cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Mobile Channel Adoption in Goal-directed Platforms

With the ubiquity of mobile devices and an increasing trend in extending real-world activities into the virtual, goal-directed platforms have experienced rising popularity as they provide individuals with enhanced capabilities for goal pursuit. Prior literature has demonstrated the important role of the diversity in goal pursuit approaches to individuals’ goal pursuit activities. However, a few studies have investigated the technology-mediated goal pursuits especially how mobile channel, as an additional means of web-based goal pursuit means, will affect users’ goal pursuit. In this research, we start with the theoretical perspective of affordance and goal pursuit theory, and then perform a series of empirical analyses to examine the impacts of multi-channel adoption on goal pursuit activity and persistence. Our results indicate that mobile adoption improves overall goal pursuit effort by 140.1%. A positive impact on goal pursuit persistence is also observed. Users spend 0.656 days learning content after they adopted mobile channel. Most notably, users with varying levels of goal specificity and goal pursuit competency benefit differently from the adoption of the mobile channel. Particularly, users with high-level goal specificity are observed to spent 0.234 more days and 56.5% more effort in their goal pursuit compared to uses with a less specific goal. Robustness checks and replication of data analyses further validate our findings under various scenarios.
Dimensions of the language environment in infancy and symptoms of psychopathology in toddlerhood

The quality of the early environment influences the development of psychopathology. Children who are deprived of sufficient environmental enrichment in infancy may be at higher risk for developing symptoms of psychopathology in toddlerhood. In this study, we investigated the prospective association between naturalistic measures of adult language input obtained through passive monitoring of infants' daily environments and emerging psychopathology in toddlerhood. In a sample of 100 mothers and their infants recruited from the community (mean age [range] = 6.73 [5-9] months), we used the Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA) system to measure multiple dimensions of infants' language environments, including both the quantity and consistency of adult speech and conversational turns in infants' daily lives as well as the quantity of infant vocalizations. Subsequently, during toddlerhood (mean age [range] = 18.29 [17-21] months), mothers reported on their children's symptoms of psychopathology. Infants who experienced more consistent adult speech and conversational turns had lower symptoms of psychopathology in toddlerhood, independent of negative emotionality in infancy, maternal depressive symptoms, and laboratory-based measures of maternal sensitivity. These findings have implications for the measurement of environmental factors that may confer risk and resilience to emerging psychopathology.
Single Potassium-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes: Preparation, Ionic Conductivities, and Electrochemical Stability

Potassium batteries have recently attracted the attention of many researchers. To date, however, most common K-ion electrolytes for potassium secondary batteries are still liquid electrolytes, whic...
Kings and Presidents: Saudi Arabia and the United States since FDR: BRUCE RIEDEL, updated edition (Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2019), 249 pages; paperback $23.99.

Analytical studies of the fluctuating relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia remain surprisingly rare. Meanwhile, anecdotal, personality-oriented overviews of the partnership, most...
Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence from Fragile Families: The Moderating Role of Social Support

Intimate partner violence (IPV) from male to female is prevalent among the US population, alongside extensive studies showing the negative associations between maternal IPV victimization and child’s developmental outcomes. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, we endeavored to examine the consequences of exposure to maternal IPV on child’s internalizing functioning, as well as the moderating effect of mother’s perceived social support in this current study. We employed both cross-sectional and longitudinal modeling strategies and found that 1) approximately one in four mothers had experienced emotional violence from their intimate partners at least once, and over 10% mothers had encountered physical or sexual violence; 2) There were significant adverse maternal IPV victimization effects from both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses and 3) the mother’s perceived social support played a moderating role in buffering the impact of IPV exposure on children’s internalizing functioning under a physical or sexual violence setting, although the effect was not robust using more rigorous longitudinal analysis. An intensive intervention facilitating mother’s social support was thus suggested to protect children under such risks.
Variability in Growth of Postlarval Penaeus vannamei

This note reports the average sue of P e w u s vMMmei postlarvae held under a variety of conditions for approximately 30days. Pifteen separate andindependentrearing trials were wmpletedover severalseasons. Extremegrowth variations were noted, with significent differences existing in eight of the 26 replicates. Signifcant differences were noted for treatments in seven of the 12 studies. Shrimp ranged in sue from an average of 0.01 to 3.08 g after a month of culture.
Public and Personal Depression Stigma in a Rural American Female Sample

