cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Full-time staff boldly go where no part-time student has gone before

American University provides a centralized Help Desk call center as the front line of support for more than twelve thousand students, faculty, and staff. Over the past three to five years, the Help Desk has evolved from a staff of part-time students and one full-time manager who could provide only general information and troubleshooting assistance to a committed staff of five full-time professional analysts and one manager all with full administrative rights and specialized training on all university systems.Customer Service surveys have shown an increase in favorable responses since the move to a full-time Help Desk, and many customers comment on how much the service has improved. Most of this success is due to the fact that our customers can get almost any problem resolved with one e-mail or phone call. The Help Desk resolves approximately 70% of all calls without routing them, thanks to experienced staff with supervisor rights to all systems. Employee turnover is also less frequent with the full-time staff, because they enjoy benefits and responsibilities that keep the work more rewarding.
Inheritance of the waist-to-hip ratio in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study.

Objective: Considering that waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a simple anthropometric measure of obesity and is a better predictor of coronary heart disease than body mass index (BMI), the genetic underpinnings of WHR are of interest. The inheritance pattern of WHR, before and after adjustment for BMI (WHR-BMI), was investigated in 2713 individuals from 1038 nuclear families in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study (NHLBI-FHS). Research Methods and Procedures: Waist and hip measurements were taken twice, and the means of the measurements were used to calculate the WHR. Adjustments for age were carried out separately by sex, using stepwise multiple regression procedures for WHR and WHR-BMI phenotypes. Segregation analysis was applied using the unified model as implemented in the computer program POINTER. Results: For age-adjusted WHR, the segregation results suggested an additive major gene that accounts for 35% of the phenotypic variance, and approximately 30% of the sample are homozygous for the “high” genotype. The results for age- and BMI-adjusted WHR were also compatible with a major gene; however, the multifactorial model provided the most parsimonious fit to the data. Discussion: Although the genetic mechanisms for several obesity traits have been studied, tests of Mendelian segregation on this simple anthropometric measure (WHR) have not been reported previously. This study provides evidence for the presence of a major gene for age-adjusted WHR, suggesting that it is an appropriate trait for further genetic analysis, especially because it has strong predictive value and probably relates biologically to cardiovascular risk.
INTERPLAY OF LIPID DROPLETS AND AUTOPHAGY REGULATES GLIOBLASTOMA SURVIVAL

BACKGROUND: (blind field). METHODS: Live cell and time-lapse imaging, electronic and fluorescence microscopy, lipid analytic assay, nuclear magnetic resonance, western blotting, cell proliferation and cell death assay are performed to investigate lipid droplets (LDs) function in GBM. RESULTS: By analysis of brain tissues from GBM patients and xenografts via electronic microscopy and fluorescence imaging, our data firstly show that lipid droplets (LDs), special organelles to store excessive cholesteryl esters (CE) and triglycerides (TG), are largely enriched in tumor tissues but not detectable in normal brain tissues. Intriguingly, the role of LDs and how they are metabolized in cancer cells are completely unknown. We then show that GBM cells containing higher LD numbers are less sensitive to the treatments aiming to reduce cellular cholesterol levels. Furthermore, we find that removing cholesterol from cellular media, increasing cholesterol efflux by activation of liver X receptor (LXR), or depleting cholesterol from plasma membranes via β-methyl-cyclodextrin (β-MCD) treatment, strongly triggers autophagy to hydrolyze LDs and releases free cholesterol. This LD-derived cholesterol is shown to translocate to plasma membranes and maintain cellular cholesterol homeostasis. More interestingly, blocking autophagy leads to large amounts of LD accumulation and results in dramatic GBM cell death upon these treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Our data are the first to identify that LDs are the unique organelles enriched in GBM patient tumor tissues. Furthermore, we reveal a previously unrecognized pro-survival feedback and feed-forward metabolic reprogramming pathway through a LD-autophagy-cholesterol re-distribution process that maintains cholesterol homeostasis and GBM growth and survival. Our data suggest a novel therapeutic strategy to treat GBM by interrupting LD metabolism. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Neuropathology & Tumor Biomarkers.
Preschoolers’ academic readiness: What role does the teacher–child relationship play?

We examined the role of the teacher–child relationship quality (close, dependent, and conflictive) on preschoolers’ (N = 95) academic readiness for kindergarten, and we tested children’s prosocial and aggressive behavior and peer group exclusion as mediators of this relation. A unique feature of this study is the ethnically and socio-economically diverse preschool-aged sample. The association between close teacher–child relationships and academic readiness was partially mediated by prosocial behavior and peer group exclusion. There was also evidence of a transactional association between close teacher–child relationships and children’s behavior. Additionally, children’s behavior and peer group exclusion mediated the relation between negative teacher–child relationships (dependent and conflictive) and academic readiness. The findings suggest that teacher training, education, and support for establishing close teacher–child relationships may maximize preschoolers’ academic readiness by promoting social adaptation.
Ultrasound-guided joint injections for MR arthrography in pediatric patients: how we do it

