cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial Distribution of Epidemiological Cases of Dengue Fever in Suriname, 2001-2012

OBJECTIVE To characterize the frequency, incidence and severity of dengue fever in Suriname and to detect historic clusters of disease by integrating epidemiological data into a spatial visualization platform. METHODS The frequency, incidence and severity of all reported dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) cases in Suriname from 2001 to 2012 were calculated and stratified by demographic factors. Using a geographic information systems (GIS) platform, we visualized the distribution of DF cases and used Moran's I to detect autocorrelation. Furthermore, a retrospective spatial Poisson probability model was used to identify local clusters of DF within Suriname. Local clusters were divided into neighborhoods and individual DF cases were mapped to the street level. RESULTS In Suriname, cases of DF emerge in cyclical patterns (three to five years) with seasonal peaks following the short and the long rainy season. Chi-square analysis indicated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) difference between age group, ethnicity and district and the onset of DHF. The spatial analysis detected spatial autocorrelation and four statistically significant (p < 0.05) clusters were identified in the two most populated districts of Paramaribo and Wanica. CONCLUSION In Suriname, identification of demographic and environmental risk factors that contribute to the development of DHF is essential to determine how preventive action can be more effectively allocated. The integration of epidemiological data into a GIS platform allowed for the identification of historic epidemiological clusters of dengue which will be used to guide environmental health studies in Suriname.
Student Ratings of Instruction: a Causal Analysis of Process Variables

Student ratings of instruction is one of the most widely used methods of measuring teaching effectiveness in post-secondary education (Abrami, d’Apollonia, and Cohen 1990). Wilson and Wilson (1977), using a student evaluation of instruction form, commonly known as the Student Instructional Rating System (SIRS Research Report #2, 1971), confirmed the existence of five predominate factors: (1) Course Organization, (2) Course Demands, (3) Student-Instructor Interaction, (4) Instructor Involvement, and (5) Student Interest. Upon closer inspection, these five factors appear to represent both inputs and outcomes of the teaching process. However, past studies have not examined these from a causal-effect perspective. This study applies structural equation modeling, a statistical technique frequently used by marketing academicians, to a widely used student rating of instruction form for evidence of nomological validity. Instructor Involvement and Student Interest are being treated as outcomes of the teaching process with reciprocal causal relationship between them with the remaining three factors capturing inputs in the teaching process. The causal linkages correspond to the hypotheses tested in this study. The causal model is tested using data from routine teaching evaluations of one instructor at a mid-sized midwestern university. The scale items (of student evaluation form based on SIRS) were tested for internal consistency, discriminate and convergent validity. The factors then were tested for causal relationships, and the fit indices, collectively, indicate a satisfactory model fit. The resulting nomological relationships between the input and the purported outcome variables, present an interesting scenario. Of the three input variables only one, Course Organization, has a consistent significant effect on both Instructor Involvement and Student Interest. A plausible explanation could lie in the inability of our students to handle uncertain situations, framing of the questions, and the transient nature of student-teacher interaction at our universities. There is a need to replicate this study to a larger sample in terms of instructor in order to gain a better understanding of a topic as vital and sometimes controversial as student rating of instruction.
Abstract 2719: ADA3, a cell cycle regulator, regulates chromosome segregation

The RNA polymerase II mediated transcription requires the higher degree structure of chromatin to be relieved so that general transcription machinery can access the DNA. The acetylation of DNA bound histones at specific loci is the major epigenetic modification by which opening of chromatin is achieved. HATs (Histone Acetyl Transferase) are the enzymes that catalyze the acetylation of histones and require association with mediator proteins for their function. One such mediator protein is ADA3 (Alteration/Deficiency in Activation 3), which was initially discovered as a component of multi-protein complex that contains either GCN5 (General Control Non-repressed 5) or PCAF (p300/CBP Associated Factor) as HAT and subsequent studies showed that ADA3 associates with another HAT, p300. As a HAT interacting protein, ADA3 enhances the acetylation of histones as well as non-histone proteins, such as p53. We have recently shown that ADA3 is a cell cycle regulatory protein and is important for both G1 to S phase transition as well as mitosis. Conditional deletion of Ada3 from Ada3FL/FL MEFs (Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts) causes cell cycle arrest and severe mitotic defects. To further explore the mechanism of ADA3 mediated mitosis, we performed ChIP-seq analyses and found that ADA3 bound to higher order repeat region of the centromere across most of the chromosomes. Further studies showed ADA3 interaction with centromere was mediated by a centromeric protein CENP-B. More importantly, siRNA mediated knockdown of ADA3 decreases the occupancy of CENP-B at centromere and causes chromosomal segregation defects during mitosis. These studies demonstrate a novel function of ADA3 in cell cycle regulation. Our current studies are focused on defining the exact mechanism of recruitment of ADA3 complex to CENP-B to regulate mitosis and its effect on genomic stability. Citation Format: Shashank Srivastava, Shakur Mohibi, June Wang-France, Sameer Mirza, Xiangshan Zhao, Hamid Band, Vimla Bnad. ADA3, a cell cycle regulator, regulates chromosome segregation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2719.
Constraining the early Eocene climatic optimum: a terrestrial interhemispheric comparison

