cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Encyclopedia Hellenistica and Christian Origins

The compilations of knowledge from a particular time and place together make up the "encyclopaedia" of their era. The "entries" which constitute an "Encyclopaedia Hellenistica" give expression to the epistemological possibilities of the Hellenistic period. A period of Hellenistic religious history has been conventionally defined with Hellenistic political history as beginning with Alexander's empire and concluding with Augustus's. Contemporary historiographical theory, however, challenges political event as an appropriate criterion for social history and, supported by new data, suggests that the events of the fourth century CE mark a more appropriate conclusion to a period of Hellenistic religious history and a beginning for the Christian era. And, rather than the redistribution of political power, it was the collective acceptance of the Ptolemaic cosmological image with its "grammar of fate" that most significantly conditioned the possibilities for Hellenistic religious discourse. Rather than cast agains...
Nonconvex Regularization for Shape Preservation

We show that using a nonconvex penalty term to regularize image reconstruction can substantially improve the preservation of object shapes. The commonly-used total-variation regularization, int |nablau|, penalizes the length of object edges. We show that int |nablau|p, 0 < p < 1, only penalizes edges of dimension at least 2 - p, and thus finite-length edges not at all. We give numerical examples showing the resulting improvement in shape preservation.
Tissue Kallikrein and Tonin Levels in Submandibular Glands of STZ-Induced Diabetic Rats and the Effects of Insulin

The levels of tissue kallikrein, tonin, and other kallikrein-like proteinases were determined in extracts of rat submandibular glands 3 mo after the induction of diabetes with STZ (65 mg/kg i.v.). Total kallikrein-like proteinase activity was assayed catalytically with the fluorogenic substrate DVLR-AFC. Tissue kallikrein was assayed by using the same substrate in the presence of SBTI. Activity of other kallikrein-like proteinases was defined as the difference between the total kallikrein-like activity and that of tissue kallikrein. Tonin was assayed by using the substrate ZVKKR-AFC in the presence of aprotinin. Results were compared with age-matched controls and with diabetic rats that had received daily insulin injections for the last week of the test period. The results showed that all activities were significantly reduced in diabetic glands compared with controls. Insulin treatment restored concentrations of tissue kallikrein activity, whereas the activities of tonin and other kallikrein-like proteinases were unchanged. RIA supported these findings. The results indicate that in rat submandibular glands, insulin affects the synthesis of kallikrein-like proteinases in different ways and, allowing for the slowness of the processes involved, insulin may exert a direct influence on the regulation of tissue kallikrein synthesis but only have indirect effects on the synthesis of tonin and the closely related kallikrein-like proteinases.
What do you mean 'what's wrong with her?': stigma and the lives of families of children with disabilities

This study extends the application of modified labeling theory to the experience of courtesy stigma in families of children with disabilities. The study utilizes a mixed methods approach that integrates quantitative analysis of survey data, qualitative analysis of interactive interviews and personal narrative. A survey of 81 mothers of children with disabilities in Florida, USA, is used to test hypotheses related to the impact of perceived stigma on emotional and social outcomes for mothers and children. The author's experience as the mother of a child with cerebral palsy and interactive interviews with seven other mothers with similar experiences are used to contextualize, humanize and help interpret the quantitative findings. Results indicate that controlling for the effects of salient maternal and child characteristics and the daily hassles of caring for a child with a disability (objective burden), maternal perceptions that individuals with disabilities are devalued and discriminated against (stigmatized) by others increases maternal distress (subjective burden). Findings also indicate that children of mothers who perceive high levels of stigma interact less frequently with age peers in the informal settings of homes and neighborhoods.
Neural limitations of visual excitability. IX. Monocular and interocular changes of sensitivity during flicker stimulation.

Changes of threshold luminance for a test flash (Ft) were studied as a function of temporal displacement between two conditioning flashes (Fc1 and Fc2), viewed with either the tested eye (monocular stimulation) or the homologous retinal location in the opposite eye (interocular stimulation). Under both conditions, the threshold was elevated most near the beginning of Fc1, fell to a minimum between flashes, and rose again to a secondary maximum near the beginning of Fc2. The form of this function changed dramatically as the Fc1–Fc2 interval decreased, the greatest effect being obtained with interocular stimulation. When a train of conditioning flashes (Fc1–Fc5) at or near fusion frequency was utilized, temporal oscillations of threshold luminance were detectable with monocular but not with interocular stimulation.
Scaling structure and thermodynamics of strange sets

