cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sodium butyrate ameliorates insulin resistance and renal failure in CKD rats by modulating intestinal permeability and mucin expression.

Background The associated increase in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease (CKD) has shifted the way we focus on intestinal microbiota. This study shows that a disruption of the intestinal barrier in CKD promotes leakage of LPS from the gut, subsequently decreasing insulin sensitivity. Butyrate treatment improved the intestinal barrier function by increasing colonic mucin and tight junction (TJ) proteins. This modulation further ameliorated metabolic functions such as insulin intolerance and improved renal function. Methods Renal failure was induced by 5/6th nephrectomy (Nx) in rats. A group of Nx and control rats received sodium butyrate in drinking water. The Nx groups were compared with sham-operated controls. Results The Nx rats had significant increases in serum creatinine, urea and proteinuria. These animals had impaired glucose and insulin tolerance and increased gluconeogenesis, which corresponded with decreased glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion. The Nx animals suffered significant loss of intestinal TJ proteins, colonic mucin and mucin 2 protein. This was associated with a significant increase in circulating LPS, suggesting a leaky gut phenomenon. 5'adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, known to modulate epithelial TJs and glucose metabolism, was significantly reduced in the intestine of the Nx group. Anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin 10, anti-bacterial peptide and cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide were also lowered in the Nx cohort. Butyrate treatment increased AMPK phosphorylation, improved renal function and controlled hyperglycemia. Conclusions Butyrate improves AMPK phosphorylation, increases GLP-1 secretion and promotes colonic mucin and TJ proteins, which strengthen the gut wall. This decreases LPS leakage and inflammation. Taken together, butyrate improves metabolic parameters such as insulin resistance and markers of renal failure in CKD animals.
General entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes

Entanglement-assisted quantum error-correcting codes (EAQECCs) make use of preexisting entanglement between the sender and receiver to boost the rate of transmission. It is possible to construct an EAQECC from any classical linear code, unlike standard QECCs, which can only be constructed from dual-containing codes. Operator quantum error-correcting codes allow certain errors to be corrected (or prevented) passively, reducing the complexity of the correction procedure. We combine these two extensions of standard quantum error correction into a unified entanglement-assisted quantum error-correction formalism. This new scheme, which we call entanglement-assisted operator quantum error correction (EAOQEC), is the most general and powerful quantum error-correcting technique known, retaining the advantages of both entanglement-assistance and passive correction. We present the formalism, show the considerable freedom in constructing EAOQECCs from classical codes, and demonstrate the construction with examples.
Surface plasma discharge generated by spoof surface plasmon polariton excitation: a computational modeling study

We discuss a computational modeling study of surface plasma generation by spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) mode excitation of a corrugated metal surface. The SSPP mode is a highly localized electromagnetic wave propagating along the interface between a conductor and dielectric. The corrugations are defined by an array of rectangular cavities (comb structures) in the metal at the location of the interface. Spoof plasmon resonances occurring at each cavity couple with one another at the interface to produce localized surface wave structures whose wavelength can be much smaller than the incident wave. The electromagnetic wave structure for a finite length of the interface (metasurface) is analytically estimated and its correlation to the resonance frequency of the infinite metasurface is studied numerically. Strong local enhancement of the electromagnetic fields at the metasurface is used to initiate the plasma breakdown of pure argon gas at 10 Torr. Confined microdischarges produced initially at each of the comb structure evolve rapidly to create an extended structure of high density ~10alt;supagt;19alt;/supagt; malt;supagt;-3alt;/supagt; surface plasma whose properties are comparable to surface streamers generated in dielectric barrier discharges.
An Empirical Research Project in English and Writing Studies

English majors generally are adept at literary criticism but tend to have less experience in conducting empirical research that draws on both qualitative and quantitative methods and engages human participants. To introduce those methods to students and to satisfy a university requirement for quantitative instruction applied to the discipline, I developed a course called Approaches to Research in English Studies. The students complete individual IRB-approved projects that result in a research report, a poster, and a lightning talk. Before undertaking the individual projects, the students engage in a whole-class research project that models the process, and this latter assignment is described here in this essay.
Tariff quota administration in China's grain markets: An empirical assessment

In 2016, the U.S. launched a trade dispute against China at the World Trade Organization, arguing that China has been restricting its grain imports via tariff quota administration. Despite sharp criticisms by the U.S., the extent to which the grain imports were restricted in China remains largely unknown, primarily due to that China's grain import behaviors are still under‐researched. The U.S. grain export sector might actually gain little from China's grain trade liberalization in the short run, since China has become less import dependent on the U.S. through the pursuit of import diversification. In this context, this article aims to quantify impacts of the tariff quota administration on China's grain imports from its trading partners. We calculate ad valorem tariff equivalents of the tariff quota administration and then estimate import demand elasticities using a source differentiated import demand model. We find that the tariff quota administration might have reduced China's quota fill rates for the grain commodities by 10–35% during 2013–2017. In particular, the U.S. wheat exports to China were largely negatively affected. We also find that the tariff quota administration in China acts like a variable import levy—its import restrictiveness varies negatively with world prices, leading to lower import demand elasticities.
Solution-Processed Li2O–Al2O3/TiO2 Nanolaminate Stacks Containing Mobile Lithium Ions and with Increased Breakdown Voltages

