cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Not even wrong: The spurious measurement of biodiversity's effects on ecosystem functioning.

Understanding how biodiversity influences ecosystem functioning is one of the central goals of modern ecology. The early and often acrimonious debates about the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning were largely resolved following the advent of a statistical partitioning scheme that decomposed the net effect of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning into a "selection" effect and a "complementarity" effect. Here we show that both the biodiversity effect and its statistical decomposition into selection and complementarity are fundamentally flawed because these methods use a naive null expectation based on neutrality, likely leading to an overestimate of the net biodiversity effect, and because they fail to account for the nonlinear abundance-ecosystem-functioning relationships widely observed in nature. Furthermore, under nonlinearity no such statistical scheme can be devised to partition the biodiversity effect. We also present an alternative approach that provides a more reasonable starting point for estimating biodiversity effects. Overall, our results suggest that all studies conducted since the early 1990s are likely to have overestimated the positive effects of biodiversity on ecosystem functioning.
Propagation and scattering of ultrasonic waves in polycrystals with arbitrary crystallite and macroscopic texture symmetries

Abstract A general ultrasonic attenuation model for a polycrystal with arbitrary macroscopic texture and triclinic ellipsoidal grains is described with proper accounting for the anisotropic Green’s function for the reference medium. The texture and the ellipsoidal grain frames in the model are independent and the wave propagation direction is arbitrary. The attenuation coefficients are obtained in the Born approximation accompanied by the Rayleigh and stochastic asymptotes. The scattering model displays statistical anisotropy due to two independent factors: (1) shape of the oriented grains and (2) preferred crystallographic orientation of the grains leading to macroscopic anisotropy of the homogenized reference medium. The model is applicable to most single phase polycrystalline materials that may occur as a result of thermomechanical manufacturing processes leading to different macrotextures and elongated-shaped grains. It predicts the strength of ultrasonic scattering and its dependence on frequency and propagation direction as a function of grain shape, grain crystallographic symmetry and macroscopic texture parameters and provides the texture-induced dependence of macroscopic ultrasonic velocity on propagation angle. It considers proper wave polarizations due to macroscopic anisotropy and scattering-induced transformations of waves with different polarizations. Competing effects of grain shape and texture on the attenuation are observed. In contrast to the macroscopically isotropic case, where in the stochastic regime the attenuation is highest in the direction of the longest ellipsoidal axis of the grain, the wave attenuation in the elongation direction may be suppressed or amplified by the texture with different effects on the quasilongitudinal and quasitransverse waves. The frequency behavior is also interestingly affected by texture: a hump in the total attenuation coefficient is found for the fast quasitransverse wave which is purely the result of macroscopic anisotropy and the existence of two quasitransverse waves; this hump is not observed in the macroscopically isotropic case. Striking differences of the texture effect on the directional dependences of the attenuation coefficients are found at low versus high frequencies.
Miscanthus × giganteus Can be Propagated from Stem Cuttings

Abstract Giant miscanthus was successfully propagated with 1 or 2-node basal stem cuttings in July and 2-node basal stem cuttings in September. Upper single nodes, especially those 3rd and 4th most...
Measuring the effectiveness of facility naming rights sponsorships

Abstract The findings of this research broadens the theoretical knowledge of facility naming rights/sponsorships by not only confirming prior theoretical models, but by also including the constructs service quality, valence, brand awareness, brand image/identity, and perceived fit. The current research contributes to the facility naming rights/sponsorship literature as the first holistic empirical model developed and tested in a professional sports setting. The researchers identify the implications for both the sponsoring organization and the sports team of entering into a facility naming rights agreement. The findings support the case that there is little downside risk to entering into these agreements because fans do appear to separate the team from the sponsor.
Level of Evidence in Facial Plastic Surgery Research: A Procedure-Level Analysis

As evidence-based medicine has taken hold across medical specialties, the level of evidence within the facial plastic surgery literature has risen, but remains weak in comparison. There has not yet been a systematic, critical appraisal of the relative strength of evidence among subsets of the practice of facial plastic surgery. The current study is a systematic review, designed to evaluate the level of evidence observed in the facial plastic surgery literature. Five journals were queried using facial plastic surgery terms for four selected years over a 10-year period. Following screening, articles were assigned to a category regarding subject matter, assessed for the presence of various methodological traits, and evaluated for overall level of evidence. Comparisons were made in regard to level of evidence across the breadth of facial plastic surgery subject matter. A total of 826 articles were included for final review. Studies on operative facial rejuvenation and rhinoplasty had significantly fewer authors on average than studies on cancer reconstruction or craniofacial topics. Craniofacial studies demonstrated higher levels of evidence relative to all other categories, with the exception of facial paralysis and facial trauma studies, from which there was no significant difference. In general, reconstructive studies had significantly more authors and higher levels of evidence than did articles with an aesthetic focus. Level of evidence in facial plastic surgery remains relatively weak overall. Reconstructive and particularly craniofacial studies demonstrate higher mean level of evidence, relative to other subsets of facial plastic surgery. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266
CHAPTER 7 – Induction