We present a quantitative theory of the scaling properties of Julia sets, using them as a case model for nontrivial fractal sets off the borderline of chaos. It is shown that generally the theory has a ``macroscopic'' part which consists of the generalized dimensions of the set, or its spectrum of scaling indexes, and a ``microscopic'' part which consists of scaling functions. These two facets are formally and computationally equivalent to thermodynamics and statistical mechanics in the theory of many-body systems. We construct scaling functions for the Julia sets and argue that basically there are two different approaches to this construction, which we term the Feigenbaum approach and the Ruelle-Bowen-Sinai approach. For the cases considered here the two approaches converge, meaning that we can map the theory onto Ising models with finite-range interactions. The largest eigenvalue of the appropriate transfer matrix furnishes the thermodynamic functions.
Advantages of Slewing an Active Structure

The slewing control of an active flexible structure is considered by examin ing the equations of motion of an integrated actuator/structure system containing both the actuator and structure dynamics. These equations are derived using a Hamiltonian ap proach. The system under consideration is a slewing flexible structure, a thin aluminum beam, torque driven by an armature controlled DC electric motor and actuated by a piece- wise distributed piezoceramic actuator. An improvement in performance is gained by 1) including the effects of motor actuator and beam dynamic interaction and 2) using a piezo electric device, layered on the structure, for direct vibration suppression of the structural dynamics. A comparison is made using simulations, to point out the advantages of slewing an active structure versus slewing a passive structure. This presents a multi input slewing control problem which is implemented using a standard linear quadratic regulator control design.
In-situ propellant rocket engines for Mars missions ascent vehicle

When comtemplating the human exploration of Mars, many scenarios using various propulsion systems have been considered. One propulsion option among them is a vehicle stage with multiple, pump fed rocket engines capable of operating on propellants available on Mars. This reduces the Earth launch mass requirements, resulting in economic and payload benefits. No plentiful sources of hydrogen on Mars have been identified on the surface of Mars, so most commonly used high performance liquid fuels, such as hydrogen and hydrocarbons, can be eliminated as possible in-situ propellants. But 95 pct. of the Martian atmosphere consists of carbon dioxide, which can be converted into carbon monoxide and oxygen. The carbon monoxide oxygen propellant conbination is a candidate for a Martian in-situ propellant rocket engine. The feasibility is analyzed of a pump fed engine cycle using the propellant combination of carbon monoxide and oxygen.
Assessing data quality with control matrices

The control matrix, long used by IS auditors to evaluate information integrity, can be modified to assess the reliability of information products.
Responding to change: internal and external factors in organizational success

In order for organizations to adopt procedures and structures that efficiently serve their goals, they need to overcome predictable errors in individual and group judgment and decisionmaking and to distinguish ephemeral from significant environmental changes. I seek to identify factors internal and external to the organization that contribute to overcoming these two problems. I suggest the modern US research university as a case study of a successful organization.
Medical Students’ Perceptions of Their Teachers’ and Their Own Cultural Competency: Implications for Education

BACKGROUND Enhancing the cultural competency of students is emerging as a key issue in medical education; however, students may perceive that they are more able to function within cross-cultural situations than their teachers, reducing the effectiveness of cultural competency educational efforts.
Now Take a Deep Breath: Inhaled Loxapine for the Treatment of Acute Agitation

Acute agitation in patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder is an important clinical management problem. Liquid concentrates, orally disintegrating tablets, and/or intramuscular formulations of several second-generation atypical antipsychotic drugs are available for treating acute agitation. Loxapine is an older first-generation antipsychotic drug that is approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. Staccato(®) loxapine is an investigational device system using a loxapine-coated heat source to administer loxapine by inhalation. Three multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy and safety studies of Staccato loxapine have been conducted in patients with acute agitation associated with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. These studies found that inhaled loxapine was rapidly effective and generally well tolerated, although there are potential concerns about adverse pulmonary effects.
Stochastic change detection in uncertain nonlinear systems using reduced-order models: classification

A reliable structural health monitoring methodology (SHM) is proposed to detect relatively small changes in uncertain nonlinear systems. A total of 4000 physical tests were performed using a complex nonlinear magneto-rheological (MR) damper. With the effective (or 'genuine') changes and uncertainties in the system characteristics of the semi-active MR damper, which were precisely controlled with known means and standard deviation of the input current, the tested MR damper was identified with the restoring force method (RFM), a non-parametric system identification method involving two-dimensional orthogonal polynomials. Using the identified RFM coefficients, both supervised and unsupervised pattern recognition techniques (including support vector classification and k-means clustering) were employed to detect system changes in the MR damper. The classification results showed that the identified coefficients with orthogonal basis function can be used as reliable indicators for detecting (small) changes, interpreting the physical meaning of the detected changes without a priori knowledge of the monitored system and quantifying the uncertainty bounds of the detected changes. The classification errors were analyzed using the standard detection theory to evaluate the performance of the developed SHM methodology. An optimal classifier design procedure was also proposed and evaluated to minimize type II (or 'missed') errors.
Annealing effects on the properties of BFe2As2 (B = Ca, Sr, Ba) superconducting parents

