cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cultural diversity and undergraduates’ academic library use

This study explores differences in the academic library use of Asian American, African American, Latino, Native American and White undergraduates. The results indicated that students of color reported more academic library use, while all undergraduates, regardless of ethnic group, who engaged in writing activities and read more non-assigned books also reported greater academic library use.
Mechanism of Water Oxidation Catalyzed by the μ-Oxo Dimer [(bpy)2(OH2)RuIIIORuIII(OH2)(bpy)2]4+

Ce(IV) oxidation of the ruthenium blue dimer leads to catalytic oxidation of water. Kinetic and spectroscopic studies have revealed evidence for RuVORuV as the active catalyst. Redox cycling occurs between RuIIIORuIII and RuVORuV via a complex sequence of coupled steps involving oxidations by Ce(IV) and second-order cross reactions of the dimer. The oxygen-evolving step is not rate determining in the catalytic cycle.
Plan B, reproductive rights, and physician activism.

In our current cultural climate, the right of women to obtain contraceptives is being called into question. Dr. Rebekah Gee writes that advocacy on behalf of patients is part of our mission as physicians.
Quantifying Customer Perception of Product Harmony Using Kansei Engineering Method

Vehicle interior harmony has drawn increasing attention from customers in recent years. Kansei Engineering is an effective approach to quantify customers' perception of harmony, and to correlate it to design parameters of the products. Herein, we investigated the customer perception of the visual aspects of commercial truck door interior design using classification methods. This article describes how these visual impressions are related to design elements using quantification theory, a commonly used method in Kansei Engineering. The results reveal that trim material, shape, color, window shape, and map pocket are design elements that strongly affect the perception of “elegance” and preferences of truck drivers. The results also showed a significant difference between the perception of the truck drivers and that of design engineers.
Acid pH tolerance in strains of Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium, and initial studies on the basis for acid tolerance of Rhizobium tropici UMR1899

Acid pH limits the persistence of Rhizobium strains in soil, and the nodulation and nitrogen fixation of legumes. To identify acid-tolerant strains, we tested the ability of 45 Rhizobium, Azorhizob...
Airway patency matters.

To the Editor, In their review of preoxygenation, Tanoubi et al. calculated that a preoxygenated adult patient has a pulmonary oxygen reserve that would last nine minutes should the patient become apneic. They base this calculation on estimates of available pulmonary oxygen reserves and oxygen consumption. Although the calculation is theoretically attractive because it illustrates the difference in oxygen reserves in non-preoxygenated and preoxygenated patients, we would argue that the calculation has little clinical relevance. What really matters under those circumstances is whether or not the upper airway is open. The principles of apneic oxygenation (well described 50 years ago) apply in a patient with an open airway. As long as oxygen is flushing over the airway, desaturation might not occur for 50 min or longer. Unfortunately, the nine-minute calculation is also misleading when the upper airway is not open, because the fact that oxygen causes resorption atelectasis is not taken into account. Functional residual capacity will decrease in a healthy adult patient by about 200 mL during the first minute after airway occlusion. Pulmonary shunting can then cause more rapid desaturation, even in patients who are well preoxygenated. Therefore, to take advantage of the principles of apneic oxygenation, it is important to maintain an open airway during induction and to retain an open airway during apnea while oxygen is dispersed over the patient’s face. Although Tanoubi et al. gave an otherwise good review of an interesting subject, we feel that clarifying these issues would have improved their article. Funding The authors have had no funding for the present work and have no association with any individuals or organization that could constitute a conflict of interest in relation to this submission.
Reliable computation of phase stability and equilibrium using interval methods

The reliable calculation of phase equilibrium is a critical issue in the simulation, optimisation and design of a wide variety of industrial processes, especially those involving separation operations such as distillation and extraction. However, even when accurate models of the necessary thermodynamic properties are available, it is often very difficult to actually solve the phase equilibrium problem reliably. In this paper, we will discuss a deterministic method, based on interval analysis, that provides a mathematical and computational guarantee that the phase equilibrium problem has been correctly solved. Recent results using such an approach are highlighted, and cases are considered in which published computational results are shown to be incorrect.
Bone Marrow Origin of Ia Molecules Purified from Epidermal Cells

Using radiation bone marrow chimeras, we have shown that Ia molecules purified from epidermal cell preparations of the mouse reflect the Ia phenotype of the bone marrow donor. This result strongly suggests that Ia molecules are synthesized by a bone-marrow-derived cell in epidermis. Furthermore, results of peptide map analysis of immunoprecipitated biosynthetically laveled Ia suggest that the Ia molecules found in skin are identical to those found B lymphocytes. These results support biochemical as well as serologic identity.
Multi-kW sheet beam amplifiers at Ka and W bands

NRL's unique sheet-beam electron gun, which produces a 3.5-4-A, 0.3 × 4 mm electron beam at ~20 kV, has been successfully used to power multi-kW amplifiers at both Ka and W bands. The 94-GHz narrow-band EIK uses a 3-cavity circuit to produce a peak output power of over 7.5 kW, with saturated gain of ~35 dB. The Ka-band amplifier uses a double staggered ladder coupled-cavity circuit to achieve a peak output power >10 kW at 34 GHz, with a 3-dB bandwidth of 5 GHz and saturated gain of ~15 dB. The performance of both amplifiers is in very good agreement with models and simulations.
Cloning and functional expression of two families of beta-subunits of the large conductance calcium-activated K+ channel.

