cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Would You Like to Hear the News? Investigating Voice-BasedSuggestions for Conversational News Recommendation

One of the key benefits of voice-based personal assistants is the potential to proactively recommend relevant and interesting information. One of the most valuable sources of such information is the News. However, in order for the user to hear the news that is useful and relevant to them, it must be recommended in an interesting and informative way. However, to the best of our knowledge, how to present a news item for a voice-based recommendation remains an open question. In this paper, we empirically compare different ways of recommending news, or specific news items, in a voice-based conversational setting. Specifically, we study the user engagement and satisfaction with five different variants of presenting news recommendations: (1) a generic news briefing; (2) news about a specific entity relevant to the current conversation; (3) news about an entity from a past conversation; (4) news on a trending news topic; and (5) the default - a suggestion to talk about news in general. Our results show that entity-based news recommendations exhibit 29% higher acceptance compared to briefing recommendations, and almost 100% higher acceptance compared to recommending generic or trending news. Our investigation into the presentation of news recommendations and the resulting insights could make voice assistants more informative and engaging.
Effects of accreditation on United States and Canadian veterinary college libraries in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

Objective: The authors’ objective was to document the effects of evolving veterinary accreditation standards on the development of currently existing accredited US and Canadian veterinary school libraries in the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Methods: We gathered historical standards that major veterinary accreditation agencies developed with respect to libraries and library services. Historical background on college libraries, their facilities, services, and personnel via surveys, literature searches, and archival documents was also collected. We then correlated the evolving standards with each library’s development. Results: There was a marked correlation between the prevailing accreditation standards and library development, particularly during the post–World War II era and through the mid-1980s. These impacts—which included new and separate facilities, hiring of professional librarians, and additional open hours—affected not only the twenty new developing veterinary schools, but also the libraries of the preexisting colleges. Conclusions: Professional veterinary accrediting standards were an important influence on the evolution of veterinary school libraries, particularly during the years of major growth in the number of new veterinary colleges in the United States and Canada. In the 1990s and beyond, both libraries and accreditation standards continue to evolve in response to changes in technology, economics, publishing methods, and more. This latter is a story yet to be told.
Maternal use of math facts to support girls' math during card play

Abstract This study addresses girls' (6–7-year-olds; N = 162) arithmetic skills within the context of learning environments provided by their mothers. Mothers and daughters were videotaped solving addition problems during card games. Maternal support was assessed through coding math fact hints and addition-strategy suggestions. Their first-grade daughters were then assessed on addition accuracy at end-of-year. Using regression analyses, results showed that maternal use of relevant math facts during the card games was associated with their child's later addition accuracy. Two types of math facts showed this association: (a) those relevant to the numbers to be added on the cards, and (b) novel math facts provided by mothers to scaffold decomposition arithmetic strategy-use. These findings suggest the importance of supportive mathematical interactions during informal games as a possible source of developing girls' early math skills. The study also identifies potentially valuable types of support for early arithmetic learning in informal contexts.
Association of childhood psychosocial environment with 30-year cardiovascular disease incidence and mortality in middle age

Background Childhood adversity and trauma have been shown to be associated with poorer cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in adulthood. However, longitudinal studies of this association are rare...
Interaction and instability of air films between bituminous coal surfaces and surfactant droplets

Abstract While the suppression of airborne coal particulates with water and surfactant sprays has been widely used in underground coal mines, the microscopic mechanism involved during the attachment process between water droplets and dust particles has not been well understood. In this work, both the interaction forces and instability of air films between aqueous droplets and coal surfaces are studied by monitoring the evolution of spatial and temporal thickness profiles of the air films. The measurements are conducted with both non-ionic and anionic surfactants. The results of this work show that the air film between the water droplet and the bituminous coal surface collapses at a critical rupture thickness of 104 nm, which is followed by a rapid spreading of the three-phase contact line. It has been found that both the critical rupture thickness and kinetics of film thinning increase with increasing surfactant concentrations regardless of the types of surfactants. An analysis of the spatiotemporal thickness profiles using the Reynolds equation shows that an attractive force is present across an air film. This force is found to be an electrostatic force. The force becomes more attractive with increasing surfactant concentrations of the aqueous solutions. The present work sheds new light on the capture of dust particles by water and surfactant sprays at a molecular level.
Recruiting Faculty From Within: Filling The Growing Need For Family Medicine Faculty

The predictions point toward increasing difficulty in recruiting academic faculty in Family Medicine. The 2017 AAMC Final Report, “The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2015 to 2030” predicts significant physician shortages by 2025. Changes in practice styles, patient demographics, delivery models, retirement goals, and economic trends make the recruitment of academic faculty more challenging as the physician workforce shrinks. The purpose of this descriptive report is to share how we developed and implemented an academic faculty model that would nurture residents from our program to become members of the Family Medicine faculty, rather than rely on traditional recruiting practices that had proven to be unsuccessful. This process incorporates a faculty /resident needs assessment, development of a customized third-year rotation in academic medicine, completion of faculty development training, a specialized mentorship program and focused orientation. Following this plan, we successfully recruited three new faculty physicians for our residency program.
Where Data Meets Action: Linking Health Surveillance with Community Partnership