An aqueous solution approach has been utilized to prepare nanolaminates of TiO2 and ionically conductive Li2O-Al2O3 (LiAlO). This new approach utilizes low curing temperatures, resulting in fully oxidized films as demonstrated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The layered structures have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray reflectivity. Incorporation of sufficiently thick (13 and 27 nm) ion blocking TiO2 layers into nanolaminate structures with LiAlO layers resulted in an increase in breakdown voltage by more than a factor of two, relative to LiAlO. Nanolaminate structures also preserve the large double layer capacitance of the ionically conductive layer. Increased breakdown strength coupled with large capacitances results in a doubling of ultimate charge storage capacity, illustrating how nanolaminates can be used to improve properties relevant for energy/charge storage applications.
Introduction: A Broad Look at Contextualization of Science Education Across National Contexts

Scientific literacy should be accessible to every child and adolescent as part of their right to quality education. Unfortunately, many science learning materials present phenomena and examples that are only familiar to students from mainstream cultural backgrounds in affluent countries. Without examples of how to make science relevant for children and adolescents of all ethnic and language backgrounds and of all socioeconomic status and nationalities, teachers will see themselves ill-prepared to educate the next generation of citizens that can effectively respond to challenges such as climate change, public health, and sustainable agriculture, among others. All children and adolescents must become scientifically literate to respond to such challenges, especially the most marginalized, who are often the most affected by these issues. Against this backdrop, this book offers diverse examples of how to make science education significant and useful for learners in diverse scenarios and contexts in different parts of the world. These examples are derived from rigorous studies demonstrating that the contextualization of science learning environments is essential for student engagement in learning science.
Work-Life Balance and Career Experiences of Part-Time Versus Full-Time Faculty at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

Introduction Part-time faculty are an important part of the academic medical workforce, comprising 11-21% of faculty in some institutions. Objective To describe the part-time faculty experience at a single institution across four domains: work-life balance, work environment, leadership and advancement, and mentorship. Methods Faculty from the Division of Biology and Medicine at Brown University were invited to participate in an electronic survey. The authors compared responses between full-time and part-time faculty across the four domains. Results: Survey response rate was 43% (437/1025). Of the 363 who answered the question about employment status, 333 (92%) were full-time and 30 (8%) were part-time. Part-time faculty were less likely to report forgoing personal activities for professional responsibilities, that work conflicted with personal life, that their division director took interest in their careers, and having a leadership position was important to them. Conclusion Part-time and full-time faculty reported significant differences in perception of work impact on personal life, division director support, and desire for leadership positions.
Transvenous or Subcutaneous ICD — Similar but Different

The results of the long-awaited Prospective Randomized Comparison of Subcutaneous and Transvenous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy (PRAETORIAN) trial — a randomized, controlled trial ...
Dupilumab: One therapy to treat multiple atopic diseases.

Dupilumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the interleukin (IL)-4Rα subunit of the IL-4 and IL-13 receptors. IL-4 and IL-13 are type 2 cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) and allergic diseases including asthma, food allergy, allergic rhinitis (AR), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRwNP). Therefore, dupilumab has been hypothesized as a potential treatment for all of these atopic conditions,1, 2, 3 but is currently only approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe AD, 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe asthma, and adults with CRwNP. It is not uncommon for AD patients to have a history of multiple allergic conditions; it is less common to have all of them coexisting (ie, active) concurrently.4, 5, 6 To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a pediatric AD patient with multiple comorbid allergic conditions who experienced objective improvements in all of his conditions (AD, EoE, asthma, AR, and chronic sinusitis [CS]) with dupilumab treatment.
Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant.