We examined public and personal stigma among a community sample of 1,000 women living in primarily rural counties of Western Kentucky. Data on demographics, depression, stigma, health information sources, and availability of health services were collected via a random digit dial survey. The prevalence of depression was 15.7%. The majority of respondents (82.2%) reported congruent levels of stigma with 11.6% reporting high public and high personal stigma. However, 17.8% of respondents reported incongruent public and personal stigma. The 7.5% of women with low public and high personal stigma were older and less educated, preferred anonymous sources of health information, and reported better availability of health services. The 10.3% of women with high public and low personal stigma were younger and more educated, preferred interpersonal sources of health information, and reported poorer availability of health services. In multivariate analyses, depression and lower education were associated with any incongruent stigma, while rural residence and White race/ethnicity was associated with high personal and public stigma. Psychiatric nurses should develop community-based and targeted, point-of-care interventions to reduce public and personal stigma among rural women.
Composite Sorbents Based on Carbon Fibre “Busofit” for Hydrogen Storage and Transportation

A new hydrogen storage and transportation system based on composite sorbent application (metal-hydride particles on the fibre) was suggested and tested. This new design of the sorbent bed with heat pipe thermal control is capable to enhance thermodynamic efficiency of the gas storage vessels and increase its sorption capacity. The inexpensive microporous carbon obtained by thermal treatment of raw material (wood, sawdust, cellulose, straw, paper for recycling, peat etc.) after impregnation is especially attractive. In this way a number of perspective sorbents were suggested in Belarus: the activated carbon fiber “Busofi-M8” (a product of pyrolysis of the impregnated cellulose) and the activated carbon obtained from waste products of wood “WAC 3-00”. The goal of this presentation is the development of the sectional vessel with heat pipe (HP) for hydrogen sorption storage at average pressures 3.5–6 MPa, every separate section of which has the case made from an aluminium (or reinforced plastics) and filled with briquettes of the sorbent material where hydrogen is situated in adsorbed and compressed states. Such vessels for hydrogen storage and transportation are interesting to be applied in fuel cells vehicle, or dual-fuel engine car (hydrogen/ gasoline, hydrogen/methane).
Object-Oriented parallel CFD with JAVA

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses an object-oriented technique to parallelize finite element CFD computations in Java. It addresses the problem of the use of modem software environments in engineering sciences, and more precisely in computational fluid dynamics. In this area of research, the computational efficiency is a major concern. As an engineer, maintenance of code becomes a tremendous problem especially when developing on heterogeneous systems. More than a simple object-oriented language, JAVA has achieved a point where one can expect sufficient efficiency to solve large problems on multi-processors computers. The chapter aims to give a few tracks in the use of such an environment for the development of CFD engineering software: numerical efficiency, multi plate-form developments, object-oriented developments in JAVA, application to CFD code. The use of multi-threading in JAVA is illustrated on a Schwartz overlapping domain decomposition method for a stabilized finite elements formulation for the Navier-Stokes equations.
Assessing system operation skills in robotic surgery trainees

Background With increased use of robotic surgery in specialties including urology, development of training methods has also intensified. However, current approaches lack the ability to discriminate between operational and surgical skills. Methods An automated recording system was used to longitudinally (monthly) acquire instrument motion/telemetry and video for four basic surgical skills – suturing, manipulation, transection, and dissection. Statistical models were then developed to discriminate the human–machine skill differences between practicing expert surgeons and trainees. Results Data from six trainees and two experts was analyzed to validate the first ever statistical models of operational skills, and demonstrate classification with very high accuracy (91.7% for masters, and 88.2% for camera motion) and sensitivity. Conclusions The paper reports on a longitudinal study aimed at tracking robotic surgery trainees to proficiency, and methods capable of objectively assessing operational and technical skills that would be used in assessing trainee progress at the participating institutions. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High level DSP synthesis using the MARS design system

Methodologies for high-level synthesis of dedicated digital signal processing (DSP) architectures using the MARS (Minnesota architecture synthesis) design system are considered. Concurrent scheduling and resource allocation algorithms that exploit interaction and intraiteration precedence constraints are introduced. These algorithms produce solutions that are as good as or better than those previously published. MARS can generate valid architectures for algorithms that have distributed arc delays and exploits these delays to produce more efficient architectures. This allows the system to be more general and provides for the synthesis of more complicated algorithms Implicit retiming and pipelining of the data flow graph are used to improve the quality of the design. Architectures that meet the iteration bound of any algorithm can be synthesized by unfolding the original data flow graph. >
The Shape of Bucky Onions

The morphology of Bucky onions is investigated by {\it ab initio} calculations using Yang's new $O(N)$ method. It is found that for large single shell fullerenes with $I_h$ symmetry, the spherical morphology has the lower energy than that of polyhedrons. The formation energy per atom follows a simple scaling law. Including an estimate of inter-shell van de Waals interactions leads to the conclusion that spherical multiple shell Bucky onions are likely the most stable structure of large carbon clusters. These results are in good agreement with recent observation.
Polarization sensitivity of 40 Gb/s transmission over short-reach 62.5 /spl mu/m multimode fiber using single-mode transceivers