In the article by Levinson et al. (2020), the authors examine the question of the ethical duty to inform populations at risk of a negative health status encountered during routine surveillance. Lev...
Inside the Black Box of Improving on Nursing Home Quality Measures

Nursing Home Compare (NHC) reports quality measures (QMs) for nursing homes (NHs) as part of its 5-star rating system. Most of the QMs are based on facility self-reported data, prompting questions about their validity. To better understand how NHs interact with the QMs, we used qualitative methods, including semistructured interviews with NH personnel (n = 110), NH provider association representatives (n = 23), and observations of organizational processes in 12 NHs in three states. We found that most NHs are working to improve the quality of care they provide, not merely their QM scores. However, our interviews and observations revealed limitations with the QMs, suggesting that the QMs-on their own-may not accurately reflect the quality of care NHs provide. Our findings suggest several changes to improve NHC, including adding information related to resident and family experience, providing greater risk adjustment, and providing incentives for NHs that serve socially and medically complex residents.
High Tech, High Risk: Tech Ethics Lessons for the COVID-19 Pandemic Response

The COVID-19 pandemic has, in a matter of a few short months, drastically reshaped society around the world. Because of the growing perception of machine learning as a technology capable of addressing large problems at scale, machine learning applications have been seen as desirable interventions in mitigating the risks of the pandemic disease. However, machine learning, like many tools of technocratic governance, is deeply implicated in the social production and distribution of risk and the role of machine learning in the production of risk must be considered as engineers and other technologists develop tools for the current crisis. This paper describes the coupling of machine learning and the social production of risk, generally, and in pandemic responses specifically. It goes on to describe the role of risk management in the effort to institutionalize ethics in the technology industry and how such efforts can benefit from a deeper understanding of the social production of risk through machine learning.
Trends in Suicidal Behaviors Among US Adults 2015–2018

Abstract. Background: Suicide remains a major public health problem in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine trends in suicide ideation, planning, and attempts among a nationa...
Retinal Protein O-GlcNAcylation and the Ocular Renin Angiotensin System: Signaling Cross-Roads in Diabetic Retinopathy

It is well established that diabetes and its associated hyperglycemia negatively impacts retinal function, yet we know little about the role played by augmented flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP). This offshoot of the glycolytic pathway produces UDP-N-acetyl-glucosamine which serves as the substrate for post-translational Olinked modification of proteins in a process referred to as O-GlcNAcylation. HBP flux and subsequent protein OGlcNAcylation serve as a nutrient sensor, enabling cells to integrate metabolic information to appropriately modulate fundamental cellular processes including gene expression. Here we summarize the impact of diabetes on retinal physiology, highlighting recent studies that explore the role of O-GlcNAcylation-induced variation in mRNA translation in retinal dysfunction and the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Augmented O-GlcNAcylation results in widespread variation in the selection of mRNAs for translation, in part, due to O-GlcNAcylation of the translational repressor 4E-BP1. Recent studies demonstrate that 4E-BP1 plays a critical role in regulating O-GlcNAcylation-induced changes in translation of the mRNAs encoding vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a number of important mitochondrial proteins, and CD40, a key costimulatory molecule involved in diabetes-induced retinal inflammation. Remarkably, 4E-BP1/2 ablation delays the onset of diabetes-induced visual dysfunction in mice. Thus, pharmacological interventions to prevent the impact of O-GlcNAcylation on 4E-BP1 may represent promising therapeutics to address the development and progression of DR. In this regard, we discuss the potential interplay between retinal O-GlcNAcylation and the ocular renin-angiotensin system as a potential therapeutic target of future interventions.
A Study on Visitor’s Satisfaction Towards Services and Facilities Provides by Al Ain Zoo

Alain Zoo is a family destination that provides entertainment, adventure, and natural environment experience. Visitors can discover, enjoy, and have fun in the zoo’s wildlife which has a collection of 4,000 animals. The aim of this project is to understand and measure the level of visitors’ satisfaction towards the quality of services and facilities provides by the Alain Zoo. Time series and survey analysis are two methods that have been used in this project. Time series analysis was for 3 years and the survey was done online. According to the finds of both the methods, each year, there is a growth rate in the total number of visitors and online survey shows overall customer are satisfied with services and facilities
37. Novel Use of Fully Covered Tracheobronchial Stent for Vaginal Reconstruction