We report here a characterization of two families of calcium-activated K+ channel β-subunits, β2 and β3, which are encoded by distinct genes that map to 3q26.2–27. A single β2 family member and four alternatively spliced variants of β3 were investigated. These subunits have predicted molecular masses of 27.1–31.6 kDa, share ∼30–44% amino acid identity with β1, and exhibit distinct but overlapping expression patterns. Coexpression of the β2 or β3a–c subunits with a BK α-subunit altered the functional properties of the current expressed by the α-subunit alone. The β2 subunit rapidly and completely inactivated the current and shifted the voltage dependence for activation to more polarized membrane potentials. In contrast, coexpression of the β3a–c subunits resulted in only partial inactivation of the current, and the β3b subunit conferred an apparent inward rectification. Furthermore, unlike the β1 and β2 subunits, none of the β3 subunits increased channel sensitivity to calcium or voltage. The tissue-specific expression of these β-subunits may allow for the assembly of a large number of distinct BK channels in vivo, contributing to the functional diversity of native BK currents.
Regulation of the Cold Sensor TRPM8 Channels

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 (TRPM8), channels are well established sensors of environmental cold temperatures. They can also activated by chemical agonist, such as menthol and icilin. Activation of these channels requires the presence of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P2]. This presentation will discuss the role this lipid plays in the regulation of TRPM8 channels upon cold and menthol activation.
Studies on the hydration of tricalcium silicate pastes II. Strength development and fracture characteristics

Abstract The fracture of hardened tricalcium silicate pastes has been studied using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The path of fracture changes with the age of the pastes. In young pastes, fracture passes primarily through high porosity C-S-H gel avoiding low porosity areas where calcium hydroxide has crystallized in the pores. In more mature pastes, this discrimination is lost as the matrix becomes more homogeneous. The different modes of fracture appear to have no significant influence on tensile strength, the tensile strength depends primarily on porosity and is proportional to the cube of Powers' gel-space ratio.
“We Are the Jasons, We Have Won the Fleece”: Antonio's Plot (and Shakespeare's) in The Merchant of Venice (What Really Happens in the Play)

This essay argues that the many allusions to the golden fleece motif in The Merchant of Venice provide us with the key to unlocking the meaning of its plot, one that Shakespeare has deliberately shrouded in mystery but at the same time has made available to us.
Image technologies and traditional culture

The thesis explored here is that ‘image technologies’ prominent in today's communications technologies are acidic to traditional cultures. I parallel examples from the history of early modern science and its optical instrumentation with the rise of cinema and television and other audio‐visual technologies to show a similar history and effect. One dominant contemporary phenomenon which occurs through image technologies is the appearance of pluriculture, a unique mediation of the multi‐cultural. The challenge of pluriculture vis‐a‐vis the contemporary forms of reaction to the phenomenon is also examined.
Transcriptional activation of the decidual/trophoblast prolactin-related protein gene.

The decidual/trophoblast PRL-related protein (d/tPRP) is dually expressed by decidual and trophoblast cells during pregnancy. We have characterized the proximal d/tPRP promoter responsible for directing d/tPRP expression in decidual and trophoblast cells. We have demonstrated that the proximal 93 bp of d/tPRP 5′-flanking DNA are sufficient to direct luciferase gene expression in primary decidual and Rcho-1 trophoblast cells, but not in fibroblast, undifferentiated uterine stromal cells or trophoblast cells of a labyrinthine lineage. The 93-bp d/tPRP promoter was also sufficient to direct differentiation-dependent expression in trophoblast giant cells. Mutational analysis demonstrated the differential importance of activating protein-1 and Ets regulatory elements (located within the proximal 93 bp of d/tPRP 5′-flanking DNA) for activation of the d/tPRP promoter in decidual vs. trophoblast cells. Disruption of the activating protein-1 regulatory element inhibited d/tPRP promoter activity by more than 95% in...
Clinical Findings and Resource Use of Infants and Toddlers Dependent on Oxygen and Ventilators

