cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prevention of pertussis, tetanus, and diphtheria among pregnant, postpartum women, and infants

Pertussis disease in the United States has been increasing since 1976 and many states are reporting epidemics. Pertussis is more severe in infants less than 3 months of age and is characterized by high hospital admission rates, apnea of the infant. The CDC recommends that Tdap be administered to all pregnant women after the 20th week of gestation to provide pertussis antibodies to the fetus which will offer protection against pertussis disease. Tdap is highly immunogenetic in the pregnant women and has an excellent safety profile. Tdap given to the postpartum patient and her cocoon family is an alternative strategy.
Developing a Competency-based Fundamentals of Management Communication Course

An innovative course in fundamentals of management communication derives from competency-based instruction. Course designers created a list of competen cies and behavioral objectives for each of four modules: business writing funda mentals, formal report writing, informative oral presentations, and persuasive oral presentations. Students receive the list before instructions. Students also gain instruction in class or through self-study or both. They are assessed through multi ple forms of assessment, and those assessments are measured in relation to individ ual demonstration of competencies rather than course norms. In general, the stu dents, faculty, and administration have viewed this course positively.
Pneumococcal meningitis in a young adult female with common variable immunodeficiency

Patient: Female, 22 Final Diagnosis: Pneumococcal meningitis Symptoms: Fever • headache • neck stiffness • nuchal rigidity • photophobia Medication: Ceftriaxone Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Neurology Objective: Rare disease Background: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is a primary immunodeficiency associated with hypogammaglobulinemia and other various clinical manifestations. It is a rare disease with a prevalence of CVID is approximately 1: 50,000–200,000. Clinical manifestations of CVID include recurrent bacterial infections, autoimmune, gastrointestinal, lymphoproliferative, granulomatous, and malignancy. Case Report: Twenty-two year-old Hispanic female presented with a throbbing headache, nuchal rigidity, photophobia and a high grade fever. Lumbar puncture with CSF assessment revealed a turbid fluid with WBC of 6937 per uL, polymorphnuclear cells of 81%, protein 248 mg/dL, glucose <3 mg/Dl. CSF antigens were positive for Streptococcus pneumonia and CSF culture grew pansensitive Strepococcus pneumonia. Immunoglobin (Ig) levels of IgA, IgE, IgG and IgM were all decreased. Absolute cell counts of CD3, CD4 and CD8 were all low. Bone marrow biopsy was normocellular. Excisional lymph node biopsy revealed lymph nodes with reactive follicular hyperplasia. Common variable immunodeficiency disease (CVID) was diagnosed based on exclusion. IVIG therapy was given and patient received a two-week course of ceftriaxone. Conclusions: The diagnosis of CVID is made based on the following criteria: 1) Marked decrease of IgG and at least one of the IgM or IgA isotypes. 2) The onset of immunodeficiency at greater than 2 years old. 3) Absence of isohemagglutinins and/or poor response to vaccines 4) Exclusion of other defined causes of hypogammaglobulinemia. A definite diagnosis is often late because it is wrongly assumed that primary immunodeficiencies are extremely rare, hence many patients are already seriously ill at the time of presentation.
Equivalence of conventional and computer presentation of speed tests

This study examined the effects of computer pre sentation on speeded clerical tests. Two ratio scores— average number of correct responses per minute and its inverse, average number of seconds per correct re sponse—were examined as variants of the conven tional score, number of correct responses in a fixed in terval of time. Ratio scores were more reliable than number-correct scores and were less sensitive to test ing time. Tests administered on the computer were found to be at least as reliable as conventionally ad ministered tests, but examinees were much faster in the computer mode. Correlations between paper-and- pencil and computer modes were high, except when task differences were introduced by computer imple mentation.
Knowledge of results and learning to tell the time in an adult male with an intellectual disability: a single-subject research design.

The present study investigated whether knowledge of results, in the form of visual and audible feedback, would increase the accuracy of time-telling in an individual with an intellectual disability. A 19-year-old male with mild intellectual disability participated in this A1–B1–A2–B2 single-subject study design. The task involved correctly identifying the time given on a computer. Data, based on the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, showed that the participant demonstrated a greater number of correct responses during the intervention phases. Incorporating knowledge of results into a learning strategy for this individual with intellectual disability resulted in an increased ability to accurately identify the correct time on an analogue clock. There is a need to replicate the study design to increase the external validity and generalization of results. The strategies described in the present study may also be useful for occupational therapists who teach individuals with intellectual disability to gain skills in their everyday activities of daily living (ADLs). Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Presence of a reversible inhibitor(s) for human lymphoid cell RNA, protein, and DNA synthesis in the extracts of established human lymphoid cell lines.

