cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Disneyland Paris: a case analysis demonstrating how glocalization works

This paper analyzes Disneyland Paris and how glocalization theory has been successfully applied to it. Glocalization means interaction of the global and the local. When the park was first opened, it was such a financial debacle that it has become the typical case study on how not to open a theme park. The mistake that Disney made was to use its traditional method to force-feed its US products to local cultures. The main premise of this paper is that even a giant like Disney has to show adaptation to local preferences in order to generate maximal profits and remain competitive.
Design, data, and theory regarding a digital hand inclinometer: a portable device for studying slant perception

Palm boards are often used as a nonverbal measure in human slant perception studies. It was recently found that palm boards are biased and relatively insensitive measures, and that an unrestricted hand gesture provides a more sensitive response (Durgin, Hajnal, Li, Tonge, & Stigliani, Acta Psychologica, 134, 182-197, 2010a). In this article, we describe an original design for a portable lightweight digital device for measuring hand orientation. This device is microcontroller-based and uses a micro inclinometer chip as its inclination sensor. The parts are fairly inexpensive. This device, used to measure hand orientation, provides a sensitive nonverbal method for studying slant perception, which can be used in both indoor and outdoor environments. We present data comparing the use of a free hand to palm-board and verbal measures for surfaces within reach and explain how to interpret free-hand measures for outdoor hills.
Optical experiments on kth-law nonlinearly transformed matched filters

Experiments on kth law nonlinearly transformed matched filters for optical correlation are provided. Experimental results for the images tested indicate that nonlinear matched filters produce good correlation performance in the terms of correlation peak intensity, signal-to- noise ratio, and peak-to-sidelobe ratio. The sensitivity of the kth law nonlinearly transformed filter to rotational changes of the input signal is investigated. It is shown that for the images presented here, up to a certain degree of input signal rotation, a highly nonlinearly transformed matched filter may produce a larger peak-to-sidelobe ratio than a conventional matched filter.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Diel infestation dynamics of gnathiid isopod larvae parasitic on Caribbean reef fish

Infestation dynamics of parasitic gnathiid isopods on Caribbean reefs were studied throughout the 24-h diel cycle. Gnathiid infestation on caged longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) peaked strongly at dawn, remained low during the remainder of the day, and increased again at night until about midnight. Gnathiids were less abundant during the pre-dawn period. Peak loads on fish retrieved at dawn were the highest reported in any study thus far. The dawn peak consisted almost exclusively of individuals from the smallest size class, whereas nocturnal activity consisted almost exclusively of individuals of the largest size class. Because of the high rates of infestation at night and dawn, and the high variation in parasite loads on fish collected during that time, reduction of parasite infestation may play an important role in the selection of nocturnal and crepuscular shelter holes and settlement sites by reef fishes.
Testing theories of atmospheric gravity wave saturation and dissipation

Abstract Numerous mechanisms have been proposed to account for the dissipation and saturation of gravity waves in the atmosphere. We review the leading wave dissipation paradigms and identify the experimental data required to test definitively the fundamental physics upon which these theories are based. We also examine the separability of the joint vertical wave number ( m ) and temporal frequency (ω) spectrum and the separability of the unambiguous two-dimensional horizontal wave number spectrum. Definitive tests of the Linear Instability (Dewan and Good, 1986), Saturated-Cascade (Dewan, 1994), and Diffusive Filtering Theories (Gardner, 1994) and separability of the ( m , ω) spectrum are within the observational capabilities of modern remote sensing instruments. The Diffusive Damping (Weinstock, 1990) and Doppler Spreading Theories (Hines, 1991) are untestable in their present forms. Separability of the two-dimensional horizontal wave number spectrum is difficult to test using current technology, although analysis of airglow images may provide some insight.
The linker region plays a regulatory role in assembly and activity of the Vps4 AAA ATPase.

Abstract The AAA-type ATPase Vps4 functions with components of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery in membrane fission events that are essential for endosomal maturation, cytokinesis, and the formation of retroviruses. A key step in these events is the assembly of monomeric Vps4 into the active ATPase complex, which is aided in part by binding of Vps4 via its N-terminal MIT (microtubule interacting and trafficking) domain to its substrate ESCRT-III. We found that the 40-amino acid linker region between the MIT and the ATPase domain of Vps4 is not required for proper function but plays a role in regulating Vps4 assembly and ATPase activity. Deletion of the linker is expected to bring the MIT domains into close proximity to the central pore of the Vps4 complex. We propose that this localization of the MIT domain in linker-deleted Vps4 mimics a repositioning of the MIT domain normally caused by binding of Vps4 to ESCRT-III. This structure would allow the Vps4 complex to engage ESCRT-III subunits with both the pore and the MIT domain simultaneously, which might be essential for the ATP-driven disassembly of ESCRT-III.
Harvey Cushing's early management of hydrocephalus: An historical picture of the conundrum of hydrocephalus until modern shunts after WWII

Purpose Throughout his early career, Cushing proposed a variety of methods for temporary and permanent drainage and diversion of CSF in his patients, and acknowledged that certain techniques were more suited to particular subsets of hydrocephalus.
Alison Rice. Polygraphies. Francophone Women Writing Algeria. Charlottesville and London: U of Virginia P, 2012.

