initial exchange rate was ∼50 mol%, with the exchange rate decreasing over time. The lower exchange rate with the n-hexadecane and C30 oil solvents, and also n-pentane at –20 °C, is likely due primarily to the limited mobility of reactant molecules in the liquid-filled pores of the catalyst. Blocking or covering of the pores of the catalyst depends on the molecular mass and density of the solvent. No isotopic partitioning preference was observed at two different temperatures and various solvents for the active cobalt catalyst.
External Financing and the Reallocation of Capital Over the Business Cycle: Measurement and Theory

We examine the quantitative importance of financial market shocks in accounting for business cycle fluctuations. We emphasize the role financial markets play in reallocating funds from cash-rich, low productivity firms to cash-poor, high productivity firms. Using evidence on financial flows at the firm level, we find that for publicly traded firms (in Compustat), almost all investment is financed internally. However, using an alternative data source (Amadeus), we find that most investment by privately held firms is financed via external funds. Motivated by these observations, we build a quantitative model featuring publicly and privately held firms that face collateral constraints and idiosyncratic risk over productivity as well as non-financial linkages. In our calibrated model, we find that a shock to the collateral constraints which generates a one standard deviation decline in the debt-to-asset ratio leads to a 0.5\% decline in aggregate output on impact, roughly comparable to the effect of a one standard deviation shock to aggregate productivity in a standard real business cycle model. In this sense, we find that disturbances in financial markets are a promising source of business cycle fluctuations when non-financial linkages across firms are sufficiently strong.
A time-based formulation for real-time fatigue damage prognosis under variable amplitude loadings

A time-based fatigue crack growth algorithm is proposed in this paper to calculate the fatigue crack growth under general random variable amplitude loading. This approach is based on the analytical crack tip opening displacement (CTOD) estimation and a subcycle fatigue crack growth model. The discussion is first given for fatigue cracks without considering the crack closure. Next, the model is extended to the growing crack with the crack closure. Following this, a general fatigue crack growth algorithm is proposed under general random variable loadings, which is combined the crack closure model and the geometrical relationship between the CTOD and the crack increment (da) at any time instant within a cycle. To validate this algorithm, a testing is performed for Al7075-T6 under “Christmas Tree” loading spectra, which cannot be easily handled by the classical cyclebased approaches. The predictions match the experimental data very well. A detailed discussion is given based on the current investigation.
Centring a sideshow: local experiences of the First World War in Africa

AbstractThe African campaigns of First World War should be thought of as more than ‘sideshows.’ Rather, historians should research local, ordinary African experiences of the war in order to better understand African perspectives on the war, and also to generate narratives that can be integrated into more inclusive histories of the global war. This essay suggests several different vantage points which could prove generative for a new historiography of the war in Africa.
An epidemiological analysis of Brucellosis from 2006 to 2010 in Pingdingshan city of Jilin province

Objectives This paper aims to provide a basis for taking the scientific and effective control measures in analyzing human brucella endemic(brucellosis) characteristics of Pingdingshan city,as well as the epidemic trends and reasons.Method The author sorted and retrospectively analyzed the data of human brucella endemic patients reported from 2006 to 2010 on internet.Results During this time,a total of 213 cases of brucellosis were reported in Pingdingshan city,with no death reported and the incidence was 0.04/100,000,0.42/100,000,0.77/100,000,1.65/100,000,1.51/100,000 respectively,with significant seasonal distribution.The ratio of male to female patients was approximately 2.4 to 1(150/63) while the over 40-year aged group covered a high proportion of 31.46 %(67/213).The patients were mainly farmers and herdsmen(82.63 %,176/213).In terms of regional distribution,Ruzhou had the highest proportion of 49.76%(106/213),followed by Jia County with 16.90%(36/213).Conclusion Human brucellosis incidence Pingdingshan shows an uprising trend and mainly a growth among young males in spring and summer.Ruzhou is a focus of brucellosis prevention work in Pingdingshan.
Effects of LY294002,a Specific Inhibitor of Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase,on Cardiomyocytes Subject to Ischemia and Hypoxia

Objective:To clarify the effects of PI3K/Akt pathway on cardiomyocytes subjected to ischemia and hypoxia.Methods: Cardiomyocytes were cultured in vitro.Viabilities of cardiomyocytes,lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)leaking and ratio of propidium io- dide(PI)staining positive cells were observed to test the effects of LY294002,a specific inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase,when exposed to stimulation of isehemia and hypoxia.Results:Viabilities of cardiomyocytes subjected to ischemia and hypoxia by the inhibi- tion of PI3K/Akt pathway were significantly lower and LDH leak-age and ratio of PI staining positive cells were significantly higher than those without PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition(P0.01 ).Conclusion:LY294002 can aggravate the injury of cardiomyocytes subjected to is- ehemia and hypoxia,which suggests that the PI3K/Akt pathway can protect cardiomyocytes from injury of ischemia and hypoxia.
Hydrolysis of inositol phosphates by plant cell extracts.

