cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Aspects of the evolution of Nicotiana tabacum L. and the status of the United States Nicotiana Germplasm Collection

The genus Nicotiana is a member of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family, and is comprised of 70 currently recognized, naturally occurring species. Genetic variability within N. tabacum L., the species of primary economic importance, was likely affected by several genetic bottlenecks. Nicotiana tabacum is a classic amphidiploid that arose after chance interspecific hybridization between N. sylvestris Spegazinni et Comes and a member of section Tomentosae, likely N. tomentosiformis Goodspeed, N. otophora Grisebach, or an introgressive hybrid between the two. Only a fraction of the genetic variability that existed in the diploid progenitor gene pools probably entered into N. tabacum. Genetic drift, coupled with natural and human selection, subsequently resulted in the formation of narrow genetic pools corresponding to modern commercial market classes. Genetic variability in Nicotiana has gained increased attention in recent years because of investment in Nicotiana genomics research, interest in development of tobacco products with reduced harm characteristics, and concentration on using Nicotiana species for plant-based production of commercially useful proteins. A storehouse of genetic diversity for N. tabacum is available in approximately 1,900 accessions maintained by the United States Nicotiana Germplasm Collection. Seeds of 224 accessions representing 59 wild Nicotiana species are also maintained. The collection is currently maintained by North Carolina State University and is part of the United States National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS). The collection’s curator satisfies hundreds of seed requests made annually by scientists using Nicotiana germplasm for basic biological investigations and by researchers in the area of applied tobacco science.
"I know I'll get an A": Confident overestimation of final course grades

(1994). 'I know I'll get an A': Confident overestimation of final course grades. Teaching of Psychology: Vol. 21, No. 3, pp. 141-143.
Corporate wireless LAN security: threats and an effective security assessment framework for wireless information assurance

In this paper, we propose the necessary steps in implementing strong WLAN security for companies using our visual security assessment framework for wireless information assurance. Through real case studies on the organisations with various security measures and by showing complete execution paths of our framework, we suggest the importance of continual assessment of the WLAN for strong corporate security assurance using our Corporate WLAN Security Assessment Framework.
Perception of Nonverbal Cues in Dialogic Listening in an Intercultural Interview

Abstract Cultural diversity necessitates becoming effective in listening as well as speaking interculturally. This paper reports results of a student project in university intercultural communication classes which involved students engaging in interviews with persons from other cultures. The focus of the interviews was two-fold. The participants were to seek out information from each other about their cultures and how they communicate in their respective cultures. The findings reveal variations in the perceptions of different nonverbal cues (voice, space, eye behavior, facial expressions, and hand gestures).
Sporadic Fatal Insomnia in an Adolescent

The occurrence of sporadic prion disease among adolescents is extremely rare. A prion disease was confirmed in an adolescent with disease onset at 13 years of age. Genetic, neuropathologic, and biochemical analyses of the patient’s autopsy brain tissue were consistent with sporadic fatal insomnia, a type of sporadic prion disease. There was no evidence of an environmental source of infection, and this patient represents the youngest documented case of sporadic prion disease. Although rare, a prion disease diagnosis should not be discounted in adolescents exhibiting neurologic signs. Brain tissue testing is necessary for disease confirmation and is particularly beneficial in cases with an unusual clinical presentation.
Novel Nucleoside Analogues with Fluorophores Replacing the DNA Base.

We describe the preparation and fluorescence properties of a set of new nucleosides in which a known hydrocarbon or oligothiophene fluorophore replaces the DNA base at C(1) of the deoxyribose moiety (see 3a – f). These compounds are potentially useful as probes in the study of the structure and dynamics of nucleic acids and their complexes with proteins. In addition, they may find use as fluorescent labels for nucleic-acid-based biomedical diagnostics methods. The fluorophores conjugated to deoxyribose at C(1) in the α-d-form include terphenyl, stilbene, terthiophene, benzoterthiophene, and pyrene. Also included is a non-fluorescent spacer in which cyclohexene replaces the DNA base. The nucleosides are derived from brominated fluorophore precursors and Hoffer’s 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-(p-toluoyl)-d-ribofuranosyl chloride. The emission maxima of the free nucleosides range from 345 to 536 nm. Also described are the 5′-(dimethoxytrityl) 3′-O-phosphoramidite derivatives 5a – f, suitable for incorporation into oligonucleotides by automated synthesizers.
Electric-Field Effects on Optical Absorption near Thresholds in Solids

The weak-field effective-mass-approximation calculations of the absorption coefficient in the presence of an electric field for direct and indirect transitions at a normal (${M}_{0}$) threshold are extended to an arbitrary orientation of the electric field in an anisotropic solid. To do this, a systematic method of evaluating density-of-states integrals arising in the electroabsorption or Franz-Keldysh effect is presented. Certain integrals obtained in prior calculations at the ${M}_{0}$ threshold which have not been previously evaluated are given in closed form. This method is also used to derive the change in absorption coefficient, $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}(\mathcal{E})$, occuring at the saddle-point edges ${M}_{1}$ and ${M}_{2}$, as well as the edge ${M}_{3}$, for an arbitrary field direction in an anisotropic solid. It is shown that there is a direct correlation between $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}(\mathcal{E})$ for the ${M}_{0}$ and ${M}_{3}$ edges, and also for the ${M}_{1}$ and ${M}_{2}$ thresholds. Reduced masses of opposite signs, as in the ${M}_{1}$ and ${M}_{2}$ edges, give rise to two branches in $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\alpha}(\mathcal{E})$.
Malic dehydrogenases in corn root tips.