The effects of thermal-annealing on the antiferromagnetic (TN) and structural (Ts) transition temperatures of ThCr2Si2-type BaFe2As2 and SrFe2As2 (‘122’) crystals are reported and compared to that of CaFe2As2. Although the shift in transition temperature for CaFe2As2 can be as high as 75 K, we find modest changes of ∼6 K for BaFe2As2 and SrFe2As2. Such findings are based on the measurements of temperature dependence of electrical resistivity, magnetization, and heat capacity. Residual resistivity ratios show an improvement of crystal quality upon annealing for both BaFe2As2 and SrFe2As2. We confirm the pressure-like influence of annealing on the 122 crystals.
Protection system maintenance program choices - TBM, CBM, and PBM

In 2007, FERC Order 693 launched the development of the new NERC Protection System Maintenance Standard PRC-005-2. The new standard was to replace four legacy standards for maintenance of similar types of protection system components, and to specify maximum maintenance intervals and minimum activities for a time based maintenance (TBM) program. The NERC Standard Drafting Team, however, went beyond what FERC ordered and also included provisions for condition based maintenance (CBM) and performance based maintenance (PBM) programs. The new draft Standard was approved by NERC in 2012. On July 18, 2013, FERC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NOPR) in which it proposed to make PRC-005-2 [1] mandatory and enforceable, along with a few new action items requesting feedback of supporting information. In October of 2013, PRC-005-2 became mandatory and enforceable. The standard includes and implementation plan that gives affected utilities many years to gradually develop compliance with the new standard.
The future of nuclear energy

Nothing will be as important to the people of the world in the next century and beyond as energy to provide clean water and electricity. But how will this need be met with the increasingly recognized need to substantially reduce carbon dioxide emissions? Nuclear power provides a compelling option, but it must meet certain requirements in order to gain public and political support. In this paper, those requirements are examined and the imperative for continued research into advanced nuclear power technologies is discussed.
Results of the 1.5-ventricle repair for Ebstein anomaly and the failing right ventricle.

Objective Repair of Ebstein anomaly and impaired right ventricular function pose challenges for the cardiac surgeon. The bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt may improve early outcomes. We reviewed our experience with the 1.5-ventricle repair in this patient population. Methods Between July 1999 and March 2006, 169 patients underwent operations to repair Ebstein anomaly. Fourteen patients had a bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt constructed. The median age at operation was 6 years (17 months-57.8 years). All of the patients had severe Ebstein anomaly with dilated right-sided chambers and/or right ventricular dysfunction. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 54.5% (range 35%–72%). Three patients were initially referred for heart transplantation, and the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt allowed a conventional repair. Results Procedures included bidirectional cavopulmonary shunting (14), tricuspid valve replacement (11), tricuspid valve repair (2), and right ventricular resection (3). Shunting was planned preoperatively in 9 patients; the indication in 5 other patients was hemodynamic instability after separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. One patient died of multiple organ failure. Median follow-up in 10 patients was 18 months (3 months-6.5 years). The preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 50% improved in 3 patients to greater than 50% postoperatively. Conclusions The 1.5-ventricle repair can be utilized in patients with severe Ebstein anomaly and impaired right ventricular function who are at high risk for surgical treatment. We believe the bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt may be considered as a planned procedure, as an intraoperative salvage maneuver, or as an alternative to cardiac transplantation in selected patients.
The role of cAMP in oocyte maturation and the role of the germinal vesicle contents in mediating maturation and subsequent developmental events in hydrozoans

Externally applied membrane permeable cAMP derivatives and the injection of cAMP induce oocyte maturation in several species of hydrozoans. This technique for inducing oocyte maturation has been used to study ion permeability changes, maturation promoting factor activity and surface tension changes during maturation. Oocyte membrane potential remains constant during maturation. Cyclic AMP induced maturation proceeds in the absence of external Ca2+, K−, Mg2+ or Na+. Cytoplasm from maturing oocytes that induces oocyte maturation when it is injected into untreated oocytes is produced during cAMP induced maturation. Surface tension, as measured by the application of a standardized force that mechanically deforms individual oocytes, declines during the first part of maturation. This is followed by a sharp rise and fall of surface tension at first and second polar body formation that accompanies a slow rise in the resistance of oocytes to deformation during the last part of maturation. The production of maturation promoting factor activity and some of the changes in surface tension during maturation can occur in the absence of germinal vesicle material. Two early developmental events that follow oocyte maturation are the production of sperm chemoattractant and calcium channel function. Neither of these events occurs in eggs that have undergone maturation in the absence of germinal vesicle material. The addition of germinal vesicle contents from oocytes to eggs that have undergone maturation in the absence of germinal vesicle material initiates calcium channel function. This experiment indicates that the germinal vesicle contains factors that are necessary for post-maturation developmental events.
Molecular zeeman effect in NH3