A gel-filtered soluble fraction prepared from suspension-cultured Nicotiana tabacum cells hydrolysed inositol mono-, bis- and tris-phosphates. At a concentration of 7.5 microM the rates of hydrolysis followed the sequence Ins(1,4,5)P3 greater than Ins(1,4)P2 greater than Ins(4)P congruent to Ins(1)P. The major products of Ins(1,4,5)P3 hydrolysis identified by h.p.l.c. were Ins(1,4)P2 and Ins(4,5)P2. Ins(1,4)P2 was hydrolysed exclusively to Ins(4)P. The inclusion of Ca2+ in the incubation buffer markedly stimulated the hydrolysis of all the inositol phosphate substrates. Under identical conditions, Ca2+ inhibited the hydrolysis of inositol phosphates by soluble extracts prepared from rat brain. Half-maximal stimulation of Ins(1,4)P2 hydrolysis was obtained at free [Ca2+] of 0.6 and 1.2 microM when the Mg2+ concentration in the incubations was 0.3 and 1.0 mM respectively. This effect of Ca2+ was exerted solely by increasing the Vmax. of hydrolysis without affecting the Km for Ins(1,4)P2. Again, in contrast with brain, the hydrolysis of inositol bis- or mono-phosphates was insensitive to high concentrations of Li+. We conclude that plants contain specific Li+-insensitive inositol phosphate phosphatases that are regulated by low concentrations of Ca2+ in a manner which is different from that observed in mammalian tissues.
Stoichiometry as key to ferroelectricity in compressively strained SrTiO3 films

While strain is a powerful tuning parameter for inducing ferroelectricity in thin film oxides, the role of stoichiometry control is critical, but far less explored. A series of compressively strained SrTiO3 films on (001) (LaAlO3)0.3(Sr2AlTaO6)0.35 substrates were grown by hybrid molecular beam epitaxy where the Ti cation was supplied using a metal-organic titanium tetraisopropoxide molecule that helps systematically and precisely control Sr:Ti stoichiometry in the resulting films. A stoichiometric growth window is located through X-ray diffraction and in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction measurements, which show a minimum out-of-plane lattice parameter as well as constant growth rate within the stoichiometric growth window range. Using temperature dependent optical second harmonic generation (SHG) characterization, a ferroelectric-to-paraelectric transition at T ∼ 180 K is observed for a stoichiometric SrTiO3 film, as well as a higher temperature structural transition at T ∼ 385 K. Using S...
Physical Basis of Software-Based Leak Detection Methods

There are many causes for a pipeline to leak. Third party punctures usually result in sizable leaks. The onset of such leaks generates a sudden change in the pipeline pressure and flow. Methods exist that rely upon these sudden changes for leak detection. Leaks previously undetected are not detectable by such methods. These pre-existing leaks are usually small in size but can exist for long time. The cumulation of leaked products may pose a greater hazard then the larger and sudden leaks. The operational experience of major pipeline company in the United States has demonstrated that all leak detection methods have their limitations, and that complementary leak detection methods should be used simultaneously (Mears 1993). Hence, we propose a leak detection system that uses, simultaneously, two independent but complementary methodologies: mass balance and transient flow simulations.Copyright © 1998 by ASME
15 Effects of Radiation Quenching, Ion-Bombardment, and Annealing on Catalytic Activity of Pure Nickel and Platinum Surfaces. II. Hydrogenation of Ethylene (continued). Hydrogen-Deuterium Exchange