1. Ellen Fraint, MD* 2. Mary Jo Holuba, MSN, CPNP* 3. Lisa Wray, MD† 1. *Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Cellular Therapy, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, NY 2. †Division of Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) has emerged during the past 6 decades as an increasingly successful option to cure a variety of malignant and nonmalignant disorders in children. HSCT has been performed in humans since the late 1950s, with significant success first noted in the 1970s. At that time, indications for transplant began to expand beyond malignancies and some bone marrow failure disorders: the scope of pediatric diseases treatable by HSCT now includes, in addition to malignant disorders such as high-risk acute leukemias and solid tumors, a wide range of hereditary conditions, including storage and metabolic disorders, hemoglobinopathies, and immune deficiencies (Table). View this table: Table. Indications for HSCT in Pediatrics Posttransplant survival in pediatric patients has continuously improved over time from a combination of refined approaches to patient selection, conditioning, and improved supportive care. For example, 5-year survival after a matched sibling donor transplant for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia is now 70%, a remarkable achievement over only a few decades of experience. Improvements in HSCT outcomes are not limited to the care of children with malignancies; they are noted across the breadth of indications for the procedure. For example, newborn screening programs now identify babies with X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy or severe combined immunodeficiency, enabling rapid referrals for HSCT before the onset of symptoms. Performing HSCT urgently in such patients has led to durable cures with excellent long-term outcomes before patients develop sequelae of their hereditary diseases. In patients with hematologic malignancy, the indications for transplant have evolved over time, as survival rates with chemotherapy alone have risen and the ability to stratify patients into risk categories has improved with advanced molecular diagnostic tools. Overall survival for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), for example, is greater than 90%, and recent clinical trials aim to maintain excellent outcomes while decreasing exposure to chemotherapy and its …
Class Conflict and the Ascent of Globalized Business Groups Under Chile’s Dictatorship: A Case Study of the Copper Manufacturing Industry

Scholars often hold that Chilean business groups’ ascent under the Pinochet dictatorship (1973–1990), as well as subsequent elected administrations, reflect the neoliberal policies of these governments, and particularly their successful promotion of growth and innovation. This chapter analyzes MADECO/Nexans, Chile’s largest copper manufacturer, owned by the Luksic family, the country’s leading business group, and its interaction with authoritarian and democratic regimes. It highlights the state’s central role in promoting traditional and new business groups’ ascent through privatization, trade liberalization, repression, and anti-union labor policies. Based on 100 interviews with workers and managers, participant observation, and archival research, this chapter shows that the Luksic Group’s meteoric rise and the MADECO union’s gradual decline reflect continuities in state influence on business and labor across democratic and authoritarian regimes rather than a radical shift from state controls to free markets.
Identification of Star Defects in Gallium Nitride with HREBSD and ECCI.

This paper characterizes novel “star” defects in GaN films grown with metal–organic vapor phase deposition (MOVPE) on GaN substrates with electron channeling contrast imaging (ECCI) and high-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HREBSD). These defects are hundreds of microns in size and tend to aggregate threading dislocations at their centers. They are the intersection of six nearly ideal low-angle tilt boundaries composed of -type pyramidal edge dislocations, each on a unique slip system.
Things Not Worth Doing Are Especially Not Worth Doing Poorly: The Maryland and Nebraska Taxes of Digital Advertising

In this article, Professor Pomp reviews and critiques the recent attempts by Maryland and Nebraska to tax digital advertising. Maryland has proposed a gross revenue tax on digital advertising with a progressive rate structure. Though the tax is based on Maryland revenue, the rate is determined by global revenue. While resembling an exemption with progression approach, commonly utilized in income taxes to assess a taxpayer’s ability to pay, gross receipts taxes like this one are not concerned with ability to pay. And the approach discriminates against taxpayers engaged in interstate commerce, since out-of-state business activity leads to a higher rate regardless of in-state revenue. The tax also violates the Internet Tax Freedom Act’s (ITFA) nondiscrimination clause. This problem could be solved by redrafting the tax to apply to all advertising. Furthermore, despite the fact that much of the production and content of the advertising occurs outside of Maryland, the tax has no apportionment provision. Yet gross receipts taxes must be apportioned. Nebraska is expanding its sales tax to include gross receipts on digital advertising. Again, the ITFA problem could be avoided by applying the tax to all advertising. The tax violates one of the tenets of sound sales tax policy: business inputs, including advertising, should not be taxed, or else the sales tax will cascade through certain industries. Finally, Nebraska’s tax risks driving purchases of digital advertising into neighboring safe havens, of which there are many.
Negotiating in Distributive Bargaining Scenarios: The Effect of Sharing One’s Alternative

This study examined negotiation outcomes following a distributive bargaining task where individuals communicated in dyads for the purchase a hypothetical product. We used an experimental manipulati...
Maternal Morbidity with Repeated Cesarean Deliveries.