Abstract Three malic dehydrogenase isozymes isolated from 2.5-day-old corn root tips were separated by anion-exchange column chromatography. By pH-dependent properties and electrophoretic mobility, the two dominant isozymes were shown to correspond to a soluble-malic dehydrogenase and a mitochondrial-malic dehydrogenase. The soluble form differed from the mitochondrial form by showing greater oxaloacetate substrate inhibition at low pH and less at high pH. The soluble enzyme was more active than the mitochondrial enzyme with the nucleotide analog, thionicotinamideadenine dinucleotide. Oxaloacetate Michaelis constants for both isozymes increased with pH with a definite change in slope at about pH 8.0. At high pH, the Michaelis constant for the soluble isozyme was larger than that for the mitochondrial isozyme. Gel filtration indicated that the molecular weights of the two major isozymes were approximately equal and equal to pig heart mitochondrial-malic dehydrogenase. A second mitochondrial isozyme appeared to be twice as large as the other two. In its properties, the second mitochondrial form appeared to correspond to the major mitochondrial isozyme. It is considered very significant that the properties of corn root soluble- and mitochondrial-malic dehydrogenase are similar to avian and mammalian forms.
Escape from X inactivation varies in mouse tissues.

X chromosome inactivation (XCI) silences most genes on one X chromosome in female mammals, but some genes escape XCI. To identify escape genes in vivo and to explore molecular mechanisms that regulate this process we analyzed the allele-specific expression and chromatin structure of X-linked genes in mouse tissues and cells with skewed XCI and distinguishable alleles based on single nucleotide polymorphisms. Using a binomial model to assess allelic expression, we demonstrate a continuum between complete silencing and expression from the inactive X (Xi). The validity of the RNA-seq approach was verified using RT-PCR with species-specific primers or Sanger sequencing. Both common escape genes and genes with significant differences in XCI status between tissues were identified. Such genes may be candidates for tissue-specific sex differences. Overall, few genes (3–7%) escape XCI in any of the mouse tissues examined, suggesting stringent silencing and escape controls. In contrast, an in vitro system represented by the embryonic-kidney-derived Patski cell line showed a higher density of escape genes (21%), representing both kidney-specific escape genes and cell-line specific escape genes. Allele-specific RNA polymerase II occupancy and DNase I hypersensitivity at the promoter of genes on the Xi correlated well with levels of escape, consistent with an open chromatin structure at escape genes. Allele-specific CTCF binding on the Xi clustered at escape genes and was denser in brain compared to the Patski cell line, possibly contributing to a more compartmentalized structure of the Xi and fewer escape genes in brain compared to the cell line where larger domains of escape were observed.
On the selection of constitutive laws used in modeling friction stir welding

Abstract Discrepancies in friction stir welding model predictions for temperature, strain, and strain rate may be due to material, process parameters, boundary conditions, heat transfer properties, or constitutive laws. The focus of this work is to investigate the effect of the constitutive law on friction stir welding model predictions. This paper provides a description of constitutive laws with their uses and limitations to facilitate the selection of an appropriate constitutive law for a given modeling objective. None of the path-independent constitutive laws evaluated in this paper has been validated over the full range of strain, strain rate, and temperature in friction stir welding. Holding all parameters other than constitutive law constant in a friction stir weld model for AA 5083 resulted in temperature differences of up to 21%. Varying locations for maximum temperature difference indicate that the constitutive laws resulted in different temperature profiles. Peak strains and strain rates predicted vary by up to 130% and 166%, respectively. Predicted flow stress profiles are also affected by the choice of constitutive law.
I’m not sexist!!! Cognitive dissonance and the differing cries of mixed- and strong-handers

Abstract Previous research shows that mixed-handers more readily update their beliefs than strong-handers. A direct consequence of this updating is that one might overreact when facing two contradictory beliefs (e.g. a non-sexist person is labeled sexist), thus exhibiting more cognitive dissonance. To test this, 114 undergraduates completed a personality test that generated fake attribute scores. Scores were identical for all participants except for level of sexism. Some were told they were low, while others were told they were high on sexism. Participants were then given an unrelated task requiring them to adjudicate a sexual discrimination lawsuit wherein a woman had been passed over for a man in a university hiring decision. Results indicated that, as predicted, mixed-handers showed larger differences across sexism conditions than strong-handers, and were the only group when labeled sexist to view the university as less justified in their hiring decision, the woman as more justified for bringing the lawsuit, and the woman as more deserving of a larger award. Strong-handers either showed no effect or the opposite effect across the three dependent variables. A theory centered around interhemispheric interaction and one’s (in)ability to maintain incongruent cognitive representations are used to account for these data.
Photometric display calibration for embedded MR environments