System performance of 40 Gb/s transmission over short-reach, commercial-grade 62.5 /spl mu/m multimode fiber using readily available single-mode transceivers is highly sensitive to launch polarization. Return-to-zero transmission experienced 3-dB power penalty, while nonreturn-to-zero suffered link outage.
Infant Feeding Practices and Subsequent Development of Adipose Tissue

The main aspects of infant feeding that have been studied in humans in association with the subsequent development of adipose tissue include breastfeeding, rapid infancy weight gain, and weaning practices. While observational studies have consistently shown a protective effect of breastfeeding on the development of obesity, these studies may be confounded by unmeasured or unknown factors, as suggested by one study using a sibling design and one study using a randomized breastfeeding promotion intervention design. Observational studies and findings from a limited number of experimental studies suggest that rapid weight gain during infancy may be associated with an increased risk for obesity in childhood and adulthood. The association of weaning practices with later obesity has not been extensively studied, and the preliminary findings are inconsistent. Additional research studies, especially randomized interventions with long-term follow-up, are necessary in order to assess if short nutrition interventions during the critical period of infancy can have long-term benefits on the prevention of obesity.
A User Interface Design Concept for Visualization of Multidimensional Process Models

We describe a user interface design concept for the interactive visualization of multidimensional industrial process models. Key features of the design include: a matrix layout of 3-D and 2-D graphical plots, an interaction area for visualizing integral relationships and selecting context for viewing individual x-y functions, and a reference area extending throughout the matrix for maintaining focus on desirable values of product quality. These features are motivated by task-specific needs to develop conceptual models of the physical processes used in making products. Conceptual models enable process engineers to determine the optimal operating ranges for controllable process parameters.
Measurement of gold nanofilm dose enhancement using unlaminated radiochromic film

Purpose: Bombarding high-Z material with x-ray radiation releases Auger electrons and Coster–Kronig electrons, along with deeper penetrating fluorescent x-rays and photoelectrons. The Auger and Coster–Kronig electron penetration distance is on the order of nanometers to micrometers in water or tissue, creating a large dose enhancement accompanied by a RBE greater than 1 at the cellular level. The authors’ aim is to measure the gold nanofilm dose enhancement factor (DEF) at the cellular level with unlaminated radiochromic film via primary 50 kVp tungsten x-ray spectrum interaction, similar to an electronic brachytherapy spectrum. Methods: Unlaminated Gafchromic{sup ®} EBT2 film and Monte Carlo modeling were combined to derive DEF models. Gold film of thickness 23.1 ± 4.3 nm and surface roughness of 1.2 ± 0.2 nm was placed in contact with unlaminated radiochromic film in a downstream orientation and exposed to a 50 kVp tungsten bremsstrahlung, mean energy 19.2 keV. Film response correction factors were derived by Monte Carlo modeling of electron energy deposition in the film’s active layer, and by measuring film energy dependence from 4.5 keV to 50 kVp. Results: The measured DEF within a 13.6 μm thick water layer was 0.29 with a mean dose of 94 ± 9.4 cGymore » from Au emissions and 324 ± 32.4 cGy from the 50 kVp primary beam. Monte Carlo derived correction factors allowed determination of Au contributed dose in shallower depths at 0.25 μm intervals. Maximum DEF of 18.31 was found in the first 0.25 μm water depth. Conclusions: Dose enhancement from Au nanofilm can be measured at the cellular level using unlaminated radiochromic film. Complementing the measured dose value with Monte Carlo calculations allows estimation of dose enhancement at depth increments within the cellular range.« less
Phase Ib study of dovitinib in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin or gemcitabine plus carboplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors

Purpose Dovitinib is a small molecule kinase inhibitor with activity against the fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor families. The purpose of this phase Ib study was to define the recommended phase 2 dose of the combinations of gemcitabine and cisplatin or gemcitabine and carboplatin plus dovitinib.
Immobilization of crown ether carboxylic acids on silica gel and their use in column concentration of alkali metal cations from dilute aqueous solutions.

Eight crown ethers with pendent carboxylic acid groups are immobilized on silica gel and utilized for column concentration of alkali metal cations from dilute aqueous solutions. The column concentr...
Quantitative proteome analysis: methods and applications.