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the different aspects of induction. The ability to generalize from examples is one of the hallmarks of intelligence. The experience of the world is specific, yet one is able to formulate general theories that account for the past, and predict the future. Such reasoning is commonly known as induction. In thinking about induction, it is important to bear in mind that this approach is not necessarily sound. Although an inductive conclusion must be consistent with the sentences in its background theory, and data, it need not be a logical conclusion of those sentences. In other words, there can be models of the premises in an inductive problem that are not models of the conclusion. The basis for model maximization is the observation that some inductive conclusions are less conservative than are others, with the result that they have fewer models. The idea behind model maximization is to order inductive conclusions on the basis of their models.
Abstract 16382: The Surface ECG May Provide Information About Left Ventricular Systolic Function in Patients With Right Bundle Branch Block

Introduction: In patients (pts) with right bundle branch block (RBBB) and heart failure, assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is vital to management, but echocardiograms (ECHO) may not alwa...
University teachers’ design work: implications for an urgent shift to digital

This is a response to Bennett et al.’s (2016) “The Process of Designing for Learning: Understanding University Teachers’ Design Work.” We examine this study of faculty approaches to course design in order to connect the authors’ findings to implications for course design practices in the current context of shifting courses online. The design processes of experienced faculty are the primary subjects of the study, which may have implications for how institutions approach supporting faculty efforts to design courses under time constraints. However, research shows that less experienced faculty may be unprepared to effectively redesigning courses under time constraints. The primary approaches to course design are the individual approach, where a faculty designer follows his or her own design process and the centralized or team approach, where a subject matter expert joins an instructional designer and/or additional educational design or technology specialists to develop courses. Institutions need to consider how much of their faculty have 10 years or more of experience in order to determine which approach would work best.
Spoofing in Geography: Can We Trust Artificial Intelligence to Manage Geospatial Data?

The recent development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has offered its tremendous capacity to intelligentize GIScience. In the meantime, such capacity could also generate problematic geospatial data. To explain how geospatial data can be affected by AI and to discuss the concomitant social implications, this chapter focuses on three geospatial spoofing cases: first, the game player trajectories generated by bot; second, the fake locational information spread out on twitter by its filtering algorithm; and third, simulated image of place made by a deep learning algorithm. Confronted with the above-mentioned complex issues, we further propose spoofing detection principles to understand their inherent mechanisms and hopefully inform their impacts on society better. By this chapter, we aim to promote a critical lens in perceiving AI’s capacity in transforming GIScience, and discuss the societial impacts engendered by the convergence of AI and GIScience.
Achievement of maturational milestones among very low birth weight infants.

Background Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants must achieve several maturational milestones to be discharged home from the NICU. Objective Describe the timing of maturational milestones in VLBW infants and the impact of clinical variables and milestone achievement on postmenstrual age (PMA) at discharge. Methods For VLBW infants without severe lung disease discharged home from a level IV NICU, we assessed PMA at the achievement of thermoregulation, cardiorespiratory stability, feeding, and discharge. Results In 400 infants (median GA 28.4 weeks), lower birth weight, white race, and having multiple comorbidities of prematurity predicted later discharge PMA. The most common milestone sequence was CPAP discontinuation, caffeine discontinuation, thermoregulation, apnea resolution, and full oral feeds. PMA at apnea resolution and full oral feeds correlated highly with discharge PMA. Conclusions In a single-center VLBW cohort, comorbidities of prematurity impacted the timing of NICU discharge through delay in oral feeding and cardiorespiratory stability.
Negative Inferential Style Mediates the Association between Racial Identity and Depressive Symptoms among African American Adolescents