High-vacuum techniques are employed in an attempt to eliminate spurious effects. The catalyst is a thin solid-metal sheet of 2-cm.2 surface area. A mass spectrometer provides continuous or intermittent gas analysis. Equal partial pressures of hydrogen and ethylene, or of hydrogen and deuterium, of 6 mm. Hg are used. After cleaning by argon-ion bombardment and outgassing, the activity of a nickel catalyst, which has been quenched from about 850° in high vacuum, is about seven times greater than that obtained when the above treatment is followed by an annealing at 500° for 1 to 3 min., for the hydrogen-ethylene reaction. After argon-ion bombardment, the activity is 100 times greater than that obtained after subsequent annealing. After argon-ion bombardment and radiation quenching from 1050°, a platinum catalyst has an activity which is ten times that obtained after subsequent annealing at 700°. After positive ion bombardment with argon, the activity is also ten times that obtained after subsequent annealing. These results suggest that the high activity for the above reaction, following radiation quenching or argon-ion bombardment, is due to the presence of surface lattice defects which are largely removed by subsequent annealing. The results for nickel are consistent with the accepted view that the natures of the defects in the two cases are not the same. Preliminary results for the hydrogen-deuterium reaction indicate that there is no appreciable difference in the activities of a nickel catalyst following the different treatments listed above.
Sexual Risk and Transmission Behaviors, Partnerships and Settings Among Young Adult Nonmedical Opioid Users in New York City

Nonmedical prescription opioid use has become widespread. It can lead to heroin use, drug injection and HIV infection. We describe young adult opioid users’ sexual risk behavior, partnerships and settings. 464 youth aged 18–29 who reported opioid use in the past 30 days were recruited using Respondent-Driven Sampling. Eligible participants completed a computer-assisted, interviewer-administered risk questionnaire and were tested for STIs and HIV. Participants (33% female; 66% white non-Hispanic) almost all had sex in the prior 90 days; 42% reported more than one partner. Same-sex sex was reported by 3% of men and 10% of women. Consistent condom use was rare. Seven percent reported group sex participation in the last 90 days but lifetime group sex was common among men and women. Young opioid users’ unprotected sex, multiple partners and group sex puts them and others at high HIV and STI risk.
Neonatal Acute Paronychia

Background: Paronychia is defined as infection afflicting the eponychial nail folds of the hand or foot. Such infections are rarely reported in the perinatal age group, and not previously described...
Dynamic Systemic Risk Networks: A Note

We propose a theory-driven framework for monitoring system-wide risk. Our approach extends the one-firm Merton (1974) credit risk model to a generalized stochastic network-based framework across all financial institutions, comprising a novel approach to measuring systemic risk over time. We develop four desired properties for any systemic risk measure. We also develop measures for the risks created by each individual institution and a measure for risk created by each pairwise connection between institutions. Four specific implementation models are then explored, and brief empirical examples illustrate the ease of implementation of these four models and show general consistency between their results.
Automatic speed and direction control along constrained navigation paths

For many virtual reality applications, a pre-calculated fly-through path is the de facto standard navigation method. Such a path is convenient for users and ensures coverage of critical areas throughout the scene. Traditional applications use constant camera speed, allow for fully user-controlled manual speed adjustment, or use automatic speed adjustment based on heuristics from the scene. We introduce two novel methods for constrained path navigation and exploration in virtual environments which rely on the natural orientation of the user's head during scene exploration. Utilizing head tracking to obtain the user's area of focus, we perform automatic camera speed adjustment to allow for natural off-axis scene examination. We expand this to include automatic camera navigation along the pre-computed path, abrogating the need for any navigational inputs from the user. Our techniques are applicable for any scene with a pre-computed navigation path, including medical applications such as virtual colonoscopy, coronary fly-through, or virtual angioscopy, and graph navigation. We compare the traditional methods (constant speed and manual speed adjustment) and our two methods (automatic speed adjustment and automatic speed/direction control) to determine the effect of speed adjustment on system usability, mental load, performance, and user accuracy. Through this evaluation we observe the effect of automatic speed adjustment compared to traditional methods. We observed no negative impact from automatic navigation, and the users performed as well as with the manual navigation.
Psychometric function estimation by probabilistic classification

Conventional psychometric function (PF) estimation involves fitting a parametric, unidimensional sigmoid to binary subject responses, which is not readily extendible to higher order PFs. This study presents a nonparametric, Bayesian, multidimensional PF estimator that also relies upon traditional binary subject responses. This technique is built upon probabilistic classification (PC), which attempts to ascertain the subdomains corresponding to each subject response as a function of multiple independent variables. Increased uncertainty in the location of class boundaries results in a greater spread in the PF estimate, which is similar to a parametric PF estimate with a lower slope. PC was evaluated on both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) simulated auditory PFs across a variety of function shapes and sample numbers. In the 1D case, PC demonstrated equivalent performance to conventional maximum likelihood regression for the same number of simulated responses. In the 2D case, where the responses were distributed across two independent variables, PC accuracy closely matched the accuracy of 1D maximum likelihood estimation at discrete values of the second variable. The flexibility and scalability of the PC formulation make this an excellent option for estimating traditional PFs as well as more complex PFs, which have traditionally lacked rigorous estimation procedures.
Snapshot spectrally resolved longitudinal spatial coherence interferometry