Abstract: With the completion of a rapidly increasing number of complete genomic sequences, much attention is currently focused on how the information contained in sequence databases might be interpreted in terms of the structure, function, and control of biological systems. Quantitative proteome analysis, the global analysis of protein expression, has been proposed as a method to study steady-state gene expression and perturbation-induced changes. Here, we discuss the rationale for quantitative proteome analysis, highlight the limitations in the current standard technology, and introduce a new experimental approach to quantitative proteome analysis.
A quantitative study for the measurement of driving rain exposure in the montréal region

Abstract Thirty years of climatological data for the Montreal region have been analysed. The driving rain exposure of a vertical surface of a building has been quantified. This index is useful in the design of building envelopes since it provides the exposure conditions of a vertical wall to rain precipitation as well as rain intensity.
TH-C-213AB-11: LET-Guided Biological Optimization in IMPT

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of linear energy transfer (LET)‐ guided biological dose optimization in intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT). Methods: Multi‐criteria optimization (MCO) module was utilized to generate Pareto‐optimal IMPT plans, each one corresponding to defined objectives (base plans), for a pediatric chordoma case. A Monte Carlo (MC) platform was used to calculate the corresponding LET distributions for each base plan, as well as for a linear combination of the initial base plans (resulting in clinically acceptable plans). Comparison among calculated LET distributions was performed in terms of dose and LET volume histograms (DVH and LVH) for the target and organs at risk (OARs). For verification purposes, the LET distribution of the clinically acceptable plan was also calculated as the dose weighted average of the LET distributions of the contributing base plans. It was then compared to the corresponding MC LET calculation. Results: Significant differences were observed among the LET distributions for different Pareto‐optimal base plans. Target LVHs demonstrated up to 10% differences in LET values within the range of 30% to 95% of the target volume. Plotted LVHs for the OARs showed more significant differences, more than 50% in the range of 10% to 90% of the structure volume. Comparison between the MC calculated and dose weighted averaged LET distributions for the clinically acceptable IMPT plan showed no significant differences. This verifies the accurate calculation of the LET distribution as a dose weighted average of pre‐calculated LET distributions. Conclusions: By demonstrating the variability of LET distributions among Pareto‐optimal IMPT plans in MCO and verifying the accuracy of the LET calculation method, our study suggests the feasibility of MCO‐based planning optimization system, where the user will have access to both the LET and dose distributions while navigating on the Pareto‐surface, towards effect‐driven treatment planning. Federal Share of program income earned by Massachusetts General Hospital on C06 CA059267
Insights Into Operating a Low Pressure Feed Pump for Loss of All AC and DC Power

Generic guidance for Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) has been developed to address the beyond design basis event of coincident loss of all Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current (DC) power. The generic guidance included a strategy to use a low pressure feed pump to provide adequate secondary side heat removal via the Steam Generators (SGs) to delay or prevent core uncovery following loss of all AC power with battery depletion, loss of all DC power, seismic initiated events, and/or terrorist initiated events. The purpose of the project was to use thermal hydraulic analyses, operating experience, and other engineering analyses to identify and evaluate technical issues associated with the implementation of the low pressure feed pump strategy at Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering (CE) designed plants. The technical issues that were evaluated are those issues typically addressed in the development of a plant’s Emergency Operating Procedures (EOPs) and Off-Normal Operating Procedures (ONOPs). The thermal hydraulic analyses were performed using the computer code MAAP 4.0.5 and a plant model of a 4-loop Westinghouse designed PWR. The results of the analyses are also applicable to 2-Loop and 3-Loop Westinghouse and CE designed PWRs. The results of the evaluation indicated that the key technical issue potentially impacting the prevention of core uncovery for the implementation of the low pressure feed pump strategy is the potential and consequences of injecting nitrogen into the Reactor Coolant System (RCS) from the cold leg accumulators/Safety Injection Tanks (SITs). The results of the evaluation were used to develop sample instructions for implementing the low pressure feed pump strategy for Westinghouse and CE designed PWRs. The sample instructions were developed for two categories of low pressure feed pumps: (1) low pressure feed pumps with shutoff heads greater than the pressure that nitrogen injects into the RCS and (2) low pressure feed pumps with shutoff heads less than the pressure that nitrogen injects into the RCS. The usefulness of the sample instructions is maximized when the low pressure feed pump has local flow indication, throttling capabilities, deadhead protection, and local SG pressure indication is available. The results demonstrated that the design characteristics of the low pressure feed pump are important to prolonging/preventing the time of core uncovery.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding: An Attractive Option

Bariatric surgery is the only effective treatment producing sustained weight loss and reduction in comorbidities in the morbidly obese. Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has evolved considerably in techniques of insertion and band management since the initial descriptions in the early 1990s. Major advantages of LAGB include lower perioperative morbidity and mortality, adjust-ability, and reversibility. Although weight loss occurs more slowly than after gastric bypass, end results are comparable.
Neutron Depolarization on Scattering from Carbon, Paraffin, and Phosphorus

The depolarization of polarized thermal neutrons scattered from carbon, paraffin, and phosphorus has been measured. The results have been interpreted in terms of the spin flip probability on scattering, which for carbon was found to be equal to -0.09\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.21 and for hydrogen 0.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.10, consistent with the theoretically expected values 0 and 0.65, respectively. For phosphorus, the measured spin flip probability of 0.73\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.15 yields an incoherent scattering cross section of 3.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.8b, of the same order of magnitude as the total scattering cross section (3.4b). This would imply one or more $s$-neutron resonance levels in phosphorus above 400 ev, the present upper limit of the well investigated part of the total neutron cross section of phosphorus.
"Civilizational" Boundaries in Christian-Jewish Relations