Negative inferential style is a cognitive vulnerability for depression. Yet, few studies have explored how this risk factor intersects with culturally-specific protective factors, such as racial identity, in a unified cognitive risk-cultural asset model in youth of color. The current study addressed this gap by exploring the interplay between negative inferential style, racial identity, and depressive symptoms in an urban African-American adolescent community sample (N = 233; 51.9% female). Cross-lagged panel analyses estimated concurrent and prospective relationships between study variables. Racial identity dimensions of regard, but not centrality, were significant predictors of inferential style, and buffered against the development of depressive symptoms via the development of a less negative inferential style. Implications for the study of racial identity and cognition, and treatment of African–American adolescents are discussed.
Racial disparities in provider recommendation for esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Racial disparities currently exist for the utilization rate of esophagectomy for Black patients with operable esophageal carcinoma. METHODS A total of 37 271 cases with the American Joint Committee on Cancer clinical stage I, II, and III esophageal carcinoma that were reported to the National Cancer Database were analyzed between 2004 and 2016. A multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model was used to evaluate differences in the odds ratio of esophagectomy not being recommended based on race. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to evaluate differences in overall survival. Propensity score methodology with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to balance baseline differences in patient demographics. RESULTS After IPTW adjustment, we identified 30 552 White patients and 3529 Black patients with clinical stage I-III esophageal carcinoma. Black patients had three times greater odds of not being recommended for esophagectomy (odds ratio: 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 2.67-3.43, p < 0.0001) compared to White patients. Black patients demonstrated significantly worse 3- and 5-year overall survival rates compared to White patients (log-rank p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION Black patients with clinical stage I-III esophageal cancer were significantly less likely to be recommended for esophagectomy even after adjusting for baseline demographic covariates compared to White patients.
Agency in Inefficient Bureaucracies: Evidence from Chinese Ownership Reform

The 2005 firm ownership reform in China led to a contract renegotiation between the owners of different types of shares. In state-controlled firms, the reform process required agreement between the local or central government (the controlling shareholder) and private individuals (minority shareholders). We show that low-paid bureaucrat senior managers achieved worse outcomes on behalf of their state employers, relative to the outcomes in privately-controlled firms, only in cities with poor-quality bureaucracies where informal payments to government officials are commonplace. On average, minority shareholders fared relatively well in low-quality vertical institutional environments, where we might have expected a greater risk of expropriation. Our results suggest that agency in the bureaucracy can limit a low-quality government's ability to exercise unilateral power.
Nebulized Tranexamic Acid in Secondary Post-Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage: Case Series and Review of the Literature.

Author(s): Dermendjieva, Mira; Gopalsami, Anand; Glennon, Nicole; Torbati, Sam | Abstract: Introduction: Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage is a serious postoperative complication, and its acute management can present a challenge for the emergency provider. Although various strategies have been proposed, guidance on the best approach for management of this condition in the emergency department (ED) setting remains limited. Anecdotal reports of the use of nebulized tranexamic acid (TXA) for management of tonsillar bleeding have emerged over the past two years. Two recently published case reports describe the successful use of nebulized TXA for stabilization of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage in an adult and a pediatric patient.Case Series: Eight patients who presented to our ED with secondary post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage received nebulized TXA for hemostatic management. The most common TXA dose used was 500 milligrams, and all but one patient received a single dose of the medication in the ED. Hemostatic benefit was observed in six patients, with complete bleeding cessation observed in five cases. Interventions prior to nebulized TXA administration were attempted in three of the six patients and included ice water gargle, direct pressure with TXA-soaked gauze, and nebulized racemic epinephrine. All but one of the patients were taken to the operating room for definitive management after initial stabilization in the ED. Conclusion: Nebulized TXA may offer a hemostatic benefit and aid in stabilization of tonsillectomy hemorrhage in the acute care setting, prior to definitive surgical intervention.n Consideration of general principles of nebulization and aerosol particle size may be an important factor for drug delivery to the target tissue site.
CryoEM structure of the EBV ribonucleotide reductase BORF2 and mechanism of APOBEC3B inhibition

Viruses use a plethora of mechanisms to evade immune responses. A new example is neutralization of the nuclear DNA cytosine deaminase APOBEC3B by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ribonucleotide reductase subunit BORF2. Cryo-EM studies of APOBEC3B-BORF2 complexes reveal a large >1000 A2 binding surface comprised of multiple structural elements from each protein, which effectively blocks the APOBEC3B active site from accessing single-stranded DNA substrates. Evolutionary optimization is suggested by unique insertions in BORF2 absent from other ribonucleotide reductases and preferential binding to APOBEC3B relative to the highly related APOBEC3A and APOBEC3G enzymes. An atomic understanding of this novel pathogen-host interaction may contribute to the development of drugs that block the interaction and liberate the natural antiviral activity of APOBEC3B.
Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) - A New Paradigm for the Treatment of Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality. Patients with PE can present with a wide array of symptoms, ranging from mild to life threatening. The mainstay of PE treatment is anticoagulation; however, there are many advanced options available for more severe patients, including catheter-directed interventions, surgical treatments, and hemodynamic support. Although different risk scores and clinical guidelines exist, the primary treating teams are frequently left uncertain on the most suitable treatment for a specific complex patient. Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT), composed of multidisciplinary experts, have emerged and been implemented in many centers and are available 24 hours a day to help guide the primary team. PERTs have changed the way complex PE patients are managed. In centers with a PERT, teams are called upon very frequently and there is a significant increase in the use of advanced treatments for PE, although there are differences between centers based upon the center's specific PERT protocol and available capabilities. As PE is an evolving area, and more studies are necessary, PERTs around the world can help advance the field and improve the treatment offered to PE patients.
Light meson and baryon spectroscopy from charm decays in Fermilab E791

