cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for the incidence of social phobia as determined by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule in a population‐based study

The Diagnostic Interview Schedule was used to identify 89 incident social phobia cases in wave 2 household subjects from 9437 at risk persons age 18 or older as part of the Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Crude annual incidence of Diagnostic Interview Schedule/DSM-III social phobia was estimated at 9 per 1000 population per year. Onset of social phobia was associated with low education, never having been married and female gender. First onsets occurred throughout the life course of this adult sample. Nervousness, headache, panic spells, palpitations, other phobias, binge pattern of alcohol consumption, dysthymia and schizophrenic symptoms were also predictive of social phobia onset. There was no difference in predictive factors when "primary" social phobia (without premorbid panic) was analyzed separately.
A software development environment for simulation programming

A prototype simulation software development environment (SSDE) has been developed at Texas A&M University as a means of providing a flexible system for the development of simulation software. It utilizes an underlying structure composed of a series of data bases and a language. This framework provides the means of hiding the file system, hiding the development support tools, and automating the transition between the different phases of development. The prototype SSDE includes several tools developed specifically to support simulation programming. This paper presents the rationale for software development environments and gives an overview of the prototype which has been constructed.
Qualitative Assessment of Inquiry-Based Teaching Methods

A new approach to teaching method assessment using student focused qualitative studies and the theoretical framework of mental models is proposed. The methodology is considered specifically for the advantages it offers when applied to the assessment of inquiry-based teaching methods. The theoretical foundation of mental models is discussed, and the framework described in detail, with examples from preliminary experimental results. It is argued that the application of this methodology provides a more learner focused approach to assessing a teaching activity, which provides more detail about the relevant cognitive processes used by the student and is a better guide for improving the activity.
The Effect of Different Treatment Modalities on Connective Tissue Attachment

This study compared the effect of four treatment modalities on connective tissue attachment. Ligature-induced periodontitis was established around the mandibular premolars of five young beagle dogs over 8 weeks. Following a 2-week period without ligatures, a reference dog was sacrificed to estimate the extent and nature of the disease. Three dogs received flap procedures in one mandibular posterior segment, and the six experimental roots were treated with citric acid (pH 1) for 3 minutes; the contralateral mandibular segments received flap procedures and the roots were treated with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate in the Hibiclens preparation for 3 minutes. One segment of the control dog received flap procedures, and the roots were treated with sterile normal saline; the contralateral segment received closed root planning. The experimental dogs were sacrificed 1, 2 and 3 months after treatment. The control dog was sacrificed 3 months postoperatively. One week before sacrifice each dog received a Procion dye injection. At sacrifice the study segments of all four treated dogs were clinically healthy, with no observable differences between the different treatment modalities. Histologically, the 1, and 3-month chlorhexidine, the 3-month saline and 3-month root planed specimens had long junctional epithelial adhesions with little connective tissue attachment. The 2-month chlorhexidine and all citric acid-treated sections showed appreciable amounts of new connective tissue attachment. Some 2-month and 3-month citric acid and 2-month chlorhexidine sections showed cementum over the apical portion of the long junctional epithelium. The frequency of occurrence and the length of cementum overlapping epithelium increased appreciably over time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of TESTOSURGE supplementation on strength, body composition and hormonal profiles during an 8-week resistance training program

Methods 30 resistance trained males completed all phases of the study. Subjects were matched according to total body weight and randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to ingest either 500 mg of a placebo (N = 13, 21 ± 3 yrs, 180 ± 6.4 cm, 84 ± 15 kg, 18.3 ± 6.8 BF%) or TESTOSURGE (N = 17, 21 ± 2.8 yrs, 178 ± 5.8 cm, 85 ± 9.6 kg, 18.8 ± 4.8 BF%) once per day for eight weeks. Subjects participated in a supervised, 4-day per week periodized resistance training program consisting of two upper extremity and two lower extremity workouts per week for a total of 8 weeks. At weeks 0, 4 and 8, hydrodensiometry body composition, 1 RM bench press and leg press, muscular endurance, anaerobic power and hormonal profiles were assessed. Statistical analyses utilized a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures for all criterion variables (p ≤ 0.05). Data are presented as mean ± SD changes from baseline values.
Adenosine inhibition of lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: possible role of cyclic adenosine monophosphate