This article is a critical analysis of the work of Polish historian Feliks Koneczny (1862-1949), whose "science of civilizations" has experienced a renaissance in recent years. The primary focus is on his commentary about "Jewish civilization" and its relationship with "Latin civilization." In Koneczny’s view, these two civilizations are incompatible. Koneczny’s views on Christian-Jewish boundaries relate to the “Open Church-Closed Church” debate in Poland today. His worldview has been defended most vocally by Maciej Giertych, a key ideologue of the nationalist League of Polish Families (LPR). Radical groups, such as the NOP (National Rebirth of Poland), also use Koneczny as an authority to lend legitimacy to their statements of cultural racism.
Breast cancer survivors : psychosocial concerns and quality of life

To describe the psychosocial concerns and quality of life of breast cancer survivors evaluated 2 and 3 years after primary treatment. A sample of 139 breast cancer survivors who had been interviewed during the first year after primary treatment participated in a mailed survey at 2 years (N = 69) and 3 years (N = 70) after initial surgery. A random sample of these survivors were also interviewed in person. The mailed questionnaire included standardized instruments to assess quality of life (QL), rehabilitation needs, and psychological distress. Additional survey questions were developed to examine post-surgical recovery, employment and insurance problems. social support, and existential concerns. The in-person interviews expanded on these questions and systematically compared these patients' rehabilitation needs to those which existed at the time of an interview 1 year after surgery. The 2 and 3 year participants in this follow-up study did not differ from each other on their prior assessments with standardized QL instruments during the first year after surgery, nor did they differ from the full study sample of 227 women. The scores on the Profile of Mood States and the Functional Living Index-Cancer were the same for the 2 and 3 year survivor groups and did not differ from the previous assessments at 1 year after initial treatment. The scores on the Cancer Rehabilitation Evaluation System showed a significant decline in Global Quality of Life, Sexual Functioning and Marital Functioning between the 1 year and 3 year evaluations. For the 2 year sample only Sexual Functioning showed a deterioration between the 1 and 2 year evaluations. Using the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0, the breast cancer survivors were compared with patients from the Medical Outcomes Study. The breast cancer survivors demonstrated higher levels of functioning in many dimensions (role functioning, social functioning, pain, and general health) than the patients with chronic medical conditions. In spite of relatively good physical and emotional functioning on this generic measure of health status and quality of life, these breast cancer survivors reported a number of important and severe rehabilitation problems that persisted beyond one year after primary treatment. Especially frequent were problems associated with physical and recreational activities, body image, sexual interest, sexual function, and problems with dating for those who were single. Breast cancer survivors appear to attain maximum recovery from the physical and psychological trauma of cancer treatment by one year after surgery. A number of aspects of QL and rehabilitation problems worsen after that time. Nevertheless, breast cancer survivors rate their QL more favorably than outpatients with other common medical conditions, and they identify many positive aspects from the cancer experience.
Formation of Cr and Cr2Nb precipitates in rapidly solidified Cu-Cr-Nb ribbon

Abstract Ribbons of a Cu-Cr-Nb alloy produced by chill-block melt-spinning were examined to determine the phases present in the as-melt-spun material. Combined electron diffraction and EDS analyses determined that the as-melt-spun ribbon contained two precipitate phases. Both elemental Cr precipitates with an average diameter of 18 nm and the hexagonal phase of Cr 2 Nb with a bimodal size distribution with average particle sizes of 13 and 5 nm were found. Based upon the spheroidal shape of the particles, their lack of well defined orientation relationships with respect to the copper matrix, and kinetic arguments, the conclusion was drawn that the observed precipitates formed predominantly in the liquid Cu prior to solidification of the ribbon. The formation of these precipitates in the liquid Cu indicates a very strong dividing force for the formation of the elemental Cr and Cr 2 Nb phases.
The Relative Gender Gap in Suicide: Societal Integration, the Culture of Suicide, and Period Effects in 20 Developed Countries, 1955–1994