In children, MR arthrography is typically performed using fluoroscopic guidance. This article explores the role of US-guided joint injections as an alternative for MR arthrography in children, discussing its advantages and disadvantages compared to standard methods. We describe techniques for performing US-guided injection of the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle and posterior subtalar joints, highlighting pertinent anatomy, routes of access and unique considerations for this modality in children. Written descriptions, images and links to video clips are used to illustrate proper arthrographic technique. We conclude that US provides effective guidance for intra-articular injection prior to MR arthrography, with the advantages of improved visualization of internal structures, reduced radiation exposure, convenience of performing the procedure portably and ease of performance. Although this paper does not address therapeutic steroid injections, these techniques could easily be translated for such purposes. We propose US guidance as a viable alternative to fluoroscopic technique for arthrography in children.
Influence of Imazamox Rate and Tank‐Mix Combinations on Winter Annual Broadleaf Weed Control and Yield in Imidazolinone‐Resistant Wheat

Abstract Four field trials were conducted during the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 wheat-growing seasons to evaluate the effect of imazamox rate and tank-mix combinations on winter annual broadleaf weed control and yield in imidazolinone-resistant (IR) wheat. Results from these trials indicate that timely fall applications of imazamox will provide good control of henbit and common chickweed in IR wheat, which are some of the most common winter annual broadleaf weeds encountered in many wheat production systems in the United States. No benefit in weed control was observed by increasing the imazamox rate from 35 to 44 or 53 g/ha or by the addition of a thifensulfuron plus tribenuron or 2, 4-D tank-mix combination. Results from these trials also indicate that the addition of a 20% urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) fertilizer solution to imazamox may cause some visual injury to IR wheat and that the addition of 2, 4-D or a 20% UAN fertilizer solution can reduce IR wheat yields compared to applications of imazamox alone.
Computer prediction of neonatal outcome and comparison with assessments by physicians and midwives

A simple statistical model for the prediction of 1' and 5' Apgar scores is implemented by computer and tested prospectively in 1000 deliveries. Data consist of model predictions in early labor and prior to delivery. Independent predictions of neonatal outcome by physicians and midwives are also included. While the predictive value of the original model is 81.6%, the overall predictive value of the computer model and of the physicians' assessments is only 67%. This finding is consistent irrespective of the time of prediction. Several factors are analyzed for possible association with the decrease in the model's predictive value. It is concluded that the development of a simple yet highly predictive model cannot be achieved. While measures for assessing the usefulness of the model need to take the effect of medical management into account, model optimization and the use of additional variables are indicated in order to improve sensitivity and specificity. >
Characterization of the novel PDE9 inhibitor BAY 73-6691 using a cGMP reporter cell line

We report here the generation and characterization of a stably transfected PDE9 CHO cell line, additionally expressing soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), the olfactory cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel CNGA2 and the photoprotein aequorin. In this cell line, intracellular cGMP levels can be monitored in real-time via aequorin luminescence induced by Ca2+ influx through CNGA2, acting as the intracellular cGMP sensor. This simple and sensitive assay system can be used for the characterization of the cellular activity of PDE9 inhibitors and for the search of new PDE9 inhibitors by ultra-high-throughput screening.
Covering large groin defects with the tensor fascia lata musculocutaneous flap.

Abstract During the past 2 years we have used the tensor fascia lata muscle with its overlying skin as a musculocutaneous unit to cover ischial and trochanteric defects and as a free flap to cover leg ulcers (Hill et al. , 1978). As the following 2 cases illustrate, it is also a useful transposition flap to resurface defects in the groin.
Evaluation of Transistor Neutralization Networks

The neutralization technique selected for use with transistor IF amplifiers will have a considerable effect upon the gain and stability of the amplifier. Attention is concentrated here upon the matrix methods of neutralization which unilateralize the transistor. The matrix parameters of the unilateralized device are derived for each of the four types of unilateralization- z, y, h , and g . These are expressed in terms of the transistor two-port parameters and the elements of the neutralizing network. The influence of the network on the driving point immittances, maximum transducer gain, and stability can then be considered. (Unilateralization does not necessarily insure unconditional stability.) The effects of non-ideal transformers used for the z and y types of neutralization are evaluated. Applications of these equations, over the frequency range from 30 to 80 mc, using measured parameters of the type 3N25 tetrode, are discussed.
Outcomes in children with perforated tympanic membranes after tympanostomy tube placement : results using a pilot treatment algorithm

