cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Unsaturated cell model of effective thermal conductivity of soils

In this study, a cell model based on new physical conceptualizations is developed to calculate the effective thermal conductivity of unsaturated soils. The evolution of water phase saturation is treated using a cell model consisting of solid particle being enveloped by a mixture of water and air phases. The thermal conductivity of the mixed fluid phase is determined by the volume-weighted average of water and air thermal conductivities. The temperature distribution in the cell of soil and fluid mixture is solved along with boundary condition of linearly varying temperature field. The heat transfer through the cell is calculated by integration of the temperature gradient along with thermal conductivities of soil and fluid. The effective thermal conductivity of the unsaturated soils is determined by conceptualizing the soils as having the same heat transfer as the cell of solid particle and fluid mixture. The new model is compared with 268 data entries of unsaturated soil effective thermal conductivity measurements from the literature. The developed effective thermal conductivity model compares favorably with the experimental data. When the porosity is small, the increase in the effective thermal conductivity with water phase saturation is more significant and non-linear. When the porosity increases, the increases of effective thermal conductivity with water phase saturation approaches a linear relationship.
Epidemics, indigenous communities, and public health in the COVID-19 era: views from smallpox inoculation campaigns in colonial Guatemala

This article explores the tensions between well-intentioned humanitarianism and coercive colonialism during smallpox outbreaks in eighteenth-century Guatemala, when the state extended inoculation programmes to its predominant, culturally diverse Maya communities. Evidence from anti-epidemic campaigns shows public debates broadly comparable to the current COVID-19 crisis: debates about the measurably higher mortality rates for indigenous people and other marginalized groups; debates about the extent of the state’s responsibility for the health of its peoples; and debates on whether or not coercion and violence should be used to ensure compliance with quarantines and public health campaigns. While inoculations provided medical assistance and material help to Maya communities, and resulted in demonstrably lower mortality rates from smallpox, at the same time they functioned as avenues for the expansion of colonial power to intervene in the daily lives of people in those communities, characterized by colonial actors as necessary for their own good, and for the broader public good.
350 Factors associated with acute kidney injury in patients undergoing open gynecologic surgery on an enhanced recovery after surgery pathway

Introduction Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways use goal-directed fluid therapy (GDT) to reduce postoperative complications from fluid imbalance. Our study aimed to determine the incidence and risks of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients on an ERAS pathway. Methods AKI was defined as acute risk, injury, or failure by RIFLE criteria. Chi-squared, Fisher’s Exact, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used. Propensity score analysis with 1:1 matching compared AKI in ERAS and pre-ERAS cohorts and modeled the probability of AKI as a function of ERAS. Results Among 1127 patients on an ERAS pathway, 140 had AKI (12.4%, 95% CI 10.5%-14.5%). Patients with AKI were more likely to be older (median age 65 vs 57, p Conclusions A total of 12.4% of patients developed AKI, but ERAS itself was not associated with AKI incidence in the matched cohort. Highest AKI risk factors included older age, black race, more comorbidities, and blood loss.
The Association Between Moderate and Serious Mental Health Distress and General Health Services Utilization Among Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese Adults in California

A growing body of literature has indicated that disaggregated analyses using distinct Asian subgroups allow for identification of varying mental health challenges and health services utilization. In this study, we examined the associations between distress and health services utilization among five Asian subgroups: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Vietnamese adults in California. Using a combined dataset using the 2011–2018 cross-sectional cycles of the California Health Interview survey, we assessed moderate and serious distress and four health services utilization indicators in a set of disaggregated analyses among adults 18 years of age and older in five Asian subgroups. We performed bivariate and multivariable analyses. The prevalence of and associations between moderate and serious distress and gaps in health services utilization varied among each Asian subgroup. Koreans had the highest prevalence of moderate and serious distress and the most gaps in health services utilization. Compared to those without moderate distress (p < .05), Japanese adults were more likely to delay care. Compared to those without serious distress (p < .05), Chinese adults who experienced serious distress were more likely to delay both medications and care, whereas Filipino and Vietnamese adults were more likely to delay medications. Disaggregating health data elucidates the impact of mental distress on healthcare-seeking behaviors among specific Asian subgroups. Identifying these influences can facilitate future tailored interventions, yet fully understanding the mechanism linking mental distress and healthcare usage will necessitate a comprehensive assessment of structural influences and Asian American experiences without otherization.
Increasing Universal Design for Learning knowledge and application at a community college: the Universal Design for Learning Academy

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework has been shown to support instructors in the design of inclusive instructional learning environments. However, few studies have examined the effect...
Giant cell arteritis: A case report and review of literature.