Abstract Previous research on Australian, Canadian, and U.S. trends in the ratio of male to female suicide rates (the relative gender gap) has concluded that changes in female rates are the principal cause of change in the ratio. Pampel's (1998) analysis of longitudinal cross-national data asserts that an unmeasured construct labeled “institutional adjustment” and his measure of the “national political context” are important predictors of trends in female suicide and the accompanying trends in the relative gender gap. Tests of Pampel's measure of national political context failed to find its expected impact on trends in male or female suicide rates or the relative gender gap. However, the period effects attributed by Pampel to the “institutional adjustment” process were evident, even after controlling societal integration and the culture of suicide. Still, Durkheimian indicators of societal integration, national cultures of suicide, and residualized lagged (1938) dependent variables explained most of the variation in 1955–1994 male and female suicide rates and the relative gender gap.
Expression of peripherin in ubiquinated inclusions of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We evaluated the expression of the type III intermediate filament (IF) protein, peripherin (PRP), in ubiquinated inclusions of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A previous study showed that overexpression of PRP in transgenic mice induces motor neuron disease with formation of PRP-containing inclusions before onset of symptoms [J. Cell Biol. 147 (3) (1999) 531]. To determine whether PRP inclusions occur in the human disease, we applied doublelabeling immunofluorescence to paraffin sections of the spinal cord obtained by autopsy of 40 ALS patients with sporadic disease and 39 controls. Inclusions that expressed immunoreactive ubiquitin and peripherin were recorded by video camera, and the sections were stained by hematoxylin and eosin (HE all LBLIs expressed peripherin. Skein-like inclusions (SLIs) were identified by ubiquitin, but did not express PRP with rare exceptions. Neither skein-like inclusions nor LBLIs expressed αB-crystallin, neurofilament protein (NF-L, NF-M and NF-H subunits), α-internexin, actin or α-synuclein. Immunoblot of the whole spinal cord exhibited a single 57-kDa band of peripherin in ALS patients and controls. Our data document the expression of peripherin in LBLIs, which may provide a clue to the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration in ALS.
Obligation and the New Naturalism

Although it has become increasingly evident that an adequate theory of obligation must rest on evolutionary biology and human ethology, attempts toward this end need to explore the full range of personal, cultural, and political obligations observed in our species. The “new naturalism” reveals the complexity of social behavior and the defects of reductionist models that oversimplify the foundations of human duties and rights. Ultimately, this approach suggest a return to the Aristotelian concept of “natural justice”.
Ureteropelvic junction obstruction in upper and lower moiety of duplex renal systems

Abstract Objectives To review our experience with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a duplicated renal collecting system. Methods The records of 7 patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction in a duplex collecting system were reviewed. In addition to routine demographics, each case was reviewed for presenting symptoms, site of obstruction, and type of surgical treatment. Results Three of the 7 cases involved obstruction of the upper pole moiety, and the remaining 4 involved the lower pole segment of a duplex system. Obstruction of the upper and lower pole segments was found in both incomplete and complete duplicated collecting systems. Conclusions Careful preoperative evaluation of patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction will usually identify segmental obstruction in a duplicated system. Treatment should be individualized based on site of obstruction and degree of function remaining in the affected segment.
Hydrological and climatic responses of Pinus elliottii var. densa in mesic pine flatwoods Florida, USA

Pinus elliottii Engelm. Var densa Little et Dorman est la seule espece de pin subtropicale des Etats-Unis. Elle n'occupe plus que 4,5 % de son aire d'origine. Afin de comprendre comment cette essence pourrait reagir face a un changement des conditions de milieu, nous avons examine les relations entre deux variables hydrologiques et l'accroissement dans 3 peuplements de P. elliottii var. densa situes sur des stations presentant un gradient hydrologique, a partir de mesures de largeur de cernes. Les deux variables etaient d'une part un indicateur a court terme du statut hydrique, a savoir precipitations moins l'evapotranspiration potentielle (P-PET) et d'autre part un indicateur a long terme du niveau de la nappe d'eau dans le sol par mesure de l'ecoulement (R). La croissance, dans toutes les stations, etait correlee positivement avec P-PET et R de la saison de vegetation en cours ; la liaison est tres fortement negative avec le R de l'hiver precedent. La correlation positive avec le R du printemps est plus grande pour la station dont le niveau de la nappe d'eau dans le sol est plus profond que pour les stations a niveau d'eau plus superficiel. La discussion porte sur le potentiel dynamique des racines pour expliquer les relations entre croissance et R.
Estimate optimization parameters for incoherent backscatter heterodyne lidar

Heterodyne lidar estimates are a function of a number of experimental parameters, some of which can be adjusted or tuned to optimize statistical precision. Here we refer the precision to the theoretical limit for optical measurements of return power and Doppler shift and investigate the conditions for optimization using established theoretical expressions for the standard deviation of various estimates. Tuning is characterized by a degeneracy parameter (the photocount per fade). For estimators that filter or resolve the return, it is shown that optimal tuning is achieved at wideband signal-to-noise ratios less than 0 dB and detected signal levels corresponding to more than a single effective photocount. Estimators that do not filter are predictably at a disadvantage when the signal bandwidth range gate product is low. The minimum standard deviation available from an optimally tuned heterodyne system is found to be greater than twice the limit.
Propagule redirection: Habitat availability reduces colonization and increases recruitment in reef fishes