We present a one-dimensional (1-D) imaging technique that uses longitudinal spatial coherence interferometry to encode a scene’s spatial information onto the source’s power spectrum. By spectrally resolving the output using a spectrometer, a channeled spectrum is measured. Fourier transformation of the channeled spectrum yields a measurement of the incident scene’s angular spectrum. The theory is presented to exhibit analogies to conventional Fourier transform spectroscopy of the power spectrum. Experimental validation of the technique is demonstrated, using a Fabry–Perot etalon, for the reconstruction of 1-D sinusoidal and randomly generated angular spectra. Root mean square error between the input and output angular spectra is demonstrated, on average, to be 12.7% and 13.6% for single-frequency and random spectra, respectively.
Advances in meta-analysis methodologies contribute to advances in research accumulation: comments on Cheung & Hong and Johnson et al.

The rapid proliferation of health psychology research places increasing demands on scientists and practitioners to stay informed. As such, meaningful synthesis of existing information is at least a...
CT-derived body fat distribution and incident cardiovascular disease: The multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis

Background Visceral fat has been shown to be associated with increased cardiometabolic risk, but the role of subcutaneous fat remains unclear, and evidence from diverse populations is lacking. We hypothesized that visceral fat, but not subcutaneous fat, would be independently associated with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Methods Among 1910 participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with abdominal fat measurements from computed tomography scans and followed for an average of 9.3 years, we used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to investigate the relationship of both visceral and subcutaneous fat tertiles with CVD and all-cause mortality. We tested for interaction and performed sensitivity analysis for subgroups and missing values of visceral fat. Results Participants had mean age of 65 years, visceral fat 150 cm2, subcutaneous fat 263 cm2, and 50% were female, 21% African American, 13% Asian, and 26% Hispanic. In models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, education, smoking, and subcutaneous fat, there was a statistically significant positive association between visceral fat and CVD, but not mortality. The association for combined CVD may be driven by incident coronary heart disease [tertile 2: hazard ratio, 2.43 (1.38 to 4.28); tertile 3: hazard ratio, 3.00 (1.66 to 5.43)]. Additionally, we found no substantial associations between subcutaneous fat and CVD or mortality. There were no statistically significant interactions by age, sex, or race/ethnicity. Conclusions Visceral fat, but not subcutaneous fat, is significantly associated with increased risk for CVD in a multiethnic cohort. These data support the need for effective strategies for lifestyle changes that prevent and reduce visceral fat.
Vaccine-elicited memory CD4+ T cell expansion is impaired in the lungs during tuberculosis.

Immunological memory is the key biological process that makes vaccines possible. Although tuberculosis vaccines elicit protective immunity in animals, few provide durable protection. To understand why protection is transient, we evaluated the ability of memory CD4+ T cells to expand, differentiate, and control Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Both naive and memory CD4+ T cells initially proliferated exponentially, and the accumulation of memory T cells in the lung correlated with early bacterial control. However, later during infection, memory CD4+ T cell proliferation was curtailed and no protection was observed. We show that memory CD4+ T cells are first activated in the LN and their recruitment to the lung attenuates bacterial growth. However, their interaction with Mtb-infected macrophages does not promote continued proliferation. We conclude that a lack of sustained expansion by memory-derived T cells in the lung limits the durability of their protection, linking their slower expansion with transient protection in vaccinated mice.
Human EndoC-βH1 β-cells form pseudoislets with improved glucose sensitivity and enhanced GLP-1 signaling in the presence of islet-derived endothelial cells.

