cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Distributed Consensus Via Lifting Markov Chains

Existing works on distributed averaging explore linear iterations based on reversible Markov chains. The convergence of such algorithms is bounded to be slow due to the diffusive behavior of the reversible chains. It has been observed that certain nonreversible chains lifted from reversible ones mix substantially faster than the original chains. We show that the idea of nonreversible lifting lends itself naturally to a fast distributed averaging algorithm, where each node maintains multiple estimates, corresponding to multiple lifted states in the Markov chain. We give a rigorous proof that it is possible to achieve an e-averaging time of Theta(k log(1/isin)) on a k times k grid. For a general wireless network, we propose a Location-Aided Distributed Averaging (LADA) algorithm, which utilizes local information to construct a fast-mixing nonreversible chain in a distributed manner. We show that using LADA, an e-averaging time of Theta(r-1 log(1/isin)) is achievable in a wireless network with transmission radius r.
“Make haste slowly”: Augustus Caesar transforms the Roman world

The Roman Empire illustrates how change occurs in complex social systems. An analysis of: the effects of transformational leadership and transactional leadership styles in complex social systems; and the relationship between leadership style and the social context is conducted. Julius Caesar is shown to have failed to create a new method of governing Rome. Augustus Caesar, however, created the basis for the Roman Empire. Their careers show that change which is incremental and does not violate the core culture of a system is more likely to transform a social system than more radical, transformational methods.
Recent and future advances in air pollution instrumentation

Currently used instruments for the measurement of O3, SO2, and the oxides of nitrogen are briefly described. The first utilizes the chemiluminescence of the gas phase reaction of O3 with ethylene, the second uses the chemiluminescence of excited diatomic sulfur formed in the cool hydrogen flame by reaction between SO2 and H atoms, while the third depends upon the chemiluminescent reaction NO+O3. Nitrogen dioxide is thermally dissociated into NO and measured as such.
Computational experience with methods for estimating sparse hessians for nonlinear optimization

The paper compares a factorized sparse quasi-Newton update of Goldfarb with a nonfactorized BFGS sparse update of Shanno on a series of test problems, with numerical results strongly favoring the unfactorized update. Analysis of Goldfarb's method is done to explain the poor numerical performance. Two specific conjugate gradient methods for solving the required systems of linear equations with the unfactorized update are described and tested.
Wing-Nacelle Assembly Multidisciplinary Performance Optimization

The paper analyzes the aerodynamics benefits of above-wing mounting of turbofan engines and performs a trade-off study of the structural limitations with this mounting method. This research is based on the US Patent #6,308,913, aiming to quantify the actual benefit derived from the drag reduction measure described in the patent. The paper focuses on the analysis of a turbofan engine, which when installed above an aircraft’s wing creates a flow field optimized to reduce the overall drag experienced by the wing nacelle assembly. This installation is designed to reduce wave drag during transonic cruise and therefore the wing-nacelle geometry was analyzed at a CL value of 0.4 and Mach number of 0.75. An aerodynamically ideal location for the nacelle was ascertained, and drag characteristics calculated. A multidisciplinary optimization study, considering the effects of drag, structural weight and aircraft mission was performed. This study does not, and was not intended to have the fidelity necessary for detailed design of an airframe-engine installation, but is instead intended to provide guidelines for use in the preliminary-design field.
Microcell for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Analyses

The use of a commercially available all-glass spherical sample-chamber microcell in combination with a time-averaging computer for nuclear magnetic resonance (NMK) analyses of microsamples has recently been reported.1 Brame2 has described a technique for trapping small gas-chromatographically isolated samples directly in such an all-glass NMR microcell. A somewhat different, easily fabricated microcell has been constructed and tested in our laboratories with excellent results. The design is a modification of a cell first described by Frei and Niklaus.3
Immunoglobulins in bronchial tissues from patients with asthma, with special reference to immunoglobulin E

Bronchial tissues from 19 patients with asthma and 62 patients without asthma were examined using immunofluorescent technique. Antisera to human IgE, G, A, M, β 1 C-globulin, albumin, and fibrinogen were used. The patients with asthma were classified on the basis of skin test reactivity, frequency of symptoms, and correlation of symptoms with skin tests. In 11 of the 19 asthmatic patients one or more of the immunoglobulins G, A, or M were found in a characteristic location in the thickened bronchial basement membrane. The fluorescence of the gamma globulins was usually diffuse. In 4 cases, however, the fluorescence was granular. Many immunoglobulin-containing mononuclear cells (lymphocytes and plasma cells) were found in the submucosa of the bronchial specimens. The largest numbers of IgE-containing cells were seen in the specimens from the nonasthmatic patients showing inflammation. These nonasthmatic cases also had the largest numbers of cells containing IgA, G, and M. We were not able to distinguish the skin test-positive individuals from those with negative skin tests on the basis of the number of IgE-containing mononuclear cells in bronchial tissues, but there was only one patient with a simple seasonal history with good correlation of symptoms. Possible reasons for the infrequency with which IgE was found in the asthmatic patients were noted.
Mercury in sediments of the Horwer Bucht (Lake Lucerne) and tributary streams, Switzerland