Abstract An endogenous inhibitor for human lymphocyte RNA, protein, and DNA synthesis contained in the extracts of cultured human lymphoid cells (PGLC-33H) is described. The cell extract was found to inhibit RNA, protein and DNA synthesis of autologous cultured lymphoid cells (PGLC-33H) as well as heterologous PHA stimulated human peripheral lymphocytes but not that of nonlymphoid cells (HeLa cells, human embryonic lung, human embryonic skin and muscle and WI-38). Extracts of human peripheral lymphocytes were also found to inhibit the DNA synthesis of cultured lymphoid cells (PGLC-33H) and PHA stimulated human peripheral lymphocytes but not that of nonlymphoid cells (HeLa cells and human embryonic lung). Similarly prepared extracts of long term cultured skin and muscle (H 1 S) cells did not inhibit the DNA synthesis of the cultured lymphoid cells. No evidence of cytotoxicity was detected, and the inhibition was reversible. The inhibitory activity of the extract was found to be thermolabile, nondialyzable, DNase resistant, and sensitive to trypsin. The inhibitor seems to be different from lymphotoxin.
Understanding Why Adhesion in Extrusion Coating Decreases With Diminishing Coating Thickness

It is well known that in extrusion coating, the coating adhesion to the substrate decreases with decreasing thickness. The study on this phenomenon is divided into three parts. Part I explores the reduction in adhesion of LDPE to paper and other porous substrates. Several hypotheses are proposed for the origin of this decrease, including a reduction in oxidation time, faster cooling in the air gap, and more rapid quenching in the nip. A model of the molten polymer penetration into the substrate shows that the greatest effect is cooling in the nip; thinner coatings have less time to flow into the substrate interstices once the chill roll contact is made. The model results agree well with experimental adhesion data from the literature.In Part II, adhesion to aluminum foil and other nonporous substrates is studied. Several hypotheses are proposed for why peel strength decreases in these structures, including a reduction in the air gap time, faster air gap cooling, more rapid nip quenching, and stress imposed...
College on Credit: A Multilevel Analysis of Student Loan Default

This study updates and expands the literature on student loan default. By applying multilevel regression to the Beginning Postsecondary Students survey, four key findings emerge. First, attending proprietary institutions is strongly associated with default, even after accounting for students’ socioeconomic and academic backgrounds. Second, cumulative loan debt has a non-linear relationship to defaulting. Third, minoritized and students from low-income families default at disproportionately high rates; and fourth, unemployment and degree completion are strongly associated with greater default rates. These findings counter the argument that default is a “preexisting condition,” and the discussion is framed around implications for federal financial aid policy.
Measuring the Opening of MscL using Alternating Laser Excitation (ALEX) FRET

Mechanosensitive channels play a critical role in responding to external mechanical stimuli, by opening or closing in response to tension across the membrane. In our studies, we focus on the E coli mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL), a homopentamer which participates in regulating the osmotic pressure changes in the bacteria. They protect the bacteria from bursting upon exposure to osmotic shock by opening a large pore that is greater than 25 A in diameter. However, the exact change in the pore size of MscL remains unknown. A structure of the open state of the MscL pentamer has not been achieved since the successful crystallization of the closed state of the MscL pentamer in 1998. An alternative technique to measuring the opening is through FRET. Indeed, an ensemble FRET measurement has been made on open and closed states. However, FRET is not capable of measuring accurately the change in the pore size due to the intrinsic heterogeneity in the fluorescently labeled MscL pentamers where various stoichiometry of the donors and acceptors are present. Furthermore, we have found that sticking the channel to a surface alters the function of them. To get around these two problems, we performed single-molecule FRET experiments using an Alternating Laser EXcitation (ALEX) apparatus. By using alternating lasers of wavelengths 488 nm and 561 nm to excite directly the donors (Alexa488) and acceptors (Alexa568) present in single diffusing MscL molecules which are incorporated in 50 nm liposomes, both the distance-based FRET efficiency E and stoichiometry-based ratio S could be measured. Our single-molecule experiments show that the addition of an asymmetric lipid (LPC) to the liposomes opens the channels, consistent with the results from ensemble measurements.
Pollen transport by bees in a yellow-poplar seed orchard

Abstract A total of 100 millicures of 32 P was injected in a single yellow-poplar tree over a three-day period for incorporation in pollen. The number of flower samples with a count per minute significantly higher than background decreased rapidly with distance from the source tree. There was no difference in pollen movement associated with direction and no indication of wind as a vector. Bees carrying out pollination did not come from a hive placed in the orchard but rather from hives some distance away. Hand-pollination resulted in four times as many filled seed as open-pollination.
Modelling of expressed system behavior towards characterization of the conformance testing problem

A tree model to concisely represent a possibly nondeterministic system behavior is presented. On the basis of this model, a characterization of the set of conforming implementations of a given specification by a set of tests is described. Possible strategies for selective application of the set of tests to a given implementation are discussed. >
Multi-Stage Origin of the Coast Range Ophiolite, California: Implications for the Life Cycle of Supra-Subduction Zone Ophiolites