We demonstrate a new technique to minimize photometric differences between the color space of a display, sensor, and the real world, for mixed-reality (MR) systems where the real world is visible near or around a display. In this approach, we use an uncalibrated sensor to capture images of the display showing a series of calibration patterns. Using these images, we precompute a polynomial mapping function describing the continuous color-space transform between the real-world, sensor, and display. This mapping function can be evaluated in real-time to produce images that, when rendered on the embedded display, greatly reduce the color differences between displayed images of a mixed-reality world and the surrounding real-world environment. The color distribution of the resulting displayed images is significantly closer to that of the ground truth real-world scene as perceived through the human eye or other sensors. We demonstrate the impact of this technique when applied to a simple dynamic-geometry mixed-reality application.
Auditory evoked responses to amplitude modulated stimuli consisting of multiple envelope components

Steady-state auditory-evoked potentials were recorded noninvasively from alert bottlenosed dolphins, Tursiops truncates, using suction cup electrodes placed on the scalp surface. Responses were elicited using continuous acoustic signals consisting of 2, 3, or 4 tones with lowest frequency at 1000 Hz or 5000 Hz, and having a maximum frequency separation of 171 Hz. Due to the interaction of the stimulus tones, the stimulus waveform was comprised of 1 to 6 dominant temporal envelope components. Evoked responses were averaged in the time domain and Fourier transformed for analysis. The spectrum of the averaged evoked potential contained peaks at Fourier components corresponding to all stimulus envelope frequencies. Thus, scalp potentials, representing the synchronized discharge of large neuronal assemblies, followed the low-frequency temporal envelope of the stimulating waveform whether comprised of 1, 3, or 6 dominant envelope components; this envelope following response (EFR) was the dependent variable in all experiments.
Synchrotron Radiation for Detecting Movement of a Volatile Soil Liquid

Heat and volatile liquid transport in soils are physically coupled processes. Soil water movement driven by thermal gradients has received considerable attention both experimentally and via models. This is appropriate since the thermal regime of underground electric power cables, pipelines, agricultural soils, and nuclear-waste repositories influences their ability to function effectively. However, available experimental liquid concentration data are of relatively low resolution, generally about one measurement per cm. By using synchrotron x rays we were able to nondestructively obtain high (50 μm) spatial resolution, time-lapsed data for the thermally driven movement of dibromomethane (DBM) in soil. Under repeated temperature cycling during a 22 h period, DBM movement within a sealed, 25-mm-long quartz sand (\iD\D50\N = 0.25 mm) soil column was highly repeatable. About four complete scans of the column were completed each hour. Average DBM vol % within the column as a whole was 4.0 and the porosity was 0.31. Measurements of DBM concentration at the same position and equivalent times during different cycles usually differed by less than 0.2 vol %. Experimental data of this precision will permit better comparison with detailed model predictions.
The diagnostic value of apolipoprotein E in pediatric patients with invasive bacterial infections

Abstract Objective To evaluate the potential diagnostic value of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) measurements in pediatric patients with invasive bacterial infections. Design and method A total of 185 pediatric patients were enrolled in this study, including 94 patients with confirmable infections and 91 patients without confirmable infections. Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ApoE levels were measured by immunoturbidimetry. The diagnostic values of ApoE were evaluated by the receiver operating curve (ROC) method. Results ApoE levels in CSF were significantly increased in patients with bacterial meningitis, and serum ApoE was markedly elevated in patients with sepsis or with bacterial meningitis compared with patients with other infections and uninfected children. The optimal ApoE cutoff value for CSF was > 1.7 mg/L with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity and was > 42 mg/L in serum with 80% sensitivity and 93% specificity. Conclusion ApoE detection provided a novel diagnostic marker for invasive bacterial infections in pediatric patients.
The study of the distribution of arsenic, mercury, thorium, protactinium, uranium and neptunium under the ChemChar gasification process using radionuclide tracers

A experimental method to measure the fate and distribution of a variety of radionuclides under the ChemChar gasification process has been developed. The elements studied were arsenic, mercury, thorium, protactinium, uranium and neptunium. Results indicate that the ChemChar gasification system quantitatively retains these elements. In all of the cases except mercury the radiotracer was found to reside on the char matrix with small amounts (<1%) being found downstream in the condensation trap and char filter. Mercury, presumably as vapor, was entrained and distributed in significant amounts (≈40%) to the downstream char filter and its pre-filter. A methodology was developed to account for char height differences in quantifying the radiotracer on the char prior and subsequent to gasification. These results demonstrate the efficacy of using relatively short-lived radiotracers to characterize the behavior of hazardous elements during waste treatment via gasification.
An investigation of Z(2) vortices in SU(2)3