The early Eocene climatic optimum was a period of major climatic and environmental change that was caused by perturbations to the global carbon cycle. Recent work from terrestrial sections in the Northern Hemisphere demonstrates that the period was characterized by different responses in the terrestrial and marine realms, suggesting that traditional causal mechanisms may not adequately explain the dynamics of the early Eocene climatic optimum. Here, we present a new high-resolution multiproxy record of terrestrial climatic and environmental conditions during the early Eocene climatic optimum from the Southern Hemisphere and compare this reconstruction to other marine and terrestrial records. Similar to Northern Hemisphere terrestrial records, there is a transient peak period of atmospheric carbon isotope enrichment as well as increased temperatures and precipitation, which indicate that terrestrial environmental responses to the early Eocene climatic optimum were broadly consistent in temperate settings worldwide. This global consistency in terrestrial records demonstrates differences in peak warming time scales and carbon isotope responses between marine and terrestrial systems, which further constrain potential causes for the early Eocene climatic optimum to multiple-system or nontraditional mechanisms and highlight the importance of paired records for understanding past climate.
Evaluation of carbon fiber composites fabricated using ionic liquid based epoxies for cryogenic fluid applications

Abstract Utilizing tanks fabricated from fiber reinforced polymeric composites for storing cryogenic fluids such as liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen is of great interest to NASA as considerable weight savings can be gained. Unfortunately such composites, especially at cryogenic temperatures, develop a mismatch that initiates detrimental delamination and crack growth, which promotes leaking. On-going work with ionic liquid-based epoxies appears promising in mitigating these detrimental effects. Some recent results are presented and discussed.
Gut Microbiota in Vascular Disease: Therapeutic Target?

Background: Gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a powerful regulator of host physiology. Most of its effects are mediated through metabolites acting as energy sources, signaling receptor ligands and substrates for host enzymes. Owing to the meta-stability and high amenability of the gut microbiota to modification by diet and environment predicting specific gut microbes or its metabolites responsible for different host metabolic states is often confounded. Methods: The Pubmed was searched for research articles on gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease. Results: The searched articles reported a direct role of gut microbes in cardiovascular disorders (CVD). The interaction among gut microbial metabolism (through breakdown of certain dietary nutrients like choline), host immune system and lipid metabolism generate conditions that promote atherosclerosis development. Importantly, components of this interactive system can be explored to identify points of intervention in the path of disease development. Based on this strategies targeting gut microbial composition and activity are being explored as therapies against CVD. Use of archaebiotics and 3,3-dimethyl- 1-butanol aiming to reduce TMA (trimethylamine) conversion to TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide) and high fibre diets to reduce TMA precursors while simultaneously selecting for beneficial gut bacteria are attractive anti-atherogenic approaches. Conclusion: Success of these approaches in humans however, requires extensive research.
How Alliances and Experimentation Influence Business Model Changes in New Ventures

This study examines the drivers of new ventures’ business model change. We investigate how a firm’s previous business model experimentation and the new alliances that the firm establishes can influ...
An empirical assessment of the relationship between Official Development Aid and child mortality, 2000–2015

To analyze the effect of Official Development Aid (ODA) dollars on child mortality over the course of the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals initiative. The relationship between child mortality and Official Development Aid over the duration of the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015) is examined here using a longitudinal panel of country-level data from the World Bank and the United Nations. An Ordinary Least Squares regression approach was used with country-level fixed effects. Models were estimated for the full sample and by Human Development Index development strata (high, medium, and low developed countries) with clustered standard errors. ODA appears to be most strongly associated with decreases in child mortality in Medium Developed Countries. Every one dollar per capita increase in ODA is associated with a 0.035 decrease in child deaths per 1000 births. Significant gains were made in decreasing child mortality over the last 15 years. The need for more progress remains. Allocation of ODA to developing countries can be an effective policy tool in achieving public health goals.
Assessment of mental capacity 4th edition (2015): a practical guide for doctors and lawyers

In the Foreword to this, the 4th Edition of the Assessment of Mental Capacity, Senior Judge of the Court of Protection, Denzil Lush describes the extent to which the physical size of this publicati...
Sustained effects of acupuncture in treatment of chronic constipation

Chronic functional constipation especially among older people is a common gastrointestinal (GI) disease worldwide (1,2). The conventional medical management of chronic constipation includes laxatives. However, about 50% of patients are unsatisfied with their typical treatment (3).
Changing Our Dietary Habits: Empathizing With Sisyphus.