In the rich library of books dealing with two substantial yet sometimes oversimplified topics—women's writing and Francophone literature from and about Algeria—Polygraphies stands out as an elegant...
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-Inhibited Renography for the Diagnosis of Ischemic Kidneys

Abstract This report synthesizes the literature and the authors' experience in the use of angiotensin-converting enzymeinhibited renography for the diagnosis of hypertension associated with critical renal arterial disease. The pathophysiology underlying the performance of the test and its interpretation are provided. The test is not a screening test of patients with hypertension. The need for preselection of patients is emphasized. The differences in using glomerular versus tubular radioisotopic agents are identified. Patient preparation, testing procedure, and interpretation of the data are reviewed. Clinical conditions, other than those in which hypertension is associated with critical disease of the main renal artery, in which false-positive renographic tests have occurred, are listed.
On the Lyapunov stability of discrete-time processes modeled by difference inclusions

Abstract The subject of this note is the stability in the sense of Lyapunov of difference inclusions. Connection with the convergence of algorithms is also discussed.
Transient impairment in P50 auditory sensory gating induced by a cold-pressor test

Abstract Dininished gating of the auditory evoked responses to repeated stimuli is a psychophysiological defect associated with schizophrenia and several other psychiatric illnessesThe P50 wave of the auditory evoked response to the second of paired stimuli is decreased in most normal subjects, whereas many psychotic subjects show significantly less decrement. The aim of this experiment was to test whether the cold-pressor test, which causes transient distress and pain accompanied by increased sympathetic activity, also causes a transient impairment in P50 auditory sensory gating in normal control subjects. Ten normal control subjects with normal gating of the P50 response immersed their hands in an ice water bath for 2 min. This cold-pressor test diminished P50 auditory gating in nine of these subjects, although the degree of impairment was highly variable among subjects. The impairment in gating was transient, with partial resolution by 30 min. The cold-pressor test was subjectively viewed as painful and also caused blood pressure to increase. Thus, a transient stressor can impair P50 auditory gating in some subjects.
On estimation of a class of efficacy-related parameters

Abstract For specified functions φ and ψ and unknown distribution function F with density f, the efficacy-related parameter T(f) = ∫ φ(x)ψ(F(x))f 2(x)dx may be estimated by the sample analogue estimator T(fn ) based on an empirical density estimator fn . For {Xi } i.i.d. F and fn of the form fn (x) = n -1 , we approximate the estimation error T(fn ) - T(f) by the Gateaux derivative of the functional T(·) at the “point” f with increment fn -f. In conjunction with stochastic properties of the L 2-norm ‖fn -f‖, this approach leads to characterizations of the stochastic behavior of T(fn )-T(f). In particular, under mild assumptions on f, we obtain the rate of strong convergence T(fn )-T(f)=a.s. O(n-1/2(log n)1/2), which significantly improves previous results in the literature. Also, we establish asymptotic normality with associated Berry-Esseen rates.
Recovery of eicosapentaenoic acid from fungal mycelia by solvent extraction

Utilization of lipids containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) produced by microorganisms requires processes for their efficient recovery from microbial cells. Recovery of EPA from mycelia of the fungusPythium irregulare by solvent extraction with hexane-isopropanol (HIP) in a pilot-plant colloid mill was investigated. Extraction efficiencies of 96% for lipid and EPA were achieved with a 3∶2 (vol/vol) HIP mixture by milling wet, filtered mycelia for 5 min at a solvent/dry solids ratio of 100 L/kg. The process yielded a crude extract that contained up to 96% lipid and an EPA content as high as 24% (with no selectivity for EPA).
Hematological and clinical features of sickle cell diseases: a review.

The differentiation, hematologic features and clinical manifestations of patients with the various sickling disorders are reviewed. The deficiencies in our current knowledge about the spectrum of the clinical course of patients with these conditions is discussed. The interaction of α thalassemia with sickle cell anemia and its possible effect upon the severity of the disease is summarized. The apparent milder disease in certain groups of patients with sickle cell anemia in whom there is an associated elevation of hemoglobin F is contrasted with the controversy surrounding the effects of hemoglobin F levels in the patients of African origin.
Intra-arterial therapies for acute ischemic stroke.