Medical records were reviewed to describe characteristics, report clinical and resource measures, and determine if differences exist between the diagnostic groups of prematurity and multiple congenital anomalies/neurologic conditions for initial admissions of 37 infants and toddlers to an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program. More than 75% of the children had a tracheostomy at admission and discharge. Forty-six percent of the sample was admitted requiring only oxygen, whereas 51% were discharged requiring only oxygen and not mechanical ventilation. Thirty percent of the children weaned to a less invasive mode of ventilation while just under half of the children were discharged home. Between-group comparisons indicated statistically significant differences for nutritional support at discharge (p < or = 0.05) and discharge disposition (p = 0.04). Complete weaning of oxygen or ventilator support during an initial inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation admission occurred less frequently than weaning to a less invasive mode of ventilation. This is an important consideration for referring children to rehabilitation programs, for clinical program improvement activities, and for setting realistic expectations for referral sources, patients and families, clinical staff, and payers. Further study is recommended using clinical data in program planning, in program improvements, and for setting outcome expectations for infants and toddlers dependent on pulmonary technology.
Post-manufacturing ECC customization based on Orthogonal Latin Square codes and its application to ultra-low power caches

The paper proposes the idea of implementing a general multi-bit error correcting code (ECC) based on Orthogonal Latin Square (OLS) Codes in on-chip hardware, but then selectively, on a chip-by-chip basis, using only a subset of the code's check bits (subset of the rows in its H-matrix) depending on the defect map for a particular chip. The defect map is obtained from a memory characterization test which identifies which cells are defective or marginal. The idea proposed here is that if a general t-bit error correcting code is implemented in hardware and requires c full =n−k check bits for k information bits, then once the defect map is known, the defective cells become erasures w.r.t. the ECC. This fact can be used to select only a subset of the n−k rows in the H-matrix which are sufficient to provide the desired error detection/correction capability in the presences of the known erasures. By selectively reducing the number of rows in the H-matrix, the number of check bits that are actually stored and used, c used , can be restricted and the corresponding unused ECC hardware disabled. This reduces the check bit storage requirements and hence frees up more of the cache for storing data and improving performance. This strategy is applied to the problem of providing reliable cache operation in ultra-low voltage modes, and results indicate that with the proposed post-manufacturing ECC customization, a fraction of the number of check bits are required compared to using a full OLS code for handling a particular defect rate.
Automatic testing of unmounted quantum cascade laser chips in an external cavity configuration

An automatic external-cavity laser system for efficient testing of unmounted quantum cascade laser (QCL) bars has been developed. QCLs emitting at 3.45μm and broadband gain media with ∼344 cm1 tunability at 4.4μm have been studied.
Evolutionary HMMs: a Bayesian approach to multiple alignment.

Motivation: We review proposed syntheses of probabilistic sequence alignment, profiling and phylogeny. We develop a multiple alignment algorithm for Bayesian inference in the links model proposed by Thorne et al. (1991, J. Mol. Evol., 33, 114‐124). The algorithm, described in detail in Section 3, samples from and/or maximizes the posterior distribution over multiple alignments for any number of DNA or protein sequences, conditioned on a phylogenetic tree. The individual sampling and maximization steps of the algorithm require no more computational resources than pairwise alignment. Methods: We present a software implementation (Handel) of our algorithm and report test results on (i) simulated data sets and (ii) the structurally informed protein alignments of BAliBASE (Thompson et al., 1999, Nucleic Acids Res., 27, 2682‐2690). Results: We find that the mean sum-of-pairs score (a measure of residue-pair correspondence) for the BAliBASE alignments is only 13% lower for Handel than for CLUSTALW (Thompson et al., 1994, Nucleic Acids Res., 22, 4673‐4680), despite the relative simplicity of the links model (CLUSTALW uses affine gap scores and increased penalties for indels in hydrophobic regions). With reference to these benchmarks, we discuss potential improvements to the links model and implications for Bayesian multiple alignment and phylogenetic profiling. Availability: The source code to Handel is freely distributed on the Internet at http://www.biowiki.org/Handel under the terms of the GNU Public License (GPL, 2000,
Speaking to Read: Meta-Analysis of Peer-Mediated Learning for English Language Learners.

This meta-analysis examines the effectiveness of a group of instructional approaches (i.e., cooperative, collaborative, and peer tutoring) at improving literacy outcomes for English language learners. Main effects analyses of a sample of 28 experimental and quasi-experimental studies reveal that peer-mediation is more effective for ELLs than individualized or teacher-centered comparison conditions (g=.486, SE=.121, p<.001). A number of potential moderators were examined, and two study quality variables proved significant. Also, grade level was a significant moderator, with middle school students demonstrating much smaller gains than elementary or high school students. Finally, descriptive analysis of moderators provides tentative evidence that ELLs showed greater gains on word-level outcomes than text-level outcomes and that interventions for which peer-mediation was one of several tightly-woven components were twice as effective as interventions utilizing peer-mediation alone.
Cycloheximide-induced activation of mouse eggs: effects on cdc2/cyclin B and MAP kinase activities.