We present results from Fermilab experiment E791. We extracted the fractions of resonant components in the $\Lambda_c^+\to p K^- \pi^+$ decays, and found a significant polarization of the $\Lambda_c^+$ using a fully 5-dimensional resonant analysis. We also did resonant analyses of $D^+$ and $D^+_s$ decays into $\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+$. We observed an insignificant asymmetry in the Breit Wigner describing the $f_0(980)$ and found good evidence for a light and broad scalar resonance in the $D^+$ decays.
Applying the Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education: Improving Research Writing Skills in a Writing-Emphasis Health Counseling Course

It is frequently noted by college professors that students are ill prepared to conduct proper research. In order to address this problem, the authors discuss the use of a set of instructions to enable students to reach their writing potential. The Seven Principles for Good Practice in Undergraduate Education by Chickering and Gamson (1987) formulate a set of guidelines to improve teaching and learning. This paper will list the seven principles followed by the approach that the authors took in adhering to the principles.
International investment location decisions

Abstract In international ‘location tournaments’, governments compete for foreign investment with tax and other short-run incentives. Such tournaments can be won if agglomeration economies are sufficiently powerful to overcome investors' desire to spread investments as a hedge against risk. We focus on manufacturing investments by U.S. multinationals in the 1980s. Our econometric results suggest that agglomeration economies are indeed the dominant influence on investor calculations. Paradoxically, short-run incentives have limited apparent impact on location choice. We conclude that high-cost tournament play is unnecessary for countries with good infrastructure development, specialized input suppliers and an expanding domestic market.
Turbostar: an ICF reactor using both direct and thermal power conversion

Combining direct and thermal power conversion results in a 52% gross plant efficiency with DT fuel and 68% with advanced DD fuel. We maximize the fraction of fusion-yield energy converted to kineti...
Rational Choice Foundations of Equal Protection in Selective Enforcement: Theory and Evidence

Some commentators have argued that the current legal approach to selective enforcement is inadequate, particularly because of its reliance on the concept of "intent to discriminate," and must be refashioned. We show, instead, that the current legal approach is well suited to accommodate the best statistical test available to detect bias (within our model). We present a bright-line test for police bias which is based on statistical data on the success rate of interdictions. The test finds bias against a protected group if the success rate of interdiction against that group is lower than on another group. Within a rational choice model of crime and policing, this "bright-line" test is shown to flag police behavior if and only if it is driven by bias against a protected category. This test operationalizes the concept of "intent to discriminate" which is central to the legal approach to selective enforcement. Our analysis therefore provides a foundation for the current legal approach to selective enforcement cases. We view this finding as a strong rationale to preserve the current legal approach. We agree with some commentators that the current legal approach does not promote the larger social goal of crime minimization. We argue, however, that the courts are not well placed to pursue this goal. Therefore, we do not see the pursuit of crime minimization as a strong argument for challenging the existing legal approach.
The Abominable Mystery

The question of how flowering plants (called angiosperms) evolved and their relationship to other plants has puzzled botanists for a century--a riddle that Charles Darwin called the "abominable mystery." In his Perspective, Crepet discusses a new fossil discovery reported by Sun et al . in the same issue. Reproductive structures from northeast China are identified by Sun et al . as evidence for a Jurassic angiosperm. Crepet reviews the current understanding of angiosperm evolution and how this new finding fits into the picture of flowering plant origins.
Looking For, And Learning From, Community Literacy Outcomes

This article provides suggestions for community coalitions and other literacy service providers for implementing a performance management process that would be useful for helping coalitions and service providers to improve their efforts. It provides initial suggestions as to: the roles community coalitions might undertake in community literacy performance management; the outcome indicators that might be used to track progress; steps for selecting the indicators relevant to individual communities; handling some of the key implementation challenges; and the basic ways in which the performance information can be used. The article is based on the National Institute for literacy forthcoming guide to performance management for community literacy organizations.
Paralysis of the trapezius: a case report.