Background: There are no randomized trials comparing intra-arterial (IA) therapy with best medical treatment for acute ischemic stroke. To assess potential benefit from this therapeutic approach, we performed a systematic review of published IA series. Because outcome from stroke is highly dependent on baseline characteristics, we compared results against prognostic models adjusted for admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and age. Methods: We selected articles from MEDLINE and Cochrane Databases based on specified criteria that included 3-month clinical follow-up. Outcome functions from prognostic models were generated and difference from prediction calculated for each study. Best and worst mortality performers were identified and assessed for factors that distinguished them. Results: We identified 27 reports with 30 treatment series representing 1,117 patients. Percent difference from predicted outcomes varied from −51 to +24.6% for mortality and −30.3 to +28.7% for good functional outcome. A mean overall difference in the percent that died compared with prediction was 0.25% (SD: ±3.5%; 95% CI: ±0.53) and in the percentage of those that achieved a good functional outcome compared with prediction was −0.15% (SD: ±2.7%; 95% CI: ±0.44). The quartile of better mortality performers relative to worst performers had a 4.8-point more severe NIHSS score at baseline ( p = 0.028) and employed 50% lower doses of the most frequently used thrombolytic urokinase ( p = 0.0034). Conclusion: We found considerable variability and lack of evidence for a net improvement in outcome after intra-arterial therapy relative to predicted natural history, substantiating the need for a prospective comparison with best medical therapy. The features associated with better performers identified here may be useful in designing such a trial.
Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) presenting with an unusually prolonged period of marked polyuria heralded by an abrupt oliguric phase.

A 50-year-old African-American man presented with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) secondary to hypotension from non-typhoid Salmonella gastroenteritis and bacteraemia. The oliguric phase lasted only 24 h followed by prolonged polyuria for 20 days, with urine output in excess of 16 L/day at maximum. As indexed in PubMed this is only the second published case of this nature since 1974, in which an abrupt oliguric phase of 24 h or less heralded prolonged polyuria in ATN. The diagnosis is challenging as fractional excretion of sodium early in the clinical course and rapid normalisation of serum creatinine with intravenous fluids (IVF) may point towards prerenal azotaemia resulting in a premature discharge from hospital. Patients with an abrupt oliguric phase may suffer a secondary renal insult from the profound fluid loss that is to follow and may need inpatient monitoring with supplemental IVF to prevent deleterious outcomes.
Energetics of global ocean tides from Geosat altimetry

The present paper focuses on resonance and energetics of the daily tides, especially in the southern ocean, the distribution of gravitational power input of daily and half-daily tides, and comparison with other estimates of global dissipation rates. The present global tidal maps, derived from Geosat altimetry, compare favorably with ground truth data at about the same rms level as the models of Schwiderski (1983), and are slightly better in lunar than in solar tides. Diurnal admittances clearly show Kelvin wave structure in the southern ocean and confirm the resonant mode of Platzman (1984) at 28.5 + or - 0.1 hr with an apparent Q of about 4. Driving energy is found to enter dominantly in the North Pacific for the daily tides and is strongly peaked in the tropical oceans for the half-daily tides. Global rates of working on all major tide constituents except S2 agree well with independent results from analyses of gravity through satellite tracking. Comparison at S2 is improved by allowing for the air tide in gravitational results but suggests deficiencies in all solar tide models.
Variation in Suicide Occurrence by Day and during Major American Holidays

Abstract Background Due to temporal variations in completed suicides, it has been suggested that impulsivity and environmental factors may influence suicide. Study Objective Our intent was to determine if particular days of the week, seasons, or holidays were associated with increased attempted and completed suicides by poisoning. Methods All calls recorded in the National Poison Database System coded as “suspected suicide” from 2006 through 2010 were included. Exposures were evaluated by day, season, and holidays, and compared to control dates. Results There were 1,065,067 exposures (63% female) related to suicide attempts, with completions in 0.4% of cases. Sundays and Mondays for adults, and Mondays and Tuesdays for age Conclusions The beginning of the week, spring and fall, and New Year's Day were associated with higher numbers of ingestions with suicidal intent. This has implications for clinicians advising potential victims and providing emergency care for these patients.
Development of specific sensory-motor pathways in amphibians

Abstract For the nervous system to function correctly, a neuron's input must be functionally appropriate for its output to other cells. Sensory neurons, for example, must match their synaptic connections in the CNS with the input they receive from the targets they innervate peripherally. Experimental results from two different sensory systems provide clues as to how this peripheral and central matching is achieved.
Civic Engagement and Citizenship Development: The Case of Homeowners’ Participation in Neighborhood Affairs in Beijing:

This article investigates the behavioral consequences of homeowners’ participation in neighborhood affairs in Beijing, China. The research is based on semistructured interviews with homeowner leade...
Inhibition of Cytomegalovirus by Rifampin