Background Vaginal reconstruction can be a complicated procedure with significant need for postoperative dilator therapy completed by the patient. Menstrual suppression can be used to delay surgery in young adolescents but failed suppression or contraindications to medications can lead to early need for surgical intervention before psychologically prepared to participate in dilator therapy. Novel uses of fully covered tracheobronchial stent (FCTBS) in place of immediate postoperative dilator therapy can have advantages in select patients. Case Cases selected required complex vaginal repair with physician concern for postoperative dilator therapy challenges either secondary to high obstruction in vaginal canal or patient noncompliance. Case 1: 12 year old with repaired anorectal malformation presented with recurrent hematocolpos after battery foreign body. The obstruction was located adjacent to cervix preventing typical transvaginal Z-plasty anastomosis. Combined abdominal and perineal end to end anastomosis was preformed and FCTBS was placed. Stent removed after 8 weeks with well healing surgical site. Ten year follow up exam and Pap smear revealed only a small ridge at site of repair. Case 2: 14 year old with known single kidney presented with abdominal pain and imaging consistent with obstructed hemivagina ipsilateral renal anomaly. Resection was completed but only a 2cm orifice created due to small nature of the obstructing hemivaginal septum with close proximity to the cervix. FCTBS was placed to prevent stenosis. The stent was removed in four weeks and both cervices were normal. 18 months after surgery, the patient had no dysmenorrhea or recurrence of the hematometra. Case 3: 9 year old with anorectal malformation with history of presumed distal vaginal agenesis repaired in infancy presented with pyocolpos which was incised transvaginally and drain left in place. Once the infection resolved, the lower vagina was Comments Novel use of the fully covered tracheobronchial stent has several advantages including decreased immediate need for dilator therapy, bridging high repairs that are difficult to reach with traditional dilators, remains in place without need for anchoring the stent, no concern for tissue in-growth and minimal patient discomfort. Long term follow up demonstrates excellent surgical outcomes in select patients.
Element-Building Games on $$\mathbb {Z}_n$$ Z n

We consider a pair of games where two players alternately select previously unselected elements of $$\mathbb {Z}_n$$ given a particular starting element. On each turn, the player either adds or multiplies the element they selected to the result of the previous turn. In one game, the first player wins if the final result is 0; in the other, the second player wins if the final result is 0. We determine which player has the winning strategy for both games except for the latter game with nonzero starting element when $$n \in \{2p,4p\}$$ for some odd prime p.
A biologically accurate model of directional hearing in the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea

Although most binaural organisms localize sound sources using neurological structures to amplify the sounds they hear, some animals use mechanically coupled hearing organs instead. One of these animals, the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea, has astoundingly accurate sound localization abilities and can locate objects in the azimuthal plane with a precision of 2°, equal to that of humans. This is accomplished despite an intertympanal distance of only 0.5 mm, which is less than 1/100th of the wavelength of the sound emitted by the crickets that it parasitizes. In 1995, Miles et al. developed a model of hearing mechanics in O. ochracea, which works well for incoming sound angles of less than ±30°, but suffers from reduced accuracy (up to 60% error) at higher angles. Even with this limitation, it has served as the basis for multiple bio-inspired microphone designs for decades. Here, we present critical improvements to the classic O. ochracea hearing model based on information from 3D reconstructions of O. ochracea9s tympana. The 3D images reveal that the tympanal organ has curved lateral faces in addition to the flat front-facing prosternal membranes represented in the Miles model. To mimic these faces, we incorporated spatially-varying spring and damper coefficients that respond asymmetrically to incident sound waves, making a new quasi-two-dimensional (q2D) model. The q2D model has high accuracy (average errors of less than 10%) for the entire range of incoming sound angles. This improved biomechanical hearing model can inform the development of new technologies and may help to play a key role in developing improved hearing aids.
Neuro-ICU: Cerebral Hemodynamics and Transcranial Doppler (TCD/TCCS) Waveform Interpretation in the Most Common Neurocritical Pathologies

In this chapter, we will discuss the utility of transcranial Doppler to assess cerebral hemodynamics and how to apply it to understand the cerebral blood flow changes in acute brain injury. First, we will start by reviewing important cerebral hemodynamics principles such as cerebrovascular resistance, adequate cerebral blood flow, and cerebral autoregulation. We will finalize this chapter by assessing the interpretation of transcranial Doppler in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hypertension, and impending brain death.
Raman Microspectroscopy of a Multi-Crystalline Silicon Solar Cell