For a general lattice gauge theory, we show how the expectation value of any observable may be found by first preaveraging over some chosen set of degrees in freedom and then averaging this result in the conventional functional integral. The restrictions on the selected degrees of freedom are found. With an appropriate choice of degrees of freedom in the preaverage, the preverage gives an upper bound on the expectation value of the Wilson loop in U(1)3 which corresponds to the logarithmic Coulomb potential at weak coupling. We then consider the SU(2) case and construct a set of Z(2) vortices as the degrees of freedom to be preaveraged over. For an R by T Wilson loop, the preaveraged value when all links are set to unity falls as exp(ϱTR12/β32), where ϱ is a constant, at large β for large loops. It is unknown whether this behavior for the preaveraged quantity can be used to bound the Wilson loop in SU(2).
Acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation on recipient cardiac function in twin-twin transfusion syndrome

Objective This study evaluated the acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) on recipient cardiovascular function in a twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) pregnancy. Study Design This was a retrospective chart review of echocardiographic data in TTTS including right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI); LV and RV end diastolic wall thickness; and umbilical artery (UA), vein (UV), and ductus venosus (DV) Dopplers. The primary outcome measures were improved MPI defined as greater than 10% interval decrease in left and/or right MPI. Data were analyzed by Student t test and Fisher's exact test. Results Sixty-five patients met inclusion criteria. SFLP results in a significant improvement in UV and DV Doppler and an increase in both RV and LV wall thickness. A 10% or greater improvement in recipient LV MPI after SFLP is associated with improved recipient survival as compared with unimproved LV MPI (100% vs 86.1%, P = .05). Conclusion Improved recipient myocardial performance index after SFLP is associated with improvement in recipient survival.
Regional left ventricular systolic function and the right ventricle: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis right ventricle study

Background Dysfunction of the interventricular septum has been implicated in right ventricular (RV) failure. However, little is known about the relationship between ventricular septal and RV function in patients without clinical cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that better septal function would be associated with higher RV ejection fraction and lower RV mass and volume by cardiac MRI. Methods In the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), cardiac MRI was performed on community-based participants without clinical cardiovascular disease. Images were analyzed by the harmonic phase method to measure peak circumferential systolic midventricular strain for each wall (anterior, lateral, inferior, and septal). Multivariable linear regression and generalized additive models were used to assess the relationship between septal strain and RV morphology. Results There were 917 participants (45.7% women) with a mean age of 65.7 years. Better septal function was associated with higher RV ejection fraction in a nonlinear fashion after adjustment for all covariates ( P = .03). There appeared to be a threshold effect for the contribution of septal strain to RV systolic function, with an almost linear decrement in RV ejection fraction with septal strain from −18% to −10%. Septal function was not related to RV mass or volume. Conclusions Interventricular septal function was linked to RV systolic function independent of other left ventricular regions, even in individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease. This finding confirms animal and human research suggesting the importance of septal function to the right ventricle and implies that changes in septal function could herald RV dysfunction. Trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov ; No.: NCT00005487; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov
Cloning and expression of a rat opioid receptor with κ characteristics

We recently cloned and expressed a rat κ opioid receptor by emploging polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Primers were similar to those of Libert et al. (1). Poly(A) + RNA was isolated from the rat striatum and reverse-transcribed into ds cDNA with oligo(dT) primers. PCR was performed on ds cDNA and nucleotide sequences of the PCR products determined. One of the PCR products, which had some homology to the mouse δ opioid receptor, was used to screen a rat striatum λgt10 cDNA library. One positive clone with a 2.2-kb insert (RKOR) was identified. RKOR had an open reading frame of 1140 bp and encoded a 380-amino acid protein. Hydropathy analysis indicated that RKOR had seven putative transmembrane domains with short intra- and extra-cellular loops
Supplementing Radicals and Decompositions of Near-Rings

If ϱ is a radical of near-rings and ϱ is its supplementing radical, then ϱ(N)⊕ϱ(N) ⊲ N. We address the issue when ϱ(N) ⊕ϱ(N) = N holds. In the variety F of near-rings in which the constants form an ideal, the assignment c: N → Nc is a hereditary Kurosh–Amitsur radical, c is characterized in terms of distributors and criteria are given for the decomposition N = c(N) ⊕c(N). In the subvariety A of all abstract affine near-rings, assigning the maximal torsion ideal τ(N) is a hereditary Kurosh–Amitsur radical. If such near-rings N ∈ A satisfy dcc on principal right ideals, then N splits into a direct sum N = τ(N) ⊕τ(N) where the additive group of τ(N) is torsionfree and divisible. Dropping dcc on principal right ideals, an ``essential" decomposition result is proved.
Static and Dynamic Numerical Characteristics of Floating-Point Arithmetic