Rifampin at a concentration of 150 gtg/ml interfered with the replication of Davis, Kerr, and AD 169 strains of cytomegalovirus in Wi-38 cells. The replication of herpes-simplex virus (types 1 and 2) and Sindbis virus in the same cells was unaffected by a similar concentration of the antibiotic. Direct inactivation of the virus and interference with adsorption and release of the virus were excluded as possible mechanisms for the inhibitory effect.
Augmenting GPS with Television Signals for Reliable Indoor Positioning

This paper analyzes the theoretical performance of an idealized Assisted GPS (A-GPS) receiver in inclement urban environments. The results suggest that if reliability, accuracy, and rapid acquisition time are important for wireless applications that are used indoors, an augmentation technology is necessary. The rest of the paper is devoted to exploring a positioning technology that uses embedded synchronization signals in TV broadcasts. The technique discussed herein could be used to position personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, cellular phones, two-way radios, and asset-tracking devices. Since the technique makes use of signals that are part of the TV standard, no changes to broadcast stations are required. The TV synchronization signals typically have a power advantage over GPS of more than 40 dB. In addition, the effects of multipath are substantially mitigated since the signals have a bandwidth of roughly 6 MHz, and superior lateral geometry for triangulation relative to stand-alone GPS.
Bacterial gastroenteritis I: Incidence and etiologic agents

One of the major diagnostic challenges clinical microbiology laboratories currently face is the accurate, cost-effective identification of bacterial pathogens involved in pediatric or adult cases of gastroenteritis. In less than 15 yr, the list of bonafide bacterial enteropathogens implicated in this infectious syndrome has expanded from five (Salmonella, Shigella, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) to over 30 recognized or reputed subgroups, species, and genera. Recent evidence suggests that this list will continue to expand, making it essential that microbiologists keep abreast of the latest findings so that rational approaches to diagnosing infectious diarrhea can be provided.
GIS and Remote Sensing Applications in the Assessment of Change within a Coastal Environment in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

In the last decades, the Niger Delta region has experienced rapid growth in population and economic activity with enormous benefits to the adjacent states and the entire Nigerian society. As the region embarks upon an unprecedented phase of economic expansion in the 21st century, it faces several environmental challenges fuelled partly by the pressures caused by human activities such as oil and gas exploration, housing development, and road construction for transportation, economic development and demographic changes. This continued growth has resulted in environmental problems such as coastal wetland loss, habitat degradation, and water pollution, gas flaring, destruction of forest vegetation as well as a host of other issues. This underscores the urgent need to design new approaches for managing remote costal resources in sensitive tropical environments effectively in order to maintain a balance between coastal resource conservation and rapid economic development in developing countries for sustainability. Notwithstanding previous initiatives, there have not been any major efforts in the literature to undertake a remote sensing and GIS based assessment of the growing incidence of environmental change within coastal zone environments of the study area. This project is an attempt to fill that void in the literature by exploring the applications of GIS and remote sensing in a tropical coastal zone environment with emphasis on the environmental impacts of development in the Niger Delta region of Southern Nigeria. To deal with some of the aforementioned issues, several research questions that are of great relevance to the paper have been posed. The questions include, Have there been any changes in the coastal environment of the study area? What are the impacts of the changes? What forces are responsible for the changes? Has there been any major framework in place to deal with the changes? The prime objective of the paper is to provide a novel approach for assessing the state of coastal environments while the second objective seeks a contribution to the literature. The third objective is to provide a decision support tool for coastal resource managers in the assessment of environmental impacts of development in tropical areas. The fourth objective is to assess the extent of change in a tropical ecosystem with the latest advances in geo-spatial information technologies and methods. In terms of methodology, the paper draws from primary and census data sources analyzed with descriptive statistics, GIS techniques and remote sensing. The sections in the paper consist of a review of the major environmental effects and factors associated with the problem: initiatives and mitigation measures. The project offers some recommendations as part of the conservation strategies. In spite of concerted efforts by managers to address the problems, results revel that the study area experienced some significant changes in its coastal environments. These changes are attributed to socio-economic and environmental variables.
Creating Accountable Care Organizations: The Extended Hospital Medical Staff

Many current policies and approaches to performance measurement and payment reform focus on individual providers; they risk reinforcing the fragmented care and lack of coordination experienced by patients with serious illness. In this paper we show that Medicare beneficiaries receive most of their care from relatively coherent local delivery systems comprising physicians and the hospitals where they work or admit their patients. Efforts to create accountable care organizations at this level—the extended hospital medical staff—deserve consideration as a potential means of improving the quality and lowering the cost of care.
Does the Persistence of Development Delay Predict Receipt of Early Intervention Services