A multicrystalline silicon solar cell was analyzed using Raman microspectroscopy. We measured the prominent Raman modes of silicon, nanocrystalline silicon and silver oxide in various regions of the solar cell to generate insights into the process and material quality of the finished device. First, by comparing the distribution of the transverse optical (TO) phonon peak position and full-width-at-half-maximum (FWHM) of the solar cell with a single crystal silicon wafer, the quality of the multicrystalline silicon surface was ascertained. Second, a similar analysis of the remnant saw marks on the device surface showed a discernably higher and wider distribution of TO phonon peak position and FWHM compared to a multicrystalline silicon surface. This indicated the presence of residual compressive stresses in the saw mark region. Third, by observing the silver fingers and bus bars, a residual silver oxide layer was identified, up to 25 μm away from the line edges. This was attributed to the screen printing of the silver paste and the subsequent firing process. Finally, Raman mapping on an embedded inclusion showed the presence of nanocrystalline silicon phase. The multicrystalline silicon region surrounding the inclusion was under tensile stress. A nondestructive, confocal Raman analysis of the inclusion provided a 3-D visualization of the defect, both inside and above the surface of the multicrystalline silicon wafer.
Biomechanical Properties of Facial Cartilage Grafts

The cartilage framework of the nose plays an important role in the mechanical support of shape and airway patency. Articular cartilage is a weight-bearing and stress-tolerant tissue capable of sustaining high-impact loads with prolonged duty cycles, while facial cartilage serves primarily as structural support for the airway and does not undergo repeated high stress and strain deformations, but responds to small static loads which act over prolonged time frames. The authors discuss the triphasic theory as the most comprehensive model for cartilage mechanical behavior, mechanical properties of native facial cartilage and autologous grafts, and estimation of threshold mechanical stability
Oxidation-derived maturing process of soot, dependent on O2–NO2 mixtures and temperatures

Oxidizer- and temperature-dependent soot properties were investigated to better understand soot oxidation process. For this work, partially oxidized Printex-U samples as surrogate soot, under three different O2–NO2 mixtures, were analyzed by using the high resolution-transmission electron microscope, Raman microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy- attenuated total reflectance. The results show that the maturing process was much dependent on NO2 content in the O2–NO2 mixture: with no NO2 added, soot oxidized through the internal-burning out process, whereas with increased NO2 in the mixture, soot tended to oxidize through the external burning process. As the NO2 content increased, the preferential oxidation of less-ordered carbon crystallites decreased and as a result the maturing process was delayed. Internal burning-out process by O2 only was also verified at various temperatures and with actual engine soot such as diesel soot and gasoline direct-injection (GDI) soot by TEM observations. Despite similar internal burning-out process, however, it was shown that oxidation at increased temperature resulted in relatively less-ordered soot, implying that soot maturing process was delayed with temperature. Since soot oxidation rate increased with temperature, the increase in oxidation temperature seems to diminish preference on short-ranged crystallites like more efficient O2–NO2 cases.
Chapter 2 POMP and circumstance: Plain old map products in a cybercartographic world

Abstract The analogy between traditional analog telephone service and traditional paper maps fosters a useful exploration of the importance of standards and the emergence of hybrid products facilitated by new technology but bound by inertia or circumstance to past practices. Compared to telecommunications, in which protocols of all types have been indispensable, few universal standards have emerged for mapping. Although the increased demand for interoperability and flexible exchange formats is impelling a greater standardization of geospatial data, the “standards” discourse of recent decades has largely ignored graphic quality and visual effectiveness. Particularly ominous for cybercartography is a failure to adopt the graphic logic embodied in prominent exemplars like the US Bureau of the Census's recent statistical atlas of racial diversity. Available in both paper and electronic formats, the Diversity atlas illustrates a number of highly effective conventional practices likely to survive the transition to cybercartography. By contrast, the Census Bureau's American FactFinder Web site suggests that authors of cybercartographic products readily ignore well-established, more traditional practices, as well as promising innovations that could make map use more engaging and informative. Since governments and other organizations that establish standards for geospatial data are likely to remain focused on data quality and interoperability, it is up to educators and authors of critical reviews to raise the public's awareness and expectations.
Paired electrical stimulation. A comparison of the effects on performance of the failing and nonfailing heart.

Abstract The effects of paired electrical stimulation were compared in intact anesthetized dogs before and after barbiturate-induced myocardial depression. In the nondepressed state, paired electrical stimulation exerted a positive inotropic effect but tended to impair circulatory performance, lowering cardiac output and arterial pressure slightly. On the other hand, when applied during barbiturate-induced myocardial depression, paired stimulation elevated cardiac output by an average of 129 per cent, increased mean arterial pressure by 34 mm. Hg, and lowered mean right atrial pressure by 2.4 mm. Hg. The effects of paired stimulation were compared to those of acetylstrophanthidin and were found to be similar both in the failing and nonfailing heart. Thus, the effects of paired electrical stimulation are dependent on the circulatory state that exists at the time it is applied. The possible mechanisms responsible for the observed difference in effects in the normal and nonfailing heart were discussed.
Human health: a surrogate for the environment. The evolution of environmental legislation and regulation during the 1970s.