The appearance of hexadecimal floating-point arithmetic systems has prompted a continuing discourse on the relative numerical merits of various choices of base. Until lately this discourse has centered around the static properties of the floating-point representation of numbers, and has primarily concerned only binary and hexadecimal representations. Recent events may change this discourse considerably. A third numerically attractive alternative for the choice of base has been proposed, and a comparison of the dynamic numerical properties of floating-point arithmetic systems has been completed. This paper surveys these recent events and summarizes our current knowledge of the numerical characteristics of floating-point arithmetic systems.
Syntactic Satiation and the Inversion Effect in English and Spanish Wh‐Questions

. Both English and Spanish exhibit an inversion effect in wh-questions: a verbal element must appear to the left of the subject. Analyses differ, however, as to whether this effect is due to similar syntactic mechanisms in the two languages or not. The phenomenon of judgment satiation, in which certain unacceptable sentence types improve upon repeated exposure, is used here to provide new evidence addressing this issue. It is shown that unacceptable wh-questions in Spanish are susceptible to satiation, but their counterparts in English are not, which suggests that different mechanisms are responsible for the inversion effect in the two languages. In addition to providing new evidence regarding the nature of inversion in wh-questions, this study also constitutes a test case for using satiation in the service of comparative syntax.
On the Goubau-Schwering beam waveguide using a modified paraxial approximation

In this paper, we demonstrate that the beam waveguide can be easily postulated by using a modified version of the paraxial approximation.
Necrotizing fasciitis following rituximab therapy

Rituximab has considerably modified thetherapeutic strategy for B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies, most notably non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Rituximab, alone or in combination with chemo-therapy, is being used to treat NHL with limited toxicity. We report two cases, one fatal, of necrotizing fasciitis following the use of rituximab in patients with NHL. No obvious predisposing factors were noted in either case. Practitioners need to beaware of this rare side effect and take prompt and aggressive action at the first onset of symptoms.
Radical based fine trajectory HMMs of online handwritten characters

We study models that characterize pen trajectories of online handwritten characters in a fine manner. We propose radical based fine trajectory hidden Markov models (HMMs), which adopt radicals as basic units, and a multi-path HMM topology that emits observations with multi-space distributions (MSD) is built for each radical. Meanwhile, various stroke orders, writing styles and realness of sub-strokes are reasonably modeled. The radical based fine trajectory HMMs lead to handwriting recognition with effective prediction, and their generative nature can be utilized for a novel handwriting synthesis framework. Experimental show that along with the model precision increasing, about 50% recognition error can be reduced, and the fine models can generate decent character samples.
Airway Obstruction During Mask Ventilation of Very Low Birth Weight Infants During Neonatal Resuscitation

OBJECTIVES.The delivery of adequate but not excessive ventilation remains one of the most common problems encountered during neonatal resuscitation, especially in the very low birth weight infant. Our observations suggest that airway obstruction is a common occurrence after delivery of such infants, and we use colorimetric carbon dioxide detectors during bag-and-mask resuscitation to assist in determining whether the airway was patent. We reviewed our experience to determine the frequency of the occurrence of recognizable airway obstruction during resuscitation of very low birth weight infants. METHODS AND PATIENTS.The previous prospective trial randomly assigned preterm infants !32 weeks’ gestation to resuscitation with either room air or 100% oxygen using pulse oximetry. Colorimetric carbon dioxide detectors were used to assist with bag-and-mask ventilation and to confirm intubation. From the video recordings, the number of positive pressure breaths without a color change in the detector until the breaths were associated with an unequivocal color change was counted as obstructed breaths. From the analog tracings, the number of breaths that had a peak pressure plateau of!0.2 second and were not associated with a color change was recorded as the number of obstructed breaths. RESULTS.None of the studied infants required cardiopulmonary resuscitation or received epinephrine, and all were judged to have an effective circulation during resuscitation. Six of the 24 infants enrolled in the trial received only continuous positive airway pressure. The remaining 18 infants received a median of 14 obstructed breaths (range: 4‐37 breaths) delivered over a mean and median interval of 56.7 and 45.0 seconds, respectively (range: 10.0‐220.0 seconds). A subgroup of 11 infants was analyzed using airway-pressure data. The target peak inspiratory pressure was 30 cm H 2 O. Ten of these 11 infants had obstructed breaths as defined by no change in the PediCap despite reaching the target pressure for!0.2 second. CONCLUSION.Airway obstruction occurs in the majority of the very low birth weight infants who receive ventilation with a face mask during resuscitation and the use of a colorimetric detector can facilitate its recognition and management.Pediatrics2009;123:865‐869
A QUINTET SINGULAR VALUE DECOMPOSITION THROUGH EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITIONS

A particular quintet singular valued decomposition (Quintet-SVD) is introduced in this paper via empirical mode decompositions (EMDs). The Quintet-SVD results in four specific orthogonal matrices with a diagonal matrix of singular values. Furthermore, this paper shows relationships between the Quintet-SVD and traditional SVD, generalized low rank approximations of matrices (GLRAM) of one single matrix, and EMDs. One application of the Quintet-SVD for speech enhancement is shown and compared with an application of traditional SVD.
Children's Biased Evaluations of Lucky Versus Unlucky People and Their Social Groups