Abstract A patient was referred to physical therapy for exercises to the right shoulder secondary to a peripheral nerve injury involving the spinal accessory nerve. A treatment program was designed to accommodate for lack of upward scapula rotation, which is necessary for elevation of the upper extremity above shoulder level. During the course of two and a half years of care, a variety of associated problems were encountered. There was no apparent nerve regeneration, and the patient was left with limited mobility of the affected upper extremity.
Spectroscopic Deprojection Analysis of Chandra Data of the Galaxy Cluster 3C 129

We report on spectroscopic imaging observations of the nearby (z = 0.022) galaxy cluster 3C 129 performed with the Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer detector on board the Chandra X-Ray Observatory. Applying a deprojection analysis that fully takes into account the spatially resolved X-ray energy spectra, we investigate the radial variation of temperature and particle density of the intracluster medium (ICM). While earlier data indicated a weak cooling flow and a cool cluster core, the Chandra data suggest that the core is hotter than the rest of the cluster: at the center we infer 7.9 keV, while the mean temperature of all the other ICM shells is 5.1 ± 0.3 keV (all errors at 90% confidence level). Based on the radial entropy profile, we discuss the evidence for shock heating of the ICM at the cluster center. We discuss the possibility of using imaging spectroscopy data of more regular clusters to extract maps of the gravitational dark matter potential.
A continuous linear optimal transport approach for pattern analysis in image datasets

We present a new approach to facilitate the application of the optimal transport metric to pattern recognition on image databases. The method is based on a linearized version of the optimal transport metric, which provides a linear embedding for the images. Hence, it enables shape and appearance modeling using linear geometric analysis techniques in the embedded space. In contrast to previous work, we use Monge's formulation of the optimal transport problem, which allows for reasonably fast computation of the linearized optimal transport embedding for large images. We demonstrate the application of the method to recover and visualize meaningful variations in a supervised-learning setting on several image datasets, including chromatin distribution in the nuclei of cells, galaxy morphologies, facial expressions, and bird species identification. We show that the new approach allows for high-resolution construction of modes of variations and discrimination and can enhance classification accuracy in a variety of image discrimination problems. HighlightsA continuous version of the LOT framework is described that bypasses many of the difficulties associated with the discrete formulation.Using continuous transport maps, a forward and inverse transform operation is defined for images.An improved reference/average image estimation algorithm is proposed.The range within which points in LOT space are invertible according to the continuous formulation is calculated.We show that our method significantly speeds up the computation of the LOT embedding.
Shared memory ought to be commonplace

Shared memory as a programming abstraction is widely used within parallel applications. It is not widely used between applications. It is suggested that shared memory is both faster and more intuitive than the principal alternatives in many cases, and that the general disuse of shared memory facilities in systems such as Unix is due in large part to a lack of appropriate tools. A series of measures to make shared memory more convenient is being pursued. Dynamic linking is used to allow programs to access shared or persistent data in the same way they access ordinary variables and functions. Memory and files are unified into a single-level store that facilitates the sharing of pointers and capitalizes on emerging 64-bit architectures. Existing interfaces and tools are exploited to remain backward-compatible with Unix. >
An algebraic formulation of configuration-space obstacles for spatial robots

An algebraic formulation of the boundaries of configuration-space obstacles for wrist-partitioned spatial robots is presented. When the end-effector of the robot moves in contact with an obstacle, it is constrained not only by the robot reachability constraints but also by the link-obstacle contact constraints. The reachability constraint is modeled by a chain of two spherical joints, and the contact constraint is a combination of spherical joint and planar joint. Each of these constraints defines a manifold in the 6D space of rigid displacements. Parameterized and algebraic expressions defining these manifolds are obtained using dual quaternions. The obstacle boundary is obtained from the intersection of the manifolds associated with two types of constraints. An example is provided to show how this formulation leads to equations for the boundary of a joint obstacle for a PUMA robot. >
Why i care about programming and how to teach it

This is the thirty-fifth SIGCSE conference. Off-by-one bugs notwithstanding, it seems safe to assume that the members of the SIGCSE community have been teaching programming for at least 35 years. Have we improved the teaching of programming in that time? We have changed languages, we have occasionally changed paradigms, and the platform we use to teach programming is effectively infinitely more powerful than it was 35 years ago. However, if we use the SIGCSE proceedings as a snapshot of the state-of-the-art in teaching programming, it's possible to take a view that "the more things change the more they remain the same." In this talk I'll review what the community has had to say about teaching programming and what it is saying today. The community does not always speak in one voice, but there are established trends that illuminate what we as a community view as important. In 1974 David Gries discussed how we should teach programming and used this analogy: "Suppose you attend a course in cabinet making. The instructor briefly shows you a saw, a plane, a hammer, and a few other tools, letting you use each one for a few minutes. He next shows you a beautifully-finished cabinet. Finally, he tells you to design and build your own cabinet and bring him the finished product in a few weeks. You would think he was crazy!" As part of this talk I will demonstrate how I teach program-building and why I think that if we do not program in front of our students we cannot effectively teach programming. I hope to convince you that programming should be taught by demonstration and that I am not crazy.
Multi-dimensional non-linear acoustic wave propagation, part I: An alternative to the method of characteristics