Abstract High-resolution measurements of ΔMj = 0 inversion transitions in 14NH3 in 100 kG magnetic fields were made using a beam-maser spectrometer. The spectra show resolved splittings due to a different in molecular g-values for upper and lower inversion states with J = 3, K = 2. The observed difference in upper and lower inversion state g-values is g+(3,2)—g−(3,2) = (1.38 ± 0.08) > 62;x 10−4.
Saccade-related burst neurons in cat superior colliculus

Abstract Single-unit activity was studied in the intermediate and deep layers of the superior colliculus in 4 trained cats. One class of neuron was isolated which resembles the saccade-related burst neurons (SRBNs) previously reported in monkey. These neurons produce a discrete burst of impulses preceding the onset of saccades of particular amplitudes and direction. Many of these neurons also paused during saccades in the opposite direction. similar discharge patterns were seen when saccades were made to remember target locations as well as when a visual target was present. These findings are consistent with the idea that some neurons in the superior colliculus neurons play a role in the coding of voluntary or memory-contingent saccades as well as in the initiation of visually elicited saccades.
Transformations in Supreme Court thought: The irresistible force (Federal Indian law & policy) meets the movable object (American Indian tribal status)

Abstract This article is a content analysis examination of 107 federal court cases involving American Indian tribal sovereignty and federal pleary power rendered between 1870 and 1921. Our focus, however, is the U.S. Supreme Court's Indian Law jurisprudence; thus ninety of the cases analyzed were Supreme Court opinions. The cases seemingly entail two separate braces of opinions. One brace included decisions which affirmed tribal sovereignty. The other brace entailed cases which negatively affected tribal sovereignty. These negative decisions generally relied on doctrines such as plenary power, the political question doctrine, or the so- called “guardian-ward” relationship. We argue that the Supreme Court, as a partner in the ruling national alliance, generally deferred to the legislative branches during this critical historical era, Indian treaties and extra- constitutional rights notwithstanding. In seeking to explain the two separate, though not unrelated sets of opinions, we focus on the Court's role in formulating public policy towards American Indian tribes in four major issue areas: congressional power, criminal law, allotment and membership, and natural resources. And we attempt to explain how and why the Court's perception of these issues were transformed over time and how these changes affected tribal sovereign rights. Finally, we develop a synthetic, abstract model of judicial decision-making which provides some explanatory power regarding why the Court decides Indian related issues the way it does.
The intramolecular mode in isotopically substituted NO+ β- and β″-alumina

Abstract Single crystals of 15N-substituted NO+ β- and β″-alumina were prepared and Raman scattering spectra of the nitrosonium intramolecular stretching mode were measured. The harmonic frequency and the cubic anharmonic force constant were calculated using these and similar data from the naturally abundant nitrosonium aluminas. Differences in the calculated values between the β and β″ system were attributed to structural differences in the conduction planes.
ZnO Nanowire Field-Effect Transistors

Owing to the extraordinary properties and prominent applications in emerging nanoelectronics, ZnO nanowire has attracted tremendous research effort. This paper provides an introductory overview, covering topics ranging from basic nanowire synthesis and fundamental electrical properties to device characteristics based on field-effect transistor configuration.
Flash nanoprecipitation of polystyrene nanoparticles

Aside from polymerization techniques, polymer nanoparticles can be generated through the displacement of a solvent with a nonsolvent, i.e., nanoprecipitation. In this study, we utilize a facile process termed Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) to generate polystyrene (PS) nanoparticles of several different molecular weights. As compared to PS nanoparticles synthesized by surfactant free emulsion polymerization, nanoparticles prepared by FNP show comparable size distributions when the diameter is less than 150 nm. Furthermore, we illustrate that the sizes of PS nanoparticles prepared by FNP can be fine-tuned by changing the polymer and/or electrolyte concentration. The stabilized nanoparticles contain only the radically polymerized polymer chains, which have sulfate anions at the chain termini and no additional external stabilizers. Calculations of the mechanism of particle formation and stabilization show that the size-dependent electrostatic repulsions between nanoparticles and single collapsed polymer chains control assembly and monodispersity. The ability to independently vary polymer molecular weight and nanoparticle size will enable fundamental studies of the effect of confinement on polymer dynamics in a way not easily achievable by other techniques.
FACTORS AFFECTING HOME RANGE SIZE AND MOVEMENTS OF POST-FLEDGING GRASSLAND BIRDS