![Figure][1] While I was recently walking through an airport in the Southwestern United States, I became acutely aware of what my fellow travelers were eating—hamburgers, French fries, nachos, butter-laden soft pretzels, and massive-sized sugary soft drinks, not to mention the ice cream
How Student Recruitment and Selection Can Impact Reentry Outcomes: Lessons from the Michigan Department of Corrections and Jackson College

In 2013, the Vera Institute of Justice launched the Unlocking Potential: Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education Project (Pathways), a five-year multi-state demonstration project aiming to increase educational attainment and employment opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals by supporting an expansion of educational opportunities in prison. Corrections departments in the states of New Jersey, Michigan, and North Carolina were selected to participate in the initiative. Each college-in-prison program—although executed differently and offering varying programs of study—possessed one common theme: to equip incarcerated persons with the tools necessary to end the cycle of incarceration through high-quality postsecondary education. This paper examines approaches to student recruitment the Michigan site took during its implementation phase and suggests potential outcomes for college-in-prison programs to consider when using the “return communities” approach.
Abstract P243: Depression Screening in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease in a Veterans Administration Hospital

Background: Depression is associated with less favorable outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). In the Veterans Administration System all patients are screened annually for depress...
Progress on the fabrication of lightweight single-crystal silicon x-ray mirrors

Single crystal silicon is an excellent X-ray mirror substrate material due to its high stiffness, low density, high thermal conductivity, zero internal stress, and commercial availability. At NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, we have been developing a process for producing high resolution and lightweight X-ray mirror segments at low cost and with high throughput. Previously we demonstrated the possibility of producing X-ray mirrors which meet the high demands of a future X-ray mission. Presently, we are producing lightweight X-ray mirror segments of unprecedented quality. This paper presents results from these recent investigations.
Intraoperative optical coherence tomography-assisted retrocorneal fibrous membrane biopsy and excision

Abstract Purpose We report a case of retrocorneal fibrous membrane (RCFM) formation following penetrating keratoplasty (PK) and intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT)-guided excision of this membrane. Observations A 68-year-old woman with primary open angle glaucoma and corneal decompensation of the right eye secondary to tube shunt presented for 3-month follow-up of PK. On examination of the right eye, the patient was noted to have a glassy pupillary membrane with traction on the iris. Anterior segment OCT confirmed a membrane connecting the iris to host cornea. The patient underwent biopsy and excision of the membrane assisted by intraoperative OCT. Pathological examination was consistent with Descemet's membrane proliferation. We suspect that this membrane represents retained host's Descemet's membrane following corneal transplantation. Conclusions This case highlights the existence of RCFM formation in the context of retained host cornea following PK and the role of intraoperative OCT in management.
Effect of Mean and Variable Time Constant on Compensated Thermocouple Measurements

Variable and mean time constant compensation techniques applied to thermocouples are used to obtain measurements of the temperature moments, axial heat flux, time series, probability density functions, and power spectra in a heated axisymmetric jet. These results are compared to the corresponding results obtained using a cold wire which has adequate intrinsic uncompensated frequency response to measure the time resolved temperature. Comparison of corresponding results indicates that at high mean velocities and moderate velocity intensities (∼10%), both compensation techniques lead to results that are similar to those obtained using the reference cold wire system. At lower mean velocities and higher velocity intensities (∼20%) the variable time constant technique yields results that are in better agreement with those obtained using the reference system.
Genetic and molecular analysis of the organellar genomes of cytoplasmically inherited mutants of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr)

Genetic analysis of a yellow foliar mutant in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) showed maternal inheritance of the mutant phenotype designated cyt-Y?. The mutant was grown beside normal green sibs (cyt-G^) under three different photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD), and samples were collected to determine pigment content and for electron microscopy analyses of plastid ultrastructure. The plastid ultrastructure of cyt-Y^ appeared normal at low PPFD and the carotenoid level of cyt-Y^ was also normal, but the chlorophyll content was only approximately one-third that of cyt-G-g. Under medium and high PPFD, cyt-Yq plastids lacked a structured thylakoid, and total chlorophyll content was only 28% and 1% normal, respectively; the carotenoid levels of cyt-Yq also dropped to 33% and 2%. These data indicate that the effect of high PPFD on cyt-Yq might result from a deficiency in a plastid membrane protein. The resulting changes in membrane configuration could then interfere with the accumulation or stabilization of chlorophylls and carotenoids, thereby resulting in the subsequent photooxidation of both at medium and high PPFD. This mutant could be useful in the study of thylakoid biosynthesis and
Association Between Medicaid Coverage and Income Status on Health Care Use and Costs Among Hypertensive Adults After Enactment of the Affordable Care Act.