Hurricanes strike some houses and spare others, lotteries are won and lost, and children are born into wealthy and poor families. Rationally, there is no reason to prefer people who are lucky to those who are unlucky. In fact, the explicit codes of ethics by which modern societies govern themselves emphasize neutrality or even a favoring of the least advantaged (Rawls, 1971). But rationality is not always a quality of human minds (Simon, 1957; Tversky & Kahneman, 1974), and this is so even when decisions involve the dimension of right versus wrong (Banaji & Bhaskar, 2000). Understanding how children think about other people who experience luck or misfortune can provide a window into the origins of attitudes and preferences toward social groups that vary in privilege. Accordingly, we tested children’s preferences for lucky versus unlucky individuals. Then we pushed further to test the generalization of such preferences beyond the individuals themselves to others who shared a group marker (samecolored T-shirt).
Chaucer's 'A Treatise on the Astrolabe': a 600-year-old model for humanizing technical documents

Chaucer's 'A Treatise on the Astrolabe' despite its medieval roots, still serves as a model for incorporating coherent organization, appropriate content, accurate and precise descriptions, personable tone, effective metadiscourse, and varied sentence structure and length in modern technical writing. This article explores how Chaucer merged his logico-rational self (as exhibited in the work's deliberate organization and thorough content) with his humanistic self (as shown in his simple style and personable tone). This is shown to be an effective technique for humanizing and strengthening a technical document. By following the lessons learned from Treatise, modern technical writers can minimize the semantic and psychological noise of a document, while maximizing the accurate and comfortable transmission of its content. >
Clinical and organizational factors in the initial evaluation of patients with lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

Background This guideline is intended to provide an evidence-based approach to the initial evaluation of patients with known or suspected lung cancer. It also includes an assessment of the impact of timeliness of care and multidisciplinary teams on outcome. Methods The applicable current medical literature was identified by a computerized search and evaluated using standardized methods. Recommendations were framed using the approach described by the Guidelines Oversight Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians. Data sources included MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Results Initial evaluation should include a thorough history and physical examination; CT imaging; pulmonary function tests; and hemoglobin, electrolyte, liver function, and calcium levels. Additional testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes should be determined on the basis of these results. Paraneoplastic syndromes may have an adverse impact on cancer treatment, so they should be controlled rapidly with the goal of proceeding with definitive cancer treatment in a timely manner. Although the relationship between timeliness of care and survival is difficult to quantify, efforts to deliver timely care are reasonable and should be balanced with the need to attend to other dimensions of health-care quality (eg, safety, effectiveness, efficiency, equality, consistency with patient values and preferences). Quality care will require multiple disciplines. Although it is difficult to assess the impact, we suggest that a multidisciplinary team approach to care be used, particularly for patients requiring multimodality therapy. Conclusions The initial evaluation of patients with lung cancer should include a thorough history and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, CT imaging, basic laboratory tests, and selective testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes.
A Classification for the Interferon-τ

An attempt has been made to provide a rational organization for the many interferon-τ (IFN-τ) sequences entered in GenBank based on phylogenetic analysis and common amino acid substitutions, which might form the basis for a universal nomenclature scheme. Over the 13 years since these genes were first discovered, large numbers of cDNA and gene sequences have been reported, and there is reason to suspect that representatives of all the major ovine and bovine forms have now been described. The data are consistent with the presence of many genes and also allelic variants in sheep and cattle analogous to what has been observed for the IFN-α in the human. Future variants should be easily accommodated into the scheme outlined here. A flexible system of nomenclature, based on that used for HuIFN, is needed to provide a common base for comparison between research done in different laboratories and to assign relative biologic potencies to these molecules.
Interdigitated Pt-GaN Schottky interfaces for high-temperature soot-particulate sensing

Abstract A microscale soot-particulate sensor using interdigitated platinum-gallium nitride (Pt-GaN) Schottky interfaces was developed to monitor fine soot particles within high-temperature environments (e.g., combustion exhausts and flues). Upon exposure to soot particles (30 to 50 nm in diameter) from an experimental chimney, an increased current (∼43.6%) is observed through the back-to-back Schottky contact to n-type GaN. This is attributed to a reduction in the effective Schottky barrier height (SBH) of ∼10 meV due to the electric field from the charged soot particles in the depletion region and exposed GaN surface. Furthermore, the microfabricated sensor was shown to recover sensitivity and regenerate the sensing response (∼11 meV SBH reduction) after exposure to temperature as high as 550 °C. This study supports the feasibility of a simple and reliable soot sensor to meet the increasing market demand for particulate matter sensing in harsh environments.
Methanol production by a broad phylogenetic array of marine phytoplankton