Abstract Human health and threat to human health have been used repeatedly and, at times, deliberately, as surrogates for other desirable features of the physical environment in order to make environmental regulatory and legislative initiatives politically attractive. Since the decade of the 1970s, this strategy has been a successful one in terms of providing a persuasive political argument for environmental initiatives. At the same time, however, the use of a surrogate or “false colors” has had the unfortunate effect of raising and sustaining public fears and preoccupations which, in at least some cases, have probably diverted our attention away from more important contributors to disease and premature mortality.
Morphic Computing: Web and Agents

Morphic Computing is based on Field Theory and more specifically Morphic Fields. In this paper, we introduce extensions of Morphic Computing to non classical fields and logic.Morphic Computing change or compute non physical conceptual fields. One example is in representing the semantics of words. In this paper, application to the field of computation by words as an example of the Morphic Computing, Morphic Fields - concepts and Web search, and agents and fuzzy in Morphic Computing will be discussed.
Central Nervous System Control of Gastrointestinal Motility and Secretion and Modulation of Gastrointestinal Functions

Although the gastrointestinal (GI) tract possesses intrinsic neural plexuses that allow a significant degree of autonomy over GI functions, the central nervous system (CNS) provides extrinsic neural inputs that regulate, modulate, and control these functions. While the intestines are capable of functioning in the absence of extrinsic inputs, the stomach and esophagus are much more dependent upon extrinsic neural inputs, particularly from parasympathetic and sympathetic pathways. The sympathetic nervous system exerts a predominantly inhibitory effect upon GI muscle and provides a tonic inhibitory influence over mucosal secretion while, at the same time, regulates GI blood flow via neurally mediated vasoconstriction. The parasympathetic nervous system, in contrast, exerts both excitatory and inhibitory control over gastric and intestinal tone and motility. Although GI functions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system and occur, by and large, independently of conscious perception, it is clear that the higher CNS centers influence homeostatic control as well as cognitive and behavioral functions. This review will describe the basic neural circuitry of extrinsic inputs to the GI tract as well as the major CNS nuclei that innervate and modulate the activity of these pathways. The role of CNS-centered reflexes in the regulation of GI functions will be discussed as will modulation of these reflexes under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Finally, future directions within the field will be discussed in terms of important questions that remain to be resolved and advances in technology that may help provide these answers.
SPECIES-SPECIFIC PATTERNS IN THE SOCIAL ACTIVITIES OF HARVESTER ANT COLONIES (POGONOMYRMEX)

This field study examines the social behavior of five sympatric species of desert seed-eating ants (Pogonomyrmex barbatus, P. rugosus, P. maricopa, P. desertorum, P. californicus). The species differed significantly in measures of activity rhythms in various colony tasks, use of space around the nest yard, and reaction to disturbance. Species differences were related to the typical size of a colony's outside work force. The behavior ofP. rugosus, P. barbatus, andP. maricopa, which had larger outside work forces, emphasized territoriality and the acquisition of food; that ofP. desertorum andP. californicus, which had smaller outside work forces, emphasized the avoidance of contact with other colonies. Examining the patterns in colony behavior can illuminate interspecific relationships in desert ant communities.
Sulfate transport by rat liver lysosomes.

Abstract Sulfate transport was examined using membrane vesicles (pH 7.0 inside) prepared from rat liver lysosomes. Sulfate uptake was dependent upon external pH with increased uptake at lower buffer pH. The Km for uptake was 160 microM at pH 5.0 while at pH 7.0, a lower affinity system with a Km of 1.4 mM was present. The protonophore carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone increased uptake at pH 5.0 while valinomycin/KCl had no effect. In contrast, at pH 7.0, valinomycin-induced changes in membrane potential stimulated uptake. Countertransport of sulfate at pH 7.0 was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-disulfonic acid stilbene, N-(4-azido-2-nitrophenyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, and a variety of anions: SO4(2-) greater than MoO4(2-) greater than Cl- greater than HPO4- greater than HCO3-. Trans-stimulation of sulfate uptake at pH 7.0 was observed with MoO4(2-) and, to a lesser extent, with S2O3(2-) while Cl-, HPO4-, and HCO3- had little effect. However, chloride loading of vesicles resulted in marked stimulation of sulfate uptake at pH 5.0. It appears that sulfate and protons exit lysosomes in exchange for chloride by a specific, pH-regulated anion transport system.
A formalization of autonomous dynamic reconfiguration in distributed constraint satisfaction