Background Hypertension is highly prevalent among the low-income population in the United States. This study assessed the association between Medicaid coverage and health care service use and costs among hypertensive adults following the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), by income status level. Methods A nationally representative sample of 2,866 nonpregnant hypertensive individuals aged 18-64 years with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) were selected from the 2014 and 2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Regression analyses were performed to examine the association of Medicaid coverage with outpatient (outpatient visits and prescription medication fills), emergency, and acute health care service use and costs among those potentially eligible for Medicaid by income status-the very low-income (FPL ≤ 100%) and the moderately low-income (100% > FPL ≤ 138%). Results Among the study population, 70.1% were very low-income and 29.9% were moderately low-income. Full-year Medicaid coverage was higher among the very low-income group (41.0%) compared with those moderately low-income (29.1%). For both income groups, having full-year Medicaid coverage was associated with increased health care service use and higher overall annual medical costs ($13,085 compared with $7,582 without Medicaid); costs were highest among moderately low-income patients ($17,639). Conclusion Low-income individuals with hypertension, who were potentially newly eligible for Medicaid under the ACA may benefit from expanded Medicaid coverage by improving their access to outpatient services that can support chronic disease management. However, to realize decreases in medical expenditures, efforts to decrease their use of emergency and acute care services are likely needed.
Elizabeth Seton: American Saint. By Catherine ODonnell. (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2018. Pp. xiv, 508. $36.95.)

Catherine O'Donnell's new biography, Elizabeth Seton: American Saint, is elegantly written and meticulously researched. Drawing on the prolific writings of Seton herself, along with an impressive a...
Organ Shortage, Will People's Knowledge be a Path to the Solution?

Organ shortage transforming death into life, which is what organ transplants symbolize, needs the end of somebody life, a scientific miracle of our times, but as well a social problem. Prejudices or ignorance inhibits to offering life to another human being. The consequence of this conflicting situation is that patients waiting for transplantation, “unfairly” die every day. States and Social Security should be involved in this problem. Programming efficient education will be important for change social conduct towards organ donation. As well, several studies emphasize the persistence of an insufficient university medical teams training in transplantation. Organ shortage and waiting lists patients’ mortality is a failure of social communication on organ donation and transplantation. Proposals to review social and university education in current organ shortage crisis, might be an ethical duty for states health and education officials. Solidarity is a positive peoples feeling, nevertheless faced with death of a loved one; it does not seem to be an enough reason to justify authorization to donate. For many people, organ donation represents a perverse and unjustified action of mutilation. Considering the negative reactions that often can occur in the moment in which the alternative of deciding the donation of organs of a loved one is presented; we have proposed the inclusion in the social education plans the following concepts: Organ shortage is a health emergency. Throughout our lives, we might need organ or tissue transplantation. Our body after death is a unique source of health to be shared Organ donation meant to” share life” more than “to gift life”. Organ donation should be a social agreement. People should know the social risks involved in establishing economic incentives for donation. This analysis is made to provide a basic knowledge of a vital medical crisis, and to suggest to decision makers of educational programs useful suggestions for this serious problem. In addition, and very particularly this work is directed to the Society, the main protagonist of this problem, requiring to receiving a correct and detailed information on the dilemma of the lack of organs, in quest that the donation decision will be an act of full awareness. A French philosopher, Jean Rostand has said "To dream you have to know".
Depressive Symptoms and Self-Esteem as Moderators of Metaperceptions of Social Rejection Versus Acceptance: A Truth and Bias Analysis:

Metaperception involves making judgments regarding what others think of us and is important in navigating the social world. We measured the degree of accuracy and bias in metaperceptions of liking ...
Simulation of high water cut in tight oil reservoirs during cyclic CO2 injection

Abstract Tight oil contributed to 64% of total US oil production in 2019. However, recovery factors (RF) in tight oil reservoirs are low, typically less than 10% after primary depletion. Based on numerous published studies, gas huff-n-puff emerges as the most promising technique to push the RF beyond 10%. A recent pilot in the Wolfcamp shale confirmed the effectiveness of CO 2 huff-n-puff, however a higher than expected water cut was also observed during the puff stage. A compositional modeling framework was hence implemented to investigate the reasons as well as the impact of such phenomenon. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time that such abnormal water cut behavior has been modeled for tight oil reservoirs. The fluid PVT and lab-scale model were established and tuned to obtain the critical inputs for the compositional model. A half-stage model of five fractures was then established as a base case, representing a typical completion design in this region. Its results demonstrated an improved oil RF from 7.96% of depletion to 12.16% after six cycles of CO 2 huff-n-puff, and the improvement factor was 1.53 which matches the published results of gas injection in unconventional reservoirs. Based on a comprehensive literature review, several possible mechanisms on abnormal water cut behaviors were identified including underestimation of initial water saturation, interfacial tension (IFT) dependent relative permeability due to miscibility, reactivation of water-bearing layers, and re-opening of unpropped hydraulic fractures. Sensitivity studies indicated that re-opening of unpropped hydraulic fractures might be the most plausible cause. The simulated excessive water production was found to reduce the RF to 11.02% in contrast to a RF of 12.16% of the base case, marking water management as a vital direction for future research.
One-dimensional, transient modeling of a fixed-bed regenerator as a replacement for recuperators in supercritical CO2 power cycles