The Coast Range ophiolite of California is one of the most extensive ophiolite terranes in North America, extending over 700 km from the northernmost Sacramento Valley to the southern Transverse Ranges in central California. This ophiolite, and other ophiolite remnants with similar mid-Jurassic ages, represent a major but short-lived episode of oceanic crust formation that affected much of western North America. The history of this ophiolite is important for models of the tectonic evolution of western North America during the Mesozoic, and a range of conflicting interpretations have arisen. Current petrologic, geochemical, stratigraphic, and radiometric age data all favor the interpretation that the Coast Range ophiolite formed to a large extent by rapid extension in the fore-arc region of a nascent subduction zone. Closer inspection of these data, however, along with detailed studies of field relationships at several locales, show that formation of the ophiolite was more complex, and requires several sta...
A new rate-dependent unidirectional composite model - Application to panels subjected to underwater blast

Abstract In this study, we developed a finite element fluid–structure interaction model to understand the deformation and failure mechanisms of both monolithic and sandwich composite panels. A new failure criterion that includes strain-rate effects was formulated and implemented to simulate different damage modes in unidirectional glass fiber/matrix composites. The laminate model uses Hashin’s fiber failure criterion and a modified Tsai–Wu matrix failure criterion. The composite moduli are degraded using five damage variables, which are updated in the post-failure regime by means of a linear softening law governed by an energy release criterion. A key feature in the formulation is the distinction between fiber rupture and pull-out by introducing a modified fracture toughness, which varies from a fiber tensile toughness to a matrix tensile toughness as a function of the ratio of longitudinal normal stress to effective shear stress. The delamination between laminas is modeled by a strain-rate sensitive cohesive law. In the case of sandwich panels, core compaction is modeled by a crushable foam plasticity model with volumetric hardening and strain-rate sensitivity. These constitutive descriptions were used to predict deformation histories, fiber/matrix damage patterns, and inter-lamina delamination, for both monolithic and sandwich composite panels subjected to underwater blast. The numerical predictions were compared with experimental observations. We demonstrate that the new rate dependent composite damage model captures the spatial distribution and magnitude of damage significantly more accurately than previously developed models.
A Study of the Forcing of the 22–25 June 2006 Coastally Trapped Wind Reversal Based on Numerical Simulations and Aircraft Observations

Abstract Coastally trapped wind reversals (CTWRs) occur periodically in the lowest several hundred meters of the marine boundary layer west of California and disrupt the northerly flow that typically occurs during summer. South winds and coastal fog or low stratus accompany the CTWR, which propagates northward along the coast. A CTWR was observed off the California coast during late June 2006 that originated in the California Bight and propagated northward to Cape Mendocino during the subsequent 2-day period. This CTWR event was explored by the University of Wyoming King Air research aircraft to document the primary characteristics of the wind reversal. Numerical simulations of the CTWR event using the Weather Research and Forecast modeling system were conducted to compare with observations and to provide a broader picture of the CTWR structure and evolution. An analysis of the forcing mechanisms responsible for the June 2006 CTWR event is presented. It is demonstrated that the mature CTWR for this case i...
Forensically inspired approaches to automatic speaker recognition

This paper presents ongoing research leveraging forensic methods for automatic speaker recognition. Some of the methods forensic scientists employ include identifying speaker distinctive audio segments and comparing these segments using features such as pitch, formant, and other information. Other approaches have also involved performing a phonetic analysis to recognize idiolectal attributes, and an implicit analysis of the demographics of speakers. Inspired by these forensic phonetic approaches, we target three threads of work; hot-spot analysis, speaker style and pronunciation modelling, and demographics analysis. As a result of this work we show that a phonetic analysis conditioned on select speech events (or hot-spots) can outperform a phonetic analysis performed over all speech without conditioning. In the area of pronunciation modelling, one set of results demonstrate significantly improved robustness by exploiting phonetic structure in an automatic speech recognition system. For demographics analysis, we present state-of-the-art results of systems capable of detecting dialect, non-nativeness and native language.
Regularity of renormalized solutions in the Boltzmann equation with long-range interactions

It is well-established that renormalized solutions of the Boltzmann equation enjoy some kind of regularity, or at least compactness, in the velocity variable when the angular collision kernel is nonintegrable. However, obtaining explicit estimates in convenient and natural functional settings proves rather difficult. In this work, we derive a velocity smoothness estimate from the a priori control of the renormalized dissipation. As a direct consequence of our result, we show that, in the presence of long-range interactions, any renormalized solution F(t, x, v) to the Boltzmann equation satisfies locally for every and for some s > 0 depending on p. We also provide an application of this new estimate to the hydrodynamic limit of the Boltzmann equation without cutoff. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid: Role of on‐site assessment and multiple cytologic preparations