Objective This study aimed to estimate the association between adverse maternal outcomes and the number of repeated cesarean deliveries (CDs) in a single obstetrical practice. Study Design Retrospective cohort study of all CDs between 2005 and 2020 in a single maternal fetal medicine practice. We used electronic records to get baseline characteristics and pregnancy/surgical outcomes based on the number of prior CDs. We performed two subgroup analyses for women with and without placenta previa. Chi-square for trend and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used. Results A total of 3,582 women underwent CD and met inclusion criteria. Of these women, 1,852 (51.7%) underwent their first cesarean, 950 (26.5%) their second, 382 (10.7%) their third, 191 (5.3%) their fourth, 117 (3.3%) their fifth, and 84 (2.3%) their sixth or higher CDs. The incidence of adverse outcomes (placenta accreta, uterine window, uterine rupture, hysterectomy, blood transfusion, cystotomy, bowel injury, need for a ventilator postpartum, intensive care unit admission, wound complications, thrombosis, reoperation, and maternal death) increased with additional CDs. However, the absolute rates remained low. In women without a placenta previa, the likelihood of adverse outcome did not differ across groups. In women with a placenta previa, adverse outcomes increased with increasing CDs. However, the incidence of placenta previa did not increase with increasing CDs ( Conclusion Maternal morbidity increases with CDs, but the absolute risks remain low. For women without placenta previa, increasing CDs is not associated with maternal morbidity. For women with placenta previa, risks are highest, but the incidence of placenta previa does not increase with successive CDs. The likelihood of uterine dehiscence increases significantly with increasing CDs which should be considered when deciding about timing of delivery in this population. Key Points
Phenology and egg production of the cactus moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): comparison of field census data and life stage development in the field

Natural phenology and development of the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was studied under field conditions in St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks, FL, from July 2006 to September 2007. Pads of cactus (Opuntia stricta Haw. (Cactaceae)) were visually surveyed weekly for presence of moth immature stages. Adult male C. cactorum, populations were surveyed using a pheromone lure and wing style sticky traps. The field census data identified 3 generations per year which generally occurred in August to September, October to April, and May to July. Numbers of eggsticks peaked in midAugust, midOctober and micApril. High numbers of early larval immatures (1st to 3rd instars) were recorded in October 2006, May 2007 and September 2007. High numbers of late-stage larvae (4th to 5th in-star) were recorded in September to October 2006, December to January 2006, June to July 2007. Peak numbers of Cactoblastis male adults occurred approximately in midOctober 2006, April to May 2007, and July to August 2007. Pupae were cryptic and difficult to sample. Development in field cages was studied by introducing cohorts of moth eggs on potted cactus plants (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) into the field at approximately the same times they were found to occur naturally. During the course of each generation, the potted plants were returned to the laboratory for determination of moth lifestage. Body weights and lengths also were recorded. In the field cages, 3 generations were observed and these coincided with the populations that were observed in the open field. However, the generations were more clearly defined because eggs were introduced as cohorts and most insects were recovered. Measurements of larval head capsules and body lengths show that development in the winter generation is slower than that of the summer and fall generations, although peak measurements are approximately identical in all 3 generations. Female pupae weighed 225.25 ([plus or minus] 4.8 SE) mg which was significantly heavier than males weighing 138.01 ([plus or minus] 5.5) mg. Pupal weights differed according to generation, but there was no effect on adult weight. Female adults weighed 130.3 ([plus or minus] 11.3) mg, compared with males, which weighed 60.81 ([plus or minus] 2.4) mg. Adult sex ratio was approximately 1:1. Male adults appeared to have emerged earlier than females in the fall generation.
Phospholipase D activation in a cell-free system from human neutrophils by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate). Activation is calcium dependent and requires protein factors in both the plasma membrane and cytosol.

Receptor-linked activation of phospholipase D has been demonstrated recently in a variety of intact cell types including granulocytes, but little is known about the enzyme, its cofactor requirements, and regulation. Using [3H]alkyllysophosphatidylcholine to prelable an endogenous phosphatidylcholine substrate pool in conjunction with transphosphatidylation using ethanol to generate labeled phosphatidylethanol, we demonstrated a novel phospholipase D activity in neutrophil subcellular fractions. Guanosine 5‘-O-3-(thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) activated both phosphatidic acid generation and transphosphatidylation. Activity using both activators required the presence of not only plasma membrane but also cytosol, and proteolytic and thermal inactivation demonstrated the requirement for protein factors in both fractions. Using both stimuli, activity increased with increasing cytosol concentration. Product formation was approximately linear for about 10 min with PMA and 30 min with GTP gamma S, and both activators resulted in the total hydrolysis of up to 10% of the labeled phosphatidylcholine. The activity using both activators showed similar broad neutral pH optima, and both required the presence of micromolar levels of calcium, which by itself failed to activate at concentrations up to 1 mM. At low micromolar concentrations of nucleotides, activation was specific for guanine nucleotides and showed a specificity of GTP gamma S greater than guanyl-5‘-yl imidodiphosphate greater than GTP, with no effect of GDP and GMP or adenine nucleotides, consistent with the participation of a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein. PMA activation was dependent on the presence of ATP, in particular when dialyzed cytosol was used, and was inhibited by about 50% by staurosporine, supporting a role for protein kinase C. However, purified protein kinase C failed to substitute for cytosol, implicating an additional cytosolic factor(s) in this response. These results indicate that the granulocytic phospholipase D pathway is a complex system that is regulated by at least two activation pathways, each comprised of components in two subcellular compartments.
"Rapprocher les lieux du pouvoir": The Québec Labour Movement and Québec Sovereigntism, 1960-2000