Abstract Fixed-bed regenerators may be a low cost alternative to recuperators for supercritical CO2 power cycles. However, the transient nature of regenerators operating in sCO2 power cycles has not been previously characterized. This study details a one-dimensional, transient model of a fixed-bed regenerator that captures phenomena such as local fluid properties and heat transfer coefficients, entrained fluid heat capacity, and the effects of conservation of mass during process switching. The model is validated with experimental results of a 10 kWth regenerator. This comparison shows that the model predicts temperature as a function of both time and space exceptionally well. The model predicts effectiveness, heat transfer, and discharge temperatures within 5%, and predicts pressure drop and fluid carryover within 10%. This model could be used in future studies to simulate regenerators within a supercritical CO2 power cycle.
The Wagner Act on Trial: The 1937 'Little Steel' Strike and the Limits of New Deal Reform

The National Labor Relations Act of 1935, or Wagner Act, played a crucial role in shaping the New Deal and eventually transforming the economic, political, and legal foundations of modern America. Although many aspects of the statute’s history, including its relationship to the rise of industrial unionism and the epic struggle to secure its constitutionality, have been well told by historians and legal scholars, key elements of its story remain obscured by misconceptions, oversight, and outright myth. Not least among these areas of uncertainty is how the new law actually functioned in the months and years immediately after the Supreme Court upheld its constitutionality, and what its fate in this crucial time says about the nature of the New Deal itself. This article undertakes to shed light on these questions by unfolding the history of one of the most important events in the Second New Deal period: the “Little Steel” Strike of 1937. Drawing on a host of sources, including five major archival collections, this article tells the story of this dramatic and violent episode, including its legal history. Presenting the strike as a key test of the Wagner Act and a critical bellwether of the New Deal, the article documents not only the virtues of new regime in labor rights just as it emerged from the shadow of unconstitutionality, but also congenital shortcomings in the labor law that have undermined workers’ rights ever since. In a further challenge to conventional narratives of the period, the story of the strike exposes the remarkable degree to which the power of the business community survived, relatively undiminished, the Wagner Act and the political changes that accompanied it. Moreover, giving credence to a broader literature on New Deal law and policy, the article presents the strike and litigation surrounding it as proof of the continuing weakness of the New Deal and as key moments in the conservative turn that marked course of reform in the late 1930s.
The Utility of Cinematherapy for Stuttering Intervention: An Exploratory Study

This preliminary study explored the feasibility and benefits of using cinematherapy with adults who stutter to address affective and cognitive reactions to stuttering and their impact on the persons' life. A mixed methods research design was used to explore the impact of cinematherapy. Four clients completed a 4-week structured cinematherapy program. All clients completed two questionnaires: Unhelpful Thoughts and Beliefs about Stuttering and Overall Experience of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering, before starting and after completing the program. At the end of the program, clients also completed a semistructured interview. The semistructured interviews provide insight on clients' perceptions of cinematherapy, and questionnaires provided quantitative insights on the clients' perceptions of change. Qualitative data analysis indicated that clients reported five themes related to perceptions of cinematherapy: Promoted Vulnerability; Nurtured Empowerment; Stimulated Self-Reflection; Incited Feelings of Belonging; and Diminished Self-Stigma. Overall, clients reported a clinically significant decrease in scores on both questionnaires after completion of the 4-week cinematherapy program. Results indicate that cinematherapy was well received and had a positive impact on cognitive and affective aspects of stuttering in the four adult clients. These results provide preliminary support for larger scale clinical trials of cinematherapy as an adjuvant to traditional stuttering therapy.
What is team-based learning, and how is it used in nursing?

Team-based learning (TBL™) is an active learning and teaching strategy where students have an active role in their learning. It is a method where the instructor facilitates learning, not lecture from the front of the room. TBL™ is also a very structured teaching strategy based on cognitive learning theory. Team formation, readiness assurance process, application activities and peer evaluation are the four pillars of TBL™. TBL™ has become popular and is a preferred teaching method in nursing education in many institutions. The aim of this article is to introduce the process of TBL™ and discuss its use in nursing.
Greenhouse gases strengthen atmospheric rivers

Atmospheric rivers substantially affect the global hydrologic cycle, yet their response to past and future anthropogenic forcing remains highly uncertain. New research reveals the counterbalancing effects of aerosols and greenhouse gases and how this balance will shift to favour stronger atmospheric rivers in the coming decades.
Fluvial adjustments to the spread of tamarisk in the Colorado Plateau region