The mercury content of sieved, dried sediments from 24 sampling sites in the Horwer Bucht (Lake Lucerne) and its principal tributary stream system in Horw LU (Switzerland) was determined by flameless atomic absorption analysis. Mercury content significantly above background levels were found at several points. The distribution of mercury in the bay sediments implies that the Steinibach is the principal supplier of mercury to the bay.
Heat assisted magnetic recording performance and integration challenges

Recent recording areal density and integrated drive performance demonstrations using Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) suggest that it is a viable technology to succeed conventional magnetic recording. However challenges still remain for the near field transducer, in particular reliability and sufficient thermal confinement. We explore a new NFT design, Near field Transducer Gap (NTG), which offers the potential to mitigate some of the issues in track confinement and thermal profile compared to earlier published studies [4]. The design offers efficiency improvements, and the potential to reduce unwanted background light and heating that can lead to erasure in the writing track, and neighbors.
Simulation and Formal Verification of x86 Machine-Code Programs that make System Calls

We present an approach to modeling and verifying machine-code programs that exhibit non-determinism. Specifically, we add support for system calls to our formal, executable model of the user-level x86 instruction-set architecture (ISA). The resulting model, implemented in the ACL2 theorem-proving system, allows both formal analysis and efficient simulation of x86 machine-code programs; the logical mode characterizes an external environment to support reasoning about programs that interact with an operating system, and the execution mode directly queries the underlying operating system to support simulation. The execution mode of our x86 model is validated against both its logical mode and the real machine, providing test-based assurance that our model faithfully represents the semantics of an actual x86 processor. Our framework is the first that enables mechanical proofs of functional correctness of user-level x86 machine-code programs that make system calls. We demonstrate the capabilities of our model with the mechanical verification of a machine-code program, produced by the GCC compiler, that computes the number of characters, lines, and words in an input stream. Such reasoning is facilitated by our libraries of ACL2 lemmas that allow automated proofs of a program's memory-related properties.
Hap-seqX: expedite algorithm for haplotype phasing with imputation using sequence data

Haplotype phasing is one of the most important problems in population genetics as haplotypes can be used to estimate the relatedness of individuals and to impute genotype information which is a commonly performed analysis when searching for variants involved in disease. The problem of haplotype phasing has been well studied. Methodologies for haplotype inference from sequencing data either combine a set of reference haplotypes and collected genotypes using a Hidden Markov Model or assemble haplotypes by overlapping sequencing reads. A recent algorithm Hap-seq considers using both sequencing data and reference haplotypes and it is a hybrid of a dynamic programming algorithm and a Hidden Markov Model (HMM), which is shown to be optimal. However, the algorithm requires extremely large amount of memory which is not practical for whole genome datasets. The current algorithm requires saving intermediate results to disk and reads these results back when needed, which significantly affects the practicality of the algorithm. In this work, we proposed the expedited version of the algorithm Hap-seqX, which addressed the memory issue by using a posterior probability to select the records that should be saved in memory. We show that Hap-seqX can save all the intermediate results in memory and improves the execution time of the algorithm dramatically. Utilizing the strategy, Hap-seqX is able to predict haplotypes from whole genome sequencing data.
Transient catalysts for the polymerization of organosiloxanes

A study was made of the polymerization of siloxances with transient basic catalysts. These catalysts are active as polymerization catalysts for siloxanes and will decompose rapidly to inactive products at elevated temperatures with the formation of stable polymers. Several quaternary ammonium bases were studied as polymerization catalysts. It was found that bases such as tetramethylammonium hydroxide and benzyltrimethylammonium hydroxide were efficient catalysts. Similar bases having β-hydrogen atoms decomposed too rapidly via an elimination reaction and were not good catalysts. The polymerizations of organosiloxanes with quanternary phosphonium hydroxides were also studied. The phosphonium bases decomposed thermally in a different manner than the ammonium bases to give phosphine oxides and hydrocarbones. The most efficient transient catalysts were found to be phosphonium silanolates. Tetrabutylphosphonium silanolate was conveniently prepared in an anhydrous form and it proved to be extremely efficient for the preparation of homopolymers and copolymers of organosiloxanes.
Forms of wealth and parent-offspring conflict☆