Several studies have shown that ultrasound guidance can serve as a valuable aid in improving the diagnostic yield of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of thyroid nodules. In this study, we evaluated the combined impact of ultrasound-guidance, rapid on-site evaluation of FNA specimens, and different cytologic preparations (fresh and alcohol-fixed smears, Millipore filter) and staining methods (Diff-Quik and Papanicolaou stains) on the diagnostic yield of thyroid FNA. Ultrasound-guided FNA was performed on 282 patients (313 cases) between November 1997 and April 1999. The diagnostic categories included: benign (198 cases, 63.2%); indeterminate (42 cases, 13.4%); suspicious for follicular variant of papillary carcinoma (26 cases, 8.3%), malignant (32 cases, 10.1%); and nondiagnostic (15 cases, 5%). The nondiagnostic cases also included 6 cystic lesions without any solid component and 3 thyroid-bed aspirations. After excluding these, the nondiagnostic rate was only 2%. Histological follow-up was available in 77 (77/313) cases. The concordance rate between cytological and histological diagnosis was 100% in malignant, 67% in suspicious, and 56% in indeterminate cases. All cases with histologic follow-up were selected to evaluate the independent diagnostic efficacy of each aforementioned cytologic staining method. A definite diagnosis could be made solely on the basis of air-dried, Diff-Quik-stained preparations in 50 (65%), alcohol-fixed, Papanicolaou stained smears in 68 (88%), and Millipore filter preparations in 70 (91%) cases. We conclude that ultrasound-guided FNA combined with on-site evaluation and different cytologic preparations can significantly improve the diagnostic accuracy of thyroid FNA specimens.
Mechanism of Impaired Myocardial Function During Progressive Coronary Stenosis in Conscious Pigs Hibernation Versus Stunning

Abstract The major goal of this study was to determine whether impaired myocardial contractile function during the development of progressive coronary artery stenosis induced by ameroid constriction in conscious pigs reflected myocardial “hibernation” or “stunning.” Minipigs were instrumented with a coronary ameroid constrictor and hydraulic occluder, regional wall thickness crystals, a left ventricular (LV) pressure gauge, and aortic and left atrial catheters. In the seven pigs in which it was measured, systolic wall thickening (WT) distal to the ameroid fell by a maximum of 56±6% at 20±3 days after ameroid implantation and then began to recover. At 1 day after ameroid implantation, brief complete coronary artery occlusion (CAO) resulted in wall thinning distal to the ameroid (−113±4%) and transmural decreases in myocardial blood flow in endocardial (from 0.82±0.08 to 0.02±0.01 mL/min per gram) and epicardial (from 0.73±0.13 to 0.03±0.02 mL/min per gram) layers. At 20±3 days, baseline myocardial blood fl...
Acute Hyperammonemic Coma with Chronic Valproic Acid Therapy

OBJECTIVETo report a case of dose-related hyperammonemic coma without liver failure in a patient receiving chronic valproate therapy.CASE SUMMARYA 56-year-old woman with poorly controlled epilepsy, receiving valproate at subtherapeutic levels for 6 years, developed a life-threatening hyperammonemic coma following a moderate dosage increase.DISCUSSIONHyperammonemic coma without associated liver failure is an extremely rare complication of valproate therapy, described primarily in patients with inborn errors of metabolism and occurring idiosyncratically during initial stages of therapy. In our case, family history was suggestive of an X-linked disorder, raising the possibility that our patient may have been an asymptomatic carrier of a urea cycle enzyme deficiency unmasked by valproate therapy. To our knowledge, as of October 24, 2005, only one prior case of hyperammonemic coma in the context of chronic valproate monotherapy has been described. Application of the Naranjo probability scale score suggests tha...
Metal exposures to native populations of the caddisfly Hydropsyche (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) determined from cytosolic and whole body metal concentrations

Metal concentrations of the soluble fraction of the cytoplasm (cytosol) and the whole body were determined in the caddisfly Hydropsyche spp. (Trichoptera). Metal accumulation in the cytosol and the whole body were compared in samples collected along 380 kms of a contamination gradient in the Clark Fork river in four consecutive years (1992–1995), and from a contaminated tributary (Flint Creek). Samples from the contaminated sites were compared to an uncontaminated tributary (Blackfoot River). Relations between cytosolic metal concentration and cytosolic protein (used as a general biomarker of protein metabolism) also were examined in 1994 and 1995. Relative to whole body concentrations, cytosolic metal concentrations varied among metals and years. Spatial patterns in whole body and cytosolic Cd, Cu and Pb concentrations were qualitatively similar each year, and these concentrations generally corresponded to contamination levels measured in bed sediments. The proportions of metals recovered in the cytosol of ranged from 12 to 64% for Cd and Cu and from 2 to 38% for Pb. Zinc in the whole body also was consistent with contamination levels, but cytosolic Zn concentrations increased only at the highest whole body Zn concentrations. As a result, the proportion of Zn recovered in the cytosol ranged from 16 to 63% and tended to be inversely related to whole body Zn concentrations. The proportions of cytosolic metals varied significantly among years and, as a result, interannual differences in metal concentrations were greater in the cytosol than in the whole body. The results demonstrated that Hydropsyche in the river were chronically exposed to biologically available metals. Some features of this exposure were not evident from whole body concentrations. In general, protein levels did not correspond to cytosolic metal concentrations. A variety of environmental factors could interact with metal exposures to produce complex responses in protein metabolism. Systematic study will be necessary to differentiate the effects of multiple environmental stressors on organisms living in contaminated ecosystems.
Barriers to Adoption of e-Government