Tamarisk, a shrub or low tree that was artificially introduced into the American Southwest in the late 1800s, has spread throughout the Colorado Plateau region by occupying islands, sand bars, and beaches along streams. Historical photographs show that tamarisk spread from northern Arizona to the upper reaches of the Colorado and Green Rivers at a rate of about 20 km/yr. Detailed studies on the Green River in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, show that the plant has trapped and stabilized sediment, causing an average reduction in channel width of 27%. Photogrammetric analysis of historical ground photography, including photos from John Wesley Powell9s 1871 expedition, and recent aerial photographs supplemented by field surveys provided quantitative data. Expanded islands and channel-side bars exhibit allometric relationships as they change, apparently maintaining a balance between turbulence and friction. Overbank flooding is common on the tamarisk-stabilized features.
Adaptive web sites: an AI challenge

The creation of a complex web site is a thorny problem in user interface design. First, different visitors have distinct goals. Second, even a single visitor may have different needs at different times. Much of the information at the site may also be dynamic or time-dependent. Third, as the site grows and evolves, its original design may no longer be appropriate. Finally, a site may be designed for a particular purpose but used in unexpected ways. Web servers record data about user interactions and accumulate this data over time. We believe that AI techniques can be used to examine user access logs in order to automatically improve the site. We challenge the AI community to create adaptive web sites: sites that automatically improve their organization and presentation based on user access data. Several unrelated research projects in plan recognition, machine learning, knowledge representation, and user modeling have begun to explore aspects of this problem. We hope that posing this challenge explicitly will bring these projects together and stimulate fundamental AI research. Success would have a broad and highly visible impact on the web and the AI community.
Studies of the hemopoietic microenvironment. VII. Neural mechanisms in splenic microvascular regulation in mice.

Abstract The influence of the nervous system on the humoral regulation of the splenic microvasculature was evaluated using in vivo microscopic methods. Mice were anesthetized with sedative doses of pentobarbital which resulted in a condition during which sympathetic nerves could be excited both electrically and pharmacologically. A variety of vasoactive substances was administered topically or intraperitoneally with and without catecholamine depletion by reserpine, and the microvascular responses were measured using in vivo microscopic methods. The results, when considered along with those obtained previously [Reilly and McCuskey (1977) , Microvasc. Res. 13, 79–90] using urethane anesthesia (nerves unresponsive to electrical stimulation), suggested: (1) the presence of innervated α-receptors on arterioles; (2) that the α-receptor is the predominant receptor in the mouse splenic microvasculature and its activation results in vasoconstriction; (3) that lactic acid, histamine, and prostaglandin E2 and F2α cause α-mediated arteriolar constriction by releasing stored catecholamine from sympathetic nerves; and (4) that subthreshold quantities of neurotransmitter may modulate microvascular sensitivity to agonists and antagonists in the presence of sympathetic nerves responsive to electrical stimulation.
Fiber‐Reinforced Ceramic Matrix Composites for Aero Engines

Ceramic matrix composites have become viable materials for jet engine applications. In particular, SiC fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composites are being developed for hot section components of jet engine in order to reduce weight and increase temperature capability its of hot section. SiC/SiC composites can be fabricated by a variety of methods, including melt infiltration (MI), chemical vapor infiltration (CVI), and polymer infiltration pyrolysis. Composite properties vary significantly, depending on the processing approach, constituent content, and fiber architecture. Ultimately, for SiC/SiC composite performance, long-time load-carrying capability in oxidizing environments requires composites that have high matrix-cracking stresses. The melt-infiltrated composite system is the most developed SiC/SiC composite, can produce the highest matrix-cracking stresses, and is expected to be inserted into a commercial jet engine application in the next few years. The critical factors for design associated with matrix crack formation are discussed with respect to possible composite variations within the melt-infiltrated composite system; however, some of the trends observed should be transferable to the other composite systems described as well. In addition, current challenges for use of these materials in aero applications are discussed. Keywords: ceramic matrix composites; mechanical properties; SiC; damage accumulation; oxidation; tensile creep
Estimating the Relative Contributions of New Genes from Retrotransposition and Segmental Duplication Events during Mammalian Evolution

Gene duplication has long been recognized as a major force in genome evolution and has recently been recognized as an important source of individual variation. For many years the origin of functional gene duplicates was assumed to be whole or partial genome duplication events, but recently retrotransposition has also been shown to contribute new functional protein coding genes and siRNA's. Here we present a method for the identification and classification of retrotransposed and segmentally duplicated genes and pseudogenes based on local synteny. Using the results of this approach we compare the rates of segmental duplication and retrotransposition in five mammalian genomes and estimate the rate of new functional protein coding gene formation by each mechanism. We find that retrotransposition occurs at a much higher and temporally more variable rate than segmental duplication, and gives rise to many more duplicated sequences over time. While the chance that retrotransposed copies become functional is much lower than that of their segmentally duplicated counterparts, the higher rate of retrotransposition events leads to nearly equal contributions of new genes by each mechanism.
Anderson and Stoner Published White Dwarf Mass Limits Before Chandrasekhar