Abstract Giant cell arteritis, the most common form of vasculitis in the elderly, is characterized by granulomatous inflammation of arteries, which can lead to serious, life-threatening conditions including aortic aneurysms, ruptures, and dissections as well as blindness. Since GCA can be treated by immunosuppressant therapy, such as corticosteroids, early diagnosis and treatment may reduce the risk of serious disability and morbidity. While temporal artery biopsy is considered the gold standard to diagnosis giant cell arteritis, it is intrusive with inherent risks as well as unreliable due to tissue sampling. Imaging studies, such as computerized tomography, are nonintrusive and have been shown to identify vasculitis including giant cell arteritis. We present a case of a 72-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with giant cell arteritis by temporal artery biopsy during surgery for aortic aneurysm and coronary artery bypass graft. Computerized tomography imaging studies, prior to the surgery and biopsy, were suggestive of vasculitis. This case serves to emphasize the beneficial role of imaging studies to assess vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis, that can be done prior to the progressive development of more serious debilitating and potentially fatal pathology.
Urban Neighborhood Features and Longitudinal Weight Development in Girls

INTRODUCTION: The literature on environment and obesity is characterized by studies that are often cross-sectional and lack racial diversity. This study examined associations between neighborhood features and BMI development over 6 years in an urban sample of 2,295 girls (56% African American; mean age at baseline, 11.2 years) in 2004. Analyses were conducted in 2011-2015. METHODS: Girls, caregivers, and study staff completed annual neighborhood questionnaires. Linear mixed-effects modeling examined annual changes in neighborhood features and BMI and assessed whether baseline neighborhood features modified BMI growth over time. RESULTS: At baseline, 40% of participants were overweight/obese. Participants' neighborhoods had few neighborhood problems, moderate levels of safety issues and inconvenient features, low levels of neighborhood disorder, few cases of loitering youth, and substantial traffic volume. Adverse neighborhood features were more common for African American than white participants. Neighborhood features were relatively stable over the follow-up period. African American girls with helpful neighbors had lower annual BMI growth (-0.09 kg/m(2)) than others. For white girls, BMI increased more for girls with helpful neighbors (+0.09 kg/m(2) annually). Regardless of race, living in a U.S. Census tract with low levels of educational achievement was linked with higher BMI growth (an additional 0.07 kg/m(2) annually). Girls living in Census tracts with high (versus low) levels of poverty gained an additional 0.08 kg/m(2) gain annually. CONCLUSIONS: Social environment features are associated with BMI change in white and African American urban girls and may be helpful for identifying girls at risk for early adolescent weight gain. Language: en
Writing a research proposal: A workshop course developed for Pharm D students

Background: Students typically need substantial assistance in writing research proposals since few have relevant experience. Aims: To describe a course for assisting students to write a research proposal. Method: Workshops consisted of a short lecture on writing a specific proposal component, a proposal outline, and an interactive class format using worksheets. Advising individual student groups was shared between the course instructor and project adviser. Rating scales were used for summative evaluation. Results: Proposals written during the course were rated higher (p<0.05) than were proposals written without the course. The mean knowledge rating was substantially higher on the post-test (4.3 on a scale of 0 to 5) than on the retrospective pretest (1.4; p<0.001). Conclusion: A course developed to enable students to write a proposal for a research study in which mentoring was shared between the project adviser and the course instructor, a focus on the writing aspects of proposal development, and a workshop class format, was associated with higher ratings of quality as well as higher ratings of knowledge learned.
Use of plant and insect hosts to model bacterial pathogenesis.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the methodologies used to screen for the identification of previously unknown P aeruginosa virulence-related genes relevant to mammalian pathogenesis. Human bacterial pathogens that infect one or more of the nonmammalian hosts mentioned in the chapter include Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Salmonella typhimurium , Enterococcus , Erwinia spp ., Serratia marcescens , and Proteus vulgaris . The ability of P aeruginosa to infect plants (lettuce and Arabidopsis thaliana ), insects ( Galleria mellonella and Drosophila melanogaster ), nematodes ( Caenorhabditis elegans ), and mice permitted the identification of a large number of “universal” virulence factors and mechanisms of pathogenesis required to cause disease in mammals. The approach and methodologies described in this chapter provide the opportunity to bypass the inherent problems with vertebrate animal models and to perform a genome-wide screen for bacterial virulence factors required for pathogenesis in mammalian hosts. However, to take advantage of this approach, the pathogen of interest should contain virulence factors required for pathogenesis in both invertebrates and mammalian hosts. The chapter describes the methodology used to identify P. aeruginosa “universal” virulence factors using lettuce and Arabidopsis thaliana as well as Galleria mellonella and Drosophila melanogaster as model hosts. It also describes the protocols used to infect Drosophila. melanogaster with Erwinia carotovora using natural modes of infection.
Business Cycles, Firm Size and Market Reactions to News