An alternative method for the solution of the classical problem of a weakly non-linear, non-dispersive plane wave is derived, under the condition that the method of solution be directly applicable to multi-dimensional waves. The approach consists of applying Lighthill's technique of strained co-ordinates in the physical plane, in lieu of the conventional asymptotic solution which utilizes the characteristic variables. The problem is posed in terms of the velocity potential function and a method for using the asymptotic derivative formulas to obtain uniformly valid velocity expressions is derived. The criterion for the formation of shocks is discussed. It is found- that the results are identical to the classical solutions.
Neuroprotection trek-the next generation : The measurement is the message

Animal trials of many pharmacological neuroprotective agents have been quite successful, whereas trials in humans have been uniformly disappointing. A major difference between laboratory research in animals and clinical research in humans is the amount and/or quality of data obtained. The goal of this presentation is to argue that when clinical studies consist of more valid, objective data--that is, as our measurement capabilities in clinical research become as robust as they are in laboratory research--we are likely to gain new insights into both (1) injury to the nervous system and (2) neuroprotective treatment strategies. Technological advances (in data acquisition and analysis)--often novel even in the laboratory--will be the "scale" that will enable progress in measurement. As examples of such technological advances, two projects initiated at NASA Ames Research Center are cited. The NASA Smart Probe Project, with the goal of combining multiple microsensors and neural networks for real-time tissue identification (e.g., for tumor detection), has recently moved into the clinical realm, with a prototype being used to diagnose breast cancer in women "on the spot". The NASA Nanoelectrode Array Project has fabricated nanoscale devices that can simultaneously monitor electrical activity and neurotransmitter concentrations, while providing electrical stimulation focally and precisely (and potentially in a closed-loop fashion based on the input from the nanosensors). The large amounts of data that such techniques can acquire and analyze--separated spatially and temporally throughout the nervous system, if necessary--will provide insights not only into neuroprotective strategies, but also into the workings of the nervous system itself.
Assessing for impaired judgment as a means of meeting the “duty to protect” when a client is a potential harm-to-self: Implications for clients making end-of-life decisions

The duty to protect a client identified as “suicidal” has been clearly established in the mental health literature. We propose that (a) the duty to protect should apply whenever a client is engagin...
Methylcyclopentane conversion over platinum single crystal surfaces: evidence for the cyclic mechanism of n-hexane isomerization

Abstract The surface structure and temperature dependence of methylcyclopentane conversion was investigated near atmospheric pressure at 540–650 K over four platinum single crystal surfaces with flat (100) and (111), and stepped (332) and (557) orientations. The atomic structure and surface composition of the active catalysts were determined before and after reactions using low energy electron diffraction and Auger electron spectroscopy. Selective ring opening to produce 2- and 3-methylpentanes readily occurred on both flat surfaces studied, the (111) and the (100). Comparing results obtained here with previous work done on n -hexane conversion indicates that 2- and 3-methylpentane formation from n -hexane occurs through a methylcyclopentane-like surface species on these platinum species. The rate of formation of methylpentanes was found to be nearly two times faster on the (100) surface than on the (111) surface. The presence of steps on the platinum surface had no significant effect on the rates of ring opening or aromatization since these line defects were quickly covered with carbonaceous deposits as shown by carbon monoxide titration of the active sites. The formation of benzene from methylcyclopentane was found to be much slower than it is from n -hexane on these platinum single crystals. This suggests that platinum alone cannot catalyze the ring expansion of methylcyclopentane. Additional sites, like those found on alumina-supported platinum, are required for this reaction to occur.
Role of Protein Kinase A in Collagenase‐1 Gene Regulation by Prostaglandin E1: Studies in a Rabbit Synoviocyte Cell Line, HIG‐82