Fertilization of metaphase II-arrested mouse eggs results in resumption of meiosis and a decrease in both cdc2/cyclin B kinase and MAP kinase activities; the decrease in cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity precedes the decrease in MAP kinase activity. Cycloheximide treatment of metaphase II-arrested mouse eggs also results in resumption of meiosis but bypasses the fertilization-induced Ca2+ transient. However, it is not known if cycloheximide treatment results in the same temporal changes in cdc2/cyclin B kinase and MAP kinase activities that are intimately associated with resumption of meiosis. We report that cycloheximide-treated mouse eggs manifest similar temporal changes in the decrease in both cdc2/cyclin B kinase and MAP kinase activities that occur following fertilization, although cortical granule exocytosis is not stimulated. The decrease in cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity, however, does not seem to be required for the decrease in MAP kinase activity, since the decrease in MAP kinase activity still occurs in cycloheximide-treated eggs that are also incubated in the presence of nocodazole, which inhibits cyclin B degradation and hence the decrease in cdc2/cyclin B kinase. Following removal of these drugs, cdc2/cyclin B kinase activity remains high, MAP kinase activity increases to levels similar to that in the metaphase II-arrested eggs, and a spindle(s) forms with the chromosomes aligned on a metaphase plate. Results of these experiments suggest that some other protein with a relatively short half-life, e.g. cmos, a known upstream activator of MAP kinase, may be responsible for events leading to the decrease in MAP kinase activity.
Surface Mining and Reclamation Effects on Flood Response of Watersheds in the Central Appalachian Plateau Region

Surface mining of coal and subsequent reclamation represent the dominant land use change in the central Appalachian Plateau (CAP) region of the United States. Hydrologic impacts of surface mining have been studied at the plot scale, but effects at broader scales have not been explored adequately. Broad-scale classification of reclaimed sites is difficult because standing vegetation makes them nearly indistinguishable from alternate land uses. We used a land cover data set that accurately maps surface mines for a 187-km2 watershed within the CAP. These land cover data, as well as plot-level data from within the watershed, are used with HSPF (Hydrologic Simulation Program-Fortran) to estimate changes in flood response as a function of increased mining. Results show that the rate at which flood magnitude increases due to increased mining is linear, with greater rates observed for less frequent return intervals. These findings indicate that mine reclamation leaves the landscape in a condition more similar to urban areas rather than does simple deforestation, and call into question the effectiveness of reclamation in terms of returning mined areas to the hydrological state that existed before mining.
Switchover control strategies for improving performance of refrigeration systems under off-design conditions

A typical 3-ton vapor compression refrigeration system using R-22 as the refrigerant is addressed. Two models are developed: a design model and a hierarchical control model. The design model is operated to observe the response of a typical system under various off-design operating conditions. In lieu of laboratory experiments, the normalized responses from the design model (normalized with respect to the design conditions) are compared to the normalized values based on the experimental data reported in the literature. This is done to validate the design model to the extent possible, limited by the reported experimental data in the literature. From this design model a hierarchical control model is developed, in which different control techniques for system capacity regulation and for operation over a range of ambient temperature are employed. By varying corresponding control parameters in each technique, information is developed regarding the refrigerant conditions within the system and system performance under different operating conditions. From the results of these simulations, hierarchical or switchover control strategy for an integrated refrigeration system is postulated to achieve the specific operational requirements with the highest feasible system efficiency over a wide range of off-design operating conditions. A similar approach can be used to postulate different hierarchical control based on other performance measures and considerations.
Simulation of a green wafer fab featuring solar photovoltaic technology and storage system

A semiconductor wafer fab requires a significant amount of energy to maintain its daily operations. Solar photovoltaics (PV) is a clean and renewable technology that can be potentially used to power large wafer fabs. There exist some critical factors slowing the proliferation of facilities powered by PVs, including high capital costs and power output intermittency. This study investigates the reliability and the costs of operating a PV-based distributed generation (DG) system to generate renewable energy for wafer fabs. In addition to PVs, the DG system also features storage devices and a net metering function. We developed a simulation model to mimic the PV generation and load variability. The goal is to design a reliable and cost-effective PV-based DG system to mitigate carbon emissions. Two case studies are presented in this paper to demonstrate the performance of the proposed DG system for fabs located in Austin Texas, USA, and Dresden, Germany.
The Utility of Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) Derived Strain for the Detection of Acute Rejection after Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Purpose Endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) remains the gold standard for detection of rejection in pediatric heart transplant patients. Our aim was to determine if STE derived strain data can provide an alternative, non-invasive method of assessment for acute rejection. Methods and Materials We prospectively enrolled consecutive patients 2R. STE derived strain values were compared between patients with acute rejection to those without evidence of rejection. Results 80 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 11.7 years (0.8 - 21) and 39% female pts, 17 patients were figure 1 ). Conclusions Global longitudinal and circumferential strain as determined by STE, may provide a novel and non-invasive method of detecting acute rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients.
A critical analysis of BCG in the prevention of tuberculosis.