Methanol is a major volatile organic compound on Earth and serves as an important carbon and energy substrate for abundant methylotrophic microbes. Previous geochemical surveys coupled with predictive models suggest that the marine contributions are exceedingly large, rivaling terrestrial sources. Although well studied in terrestrial ecosystems, methanol sources are poorly understood in the marine environment and warrant further investigation. To this end, we adapted a Purge and Trap Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (P&T-GC/MS) method which allowed reliable measurements of methanol in seawater and marine phytoplankton cultures with a method detection limit of 120 nanomolar. All phytoplankton tested (cyanobacteria: Synechococcus spp. 8102 and 8103, Trichodesmium erythraeum, and Prochlorococcus marinus), and Eukarya (heterokont diatom: Phaeodactylum tricornutum, coccolithophore: Emiliania huxleyi, cryptophyte: Rhodomonas salina, and non-diatom heterokont: Nannochloropsis oculata) produced methanol, ranging from 0.8–13.7 micromolar in culture and methanol per total cellular carbon were measured in the ranges of 0.09–0.3%. Phytoplankton culture time-course measurements displayed a punctuated production pattern with maxima near early stationary phase. Stabile isotope labeled bicarbonate incorporation experiments confirmed that methanol was produced from phytoplankton biomass. Overall, our findings suggest that phytoplankton are a major source of methanol in the upper water column of the world’s oceans.
Surreptitious Communication Design

Abstract This essay presents “surreptitious communication design” (SCD), a framework for design in contentious political contexts. SCD is concerned with crafting messages that are meaningful for intended recipients, but illegible and/or inaccessible for adversaries who seek to undermine communications or harm participants. Borrowing concepts from cryptography and information theory, SCD's key theoretical concerns are described, as are several of the strategies and tactics through which it is operationalized. Two recent anti-human trafficking projects are compared, one developed from an SCD perspective, the other from a traditional mass communications approach. Finally, SCD is considered in relation to the burgeoning “Design for Good” movement.
Feminized Migration, Community Activism and Grassroots Transnationalization in Japan

Japan's 1990 revised immigration law established a renewable ‘long-term resident’ visa category for non-citizens with Japanese ancestry (Nikkeijin) and their dependents. By the mid-1990s, this had ...
Investigation on sanitary condition of squeezed fruit and vegetable juice in catering industry in Jiangbei district

Objective:To understand the sanitary monitoring condition of squeezed fruit and vegetable juice in catering industry of Jiangbei district.Methods: The investigation was carried out in accordance with GB4789-2010(GB/T4789-2003 and GB/T4789-2008).Results: A total of 105 samples were detected from 2007 to 2011,the qualified rate was 29.52%(31/105).The total bacterial count was found in 74 samples(70.48%),coliform was found in 69 samples(65.71%),Staphylococcus aureus was found in 13 samples(12.38%),while salmonella and shigella were not found.Conclusion: Through the investigation,the relevant department should strengthen the disinfection management measures and supervision to further improve the current sanitary situation of catering industry in this area and make employees in catering industry clearly know the significance of food safety.
Differences in the Learning and Transfer Performance between Students with Learning Disabilities and other Low-Achieving Students on Problem-Solving Tasks

Despite a lack of empirical support, students with learning disabilities are frequently characterized as having poor transfer abilities. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the learning and transfer ability of 20 students with learning disabilities (LD) and 20 students with matched low achievement (LA). The two groups were assessed on one learning task and three transfer tasks under unassisted and assisted conditions (i.e., dynamic assessment). A 2 (Group) by 4 (Session) (i.e., pretest, training, maintenance/transfer, and delayed maintenance) mixed, factorial design was employed for data collection. Seven separate analyses and several post-hoc analyses were conducted to determine group performance differences on measures of learning, transfer, and maintenance. Results indicated inconsistent performance differences. Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of previous research employing dynamic assessment as well as investigations of problem-solving in students wi...
EXPRESSION OF Ia ANTIGENS ON T CELL LEUKEMIAS AND THYMOCYTES

Abstract: The expression of Ia antigens on leukemic T cells and thymocytes have been clearly demonstrated. The molecular weight of Ia antigens on these cell populations are similar to those of Ia antigens on B cell populations of spleen cells. The amount of Ia antigens on T cells is a small fraction of that on B cells. Further, they may be masked or hidden on the T cell surface. Ia antigens on T cells probably play a role in tumorigenesis and in immune response phenomena.
Budget Cuts and Managing Bad News and Incentivizing Faculty

You are the new chair of a clinical department in the medical school. One of your initial efforts is to create a departmental compensation plan. You create a task force, which works for nearly a year on a new plan, balancing out appropriate rewards for clinical, research, and other mission-related productivity. The plan includes a baseline salary, which is to be the median salary for that specialty, role (clinical versus research), and rank based on national data from the prior three years. An incentive plan includes payments for RVUs generated in excess of the median benchmark, along with incentives for funding of research effort and other mission/citizenship work. In the end, there is enthusiasm for the plan because many faculty will see increases in salary, as faculty below national means will see annual raises of the maximum allowable percent until their salaries reach the appropriate level. For some faculty, this would require 3–5 years of annual raises, given that current salaries are so low.
Identification of Western Flower Thrips