Abstract Objective To examine how the persistence of infants' and toddlers' developmental delays affects their access to early intervention services (EI). Methods Using the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth cohort (ECLS-B), we examined receipt of EI at 24 months for each category of developmental change. Development delay was measured at 9 and 24 months and categorized as none (ie, within 1 SD below the mean), mild (ie, between 1 and 1.5 SD below the mean), and moderate/severe (more than 1.5 SD below the mean). Changes in the subjects' developmental skills between 9 and 24 months were calculated. For children with a delay at either time point, adjusted logistic regression models estimated the likelihood of receiving EI at 24 months. Results Use of EI varied across severity, type, and timing of developmental delay. Among the children with a cognitive delay, those with delays at 9 and 24 months were significantly more likely to receive EI at 24 months than peers whose delays improved, emerged, or worsened. Among the children with a motor delay, those with regression from normal to moderate/severe were significantly more likely to receive services than children with persistent delays (adjusted odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1–6.6). Conclusions Except for children whose motor skills regress substantially, children with dynamic developmental delays are less likely than their peers with persistent delays to receive EI. This finding suggests the need for improved understanding of developmental surveillance, referral, and use of EI services.
The Future Research Agenda

As a responsible partner in healthcare systems, the pharmaceutical industry hopes to see a research agenda on pharmaceutical issues that will provide more information on trends in healthcare reform affecting medicines. Urgent questions include whether some forms of cost containment are harming innovation and the quality of care, and what constructive alternatives to policies such as reference pricing can the industry offer?
The evaluation of brain activity in response to taste stimuli--a pilot study and method for central taste activation as assessed by event-related fMRI.

Background:Brain pathways contribute to the regulation of appetite behaviors, and advancements in brain imaging offer new opportunities in determining whether disturbances of these pathways play a role in pathological feeding behaviors in humans. We developed a standardized method for the assessment of brain activation in response to taste stimuli. Methods:Five healthy control women were positioned in a 1.5 T GE magnet resonance (MR) scanner for functional MR imaging (fMRI). They received 1.0 cm 3 samples of 1 M glucose solution or artificial saliva (25 mM KCl, 2 mM NaHCO 3). Fluid challenges were delivered by a programmable syringe pump (J-Kem Scientific, St. Louis, MO). E-Prime software (Psychology Software Tools Inc., Pittsburgh, PA) coordinated taste stimulation with MR scanning. Data were analyzed using NeuroImaging software (NIS). Results: Healthy women showed increased orbitofrontal cortex activation when glucose was compared to artificial saliva. In addition, mesial and lateral temporal cortical regions contrasted glucose from artificial saliva. Conclusions:This study demonstrates a design for the systematic study of brain activation after taste stimulation using fMRI and computer controlled stimulus delivery. The results are consistent with previous studies, showing activation in higher order brain centers that are involved in emotional coding of taste experience. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of temperature, strain rate and grain size on the compressive properties of Ti3SiC2

Abstract Herein we report on the response of polycrystalline Ti 3 SiC 2 samples, with two grain sizes, on cyclic compressive loading in the 25–1200 °C temperature range. At lower temperatures, the stress–strain curves outline fully reversible, closed loops whose size and shape depend on grain size, but not strain rate. This phenomenon is attributed to the formation and annihilation of incipient kink bands, defined to be thin plates of sheared material bounded by opposite walls of dislocations that as long as the dislocation walls remain attached, are attracted to each other and annihilate upon removal of the load. Because the dislocations are confined to the basal planes, dislocation forests do not form and the dislocations can move reversibly over relatively large distances dissipating a significant (25% at 1 GPa) portion of the mechanical energy. At high temperatures (>1000 °C), the stress–strain loops are open, the response is strain rate dependent and cyclic hardening is observed for both microstructures. In this regime, kink bands and dislocation arrays interact in such a way as to form deformation cells that are smaller than the original grains and that, in turn, leads to hardening.
Gastrointestinal helminths in raccoons in Texas.

Raccoons (n=590) were collected from October 1999 to August 2003 from 35 counties across Texas, and gastrointestinal tracts were examined for helminth parasites. Prevalence was calculated and differences in mean abundance were examined among habitat ecoregions, age classes, and between sexes. Twenty different species of helminths (13 nematodes, two cestodes, two acanthocephalans, and three trematodes) were positively identified in the gastrointestinal tracts of 590 raccoons in Texas. Five of the 20 helminth species collected (Physaloptera rara, Placoconus lotoris, Molineus barbatus, Atriotaenia procyonis, and Macracanthorhynchus ingens) had a prevalence >20%. The total number of individuals of these five species (n=22,777) accounted for over 86% of the total number of individuals of all helminth species (n=26,426) collected. Subsequent analyses were based on these five helminths. Mean abundance differed among habitat ecoregions, age classes, and between sexes for all five parasites evaluated. This study i...
Treatment of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Children and Adolescents: Peaks and Pitfalls