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to examine the success of a pilot treatment algorithm for tympanic membrane perforations in children after tympanostomy tube placement. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review of children with diagnosed tympanic membrane perforations after tympanostomy tube placement from 1998 to 2003 at a tertiary care children's hospital was performed. The patients had been treated according to an algorithm used by 2 pediatric otolaryngologists for management of tympanic membrane perforations: observation vs myringoplasty. Success rates were examined. Results Ninety-five children were identified, 27% of whom had nonhealing perforations after tube extrusion; 73% of the perforations were caused by a retained tube. The median duration of tube retention was 48 months, ranging from 13 to 120 months. After the treatment protocol, 76% of the patients underwent gelatin film or paper patch myringoplasty, 23% had adipose myringoplasty, and 1% were observed. Overall, 91% had healed perforations after the first intervention. Among those requiring a second intervention, the sizes of initial perforations were between 15% and 40%, with postrepair perforation sizes between 5% and 40%. In addition, 75% of those requiring a second intervention underwent tympanoplasty repair and 25% had fat patch myringoplasty. None required a third intervention. Conclusions Our treatment algorithm for children with tympanic membrane perforations after tympanostomy tube placement appears to be successful and is an excellent model for other clinicians.
Parent/Child Concordance about Bullying Involvement and Family Characteristics Related to Bullying and Peer Victimization

ABSTRACT This study examined parent perspectives on bullying, parent/child concordance about bullying involvement, and family characteristics associated with bullying perpetration and peer victimization. Participants were 205 fifth-grade students and their parents. Students attended an urban, ethnically diverse school district in the Northeast. Youth completed self-report measures about bullying involvement, attitudes toward and responses to bullying, and victimization in the home. Parents responded to self-report survey questions about attitudes toward and responses to bullying, perceptions of their child's involvement in bullying, and family characteristics. Bullying perpetration and victimization rates were higher when reported by students than parents, and parents were particularly unaware of their children bullying others. Family support was related to students telling their parents about peer victimization and youth getting in trouble at home for bullying perpetration. Finally, victims' homes were c...
On the bulk viscosity of suspensions

The bulk viscosity of a suspension relates the deviation of the trace of the macroscopic or averaged stress from its equilibrium value to the average rate of expansion. For a suspension the equilibrium macroscopic stress is the sum of the fluid pressure and the osmotic pressure of the suspended particles. An average rate of expansion drives the suspension microstructure out of equilibrium and is resisted by the thermal motion of the particles. Expressions are given to compute the bulk viscosity for all concentrations and all expansion rates and shown to be completely analogous to the well-known formulae for the deviatoric macroscopic stress, which are used, for example, to compute the shear viscosity. The effect of rigid spherical particles on the bulk viscosity is determined to second order in volume fraction and to leading order in the Peclet number, which is defined as the expansion rate made dimensionless with the Brownian time scale. A repulsive hard-sphere-like interparticle force reduces the hydrodynamic interactions between particles and decreases the bulk viscosity.
Characterization of an Archaeal Medium-Chain Acyl Coenzyme A Synthetase from Methanosarcina acetivorans

Short- and medium-chain acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) synthetases catalyze the formation of acyl-CoA from an acyl substrate, ATP, and CoA. These enzymes catalyze mechanistically similar two-step reactions that proceed through an enzyme-bound acyl-AMP intermediate. Here we describe the characterization of a member of this enzyme family from the methane-producing archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans. This enzyme, a medium-chain acyl-CoA synthetase designated Macs(Ma), utilizes 2-methylbutyrate as its preferred substrate for acyl-CoA synthesis but cannot utilize acetate and thus cannot catalyze the first step of acetoclastic methanogenesis in M. acetivorans. When propionate or other less favorable acyl substrates, such as butyrate, 2-methylpropionate, or 2-methylvalerate, were utilized, the acyl-CoA was not produced or was produced at reduced levels. Instead, acyl-AMP and PP(i) were released in the absence of CoA, whereas in the presence of CoA, the intermediate was broken down into AMP and the acyl substrate, which were released along with PP(i). These results suggest that although acyl-CoA synthetases may have the ability to utilize a broad range of substrates for the acyl-adenylate-forming first step of the reaction, the intermediate may not be suitable for the thioester-forming second step. The Macs(Ma) structure has revealed the putative acyl substrate- and CoA-binding pockets. Six residues proposed to form the acyl substrate-binding pocket, Lys(256), Cys(298), Gly(351), Trp(259), Trp(237), and Trp(254), were targeted for alteration. Characterization of the enzyme variants indicates that these six residues are critical in acyl substrate binding and catalysis, and even conservative alterations significantly reduced the catalytic ability of the enzyme.
Ets1 is required for proper migration and differentiation of the cardiac neural crest