Previous studies document that market reactions to firm-level earnings news are stronger during good times than in bad times. We find that this result is driven by small firms. In fact, the market reaction to large firms' earnings news is weaker during economic expansions than contractions. We then investigate five possible explanations. We find that the size effect on time-varying market reaction to news cannot be explained by the distinction between value and growth stocks, the entry and exit of new firms into the economy, earnings management, or time-varying earnings persistence. There is some evidence consistent with time-varying investor attention, but investor attention does not appear to completely explain our results. Our findings, therefore, remain a puzzle.
Defining Electronic Librarianship : A Content Analysis of Job Advertisements

Abstract Advances in technology create dramatic changes within libraries. The complex issues surrounding this new electronic, end-user environment have major ramifications and require expert knowledge. Electronic services librarians and electronic resources librarians are two specialized titles that have recently emerged within the field of librarian-ship to fill this niche. Job advertisements listed in American Libraries from January 1989 to December 1998 were examined to identify responsibilities, qualifications, organizational and salary information relating to the newly emerging role of electronic librarian.
Intent driven interfaces to ubiquitous computers

An intent driven interface allows a person to control a computer by stating an intended outcome rather than entering the sequence of tasks required to achieve the same outcome. Techniques that were originally developed as part of a universal access accelerator for individuals with disabilities are now being applied as convenience and productivity tools for accessing any computer based device, appliance or system. An intelligent universal serial bus (USB) Hub, called the iTASK Module, determines user intent independently of the input source or the system that is accessed. iTASK Modules can be interconnected to support multi-user collaboration and sharing of system resources without requiring any hardware or software changes to the accessed system.
THE TREATMENT OF IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA WITH INTRAVENOUS IRON DEXTRAN.

Iron-dextran, in doses up to 3000 mg., was administered intravenously by single injection to 37 patients with iron deficiency and to 8 additional patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding. No serious untoward effects were observed. One patient developed chills and mild abdominal cramps 8 hours after injection. Most of the iron could be accounted for in the circulating blood immediately after the injection. Iron was cleared from the plasma slowly for 3 weeks after the administration. Iron-dextran appears to be a safe and well-tolerated intravenous preparation. It is especially useful in the treatment of iron-deficiency in immobilized patients and individuals with small muscle mass.
Bidirectional promoter in the hut(P) region of the histidine utilization (hut) operons from Klebsiella aerogenes.

Abstract The hut(P) region (i.e., the region responsible for regulation of hutUH expression) of the Klebsiella aerogenes histidine utilization (hut) operons contains a bidirectional promoter. One transcript from this promoter encodes the hutUH operon; the role of the oppositely directed transcript is unknown, although it appears to be involved in regulating hutUH expression (A.J. Nieuwkoop, S.A. Boylan, and R.A. Bender, J. Bacteriol. 159:934-939, 1984). A 247-base-pair (bp) fragment containing hut(P) carries two RNA-polymerase-binding sites agree with the start sites of the two transcripts produced from hut(P) DNA in vitro and in vivo. The binding sites share a 4-bp region, suggesting that occupancy of the regulatory site precludes occupancy of the hutUH promoter, and vice versa. In the absence of positive effectors, the binding to the site responsible for hutUH transcription is weaker than the binding to the site responsible for regulation. The nucleotide sequence of the 250-bp fragment containing hut(P) contains two possible matches to the consensus sequence for Escherichia coli promoters, a better and worse match, corresponding in position to the stronger and weaker RNA-polymerase-binding sites, respectively. The sequence also contains a region similar to the consensus sequence for binding of the catabolite gene activator protein of E. coli. A sequence similar to the consensus for Ntr-dependent promoters was also found, overlapping both RNA-polymerase-binding sites, but it is not a functional promoter. Finally, an initiation codon preceded by a Shine-Dalgarno consensus sequence and followed by an open reading frame identifies a probable start of the hutU gene coding sequences.
Thirty-Day Readmission Rates Among Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries.

Purpose Dual-eligible beneficiaries represented 19% of Medicare and 14% of Medicaid enrollment in 2009. Of Medicare discharges among dually eligible beneficiaries, 21.5% resulted in a 30-day rehospitalization. Little has been published regarding dual-eligible beneficiaries’ readmission rates and factors affecting readmission. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of Medicare claims, restricted to 297,084 beneficiaries with a hospitalization from February 1, 2009, through November 30, 2009. Findings Dual eligibles had higher hospitalization and 30-day readmission rates than Medicare-only beneficiaries. Multivariable regression indicated dual eligibility, younger age, and specific chronic conditions increased the likelihood of a 30-day readmission. Rural dually eligible beneficiaries had lower readmission rates than other beneficiaries, and they had a protective effect of physician follow-up care. Conclusions Having a 30-day physician follow-up had differential effects in urban versus rural locations, yet rural residents had a higher rate of follow-up care. The impact of adequate follow-up care, and how rural populations are successful, would be beneficial to understand. Substantial savings could accrue if interventions reduced readmissions among dual-eligible beneficiaries.
Comparison of internal fixation techniques in metacarpal fractures