Technology adoption is well defined in e-business. The environment within which leaders must act in government is significantly different that that navigated by business leaders. The differences in these environments plays a significant role in the diffusion of technology in e-government settings. This paper explores modifications to technology adoption models to account for the changes in environment. Issues such as information security play a significant role in new technology adoptions such as e-government. The inclusion of moderating variable to account for the environmental effects is done to extend adoption model applicability to the e-government sector
Internet Categorization and Search: A Self-Organizing Approach

Abstract The problems of information overload and vocabulary differences have become more pressing with the emergence of increasingly popular Internet services. The main information retrieval mechanisms provided by the prevailing Internet WWW software are based on either keyword search (e.g., the Lycos server at CMU, the Yahoo server at Stanford) or hypertext browsing (e.g., Mosaic and Netscape). This research aims to provide an alternative concept-based categorization and search capability for WWW servers based on selected machine learning algorithms. Our proposed approach, which is grounded on automatic textual analysis of Internet documents (homepages), attempts to address the Internet search problem by first categorizing the content of Internet documents. We report results of our recent testing of a multilayered neural network clustering algorithm employing the Kohonen self-organizing feature map to categorize (classify) Internet homepages according to their content. The category hierarchies created could serve to partition the vast Internet services into subject-specific categories and databases and improve Internet keyword searching and/or browsing.
Multi-site studies of acoustic startle and prepulse inhibition in humans: Initial experience and methodological considerations based on studies by the Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia

Abstract Background Startle and its inhibition by weak lead stimuli (“prepulse inhibition”: PPI) are studied to understand the neurobiology of information processing in patients and community comparison subjects (CCS). PPI has a strong genetic basis in infrahumans, and there is evidence for its heritability, stability and reliability in humans. PPI has gained increasing use as an endophenotype to identify vulnerability genes for brain disorders, including schizophrenia. Genetic studies now often employ multiple, geographically dispersed test sites to accommodate the need for large and complex study samples. Here, we assessed the feasibility of using PPI in multi-site studies. Methods Within a 7-site investigation with multiple measures, the Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia conducted a methodological study of acoustic startle and PPI in CCS. Methods were manualized, videotaped and standardized across sites with intensive in-person training sessions. Equipment was acquired and programmed at the “PPI site” (UCSD), and stringent quality assurance (QA) procedures were used. Testing was completed on 196 CCS over 2.5 years, with 5 primary startle dependent measures: eyeblink startle magnitude, habituation, peak latency, latency facilitation and PPI. Results Analyses identified significant variability across sites in some but not all primary measures, and determined factors both within the testing process and subject characteristics that influenced a number of test measures. QA procedures also identified non-standardized practices with respect to testing methods and procedural “drift”, which may be particularly relevant to multi-site studies using these measures. Conclusion With thorough oversight and QA procedures, measures of acoustic startle PPI can be acquired reliably across multiple testing sites. Nonetheless, even among sites with substantial expertise in utilizing psychophysiological measures, multi-site studies using startle and PPI as dependent measures require careful attention to methodological procedures.
Genome-wide analysis reveals a role for BRCA1 and PALB2 in transcriptional co-activation

Breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and PALB2 have enigmatic roles in cellular growth and mammalian development. While these genes are essential for growth during early developmental programs, inactivation later in adulthood results in increased growth and formation of tumors, leading to their designation as tumor suppressors. We performed genome-wide analysis assessing their chromatin residence and gene expression responsiveness using high-throughput sequencing in breast epithelial cells. We found an intimate association between BRCA1 and PALB2 chromatin residence and genes displaying high transcriptional activity. Moreover, our experiments revealed a critical role for BRCA1 and, to a smaller degree, PALB2 in transcriptional responsiveness to NF-κB, a crucial mediator of growth and inflammatory response during development and cancer. Importantly, we also uncovered a vital role for BRCA1 and PALB2 in response to retinoic acid (RA), a growth inhibitory signal in breast cancer cells, which may constitute the basis for their tumor suppressor activity. Taken together, our results highlight an important role for these breast cancer proteins in the regulation of diverse growth regulatory pathways.
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Bonus Compensation, and CEO Horizons