Abstract We describe post-fledging movements and evaluate the effects of local vegetation, temporal, and biological factors on home range size for two species of declining grassland birds in southwestern Missouri from 2002 to 2004. We obtained ≥30 detections for 74 individual juvenile Dickcissels (Spiza americana) and 64 juvenile Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) during the post-fledging period. Juvenile Eastern Meadowlarks had a greater total number of days (6.7 ± 0.6) with large (>300 m) movements than juvenile Dickcissels (5.0 ± 0.5 days). Average Dickcissel home range size was larger and three times as variable in 2002 (77.0 ± 22 ha) compared to 2003 (31.4 ± 7.5 ha) and 2004 (34.9 ± 7.5 ha). There were year-specific effects of the variability in vegetation height on home range size of juvenile Dickcissels. Home range size was similar among years for juvenile Eastern Meadowlarks (2002, 109.4 ± 39.2 ha; 2003, 82.7 ± 29.4 ha; 2004, 70.7 ± 11.6 ha), but there was a year-specific effect of variability ...
Coupling Cloud Processes with the Large-Scale Dynamics Using the Cloud-Resolving Convection Parameterization (CRCP)

Abstract A formal approach is presented to couple small-scale processes associated with atmospheric moist convection with the large-scale dynamics. The approach involves applying a two-dimensional cloud-resolving model in each column of a three-dimensional large-scale model. In the spirit of classical convection parameterization, which assumes scale separation between convection and the large-scale flow, the cloud-resolving models from neighboring columns interact only through the large-scale dynamics. This approach is referred to as Cloud-Resolving Convection Parameterization (CRCP). In short, CRCP involves many two-dimensional cloud-resolving models interacting in a manner consistent with the large-scale dynamics. The approach is first applied to the idealized problem of a convective–radiative equilibrium of a two-dimensional nonrotating atmosphere in the presence of SST gradients. This simple dynamical setup allows comparison of CRCP simulations with the cloud-resolving model results. In these tests, t...
Critical Contingencies in Joint Venture Management: Some Lessons from Managers

This study is an integrative examination of three aspects of joint venture formation: complementarity of the partners, ownership/control and joint venture autonomy. Past research has examined each of these concepts individually without considering potential interactive effects. Moreover, most past studies have used global measurements ignoring critical dimensions within each concept. For example, most studies of ownership/control have examined the effects of dominant control by one partner versus shared influence. This approach overlooks the possibility that joint venture parents may exert varying degrees of control over decision making in the different functional areas. Personal interviews of 98 managers involved in oil and gas exploration and production joint ventures are used in an investigation of the three joint venture concepts. In this industry, complementarity had little if any effect on joint venture performance. In fact, complementarity actually appeared to have a negative impact on several dimensions of joint venture performance. Qualitative data suggest that joint venture partners with distinctive competencies in different functional areas may experience difficulties in implementing potential complementarities. Moreover, it may be important for all joint venture partners to perceive some influence over the strategic decisions of the joint venture, regardless of their actual influence over those decisions. Perhaps the most important implications of this study are for future joint venture research. First, a dimensionalized approach to the issues of implementation and performance is justified. Examining ownership/control over each functional area provided additional insights into issues of joint venture management and aided in explaining the results of tests using global measures. Second, analyses of joint venture autonomy and ownership/control produced different results based on the functional area under consideration. Thus, the use of global measures is likely to result in the loss of information. Third, joint venture performance is a multidimensional concept. The results of the analyses related to performance varied according to the dimension of performance under consideration. Some measures of performance were actually negatively related to others. It is believed that this outcome is appropriate. Performance is measured relative to the various goals established for a joint venture. Some goals may be in conflict with others or present managers with tradeoffs to consider. Research that fails to consider multiple dimensions of performance may lose some of the richness of the performance concept. Finally, joint ventures are particularly likely to be subject to goal conflicts since they are formed by two or more firms, each with its own set of goals. Ultimately, a joint venture is measured by the extent to which the venture meets the goals and expectations of the individual partners. As a result, it is necessary for joint venture research to examine performance related issues from the perspective of the individual partners.
Automated object-oriented reusable component identification

An automated tool to assist in the understanding of legacy code can be useful both in the areas of software reuse and software maintenance. Most previous work in this area has concentrated on functionally-oriented code. Whereas object-oriented code has been shown to be inherently more reusable than functionally-oriented code, in many cases the eventual reuse of the object-oriented code was not considered during development. This paper describes an approach that makes preparing existing object-oriented code for reuse easier and more quantifiable. This problem includes two primary sub-problems: understanding the function of components, and applying an appropriate set of metrics to the components to quantify reusability.The research described in this paper addresses an approach to the automated understanding of object-oriented code. A knowledge-based system that implements the approach is described. This paper also briefly discusses the formulation of reusability metrics for object-oriented code.
Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria at sites of varying transmission intensity in Uganda.