A biomechanical study assessed quantitative differences in the stability that was obtained by five commonly used types of internal fixation employed in metacarpal fractures. The techniques included dorsal plating, dorsal plating combined with an interfragmentary lag screw, crossed Kirschner wires, a single intraosseous wire combined with a single oblique Kirschner wire, and a single intraosseous wire alone. Rigidity and strength in torsion and bending were determined after transverse osteotomy and fixation of the metacarpal were performed. The failure modes for each fixation technique were also observed and described. Significant differences in rigidity were found between the plated configurations (with or without an interfragmentary lag screw) and the wired configurations in both apex dorsal bending and axial torsion. The three wired configurations were not significantly different from each other except in torsion. Analysis of the bending moments that were required to produce both yield and failure in apex dorsal bending and also the energy absorbed to yield showed similar disparity between plated and wired techniques. For metacarpal fixation, dorsal plating with or without lag screws provides significantly more stability than do wired techniques and approaches that provided by intact bones.
Total Factor Productivity Change in Agriculture and Emissions from Deforestation

It is estimated that 1.5 billion tons (1 t=1 mg=1,000 kg) of carbon (C) are emitted from forests each year due to land use change (Houghton 2008). Looking forward, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (e.g., Nabuurs et al. 2007) suggests that land use change over the coming century could lead to continued large C emissions from forested landscapes, but the estimates of modeling groups vary widely. For example, emission scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggest a range of 35 to 89 billion t C emission from land use over this century across models for just one socioeconomic scenario (Nakicenovic et al. 2000).
Improvement in molecule exchange efficiency in Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo: development and implementation of the continuous fractional component move.

The continuous fractional component Monte Carlo (CFC MC) move (J Chem Theory Comput, 2007, 3, 1451) is extended to the Gibbs ensemble. The algorithm is validated against conventional simulations for the Lennard Jones fluid and a flexible water model. The method is also used to compute the vapor-liquid coexistence densities of a model for SO2. The CFC molecule exchange move relies on the gradual insertion and deletion of molecules in conjunction with a self-adapting bias potential. As a result, the method does not require the formation of spontaneous voids in the dense fluid phase to be successful, leading to molecule exchange acceptance probabilities that are nearly independent of temperature. For example, over 1% of the vapor-liquid molecule exchange moves are successful for water at 280 K, whereas advanced rotational and configurational bias methods have success rates of less than 0.03%. The CFC move can be combined with other Monte Carlo moves to enable efficient simulation of dense strongly associating fluids that are to this point infeasible to model with standard methods. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
A novel method for measuring CTL and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity using annexin V and two-color flow cytometry

An assay based on two-color flow cytometry has been developed to measure CTL and NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. After effector/target cells are incubated together, CTL or NK populations are stained with an effector cell specific PE-conjugated mAb. Subsequently, annexin V-FITC binds to cells expressing phosphatidylserine (an early marker of apoptosis) on the cell surface. Target cells are gated upon as PE-negative and quantified with respect to their annexin V positivity. The shift from annexin Vneg to annexin Vhi is a discrete event such that all target cells fall within discernible populations with respect to annexin V. There is a strong correlation between cytotoxicity measured with our assay and a standard 51Cr release assay (r2 = 0.989). The PE/annexin V assay shows increased sensitivity at early timepoints after target/effector cell mixing. In addition, this method allows for analysis of target cells at the single cell level. Therefore, we have described a promising new technique to measure in vitro cell-mediated cytotoxicity. It avoids the potential difficulties of working with radioactive isotopes, and offers increased sensitivity and versatility.
Animal Systemic Activity, Metabolism, and Stability of co-Ral (Bayer 21/199)

Co-Ral® (Bayer 21/199) ( O,O -diethyul O -3-chloro-1-methylum-belliferone) phosphorothicate) was more stable in several species of insects than in mammals. Metabolites isolated from insects and mammals consisted of the oxygen analog, O -ethyl and O,O -diethyl phosphorie acid, O,O -diethyl phosphorothioic acid, and possibly "desethyl" Co-Ral. The cumarinyl ring structure was not opened in vitro as was de demonstrated by alkaline degradation. The same metabolites were recovered from insects and rats but different quantities of each metabolite were formed. The ability of rats to degrade Co-Ral to water-soluble products more rapidly and completely than insects is probably a significant factor in determinining the selective toxicity of Co-Ral.
A possible mechanism for an interaction between postreplication recombination repair and base misincorporation in mutation induction by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine in Haemophilus influenzae