The in vitro destruction of tumor cells by specifically sensitized mouse lymphocytes was inhibited by adenosine; this inhibition was markedly potentiated by the presence of an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase. The inhibition of cytolysis by adenosine was accompanied by a rapid elevation in lymphocytic adenosine 39,59-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) concentrations. Both the inhibition of cytolysis and the elevation of cyclic AMP were reversed by prolonged incubation of the lymphocytes in the presence of adenosine or, more rapidly, by removal of the adenosine. Low concentrations of adenosine also caused an elevation of cyclic AMP in human lymphocytes, and this effect of adenosine may contribute to the lack of immune response associated with adenosine deaminase deficiency.
Educating culturally and linguistically diverse preschoolers: Moving the agenda

Despite growing interest in children's policy and in research regarding childhood bilingualism and language acquisition, much concern exists regarding the early care and education of linguistically and culturally diverse preschoolers. This article attributes comparative policy inattention to linguistically and culturally diverse preschoolers to several causes including widely and tenaciously held personal beliefs, political ideologies, misperceptions regarding the lack of a demographic imperative, and academic disciplinary fragmentation. After questioning these causes, the authors explore the current state of today's practice, suggesting that four fundamental issues must be addressed if policy and practice in this domain are to improve: (1) socialization, resocialization, and the family/child relationship; (2) modalities of instruction; (3) contextually discontinuous strategies; and (4) subsystem creation versus system reform. Each issue is discussed, and action principles and leadership strategies are presented in hopes of moving an action agenda to assure linguistically and culturally diverse preschoolers access to high quality and developmentally appropriate preschool experiences.
An Investigation of the Status of Outdoor Play

This study discusses the extent to which children in the USA today participate in active, outdoor play, compared with the previous generation. Eight hundred and thirty mothers nationwide were surveyed regarding their active, outdoor play experiences as children, as well as their children's play experiences today. The mother's play experiences, compared with the child's, clearly indicate that children today spend considerably less time playing outdoors than their mothers did as children. The study reveals several fundamental reasons for this decline, including dependence on television and digital media, and concerns about crime and safety. The study also conveys findings related to the frequent use of electronic diversions and discusses several suggestions for early childhood professionals, classroom teachers, and parents for fostering the child's enjoyment for outdoor play.
On the surprisingly accurate transfer of image parameters between medical and solar images

In this work we report on the transfer of image parameters that produce good results for medical images to the domain of solar image analysis. Using the first solar domain-specific benchmark dataset that contains multiple types of solar phenomena we discovered during our work for constructing a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system for NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission that we could take advantage of the research on the analysis of images in the medical field. We demonstrate that, while image analysis is a very domain-specific task, there are lessons to be learned and methods to be shared between different fields. In this paper we present an extensive comparative analysis of several different domain-specific datasets in order to provide some guidance for the solar physics community on the well-researched field of medical image analysis allowing them to transfer knowledge from one applied field to their own.
SYMPHONY, an information-theoretic method for gene-gene and gene-environment interaction analysis of disease syndromes.

We develop an information-theoretic method for gene–gene (GGI) and gene–environmental interactions (GEI) analysis of syndromes, defined as a phenotype vector comprising multiple quantitative traits (QTs). The K-way interaction information (KWII), an information-theoretic metric, was derived for multivariate normal distributed phenotype vectors. The utility of the method was challenged with three simulated data sets, the Genetic Association Workshop-15 (GAW15) rheumatoid arthritis data set, a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and atherosclerosis data set from a mouse QT locus study, and the 1000 Genomes data. The dependence of the KWII on effect size, minor allele frequency, linkage disequilibrium, population stratification/admixture, as well as the power and computational time requirements of the novel method was systematically assessed in simulation studies. In these studies, phenotype vectors containing two and three constituent multivariate normally distributed QTs were used and the KWII was found to be effective at detecting GEI associated with the phenotype. High KWII values were observed for variables and variable combinations associated with the syndrome phenotype compared with uninformative variables not associated with the phenotype. The KWII values for the phenotype-associated combinations increased monotonically with increasing effect size values. The KWII also exhibited utility in simulations with non-linear dependence between the constituent QTs. Analysis of the HDL and atherosclerosis data set indicated that the simultaneous analysis of both phenotypes identified interactions not detected in the analysis of the individual traits. The information-theoretic approach may be useful for non-parametric analysis of GGI and GEI of complex syndromes.
Isometrically Equivalent Composition Operators on Spaces of Analytic Vector-Valued Functions

Let $X$ be a Banach space and let $B(X)$ denote the space of bounded operators on $X$. Two elements $S,T\inB(X)$ are isometrically equivalent if there exists an invertible isometry $V$ such that $TV=VS$. If $X$ is a Hilbert space, then $V$ is a unitary operator and $S$ and $T$ are said to be unitarily equivalent .
Real-Time Operating Systems