The article examines the evolution of the positions Quebec's three major trade union centrals — the Federation des travailleurs et travilleuses du Quebec (FTQ), the Centrale des syndicats nationaux (CSN), and the Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ) — have taken on the question of Quebec sovereignty since 1960. In the course of the four decades since the emergence of the modern sovereigntist movement, the three centrals adopted increasingly sympathetic attitudes toward sovereigntism and eventually became stalwarts of the sovereigntist coalition. In the process Quebec labour activists shed their fears about the economic repercussions of sovereignty and espoused the notion of a sovereign Quebec nation-state mainly because they came to perceive it as a tool to improve conditions for implementing social-democratic and labour-oriented policies. Resume Cet article examine l'evolution des positions des trois principaux syndicats du Quebec — la Federation des travailleurs et travailleuses du Quebec (FTQ), la Centrale des syndicats nationaux (CSN) et la Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ) — par rapport a la question de la souverainete du Quebec depuis 1960. Au cours des quatre decennies, depuis le debut du mouvement souverainiste modeme, les trois syndicats ont adopte graduellement des attitudes sympathiques vis-a-vis de la cause souverainiste et sont devenus eventuellement les piliers de la coalition souverainiste. En meme temps, les syndicalistes quebecois se sont debarrasses de leur peur des repercussions economiques de la souverainete pour defendre la cause d'un pays independant du Quebec principalement parce qu'ils le voient comme un outil pour ameliorer les les conditions de la mise en oeuvre des politiques socio-democratiques axees sur la classe ouvriere.
Protein Turnover in the Lungs

The sections in this article are: 1 Protein Turnover in Nonpulmonary Tissues and Cells 2 Physiological Importance of Protein Turnover 3 Methods of Studying Protein Turnover in the Lung 4 Precursor Pools 5 Effect of Proteolysis on Extracellular Specific Radioactivity 6 Amino Acid Compartmentation in Perfused Lung 7 Protein Turnover Rates 8 Regulation of General Protein Turnover 8.1 Diet 8.2 Hormones 9 Degradation of General Lung Proteins 10 Regulation of Protein Degradation 10.1 Exogenous Amino Acids 10.2 Hypoxia 10.3 Interaction Between Exogenous Amino Acids and Hypoxia 10.4 Potential Physiological Importance of Interaction Between Amino Acids and Hypoxia 10.5 Glucose and Insulin 11 Connective Tissue Proteins of the Lung 11.1 Collagen 11.2 Elastin 12 Pulmonary Fibrosis 13 Proteases and Protease Inhibitors 14 Hyperoxia and Protein Synthesis 15 Protein Turnover in Pulmonary Macrophages 15.1 Choice of Precursor Amino Acid 15.2 Precursor Pools 15.3 Protein Degradation 15.4 Phagocytosis and Protein Turnover 15.5 Substrates and Protein Turnover 15.6 Other Factors Affecting Protein Turnover in Pulmonary Macrophages
Tailoring nonlinear interactions with aperiodic QuasiPphasmeatching

The evolution of three-wave mixing processes can be controlled with aperiodic QPM structures. We describe underlying concepts, engineering of spectral amplitude and phase, and adiabatic processes, illustrated with examples including few-cycle OPCPA, octave spanning frequency combs, and quantum frequency conversion.
From Quality Circles to Self-Managed Work Teams: Are Employee Teams Legal in the United States?

This paper focuses on the legal status of employee teams, such as quality circles, that are commonly used within organizations in the United States. At present, the National Labor Relation Act (the Act), which governs labor–management relations, also has direct implications for the types of employee teams that can be legally implemented within organizations. This paper reviews the governing sections of the Act and analyzes how they apply to the use of employee teams. Suggestions for avoiding or dealing with illegally formed employee teams are offered.
Tracking Theory Building and Use Trends in Selected LIS Journals: More Research is Needed