Abstract Evidence in previous publications has suggested that treatment with monofunctional alkylating agents such as N-methyl-N′-nitro-nitroguanidine (MNNG) results in gaps being left in the DNA synthesized shortly after the treatment. This paper presents further evidence that suggests, though it does not conclusively prove, that there are indeed gaps. It shows that these events increase linearly with MNNG concentration, that they are formed mainly in DNA synthesized during the first hour after treatment, and that only a few are formed at later times. An hypothesis that involves the conversion by recombination repair of a single-strand base substitution, resulting from insertion of an incorrect base opposite an alkylated base, to a double-strand base substitution is proposed. It is suggested that most single-strand substitutions are removed by mismatch repair, leaving the double-strand substitutions as the main source of mutations. This hypothesis predicts that the mutation frequency will increase as the square of the exposure to MNNG, and this seems to be the case, at least at lower exposures at which complicating factors such as lengthened expression time are avoided. It also can explain a number of earlier observations on mutation fixation as detected by transformation. An attempt to show that the non-coding lesions causing the gaps were apurinic sites was unsuccessful.
Defects in processing and trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

Defects in processing and trafficking of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by inherited mutations in the gene encoding the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a cAMP-regulated chloride channel expressed in epithelial tissues. Most mutations in CF patients result in rapid intracellular degradation of the CFTR protein. While this defect is thought to result from abnormal protein folding, it is unclear how mutant and wild-type (WT) proteins differ in structure, how the cell is able to distinguish these differences, and how the fate of the mutant protein is determined. By examining the initial steps of CFTR assembly into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane, it has recently been shown that CFTR utilizes two redundant translocation pathways to direct N-terminus folding events. Mutations that block one pathway therefore do not alter transmembrane topology, but rather appear to disrupt intracellular trafficking through perturbations in higher order tertiary structure. These studies suggest that cellular quality control machinery acts at least in part, by monitoring proper interactions between CFTR subdomains. The end result of this process is the conversion of misfolded CFTR into a membrane-bound, polyubiquitinated complex. This complex recruits cytosolic degradation machinery to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane where CFTR is degraded as it is extracted from the lipid bilayer. Understanding how cellular machinery mediates this process will be an important step in designing strategies to modify protein folding and degradation in CF and related ion channelopathies.
The effects of task engagement and interpersonal rapport on WCST performance in schizophrenia

Individuals with schizophrenia typically perform poorly on measures of executive function. This poor performance is widely attributed to disease-related cognitive deficits; however, the influence of task engagement and interpersonal rapport has not been adequately evaluated. In the present study, 30 individuals with schizophrenia completed two trials each of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), a measure of executive function. Between trials, half of the participants received enhanced instructions (i.e., explanation of the underlying rules and strategy coaching). It was hypothesized that the enhanced instruction group would achieve better WCST scores, and that this group difference would be mediated by participants' self-reported task engagement on the WCST and rapport with the experimenter. Results showed significantly improved WCST performance in the enhanced-instruction group, but the groups did not differ in task engagement or rapport. Task engagement showed a trend-level association with WCST perf...
A common human anti-hepatitis B surface antigen idiotype is associated with the group a conformation-dependent antigenic determinant.

Abstract Human antibodies that express a common anti-hepatitis B surface antigen idiotype were directed against the group-specific a determinant. The ability of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-derived polypeptides to inhibit the idiotype-anti-idiotype reaction was dependent on conformation, since denatured HBsAg viral polypeptides virtually lost their inhibitor capacity when compared to native polypeptides. This report further characterizes a common idiotype associated with human antibodies to HBsAg.
A Schwarz lemma for meromorphic functions and estimates for the hyperbolic metric

We prove a generalization of the Schwarz lemma for meromorphic functions f mapping the unit disk D onto Riemann surfaces R with bounded in mean radial distances from f(0) to the boundary of R. A new variant of the Schwarz lemma is also proved for the Caratheodory class of analytic functions having positive real part in D. Our results lead to several improved estimates for the hyperbolic metric.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY AND THE STUDY OF MALFORMATIONS

Experimental work on abnormal conditions of incubation in the chick has been undertaken to acquire a scientific approach to malformations. More precise experiments on causing abnormalities had a common origin with experimental embryology. Progress in experimental teratology during the last 50 years is reviewed in a commentary on the 4 principles formulated by Stockard in 1921. The results of cytogenetical studies in man and in other organisms have led to the tracing of some relationships between them. Present knowledge concerning malformations of the neural tube originating either experimentally spontaneously or phenotypically has been presented and the teratological implications of some recent theories on the expression of the genotype are discussed in particular reference to problems of hormones as teratogens the implication of carbohydrate metabolism and teratogenesis. It is speculated that teratogenesis is possibly related to cationic balance in early development and that 1 factor retarding progress in the understanding of malformations is the tendency toward the development of teratology in an adequately close relationship with other branches of cell biology.
Fragrance material review on methyl-α-ionone