Increased habitat availability or quality can alter production of habitat-dependent organisms in two contrasting ways: (1) by enhancing input of new colonists to the new sites (the Field-of-Dreams Hypothesis); and (2) by drawing colonists away from existing sites (the Propagule Redirection Hypothesis), and thus reducing the deleterious effects of density. We conducted a field experiment on coral reef fishes in Moorea, French Polynesia, to quantify how differing levels of habitat availability (controlling for quality) increased and/or redirected colonizing larval fish. Focal reefs without neighboring reefs received two to four times more settlers than reefs with adjacent habitat, demonstrating that increased habitat redirected larval fish. At the scale of the entire reef array, total colonization increased 1.3-fold in response to a sixfold increase in reef area (and a 2.75-fold increase in adjusted habitat availability). Thus, propagules were both increased and redirected, a result midway between the Field-of-Dreams and Propagule Redirection Hypotheses. A recruitment model using our data and field estimates of density-dependent recruitment predicts that habitat addition increases recruitment primarily by ameliorating the negative effects of competition at existing sites rather than increasing colonization at the new sites per se. Understanding long-term implications of these effects depends upon the interplay among habitat dynamics, population connectivity, colonization dynamics, and density dependence.
Leaching of Methyl Isothiocyanate in Plainfield Sand Chemigated with Metam‐Sodium

Soil column studies were undertaken to investigate the influence of soil water content and irrigation on leaching, distribution and persistence of methyl isothiocyanate (MITC) in a sandy soil chemigated with the soil fumigant metam-sodium. No leaching was obtained from columns at low water content (0.042 or 0.074 cm 3 cm -3 ). However, 8.4 (±2.8), 34.2 (±7.4) and 119.4 (±8.3) μg of MITC leached from columns at 0.105, 0.137 and 0.168 cm 3 cm -3 water content, respectively. Increased leaching resulted from sprinkler application of 25-mm of water to columns at 0.137 cm 3 cm -3 water content. Leaching of MITC constituted only a small fraction of the amount applied even in the worst case. Methyl isothiocyanate persisted in soil for 15 days at 2°C in varying amounts under the different water regimes. Relatively high amounts of MITC residues (8-12 mg kg -1 soil) were detected in the top 25-cm layer of all the soil columns. Degradation was the major pathway of dissipation for the chemical despite the soil water regime.
Chemoimmunotherapy with modified dosing of fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab shows significant clinical activity in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Introduction: Combination chemoimmunotherapy has dramatically increased the frequency of complete responses (CRs) in previously untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) [1–5]. Unfortunately, despite this improvement in response, it has been noted that these combination regimens are more myelotoxic than single-agent therapy, with increased infectious complications. No prospective randomized study to date has shown that these more aggressive regimens improve overall survival. In addition, the only patients who seem to benefi t are younger patients who generally are able to tolerate these more toxic regimens. The combination of fl udarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab demonstrated impressive clinical activity, with an overall response of 95% and a 70% CR frequency, as reported by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center [2]. However, myelosuppression was the major toxicity, with 26% of patients unable to complete six courses of therapy. In an effort to maintain clinical effi cacy and reduce toxicity, a variety of regimens with variations of doses, scheduling, and alternative purine analogs have been used [6–8]. This phase 2 study was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center between March 2003 and July 2007.
Electrolytic Microbubbler Matrices

The feasibility of generating mono-disperse micro-bubbles by electrolysis in tap water using micro-fabricated devices was investigated towards the development of a high-density bubbler matrix. The effect of electrode geometry and size, as well as artificial nucleation sites was tested using single and arrays of electrode pairs. The results indicated that circular electrode node shapes (as opposed to triangular or square nodes) nucleated bubbles from the node center and exhibited fewer instances of bubble coalescence and a higher bubble detachment frequency when operated with small anode-anode and cathode-cathode spacings. Artificial nucleation sites, produced by etching the surface of the electrodes, were shown to be able to limit nucleation to one site (though in some cases, bubbles formed underneath the dielectric layer) as well as increase current efficiency. A device with thousands of electrode pairs (a matrix of nodes) was also fabricated in order to generate a bubble cloud close to the channel wall. At a flow speed of 14 cm/s, this device demonstrated the ability to generate a bubble cloud reasonably close to the wall 20 mm from the trailing edge of the matrix of nodes, with the void fraction peaking at 1 mm from the channel wall and returning to zero at 3 mm. It yielded efficiencies greater than similar thin-wire devices, but spurious bubbles formed on the device, indicating that additional work is needed to develop this technology in a matrix format.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Clinical experience with vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy for treatment of impotence