Objective - The authors measure theory incidents occurring in four LIS journals between 1984-2003 in order to examine their number and quality and to analyze them by topic. A third objective, only identified later in the text of the study, was to compare theory development and use between Korean and international journals. Research questions asked include whether LIS has its own theoretical base as a discipline, and what characteristics the theoretical framework has. Design – Bibliometric study. Setting – Journal issues selected from four LIS journals for the time span from 1984 - 2003. Subjects – Two international journals, Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (JASIST) and Library and Information Science Research (LISR) were selected based on their high ranking in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) impact factors. Two Korean journals, Journal of the Korean Society for Information Management (JKSIM) and Journal of the Korean Society for Library and Information Science (JKSLIS) were selected. Methods - After having determined a definition of theory, and identifying different levels of theory, the authors set up rules for the identification of theory incidents, which are defined as “events in which the author contributed to the development or the use of theory in his/her own paper” (550). Content analysis of 1661 research articles was performed to measure theory incidents according to working definitions. Interrater reliability was ensured by conducting independent coding for “subfield classification, identification of theory incidents, and quality measurement” (555), using a sample of 199 articles (random selection not specified), achieving 94-97% interrater reliability. Incidents, once identified, were evaluated for quality using Dubin’s “efficiency of law” criteria, involving measures of relatedness, directionality, co-variation, rate of change, and “profundity,” defined as the depth to which theory is incorporated into the research study. Main Results - 21.79% (n=362) of the articles contained theory incidents that were analyzed and evaluated. Trend measurement indicated an overall increase, although a slight decrease was shown in the year range 1993-2003. International journals accounted for 61.33% of theory incidents, compared to 38.67% for the Korean journals. T-testing showed that differences in means between Korean and international journals were not statistically significant. Topical theory areas were ranked by frequency. The top five areas were shown to be nearly identical between Korean and international journals. ANOVA was performed with significant results in the difference between efficiency ratings. Conclusion – The authors find that the overall proportion of theory incidents including both theory development and use increased through the 20-year time span examined, and that LIS has established its own theoretical framework based upon the frequency of incidents.
REVIEWS: Proposal for Changes in Diagnostic Criteria for Sexual Dysfunctions

ABSTRACT Introduction Officially sanctioned diagnostic criteria have a major influence on treatment decisions and on how populations are defined for clinical research. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association has had a major influence on research concerning the treatment of sexual disorders and has been criticized on numerous grounds. Aim The purpose of this article is to describe the evolution of criteria sets in the DSM and to critically evaluate suggestions for modification of this system. Method All living members of the DSM work groups on sexual dysfunction were contacted regarding their recollections of the evolution of criteria sets. Literature concerning diagnostic criteria for the sexual dysfunctions in the DSM, as well as literature suggesting modification of this system, was reviewed. Main Outcome Measure Recommendations for changes in the DSM-V system were based upon a review of the evidence concerning optimal criteria for each diagnostic entity. Results The original diagnostic system from sexual disorders in the DSM was developed by expert opinion, literature searches, and solicitation of feedback for other experts in the field. There have been minimal changes in the DSM criteria for sexual dysfunctions because of the requirement that there be substantial empirical data before modification of the system would be considered. An international consensus group has suggested major modification in criteria concerning female sexual dysfunctions. There is a growing database that documents the need to change criteria for premature ejaculation. Conclusions It is recommended that some of the suggested modifications to the criteria sets for sexual dysfunctions be adopted by the DSM-V committee. It is also recommended that specific criteria related to duration and severity be adopted, in order to clearly distinguish sexual disorders from transient alterations in sexual function related to life stress and relationship discord. Segraves R, Balon R, and Clayton A. Proposal for changes in diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions.
The impact of contracts on organic honey producers' incomes in southwestern Ethiopia

In southwestern Ethiopia honey is a non-timber forest product that provides income for many smallholders. Some of these beekeepers supply their honey under contract to a company that markets their organic honey internationally allowing them to access premium markets. Since both production and marketing depend crucially on the forest, both smallholders and the company have an interest in preserving the forest. An important question is whether smallholders also benefit economically from supplying under contract. The objective of this study is to examine the contribution of participation in contract supply of organic honey to beekeepers' income levels in the Sheka zone in southwestern Ethiopia. Results indicate that contract supply improved quality of honey delivered, the prices beekeepers received, and total honey income per household. The findings illustrate the potential of contract supply of forest product for sustainable management of forests.
Mine detection using backscattered X-ray imaging of antitank and antipersonnel mines

The use of backscattered X rays to image buried land mines and distinguish between surface and buried features has been well documented. Laboratory imaging experiments, being conducted at Sandia National Laboratories/New Mexico (SNL/NM), have been used to develop preliminary data acquisition hardware and software for an upcoming Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD). In addition image processing techniques, developed by the Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Florida (UF), are utilized. Previous buried land mine imaging studies focused on antitank mines buried in screened sand and have included well defined surface features such as a broad or a small diameter rock. In the present study the authors have examined imaging under a variety of practical environmental conditions. They have successfully imaged antitank mines (ATM) buried in sand and rocky New Mexico (NM) soil. Images have been obtained for bare surfaces as well s for surfaces covered with limestone road coarse base (gravel), snow, water, and native grass. In addition, they have imaged buried ATM and surface antipersonnel (AP) mines covered with debris consisting of various size rocks, a log, and leaves such that no mine was visible to the eye.
Calcium affinity of chick brain tubulin.