Defects in cardiac neural crest lead to congenital heart disease through failure of cardiac outflow tract and ventricular septation. In this report, we demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for the transcription factor Ets1 in the regulation of cardiac neural crest development. When bred onto a C57BL/6 genetic background, Ets1−/− mice have a nearly complete perinatal lethality. Histologic examination of Ets1−/− embryos revealed a membranous ventricular septal defect and an abnormal nodule of cartilage within the heart. Lineage-tracing experiments in Ets1−/− mice demonstrated that cells of the neural crest lineage form this cartilage nodule and do not complete their migration to the proximal aspects of the outflow tract endocardial cushions, resulting in the failure of membranous interventricular septum formation. Given previous studies demonstrating that the MEK/ERK pathway directly regulates Ets1 activity, we cultured embryonic hearts in the presence of the MEK inhibitor U0126 and found that U0126 induced intra-cardiac cartilage formation, suggesting the involvement of a MEK/ERK/Ets1 pathway in blocking chondrocyte differentiation of cardiac neural crest. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Ets1 is required to direct the proper migration and differentiation of cardiac neural crest in the formation of the interventricular septum, and therefore could play a role in the etiology of human congenital heart disease.
Computational approaches for identification of conserved/unique binding pockets in the A chain of ricin

Motivation: Specific and sensitive ligand-based protein detection assays that employ antibodies or small molecules such as peptides, aptamers or other small molecules require that the corresponding surface region of the protein be accessible and that there be minimal cross-reactivity with non-target proteins. To reduce the time and cost of laboratory screening efforts for diagnostic reagents, we developed new methods for evaluating and selecting protein surface regions for ligand targeting. Results: We devised combined structure- and sequence-based methods for identifying 3D epitopes and binding pockets on the surface of the A chain of ricin that are conserved with respect to a set of ricin A chains and unique with respect to other proteins. We (1) used structure alignment software to detect structural deviations and extracted from this analysis the residue--residue correspondence, (2) devised a method to compare corresponding residues across sets of ricin structures and structures of closely related proteins, (3) devised a sequence-based approach to determine residue infrequency in local sequence context and (4) modified a pocket-finding algorithm to identify surface crevices in close proximity to residues determined to be conserved/unique based on our structure- and sequence-based methods. In applying this combined informatics approach to ricin A, we identified a conserved/unique pocket in close proximity (but not overlapping) the active site that is suitable for bi-dentate ligand development. These methods are generally applicable to identification of surface epitopes and binding pockets for development of diagnostic reagents, therapeutics and vaccines. Contact: zhou4@llnl.gov
Primary testicular and paratesticular tumors of childhood.

Testicular and paratesticular neoplasms are uncommon tumors of childhood. Consequently, the experience gained with regard to their optimal management is limited in any given children's cancer centre. Here we review the classification, diagnosis, and staging of testicular and paratesticular neoplasms and subsequently discuss the more frequently occurring ones: germ cell tumors, gonadal stromal tumors, gonadoblastoma, tumors of the supporting tissue, lymphomas and leukemias, tumor-like lesions, secondary tumors, and tumors of the adnexa. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Treatment of stage I and II non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The appropriate staging and treatment of patients with stage I and II non‐small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are important in that the potential for a lost curative opportunity in this population is greater than for those presenting with advanced NSCLC. Methods: Treatment options — surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy — for stage I and II NSCLC are reviewed, and the impact of newer staging modalities on patient survival is discussed, including altering both the lead-time and clinicopathologic stage biases that exist in the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC. Some predictions are also made regarding how that standard may change for clinicians in the near future, and methods for further improvements in posttreatment survival in this group are discussed. Results: Whenever possible, patients with early-stage NSCLC should be treated with surgical resection. Patients for whom resection is not an option may benefit from radiation as definitive therapy. Positive results with neoadjuvant chemotherapy have led to an ongoing randomized trial (Intergroup S9900) to compare surgery alone to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus surgery. Conclusions: Staging bias may affect the overall low survival of early-stage NSCLC. However, true stage-specific survival may improve with newer imaging modalities. Future advances, including closed transthoracic radiation, thermal ablative therapy techniques, and gene therapy, may supplant the need to surgically resect these tumors to achieve local control.
Medical Therapy for Heart Failure

Heart failure due to a decline in cardiac performance initiates compensatory neurohormonal mechanisms in an effort to maintain systemic perfusion. Ongoing neurohormonal activation may have deleterious consequences for cardiac performance, ventricular remodeling, myocardial function, and heart failure progression. The fundamental objective of modern medical therapy for heart failure is to relieve symptoms (largely through relief of volume overload) and to stall (or even reverse) disease progression through combined utilization of neurohormonal antagonists that help to restore normal hemodynamics, maintain normal plasma volume, and prevent ventricular enlargement. This chapter focuses on the key elements of medical therapy for heart failure.
Tone and accent in Saramaccan: charting a deep split in the phonology of a language

Saramaccan, an Atlantic creole spoken in Surinam, has traditionally been analyzed as exhibiting a high-tone/low-tone opposition in its lexicon. However, while it is true that part of its lexicon exhibits a robust high/low opposition, the majority of its words are marked not for tone but pitch accent. The Saramaccan lexicon, therefore, is split with some words being marked for tone and other words marked for accent. This lexical split has important effects in the phrasal phonology of the language which, like the lexicon, is a mix between a tonal phrasal system and an accentual one.
On-chip matched 5.2 GHz differential integrated mixer with RF and LO preamplification, fabricated in 0.35 [micro sign]m CMOS technology