Real-time operating systems are an integral part of complex real-time systems. Three general categories of real-time operating systems exist: small, proprietary kernels, real-time extensions to commercial timesharing operating systems, and research kernels. This paper discusses each of these areas focusing on how each of these classes deal with predictability. It is argued that the small, proprietary kernels are predictable, but offer little help to the real-time systems designer and implementor in producing predictable applications. Real-time versions of commercial operating systems like UNIX and Mach offer greater implementation support, but are, in general, NOT predictable themselves nor offer enough support to applications which require predictability. This, of course, does not mean that there is no way to achieve predictability with these operating systems. It is possible to achieve predictability by very careful design, by using a very limited subset of the overall features provided, and by proving that the features being used for predictability cannot in any way be impacted by any other part of the system. Finally, research kernels are attempting to provide greater design, implementation and evaluation support together with predictability for both the operating system and the application.
Importance of predation by Coleomegilla maculata larvae in the natural control of the corn earworm in sweet corn.

Abstract The corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of many crops in North America, particularly sweet corn. The larvae of Coleomegilla maculata (DeGeer) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) are the most frequently observed predators of H. zea eggs in sweet corn. Companion cropping strategies have been developed to augment densities of C. maculata in sweet corn plantings. In this study, the importance of predation by C. maculata larvae was evaluated in experiments when larval abundance was manipulated using hand removal and physical exclusion. In 2003 and 2004, sentinel H. zea eggs were exposed on corn for 48 h. Egg mortality was 13.8% greater in the treatment where C. maculata larvae were present. In 2004 and 2005 eggs were exposed on corn under the same hand removal and physical exclusion techniques and monitored at 3-h intervals for 24 h to directly observe predation on sentinel eggs. Coleomegilla maculata larvae were the most frequently observed predators of the eggs,...
Temperature and pressure dependences of the dielectric properties of Pb F 2 and the alkaline-earth fluorides

The effects of temperature and hydrostatic pressure on the real (${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$) and imaginary (${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}\ensuremath{'}}$) parts of the static dielectric constant of single crystals of Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, Sr${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, and Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ were investigated. In all cases ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ decreases with increasing pressure. However, unlike the alkaline-earth fluorides and other normal ionic dielectrics where ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ increases slowly with increasing temperature, ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ of cubic Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ exhibits a relatively large decrease with increasing temperature and obeys a Curie-Weiss law over a substantial temperature range. It is suggested that this anomalous temperature dependence and the large value of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ (\ensuremath{\sim}30) are associated with a soft longwavelength transverse optic phonon, i.e., a ferroelectric (FE) mode, although the crystal remains stable with respect to this mode down to the lowest temperatures. This is the first example of a soft FE mode in a crystal having the relatively simple cubic fluorite structure. The measured isobaric temperature dependence of ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ is separated into its pure-volume and pure-temperature contributions. For the alkaline-earth fluorides both contributions are positive and additive, whereas for cubic Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ the pure-temperature contribution is negative and dominates the measured ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(T)$ response. This is attributed to the dominance of quartic anharmonicities in this crystal---a circumstance similar to that in other soft-FE-mode crystals. The Szigeti effective charges were calculated and the validity of the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relationship was tested for all crystals. The effects of the pressure-induced cubic ($\mathrm{Fm}3m\ensuremath{-}{O}_{h}^{5}$) to orthorhombic ($\mathrm{Pm}nb\ensuremath{-}{V}_{2h}^{16}$) phase transition on the dielectric properties of Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ and Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ were also investigated, and the possible lattice-dynamical origin of the transition is briefly discussed. In Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ the orthorhombic phase is recovered at ambient conditions after releasing the pressure, and the effects of temperature and pressure on the dielectric properties of this phase were investigated. Unlike cubic Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$, the orthorhombic phase behaves as a normal ionic dielectric. At $T\ensuremath{\ge}300$\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K the dielectric loss in both phases of Pb${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ becomes very large due to the high ionic conductivity of the material. The activation energies deduced from the loss data are in excellent agreement with those obtained from ionic conductivity measurements.
Commentary: A promising gene therapy approach to treat disc degeneration

COMMENTARY ON Leckie SK, Bechara BP, Hartman RA, et al. Injection of AAV2-BMP-2 and AAV2-TIMP-1 into the nucleus pulposus slows the course of intervertebral disc degeneration in an in vivo rabbit model. Spine J 2012;12:7–20 ( in this issue ).
Passive sensors for infrastructure monitoring