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of methyl-α-ionone when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Some Measurability Results for Extrema of Random Functions Over Random Sets

We consider the question, "Under what conditions is the extremum of a random function over a random set itself a random object?" The answer is relevant to problems in both game theory and econometrics, as we illustrate with examples. Our purpose here is to bring the powerful tools of the theory of analytic sets as developed by Dellacherie and Meyer (1978) to the wider attention of the economics profession and to distill Dellacherie and Meyer's work in such a way as to provide some readily accessible theoretical results that will permit relatively easy treatment of economically or econometrically relevant applications.
Can there be a sociological concept of interest

This article raises the question of whether it is possible to have not only an economic concept of interest but also a sociological one, and, if so, what such a concept would be like. By way of an answer, the history of how sociologists have tried to use the concept of interest in their analyses is traced, starting with Gustav Ratzenhofer in the 1890s and ending with Pierre Bourdieu and John Meyer today. This focus on what sociologists have to say about interest represents a novelty as the conventional histories of this concept pass over the contribution by sociologists in total silence. The various attempts by sociologists to use the concept of interest are divided into two main categories: when interest is seen as the driving force in social life, and when interest is seen as a major force in social life, together with other factors. I also discuss the argument by some sociologists that interest is of little or no importance in social life. The different strategies for how to handle the concept of interest in a sociological analysis are discussed in the concluding remarks, where it is argued (following Weber and Bourdieu) that interests can usefully be understood to play an important role in social life, but together with other factors.
Explicit Solution to Green and Ampt Infiltration Equation

An explicit solution of the Green and Ampt infiltration equation is presented by constructing a decomposition series. Simple expressions for the cumulative infiltration depth and the infiltration rate are proposed. These expressions are valid for deep homogeneous soils under ponding conditions resulting from intense rainfall events. The solution was compared with the exact implicit solution, and with the Lambert W solution of the Green and Ampt equation. It was found that with three terms in the series, the decomposition solution has a maximum error of about 0.15%. The inclusion of additional terms in the series reduces the error. With four terms, the decomposition series yields an error of about 0.02%. The accuracy of a three-term decomposition solution seems adequate for most practical calculations. Furthermore, its simplicity of implementation makes it suitable for fast hand calculations.
Fast and stable evaluation of box-splines via the BB-form

To repeatedly evaluate linear combinations of box-splines in a fast and stable way, in particular along knot planes, the box-spline is converted to and tabulated as piecewise polynomial in BB-form (Bernstein–Bezier-form). We show that the BB-coefficients can be derived and stored as integers plus a rational scale factor and derive a hash table for efficiently accessing the polynomial pieces. This pre-processing, the resulting evaluation algorithm and use in a widely-used ray-tracing package are illustrated for splines based on two trivariate box-splines: the seven-directional box-spline on the Cartesian lattice and the six-directional box-spline on the face-centered cubic lattice.
Data Parallel Implementation of Belief Propagation in Factor Graphs on Multi-core Platforms

We investigate data parallel techniques for belief propagation in acyclic factor graphs on multi-core systems. Belief propagation is a key inference algorithm in factor graph, a probabilistic graphical model that has found applications in many domains. In this paper, we explore data parallelism for basic operations over the potential tables in belief propagation. Data parallel techniques for these table operations are developed for shared memory platforms. We then propose a complete belief propagation algorithm using these table operations to perform exact inference in factor graphs. The proposed algorithms are implemented on state-of-the-art multi-socket multi-core systems with additional NUMA-aware optimizations. Our proposed algorithms exhibit good scalability using a representative set of factor graphs. On a four-socket Intel Westmere-EX system with 40 cores, we achieve 39.5 $$\times $$ × speedup for the table operations and 39 $$\times $$ × speedup for the complete algorithm using factor graphs with large potential tables.
On the capability of satellite VHR QuickBird data for fuel type characterization in fragmented landscape

Abstract Fuel types are one of the most important factors that should be taken into consideration for computing spatial fire hazard and risk and simulating fire growth and intensity across a landscape. However, fuel mapping is extremely difficult because the description of fuel properties is very complex. In the present study, forest fuel mapping is considered from a remote sensing perspective by the assessment and mapping of general vegetation complexes. The purpose is to delineate forest types by exploring the use of remote sensing QuickBird data. In order to ascertain how well QuickBird data can provide an exhaustive classification of fuel properties, a sample area characterized by mixed vegetation covers and complex topography data was analysed. The selected sample area has an extension at around 60 km 2 and is located inside the Sila plateau in the Calabria Region (South of Italy). Fieldwork fuel type recognitions, performed before, after and during the acquisition of remote sensing QuickBird data, were used as ground-truth dataset to assess the results obtained for the considered test area. The method comprised the following three steps: (I) adaptation of Prometheus fuel types for obtaining a standardization system useful for remotely sensed classification of fuel types and properties in the considered Mediterranean ecosystems; (II) model construction for the spectral characterization and mapping of fuel types based on a maximum likelihood (ML) classification algorithm; (III) accuracy assessment for the performance evaluation based on the comparison of QuickBird-based results with ground-truth data. Results from our analysis showed that the use of remotely sensed data at high spatial and spectral resolution provided a valuable characterization and mapping of fuel types being that the achieved classification accuracy was higher than 75%.
Effects of subprimal type, quality grade, and aging time on display color of ground beef patties.