An experimental 5.2 GHz integrated LNA/Gilbert cell-mixer IC has been designed. The IC features RF and LO amplifiers, on-chip matching to 50 /spl Omega/, differential operation, internal AC coupling of stages, and LC parallel resonant loads at RF, LO, and IF. The return loss is better than -15 dB. Open drain output buffers are used. The IC has NF=8 dB, and dissipates 105 mW in the core (V/sub ss/=3.3 V), and 16.5 mW in the output buffers.
Role of bacillus Calmette–Guérin in the treatment of advanced melanoma

Early trials of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-based immunotherapy for melanoma consistently show a trend toward improved clinical outcomes in patients treated with BCG compared with observation alone. As an extension of these findings, investigators have initiated the Malignant Melanoma Active Immunotherapy (MMAIT) trials in patients with stage III (MMAIT-III) and stage IV (MMAIT-IV) disease. The overall survival of the patients receiving BCG plus placebo was much better than expected in both studies, thus suggesting a potential for BCG as an adjuvant after the resection of advanced disease. The work contained herein will explore the clinical rationale for adjuvant BCG in future trials focused on the treatment of patients with advanced malignant melanoma.
Characterization and Optimization of Rotational Friction Welding for Small Stainless Steel Tubes

Rotational friction welding is a common joining process used to join cylindrical metal components. Typically, one piece is rotated and a secondary piece is held rigid. The two samples are then forced together in a controlled manner, and the resulting friction generates enough heat to weld the two pieces. This process was characterized and optimized for 304 stainless steel tubes with a .317 cm (.125 in) outer diameter and .14 cm (.055 in) inner diameter. The goal was to characterize and optimize parameters around a weld with no leak, strong ultimate tensile strength, and proper through-hole integrity. Also, solid bars were welded to some tubes to analyze a capped system. Key parameters to the process that were monitored and/or controlled include rotational speed, applied force, temperature, duration, and material upset. Often times the applied force is divided into two steps. A lower force is applied during heating (friction force), and a larger force is applied once rotation stops (forging force). The material upset, maximum temperature, and forging fore were the primary controlling variables in this study. Other parameters were held constant. A testing setup was built to analyze these factors. Modifications were made to a three axis mill to perform friction welding in a controlled environment. Then, tests were run to understand the effects each parameter had on weld quality. Welds with an upset greater than .1 cm held a pressure at a much higher success rate than welds with lower upsets. In general, the forging force was shown to have a large positive impact on ultimate tensile force. The integrity of the through-hole was compromised in many of the tube to tube tests. Several welds were post-drilled to recreate the through-hole. Tests with this done held a pressure 66.67% of the time. It was found that successful welding can be accomplished with this process, and different adjustments to testing procedures can maximize different qualities in the weld.© 2013 ASME
Localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis: Is there a connection?

Excess fibrosis of the skin is a clinical hallmark of both localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. Localized scleroderma is generally thought to be a skin-limited disease whereas systemic sclerosis can have a wide range of internal organ involvement. Recent data suggest that a subset of patients with juvenile localized scleroderma can go on to develop systemic involvement of their disease. This raises the question of what the connection is, if any, between localized scleroderma and systemic sclerosis.
“I Vote I Sing”: The Rise of Aesthetic Citizenship in Morocco

“We are all enraged. Why don't you arrest us?” chanted protestors in the courtroom during the trial of El-Haqed (the enraged), a twenty-four-year-old rapper from Casablanca. El-Haqed is an active member of the 20 February movement (Feb20), which extended the 2011 North African uprisings to Morocco. Many believe that the civil charges brought several times against him are related to his political activism with Feb20 and his daring lyrics. El-Haqed's song “Long Live the People” is thought to be behind his first arrest because it disrupts the phrase “Long Live the King.” In June 2014, El-Haqed was sentenced to prison for the first time for a period of four months. While attending a sports match, he was arrested on charges of selling tickets on the black market. His multiple arrests, and Feb20 members’ sustained mobilizations against them, reveal that the rapper is not only an iconic figure for youth protesters, but also one of their greatest rallying forces.
Movement-based embodied contemplative practices: definitions and paradigms

Over the past decades, cognitive neuroscience has witnessed a shift from predominantly disembodied and computational views of the mind, to more embodied and situated views of the mind. These postulate that mental functions cannot be fully understood without reference to the physical body and the environment in which they are experienced. Within the field of contemplative science, the directing of attention to bodily sensations has so far mainly been studied in the context of seated meditation and mindfulness practices. However, the cultivation of interoceptive, proprioceptive and kinesthetic awareness is also said to lie at the core of many movement-based contemplative practices such as Yoga, Qigong, and Tai Chi. In addition, it likely plays a key role in the efficacy of modern somatic therapeutic techniques such as the Feldenkrais Method and the Alexander Technique. In the current paper we examine how these practices are grounded in the concepts of embodiment, movement and contemplation, as we look at them primarily through the lens of an enactive approach to cognition. Throughout, we point to a series of challenges that arise when Western scientists study practices that are based on a non-dualistic view of mind and body.
Semantic Classification of Chinese Unknown Words