A class of low-cost, wireless sensor has been developed at the University of Texas at Austin to monitor the performance of reinforced and prestressed concrete members in civil infrastructure systems. The sensors are designed to be interrogated in a wireless manner as part of a routine inspection. The sensors do not require batteries or connections to external power supplies. As such, the sensors are intended to be maintenance free over the service life of the infrastructure system. Research efforts to date have focused on detecting the onset of corrosion. It is envisioned that the sensors would be attached to the reinforcement cages before placement of the concrete. The results of long-term exposure tests will be used in this presentation to demonstrate the potential and reliability of the resonant sensors.
Globalisation, market reform, and changing labour politics in China's automobile industry

This paper explores current labour politics in the Chinese automobile industry under the influence of globalisation and market reform. It argues that the widely adopted practice of labour force dualism with the combination of formal and temporary workers in the Chinese automobile industry has led to a 'hybrid' factory regime that combines 'hegemonic' and 'despotic' elements. 'Hegemonic' relations have been established between management and formal workers, while 'despotic' labour control characterises the conditions of work for temporary workers. The empirical data used in this paper were collected through field research at four large automobile Joint Ventures (JVs) and two major State-Owned auto Enterprises (SOEs) in China during the summer of 2004 and 2005.
Origin of anion response of solvent polymeric membrane based silver ion-selective electrodes

Abstract The suitability of carrier-based silver ion-selective electrodes as anion sensors is critically evaluated. The anion response is explained with the ion buffering effect of sample anions on silver ions continuously released from the sensing membrane, thereby decreasing the measured potential. While this sensing principle is different from traditional silver halide precipitate based membranes, an identical selectivity pattern is observed within a limited anion activity range. For low anion levels, the anion sensitivity is lost since only a limited silver concentration is continuously available at the membrane-sample phase boundary. For anions that form extremely sparingly soluble silver salts, sample cations ion-exchange with silver ions and the anion response again deteriorates. Experiments with bisthioether functionalized calix[4]arene and methylenebis(diisobutyldithiocarbamate) as silver carriers are shown, the latter being sufficiently selective over sodium to be used as chloride sensors in complex samples such as whole blood. The logarithmic selectivity coefficient of the silver electrode over sodium ions are determined as log = −6.8 and −7.7, respectively, for DOS-PVC electrode membranes containing these carriers.
Moral hazard depicted in Markov processes with strategy options

Abstract This paper investigates moral hazard issues using Markov processes with payoffs and strategy options, an algorithm developed by Howard [Howard, R.A., 1960. Dynamic Programming and Markov Processes. MIT Technology Press/John Wiley & Sons, NY]. An option consists of a probability vector and an expected payoff for a given state. Each state may have one or more options. Choice of options for each state, called “a strategy”, must be fixed by the manager at the start. An “ n -period” manager tries to maximize his/her cumulative payoff (undiscounted or discounted) over n periods. As n → ∞, the manager's strategy becomes in line with owners’ interest as the firm lasts indefinitely. Managerial implications of the analyses are examined.
Digital rights management: a delicate balance between protection and accessibility:

In the wake of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, Digital Rights Management (DRM) systems are beginning to provide copyright protection for digital content placed online by magazine and ...
Role of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase in inflammation and ischaemia-reperfusion.

Oxidative and nitrosative stress can trigger DNA strand breakage, which then activates the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS). This enzyme has also been termed poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) or poly(ADP-ribose) transferase (pADPRT). Rapid activation of the enzyme depletes the intracellular concentration of its substrate, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, thus slowing the rate of glycolysis, electron transport and subsequently ATP formation. This process can result in cell dysfunction and cell death. In this article, Csaba Szabo and Valina Dawson overview the impact of pharmacological inhibition or genetic inactivation of PARS on the course of oxidant-induced cell death in vitro, and in inflammation and reperfusion injury in vivo. A major trigger for DNA damage in pathophysiological conditions is peroxynitrite, a cytotoxic oxidant formed by the reaction between the free radicals nitric oxide and superoxide. The pharmacological inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase is a novel approach for the experimental therapy of various forms of inflammation and shock, stroke, myocardial and intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion, and diabetes mellitus.
Short-Range Precipitation Forecasts from Time-Lagged Multimodel Ensembles during the HMT-West-2006 Campaign