Several interesting practical problems in process control, planning and scheduling can be expressed and solved using the model of constraint satisfaction problems. At least four drawbacks of this classical model directly relate to areas of distribution: complexity, scalability, privacy and robustness. Hence, research on distributed constraint satisfaction problems is a new direction in the area of multi-agent systems. A typical engineering task in distributed constraint satisfaction is the design of the distribution itself. A careful look at this task reveals that the design of distribution is critical to the quality and efficiency of the problem solving process and is itself an optimization problem. In this article we formalize different variants of this configuration problem and prove them to be all at least NP-complete. For solving these problems, we present two local operators, agent melting and agent splitting, that can be combined to allow for an autonomous and dynamic reconfiguration of the organizational structure of the problem-solving agents. We prove sequences of these operators to be sufficient for solving any given configuration problem. We also briefly describe what practical steps are necessary to exploit the rather theoretical result of the proof in realistic applications.
Relative Risk of Early and Late Death in Infancy among Offspring of Non-Native-Born Parents Residing in Washington State

The author examines the possible effects of parental place of birth on infant mortality in the United States by comparing "the ratios of early neonatal deaths to postperinatal deaths among the offspring of migrant mothers and the ratios of such deaths in white infants in the geographic regions in which the migrant mothers were born....The deceased offspring of these migrant mothers died over a 10-year period in Washington State." It is noted that "a significant positive trend was observed when the mother and the father were born in the same region but not when they were born in different regions." The implications of these findings for the study of human genetics particularly antigen-sharing among couples are discussed. (EXCERPT)
Weak compactness is equivalent to the fixed point property in c~0

A nonempty, closed, bounded, convex subset of c 0 has the fixed point property if and only if it is weakly compact.
An ethics for the new surveillance (abstract)

The Principles of Fair Information Practice are almost three decades old and need to be broadened to take account of new technologies for collecting personal information such as drug testing, video cameras, electronic location monitoring and the internet. I argue that the ethics of surveillance activity must be judged according to the means, the context and conditions of data collection and the uses/goals and suggest 29 questions related to this. The more one can answer these questions in a way that affirms the underlying principle (or a condition supportive of it) the more ethical the use of a tactic is likely to be. Four conditions are identified which, when breached, are likely to violate an individual's reasonable expectation of privacy. Respect for the dignity of the person is a central factor and emphasis is put on the avoidance of harm, validity, trust, notice and permission when crossing personal borders.
Large population potential games

Abstract We offer a parsimonious definition of large population potential games, provide some alternate characterizations, and demonstrate the advantages of the new definition over the existing definition, but also show the equivalence of the two definitions.
Cadmium ion adsorption on carboxyl-terminated iron oxide beads

The affinity of Cd2+ toward carboxyl-terminated iron oxide beads (C-TIOB, Sigma) suspended in aqueous solutions was investigated using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) as a function of both pH and [Cd2+] in the μM range. Advantage was taken of the superparamagnetic character of C-TIOB to confine and/or remove the beads within the enclosed vessel, using an external magnet, and thus assess the influence of dispersed C-TIOB on the amount of Cd2+ detected by ASV. Within experimental error, the difference between ASV data recorded before and after adding and then confining the particles by magnetic means, which provides a measure of the amount of Cd2+ adsorbed on C-TIOB, was found to yield results comparable to those of identical measurements with fully dispersed C-TIOB. Adsorption data collected as a function of [Cd2+] and pH revealed a marked increase in the binding constant of Cd2+ for carboxylate ions upon attachment to the solid support, over values predicted strictly from standard solution phase equili...
A spectral element basin model for the shallow water equations

Abstract A spectral element model is built for the shallow water equations in complex geometry. It is proved to be an efficient computational model in solving oceanic problems. In particular, the equatorial Rossby modon's reflection process is simulated.
Suppressing Dengue-2 Infection by Chemical Inhibition of Aedes aegypti Host Factors

Dengue virus host factors (DENV HFs) that are essential for the completion of the infection cycle in the mosquito vector and vertebrate host represent potent targets for transmission blocking. Here we investigated whether known mammalian DENV HF inhibitors could influence virus infection in the arthropod vector A. aegypti. We evaluated the potency of bafilomycin (BAF; inhibitor of vacuolar H+-ATPase (vATPase)), mycophenolic acid (MPA; inhibitor of inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH)), castanospermine (CAS; inhibitor of glucosidase), and deoxynojirimycin (DNJ; inhibitor of glucosidase) in blocking DENV infection of the mosquito midgut, using various treatment methods that included direct injection, ingestion by sugar feeding or blood feeding, and silencing of target genes by RNA interference (RNAi). Injection of BAF (5 µM) and MPA (25 µM) prior to feeding on virus-infected blood inhibited DENV titers in the midgut at 7 days post-infection by 56% and 60%, and in the salivary gland at 14 days post-infection by 90% and 83%, respectively, while treatment of mosquitoes with CAS or DNJ did not affect susceptibility to the virus. Ingestion of BAF and MPA through a sugar meal or together with an infectious blood meal also resulted in various degrees of virus inhibition. RNAi-mediated silencing of several vATPase subunit genes and the IMPDH gene resulted in a reduced DENV infection, thereby indicating that BAF- and MPA-mediated virus inhibition in adult mosquitoes most likely occurred through the inhibition of these DENV HFs. The route and timing of BAF and MPA administration was essential, and treatment after exposure to the virus diminished the antiviral effect of these compounds. Here we provide proof-of-principle that chemical inhibition or RNAi-mediated depletion of the DENV HFs vATPase and IMPDH can be used to suppress DENV infection of adult A. aegypti mosquitoes, which may translate to a reduction in DENV transmission.
The regulation of glycogen metabolism in mouse liver