This paper describes a classifier that assigns semantic thesaurus categories to unknown Chinese words (words not already in the CiLin thesaurus and the Chinese Electronic Dictionary, but in the Sinica Corpus). The focus of the paper differs in two ways from previous research in this particular area.Prior research in Chinese unknown words mostly focused on proper nouns (Lee 1993, Lee, Lee and Chen 1994, Huang, Hong and Chen 1994, Chen and Chen 2000). This paper does not address proper nouns, focusing rather on common nouns, adjectives, and verbs. My analysis of the Sinica Corpus shows that contrary to expectation, most of unknown words in Chinese are common nouns, adjectives, and verbs rather than proper nouns. Other previous research has focused on features related to unknown word contexts (Caraballo 1999; Roark and Charniak 1998). While context is clearly an important feature, this paper focuses on non-contextual features, which may play a key role for unknown words that occur only once and hence have limited context. The feature I focus on, following Ciaramita (2002), is morphological similarity to words whose semantic category is known. My nearest neighbor approach to lexical acquisition computes the distance between an unknown word and examples from the CiLin thesaurus based upon its morphological structure. The classifier improves on baseline semantic categorization performance for adjectives and verbs, but not for nouns.
Continuous sequential boundaries for vaccine safety surveillance

Various recently developed sequential methods have been used to detect signals for post-marketing surveillance in drug and vaccine safety. Among these, the maximized sequential probability ratio test (MaxSPRT) has been used to detect elevated risks of adverse events following vaccination using large healthcare databases. However, a limitation of MaxSPRT is that it only provides a time-invariant flat boundary. In this study, we propose the use of time-varying boundaries for controlling how type I error is distributed throughout the surveillance period. This is especially useful in two scenarios: (i) when we desire generally larger sample sizes before a signal is generated, for example, when early adopters are not representative of the larger population; and (ii) when it is desired for a signal to be generated as early as possible, for example, when the adverse event is considered rare but serious. We consider four specific time-varying boundaries (which we call critical value functions), and we study their statistical power and average time to signal detection. The methodology we present here can be viewed as a generalization or flexible extension of MaxSPRT.
Issues related to wetland delineation of a Texas, USA bottomland hardwood forest

Methods of wetland delineation require presence of three parameters: hydric soils, wetland hydrology, and hydrophytic vegetation. Currently accepted methods to assess these parameters often have inconsistent agreement among the parameters in bottomland hardwood forested wetlands. This study characterized soil morphology, hydrology, and vegetative composition in a bottomland hardwood forest in east Texas, USA. Alternate methods for assessment of the three parameters were examined with the aim of determining if there is an approach that provides better agreement among parameters than methods in current use. We compared four methods for determining dominance ratios and a prevalence index to assess the status of vegetation. The most stringent method of assessment and the method that provided best agreement with soil and hydrology parameters at this site was a prevalence index. We compared three criteria to assess the hydrology parameter: (1) length of growing season as defined by air temperature greater than −2°C (28°F) vs. 0°C (32°F), (2) saturation or inundation for 5% vs. 12.5% of the growing season, and (3) saturation to within 30 cm vs. 15 cm of the soil surface. Length of growing season had little or no effect on the outcome at this site; duration of required hydrology had the greatest influence over agreement with vegetation and soil parameters. We also compared the field method used to determine presence of hydric soil when sampling was conducted in 1995 with currently used field indicators. The combination that, in general, provided better agreement among the three parameters at this site was saturation to within 15 cm of the surface for 12.5% of the growing season, using current field indicators for hydric soil. Despite having been mapped as a wetland by the National Wetlands Inventory, under current federal guidelines, most of this bottomland hardwood forest would not be a jurisdictional wetland as defined by Clean Water Act regulations.
The effect of anesthesia type on major lower extremity amputation in functionally impaired elderly patients.