High-resolution (3 km) time-lagged (initialized every 3 h) multimodel ensembles were produced in support of the Hydrometeorological Testbed (HMT)-West-2006 campaign in northern California, covering the American River basin (ARB). Multiple mesoscale models were used, including the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS), and fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–National Center for Atmospheric Research Mesoscale Model (MM5). Shortrange (6 h) quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) and probabilistic QPFs (PQPFs) were compared to the 4-km NCEP stage IV precipitation analyses for archived intensive operation periods (IOPs). The two sets of ensemble runs (operational and rerun forecasts) were examined to evaluate the quality of highresolution QPFs produced by time-lagged multimodel ensembles and to investigate the impacts of ensemble configurations on forecast skill. Uncertainties in precipitation forecasts were associated with different models, model physics, and initial and boundary conditions. The diabatic initialization by the Local Analysis and Prediction System (LAPS) helped precipitation forecasts, while the selection of microphysics was critical in ensemble design. Probability biases in the ensemble products were addressed by calibrating PQPFs. Using artificial neural network (ANN) and linear regression (LR) methods, the bias correction of PQPFs and a cross-validation procedure were applied to three operational IOPs and four rerun IOPs. Both the ANN and LR methods effectively improved PQPFs, especially for lower thresholds. The LR method outperformed the ANN method in bias correction, in particular for a smaller training data size. More training data (e.g., one-season forecasts) are desirable to test the robustness of both calibration methods.
Euclidean matrix completion problems in tracking and geo-localization

We consider the problem of emitter tracking using received signal strengths (RSS) measured at a number of in-range access points (AP) when some of the AP locations are unknown. This can be formulated as a Euclidean distance matrix completion problem (EDMCP) to which an iterative distributed weighted multidimensional scaling (dwMDS) algorithm can be applied to simultaneously track emitters and localize APs. The algorithm is illustrated using real-time data collected by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) wireless topology discovery (WTD) project.
40-Gbit/s optical packet buffering

The loading and unloading of a 40-Gbit/s data packet in an active fiber loop buffer is demonstrated. It is believed that this is the highest rate external loading of a loop buffer by more than a factor of two. Experimental results of the device storage time and of the quality of the stored data packets are presented. In addition, ways to simplify and improve optical buffer design are discussed.
Groupthink Remodeled: The Importance of Leadership, Time Pressure, and Methodical Decision-Making Procedures

This article reviews the research on groupthink and analyzes the results and identifies areas of inconsistency. Based on these analyses and integration of research on the effects of time pressure on group decision making, a revised groupthink framework is presented. The revised framework alters the role of the leader, adjusts the linkages between groupthink antecedents and symptoms, and focuses attention on the importance of time pressure and methodical decision-making procedures on the prevention of groupthink. The revised framework attempts to correct a fundamental flaw of Janis' (1983) model - that is, to explain why within the same group, groupthink can occur during one decision-making situation and not another.
Choices for Patients “Without a Choice” Interviews With Patients Who Received a Left Ventricular Assist Device as Destination Therapy

Background— Patients undergo major physical and psychological changes after implantation of a left ventricular assist device as destination therapy (DT). We sought to qualitatively study outcomes and attitudes of patients after DT. Methods and Results— Ambulatory outpatients with DT at our institution were invited to be interviewed between June and August 2011. In-person interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively using thematic analysis. The study included 12 patients (11 men) from the Midwestern United States with a median age of 71.5 years (range, 33–78 years). Interviews were conducted at a median (range) time of 1.37 (0.43–5.04) years after DT implantation. Most patients were white (n=11), married (n=10), and Christian (n=10). We identified 6 themes commonly discussed by the interviewees: preparedness planning, new lease on life, optimizing support networks, systemic limitations, reflections on time, and communication matters. Analysis revealed that most patients saw DT as their only choice, despite other alternatives. Conclusions— Ambulatory patients reported varied experiences after DT but commonly reported gratitude for improved functional status and a perception of improved symptom burden. Recommendations for improving post-DT care include developing patient support systems, systematizing education for community providers, and expanding respite services.
Correspondences between parts of shapes with particle filters

Given two shapes, the correspondence between distinct visual features is the basis for most alignment processes and shape similarity measures. This paper presents an approach introducing particle filters to establish perceptually correct correspondences between point sets representing shapes. Local shape feature descriptors are used to establish correspondence probabilities. The global correspondence structure is calculated using additional constraints based on domain knowledge. Domain knowledge is characterized as prior distributions expressing hypotheses about the global relationships between shapes. These hypotheses are generated during the iterative particle filtering process. Experiments using standard alignment techniques, based on the given correspondence relationships, demonstrate the advantages of this approach.
Evaluation of four commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the diagnosis of bovine paratuberculosis in Chilean dairy herds.