Abstract As Trivers (1974) has emphasized, goals of parents and offspring are not completely congruent. Trivers discusses psychological mechanisms which the parties use to achieve their goals. In this paper, we argue that economic variables are also relevant in this conflict. Specifically, as forms of wealth change—as more wealth is held in the form of human capital rather than real or financial capital—the amount of control which parents have over offspring decreases, since parents are less able to use threats of disinheritance to control children and since educated children have large amounts of (human) capital independently of behaviors of parents. This change in parental control has two implications which we explore in detail. First, parents substitute time spent with children as a method of inculcating children with desired values; this implies lowered fertility as human capital increases. (This is in addition to the standard economic analysis of increasing costs of children as parents' education, and hence time costs, increase.) Second, parents cannot rely on children for old age support (a form of altruism) and therefore must substitute other forms of old age support, such as Social Security and pension funds. Finally, we argue that this paper is an example of interdisciplinary research between economics and biology and that type of research may be expected to be useful.
Peptide- and Long-Chain Polyamine- Induced Synthesis of Micro- and Nanostructured Titanium Phosphate and Protein Encapsulation

Poly(allylamine) (a mimic of biopolyamines) and the R5 peptide (a repeat unit of a silaffin protein isolated from a diatom) induce the formation of mineralized titanium from soluble titanium(IV) precursors. These reactions proceed under mild aqueous conditions. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the nanometer to micrometer diameter particles induced by poly(allylamine) are spherical under a range of conditions, while those induced by the R5 peptide include spheres and fused structures. Dynamic light scattering experiments confirm the SEM results and reveal that the particles range in size from 2 nm to 5 μm. The surface charge is negative at neutral pH. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy shows the composition to be primarily titanium, oxygen, and phosphorus. The solids are amorphous at room temperature by powder X-ray diffraction but the material induced by poly(allylamine) converts to cubic crystalline TiP2O7 with annealing to 800 °C. Infrared spectroscopy suggests that the biomolecule mineralizati...
Catalytic Carboalumination of Olefins with Cyclopentadienylamidotitanium Dichloride Complexes

The half-sandwich metallocene η5-(C5Me4)SiMe2N(tBu)TiCl2 reacts with a stoichiometric amount of dibutylmagnesium in tetrahydrofuran to form a robust monobutyl monochloride η5-(C5Me4)SiMe2N(tBu)Ti(Bu)Cl. X-ray crystallography reveals an undistorted η1-butyl ligand. In the presence of an excess of triethylaluminum the dichloride η5-(C5Me4)SiMe2N(tBu)TiCl2 serves as a catalyst for the carboalumination of olefins. The organometallic products of these reactions can be oxidized to 1,4-butanediols. The enantioselective carboalumination of allylbenzene by the chiral complex η5-(Ind)SiMe2N[CH(Me)Ph]TiCl2, derived from (−)α-methylbenzylamine, affords 2-benzyl-1,4-butanediol in 53% yield and 28% enantiomeric excess.
Importance of feedback loops between soil inorganic nitrogen and microbial communities in the heterotrophic soil respiration response to global warming

Importance of feedback loops between soil inorganic nitrogen and microbial communities in the heterotrophic soil respiration response to global warming
Risk of vascular events in emergency department patients discharged home with diagnosis of dizziness or vertigo.

Study objective Dizziness and vertigo are common reasons for visiting the emergency department (ED), but many patients are discharged home without a specific diagnosis. Given the concern that important diagnoses could be missed, we measure the incidence of subsequent major vascular events in patients after discharge home. Methods We identified all adults discharged home from California EDs with a primary diagnosis of dizziness or vertigo from January to June 2005, using comprehensive encounter records. Events were captured with linked statewide hospital discharge and national mortality data. We used Nelson-Aalen survival analysis for the primary outcome, hospitalization or death for cerebrovascular (acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke) or cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and ventricular arrhythmia), and the secondary outcomes, repeat ED visit for dizziness or vertigo, cerebrovascular events, and cardiovascular events. Results Among 31,159 patients identified, median age was 56 years and 63.5% were women. During the follow-up period, there were 274 deaths, 231 cerebrovascular events, and 115 cardiovascular events. The 180-day cumulative incidence of vascular event, cerebrovascular event, or cardiovascular event was 0.93% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.83% to 1.04%), 0.63% (95% CI 0.55% to 0.72%), and 0.32% (0.26% to 0.38%), respectively. The risk of cerebrovascular events was higher in the first month (95% CI 30.2 [24.4 to 37.0] versus 6.5 [5.3 to 7.9] events/10,000 person-months thereafter). Conclusion Few patients experience a major vascular event after discharge home with a diagnosis of dizziness or vertigo, with a stroke occurring in less than 1 in 500 patients within the first month. Future studies will be required to accurately stratify the risk for individual patients.
Consistently normal CD4+, CD8+ levels in haemophilic boys only treated with a virally safe factor VIII concentrate (BPL 8Y)