Objective Patients undergoing major lower extremity amputations are at risk for a wide variety of perioperative complications. Elderly patients with any functional impairment have been shown to be at high risk for these adverse events. Our goal was to determine the association between the type of anesthesia—general anesthesia (GA) and regional/spinal anesthesia (RA)—on perioperative outcomes after lower extremity amputation in these elderly and functionally impaired patients. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) data set (2005-2012) was queried to identify all patients aged ≥75 years with partial or total functional impairment who underwent major lower extremity amputations. Propensity matching and multivariate analysis were performed to isolate the effect of anesthesia type. Results We identified 3260 patients (50% male), 2558 GA patients and 702 RA patients, who were a mean age of 82 years. Anatomic distribution was 59% above-the-knee and 41% below-the-knee amputations. Patients undergoing GA were more likely to have impaired sensorium (9% vs 6%; P = .035), be on anticoagulation or have a bleeding disorder (33% vs 17%; P P P = .033). GA was associated with shorter anesthesia time to surgery (36 ± 48 vs 42 ± 49 minutes; P P = .292) compared with RA. After propensity matching, rates of 30-day mortality (14% vs 12%; P = .135), postoperative myocardial infarction/cardiac arrest (2.9% vs 3.1%; P = .756), pulmonary complications (7.3% vs 6.7%; P = .632), stroke (0.7% vs 0.9%; P = .694), urinary tract infections (6.7% vs 6.5%; P = .887), and wound complications (7.6% vs 7.6%; P = .999) were similar in patients undergoing GA and RA, respectively. Median length of stay was similar in both groups (5 vs 5.5 days; P = .309). Multivariable analyses confirmed that anesthesia type did not significantly affect morbidity and mortality. Conclusions The mode of anesthesia, GA vs RA, did not have significant effect on perioperative outcomes after major lower extremity amputation in the functionally impaired geriatric population. These findings provide an evidence base that will allow surgeons, anesthesiologists, and patients to make an informed decision about anesthesia type for their procedure.
Using Ecotopian Fiction to Reimagine Public Policy: From a Resource-Based Narrative to a Competing Values Narrative

Ecotopian fiction contains visions of a negative, dystopian future that connects with a range of environmental issues. For example, Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam Trilogy examines human environmental manipulation and worldwide disaster, and Glenn Beck and Harriet Parke’s Agenda 21 is based on extreme implementation of the United Nations global sustainability policy Agenda 21. Utopian and dystopian fiction often reflects fears about the future, fears held in both the left-of-center and right-of-center political camps. This article explores the literary genre of ecotopian fiction and how it can reflect on public policy. It determines that fictional ecotopias, when combined with concepts derived from Berlin and Miller, can help policymakers redefine their understanding of public policy away from a resource-based grand narrative to one that reflects the evolving and competing values of past and present society.
Visualizing Cortical Tissue Optical Changes During Seizure Activity with Optical Coherence Tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a label-free, high resolution, minimally invasive imaging tool, which can produce millimeter depth-resolved cross-sectional images. We identified changes in the backscattered intensity of infrared light, which occurred during the development of induced seizures in vivo in mice. In a large region of interest, we observed significant decreases in the OCT intensity from cerebral cortex tissue preceding and during generalized tonic-clonic seizures induced with pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). We then leveraged the full spatiotemporal resolution of OCT by studying the temporal evolution of localized changes in backscattered intensity in three dimensions and analyzed the seizure propagation in time-resolved 3D functional images. This allowed for a better understanding and visualization of this biological phenomenon.
Theoretical Exploration of Characteristics of Up-conversion Materials in Photovoltaics

Up-conversion materials can be used to greatly enhance the productivity of photovoltaic nanotechnologies. These materials must convert photons from a low energy to a higher energy to fit within the acceptable range of the solar panel. Software is needed to compute the value of these energy levels and to find molecules that produce these values. It must first be determined if the software has these capabilities and if the results are trustworthy. Naphthalamide has been a molecule of interest and serves as a good starting point for these studies.
Two-year end-results in the total rehabilitation of veterans with spinal-cord and cauda-equina injuries.

IN AN earlier paper the results obtained in paraplegic and paraparetic veterans after one year of definitive therapy under my direction at Cushing Veterans Administration Hospital, Framingham, Massachusetts, were summarized.1 Certain comparisons were made with the results obtained in an even larger series of my patients from the Boston City Hospital, and certain minimal end results were suggested. Another year has now elapsed, and it is advisable to publish the two-year figures. Despite the information available since 1940, and despite the organized public demonstration of the possibilities of rehabilitation in these and other chronic invalids, there is virtually a complete . . .
Fuzzy Model-Based Optimal Variance Control of Flexible Aircraft with Actuator Amplitude and Rate Constraints

This paper presents the study of a fuzzy optimal covariance control problem for wing shaping control of coupled aeroelastic aircraft models at various flight conditions and subject to actuator amplitude and rate constraints. Using Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy modeling and Parallel Distributed Compensation techniques, the stability and the constraints can be cast as a multi-objective optimization problem in the form of Linear Matrix Inequalities. By utilizing the formulations and solutions for the output covariance constrained problems, we develop a fuzzy full-state feedback controller and a fuzzy full-order observer for aeroelastic aircraft with flexible wings. The efficacy of the proposed controllers are examined on the NASA Generic Transport Model which is configured with the Variable Camber Continuous Trailing Edge Flaps.
The effect of the earth's surface on the S wave particle motion

Abstract This paper is concerned with the determination of the particle motion of the earth9s surface due to the incidence of a plane S wave of arbitrary polarization and incidence angles. It is assumed that the earth9s surface may be represented by a plane surface. For angles of incidence less than sin -1 ( b 0 / a 0 , where a 0 and b 0 are the P and S wave velocities at the earth9s surface, all three components of ground motion will be in phase, and the resultant motion is linear. For angles of incidence greater than sin -1 ( b 0 / a 0 ), all three components of ground motion will in general be out of phase, with the resultant motion describing some three-dimensional figure. The epicentral distance at which the motion changes from linear to non-linear depends upon the wave length of the S wave and the slope of the travel time curve at that distance.
Cross sections for ( π + , p ) reactions on Li 6 , Be 9 , C 12 , and O 16