Gene expression of the matrix-degrading enzyme collagenase-1 in rabbit synoviocytes and human fibroblasts is down-regulated by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) through a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathway. In the current study, we examined the role of protein kinase A (PKA) in the PGE1-mediated effect on collagenase-1 gene expression. Collagenase-1 gene expression was rapidly induced several-fold above control both by a phorbol ester, 12-o-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13 acetate, and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in HIG-82 synoviocytes. Treatment with PGE1 and forskolin increased PKA activity in the HIG-82 cells within 15 minutes of adding the stimulating agents. Two inhibitors of PKA, the isoquinoline-sulfonamide derivative, H-89 and a cAMP analog, RpcAMP, blocked the ability of PGE1 to down-regulate collagenase-1 gene expression. However, if PGE1 was added from 6 h to 30 minutes before the PKA inhibitor H-89, collagenase-1 gene expression was inhibited. Constitutive PKA activity was increased in HIG-82 synoviocytes stably transfected with an expression vector pCMV.C alpha that caused the HIG-82 cells to overexpress an active catalytic subunit of PKA. Cells stably transfected with an inactive, mutated C-alpha-variant showed no change in PKA activity. Collagenase-1 mRNA levels in TPA-stimulated cells were reduced to baseline levels in the pCMV.C alpha but not in the mutated C-alpha-transfected cells. These data show the importance of PKA in regulating collagenase-1 gene expression in a synoviocyte cell line.
Normal Mode Relaxation of Polyisoprene in Blends with Vinyl Polybutadienes

When probe chains are dispersed in a network or higher molecular weight matrix, the expectation from the reptation model is that the terminal relaxation function will narrow, due to suppression of ...
When Can We Expect the Unexpected? Predicting Educational Attainment When it Differs from Previous Expectations

Individuals' expectations are strong predictors of their behaviors; educational expectations predict enrollment in postsecondary education. Yet in many cases, a youth's previous educational expectations are not met or are exceeded. This study examines correlates of educational expectations and unexpected educational attainment using longitudinal data from Monitoring the Future, a U.S. national study. Demographic characteristics, educational experiences in high school, and other risk and protective factors were related to expectations for educational attainment during high school. Logistic regressions indicated that high school curriculum, average grades, educational aspirations, and parents' educational level were particularly strong indicators of youth not meeting their expectation to graduate from a 4-year college, or graduating from college despite expecting not to graduate by age 25/26. We discuss the implications of unexpected pathways in terms of discontinuity during transitions and consider the implications for improved educational and career counseling during high school.
Choices, Challenges, and Career Consequences of Global Work Experiences: A Review and Future Agenda

Over the past 20 years, there has been increased interest in global forms of employment. Researchers have identified and investigated a number of global work experiences, including corporate and self-initiated expatriates as well as more novel forms of corporate global employees (flexpatriates, short-term assignees, and international business travelers). In this article, the authors review the empirical research that has investigated individual choices, challenges, and career consequences associated with the various types of global work. They summarize and synthesize this growing body of literature and then develop a taxonomy of global work experiences. Based on their review of this literature and their taxonomy, the authors outline an agenda for future research on global work experiences.
Identifying At-Risk Students for Early Reading Intervention: Challenges and Possible Solutions.

Accurate identification of at-risk kindergarten and 1st-grade students through early reading screening is an essential element of responsiveness to intervention models of reading instruction. The authors consider predictive validity and classification accuracy of early reading screening assessments with attention to sensitivity and specificity. They review screening strategies of previous kindergarten and 1st-grade intervention studies. They present practical, intervention-based solutions to low classification accuracy, including strategies that may reduce false-positive risk classifications.
Preferential Metabolism of Linoleic Acid by Five-Day-Old Barley Shoots

The degradation of exogenous radioactively labeled fatty acids by 5-day-old barley shoots was examined. [1-14C] Linoleic acid was observed to be degraded 7 times faster than [1-14C] oleic acid and 5 times faster than [1-14C] palmitic acid. The pathway of degradation was determined by identifying the water-soluble products and determined to be β-oxidation. During a 15 min incubation, the barley shoots took up 0.91 nmol/g fresh wt of linoleic acid, of which 0.16 nmol/g fresh wt was incorporated into glutamic acid, 0.07 nmol/g fresh wt into succinic acid and 0.002 nmol/g fresh wt into carbohydrates. By 30 min, additional TCA cycle intermediates, especially malic acid, were detected. Palmitic acid and oleic acid were broken down to the same products. The rates of uptake and the distribution of label into lipids were determined. The uptake of label by the tissue was similar for all 3 fatty acid substrates. Label from linoleic, oleic and palmitic acids was found to be incorporated into similar lipids, primarily phosphatidylcholine (PC), and the extent of incorporation was comparable. Although all 3 fatty acid substrates were broken down by β-oxidation, the reason for the more rapid degradation of linoleic acid was not established. It does not appear to be related to uptake of substrate or incorporation of label into lipids.
A rapid RT-PCR assay for the detection of HIV-1 in human plasma specimens.