In Africa fever is often treated presumptively as malaria resulting in misdiagnosis and the overuse of antimalarial drugs. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for malaria may allow improved fever management. We compared RDTs based on histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) and RDTs based on Plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) with expert microscopy and PCR-corrected microscopy for 7000 patients at sites of varying malaria transmission intensity across Uganda. When all sites were considered the sensitivity of the HRP2-based test was 97% when compared with microscopy and 98% when corrected by PCR; the sensitivity of the pLDH-based test was 88% when compared with microscopy and 77% when corrected by PCR. The specificity of the HRP2-based test was 71% when compared with microscopy and 88% when corrected by PCR; the specificity of the pLDH-based test was 92% when compared with microscopy and greater than 98% when corrected by PCR. Based on Plasmodium falciparum PCR-corrected microscopy the positive predictive value (PPV) of the HRP2-based test was high (93%) at all but the site with the lowest transmission rate; the pLDH-based test and expert microscopy offered excellent PPVs (98%) for all sites. The negative predictive value (NPV) of the HRP2-based test was consistently high (greater than 97%); in contrast the NPV for the pLDH-based test dropped significantly (from 98% to 66%) as transmission intensity increased and the NPV for expert microscopy decreased significantly (99% to 54%) because of increasing failure to detect subpatent parasitemia. Based on the high PPV and NPV HRP2-based RDTs are likely to be the best diagnostic choice for areas with medium-to-high malaria transmission rates in Africa. (authors)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACID‐RESISTING WHITE SHEET STEEL ENAMELS1

Many of the commercial sheet steel enamels are readily attacked by such weak acid solutions as fruit juices and are stained by milk and by some city waters. This paper gives the development of a number of acid-resisting enamels. It shows that acid resistance is the result of the right combinations of raw materials rather than the presence or absence of any particular constituent. Acid resistance is not affected by fineness of grinding or by the smelting conditions if the enamel is properly smelted. Mill additions of clay reduce the acid resistance but opacifiers added in this manner have no effect. Temperature and time of firing may or may not affect the acid resistance depending on the composition of the enamel.
Adversary phase change detection using S.O.M. and text data

In this work, we developed a self-organizing map (SOM) technique for using web-based text analysis to forecast when a group is undergoing a phase change. By “phase change”, we mean that an organization has fundamentally shifted attitudes or behaviors. For instance, when ice melts into water, the characteristics of the substance change. A formerly peaceful group may suddenly adopt violence, or a violent organization may unexpectedly agree to a ceasefire. SOM techniques were used to analyze text obtained from organization postings on the world-wide web. Results suggest it may be possible to forecast phase changes, and determine if an example of writing can be attributed to a group of interest.
Characterization of α-adrenoceptor activity in term-newborn piglet mesentery

For further characterization of neonatal mesenteric alpha 1-adrenoceptor populations, an extracorporeal perfusion circuit was established to control intestinal blood flow in 0-2 day old piglets. Activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors was first documented by observing dose-dependent increases in mesenteric perfusion pressure after intra-mesenteric arterial injection of methoxamine and noradrenaline. Peripheral intravenous injections of WB 4101 (a competitive alpha 1A-adrenoceptor antagonist), but not clorethylclonidine (CEC, an alpha 1B-adrenoceptor antagonist), significantly (P < 0.05, analysis of variance) blunted mesenteric vasoconstrictor responses to those agonists. That the mesenteric vasoconstrictor response to mesenteric plexus stimulation was unaltered by CEC, but was muted by both WB 4101 and SK&F 104856 (a post-junctional alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist) suggests that pre- and post-junctional alpha 1A-adrenoceptors are present and functional at birth.
A low-cost server-client methodology for remote laboratory access for hardware design

A new and cost effective technique is presented for remote laboratory access (RLA). The technique was developed to serve students in digital hardware design courses through the Internet. The technique is based on software and uses the client-server methodology to establish communication between a user and a server PC that is located in a lab with an FPGA board attached. The technique provides an integrated system of multiple servers and clients so that each client receives information from the servers, including: server availability, FPGA board types and services provided, and lab equipment available through the graphical user interface (GUI). Presently, a set of eight remote access servers are in service at Northern Illinois University, where they have been tested for three semesters. The proposed RLA technique is dynamic; adding new features to the system is only bounded by the capability of the FPGA hardware.
Evaluation of Statistical Designs in Phase I Expansion Cohorts: The Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Experience