Measurements of the (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p$) reaction on $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ have been made for 70-MeV pions. A magnetic spectrometer was used to momentum analyze the pion beam while thick Nal(T1) detectors were used to determine the proton energy. The experimental resolution was 3 MeV. Data from the $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$ and $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ targets were taken around a laboratory scattering angle of 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The number of (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p$) events from these nuclei was not significantly greater than background contributions, and therefore upper limits on the corss section are presented. Data from the $^{12}\mathrm{C}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p)^{11}\mathrm{C}$ reaction were obtained at proton emission angles of 20 and 32\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (lab), while for $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, measurements were made over the angular range from 33 to 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Our experimental cross section for the $^{12}\mathrm{C}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p)^{11}\mathrm{C}$ reaction, obtained by integrating over $^{11}\mathrm{C}$ excitation energies from 0 to 8 MeV, did not agree well with existing theoretical predictions. Results from the $^{6}\mathrm{Li}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p)^{5}\mathrm{Li}$ reaction indicated excitation of the ${p}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ state of $^{5}\mathrm{Li}$. The cross section for this reaction decreased rapidly for emission angles less than 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, while at larger angles the cross section was constant within the measured range.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$, $^{9}\mathrm{Be}$, $^{12}\mathrm{C}$, $^{16}\mathrm{O}({\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+},p)$, $E=70$ MeV, measured $\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\theta})$.]
Regulation of Rho-GEF Rgf3 by the arrestin Art1 in fission yeast cytokinesis

The arrestin Art1 and the Rho1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor Rgf3 are interdependent for their localizations to the division site during fission yeast cytokinesis. Art1 physically interacts wi...
Inhibition of Leishmania donovani growth by streptomycin and tobramycin.

(1987). Inhibition of Leishmania donovani growth by streptomycin and tobramycin. Annals of Tropical Medicine & Parasitology: Vol. 81, No. 6, pp. 731-733.
Peano Arithmetic and $$\Pi_1^0$$-Classes

One of the earliest purposes of computability theory was the study of logical systems and theories. We consider theories in a computable language: one which is countable, and whose function, relation, and constant symbols and their arities are effectively given. We also assume that languages come equipped with an effective coding for formulas and sentences in the languages, i.e., a Godel numbering, and identify sets of formulas with the corresponding set of Godel numbers. We can then speak of the Turing degree of a theory in a computable language
Applicability of the COURAGE, BARI 2D, and FREEDOM Trials to Contemporary Practice.

In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and diabetes mellitus, the treatment option is optimal medical therapy (OMT) either with or without revascularization. In 1996, a non–pre-specified subgroup analysis of 353 patients with diabetes mellitus from the BARI (Bypass Angioplasty
A WORLD MADE FOR MONEY: Economy, Geography, and the Way We Live Today

A WORLD MADE FOR MONEY: Economy, Geography, and the Way We Live Today. By Bret Wallach. xvi and 470 pp.; notes, index. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2015. $40.00 (cloth), isbn 978080329891...
Crystal and molecular structure of 1,1- ferrocene-dicarbaldehyde

The crystal and molecular structure of 1,1′-ferrocene-dicarbaldehyde 1 is reported. Crystal data for 1: monoclinic, space group P21/n, a = 5.876(1), b = 11.349(1), c = 29.460(3) A,β = 95.067(2)°, V = 1956.9(3) A3, and D c = 1.64 g/cm3, for Z = 8. The complex crystallizes such that two molecules are located in the asymmetric unit in which the complexes display different degrees of twisting of the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) rings and formyl substituents about the Cp—Fe—Cp and Cp—COH axes, respectively. The molecule self-assembles in the solid state to form a 2D layered structure held together by π-π interactions and C—H···O hydrogen bonds.
Proximal stochastic methods for nonsmooth nonconvex finite-sum optimization

We analyze stochastic algorithms for optimizing nonconvex, nonsmooth finite-sum problems, where the nonsmooth part is convex. Surprisingly, unlike the smooth case, our knowledge of this fundamental problem is very limited. For example, it is not known whether the proximal stochastic gradient method with constant minibatch converges to a stationary point. To tackle this issue, we develop fast stochastic algorithms that provably converge to a stationary point for constant minibatches. Furthermore, using a variant of these algorithms, we obtain provably faster convergence than batch proximal gradient descent. Our results are based on the recent variance reduction techniques for convex optimization but with a novel analysis for handling nonconvex and nonsmooth functions. We also prove global linear convergence rate for an interesting subclass of nonsmooth nonconvex functions, which subsumes several recent works.