Three-dimensional (3D) pseudoislets (PIs) can be used for the study of insulin-producing β-cells in free-floating islet-like structures similar to that of primary islets. Previously, we demonstrate...
Predictors of enrollment in individual- and couple-based lifestyle intervention trials for cancer survivors

To utilize data from lifestyle intervention pilot studies for cancer survivors to elucidate demographic, disease-related, and health behavior factors that might predict enrollment in this type of research. Additionally, factors were differentially compared based on intervention design (i.e., individual versus couple-based). Secondary data analysis was conducted regarding predictors of enrollment into lifestyle intervention studies, including Healthy Moves Weight Loss (individual participants, screened n = 89, enrolled n = 30) and Healthy Moves Couples (survivors and their partners, screened n = 197, enrolled n = 23). Due to small sample sizes, common in pilot studies, random forest analyses were used to maximize information yielded by the data. Results identified numerous important predictors of enrollment in individual and couple-based lifestyle interventions. Percent energy from fat and physical activity minutes were identified as important predictors for both recruitment methods. Age, cancer site, and marital status were important predictors of enrollment in the individual-based intervention. Weight, fiber consumption, and disease-related symptom severity and interference were important predictors of enrollment in the couple-based intervention. Although there was some overlap in predictors for enrollment between studies, many differential predictors were identified between individual versus couple-based study designs for lifestyle intervention in cancer survivors. Future lifestyle intervention studies for cancer survivors may benefit from targeting different predictors of enrollment based on study design to optimize recruitment. Additionally, understanding predictors may allow certain barriers to enrollment (i.e., symptom burden) to be directly addressed, making lifestyle intervention research more feasible and acceptable to difficult-to-recruit survivors.
Building the infrastructure to accelerate evidence-generating mobile and wireless health research: National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation perspectives.

This article describes current NIH and NSF initiatives to develop and evaluate mobile and wireless health infrastructures to further behavioral and social sciences research.
Charge Transfer and the Route to Superconductivity in the Doped Fullerenes

A brief review is presented discussing the role of charge transfer and the appearance of superconductivity in the three-dimensional (3D) alkali-metal-doped fullerene compounds (A3C60). An argument is made that similar phenomenology may occur in two dimensions (2D) when a C60 monolayer is doped by charge transfer from an adjacent planar metal layer. Illustrative data are presented showing that charge transfer gives rise to a decrease in resistance when C60 is deposited onto a thin smooth nickel film. Accordingly, the physics of charge transfer and electron delocalization, which plays such an important role in the superconductivity of the 3D A3C60 compounds, could well play a similar role in these 2D analogues where a C60 monolayer is doped to a conducting state by charge transfer from an underlying metal.
Methyl isocyanate inhalation induces tissue factor-dependent activation of coagulation in rats.

AbstractMethyl isocyanate (MIC) is a highly toxic industrial chemical causing acute lethality after inhalation. The objective of this study was to determine whether alterations in hemostasis also occur in the immediate hours after exposure. Male rats were exposed to MIC (125–500 ppm) by nose-only vapor inhalation for 30 min. Arterial O2 saturation was monitored prior to exposure, and hourly thereafter. Rats were euthanized at 1, 2, 4, and 8 hr and plasma analyzed for recalcification clotting time, tissue factor (TF) activity, and protein levels. Hypoxemia, as assessed by pulse oximetry, was an early feature of MIC inhalation. In contrast to sham or low (125 ppm) concentrations, 250 and 500 ppm MIC caused significant declines in blood oxygen saturation (% SpO2) at 1 hr, which remained at deficit during the postexposure period. Commensurate with hypoxemia, plasma clotting time was significantly accelerated 1 hr after MIC inhalation (sham treatment: 955 ± 62.8 s; 125 ppm MIC: 790 ± 62 s; 250 ppm: 676 ± 28.0 ...
Interrelatedness of children’s psychological and physiological responses to interparental conflict: A moderating role of harsh parenting

Children's psychological and physiological responses to interparental conflict have received considerable attention due to their implications for later adjustment, yet limited research has investigated the interplay between these two response systems. This study investigates patterns of association between children's psychological responses (e.g., emotional distress) and cortisol reactivity to interparental conflict, including possible moderations by negative caregiving environment. Participants included 193 families (mother, father, and child). Parents completed questionnaires relating to their caregiving behaviors toward the child (107 girls and 86 boys, M age = 7.99 years, SD = 0.53 years) and children's psychological responses to interparental conflict. Children provided three saliva samples over the course of watching videos depicting conflicts between two adults, whom children were asked to pretend were their parents. Based on a series of Latent Growth Curve Models, only children's emotional responses to interparental conflict (indicated by increased distress) were associated with greater cortisol reactivity. Additionally, fathers' harsh parenting behavior moderated the relation between children's emotional reactivity and cortisol reactivity, yet the moderation effect was not found for mothers' parenting. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of exploring both psychological and physiological reactivity to conflict and the possible moderating role of harsh parenting.
Ordinal and Cardinal Dendrograms Depicting Migration-Based Regionalization of 3,000 + U. S. Counties