Abstract The enzymes involved in the synthesis and the degradation of liver glycogen were studies in two inbred strains of mice in an attempt to assess the mechanisms that regulate glycogen concentration. Glycogen content was greater initially, and increased more rapidly, in fasted mice of the C57BL/FnLn strain than the I/FnLn strain following injections of glucose or of glucose plus insulin. These strain differences in glycogen content were correlated with a greater activity of, and more rapid increases in, the glucose 6-phosphate-independent form of glycogen transferase. The conversion in vitro of the glucose 6-phosphate-dependent form to the independent form was also more rapid in C57-strain mice. Under all experimental conditions, the total activity of glycogen transferase was the same. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate was consistent with the strain differences in glycogen content and was greater in I-strain mice. Here the content of glucose 6-phosphate was also consistently less. The regulatory role of glycogen phosphorylase was difficult to evaluate. In fasted mice of the C57 strain, the activities of glycogen phosphorylase and its converting enzymes, phophorylase kinase and phosphorylase phosphatase, were greater than in I-strain mice. Glucose administration reduced the activities of all three enzymes in C57-strain mice but had no effect on the enzymes in I-strain mice.
Carbonyl Sulfide: A Review of Its Chemistry and Properties

A number of years have elapsed since the last comprehensive review of the chemical properties of carbonyl sulfide (COS) was presented in 1957. Since that time, some important new issues have arisen regarding this fluid. The presence of COS in industrial product streams has always been an important consideration for chemical engineers. An example of a relatively new industrial issue is the presence of naturally occurring COS in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). It is believed that the hydrolysis of this COS is the cause of corrosion and compliance-testing failures in the LPG industry. New applications of COS have arisen in recent years, such as its use as an agricultural fumigant. Environmental issues also have become more of a concern recently. These issues, as well as many other chemical and physical property issues in science and industry, make this an appropriate time to revisit the chemistry of this interesting fluid, paying special attention to recent observations. In this review, we treat the chemical ...
CONVERSION OF PLASMA PROTEIN TO TISSUE PROTEIN WITHOUT EVIDENCE OF PROTEIN BREAKDOWN RESULTS OF GIVING PLASMA PROTEIN LABELED WITH CARBON14 PARENTERALLY TO DOGS

Labeled plasma proteins obtained from donor dogs, previously fed e-C14-dl-lysine, have been given intravenously to recipient dogs. The disappearance of labeled globulin from the plasma at a rate considerably faster than albumin has been confirmed. Evidence suggesting that the mass of protein in solution in the extravascular, extracellular fluid is approximately equal to the plasma proteins in circulation has been derived from a study of the dilution of labeled plasma protein by repeated injections of non-labeled plasma protein. In a period of 7 days the transfer of C14 from plasma to tissue proteins amounted to between 30 and 40 per cent of the activity in the labeled plasma protein injected intravenously. The conversion was accompanied by a very small loss of activity in the urine and expired air and the activity remained in the lysine residue of the liver and probably of other tissues. The data presented favor the view that plasma proteins are utilized in the body economy after partial catabolism within the cell area and provide no evidence of complete breakdown to the amino acid level.
Biophysical Studies and Atomic Force Microscopy Bring to Light Particular Activities of the Microtubule Severing ATPase Enzyme Fidgetin

Microtubules are polar, long, hollow, and stiff cytoskeletal polymers made of α/β tubulin heterodimers. Their dynamic properties provide the framework for central cellular processes, ranging from cell motility and intracellular transport to mitosis and meiosis. A still growing number of proteins interact with microtubules (MAPs) to tightly and finely regulate their assembly, stability, and disassembly. The microtubule-severing enzymes contribute to the dynamic reorganization of the microtubule network. Severing enzymes are members of the AAA+ (ATPases Associated with various cellular Activities) family of ATPases. The latest addition to this family is fidgetin, which is involved in mammalian development, maintenance of the centrosome, and normal astral microtubule array. Yet, we do not have quantitative biophysical data about the activity of fidgetin in vitro. Fidgetin at low concentration acts as a depolymerizing factor removing tubulin dimers preferentially from the minus end of the microtubules. At high concentration fidgetin cuts all along the lattice of taxol-microtubules. We also found that fidgetin preferentially depolymerizes and severs GMPCPP microtubules over Taxol-stabilized microtubules. Our results indicate that fidgetin is a microtubule-severing enzyme with new and specific biophysical abilities, with the ability to detect fine changes on the MT lattice.
PHM of Leadfree Interconnects Using Resistance Spectroscopy Based Particle Filter Models for Shock and Vibration Environments