Abstract A factorial design was used to evaluate the effects of two subprimal types (chuck roll and knuckle), two quality grades (Premium Choice and Select), and three vacuum-storage aging times before processing (7, 21, and 42 d) ground beef patty display color attributes. Patties from chuck roll and Premium Choice subprimals had brighter red visual color scores, less discoloration, and higher L*, a*, b*, and chroma values than those from knuckle and Select subprimals, respectively. With an increased display time, patties became darker red, more discolored, and had decreased L*, a*, b*, and chroma values. Therefore, aging Premium Choice chuck rolls for less time (fewer than 21 d) could maximize display color life.
An Isobaric Fix for the Overheating Problem in Multimaterial Compressible Flows

In many problems of interest, solid objects are treated as rigid bodies in compressible flowfields. When these solid objects interact with certain features of the compressible flowfield, inaccurate solutions may develop. In particular, the well-known “overheating effect” occurs when a shock reflects off of a stationary solid wall boundary causing overshoots in temperature and density, while pressure and velocity remain constant (see, e.g., 3, 7, 13, 14]). This “overheating effect” is more dramatic when compressible flows are coupled to moving solid objects (e.g., moving pistons), where the nonphysical density and temperature overshoots can be cumulative and lead to negative values. We consider the general class of material interface problems where numerical methods can predict pressure and velocity adequately, but fail miserably in their prediction of density and temperature. Motivated by both total variation considerations and physical considerations, we have developed a simple but general boundary condition for this class of problems. This new boundary condition does not change the pressure or the velocity predicted by the numerical method, but does change the density and the temperature in a fashion consistent with the equation of state resulting in new values that minimize a specific measure of variation at the boundary.
A gene of bacteriophage T4 controlling the modification of host valyl-tRNA synthetase

Abstract Two hydroxylamine-induced mutants of bacteriophage T4 defective in modification of host valyl-tRNA synthetase have been isolated by assay of crude extracts for the activity that is characteristic of the wild-type virus. The mutations define a single gene that is situated between the rI and e genes on the T4 genetic map. This new gene is designated vs for valyl-tRNA synthetase. One of the mutations may be of the missense type since it results in the production of a valyl-tRNA synthetase activity that has unusual ureainactivation properties. The other appears to be an amber mutation since the viral enzyme can only be found after infection of cells that are permissive for amber mutations. No differences in growth properties were found between wild type and amber mutant strains on the nonpermissive host. We conclude that the bacteriophage T4 valyl-tRNA synthetase is not essential for viability under prevailing laboratory conditions.
Kinetic studies of protein farnesyltransferase mutants establish active substrate conformation.

The zinc metalloenzyme protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) catalyzes the transfer of a 15-carbon farnesyl moiety from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to a cysteine residue near the C-terminus of a protein substrate. Several crystal structures of inactive FTase·FPP·peptide complexes indicate that K164α interacts with the α-phosphate and that H248β and Y300β form hydrogen bonds with the β-phosphate of FPP [Strickland, C. L., et al. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 16601−16611]. Mutations K164Aα, H248Aβ, and Y300Fβ were prepared and analyzed by single turnover kinetics and ligand binding studies. These mutations do not significantly affect the enzyme affinity for FPP but do decrease the farnesylation rate constant by 30-, 10-, and 500-fold, respectively. These mutations have little effect on the pH and magnesium dependence of the farnesylation rate constant, demonstrating that the side chains of K164α, Y300β, and H248β do not function either as general acid−base catalysts or as magnesium ligands. Mutation of H248β and Y30...
The Organization of Marginalized Places

After reading Martin Sanchez-Jankowski's superb Cracks in the Pavement, though, I found myself speculating why Wilson and Sampson were quoted and not Sanchez-Jan kowski, who has won two C. Wright Mills awards (for Cracks in the Pavement and for his 1991 Islands in the Street: Gangs and Amer ican Urban Society). Consider this review essay a corrective to the Times' omission. Sanchez-Jankowski has added to this topic—about how culture, urban sociology and poverty are related—as much as any ethnographic researcher around. But why might his germane work have been overlooked?
Sea‐ice draft from submarine‐based sonar: Establishing a consistent record from analog and digitally recorded data