Prospective biochemical, virological and selected immunological follow up has been done for up to 32 months on 15 previously untreated haemophilic boys following treatment with an intermediate purity dry heated factor VIII concentrate (BPL 8Y). Tests for liver function and antibodies to blood-borne viruses have been assessed monthly for the first year after starting treatment and thereafter every 2 months. All patients were immunized against hepatitis B and have not developed hepatitis B core antibodies and no boy has shown any rise in alanine transaminase level nor has anyone developed antibodies to hepatitis C (HCV). All patients have remained anti-HIV seronegative. T lymphocyte subsets have been measured approximately every 4 months and in no patient has there been a significant rise in CD8+ cells: one patient showed a significant decrease in CD4+ cells but these and all CD4+ values for the other boys remained within normal age related limits. Changes in CD4+ levels in this one boy were not related to the total amount of treatment received. This group of patients who appear not to have contracted HIV, hepatitis B or non A non B hepatitis following treatment with this intermediate purity factor VIII concentrate have also not shown any consistent changes in CD4+ or CD8+ cells, which have been recorded previously in frequently treated haemophiliacs.
Family Policy Past As Prologue: Jimmy Carter, the White House Conference on Families, and the Mobilization of the New Christian Right1

The White House Conference on Families both exemplified the contested nature of “family policy” since the late nineteenth century and inaugurated the latest phase in the venerable invocation of “family values” as a tactic for political mobilization. In 1976 presidential candidate Jimmy Carter proposed a White House Conference on the American Family in order to shore up support among cultural conservatives, especially Roman Catholics. Four years later, after much debate within the Carter administration as well as in the country at large about what constituted a legitimate family, three sessions of a White House Conference on Families were held. Cultural moderates, feminists, gays rights activists, devout Catholics, and evangelical Protestants disagreed vehemently about policies ranging from legalized abortion to family leave. Following a long though little known tradition, women were especially active among grassroots conservatives. Ultimately conservatives mobilized much more effectively than their liberal and moderate opponents, and they quickly made restoration of family values an effective wedge issue for the new Christian right and the Republican party. In many ways, the debate over family policy in the early 21st century still echoes that of the 1970s—or the 1930s or the 1910s.
Numerical solution of the radiation transport equation in disk geometry.

An efficient numerical method for solving the problem of radiation transport in a dusty medium with two dimensional (2-D) disk geometry is described. It is a generalization of the one-dimensional quasi-diffusion method in which the transport equation is cast in diffusion form and then solved as a boundary value problem. The method should be applicable to a variety of astronomical sources, the dynamics of which are angular-momentum dominated and hence not accurately treated by spherical geometry, e.g., protoplanetary nebulae, circumstellar disks, interstellar molecular clouds, accretion disks, and disk galaxies. The computational procedure and practical considerations for implementing the method are described in detail. To illustrate the effects of 2-D radiation transport, some model results (dust temperature distributions and IR flux spectra) for externally heated, interstellar dust clouds with spherically symmetric and disk geometry are compared.
Risk behaviors related to cigarette smoking among persons with spinal cord injury

Introduction Smoking, while detrimental to health in any population, has greater health implications for those with spinal cord injury (SCI) because of additional risks posed by SCI. The aims of this study were to document smoking status after SCI and to assess relationships between smoking status with injury severity and alcohol/pain medication use. Methods Participants (n = 1,076) were identified from a large rehabilitation hospital in the southeastern part of the United States. Eligibility criteria included (a) traumatic SCI resulting in residual impairment, (b) adult, and (c) 1+ years postinjury. Previous and current cigarette smoking and quitting attempts were assessed. Relationships were assessed between smoking status (current, former, and never), alcohol use, and pain medication use. Results Of participants (72% male, M age = 49.6 years, M = 16.1 years since SCI), 49.2% had never smoked, 28.2% were former smokers, and 22.6% were current smokers. Of current smokers, 39.2% attempted quitting in the past year and 77.2% had ever tried to quit. Only 29.9% of those who ever tried to quit sought professional help. Ambulatory persons, regardless of injury level, were 2.32 times more likely to be current smokers than nonambulatory persons with a high-level cervical injury. Lower socioeconomic status, binge drinking, and misuse of pain medication all predicted current smoking. Conclusions Smoking prevalence among persons with SCI is largely consistent with the general population. Additionally, we found smoking to be associated with other risk behaviors (binge drinking and prescription medication misuse) and differs by injury severity. Future studies should assess smoking interventions, which may differ by injury severity.
Multi-axial correction system in the treatment of radial club hand