We examine whether short-term financial reporting objectives related to executive compensation and employment horizons affect managers’ decisions to undertake accelerated share repurchases (ASRs) versus open market repurchases (OMRs). In an ASR, the firm repurchases borrowed shares and simultaneously enters into a forward contract with an investment bank. This structure provides potential financial reporting advantages over OMRs in that earnings per share (EPS) benefits are recorded immediately (i.e., the reporting effects are “accelerated”) while the actual share repurchases and potential costs associated with the forward contract are deferred to a future date. Consistent with this short-term focus, we find that firms are more likely to choose ASRs over OMRs when the repurchase is accretive to EPS, when annual bonus compensation is explicitly tied to EPS performance, when CEO horizons are short, and when CEOs are more entrenched. These results are robust to controlling for endogeneity in the decision to repurchase shares. In addition, we find no evidence that compensation committees adjust executive pay for the effects of the ASR. Overall, our results suggest that short-term financial reporting benefits are a significant determinant of decisions to undertake ASRs, consistent with theories of managerial myopia.
Educators' Evaluation of the Quality of the Literate Environment in Caribbean Classrooms

This study examines ratings of the quality of the classrooom literacy environment by 47 graduate-level literacy teaching candidates (primarily classroom teachers enrolled in a master's programme) to determine the extent to which the teachers viewed the classrooms as literacy rich, and whether a link existed between the financial resources available to a country, as well as its human well-being rating and such evaluations. Using the Classroom literacy Environment Profile (Wolferberger, Reutzel, Sudweeks, & Fawson, 2004), candidates provided quantitative evaluations of an observed environment. Means tests involving two One-Way ANOVAs were used to determine the extent to which candidates differed in their ratings based on the Economic Status (ES) of the country in which they worked, and based on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the said countries. Regression analysis was used to determine the influence of several variables combined: classroom level, school type, school locale, HDI, and ES, on teacher ratings. Qualitative comments by candidates were used to clarify findings from their quantitative ratings. The results are explored in light of how teachers can be assisted in navigating the difference between what the literature says works and the specific classroom situations they face.
Red imported fire ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) at gopher tortoise (Testudines: Testudinidae) burrows

The gopher tortoise, Gopherus polyphemus Daudin, is endemic to the southeastern US, where its populations are declining primarily due to habitat destruction. Tortoises are preyed upon by many species, including the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, a destructive exotic species now common throughout the tortoises' entire range. We surveyed ants using tuna bait at 154 G. polyphemus burrows in a greenway reserve established to protect the tortoises in a residential area of southeast Florida. We found S. invicta present, typically recruiting to the bait in very high numbers, on the aprons of 33% of the tortoise burrows. Solenopsis invicta occurred significantly more often at burrows within 30 m of the greenway's outer edge than at burrows in more interior parts of the greenway (57% versus 16%). Among the interior burrows, S. invicta occurred significantly more often at burrows directly on two narrow strips of disturbed habitat, along an old fence line and an old pipeline, than at burrows not on these two strips (46% versus 12%). The greenway interior appears to offer tortoises and other species some refuge from S. invicta. However, the long thin design typical of greenways, the inclusion of walking paths through the greenways, and the policies of prescribed burning and reduction mowing used to maintain open habitat for the tortoises all may increase the tortoises' exposure to S. invicta. Solenopsis invicta is also a grave threat to other native species in these reserves, including the many animals that obligately live inside gopher tortoise burrows.
Strength and reliability of ceramic modules soldered to flexible cables

A study of the strength and reliability of soldered interconnections between module pins and flexible cables is presented. A quantitative measure of the strength of the connection is developed. Individual pins were mechanically tested by measuring the force required to push them through the cable. Both force and failure mode were recorded. The push-through test was used to determine optimum solder volume for maximum initial strength and also to measure degradation following exposure to environmental stresses. The first reliability stress was to store units at constant elevated temperatures of 80, 100, and 125 degrees C for up to 8500 h. Analysis of these results was done with a nonlinear regression model. Since multiple failure modes were present, the data was deconvolved by treating it as multiply censored and analyzing it using maximum-likelihood techniques. The temperature dependence of the degradation rate was assumed to be Arrhenius. For the dominant mode, the results of this model are shown. The results give an effective activation energy of 0.6 eV. The second reliability test was to thermally cycle units between -40 and +100 degrees C for up to 1000 cycles. There was no degradation. A simple first-order estimate indicates that this is equivalent to about five lifetimes. >
A Three-Phase Model of Respiratory Rhythm Generation