1) In spite of the present wave of enthusiasm over the use of B. C. G. in the prophylaxis of tuberculosis, the subject is still controversial. 2) The loss of virulence of the bovine tubercle organisms in B. C. G. is complete and permanent and the use of the vaccine in human beings is entirely safe. 3) Although many favorable reports have been published on the efficacy of B. C. G. vaccine these studies, with very few exceptions, have been poorly controlled. 4) A critical analysis is made of studies on B. C. G. reported from New York City, Chicago and from various Indian reservations. 5) The degree of immunity as well as the duration of the immunity conferred by B. C. G. has not as yet been determined. 6) The use of common antituberculous methods has been so successful in the United States that the need for a prophylactic agent such as B. C. G., is less acute than in countries lacking adequate antituberculosis facilities. 7) Before the use of B. C. G. vaccine can be accepted as a general public health measure, considerable knowledge is still necessary. 8) The B. C. G. vaccine can in no way be offered as a substitute for other antituberculosis methods so successfully used in this country. At best, it may be offered as a supplement to already existing control measures in the United States.
Saving Motives And 401(k) Contributions

This paper investigated worker motives for 401(k) contributions with data from the 1995 Survey of Consumer Finances. Employer matching and the ability to withdraw or borrow from the plan were related to greater contributions. In addition, risk tolerance, labor income, and years of working for the current employer were positively related to contributions.
Genetic interactions with CLF1 identify additional pre-mRNA splicing factors and a link between activators of yeast vesicular transport and splicing.

Clf1 is a conserved spliceosome assembly factor composed predominately of TPR repeats. Here we show that the TPR elements are not functionally equivalent, with the amino terminus of Clf1 being especially sensitive to change. Deletion and add-back experiments reveal that the splicing defect associated with TPR removal results from the loss of TPR-specific sequence information. Twelve mutants were found that show synthetic growth defects when combined with an allele that lacks TPR2 ( i.e., clf1 Δ 2 ). The identified genes encode the Mud2, Ntc20, Prp16, Prp17, Prp19, Prp22, and Syf2 splicing factors and four proteins without established contribution to splicing (Bud13, Cet1, Cwc2, and Rds3). Each s ynthetic l ethal with clf1 Δ 2 ( slc ) mutant is splicing defective in a wild-type CLF1 background. In addition to the splicing factors, SSD1, BTS1 , and BET4 were identified as dosage suppressors of clf1 Δ 2 or selected slc mutants. These results support Clf1 function through multiple stages of the spliceosome cycle, identify additional genes that promote cellular mRNA maturation, and reveal a link between Rab/Ras GTPase activation and the process of pre-mRNA splicing.
Specialty Hospitals: A Problem Or A Symptom?

The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) of 2003 imposed a moratorium on new physician-owned specialty hospitals, which expired in June 2005. Recent administrative decisions have effectively extended the moratorium as it applies to Medicare payment, and the debate continues over whether specialty hospitals are good, bad, or indifferent. This paper reviews the findings in two congressionally mandated reports on specialty hospitals, the services they provide, and their impact on their patients and communities. These findings are used to highlight the major policy issues to be addressed—issues that go beyond whether specialty hospitals should be allowed.
High speed microfluidic doublet flow in open pools driven by non-contact micromachined thermal sources

We report a phenomenon in which a micromachined heat source placed less than 50 /spl mu/m above the surface of a liquid drives a high-speed doublet flow pattern with linear velocities reaching nearly 5 mm/sec and rotational velocities up to 1200 rpm. Tests were performed on a 50-100 /spl mu/m-thick layer of water containing 3 /spl mu/m polystyrene beads for flow visualization. The thermal source is a polyimide cantilever with an integrated heater near the tip, operated with input powers ranging from 0-32 mW. It has no moving parts and does not contact the liquid. The speed of the doublet flow scales with input power as well as liquid temperature, and is inversely related to the air gap between the heater and liquid surface. The orientation of the doublet flow can be reversed by changing the angle of the cantilever. A one-dimensional array of probes used in the same manner generates a linear flow pattern.
High influenza vaccination coverage in children with high-risk conditions during a vaccine shortage.