A total of 336 patients with organic impotence completed a testing protocol of penile vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy (VIP) using papaverine hydrochloride (30 mg/ml) or a combination of papaverine (25 mg/ml) and phentolamine mesylate (0.83 mg/ml). Transient functional erections were achieved in 97.2% of patients with neurogenic impotence, 81.6% of those with vascular impotence, 90.7% of those with undetermined organic impotence, and 100% of patients with psychogenic and hormonal impotence. Of the responders, 273 elected to practice VIP as a method to restore erectile function and completed a training session on self- or partner-assisted injection. After an average follow-up of 9.2±6.7 months, 170 patients were still administering self-injections at home, 16 were lost to follow-up, and 87 discontinued the protocol. The average follow-up of patients actively practicing VIP was 11.6±6.5 months. Significant complications were few and included dizziness, sustained erections, and intracorporal hardening and fibrosis. Vasoactive intracavernous pharmacotherapy is a powerful tool in the management of impotence. Careful analysis of the risks and benefits and accurate definition of the long-term complications and their incidence are necessary to establish the role of VIP among other treatment options for impotence.
Key Incorporation Scheme for Cancelable Biometrics

Biometrics is becoming an important method for human identification. However, once a biometric pattern is stolen, the user will quickly run out of alternatives and all the applications where the associated biometric pattern is used become insecure. Cancelable biometrics is a solution. However, traditional cancelable biometric methods treat the transformation process and feature extraction process independently. As a result, this kind of cancelable biometric approach would reduce the recognition accuracy. In this paper, we first analyzed the limitations of traditional cancelable biometric methods, and proposed the Key Incorporation Scheme for Cancelable Biometrics approach that could increase the recognition accuracy while achieving “cancelability”. Then we designed the Gabor Descriptor based Cancelable Iris Recognition method that is a practical implementation of the proposed Key Incorporation Scheme. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method can significantly improve the iris recognition accuracy while achieving “cancelability”.
Understanding Local Participation Amidst Challenges: Evidence from Lebanon in the Global South

Scholars frame local participation as a continuum of tools, processes, and values, with outcomes primarily serving implementers or beneficiaries. Donors have adopted participation in their policies and are asking local partners in the Global South to implement participation in their work on the ground. Development management practitioners in the Global South have unique understanding and practice of local participation. This article analyzes the status of local participation in Lebanon using recent empirical data. We address Lebanese DM practitioners’ perceptions of participation. They relate that participation is used in a limited way, as a tool at best. We also identify some of the underlying conditions: weak readiness and understanding; lack of coordinated efforts; and rhetorical use of the participation paradigm. The form of participation changes as these conditions change. We recommend modest expectations of citizen participation, investing efforts to develop organizational readiness, enhance cross-sector coordination, and secure more serious donor engagement.
Tissue model and preliminary analysis of microdebriders used in functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objective To develop a standardized in vitro tissue model for microdebrider comparison, and determine which microdebrider, tissue type, blade type, and suction strength is most efficient. Study design and setting A prospective randomized comparison of the Diego Powered Dissector and XPS 3000 Powered ENT System was conducted using a soft-tissue and a firm-tissue model. In addition to evaluating tissue aspiration with straight and angled blades, clogging rates and clearance times were measured. Both standard wall suction and liposuction were used. Basic statistical analysis and a one-way analysis of variance using confidence intervals were performed to compare outcomes. Results The aspiration of soft tissue was statistically superior to and demonstrated less clogging compared to the aspiration of firm tissue. For the “head-to-head” comparison, the XPS 3000 was statistically superior for aspirating soft tissue. When liposuction was excluded, the devices were essentially equivalent. Several notable trends that were not statistically significant were also observed. The aspiration efficiency of straight blades appeared to be superior compared to angled blades. The XPS 3000 and liposuction independently seemed to aspirate more tissue than the Diego Powered Dissector and regular suction, but at the expense of increased clogging. Finally, the Diego Powered Dissector showed a trend toward aspirating more firm tissue. Conclusion Our tissue model represents a reliable and reproducible means of microdebrider comparison. A secondary analysis with a larger sample size is warranted to further validate the tissue model, to improve the power of the statistically significant results, and to better delineate the trends that were observed in the current study.
Reflection and transmission of self-focused channels at nonlinear dielectric interfaces.

We show with an extensive numerical study that the global reflection and transmission properties of a finite-width optical self-focused channel incident at an oblique angle to an interface separating two self-focusing nonlinear media can be categorized into three distinct regimes of behavior as the incidence angle is varied through the angle for total internal reflection. The largest regime in parameter space is the nonlinear regime, where a channel undergoes either total internal reflection or transmission, in marked contrast to the well-known linear Snell’s law behavior. The beam asymptotics in this latter region are quantitatively explained by a recent equivalent-particle theory.