The accuracy of 4 commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for diagnosis of bovine paratuberculosis was compared using sera from 53 Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) fecal culture-positive dairy cows (cases) and sera from 345 dairy cattle resident in 11 fecal culture- negative herds on 2 consecutive occasions 1 year apart (controls). The specificity of all 4 ELISA kits was .99%, and their diagnostic sensitivity ranged from 30.2% to 41.5%. Pairwise comparison of ELISAs found no significant differences (McNemar's chi-square test . 0.05), and assay agreement for categorical assay interpretation (positive or negative) was high (.98%) with k values ranging from 0.84 to 0.95. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the corresponding area under the ROC curves indicate that kit B had the highest overall accuracy. Thus, all 4 ELISA kits for bovine paratuberculosis had comparable accuracy when tested on Chilean dairy cattle, with kit B having a slight statistical advantage based on ROC area under the curve analysis. This suggests that any of the 4 kits could be appropriate for herd certification and for paratuberculosis control programs on Chilean dairy cattle.
Energy-conserving dissipative particle dynamics with temperature-dependent properties

The dynamic properties of fluid, including diffusivity and viscosity, are temperature-dependent and can significantly influence the flow dynamics of mesoscopic non-isothermal systems. To capture the correct temperature-dependence of a fluid, an energy-conserving dissipative particle dynamics (eDPD) model is developed by expressing the weighting terms of the dissipative force and the random force as functions of temperature. The diffusivity and viscosity of liquid water at various temperatures ranging from 273 K to 373 K are used as examples for verifying the proposed model. Simulations of a Poiseuille flow and a steady case of heat conduction for reproducing the Fourier law are carried out to validate the present eDPD formulation and the thermal boundary conditions. Results show that the present eDPD model recovers the standard DPD model when isothermal fluid systems are considered. For non-isothermal fluid systems, the present model can predict the diffusivity and viscosity consistent with available experimental data of liquid water at various temperatures. Moreover, an analytical formula for determining the mesoscopic heat friction is proposed. The validity of the formula is confirmed by reproducing the experimental data for Prandtl number of liquid water at various temperatures. The proposed method is demonstrated in water but it can be readily extended to other liquids.
Learning Chance Probability Functions for Shape Retrieval or Classification

Several example-based systems for shape retrieval and shape classification directly match input shapes to stored shapes, without using class membership information to perform the matching. We propose a method for improving the accuracy of this type of system. First, the system learns a set of chance probability functions (CPFs). The CPFs estimate the probabilities of obtaining a query shape with particular distances from each training example by chance. The learned CPFs are used at runtime to rapidly estimate the chance probabilities of the observed distances between the actual query shape and the database shapes. These estimated probabilities are then used as a dissimilarity measure for shape retrieval and/or nearest-neighbor classification. The CPF learning method is parameter-free. Experimental evaluation demonstrates that: (1) chance probabilities yield higher accuracy than Euclidean distances; (2) the learned CPFs support fast matching; and (3) the CPF-based system outperforms prior systems on a standard benchmark test of retrieval accuracy.
Tris(methylthio)methane

[5418-86-10] C4H10S3 (MW 154.35) InChI = 1S/C4H10S3/c1-5-4(6-2)7-3/h4H,1-3H3 InChIKey = YFMZQCCTZUJXEB-UHFFFAOYSA-N (precursor to tris(methylthio)methyllithium,2 useful for the preparation of carboxylic acids,2 esters,3 ketene thioacetals,4 α-hydroxy esters,5 β-alkoxy carbonyl lactones6 and for ring expansion of cyclic ketones to cyclic 1,2-keto thioacetals7) Physical Data: mp 17–18 °C;8 bp 102 °C/15 mm;8 d 1.16 g cm−3; 1H NMR (CCl4) δ 4.63 (s, 1H), 2.16 (s, 9H).2b Form Supplied in: liquid; widely available. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: stench; irritant; use in a fume hood.
The Standardized Mortality Ratio Revisited: Improvements, Innovations, and Limitations

Evaluation of patient outcome for end-stage renal disease patients is an important component of the comparison of treatment protocols. End-stage renal disease mortality comparisons are facilitated by availability of the relevant data in administrative databases. The standardized mortality ratio has been widely used by the renal community for such evaluation. Accurate methods for evaluating adjusted mortality with the standardized mortality ratio are shown, even when there are few deaths expected. Both confidence interval and probability value calculations are shown. Classification errors for the identification of elevated mortality will occur even with accurate calculations. Criteria for choosing adjustment factors are reviewed. Only those factors that result in unavoidable variation in mortality should be adjusted for. Analysts using the US Renal Data System death rate tables for standardized mortality ratio computations must calculate mortality and patient follow-up with the same methods used by the US Renal Data System. In particular, patient follow-up must include postwithdrawal and posttransfer data but not data for the first 90 days of end-stage renal disease. Methods for comparison to a regional norm are presented.
A parameter estimation framework for Multiscale Kalman Smoother algorithm in precipitation data fusion