Background Radial club hand is a well-recognized congenital malformation characterized by hypoplasia of bone and soft tissue on the radial aspect of the forearm and hand. The modalities of treatment have traditionally varied from stretching casts with soft-tissue procedures to the use of multiple corrective osteotomies. These osteotomies can be stabilized by a variety of methods, including external fixators that allow the possibility of gradual distraction with neohistiogenesis. This current study outlines the usage of one such device (multi-axial correction system [MAC]) in the management of deformity associated with severe radial club hand. Methods Three consecutive cases of unilateral or bilateral severe (Bayne type IV) congenital radial club hand were corrected using MAC fixation in the last 5 years. This is a retrospective review of all three cases. Data parameters included: patient demographics, presentation findings, degree of deformity, amount of correction/lengthening, length of procedure, length of treatment, and associated complications. The surgical technique is described in detail for the benefit of the readership. Results The three patients with severe congenital radial club hand had a total of four limb involvements that underwent correction using osteotomies and usage of the MAC device for external fixation. All three patients underwent successful correction of deformity with the restoration of alignment, lengthening of forearm for improvement of function, and stabilization of the wrist (mean duration, mean lengthening, mean time to consolidation). The MAC system was well tolerated in all patients and associated complications were limited. Conclusion The MAC fixator seems to be a good alternative modality of stabilization and correction for severe congenital radial club hand deformities. Its usage is fairly simple and it provides the ease of application of a monolateral fixator with far superior three-dimensional control, like the circular external fixator. We recommend that clinicians should add this modality to their armamentarium for the deformity correction of severe radial club hand and others in general.
Prescribing for seniors: it's a balancing act.

PURPOSE To present a rational approach to prescribing for seniors, balancing the need for and number of medications. DATA SOURCES Selected evidence-based reviews and research articles and the author's own experience. CONCLUSIONS Whenever possible, alternatives to medication therapy should be considered as the initial treatment of choice; however, medications should be prescribed when indicated and not withheld due to a patient's age. Reducing the number of medications reduces the risk for adverse drug reactions and drug-to-drug inter-actions. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Careful review of an older patient's medication list prior to initiating new therapy is necessary. Follow-up care to review the efficacy and monitor any potential side effects is crucial. Timely discontinuation of a drug when therapeutic usefulness is surpassed is equally important.
Cellular remodeling of HCO3− secreting cells in rabbit renal collecting duct in response to an acidic environment

The renal cortical collecting duct (CCD) consists of principal and intercalated cells. Two forms of intercalated cells, those cells involved in H+/HCO3- transport, have recently been described. H+-secreting cells are capable of apical endocytosis and have H+ATPase on the apical membrane and a basolateral Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. HCO3(-)-secreting cells bind peanut agglutinin (PNA) to apical membrane receptors and have diffuse or basolateral distribution of H+ATPase; their Cl-/HCO3- exchanger is on the apical membrane. We found that 20 h after acid feeding of rabbits, there was a fourfold increase in number of cells showing apical endocytosis and a numerically similar reduction of cells binding PNA. Incubation of CCDs at pH 7.1 for 3-5 h in vitro led to similar, albeit less pronounced, changes. Evidence to suggest internalization and degradation of the PNA binding sites included a reduction in apical binding of PNA, decrease in pH in the environment of PNA binding, and incorporation of electron-dense PNA into cytoplasmic vesicles. Such remodeling was dependent on protein synthesis. There was also functional evidence for loss of apical Cl-/HCO3- exchange on PNA-labeled cells. Finally, net HCO3- flux converted from secretion to absorption after incubation at low pH. Thus, exposure of CCDs to low pH stimulates the removal/inactivation of apical Cl-/HCO3- exchangers and the internalization of other apical membrane components. Remodeling of PNA-labeled cells may mediate the change in polarity of HCO3- flux observed in response to acid treatment.
Pyruvate Kinase M2 Expression, but Not Pyruvate Kinase Activity, Is Up-Regulated in a Grade-Specific Manner in Human Glioma

Normal tissues express the M1 isoform of pyruvate kinase (PK) that helps generate and funnel pyruvate into the mitochondria for ATP production. Tumors, in contrast, express the less active PKM2 isoform, which limits pyruvate production and spares glycolytic intermediates for the generation of macromolecules needed for proliferation. Although high PKM2 expression and low PK activity are considered defining features of tumors, very little is known about how PKM expression and PK activity change along the continuum from low grade to high grade tumors, and how these changes relate to tumor growth. To address this issue, we measured PKM isoform expression and PK activity in normal brain, neural progenitor cells, and in a series of over 100 astrocytomas ranging from benign grade I pilocytic astrocytomas to highly aggressive grade IV glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). All glioma exhibited comparably reduced levels of PKM1 expression and PK activity relative to normal brain. In contrast, while grade I-III gliomas all had modestly increased levels of PKM2 RNA and protein expression relative to normal brain, GBM, regardless of whether they arose de novo or progressed from lower grade tumors, showed a 3–5 fold further increase in PKM2 RNA and protein expression. Low levels of PKM1 expression and PK activity were important for cell growth as PKM1 over-expression and the accompanying increases in PK activity slowed the growth of GBM cells. The increased expression of PKM2, however, was also important, because shRNA-mediated PKM2 knockdown decreased total PKM2 and the already low levels of PK activity, but paradoxically also limited cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These results show that pyruvate kinase M expression, but not pyruvate kinase activity, is regulated in a grade-specific manner in glioma, but that changes in both PK activity and PKM2 expression contribute to growth of GBM.
Emotional Regulation and Emotional Development