We have obtained a "hierarchical regionalization" of 3,107 county-level units of the United States based upon census-recorded 1995-2000 intercounty migration flows. The methodology employed was the two-stage (double-standardization and strong component [directed graph] hierarchical clustering) algorithm described in the 2009 PNAS (106 [26], E66) letter (arXiv:0904.4863). Various features (e. g., cosmopolitan vs. provincial aspects, and indices of isolation) of the regionalization have been previously discussed in arXiv:0907.2393, arXiv:0903.3623 and arXiv:0809.2768. However, due to the lengthy (38-page) nature of the associated dendrogram, the detailed tree structure itself was not readily available for inspection. Here, we do present this (county-searchable) dendrogram--and invite readers to explore it, based on their particular interests/locations. An ordinal scale--rather than the originally-derived cardinal scale of the doubly-standardized values--in which groupings/features were more immediately apparent, was originally presented. Now, we append the cardinal-scale dendrogram.
Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders

The clinical syndromes of optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis (TM) are frequently seen in multiple sclerosis (MS); but beginning with Devic’s descriptions in 1894 (Devic, Bull Med (Paris) 8:1033, 1894), cases of severe ON and TM, without significant brain involvement, have been considered a separate entity, namely, neuromyelitis optica (NMO, aka Devic’s disease) and now neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Although this syndrome was previously thought to be a variant of MS, there are several key differences. This chapter will describe the clinical presentation typical of NMOSD and the epidemiology, pathology, and pathophysiology of the disease. It will then review the typical imaging findings of the disease in the context of the 2015 diagnostic criteria, and discuss therapeutic options for NMOSD.
Chemical Synthesis of Silk-Mimetic Polymers

Silk is a naturally occurring high-performance material that can surpass man-made polymers in toughness and strength. The remarkable mechanical properties of silk result from the primary sequence of silk fibroin, which bears semblance to a linear segmented copolymer with alternating rigid ("crystalline") and flexible ("amorphous") blocks. Silk-mimetic polymers are therefore of great emerging interest, as they can potentially exhibit the advantageous features of natural silk while possessing synthetic flexibility as well as non-natural compositions. This review describes the relationships between primary sequence and material properties in natural silk fibroin and furthermore discusses chemical approaches towards the synthesis of silk-mimetic polymers. In particular, step-growth polymerization, controlled radical polymerization, and copolymerization with naturally derived silk fibroin are presented as strategies for synthesizing silk-mimetic polymers with varying molecular weights and degrees of sequence control. Strategies for improving macromolecular solubility during polymerization are also highlighted. Lastly, the relationships between synthetic approach, supramolecular structure, and bulk material properties are explored in this review, with the aim of providing an informative perspective on the challenges facing chemical synthesis of silk-mimetic polymers with desirable properties.
Evaluation of the Aqua MODIS Collection 6.1 multilayer cloud detection algorithm through comparisons with CloudSat CPR and CALIPSO CALIOP products

Abstract. Since multilayer cloud scenes are common in the atmosphere and can be an important source of uncertainty in passive satellite sensor cloud retrievals, the MODIS MOD06/MYD06 standard cloud optical property products include a multilayer cloud detection algorithm to assist with data quality assessment. This paper presents an evaluation of the Aqua MODIS MYD06 Collection 6.1 (C6.1) multilayer cloud detection algorithm through comparisons with active CPR and CALIOP products that have the ability to provide cloud vertical distributions and directly classify multilayer cloud scenes and layer properties. To compare active sensor products with an imager such as MODIS, it is first necessary to define multilayer clouds in the context of their radiative impact on cloud retrievals. Three main parameters have thus been considered in this evaluation: (1) the maximum separation distance between two cloud layers, (2) the thermodynamic phase of those layers, and (3) the upper layer cloud optical thickness. The impact of including the Pavolonis-Heidinger multilayer cloud detection algorithm, introduced in Collection 6, to assist with multilayer cloud detection has also been assessed. For the year 2008, the MYD06 C6.1 multilayer cloud detection algorithm identifies roughly 20 percent of all cloudy pixels as multilayer (decreasing to about 13 percent if the Pavolonis-Heidinger algorithm output is not used). Evaluation against the merged CPR and CALIOP 2B-CLDCLASS-lidar product shows that the MODIS multilayer detection results are quite sensitive to how multilayer clouds are defined in the radar/lidar product, and that the algorithm performs better when the optical thickness of the upper cloud layer is greater than about 1.2 with a minimum layer separation distance of 1 km. Finally, we find that filtering the MYD06 cloud optical properties retrievals using the multilayer cloud flag improves aggregated statistics, particularly for ice cloud effective radius.
Food intake and meal pattern in response to hyperosmotic-induced dehydration in obese and lean Zucker rats.