Survival of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is often described as the success story for oncology. The improvements in the treatment of ALL represent the work of cooperative groups at their best. Fifty years ago a pediatric oncologist would have never considered using the term "cure" in a discussion with a family whose child was diagnosed with ALL. Today the term is not only used in the initial discussion but referred to frequently thereafter. However, as we all know, cure is not assured and is not obtained without sequelae. This review will focus on the improvements in treatment for newly diagnosed ALL in children and adolescents according to risk group and some of the challenges that remain despite the improved outcome.
Fluorescence Quenching: Theory and Applications

Solute fluorescence quenching reactions were first applied to biochemical problems in the late 1960s and early 1970s, 7) and since that time they have been a very valuable research tool for studies with proteins, membranes, and other macromolecular assemblies. Quenching reactions are easy to perform, require only a small sample, usually are nondestructive, and can be applied to almost any system that has an intrinsic or extrinsic fluorescence probe. The most important characteristic, however, is the value of the information that these reactions can provide. Solute quenching reactions, using quenchers such as molecular oxygen, acrylamide, or iodide ion, provide information about the location of fluorescent groups in a macromolecular structure. A fluorophore that is located on the surface of a larger structure will be relatively accessible to a solute quencher that is dissolved in the aqueous phase. A fluorophore that is removed from the surface of a structure will be quenched to a lesser degree by the quencher. Thus, the quenching reaction can be used to probe topographical features of a macromolecular assembly and to sense any structural changes that may be caused by varying conditions or the addition of reagents. In addition, quenching reactions can, in some situations, provide information about conformational fluctuations. In Sections 2.3 and 2.4 I will discuss several examples of the use of solute quenchers in studies with proteins, membranes, and nucleic acids. Solute fluorescence quenching reactions can also be used to selectively alter the fluorescence properties of a sample in order to resolve contributions or aid in the measurement of data. To elaborate on this point, consider the different characteristics of fluorescence: the quantum yield, excitation and
Operational Compliance Levers, Environmental Performance, and Firm Performance Under Cap and Trade Regulation

Cap and trade programs impose limits on industry emissions but offer individual firms the flexibility to choose among different operational levers toward compliance, including inputs, process changes, and the use of allowances to account for emissions. In this paper, we examine the relationships among (1) levers for compliance (at-source pollution prevention, end-of-pipe pollution control, and the use of allowances); (2) environmental performance; and (3) firm market performance for the context of stringent cap and trade regulation with allowance grandfathering (i.e., the allocation of allowances for free). To investigate these relationships, we use data on publicly traded utility firms operating coal-fired generating units regulated by the U.S. Acid Rain Program from three principal sources: the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Compustat database. Our results indicate a significant relationship between better environmental performance and lower firm market performance over at least a three-year period. From a regulatory perspective, our results show a negative association between allowance grandfathering and firm environmental performance. Overall, by explicitly considering the context of stringent regulation, we find a counter-example to the view that better environmental performance generally associates with better economic performance.
Realistic diversity loss and variation in soil depth independently affect community‐level plant nitrogen use

Numerous experiments have demonstrated that diverse plant communities use nitrogen (N) more completely and efficiently, with implications for how species conservation efforts might influence N cycling and retention in terrestrial ecosystems. However, most such experiments have randomly manipulated species richness and minimized environmental heterogeneity, two design aspects that may reduce applicability to real ecosystems. Here we present results from an experiment directly comparing how realistic and randomized plant species losses affect plant N use across a gradient of soil depth in a native-dominated serpentine grassland in California. We found that the strength of the species richness effect on plant N use did not increase with soil depth in either the realistic or randomized species loss scenarios, indicating that the increased vertical heterogeneity conferred by deeper soils did not lead to greater complementarity among species in this ecosystem. Realistic species losses significantly reduced plant N uptake and altered N-use efficiency, while randomized species losses had no effect on plant N use. Increasing soil depth positively affected plant N uptake in both loss order scenarios but had a weaker effect on plant N use than did realistic species losses. Our results illustrate that realistic species losses can have functional consequences that differ distinctly from randomized losses, and that species diversity effects can be independent of and outweigh those of environmental heterogeneity on ecosystem functioning. Our findings also support the value of conservation efforts aimed at maintaining biodiversity to help buffer ecosystems against increasing anthropogenic N loading.
COGNITIVE–BEHAVIORAL THEORIES OF EATING DISORDERS