Current neofunctionalist views of emotion underscore the biologically adaptive and psychologically constructive contributions of emotion to organized behavior, but little is known of the development of the emotional regulatory processes by which this is fostered. Emotional regulation refers to the extrinsic and intrinsic processes responsible for monitoring, evaluating, and modifying emotional reactions. This review provides a developmental outline of emotional regulation and its relation to emotional development throughout the life-span. The biological foundations of emotional self-regulation and individual differences in regulatory tendencies are summarized. Extrinsic influences on the early regulation of a child's emotion and their long-term significance are then discussed, including a parent's direct intervention strategies, selective reinforcement and modeling processes, affective induction, and the caregiver's ecological control of opportunity for heightened emotion and its management. Intrinsic contributors to the growth of emotional self-regulatory capacities include the emergence of language and cognitive skills, the child's growing emotional and self-understanding (and cognized strategies of emotional self-control), and the emergence of a “theory of personal emotion” in adolescence.
Export Demand Elasticity Estimation for Major U.S. Crops

Elevated prices for major U.S. commodities have renewed interest in the price sensitivity of foreign demand facing the United States. Although the elasticity of foreign demand plays an important role in discussions of U.S. farm policy, it is also a parameter that is much debated with the majority of studies in this area published over 20 years ago. We provide new estimates of the elasticity of export demand for U.S. corn, soybeans, and wheat using updated data and empirical techniques. Our estimates are useful for practical policy analysis as well as for researchers seeking to parameterize large-scale simulation models.
Role of coexisting contralateral primary venous disease in development of post-thrombotic syndrome following catheter-based treatment of iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis.

Background It has been reported that early clot removal benefits patients with iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (DVT) by removing obstruction and preserving valve function. However, a substantial number of patients who had successful clot removal develop post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). Residual thrombus and rethrombosis play a part in this phenomenon, but the role of coexisting primary chronic venous disease (PCVD) in these patients has not been studied. Methods All patients who underwent catheter-based techniques of thrombus removal for symptomatic acute iliofemoral DVT during a 5-year period compose the study group. These patients were assessed for PTS by the Villalta scale, the Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS), and the Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study on Quality of Life (VEINES-QOL) questionnaire. The presence of coexisting PCVD was determined by clinical and duplex ultrasound findings in the contralateral leg at the time of the initial DVT diagnosis. Patients who had coexisting PCVD were compared with those without PCVD. Results Forty patients (40 limbs) were included in the study group. At initial diagnosis, 15 patients (38%) had coexisting symptomatic primary valve reflux in the unaffected limb. After thrombolysis, 9 of 40 limbs (22%) had complete lysis, 29 (73%) had ≥50% to 99% lysis, and 2 (5%) had Conclusions Coexisting PCVD is a contributing factor to development of PTS after treatment of iliofemoral DVT with thrombus removal techniques.
Quantifying discrimination of Framingham risk functions with different survival C statistics

Cardiovascular risk prediction functions offer an important diagnostic tool for clinicians and patients themselves. They are usually constructed with the use of parametric or semi-parametric survival regression models. It is essential to be able to evaluate the performance of these models, preferably with summaries that offer natural and intuitive interpretations. The concept of discrimination, popular in the logistic regression context, has been extended to survival analysis. However, the extension is not unique. In this paper, we define discrimination in survival analysis as the model's ability to separate those with longer event-free survival from those with shorter event-free survival within some time horizon of interest. This definition remains consistent with that used in logistic regression, in the sense that it assesses how well the model-based predictions match the observed data. Practical and conceptual examples and numerical simulations are employed to examine four C statistics proposed in the literature to evaluate the performance of survival models. We observe that they differ in the numerical values and aspects of discrimination that they capture. We conclude that the index proposed by Harrell is the most appropriate to capture discrimination described by the above definition. We suggest researchers report which C statistic they are using, provide a rationale for their selection, and be aware that comparing different indices across studies may not be meaningful.
Affinity-selected filamentous bacteriophage as a probe for acoustic wave biodetectors of Salmonella typhimurium.

Proof-in-concept biosensors were prepared for the rapid detection of Salmonella typhimurium in solution, based on affinity-selected filamentous phage prepared as probes physically adsorbed to piezoelectric transducers. Quantitative deposition studies indicated that ≈3 × 1010 phage particles/cm2 could be irreversibly adsorbed for 1 h at room temperature to prepare working biosensors. The quality of phage deposition was monitored by fluorescent microscopy. Specific-bacterial binding resulted in resonance frequency changes of prepared sensors, which were evaluated using linear regression analysis. Sensors possessed a rapid response time of <180 s, had a low-detection limit of 102 cells/ml and were linear over a range of 101–107 cells/ml with a sensitivity of 10.9 Hz per order of magnitude of S. typhimurium concentration. Viscosity effects due to increasing bacterial concentration and non-specific binding were not significant to the piezoelectric platform as confirmed by dose–response analysis. Phage–bacterial binding was confirmed by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. Overall, phage may constitute effective bioreceptors for use with analytical platforms for detecting and monitoring bacterial agents, including use in food products and possibly biological warfare applications.
Biomedical Rationale for a Wellness Approach to Obesity: An Alternative to a focus on Weight Loss