In their engaging recountals of Chandrasekhar's extraordinary career (Physics Today, vol 63, Issue 12, Dec 2010), neither Dyson nor Wali mention that Chandrasekhar was the third person not the first, to publish a white dwarf mass limit incorporating a relativistic treatment of degenerate electrons. As it has become a common misconception that Chandrasekhar was the first, a clarifying reminder on this historical point is warranted. In short, the white dwarf mass limit widely attributed to Chandrasekhar (1931) should be the specific white dwarf mass limit calculated for a polytrope. The insight that a relativistic treatment of degeneracy leads to the existence of a white dwarf mass limit first appeared in papers of W. Anderson (1929) and E.C. Stoner (1930) for a uniform density star. Accordingly, Chandrasekhar (1931) cites Stoner (1930) and points out that the polytrope white dwarf mass limit is less than Stoner's uniform density white dwarf mass limit by about 20%.
"Sex" and "Gender": Two Confused and Confusing Concepts in the "Women in Corporate Management" Literature

In this article we attempt to reduce the confusion surrounding the concepts of "sex" and "gender" in the literature of "Women in Corporate Management." We contend that the incorrect usage of these concepts not only creates confusion in the literature, but also casts a shadow over the research findings in this area. We offer specific recommendations for authors as means to reduce the confusion in future research.
Dose response to vitamin D supplementation among postmenopausal African American women

Background Reports on the dose response to vitamin D are conflicting, and most data were derived from white men and women.
Activity in the primate rostral superior colliculus during the "gap effect" for pursuit and saccades.

The latencies of both pursuit and saccadic eye movements are reduced when a fixated visual target is extinguished several hundred milliseconds before a new target appears. 1–6 One possible neural substrate for this “gap effect” is the rostral superior colliculus (SC), which has recently been shown to participate in pursuit eye movements, in addition to its established role in the control of saccades. The discharge rate of buildup neurons in the rostral SC (rSC) is related to the retinal position of targets during pursuit, as well as during the preparation and execution of saccades. 7,8 In addition, microstimulation of the rSC disrupts the initiation of both types of eye movements. 9 To test whether these rostral buildup neurons could underlie the “gap effect,” we have now studied their activity with this paradigm during both pursuit and saccades. Monkeys tracked a target stimulus that appeared either immediately after the offset of the fixation spot (no-gap trials) or 200 msec after the offset of the fixation spot (gap trials). On saccade trials, the target stimulus was stationary and was presented at an eccentricity of 3.5 o along the horizontal meridian. On pursuit trials, the target stimulus appeared at an eccentricity of 2 o and moved toward the center of the display at 15 o /sec. We adjusted the starting position of the stimulus to produce saccadefree pursuit and chose neurons with appropriate response fields. We identified the neurons in our sample (n = 72) as rostral buildup neurons on the basis of criteria described previously. 7 The activity of most rostral buildup neurons showed a “gap effect” for both pursuit and saccades. For example, on no-gap trials, the firing rate of the neuron illustrated in FIGURE 1 remained nearly constant at 25 spikes/sec until 50–100 msec after target onset, at which point the firing rate increased to more than 100 spikes/sec. However, on gap trials, the firing rate of this neuron increased after the offset of the fixation spot, reaching a firing rate of 40–50 spikes/sec. These changes in activity
In vitro characterization of a human calcitonin receptor gene polymorphism.

Calcitonin is a 32 amino acid peptide hormone that inhibits bone resorption by stimulating calcitonin receptors (CTR) located on the surfaces of osteoclasts. A polymorphism at nucleotide 1340 of the human calcitonin receptor gene (CALCR) lies within the coding region and has the potential to change the amino acid at codon 447 from leucine to proline. In the present study, we scanned the coding region, portions of the 5'-flanking and 3'-flanking sequences, and the intron-exon boundaries of the human CALCR gene for additional polymorphisms, and determined the frequency of the codon 447 polymorphism in several ethnic groups. Because a leucine to proline change has the potential for significant structural alteration, receptor genes encoding either leucine or proline at residue 447 were transiently expressed in COS-7 cells to determine the binding and functional consequences of this polymorphism. Our complete polymorphism scan of the CALCR gene identified 11 polymorphic sites in the gene and confirmed the presence of the previously identified nucleotide T1340C (codon 447) polymorphism. Ten of the 11 polymorphisms were single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). For the codon 447 polymorphism, the prevalence of the TT genotype (leucine) was 59% in Caucasians, 27% in African-Americans, 0% in Asians, and 20% in Hispanics. The presence of this SNP appears to have no statistically significant difference with the receptor's ability to bind calcitonin or signal when activated with the hormone.
Back to the future: natural history and the way forward in modern fungal ecology