Results Five hundred twenty-two adult therapeutic phase I trials were identified during the 25 years. The average sample size of a phase I study has increased from 33.8 patients to 73.1 patients over that time. The proportion of trials with planned enrollment of 50 or fewer patients dropped from 93.0% during the time period 1988 to 1992 to 46.0% between 2008 and 2012; at the same time, the proportion of trials enrolling 51 to 100 patients and more than 100 patients increased from 5.3% and 1.8%, respectively, to 40.5% and 13.5% (χ2 test, two-sided P < .001). Sixteen of the 60 trials (26.7%) in 2011 enrolled patients to three or more sub-cohorts in the expansion phase. Sixty percent of studies provided no statistical justification of the sample size, although 91.7% of trials stated response as an objective. Conclusions Our data suggest that phase I studies have dramatically changed in size and scientific scope within the last decade. Additional studies addressing the implications of this trend on research processes, ethical concerns, and resource burden are needed.
Construction of large DNA segments in Escherichia coli

Recombinant DNA clones containing large pieces of DNA are useful in the study of large genetic units, but these are difficult to make in most bacterial cloning vectors. A strategy is described that uses general and site-specific recombination to construct large pieces of eukaryotic DNA from smaller cloned segments. The large clones are propagated on F factor-based plasmids in Escherichia coli. They can be easily modified to introduce mutations or rearrangements. These techniques were applied to the construction of large DNA segments from the bithorax complex of Drosophila.
Health need and the use of alternative medicine among adults who do not use conventional medicine

We hypothesize that a substantial portion of individuals who forgo conventional care in a given year turn to some form of alternative medicine. This study also examines whether individuals who use only alternative medicine will differ substantially in health and sociodemographic status from individuals using neither alternative medicine nor conventional care in a given year. To identify those factors that predict alternative medicine use in those not using conventional care, we employed the socio-behavioral model of healthcare utilization. The current study is a cross-sectional regression analysis using data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey. Data were collected in-person from 31,044 adults throughout the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 19.3% of adults (38.3 million) did not use conventional care in a 12 month period, although 39.5% of these individuals (14.7 million) reported having one or more problems with their health. Of those not using conventional care, 24.8% (9.5 million) used alternative medicine. Users of alternative medicine had more health needs and were more likely to delay conventional care because of both cost and non-cost factors compared to those not using alternative medicine. While individual predisposing factors (gender, education) were positively associated with alternative medicine use, enabling factors (poverty status, insurance coverage) were not. We found that a quarter of individuals who forgo conventional care in a given year turn towards alternative medicine. Our study suggests that the potential determinants of using only alternative medicine are multifactorial. Future research is needed to examine the decision process behind an individual's choice to use alternative medicine but not conventional medicine and the clinical outcomes of this choice.
Detection of Enocyanin in Cranberry Juice Cocktail by HPLC Anthocyanin Profile

Adulteration of cranberry juice products by enocyanin, a colorant from grapes, was detected by comparing HPLC chromatographic profiles of cranberry anthocyanins with those from enocyanin. Two peaks present in all enocyanin samples but not in cranberries were identified as delphinidin-3-glucoside and petunidin-3-glucoside. A group of unidentified pigments which eluted after the cranberry pigments was also present in enocyanin. It was possible by considering differences in the chromatograms to detect replacement of 5% or more of the expected amount of cranberry juice in cranberry juice cocktail by a solution of enocyanin. A CG-50 column was used to concentrate the pigments followed by chromatography on a polymer styrene column at pH 1.6. The method gives reliable results even on samples 18 months of age.
A single parameter representation of hygroscopic growth and cloud condensation nucleus activity – Part 2: Including solubility

The ability of a particle to serve as a cloud condensation nucleus in the atmosphere is determined by its size, hygroscopicity and its solubility in water. Usually size and hygroscopicity alone are sufficient to predict CCN activity. Single parameter representations for hygroscopicity have been shown to successfully model complex, multicomponent particles types. Under the assumption of either complete solubility, or complete insolubility of a component, it is not necessary to explicitly include that component's solubility into the single parameter framework. This is not the case if sparingly soluble materials are present. In this work we explicitly account for solubility by modifying the single parameter equations. We demonstrate that sensitivity to the actual value of solubility emerges only in the regime of 2×10 −1 –5×10 −4 , where the solubility values are expressed as volume of solute per unit volume of water present in a saturated solution. Compounds that do not fall inside this sparingly soluble envelope can be adequately modeled assuming they are either infinitely soluble in water or completely insoluble.
Simulating Current Successional Trajectories in Sagebrush Ecosystems With Multiple Disturbances Using a State-and-Transition Modeling Framework