The direct medical hazards of obesity, although real, have been overstated. Because current remedies for obesity have little long-term effectiveness, no controlled clinical trial has demonstrated improved longevity after weight loss. In contrast, advances in drug therapy for diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol allow obese persons affected by these conditions to live healthier lives. Furthermore, weight cycling may cause much of the cardiovascular risk associated with obesity. Repeated loss and regain of weight increases human deaths from heart disease, and in obese laboratory animals weight cycling increases blood pressure, enlarges the heart, damages the kidney, increases abdominal fat deposits, and promotes further weight gain. Additional health risks in obesity may be caused by hazardous treatments for obesity, as illustrated by heart disease caused by diet pills. Obese patients often lack full access to medical services owing in part to social stigma and low self-esteem, which impair self-care activities, and the bias of health professionals. These barriers, along with the prevalence of poverty among the obese, may contribute to the association of obesity with poor health. Medical beliefs about obesity are shaped by expert panels that are highly selective in the data they consider. Experts included on government consensus panels have been disproportionately drawn from the ranks of diet clinic directors, which might explain the congruence between panel recommendations and the economic interests of the diet industry. One remedy is a wellness approach focused on healthy lifestyle, positive attitude to health and self-care, and a disregarding of predetermined weight standards in favor of preventing further weight gain and reducing risk factors. Medical conditions common in obese patients, including hypertension, type-2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and sleep apnea, are dealt with directly and aggressively rather than relying on weight loss as the primary treatment. This new approach should improve the physical and mental well being of obese patients.
Mixed Signals? Gender and the Media's Coverage of the 2008 Vice Presidential Candidates

The 2008 presidential election was one of the most watched campaigns in American history, and prominently featured the vice presidential candidates, Governor Sarah Palin and Senator Joseph Biden. This election contest presents an exciting opportunity to expand and test our current understandings of the relationship between gender and media coverage. We examine this relationship using computer-assisted content analysis of major newspapers, television news broadcasts, and political blogs. These three media are analyzed in terms of both quantity and substance of coverage received by Palin and Biden. Using a multiple medium perspective in our investigation of the contest between Palin and Biden, this article finds differences in volume of coverage (Governor Palin receives more), substance of coverage (roughly reflecting gender-based stereotypes), and medium (with differences in volume and substance of coverage across newspapers, television, and blogs). Implications for future contests and for American politics in general are discussed. Related Articles:“Women Candidates and the Media: 1992-2000 Elections.” (2006) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2006.00030.x/abstract “The Influence of Female Candidates' Campaign Issues on Political Proselytizing.” (2008) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2008.00093.x/abstract “Incumbent Responsiveness to Female Challengers.” (2010) http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2010.00271.x/full Related Media: Blogs at http://themoderatevoice.com/,http://committedtoromney.com/, and http://www.barackoblogger.com/ La eleccion presidencial del 2008 fue una de las campanas mas vistas en la historia de los Estados Unidos, dando un lugar destacado a los candidatos para la vicepresidencia, la gobernadora Sarah Palin y el Senador Joseph Biden. Esta contienda electoral presenta una gran oportunidad para ampliar y poner a prueba nuestra comprension actual de la relacion entre el genero y la cobertura de los medios de comunicacion. Este articulo examina esta relacion usando un analisis de contenido de los principales periodicos, programas de television y blogs politicos. Estos tres medios son analizados en terminos de cantidad y sustancia de la cobertura recibida por Palin y Biden. Usando una perspectiva de multiples medios en nuestra investigacion de la competencia entre Palin y Biden, este estudio encuentra diferencias en el volumen de cobertura (la gobernadora Palin recibio mas), sustancia de la cobertura (mas o menos reflejando estereotipos de genero), y de medio (con diferencias de volumen y sustancia de cobertura entre periodicos, television, y blogs). Las implicaciones para futuras contiendas y la politica estadounidense en general son discutidas.
Update semantics for multilevel relations

A formal operational semantics is given for update operations on multilevel relations, i.e., relations in which individual data elements are classified at different levels. For this purpose, the familiar INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE operations of SQL are suitably generalized to cope with polyinstantiation. The authors conjecture that these operations are consistent (or sound) in that all relations which can be constructed will satisfy the basic integrity properties required of multilevel relations. They also conjecture that the operations are complete in that every multilevel relation can be constructed by some sequence of these operations. >
NORMAL VARIATION AND PREDICTION OF MEAN LENGTH OF UTTERANCE FROM CHRONOLOGICAL AGE

The variation of mean length of utterance, a linguistic measure, is explored among 50 normally developing 3-, 4-, and 5-yr.-old children. In addition, formulas for prediction of language status are presented. It is suggested that mean length of utterance, as a measure of language status, is limited in differentiating language-impaired from normally developing children.
Determinants of Earnest Money Amounts in Real Estate Sell/Buy Contracts

In this study, we examine the factors that may influence the amount of earnest money deposits in real estate sell /buy contracts using contingent claims analysis within the Black-Scholes option pri...
Phase II study of 10-ethyl-10-deaza-aminopterin in patients with stage III and IV non-small-cell lung cancer.