The growing power and increasing availability of molecular tools for identifying fungi in environmental samples has revolutionized the way that fungal ecologists work. As a result, more people from around the globe have jumped into the fungal community sequencing endeavor. Paradoxically, as these extensive datasets accumulate we are often at a loss for interpretation due to the lack of basic autecology and natural history information for most fungi. As a result we are in danger of learning less and about more and more. I suggest that one way forward in fungal ecology is through a modern version of fungal natural history, with a focus on holistic understanding of individual species and ecosystems, but driven by modern genomic and molecular tools. By combining the extensive data generated through environmental sequencing with an intensive, molecular-based natural history we can create a synergy that will propel fungal ecology forward.
Development and description of an interdisciplinary course on the science of terrorism

The development and description of an interdisciplinary, team taught course on the Science of Terrorism is presented. Faculty members from Physics, Chemistry, and Marine and Environmental Sciences collaborated to design a course introducing students to the science behind bioterrorism, chemical and toxicological terrorism, nuclear and radiological terrorism and cyberterrorism as well as epidemiological and GIS models. The course concludes with a simulated terror attack for which students need to use their knowledge of the science of terrorism to defuse.
The influence of perceptions of social disorder and victimization on business owners' decisions to use guardianship strategies

Abstract Using social disorganization, broken windows, and routine activities theories as guides, this study considered how perceptions of crime in the neighborhood influenced business owners' decisions on the use of various crime prevention (guardianship) strategies. The analysis revealed that perceptions of a crime problem were influenced by the presence of disorder. Drug offenses and vandalism were particularly tied to disorder with drug offenses more often related to guardianship strategies than other offenses. In addition, several strategies were used as prevention measures counter-intuitively for crimes not affected by these strategies, suggesting the need for increased awareness and training for business owners on effective guardianship strategies.
Effective method for removal of polymeric template from SBA-16 silica combining extraction and temperature-controlled calcination

An effective method for the removal of polymeric template, which combines extraction and temperature-controlled calcination, is proposed to obtain high pore volume and large pore size ordered mesoporous silicas, SBA-16 (Im3m symmetry group), synthesized in the presence of sodium chloride at low acid concentrations using poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F127) as a structure directing agent and tetraethylorthosilicate as a silica source. The aforementioned materials were characterized by small angle X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption, high resolution thermogravimetry and elemental analysis.
Traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest—application of the ACS-COT/NAEMSP guidelines

Purpose: To determine, in a retrospective fashion, if the utilization of health care resources for the management of TCPA patients over a period of one year at a large level I trauma center would have been different if the new ACS-COT/NAEMSP criteria had been applied. Methods: Retrospective review of the trauma registry at a Level I trauma center identified all TCPA patients evaluated over one year (2002). The characteristics of each resuscitation were examined and compared with the 2003 ACS-COT/NAEMSP guidelines. Results: Twenty patients with TCPA were identified using the Trauma Registry. The average age was 27.8 years with a range of 3 to 56 years. Mechanisms of injury included blunt trauma (70%), penetrating trauma (10%), smoke inhalation (15%) and drowning (5%). The average time in the field was 22.6 minutes (range 12–47 minutes) and the average trauma room resuscitation time was 18.1 minutes (range 1–116 minutes). The overall survival rate was 0%. Three ED thoracotomies were performed, two for blunt trauma and one for a penetrating trauma. The hospital charges incurred for the resuscitation of these 20 patients were $74,045.00. Using the ACS-COT/NAEMSP guidelines for the management of TCPA, only three patients met the scene arrest time (< 15 min) and the scene transport time criterion (< 15 min). The remaining 17 patients did not meet criteria for continued resuscitation. If only the patients meeting the guidelines had been brought to the hospital, the net savings to the health system would have been $62,332 with no change in clinical outcome. Conclusions: Adoption of the ACS-COT/NAEMSP guidelines will facilitate conservation of precious health care resources to those who could potentially benefit, and would, as demonstrated in this study, realize a large potential savings to society.
Status of stainless steel pipe inspection in the US

Abstract This paper summarizes recent progress made in the inspection of stainless steel piping. Topics covered include the training of personnel for both detection and sizing of intergranular stress corrosion cracking (IGSCC) found in Boiling Water Reactor piping. The inspection of the weld overlay used to repair pipe joints with IGSCC and inspection of centrifugally cast stainless steel pipe is also addressed. A summary of advanced systems that have satisfied the NRC performance demonstration requirements is also given.