[1] Measurements of arctic sea-ice draft have been taken by Navy submarines for nearly five decades. The data are in two inherently different forms, analog paper charts and digitally recorded data. “Raw” analog drafts digitized from paper charts are biased toward thicker ice by over 30 cm compared with the digital drafts. This is due to the coarser temporal resolution of the paper charts compared the digital data. We examine coincident analog and digital data to determine how they can be made equivalent in mean draft and draft distribution (the histogram of draft vs. fractional frequency of observation). Image processing techniques are used to thin vertical features in the scanned chart images; this produces a “final” analog mean draft that is essentially unbiased (2 ± 6 cm) relative to the digital mean and final draft distributions that are in good agreement.
Class identity as presupposing individual identity

IN AN earlier paper, "Property Designation and Description," 1 I stated, almost as if it were obvious, that a definition of class identity presupposes a definition of individual identity. In his review 2 of a group of my papers, Professor Yehoshua Bar-Hillel states, as if it were obvious, that I am mistaken. I wish here to argue the case in detail. The thesis might be put as follows. You may lay down the usual identity conditions for classes: (1) Two classes are identical if and only if every individual which is a member of one class is a member of the other. a = /-df (X) (XEa -x3) But you have not really said anything unless you supplement (1) with a statement of individual identity conditions. The argument. Suppose, for the sake of an example, that the only cubical things are white sugar cubes and that the only white things are sugar cubes. Thus we should have the class of white things identical with the class of cubical things. Now suppose we wish to confirm this fact. We observe a sugar cube. We notice that something is white and we notice that something is cubical. But we have not yet got any confirming evidence for the identity of the two classes. For that, we need to assume that the something we perceive to be white is identical with the something we perceive to be cubical. And we need not make such an assumption. We might have it, on the contrary, that an individual may exemplify just one elementary property, that instances of two elementary properties are necessarily distinct. (Cubicity and whiteness are assumed to be "elementary.") Indeed, Wilfrid Sellars, in his paper "Particulars," 3 seriously advocated precisely this latter view. The possibility of distinguishing the two "somethings," shows, I think, that a separate judgment of identification (of the individuals) is required before we can assure ourselves that we have evidence for the identity of the class of white things and the class of cubical things. More generally, we should want such a judgment of identification based on a general doctrine of individual identity. In this simple case it would presumably be this principle: two individuals are identical if they are at the same place in space. Another example, more complex, but closer to ordinary concerns. Sup-
Interactions in mixtures of colloid and polymer

Etude par diffusion optique aux petits angles de l'interaction entre un colloide stabilise par un agent de surface et le polyisoprene hydrogene. A l'aide d'un developpement du viriel, l'intensite de diffusion est calculee en fonction des concentrations en polymere et en colloide; la formule obtenue permet de mesurer le volume exclu mutuel entre le polymere et le colloide; le deuxieme coefficient du viriel des particules colloidales dans la solution diluee de polymere est aussi deduit. Cette methode d'obtention des parametres d'interaction dans un melange polymere-colloide est capable de sonder les changements du potentiel d'interaction de la suspension colloidale dus a l'addition du polymere (effet de depletion)
Degradation and collapse of square tubes under cyclic bending

Abstract This paper presents the results of an experimental investigation of the elastic–plastic degradation and collapse of steel tubes with square cross-section under cyclic pure bending in a curvature symmetric fashion. The results indicate that the structural performance of the tubes degrades due to the growth of periodic, transverse deflections in their flanges. The wavelength of these deflections is equal to the wavelength of the buckling mode of the tubes under monotonic pure bending. Persistent cycling induces localization of the amplitude of these deflections and leads to the formation of a kink in one of the flanges. This causes collapse of the tube.
Targeted disruption of TgPhIL1 in Toxoplasma gondii results in altered parasite morphology and fitness.

The inner membrane complex (IMC), a series of flattened vesicles at the periphery of apicomplexan parasites, is thought to be important for parasite shape, motility and replication, but few of the IMC proteins that function in these processes have been identified. TgPhIL1, a Toxoplasma gondii protein that was previously identified through photosensitized labeling with 5-[125I] iodonapthaline-1-azide, associates with the IMC and/or underlying cytoskeleton and is concentrated at the apical end of the parasite. Orthologs of TgPhIL1 are found in other apicomplexans, but the function of this conserved protein family is unknown. As a first step towards determining the function of TgPhIL1 and its orthologs, we generated a T. gondii parasite line in which the single copy of TgPhIL1 was disrupted by homologous recombination. The TgPhIL1 knockout parasites have a distinctly different morphology than wild-type parasites, and normal shape is restored in the knockout background after complementation with the wild-type allele. The knockout parasites are outcompeted in culture by parasites expressing functional TgPhIL1, and they generate a reduced parasite load in the spleen and liver of infected mice. These findings demonstrate a role for TgPhIL1 in the morphology, growth and fitness of T. gondii tachyzoites.