A mathematical model of the central neural mechanisms of respiratory rhythm generation has been developed. This model is based substantially on a previously published qualitative model which assumes that the respiratory central pattern generator (RCPG) is formed of a neural network and that the respiratory cycle comprises three phases: inspiration, post-inspiration and expiration1,2,3. The objectives of evaluating quantitatively the behavior of this model are to determine whether a unique model with fixed parameters can quantitatively reproduce a range of behaviors attributed to the qualitative model, and to propose how afferent inputs from chemoreceptors and from slowly adapting pulmonary stretch receptors may be processed by the respiratory neurons in the brainstem based on model simulations
The Flaw in the Plan

Once upon a time, Gustav II Adolf, the king of Sweden gave orders to build the biggest war ship that would ever set sail on the oceans of his time: The Vasa. Among the planned key features of the vessel were two decks stuffed with cannons. Such a power of arms has been unprecedented. The king hired the best ship makers from all over Europe. An impressive gathering of skills, talent, and ambition took place in a shipyard near Stockholm, Sweden. The admiral of the fleet personally took over the project management. The construction was led by an architect from the Netherlands and the designated captain of the new ship. In those days, there were no construction blueprints or static calculations. The architect applied proportions of other existing ships and supervised the work of the craftsmen in the shipyard personally. During a period of 2 full years, the team created the huge ship from 1,000 oak trees. The afterdeck raised high above the waterline and had been enriched with precious ornaments to honor the king: There were beautiful wooden statues resembling roman warriors. There were lions, mermaids, and images of Greek gods. The craftsmen attached the huge masts and loaded the 64 heavy cannons. The caliber of the cannons on the upper deck had been increased late in the project, because there had been rumors that the enemy was attempting to build a similar ship. Despite this significant change of the weight distribution, no replanning of the project occurred. The architect continued to apply the proven proportions to the Vasa’s hulk, which have worked so well for all of his other ship constructions in the past.
A cost-benefit analysis: implementing temporary disability insurance in Washington State

Five states and Puerto Rico currently provide disability insurance to persons unable to work due to temporary disability. No states have adopted such policies since 1969. Labor unions and other advocacy groups have advanced bills in Washington and Oregon that would establish a public disability insurance plan to provide partial wage replacement for serious illness, accident and pregnancy. This paper estimates annual costs and benefits for a temporary disability insurance program in Washington State under the assumption that it would mirror the disability provisions in California without paid family leave.
Asymptomatic gonorrhea in men. Diagnosis, natural course, prevalence and significance.

Abstract Urethral gonococcal infection was detected in 40 per cent of asymptomatic male contacts of women with symptomatic gonorrhea. Culture was more sensitive than fluorescent antibody or Gram-stained smears in detecting asymptomatic genital infection in men, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was detected more often in the anterior urethra than in prostatic secretions by all three methods. Among 28 asymptomatically infected men followed without treatment for seven to 165 days, 18 remained asymptomatic carriers of N. gonorrhoeae. N. gonorrhoeae was cultured from 59 (2.2 per cent) of 2628 sexually active United States Army enlisted men undergoing routine examinations, and 68 per cent of the infected men were asymptomatic. Asymptomatically infected men constitute a definite reservoir of N. gonorrhoeae, and a major factor in the current gonorrhea pandemic is the failure of physicians to identify and treat asymptomatic male contacts of women with gonorrhea that is either symptomatic or detected by routine culturing....
Sedimentation coefficient distributions of large particles

The spatial and temporal evolution of concentration boundaries in sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation reports on the size distribution of particles with high hydrodynamic resolution. For large particles such as large protein complexes, fibrils, viral particles, or nanoparticles, sedimentation conditions usually allow migration from diffusion to be neglected relative to sedimentation. In this case, the shape of the sedimentation boundaries of polydisperse mixtures relates directly to the underlying size-distributions. Integral and derivative methods for calculating sedimentation coefficient distributions g*(s) of large particles from experimental boundary profiles have been developed previously, and are recapitulated here in a common theoretical framework. This leads to a previously unrecognized relationship between g*(s) and the time-derivative of concentration profiles. Of closed analytical form, it is analogous to the well-known Bridgman relationship for the radial derivative. It provides a quantitative description of the effect of substituting the time-derivative by scan differences with finite time intervals, which appears as a skewed box average of the true distribution. This helps to theoretically clarify the differences between results from time-derivative method and the approach of directly fitting the integral definition of g*(s) to the entirety of experimental boundary data.
Considerations for Effective Learning from G. E. Newell's 'Writing to Learn'