We have found that during polymerization tubulin displays a large increase in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. This change in observed fluorescence was utilized to study the effect of calcium on the polymerization of crude and purified chick brain tubulin. No difference in calcium sensitivity was observed when tubulin was polymerized either in crude extracts or purified preparations, indicating that the possibility of a separate regulatory factor could be eliminated. Quantitative calcium binding measurements show that tubulin has no significant affinity for calcium as compared to the well known calcium-binding protein, troponin C.
One-parameter groups generated by operators in an enveloping algebra

Let π be a unitary representation of a connected Lie group G, and let ∂π be the associated representation of the complex enveloping algebra U(G)C of the Lie algebra G. Let h be a commutative subalgebra of G. The commutation relation eTXe−T = eadTX, (∗) with X ϵ ∂π(G) and T a skew-Hermitian element of ∂π(U(h)C), is established as an operator identity on the space of differentiable vectors for π, under the hypothesis that adG(h) is nilpotent. Relation (∗) is then used to prove that a spectral subspace corresponding to a compact, connected component of the spectrum of T is invariant under π(G).
Homicide in Minneapolis: Research for Problem Solving

Academics have long studied the basic dimensions of homicide, with Marvin E. Wolfgang's pioneering 1958 classic, Patterns in Criminal Homicide, defining the shape of criminological research on homicide. However, this research has generally contributed relatively little to practical homicide prevention strategies. Recently, problem-solving initiatives have undertaken homicide studies in particular cities with the goal of understanding homicide patterns and dynamics and crafting city-specific intervention strategies. One such initiative in Minneapolis found that a large component of the city's homicides was committed by and against chronic, gang-involved offenders. Particularly where youth homicide was concerned, the Minneapolis findings were very similar to recent findings regarding youth homicide in Boston. Based in part on these findings, a “pulling levers” strategy focused on deterring violent offending by gang members, and on reducing tensions between gangs, was designed and implemented. Although very ...
Echocardiographic assessment of mitral valve size in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Anatomic validation from mitral valve specimen.

BACKGROUNDIn patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, obstruction to left ventricular outflow is produced by systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve. In many of these patients, the mitral leaflets are elongated and increased in overall size. Mitral valve size may be responsible, in part, for the presence and magnitude of the outflow gradient and the pattern of systolic anterior motion of the leaflets. It may also influence the effectiveness of ventricular septal myotomy-myectomy in relieving subaortic obstruction. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to determine whether mitral valve dimensions could be assessed in quantitative terms from the echocardiogram in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.METHODS AND RESULTSA group of 37 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was selected for this study by virtue of having a high-quality transthoracic or intraoperative echocardiogram suitable for certain quantitative measurements from stop-frame images as well as a morphologically intact mitr...
Query reformulation for dynamic information integration

The standard approach to integrating heterogeneous information sources is to build a global schema that relates all of the information in the different sources, and to pose queries directly against it. The problem is that schema integration is usually difficult, and as soon as any of the information sources change or a new source is added, the process may have to be repeated.
The Effect of SO2/HCl Ratio on Superheater High Temperature Corrosion

High temperature superheater corrosion is a major operating problem in waste-to-energy plants since it is responsible for plant shutdowns and low energy recovery. This has been largely attributed to the chloride content in municipal solid wastes and the subsequent reactions that occur with generated chlorine gas. While several methods have been developed to reduce corrosion, one which has received more interest is increasing the concentration of sulfur dioxide, SO2, in the boiler. The addition of SO2 to WTE post combustion gas streams has been shown at times to have a favorable impact on corrosion and is said to be an effective method of suppressing dioxin formation by reacting with molecular chlorine, Cl2.The following paper is part of an ongoing work to understand the effect of the SO2/HCl ratio on the corrosion of alloys exposed to superheater temperatures and flue gas compositions. A commercial low carbon steel alloy, SA178A, was exposed under various flue gas compositions at 500°C, while varying the SO2/HCl ratio as well as the water concentration. For tests operated at 5% H2O, corrosion was reduced by more than 40% as the SO2/HCl ratio was increased from 1/8 to 5/8. These results were obtained in the absence of chloride salts, suggesting that SO2 can decrease chlorine corrosion by interacting with HCl. Tests conducted at 15% H2O however demonstrated a constant corrosion rate, with magnitudes comparable to 5% H2O at 1/8 SO2/HCl. Further work is needed to relate the SO2/HCl relationship to water and to elucidate the mechanism associated with mitigating corrosion.© 2012 ASME
Population and Social Biology of Free-Ranging Dogs, Canis familiaris