Electronic assemblies have been monitored using state-space vectors from resistance spectroscopy, phase-sensitive detection and particle filtering (PF) to quantify damage initiation, progression and remaining useful life of the electronic assembly. A prognostication health management (PHM) methodology has been presented for electronic components subjected to mechanical shock and vibration. The presented methodology is an advancement of the state-of-art, which presently focuses on reactive failure detection and provides limited or no insight into the system reliability and residual life. Previously damage initiation, damage progression, and residual life in the pre-failure space has been correlated with micro-structural damage based proxies, feature vectors based on time, spectral and joint time-frequency characteristics of electronics [Lall2004a-d , 2005a-b , 2006a-f , 2007a-e , 2008a-f ]. Precise resistance measurements based on the resistance spectroscopy method have been used to monitor interconnects for damage and prognosticate failure [Lall 2009a,b , 2010a,b , Constable 1992, 2001]. In this paper, the effectiveness of the proposed particle filter and resistance spectroscopy based approach in a prognostic health management (PHM) framework has been demonstrated for electronics. The measured state variable has been related to the underlying damage state using non-linear finite element analysis. The particle filter has been used to estimate the state variable, rate of change of the state variable, acceleration of the state variable and construct a feature vector. The estimated state-space parameters have been used to extrapolate the feature vector into the future and predict the time-to-failure at which the feature vector will cross the failure threshold. Remaining useful life has been calculated based on the evolution of the state space feature vector. Standard prognostic health management metrics were used to quantify the performance of the algorithm against the actual remaining useful life. Application to part replacement decisions for ultra-high reliability system has been demonstrated. Using the technique described in the paper the appropriate time to reorder a replacement part could be monitored, and defended statistically. Robustness of the prognostication algorithm has been quantified using standard performance evaluation metrics.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Post-Settlement South Africa and the National Question: The Case of the Indian Minority:

The various liberation movements in South Africa historically have criticized ideologies that emphasize political mobilization along ethnic lines. However, the African National Congress (ANC) has had to contend with former KwaZulu Chief Minister Buthelezi's attempts to appeal to Zulu identity in order to mobilize political support, as well as the difficulty of attracting the Indian and coloured votes. These trends have forced the ANC to acknowledge in its political strategy the potential power of ethnic mobilization, in spite of the commitment made by the organization and its allies to a secular democracy based on equality of citizenship.
Aflatoxin contamination of Virginia peanuts for the crop-years 1982–1986

Abstract To establish those environmental conditions which promote the growth of aflatoxin (AFT)-producing Aspergillus spp. on peanuts, a four-year (1982–1986) investigation was undertaken to examine possible relationships between air temperature (AT), precipitation (P), and AFT contamination of stored nuts. The mean percentages of nuts that possessed various AFT levels for the years 1982–1986 (June–July) ranged from 74·2 to 88·0 for 0–4 ppb, 6·3 to 14·9 for 5–15 ppb, 2·4 to 5·9 for 16–25 ppb, 2·3 to 6·4 for 26–100 ppb, and 0 to 4·7 for > 100 ppb. The mean percentages for the years which exceeded USDA/FDA regulations were 7·1 (1982–1983), 7·6 (1983–1984), 11·6 (1984–1985), and 17·0 (1985–1986). Examination of the mean percentage > 15 ppb for each month during these four years revealed that the following months fell within that range; Septtember, November, December, January, February, and May (1982–1983); July, October, April, and June (1983–1984); August, and June, (1984–1985); and July, April, and May (1985–1986). Comparisons of pooled-AFT levels, rainfall, and temperature over four years suggested a ‘better fit’ between mean monthly P and mean percentage AFTs > 15 ppb, than between the latter and mean monthly AT. However, application of a predictor equation suggested a correlation between AFT levels and monthly AT.
Relations among mother and home visitor personality, relationship quality, and amount of time spent in home visits

Evaluations of a variety of home-based early childhood intervention programs show that home visit rates fall short of the number prescribed. In an attempt to add to knowledge about reasons for this phenomenon, the current study explored associations among mother and home visitor personality, relationship quality, and time spent in home visits. Maternal negative emotionality was positively related to both time spent in home visits and relationship quality. Maternal positive emotionality was inversely related to time spent in home visits. Home visitor negative emotionality was also positively related to mothers' assessments of relationship quality; however, it was inversely related to the amount of time spent in home visits. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 31: 591–606, 2003.