Disturbances and their interactions play major roles in sagebrush (Artemisia spp. L.) community dynamics. Although impacts of some disturbances, most notably fire, have been quantified at the landscape level, some have been ignored and rarely are interactions between disturbances evaluated. We developed conceptual state-and-transition models for each of two broad sagebrush groups—a warm-dry group characterized by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young) communities and a cool-moist group characterized by mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. subsp. vaseyana [Rydb.] Beetle) communities. We used the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool to explore how the abundance of community phases and states in each conceptual model might be affected by fire, insect outbreak, drought, snow mold, voles, sudden drops in winter temperatures (freeze-kill), livestock grazing, juniper (Juniperus occidentalis var. occidentalis Hook.) expansion, nonnative annual grasses such as cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), and vegetation treatments. Changes in fuel continuity and loading resulted in average fire rotations of 12 yr in the warm-dry sagebrush group and 81 yr in the cool-moist sagebrush group. Model results in the warm-dry sagebrush group indicated postfire seeding success alone was not sufficient to limit the area of cheatgrass domination. The frequency of episodes of very high utilization by domestic livestock during severe drought was a key influence on community phase abundance in our models. In the cool-moist sagebrush group, model results indicated at least 10% of the juniper expansion area should be treated annually to keep juniper in check. Regardless, juniper seedlings and saplings would remain abundant.
Embryonic and extraembryonic stem cell lines derived from single mouse blastomeres

The most basic objection to human embryonic stem (ES) cell research is rooted in the fact that ES cell derivation deprives embryos of any further potential to develop into a complete human being. ES cell lines are conventionally isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts and, in a few instances, from cleavage stage embryos. So far, there have been no reports in the literature of stem cell lines derived using an approach that does not require embryo destruction. Here we report an alternative method of establishing ES cell lines-using a technique of single-cell embryo biopsy similar to that used in pre-implantation genetic diagnosis of genetic defects-that does not interfere with the developmental potential of embryos. Five putative ES and seven trophoblast stem (TS) cell lines were produced from single blastomeres, which maintained normal karyotype and markers of pluripotency or TS cells for up to more than 50 passages. The ES cells differentiated into derivatives of all three germ layers in vitro and in teratomas, and showed germ line transmission. Single-blastomere-biopsied embryos developed to term without a reduction in their developmental capacity. The ability to generate human ES cells without the destruction of ex utero embryos would reduce or eliminate the ethical concerns of many.
A Concise Necessary and Sufficient Condition for the Existence of a Galled-Tree

Galled-trees are a special class of graphical representation of evolutionary history that has proven amenable to efficient, polynomial-time algorithms. The goal of this paper is to construct a concise necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a galled-tree for M, a set of binary sequences that purportedly have evolved in the presence of recombination. Both root-known and root-unknown cases are considered here.
Inspiratory valving in avian bronchi: aerodynamic considerations

The presence of unidirectional flow in the avian lung is thought to be effected by aerodynamic 'valves'. First we review the history of this hypothesis and summarize existing evidence. Second, we present a semiquantitative treatment of the various fluid dynamic factors that may be involved in directing fluid flow. The resulting calculations show in some detail how the inspiratory valve may work, and upon what mechanisms it may depend. Our calculations suggest that gas convective inertial forces are sufficient to effect inspiratory valving. Finally, we give some heuristic arguments regarding the mechanisms of expiratory valving.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of insulin glargine–insulin glulisine basal-bolus and twice-daily premixed analog insulin in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients during three standardized meals

Abstract Aims To evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of basal insulin glargine with mealtime insulin glulisine or twice daily 75/25 premixed neutral protamine insulin lispro and insulin lispro in individuals with type 1 diabetes during three standardized meals over a 24 hour duration and compare to physiologic insulin and glucose responses in healthy non-diabetic individuals. Methods Twelve healthy (4 male/8 female) and thirteen individuals with type 1 diabetes (8 male/5 female) were studied during three sequential standardized meals. Individuals with type 1 diabetes received either glargine and glulisine injected 5 minutes subcutaneously before each meal or premixed insulin lispro injected 5 minutes before breakfast and dinner in a randomized fashion separated by eight weeks. Results The incremental systemic insulin AUC, maximal insulin concentration, and rate of rise of systemic insulin (0–30 minutes) during all three meal intervals were similar between glargine/glulisine and healthy controls. Incremental glucose AUC with glargine/glulisine was similar to controls at lunch and dinner. With premix 75/25 insulin, insulin AUC was lower and incremental glucose AUC was greater at lunch compared to the healthy and glargine/glulisine. Hypoglycemic events before lunch were greater with premix insulin group than with glargine/glulisine (p Conclusions Glargine/glulisine pharmacokinetics in type 1 diabetes can closely approximate physiologic insulin responses in healthy individuals during a day in which three standardized meals are consumed. Additionally, when glulisine is dosed only five minutes pre-meal, systemic insulin concentration rises as rapidly as prandial endogenous insulin levels. This present study compared glargine and glulisine administered in an approximate 50/50 proportion. Future studies of alternate meal times, meal content and differing premixed insulin preparations are indicated.