This article examines writing as a way of learning; the learning implications of writing methods in relation to meaningful student outcomes as outlined in Chapter 16, "Writing to Learn", written by George E. Newell and printed in the Handbook of Writing Research (Newell 2008). Newell's work challenges our perceptions of what good teaching looks like, especially in the context of teaching outside the traditional boundaries in strict linear fashion. This author proposes that non-traditional, alternate types of instruction have value in teaching dense, content-driven subjects like the history of design. Writing not only develops literacy but also improves critical thinking skills. Writing is the framework which assists learners in connecting new knowledge across academic domains rather than isolating them into memorized bits. When students are exposed to more forms of writing in different ways, then the result is a deeper understanding and better retention of knowledge.
5. Fast Processor Recover Techniques with Micro Rollback

The precursory proposed techniques for on-line observation of processor components and signals was developed in order to detect errors within a single clock cycle. According to Fig. 16, this is a precaution to carry out a fast error handling procedure in order to avoid a functional error. In this thesis, the focus on a fast error detection and recovery is directed at embedded processor- or micro-controller-based applications with a highly safety-critical relevance or strong real-time constraints. Methods should have a high efficiency, that means the overhead should be significantly less than the silicon area for TMR or quadruple modular redundancy. Furthermore, different handling- strategies for different fault-classes (transient, permanent) are needed. A distinction between transient effects and permanent faults (of static or dynamic origin) is important, since only permanent faults need additional stand-by hardware for compensation.
Safety and feasibility of salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for recurrent prostate cancer.

e15171 Background: The safety and feasibility of salvage robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (sRARP) for recurrent prostate cancer is unclear. Herein we report short-term cancer control, functiona...
Eigenvalue Problems and Algorithms in Structural Engineering

Structural engineering is a predominant source of sparse eigenvalue problems. Yet the numerical analysis literature rarely addresses the full generality of the algebraic characteristics of these applied problems. We describe some of the more demanding structural engineering eigenvalue problems and the difficulties they pose for numerical algorithms.
Is the Brain Linear

Abstract Linear system theory, although inapplicable to electrical responses by the brain to exogenous input stimuli, does apply to analysing its spontaneous electrical waves. Spectral analysis is the branch of linear systems theory which has had greatest application. An example is presented of its use in studies of alpha wave distribution in posterior cerebral regions. Here coherence analysis shows that one generating process is responsible for alpha activity in the longitudinally oriented recording dipoles, while another, independent one is required to explain the laterally oriented bi-occipital activity. The second example is the highly specific system organization of the brain of the cat during conditioned discrimination training. Here strong regular activity centered in the two dorsal hippocampi shifts from 4 to 5 to 6 Hz in sequences of alerted, orienting and discriminative behavior that followed each other at 1.6 sec intervals. Aspects of 6 Hz activity coherent with that in hippocampus appeared in subthalamus and other diencephalic regions during discrimination, while other structures shared activity in other frequency bands, at various stages during the same responses. Third, we discuss the multivariate spectral analysis leading to a complete accounting for resting EEG activity at the vertex of a human subject's scalp, in terms of 8-10 other scalp recording channels, and in terms of a non-time-varying linear model. The same data was further analysed by a more dynamic method, serial complex demodulation, whose results indicated that fewer generators would be required in a model incorporating rapid time variation of transmission. Decision between these models must await acquisition of data that would define relationships at the level of cellular generators contributing to the population characteristic of an ensemble. Our present physiological data indicates clear classes of non-linear transforms within and between cerebral cellular elements in both electronic wave-and spike-generating phenomena.
The Traditional Nexus of Multinational Enterprises and Foreign Direct Investment

This chapter explains how internationalization of investment and production progressed historically under the traditional nexus of foreign direct investment (FDI), and multinational enterprises (MNEs); how the nexus reached its climax in the post-WWII period under the dominance of vertically organized US based multinationals; how horizontally organized Japanese multinationals challenged that status quo in the 1970s through the 1980s; and how reverse FDI flows from emerging economies have been reshaping the traditional FDI-MNE nexus in recent decades.
Linear magnetron HiPIMS high deposition rate magnet pack

Abstract High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) or High Power Pulsed Magnetron Sputtering (HPPMS) is a promising magnetron sputtering technique for ionized physical vapor deposition (iPVD), with industrial implementation hindered by low deposition rates in non-reactive HiPIMS. Because HiPIMS is currently of low interest in high volume manufacturing where deposition rates should be high, there is a demand for a solution to the low deposition rate problem, scalable to any desired length. To increase the deposition rate, a magnet pack behind a linear magnetron target is altered, and the new magnetic field is designed to allow for an increased ion flux to the substrate. The modeled magnet pack is manufactured and named the linear tripack magnet pack. Deposition rate is discussed for both DCMS and HiPIMS, using both a standard linear magnet pack and the linear tripack magnet pack in non-reactive HiPIMS. Observed deposition rates for the linear tripack magnet pack are found to be equal to or greater than the DC standard magnet pack at 1.5 kW and copper ionized flux fraction measurements were found to be as high as 35% at the substrate for the linear tripack magnet pack at 3.2 kW. Electron temperature and electron density measurements are taken and discussed.