10-ethyl-10-deaza-aminopterin (10-EDAM) is an analog of methotrexate that differs from its compound by modification of the N10 position and demonstrates greater preclinical antitumor activity and less toxicity. In this phase II trial, 20 patients with stage III or IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were administered 10-EDAM at a dose of 80 mg/m2 once weekly for 5 weeks. No patient had previously received chemotherapy. Nineteen of the 20 patients were adequately treated for response assessment. Six of 19 patients (32%) experienced a major objective response (exact 95% confidence limits, 15% to 55%). The median duration of response has not been reached and will exceed 13 months. Mucositis was the most common toxicity observed. Leukopenia was seen in only 10%, and 15% had platelet nadirs less than 100,000/microL. At the dosage and schedule used, 10-EDAM is an active agent in patients with NSCLC who are previously untreated with chemotherapy with a predicted response rate greater than or equal to 15% (P = .05). Because of its level of antitumor activity and the fact that 10-EDAM causes minimal myelosuppression, it is a suitable agent for further study in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents in this disease.
Efficient Hyper-parameter Optimization for NLP Applications

Hyper-parameter optimization is an important problem in natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning. Recently, a group of studies has focused on using sequential Bayesian Optimization to solve this problem, which aims to reduce the number of iterations and trials required during the optimization process. In this paper, we explore this problem from a different angle, and propose a multi-stage hyper-parameter optimization that breaks the problem into multiple stages with increasingly amounts of data. Early stage provides fast estimates of good candidates which are used to initialize later stages for better performance and speed. We demonstrate the utility of this new algorithm by evaluating its speed and accuracy against state-of-the-art Bayesian Optimization algorithms on classification and prediction tasks.
Noteworthy Collections: KENTUCKY

Triadica sebifera (L.) Small [Sapium sebiferum (L.) Roxb.] (EUPHORBIACEAE)—Fayette County: Collected from residence on Athens-Walnut Hill Road, southeast of Lexington; 37u57.4889N, 084u24.8749W; 1 Sept. 2007, Eric B. Comley 61 (EKY). Significance. This is the first collection of Triadica sebifera (L.) Small, the Chinese tallowtree, from Kentucky. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA, NRCS 2007), this invasive species is known from the southern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. Chinese Tallow-tree, or Popcorn Tree, is a native of China, Taiwan, and Japan (USDA, NRCS 2007). The species was introduced by Benjamin Franklin and promoted by the U.S. Forest Service for soap potential and later as an ornamental due to the tree’s beautiful fall color. According to the Invasive and Exotic Species website (Douce et al. 2007) Chinese Tallow-Tree was brought to South Carolina in the 1700’s as an ornamental, and was widely planted by the U.S. Forest Service for seed oil production from 1920 to 1940. This Kentucky record is from a single tree 2.5 m tall and nearly 9 cm in diameter just above ground level. It was located near the end of the carport about 1 m from the driveway and 2 m from a bird feeder. The resident owner’s son brought a sample of the plant to the Fayette County Cooperative Extension Office for identification. After an initial identification, the specimen was confirmed by Dr. Ross Clark, Eastern Kentucky University. The resident’s son, once the tree displayed foliage, noted the tree showed some similarities in leaf shape to native species (Cercis canadensis L. and Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marshall), so the tree was left to grow. The tree was not planted by the property owner. After explanation of the toxicity of the plant to livestock and its listing on State and Federal Noxious Weed lists (USDA, NRCS 2007), the owner agreed to destroy the plant. No other Chinese tallowtrees were found on the 0.6 ha property, but continued observations are planned for the area
Research on fire resistance of restrained PEC columns under axial load based on sub-structure models

By using the software ABAQUS, a finite element model was established to calculate the temperature field and mechanical behavior of the sub-structures including partial beams and retrained PEC columns, and the model was verified by the fire test data of retrained PEC columns. The model was then used to analyze the influence of the parameters such as axial load ratio, axial restraint stiffness, retrained beam span, column length and beam load on the fire resistance of the sub-structure subjected to axial load under the fire condition. A simplified method to determine the fire resistance of PEC columns was established. It can be seen from the research results that the axial load ratio and column length have large influence on the fire resistance of axially restrained PEC columns, while the axial restraint stiffness, retrained beam span and beam load have little influence on the columns. Increase of the axial load ratio leads to a rapid decrease of fire resistance. Simplified calculation method promoted in this paper can be used as a reference to the fire design of axially restrained PEC columns.