The CDC estimates that there are currently over 1 million people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) in the United States, with new cases increasing by approximately 50,000 each year. HIV-1 consists of four distinct groups: the major M group, and the rare N, O, and P groups, each comprising of various subtypes. Without proper care, HIV-1 can lead to cardiovascular, kidney, and liver diseases, cancer, and rapid progression into acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Here, we describe a novel, rapid, and highly sensitive assay for the detection of HIV-1 using intercalating dye based RT-PCR and melt curve analysis. Materials and methods: We designed an RT-PCR assay for the detection of the major M subtypes in addition to the rare (O, N, and P) HIV-1 groups, as well as an extraction/RT-PCR control, using melt curve analysis. Viral RNA was extracted using the automated Qiagen EZ1 robotic system (Qiagen, Valencia, CA). To establish the limit of detection (LOD) for this assay, we diluted the AcroMetrix HIV-1 panel (LifeTechnologies, Grand Island, NY) to concentrations ranging from 25 to 500 copies/ml. Armored RNA® BCR/ABL b3/a2 (Asuragen, Austin, Texas) was used as our extraction and RT-PCR control. Specificity and accuracy were assessed by testing plasma specimens from 48 anonymized patients negative for HIV-1. Results: This assay has a turnaround time of less than 2.5 h and has a limit of detection of 50 copies/ml of plasma. Our assay also demonstrated 100% concordance with 53 previously quantified plasma patient specimens, including 48 negative samples and 5 positive samples. HIV-1 and our extraction/RT-PCR control were consistently identified at 79 °C and 82.5 °C, respectively. Conclusions: We developed a comprehensive, easy to use assay for the detection of HIV-1 in human plasma. Our assay combines a rapid and cost-effective method for molecular diagnostics with the versatility necessary for widespread laboratory use. These performance characteristics make this HIV-1 detection assay highly suitable for use in a clinical laboratory.
Managerial thinking. A study of public managers from developing countries

The field of comparative public administration/management in the United States has been criticized for theoretical underdevelopment and methodological narrowness. Utilizing advances made in comparative business management and taking into consideration the assertion that an agenda based empirical research programme in comparative public administration should highlight managerial processes, the individual, and group-level behaviours, this paper focuses on examining the attitudes of public managers towards their own organizations. It analyses the responses of 110 public sector managers from 58 different countries of the world while they were in residence for professional development at 12 major universities in the United States. Examining public managers outside their own working environment makes this research on public sector managers to some extent unusual. For purposes of data collection a stratified sample was utilized. The principal instrument consisted of 79 items. Managers were asked to state their attitudes towards problem-solving and decision-making, leadership, job challenge, change, and organizational culture. Primarily descriptive statistics are used to analyse the data. Limited use is made of the One-way ANOVA test. Results show that public managers from developing countries tend to view themselves somewhat differently from the traditional western perspective, especially as it relates to organizational innovativeness and job challenge. Public managers also confirm the earlier held western perspective that personnel in the public sector are more concerned with their personal welfare rather than organizational welfare and that their leadership is more directive. While one has to be careful interpreting the data, the emerging profile of public managers should influence future policy makers in both developing and developed nations of the world.
Aza-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogenicity: predictions of reactivity of tetrahydrobenzo ring epoxide derivatives

Abstract Huckel and perturbational molecular orbital calculations suggest that the position of nitrogen substitution has an important influence on reactivity of tetrahydroepoxides of aza-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
Slow growing volumetric subdivision

In recent years subdivision methods have been successfully applied to the multi-resolution representation and compression of surface meshes. Unfortunately their use in the volumetric case has remained impractical because of the use of tensor-product generalizations that induce an excessive growth of the mesh size before sufficient number is preformed. This technical sketch presents a new subdivision technique that refines volumetric (and higher-dimensional) meshes at the same rate of surface meshes. The scheme builds adaptive refinements of a mesh without using special decompositions of the cells connecting different levels of resolution. Lower dimensional "sharp" features are also handled directly in a natural way. The averaging rules allow to reproduce the same smoothness of the two best known previous tensor-product refinement methods [Bajaj et al. 2001;MacCracken and Joy 1996].
User term feedback in interactive text-based image retrieval

To alleviate the vocabulary problem, this paper investigates the role of user term feedback in interactive text-based image retrieval. Term feedback refers to the feedback from a user on specific terms regarding their relevance to a target image. Previous studies have indicated the effectiveness of term feedback in interactive text retrieval [14]. However, the term feedback has not shown to be effective in our experiments on text-based image retrieval. Our results indicate that, although term feedback has a positive effect by allowing users to identify more relevant terms, it also has a strong negative effect by providing more opportunities for users to specify irrelevant terms. To understand these different effects and their implications on the potential of term feedback, this paper further presents analysis of important factors that contribute to the utility of term feedback and discusses the outlook of term feedback in interactive text-based image retrieval.