Western flower thrips (WFT) is distinguished from other Frankliniella species by the shape of antennal segment III, the size of the pronotal anteroangular setae, the position of the ocelli and interocellar setae, and the complete comb of posteromarginal setae on tergum VIII. The position of the interocellar setae, which arise from just inside the triangle formed by lines connecting the outside edge of the three ocelli, is critical because it is used to combine species into working groups within the genus. The distance between the posterior ocelli is more than twice their diameter. The base of antennal segment III is without a sharp angulation and the pronotal anteroangular setae are almost as long as the anteromarginal setae. These characteristics were documented with scanning electron micrographs (SEM). Open image in new window Figure 1 SEM of WFT showing diagnostic features; a, ovipositor; b, antenna; c, head and thorax; d, forewings.
Case Study: Scoop for Partial Read from P2P Database

In this paper we propose Scoop, a mechanism to implement the “partial read operation” for peer-to-peer databases. A peer-to-peer database is a database that its relations are horizontally fragmented and distributed among the nodes of a peer-to-peer network. The partial read operation is a data retrieval operation required for approximate query processing in peer-to-peer databases. A partial read operation answers to β -queries: given β ∈ [0,1]and a relation R, a fraction β of the tuples in R must be retrieved from the database to answer a β -query. Despite the simplicity of the β -query, due to the distributed, evolving and autonomous nature of the peer-to-peer databases correct and efficient implementation of the partial read operation is challenging. Scoop is designed based on an epidemic dissemination algorithm. We model the epidemic dissemination as a percolation problem and by rigorous percolation analysis tune Scoop per-query and on-the-fly to answer β -queries correctly and efficiently. We prove the correctness of Scoop by theoretical analysis, and verify the efficiency of Scoop in terms of query cost and query time via extensive simulation.
Improved PET-Based Voxel-Resolution Myocardial Blood Flow Analysis

In this paper, we describe a new method for estimating the myocardial blood flow (MBF) of each voxel in a myocardium using data consisting of a dynamic sequence of cardiac positron emission tomography images. First, we incorporate the factor analysis of dynamic sequences model into a certain two-compartment model with physiological constraints. Then, using the majorize–minimize optimization technique, we develop an algorithm, which we call the improved voxel-resolution MBF (IV-MBF) algorithm, that estimates the parameters of the resulting model, including the MBF parameters, by iteratively minimizing a certain least-squares objective function. We perform a preliminary evaluation of the IV-MBF algorithm using real patient data.
Clinical Characteristics of Connective Tissue Nevi in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex With Special Emphasis on Shagreen Patches

Importance Patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) frequently develop collagenous connective tissue nevi. The prototypical lesion is a large shagreen patch located on the lower back, but some patients only manifest small collagenomas or have lesions elsewhere on the body. The ability to recognize these variable presentations can be important for the diagnosis of TSC. Objective To describe the clinical characteristics of connective tissue nevi on the trunk and extremities of patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Design, Setting, and Participants A retrospective analysis of patient medical records and skin photography was performed; 104 adult patients with TSC were enrolled in an observational cohort study that was enriched for those with pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and was therefore composed mostly of women (99 women, 5 men). All patients included were examined at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, from 1998 to 2013. Connective tissue nevi were categorized per anatomic location and size. Lesions less than 1 cm in diameter were termed collagenomas. Shagreen patches were characterized as small (1 to Main Outcome and Measures Frequency, anatomic location, size, and histological appearance of connective tissue nevi in patients with TSC. Results Overall, 58 of 104 patients (median [range] age, 42 [19-70] years) with TSC (56%) had at least 1 connective tissue nevus on the trunk or thighs; of these, 28 of 58 patients (48%) had a solitary lesion, and 30 of 58 patients (52%) had 2 or more lesions. Overall, 120 lesions from 55 patients were classified by size; 46 lesions (38%) were collagenomas; 39 lesions (32%) were small shagreen patches; 21 lesions (18%), medium shagreen patches; and 14 lesions (12%), large shagreen patches. The distribution of lesions was 9% (n = 11), upper back; 29% (n = 35), middle back; 51% (n = 61), lower back; and 11% (n = 13), other locations. All 26 shagreen patches that were analyzed histopathologically had coarse collagen fibers and 24 of 26 stained with Miller elastic stain had decreased elastic fibers. On immunoblot analysis, fibroblasts grown from shagreen patches expressed higher levels of phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 than paired fibroblasts from normal-appearing skin. Conclusions and Relevance Tuberous sclerosis complex–related connective tissue nevi are not limited to the lower back, and occasionally present on the central or upper back, buttocks, or thighs. Elastic fibers are typically decreased. Recognition of these variable presentations can be important for TSC diagnosis.