Population size and density, age structure, survivorship patterns, sex ratios, and social organization of urban, rural, and feral dog ( Canis familiaris ) populations were examined in Cd. Juarez, Mexico (urban site) and on the Navajo reservation (rural and wild sites) between June 1983 and December 1984. Urban and rural dogs were less social than expected whereas feral dogs characteristically lived in packs. Seasonal variation in the structure of feral dog packs was influenced by reproduction, both directly (pups born into the pack) and indirectly (pregnant females may temporarily emigrate form the pack to give birth).
The lifetime of positive streamers in a pulsed point-to-plane gap in atmospheric air

A determination has been made of the lifetime of positive streamers produced in atmospheric air in a positive point-to-plane gap to which was applied a 40 nsec, 40 kV voltage pulse. The streamer tips have been detected at a given plane in the gap by means of a photomultiplier and high speed oscilloscope. It was found that the streamer tips continued to propagate in the gap, long (up to 35 nsec) after the voltage pulse was removed, in accordance with the predictions of a recently presented model of streamer propagation. Association of this long lifetime with the properties of an isolated tip was made possible by the detection of a new phenomenon at the anode. At the end of the voltage pulse a second luminosity was observed to leave the anode and to extend along the paths of the primary streamers for about one third of their length. This is shown to be the maximum extent of a more highly conducting trunk, behind and separated from the streamer tip, affecting both the propagation of the tip and the eventual transition of a streamer to a breakdown spark.
Complete 3D model reconstruction from multiple views

New algorithms are presented for automatically acquiring the complete 3D model of single and multiple objects using rotational stereo. The object is placed on a rotation stage. Stereo images for several viewing directions are taken by rotating the object by known angles. Partial 3D shapes and the corresponding texture maps are obtained using rotational stereo and shape from focus. First, for each view, shape from focus is used to obtain a rough 3D shape and the corresponding focused image. Then, the rough 3D shape and focused images are used in rotational stereo to obtain a more accurate measurement of 3D shape. The rotation axis is calibrated using three fixed points on a planar object and refined during surface integration. The complete 3D model is reconstructed by integrating partial 3D shapes and the corresponding texture maps of the object from multiple views. New algorithms for range image registration, surface integration and texture mapping are presented. Our method can generate 3D models very fast and preserve the texture of objects. A new prototype vision system named Stonybrook VIsion System 2 (SVIS-2) has been built and used in the experiments. In the experiments, 4 viewing directions at 90-degree intervals are used. SVIS-2 can acquire the 3D model of objects within a 250 mm x 250 mm x 250 mm cubic workspace placed about 750 mm from the camera. Both computational algorithms and experimental results on several objects are presented.
Setting performance standards on complex educational assessments

Performance assessments have become popular in education and credentialing, and performance standards are common for interpreting and reporting scores. However, because of the unique characteristics of these assessments compared to multiple-choice tests (such as polytomous scoring), new and validstandard-setting methods are needed. Well-known standard-setting methods are no longer applicable. A number of promising methods for setting performance standards are described and their strengths and weaknesses are discussed. Suggestions for additional research are offered.
Conditions for the stability of the alternative structures of duplex poly(dA-dT)

The alternative structures of the lithium, sodium, potassium, and rubidium salts of poly(dA-dT) were studied using ir spectra of hydrated, nonoriented gels. Poly (dA-dT) · Na existed as the B structure at high hydration and as the A structure at moderate hydration. A disordered state occurred at low hydration. No hint of the C, D, or other structures was observed at any hydration for nonoriented gels containing NaCl up to 0.56 moles NaCl/mole of nucleotide residue. Poly (dA-dT) · Li existed as the B structure at high hydration, made a gradual transition to the C structure at moderate hydration, and became disordered at low hydration. Poly (dA-dT) · K and poly (dA-dT) · Rb existed as the B structure at high hydration and as the presumptive D structure at lower hydration. The addition of Zn(II) to poly (dA-dT) · Na produced a gradual transition from the B to the C structure upon dehydration. The addition of NaNO3 to poly (dA-dT) · Na gave only the A and B structures, and not the C or Z structures that are promoted by NO3 in other base sequences. The DNA secondary structure stabilized by a given ion is determined by a specific base sequence and not simply by the properties of the ion.
Solving rational matrix equations in the state space with applications to computer-aided control-system design

A method of solving a class of linear matrix equations over various rings is proposed, using results from linear geometric control theory. An algorithm, successfully implemented, is presented, along with non-trivial numerical examples. Applications of the method to the algebraic control system design methodology are discussed.
Mentorship programs: Bridging the gap between theory and practice

Criminal justice/law enforcement students are exposed to distorted images of the criminal justice system created by the media. One method for dispelling myths students may have of the system is a mentorship program. This paper describes the process for developing and implementing a mentorship program. Our experience coordinating this program for five years suggests four key elements for creating a successful program: a workshop at the start of the program, commitment that builds over the year, meaningful communication, and adequate contact.