Objective To assess whether pediatric practices with a system to identify and recall children with high-risk conditions (HRCs) could maintain high influenza vaccination coverage levels among these children during a vaccine shortage year. Design Observational study using data from a computerized billing database and an electronic immunization information system. Setting Four Denver pediatric practices during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 influenza seasons. Participants Children aged 24 to 72 months with and without HRCs. Main Exposure The vaccine shortage of the 2004-2005 influenza season. Main Outcome Measures Proportion of children with and without HRCs who were immunized and the timing of influenza immunization in nonshortage (2003-2004) and shortage (2004-2005) seasons. Results In the 2003-2004 season, 770 of 1166 children with HRCs (66.0%) were immunized and, in the 2004-2005 season, 656 of 1053 (62.3%) were immunized. Although vaccination coverage did not significantly decrease for children with HRCs during the 2004-2005 season ( P = .07), coverage for healthy children decreased from 43.8% (4435/10 117) to 29.5% (3066/10 387) ( P Conclusion Pediatric practices with a system to identify and recall children with HRCs can target these children for receipt of the influenza vaccine and maintain high vaccination coverage, despite a vaccine shortage that may result in decreased vaccine coverage in healthy children.
Modern Management of Mitral Stenosis

Although once rheumatic fever and its consequences were the major cause of valvular heart disease in the developed world, this disease has become exceedingly rare today. As a consequence, mitral stenosis (MS), which is usually caused by rheumatic fever, has also become rare. In fact, MS is most commonly found in the United States in patients who have emigrated here from areas where rheumatic fever is still endemic. Nonetheless, ≈1500 balloon mitral valvotomies (BMVs) were performed in the United States last year, which provides a rough index of severe disease prevalence. The following is a review of the current understanding and management of this disease. Although the attack rate for rheumatic fever is roughly equal among genders, MS is 2 to 3 times more common in women. It is generally believed that the M protein antigen held in common between the heart and group A hemolytic Streptococcus results in an autoimmune attack of the heart in response to streptococcal infection.1–3 What factors cause susceptibility to the illness remain unclear. Likewise, factors responsible for the decline in MS incidence in developed countries are also obscure. Although the decline may be due in part to the introduction of antibiotics, a fall in the attack rate of rheumatic fever began well before antibiotics were widely available.4 Once begun, the rheumatic process leads to inflammation in all 3 layers of the heart: endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. However, the disease primarily affects the endocardium, leading to inflammation and scarring of the cardiac valves. Although the process is punctuated by acute episodes of rheumatic fever, chronic inflammation and scarring continue well after the last attack, leading to severe valve damage years later. The mechanism of this chronic process is debatable and is thought to be due either to a continuing low-grade rheumatic process or …
Building a Vocabulary Througb Academic Reading

This paper reports a series of longitudinal case studies designed to address the question of how language learners build their vocabularies. Students who were enrolled in an anthropology class were asked to record the words that caused them difficulty as they read their anthropology texts, and to write down, if they could, what they thought the words meant. The resulting lists are analyzed in terms of the kinds of words listed, the accuracy of the glosses, and the probable reasons for misinterpretation; the analysis is considered in relation to data collected in protocols and a translation task. The conclusions are that a range of strategies may be used for learning vocabulary, each involving liabilities as well as assets. Students need to be aware of the range so as to develop flexibility in their responses to unfamiliar words.
Estimating biomass of individual pine trees using airborne lidar

Airborne lidar (Light Detection And Ranging) is a proven technology that can be used to accurately assess aboveground forest biomass and bio-energy feedstocks. The overall goal of this study was to develop a method for assessing aboveground biomass and component biomass for individual trees using airborne lidar data in forest settings typical for loblolly pine stands (Pinus taeda L.) in the southeastern United States. More specific objectives included: (1) assessing the accuracy of estimating diameter at breast height (dbh) for individual pine trees using lidar-derived individual tree measurements, such as tree height and crown diameter, and (2) investigating the use of lidar-derived individual tree measurements with linear and nonlinear regression to estimate per tree aboveground biomass. In addition, the study presents a method for estimating the biomass of individual tree components, such as foliage, coarse roots, stem bark, and stem wood, as derived quantities from the aboveground biomass prediction. A lidar software application, TreeVaW, was used to extract forest inventory parameters at individual tree level from a lidar-derived canopy height model. Lidar-measured parameters at individual tree level, such as height and crown diameter, were used with regression models to estimate dbh, aboveground tree biomass, and tree-component biomass. Field measurements were collected for 45 loblolly pine trees over 0.1- and 0.01-acre plots. Linear regression models were able to explain 93% of the variability associated with individual tree biomass, 90% for dbh, and 79–80% for components biomass.
Lessons from Mediators' Stories