Abstract Objectives Obese Zucker rats display neurochemical modifications in the brain characteristic of dehydration, but are nevertheless hyperphagic. This suggests that the obese animals can be resistant to dehydration-induced anorexia. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis by comparing the effects of dehydration on food intake and feeding pattern between obese and lean Zucker rats. Methods Intracellular dehydration in obese (fa/fa) and lean (Fa/Fa) Zucker rats was induced by replacing drinking water with hyperosmotic sodium chloride solutions (1.8% and 2.7%, consecutively, 4 d each). Daily food intake, meal size, and meal number were measured using an automated computerized rat eater meter before, during, and after the dehydration. Results After 8 d of hyperosmotic challenge, body weight decreased by 15% and 10% in lean and obese rats, respectively. Obese rats displayed higher food intake and meal size than lean rats before, during, and after the dehydration. Drinking 1.8% and 2.7% sodium chloride solutes decreased gradually food intake and meal size in both lean and obese rats; however, obese rats had a higher percentage of food intake than lean rats during the osmotic challenge. Higher ratios of food to water intake characterized obese rats and the percentage of such ratios in obese versus lean rats were increased during the 2.7% sodium chloride load. Meal number was not affected by dehydration in obese rats, but it was decreased in lean rats during the 2.7% sodium chloride load and remained low during refeeding after the dehydration, when the meal size was increased. Conclusion Dehydration-induced anorexia is present in both obese and lean Zucker rats; however, obese rats are more resistant to dehydration by preserving their meal size and food intake. These results support a role for feeding-associated dehydration in the pathogenesis of hyperphagia and obesity.
Negligence in the Courts: Introduction and Commentary, in Symposium, Negligence in the Courts: The Actual Practice

The drafting of the basic negligence provisions in the Restatement Third of the Law of Torts has brought into sharp focus the increasing controversy in recent years over the definition of negligent conduct that should be and actually is employed by the courts. Until fairly recently, there seemed to be widespread agreement that the definition employed by the courts is an aggregate-risk-utility test,1 as apparently stated in section 291(1) of the first Restatement and section 291 of the Restatement Second: Where an act is one which a reasonable man would recognize as involving risk of harm to another, the risk is unreasonable and the act is negligent if the risk is of such magnitude as to outweigh what the law regards as the utility of the act or of the particular manner in which it is done.2 The aggregate-risk-utility test is often referred to as the “Hand formula”—a reference to Judge Learned Hand’s mathematical formulation of the test in his 1947 opinion in United States v. Carroll Towing Co.3 According to Hand’s formula, a person’s conduct is negligent if and only if the risk (P times L) created by the conduct is greater than its utility (B), where P is the probability of an injury
"Two for One", Novel Dual Left Anterior Descending Artery (LAD) Variant: Type XIII.

Dual left anterior descending artery (LAD) is a rare phenomenon that occurs in less than one percent of the population. To date, 12 variants have been identified. Proper identification of coronary vessels is crucial in emergent situations that require prompt action, such as percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We propose that our case highlights a novel 13th (type XIII) variant. We present the case of a 57-year-old African American woman with a past medical history of hypertension, glaucoma, cerebral vascular accident, dyslipidemia who presented to the ED complaining of atypical chest pain for one day duration. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm at 60 beats per minute (bpm), normal axis, normal intervals, no acute ischemic changes, and an isolated T wave inversion in DIII. Cardiac markers were within normal limits. The patient was started on aspirin 81mg, atorvastatin 40mg, and restarted on amlodipine 5mg. Echocardiography showed a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 65%, normal right ventricular size and systolic function, mild mitral valve regurgitation, and mild aortic regurgitation. Computed tomographic (CT) angiography showed a novel subtype of dual LAD, the left circumflex and right coronary arteries were patent. The patient was discharged once stabilized and advised to follow up with cardiology. Dual LAD describes a rare anatomic variant in which two coronary branches, known as short and long LAD arteries, supply the territory normally supplied by the solitary LAD artery. To date, 12 variants of dual LAD, classified by origin and course of the short and long LAD arteries, have been described in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, the current case describes a novel subtype of dual LAD, variant XIII. The LAD originates as usual from the left main coronary artery (LMCA) and initially runs in the anterior interventricular groove for a short course before bifurcating into two long LADs which both leave the interventricular groove and course out to the apex. One of the vessels courses laterally and the other courses medially of the interventricular groove. It is pertinent to identify the coronary vessels accurately before certain interventions are taken. Acknowledgement of this phenomenon can help guide accurate management in the future for patients with this condition.
Promoting enhanced ecosystem services from cover crops using intra- and interspecific diversity