A new effective parameter estimation approach is presented for the Multiscale Kalman Smoother (MKS) algorithm. As demonstrated, it shows promising potentials in deriving better data products involving sources from different spatial scales and precisions. The proposed approach employs a multiobjective parameter estimation framework, which includes three multiobjective estimation schemes (MO schemes), rather than using the conventional maximum likelihood scheme (ML scheme), to estimate the MKS parameters. Unlike the ML scheme, the MO schemes are not built on strict statistical assumptions related to prediction errors and observation errors, rather, they directly associate the fused data of multiple scales with multiple objective functions. In the MO schemes, objective functions are defined to facilitate consistency among the fused data at multiple scales and the input data at their original scales as well in terms of spatial patterns and magnitudes. Merits of the new approach are evaluated through a Monte Carlo experiment and a series of comparison analyses using synthetic precipitation data that contain noises which follow either the multiplicative error model or the additive error model. Our results show that the MKS fused precipitation performs better using the MO framework. Improvements are particularly significant for the fused precipitation associated with fine spatial resolutions. This is due mainly to the adoption of more criteria and constraints in the MO framework. The weakness of the original ML scheme, arising from its blindly putting more weights into the data associated with finer resolutions, is circumvented in the proposed new MO framework.
Extended Visual Fixation in the Early Preschool Years: Look Duration, Heart Rate Changes, and Attentional Inertia

Visual fixation in infants from 6 months to 2 years of age was examined for its fit to the theory of "attentional inertia." A children's movie ("Sesame Street" movie, "Follow that Bird") or an extended audiovisual stimulus (computer-generated patterns) was presented to 40 children for a minimum of 20 min while fixation was videotaped and heart rate (HR) was recorded. Consistent with attentional inertia theory, fixations toward the stimuli had a lognormal distribution, HR decreased over the course of a look, and HR returned to prestimulus levels immediately before look offset. Older children (18 months, 24 months) showed a distinction in the parameters describing the lognormal distribution for the "Sesame Street" movie and the audiovisual patterns, whereas younger children (6 months, 12 months) responded similarly to the two stimulus types. Fixation patterns of children in this age range suggest attention increases over the course of a look, and parameters consistent with attentional inertia theory differentially develop in this age range.
Is a Bad Economy Good for Marriage? The Relationship between Macroeconomic Conditions and Marital Stability from 1998-2009

In the United States, the Great Recession has been marked by severe shocks to labor and housing markets. In this study, we combine longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study (FFCWS) with administrative data on local area unemployment rates and state-level mortgage delinquency rates to examine the relationship between labor and housing market distress and marital dissolution among couples with children. Although the recession increased economic hardship in our sample, we find no evidence that these economic stresses accelerated or increased rates of marital dissolution. On the contrary, our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the recession led some couples to delay or forego marital separation. This relationship was strongest in subgroups that were hardest hit by the recession: racial and ethnic minorities and those with low levels of educational attainment.
SiC Nanowires by Silicon Carburization

Polycrystalline SiC nanowires and composite Si nanowire-SiC nanograin structures have been synthesized using a combined catalytic chemical vapor deposition and carburization method. Si nanowires are grown at low temperature (550-650 C) and subsequently carburized at 1100-1200 C in a methane/hydrogen or propane/hydrogen environment. Thermochemical calculations showed that the Si carburization is thermodynamically favorable over a wide tempareture range, whereas our studies showed that the Si nanowire carburization is kinetically limited below ∼1100 °C. Partially carburized nanowires contained distinct SiC nanosized grains on the Si nanowire surface, whereas fully carburized nanowires were polycrystalline 3C SiC with grain sizes of ∼ 50-100 nm.
Numerical simulations of tectonic processes in Southern California

Summary. A relaxation model for crustal tectonics, using the Finite Element method, was developed and applied to the region of Southern California. Both the existence of the Transverse Ranges and the geometry of the San Andreas fault in the region of Southern California, imply a stress pattern deviating from the simple horizontal shear which parallels the spreading between the Pacific and the North American plates. A number of possible mechanisms responsible for this anomalous stress field were examined quantitatively in the light of seismicity and other tectonic observations, and in particular to the Palmdale uplift which was reported to have occurred between the years 1960-65.
Prognostic utility of plasma lactate measured between 24 and 48 h after initiation of early goal-directed therapy in the management of sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock

Based on the proven efficacy of lactate in predicting mortality and morbidity in sepsis when measured early in the resuscitative protocol, our group hypothesized that this utility extends later in the course of care. This study sought to investigate the prognostic potential of plasma lactate clearance measured 24–48 h after the initiation of treatment for nonsurgical patients with sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. Plasma lactate values, measured 24–48 h after the initiation of treatment, were collected in nonsurgical septic, severe septic, and septic shock patients. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality, while secondary outcomes included requirements for vasopressors and boluses of intravenous fluids. Analysis of these three outcomes was performed while controlling for clinical severity as measured by Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), renal dysfunction, and hepatic dysfunction. Lactate clearance was defined as the percent change in plasma lactate levels measured after 24–48 h of treatment from the plasma lactate level at initial presentation. Two hundred twenty-nine nonsurgical patients were divided into two groups, clearers (above median lactate clearance [31.6 %]) and nonclearers (below median lactate clearance [31.6 %]). The adjusted odds ratio of mortality in clearers compared to nonclearers was 0.39 (CI 0.20–0.76) (p = 0.006). For vasopressor requirement, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.41 (CI 0.21–0.79) in clearers compared to nonclearers (p = 0.008). For intravenous fluid bolus requirement, the adjusted odds ratio was 0.81 (CI 0.48–1.39) in clearers compared to nonclearers (p = 0.45). Lower plasma lactate clearance 24–48 h after the initiation of treatment is associated with higher 30-day mortality and requirements for vasopressors in nonsurgical septic patients and may be a useful noninvasive measurement for guiding late-sepsis treatment. Further investigation looking at mechanisms and therapeutic targets to improve lactate clearance in late sepsis may improve patient mortality and outcomes.
Psychological Science on Eyewitness Identification and the U.S. Supreme Court: Reconsiderations in Light of DNA-Exonerations and the Science of Eyewitness Identification

The U.S. Supreme Court has not reexamined the test for admission of eyewitness identifications that are the product of suggestive procedures in over 35 years (Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 1977). Since then, there have been over 218 DNA-based exonerations of individuals who were mistakenly identified, and an extensive and rich scientific literature on eyewitness identification has emerged. This chapter reviews the original Manson ruling, using as an analytic framework the Court’s own justifications for implementing a Manson test for determining the admissibility of suggestively obtained identification evidence. The Court’s 1977 ruling was meant to be a safeguard against wrongful conviction, and we note how the DNA-based exonerations can only be a small fraction of the total cases of wrongful convictions based on mistaken identification. The flaws inherent in Manson, in light of the last 30 years of scientific research on eyewitness identification, are reviewed, and it is argued that Manson fails to provide an adequate safeguard against wrongful conviction based on mistaken identification. The two objectives of the Manson ruling, namely suppressing unreliable identifications and providing a disincentive for suggestive procedures, cannot be met with the basic approach inherent in Manson and paradoxically may incentivize police to use suggestive procedures.
Preface for small-molecule activation: carbon-containing fuels.

For millennia, human transportation was fueled largely through the consumption of biomass (by humans or domestic animals) and to a lesser extent by wind. The 19th century saw a major shift to coal-fueled transportation, with trains and ships powered by steam engines. A second major shift in the fueling of transportation occurred in the 20th century, this time to petroleum. Thus, this transition was not driven by the cost or ease of obtaining energy from oil wells vs. coal mines – indeed, the cost of petroleum has always been higher than coal on a per-unit-energy basis – but rather by the tremendous technical advantages of powering engines with liquids, specifically liquid hydrocarbons.
Sulfide Modification of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Gold Cathodes for Use with Cobalt Polypyridyl Mediators

[Co(bpy)3]2+/3+-type complexes have emerged as promising alternatives to the traditional I–/I3– electrolyte used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). One of the many advantages these complexes exhibit is their ability to undergo reduction on Au cathodes rather than the more expensive Pt. However, in our experience irreproducibility of fabricated Au cathodes has been a longstanding issue due to variations in charge-transfer resistance (RCT) for the Co2+/3+ couple. These variations manifest themselves as poor fill factors in the current–voltage measurements. In an effort to increase electronic coupling between the Co complex and the Au surface (and thereby reduce RCT), a simple surface modification with sulfide ion has been developed. XPS measurements indicate the modification is stable after exposure to mediator solution. Cyclic voltammetry shows a drastic increase in reversibility for the Co2+/3+ electrochemistry, especially under typical DSSC mediator conditions. A commensurate enhancement in the fill ...