This article is part of a symposium discussing the book, Stories Mediators Tell, edited by Eric Galton and Lela Love. The book consists of accounts of 31 actual mediations, followed by reflections of each mediator-author. Some of the chapters tell of extraordinary cases and others are more routine. The mediators’ stories are full of parables not only for mediators but also for lawyers and other dispute resolution professionals. This article highlights three related lessons illustrated by the mediators’ stories. First, parties often have important interests in addition to maximizing their financial results. Professionals who assume that cases are “only about the money” may not serve their clients as well as they should. A second, related, lesson is that it is very important for professionals to listen effectively. Many professionals listen poorly because of professional habits and assumptions that they need to know only legally-relevant facts, which are similar to facts in other cases that they have handled. This obviously can lead to missed opportunities to advance clients’ interests and incompetent service. Third, the lawyer’s role can help clients but can also interfere with good service. Lawyers provide valuable services by helping clients understand the legal system and diligently advocating their interests. Lawyers’ roles as advocates can, however, undermine their work for their clients if they over-identify with their clients or develop personal antagonisms with the counterpart lawyers. Thinking like a lawyer can help lawyers solve clients’ problems but also can blind lawyers to options satisfying their clients’ interests. The lessons in this essay are familiar to dispute resolution professionals who have reflected on their work. Even so, these stories provide important insights that are worth repeating, especially because many lawyers and mediators feel pressures to routinize their work. With a continuing focus on providing high-quality service, dispute resolution professionals can be creative in satisfying clients’ most important interests and gain great professional gratification. This short article may be a useful reading assignment for various law school courses.
Extreme Magnesium Isotope Fractionation at Outcrop Scale Records the Mechanism and Rate at which Reaction Fronts Advance

Isotopic fractionation of cationic species during diffusive transport provides a novel means of constraining the style and timing of metamorphic transformations. Here we document a major (∼1‰) decrease in the Mg isotopic composition of the reaction front of an exhumed contact between rocks of subducted crust and serpentinite in the Syros melange zone. This isotopic perturbation extends over a notable length scale (∼1 m), implicating diffusion of Mg through an intergranular fluid network over a period of ∼100 kyr. These novel observations confirm models of diffusion-controlled growth of reaction zones formed between rocks of contrasting compositions, such as found at the slab–mantle interface in subduction zones. The results also demonstrate that diffusive processes can result in exotic stable isotope compositions of major elements with implications for mantle xenoliths and complex intrusions.
Urothelial carcinoma versus squamous cell carcinoma of bladder: is survival different with stage adjustment?

Objectives To determine whether the survival of patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is different from that of patients with urothelial carcinoma, after adjusting for stage, grade, demographic factors, and the initial treatment. Methods Information on bladder cancer cases diagnosed from 1988 to 2003 was obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. The tumors were classified by histologic type, grade, and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage. Other covariates included age, sex, race, and information on the initial treatment (cystectomy and radiotherapy). The outcome variables examined were all-cause and bladder cancer-specific mortality within 2 years of diagnosis. Covariate-adjusted mortality differences were computed within each stage using the modified least squares model. Results SCC histologic features were an independent predictor of all-cause and bladder cancer-specific mortality among patients with AJCC Stage I and II tumors who did not undergo cystectomy as a part of their initial treatment and among patients with AJCC Stage III and IV regardless of whether cystectomy was performed. SCC histologic features were not associated with increased mortality among patients with AJCC Stage I and II tumors treated with cystectomy. Conclusions SCC appears to be more aggressive than urothelial carcinoma after adjusting for stage and other prognostic factors, except for cases in which the tumor was confined to the bladder wall and the bladder was removed as a part of the initial treatment.
Weight-value convergence of the SOM algorithm for discrete input

Some insights on the convergence of the weight values of the self-organizing map (SOM) to a stationary state in the case of discrete input are provided. The convergence result is obtained by applying the Robbins-Monro algorithm and is applicable to input-output maps of any dimension.
Generation of periodic signatures at Saturn through Titan's interaction with the centrifugal interchange instability

[1] The origin of the periodicities in the radio, plasma, and magnetic fields of Saturn has long been debated. Given the high degree of alignment of Saturn's dipole with its rotation axis, no strong rotational periodicities are expected. However, Cassini data demonstrated the existence of such periodicities not only in Saturn's kilometric radio emissions (SKR) but in the plasma and magnetic field signatures. It is shown that the development of the centrifugal interchange instability that originates from mass loading from the Enceladus torus contains information about the planetary rotation period. However, the planetary period is masked by high-frequency components of the instability. The presence of Titan is shown to damp the high-frequency components and enables the fundamental frequency near the planetary rotation frequency to grow at the expense of the high-frequency components. As a result, the interchange instability is seen to change from one where five to seven large interchange fingers dominate to one where there are about three which cause the modulation of magnetospheric parameters near the planetary period. This modulation includes the movement of the magnetopause, the injection of energetic particles into the inner magnetosphere and the plasma density at high latitudes, both of which control SKR. Controlling factors on the frequency include Titan's drag on the plasma sheet which produces asymmetries between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, solar wind conditions, and the density of the Enceladus plasma torus. The resultant magnetic perturbations are shown to have similar size and frequency as that seen in Cassini data.
Reliable Ticket Routing in Expert Networks