Abstract Farmers are increasingly looking to cover crops to provide ecosystem services to support yields, while reducing off-farm inputs. Research evidence in both unmanaged and agricultural ecosystems suggests that increased plant diversity can improve ecosystem service outcomes. The use of diverse cover crops as a practice to increase ecosystem service delivery has potential, though knowledge gaps remain regarding the types and levels of diversity that are most effective, and how environment may impact the desired outcomes. Using six species of legumes (hairy vetch, field pea, crimson clover) and of grasses (cereal rye, common wheat, ryegrass) along with multiple cultivars of each, we conducted an annual field experiment repeated twice during the winter fallow season. We tested the effect of a gradient of diversity in intraspecific mixtures, interspecific mixtures, and functional group (grass and legume) mixtures. We measured aboveground biomass production, weed biomass, soil-derived and fixed nitrogen in the shoots, and the C/N ratio of the aboveground biomass to evaluate corresponding ecosystem services relating to C and N cycling and weed suppression. Species mixtures, especially those composed of both grasses and legumes tended to have the most significant ecosystem service benefits suggesting that functional diversity is more significant than species richness. Where soil nutrients were less available, the diversity effect tended to be stronger, though this was significant in only two instances. These results lend some support to the stress-gradient hypothesis in that in more stressful conditions the diversity benefit was greater. Diverse mixtures may not consistently produce substantial service improvements, but there is little risk, and they may be most useful in marginal or depleted field conditions.
Flexible Optimization and Evolution of Underwater Autonomous Agents

The “Ocean SAmpling MObile Network” (SAMON) Project is a simulation testbed for Web-based interaction among oceanographers and simulation based design of Ocean Sampling missions. In this paper, the current implementation of SAMON is presented, along with a formal model based on process algebra. Flexible optimization handles planning, mobility, evolution, and learning. A generic behavior message-passing language is developed for communication and knowledge representation among heterogeneous Autonomous Undersea Vehicles (AUV’s). The process algebra subsumed in this language expresses a generalized optimization framework that contains genetic algorithms, and neural networks as limiting cases.
Distortionless RF pulse width modulation

A method is presented to synthesize a switching signal which linearly encodes a complex-modulated RF signal to an RF carrier frequency. The switching distortion associated with this method is limited to high-pass components out of band. Consequently, the switching signal may be filtered after high efficiency amplification to produce the linear RF modulation. The method requires a switching frequency slightly higher than the highest frequency in the band of interest.
Practice of creativity techniques and processes in business settings

While creativity techniques and processes (CTP) are gaining popularity at work place, only a few have studied what CTPs are actually being used and in what context they are used. Furthermore, little is known about the factors influencing the usage of CTP. This study explores these topics by interviewing four professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in using CTPs in the business world. The commonly used CTPs are identified, with brainstorming being considered the most popular one. Three groups of factors influencing the usage of CTP are organizational context, willingness to use CTP and factors during the usage. The identified factors can be useful for business practices, while more research may be needed to confirm some suggested relationships between some factors and the effectiveness of CTP.
Supernova Ia Predicted without the Cosmological Constant

The current big-bang cosmological model requires re-introduction of Einstein's "regretted" old cosmological constant to fit the astronomical measurements of supernova Ia magnitude versus redshift. The physical basis of the cosmological constant and the resulting acceleration of the universe are not supported by any other physical evidence and some advise caution in rushing to its acceptance. An altogether new cosmological model with only one adjustable parameter, the present age of the universe, does provide an excellent prediction of the supernova measurements without the cosmological constant. With a minimum description of the new model, a full set of equations is presented here sufficient to calculate the peak effective magnitude of a type Ia supernova for an input value of redshift Z and age t0. A full description of the model, together with many more falsifiable predictions, are presented elsewhere.