This article presents an integrated cognitive-behavioral theory of eating disorders that is based on hypotheses developed over the past 30 years. The theory is evaluated using a selected review of the eating disorder literature pertaining to cognitive biases, negative emotional reactions, binge eating, compensatory behaviors, and risk factors for eating disorders. In general, hypotheses derived from cognitive-behavioral theories have been supported by a variety of research studies. The implications of these findings for treatment and prevention of eating disorders are discussed. This review of the literature serves as a conceptual base for some of the other articles that are included in this special issue of Behavior Modification. The article concludes with an introduction to six articles that discuss issues related to psychiatric classification, assessment, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders.
Winds at an Interior Alaska Summit

Abstract One purpose of this study was to compare anemometer-based average wind speeds at a well-exposed interior Alaskan summit with those deduced from local rawinsonde data at the same summit altitude. The second purpose was to evaluate the wind power potential of the site investigated. Winds measured by an anemometer for two years (1979–81) at Murphy Dome Air Force Station, Alaska, 893 m above sea level, gave an annual scalar wind speed Vn of 6.33 m s−1 (14.2 mph) at 13.7 m (45 ft) above ground. The measured seasonal average speeds of 7.48 (winter), 5.70 (spring), 5.98 (summer) and 6.14 m s−1 (autumn) agree well with estimates based on free-stream (rawinsonde) winds Vf from long-term (1948–70) data at the same altitude. The latter came from the vicinity of the Fairbanks International Airport, 27 km southeast of Murphy Dome. The ratios Vn/Vf were 1.1 (winter), 0.99 (spring), 1.1 (summer) and 0.97 (autumn). The wind power potential of the station is good to excellent throughout the year, in sharp con...
Multivariate Boosting for Integrative Analysis of High-Dimensional Cancer Genomic Data

In this paper, we propose a novel multivariate component-wise boosting method for fitting multivariate response regression models under the high-dimension, low sample size setting. Our method is motivated by modeling the association among different biological molecules based on multiple types of high-dimensional genomic data. Particularly, we are interested in two applications: studying the influence of DNA copy number alterations on RNA transcript levels and investigating the association between DNA methylation and gene expression. For this purpose, we model the dependence of the RNA expression levels on DNA copy number alterations and the dependence of gene expression on DNA methylation through multivariate regression models and utilize boosting-type method to handle the high dimensionality as well as model the possible nonlinear associations. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated through simulation studies. Finally, our multivariate boosting method is applied to two breast cancer studies.
Eastern Pacific Hurricanes Jimena of 1991 and Olivia of 1994: The Effect of Vertical Shear on Structure and Intensity

Abstract Shear is a key inhibitor of tropical cyclone intensification. Although its signature is readily recognized in satellite imagery and theoretical or modeling studies provide some insight, detailed observations have been limited. Airborne radar and in situ observations in Hurricanes Jimena of 1991 and Olivia of 1994 are a step toward better understanding. Each storm was observed on two consecutive days. Initially, both had small eyes, 16–18-km radius, and maximum winds of ∼57 m s−1 over sea surface temperatures (SST) >28°C in easterly environmental shear. Jimena maintained constant intensity or weakened gradually for 2 days in 13–20 m s−1 easterly shear. Olivia intensified in 8 m s−1 shear on the first day. Overnight, the shear diminished to reverse and became westerly. On the second day, Olivia weakened as the shear increased to >15 m s−1 from the west, the storm moved over cooler SST, and became surrounded by dryer air. As convection weakened and the outer rainbands ceased to be effective barriers...
Complications of Laparoscopic and Robotic Pediatric Urologic Surgery

Laparoscopy was a relatively new adjunct in the treatment armamentarium for adult urologic diseases 15 years ago, but it has now become the standard of care in many cases and its applications continue to expand. In pediatric urology the search for appropriate indications for laparoscopic interventions has only recently graduated from its infancy. There is still significant debate among pediatric urologists regarding the benefits of laparoscopic and robotic surgery in infants and children where one could argue that the goal has always been minimally invasive surgery or invasive surgery through small incisions. As pioneers in laparoscopic and robotic techniques in the world of pediatric urology continue to expand the horizons for these techniques they must use caution and balance the drive to expand the field with good patient care. It is also crucial that they play a vital role in the development of the new technology rather than await its arrival. Perhaps much has been learned from the previous lessons of our adult counterparts and the learning curve will be less steep and the technology more broadly applicable. Only time will tell.
EVALUATION OF LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE DYSFUNCTION BY CARDIAC COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ANGIOGRAPHY

Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are used to support cardiac function in patients with advanced heart failure, however device-related adverse events remain common. Cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) has the potential to provide unique information on cardio-mechanical complications
Novel Role of TRPML2 in the Regulation of the Innate Immune Response