Problem ticket resolution is an important aspect of the delivery of IT services. A large service provider needs to handle, on a daily basis, thousands of tickets that report various types of problems. Many of those tickets bounce among multiple expert groups before being transferred to the group with the expertise to solve the problem. Finding a methodology that can automatically make reliable ticket routing decisions and that reduces such bouncing and, hence, shortens ticket resolution time is a long-standing challenge. Reliable ticket routing forwards the ticket to an expert who either can solve the problem reported in the ticket, or can reach an expert who can resolve the ticket. In this chapter, we present a unified generative model, the Optimized Network Model (ONM), that characterizes the lifecycle of a ticket, using both the content and the routing sequence of the ticket. ONM uses maximum likelihood estimation to capture reliable ticket transfer profiles on each edge of an expert network. These transfer profiles reflect how the information contained in a ticket is used by human experts to make ticket routing decisions. Based on ONM, we develop a probabilistic algorithm to generate reliable ticket routing recommendations for new tickets in a network of expert groups. Our algorithm calculates all possible routes to potential resolvers and makes globally optimal recommendations, in contrast to existing classification methods that make static and locally optimal.
Water, water everywhere: Charting new courses for architectural history

Too often the basic framework upon which historians hang the facts of architecture’s past is constructed from presumptions that the only historic events of any consequence are those based on terra firma because that is where foundations must necessarily come to rest. Occasionally, we need to up end the usual exposition of contextual historical circumstances in order to chart new courses for our explorations of architecture worldwide. Michael Shenefelt’s seafaring proposition, proffered as a template by which to explore the ebb and flow of any number of historical forces, can challenge the tyranny of Western architectural canon as well as doctrines of Western cultural hegemony. Ultimately, it can undermine those obdurately insoluble formulations that have typically imparted historical narratives as separately cloven chapters of different global building traditions clumsily butted together in reputedly comprehensive texts. The integration of non-Western traditions in traditionally Eurocentric courses has always been problematic; but, with Shenefelt’s approach as a springboard, this paper models an alternative didactic strategy that leaves deeply-rooted principles of historical taxonomy behind, embarking instead on a more fluid exposition of how the legacies of several cultures are rendered more coherent if studied as a great confluence of cross-cultural currents that overlap each other in one boundless yet tentacled sea. The particular case study outlined here demonstrates how the historical dominion given to Atlantic trade is subsumed within a universal global impulse to sail the “Seven Seas” –evidenced in particular by the far-flung voyages, from Africa to Indonesia, of Ming dynasty sailors. However, in a larger sense, tales of Chinese nautical enterprises grant students permission to fathom, to think critically about the interconnectedness of other-worldly cultures – yesterday and today. These new yarns reorient the magnifications of storied European adventures through different lenses thereby correcting (mis)perceptions of supposed Western only“ages of discovery” or cultural superiority.
Energy Budget of Cecropia Moths, Platysamia cecropia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae), Fed Lilac Leaves

Energy and mass budgets of the form, I = G + M + E (I = ingestion, G = growth, M = maintenance, E = egestion), for the Cecropia moth, Platysamia cecropia (L.), were evaluated over its life cycle. Mean values for mass budget during larval development were: I = 16.0, M = 2.9, G = 2.6, and E = 10.5 grams dry weight; and for the energy budget: I = 71.1, M = 11.9, G = 14.6, and E = 44.6 kcal. Efficiencies based on energy utilization were: gross efficiency of growth (100G/I) = 20.4%; and net efficiency of growth (100G/(I-E)) = 54.9%. Energy equivalents of larval tissue increased during development from 4.8 kcal g−1 to 5.7 kcal g−1. Dry weight caloric content of leaves fed increased during the sampling periods (May 20 to July 7) in both 1967 and 1968; however, there was no difference in ash-free energy equivalents (5.2 to 5.0 kcal g−1, ash-free). Energy equivalents of fecal material decreased rapidly as the larvae matured. Feces from 1967 had a greater energy content than in 1968; however, there was no difference when expressed as ash-free caloric equivalents (4.95 to 5.15 kcal g−1 ash-free). Cocoon material had a caloric content of 4.87 kcal g−1. Energy equivalents of spent adults was 6.25 kcal g−1 and 25% of their dry weight was lipid.
Marital quality and loneliness in later life A dyadic analysis of older married couples in Ireland

Loneliness is not merely an unpleasant experience but is harmful for older adults’ health and well-being as well. While marriage buffers against loneliness in later life, even married adults experience loneliness, and aspects of adults’ marriages may either protect against or actually foster loneliness among spouses. The current study analyzed dyadic data from 1,114 opposite-sex married Irish couples who participated in the initial wave of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (2009–2011) in order to extend findings of two prior dyadic studies of marital quality and loneliness in the U.S. to older married couples in Ireland and to directly compare two theoretical and methodological frameworks used by these studies to explain associations between husbands’ and wives’ reports of marital quality and loneliness in later life. Results revealed that both spouses’ perceptions of positive and negative marital quality were significantly related with husbands’ and wives’ loneliness and that spouses’ reports of lon...