TRPMLs (or mucolipins) constitute a family of endosomal cation channels with homology to the transient receptor potential superfamily. In mammals, the TRPML family includes three members: TRPML1-3. Although TRPML1 and TRPML3 have been well characterized, the cellular function of TRPML2 has remained elusive. To address TRPML2 function in a physiologically relevant cell type, we first analyzed TRPML2 expression in different mouse tissues and organs and found that it was predominantly expressed in lymphoid organs and kidney. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed tight regulation of TRPML2 at the transcriptional level. Although TRPML2 expression was negligible in resting macrophages, TRPML2 mRNA and protein levels dramatically increased in response to TLR activation both in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, TRPML1 and TRPML3 levels did not change upon TLR activation. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that endogenous TRPML2 primarily localized to recycling endosomes both in culture and primary cells, in contrast with TRPML1 and TRPML3, which distribute to the late and early endosomal pathway, respectively. To better understand the in vivo function of TRPML2, we generated a TRPML2-knockout mouse. We found that the production of several chemokines, in particular CCL2, was severely reduced in TRPML2-knockout mice. Furthermore, TRPML2-knockout mice displayed impaired recruitment of peripheral macrophages in response to i.p. injections of LPS or live bacteria, suggesting a potential defect in the immune response. Overall, our study reveals interesting differences in the regulation and distribution of the members of the TRPML family and identifies a novel role for TRPML2 in the innate immune response.
Long-term thinning alters ponderosa pine reproduction in northern Arizona.

Abstract The future of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum) forests in the southwestern United States is uncertain because climate-change-induced stresses are expected to increase tree mortality and place greater constraints on regeneration. Silvicultural treatments, which include thinning, are increasingly being used to address forest health concerns by restoring ponderosa pine forests to more open conditions representative of historical forest structure. In light of the greater use of thinning and mounting concerns about the future of the species at the southern edge of its range, further investigations about impacts of thinning on ponderosa pine regeneration and underlying mechanisms are needed. We used a long-term (>50 years) experiment in northern Arizona to investigate impacts of repeated stand thinning that maintained different growing stock basal areas (0, 7, 14, 23, 34, 66 m2 ha−1) on early seedling survival, growth, and microenvironment. Seedling survival for the first two years after germination (2013–2015), which had above-average precipitation, was higher than reported in several earlier studies and ranged between 4 and 21% among all basal areas. Seedling density exhibited a negative quadratic relationship with basal area and was positively associated with litter cover. Growing stock levels that fostered the highest seedling survival and density were those with a low density of overstory trees, low canopy cover, high cone production, coverage of soil by a thin layer of litter, and high soil water content at a depth of 15–30 cm. Overstory basal area was positively associated with seedling height but negatively associated with seedling diameter. During this relatively wet period, all basal area treatments supported higher average seedling densities than those previously recommended to produce a multi-aged stand or presettlement structure in the southwestern United States. Our results show that long-term maintenance of low to intermediate basal areas (7–23 m2 ha−1) by thinning over the last 50 years led to a favorable microenvironment for early seedling establishment of ponderosa pine.
An Introduction to Recommender Systems

The increasing importance of the Web as a medium for electronic and business transactions has served as a driving force for the development of recommender systems technology. An important catalyst in this regard is the ease with which the Web enables users to provide feedback about their likes or dislikes. For example, consider a scenario of a content provider such as Netflix. In such cases, users are able to easily provide feedback with a simple click of a mouse. A typical methodology to provide feedback is in the form of ratings, in which users select numerical values from a specific evaluation system (e.g., five-star rating system) that specify their likes and dislikes of various items.
The Role of Lactoferrin in Gastrointestinal and Immune Development and Function: A Preclinical Perspective.

The early postnatal period is a critical time for gastrointestinal (GI) and immune development. Neonates fed mother's milk have more rapid GI and immune development than fed-formula infants. In addition, clinical and epidemiologic data provide strong evidence that breastfeeding reduces the incidence and/or severity of infectious diseases. Lactoferrin is a 77 kDa, iron-binding glycoprotein that is present at high concentration in human milk compared with bovine milk and infant formula. It is a multifunctional protein that mediates many of the physiological processes in which breastfed infants have advantages over their formula-fed peers, including promoting GI and immune development, protection from infections, and improved cognitive development. Feeding bovine lactoferrin or recombinant human lactoferrin was well tolerated and stimulated intestinal cell proliferation and increased villus length and crypt depth in piglets. Lactoferrin also influenced both systemic and GI immune development by stimulating a balanced T-helper-1/T-helper-2 cytokine immune response. Further, there was a tendency for immune cells to secrete more anti-inflammatory cytokines in an unstimulated state, while being primed for a robust pro-inflammatory response when presented with a bacterial trigger in piglets fed lactoferrin. These findings support clinical studies demonstrating benefits of dietary lactoferrin in the prevention of infections, late onset sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis.