cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Longitudinal Test of the Mediational Role of Delinquent Peer Association on the Link Between Psychopathy and Offending.

Although prior research has found that psychopathy and delinquent peer association are predictors of delinquency, less research has assessed the dynamic role of peers in the relationship between ps...
Case Illustrations: Thesis Sentences, Concise Narration, and Explanatory Parentheticals

This piece contains three suggestions for persuasive case illustrations. In persuasive legal writing, effective writers illustrate the cases they use. One technique is the explanatory parenthetical (part 3). But if you plan to use the case for a key point or for an analogy or distinction, a concise yet thorough case illustration (part 2) is better. It acquaints the reader with the case and sets up your point. And to create effective case illustrations, you need to write effective thesis sentences (part 1).
Inverse Reinforcement Learning of Autonomous Behaviors Encoded as Weighted Finite Automata.

This paper presents a method for learning logical task specifications and cost functions from demonstrations. Linear temporal logic (LTL) formulas are widely used to express complex objectives and constraints for autonomous systems. Yet, such specifications may be challenging to construct by hand. Instead, we consider demonstrated task executions, whose temporal logic structure and transition costs need to be inferred by an autonomous agent. We employ a spectral learning approach to extract a weighted finite automaton (WFA), approximating the unknown logic structure of the task. Thereafter, we define a product between the WFA for high-level task guidance and a Labeled Markov decision process (L-MDP) for low-level control and optimize a cost function that matches the demonstrator's behavior. We demonstrate that our method is capable of generalizing the execution of the inferred task specification to new environment configurations.
Deep Learning-based Fault Detection, Classification, and Locating in Shipboard Power Systems

This paper proposes a new deep learning-based framework for fault detection, classification, and location identification simultaneously in shipboard power systems (SPS). Specifically, three different neural networks based fault detection methods, including deep neural network, gated recurrent unit, and long short-term memory, are developed and compared to detect different faults in SPS. The developed models use realtime line voltages of all SPS buses to detect faults for the entire network. The models are trained and tested based on simulated fault data from an 8-bus SPS. Results show that all the three methods have achieved a more than 99% accuracy in fault detection, classification, and location identification. The impacts of load variations and noisy inputs on the model performance are also investigated, and results show that the models are robust against the load variation and noisy input.
Land Policy, Economic Cycles, and Social Conflict

Christine Boyer’s analysis of the historical relation of land policy to long waves is here placed in the context of wider debates on the long wave theory. This chapter discusses technological and conflict approaches to the explanation of long waves. Differences between these approaches in their explanations of both downswings and upswings are examined. The two approaches are applied to urban and suburban growth and land use policies, and to rural land use and resources policies over the past century.
AN INCENTIVE‐ROBUST PROGRAMME FOR FINANCIAL REFORM

Leading up to the recent crisis, government encouraged risky lending, and failed to measure banks' risks credibly or to require sufficient capital. Regulators also failed to recognize losses or enforce intervention protocols for timely resolution. This paper proposes radical policy changes to prevent a recurrence. The need is not for more complex rules and more supervisory discretion, but rather for simpler rules that are meaningful in measuring and limiting risk, hard for market participants to circumvent and credibly enforced by supervisors. Ten ‘incentive-robust’ regulatory reform proposals are developed that together would constitute the beginning of an effective new regime.
Histoplasma capsulatum surmounts obstacles to intracellular pathogenesis

The fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum causes respiratory and disseminated disease, even in immunocompetent hosts. In contrast to opportunistic pathogens, which are readily controlled by phagocytic cells, H. capsulatum yeasts are able to infect macrophages, survive antimicrobial defenses, and proliferate as an intracellular pathogen. In this review, we discuss some of the molecular mechanisms that enable H. capsulatum yeasts to overcome obstacles to intracellular pathogenesis. H. capsulatum yeasts gain refuge from extracellular obstacles such as antimicrobial lung surfactant proteins by engaging the β-integrin family of phagocytic receptors to promote entry into macrophages. In addition, H. capsulatum yeasts conceal immunostimulatory β-glucans to avoid triggering signaling receptors such as the β-glucan receptor Dectin-1. H. capsulatum yeasts counteract phagocyte-produced reactive oxygen species by expression of oxidative stress defense enzymes including an extracellular superoxide dismutase and an extracellular catalase. Within the phagosome, H. capsulatum yeasts block phagosome acidification, acquire essential metals such as iron and zinc, and utilize de novo biosynthesis pathways to overcome nutritional limitations. These mechanisms explain how H. capsulatum yeasts avoid and negate macrophage defense strategies and establish a hospitable intracellular niche, making H. capsulatum a successful intracellular pathogen of macrophages.
Testosterone Metabolism by Testicular Tissue

Teased testicular tissue with defined cell populations from experimental rats, as well as testicular tissue from normal rats, was incubated in an environment that insured the morphologic integrity of the tissue at the conclusion of the experiment. In cryptorchid animals, conversion of available substrate to various metabolites by testicular tissue comprised of Leydig and Sertoli cells was comparable to that of intact controls. Using hypophysectomized and hypophysectomized-cryptorchid rats, reliably measurable androgen metabolites were produced by testicular tissue that had specific populations of intact cell types. The reported methodology shows that defined cell populations, capable of testosterone metabolism, can be obtained in vivo by surgical procedures. Histologic monitoring of the tissue at the conclusion of the incubation has helped define the best environment for the maintenance of morphologic integrity throughout the incubation period. These techniques will allow future work on quantitative assessment of testosterone metabolism by defined cell populations of the testis.
Differential Gerontology and the Stratified Life Course: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

Like other domains of scientific inquiry, gerontology—still a young field—has had to begin by establishing the importance of its subject matter; it has therefore focused on the power of age as a predictor variable through the assemblage of vast catalogs of age-based generalizations. Although age has long been recognized as an important attribute of persons and roles and as a basis of social organization, a burgeoning body of research findings now underscores the premise that age is a centrally important attribute if we wish to understand the nature of other human characteristics, whether physiological, psychological, or social. It has even been argued that age is probably the single most important predictor of other characteristics: Chronological age is one of the most useful single items of information about an individual if not the most useful. From this knowledge alone an amazingly large number of general statements or predictions can be made about his anatomy, physiology, psychology and social behavior. (Birren 1959, p. 8) Although gerontological research has also led to the qualification and in some cases the debunking of some earlier beliefs about aging—both cornmonsense and scientific—the catalog of age-based generalizations continues to grow.
Pharmacokinetics of triamcinolone acetonide following intramuscular and intra-articular administration to exercised Thoroughbred horses

SummaryReason for performing study The use of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) in performance horses necessitates establishing appropriate withdrawal times prior to performance. Objectives To describe the plasma pharmacokinetics of TA and time-related urine and synovial fluid concentrations following i.m. and intra-articular administration to exercised Thoroughbred horses. Study design Block design. Methods Twelve racing fit adult Thoroughbred horses received a single i.m. administration of TA (0.1 mg/kg bwt). After an appropriate washout period, the same horses then received a single intra-articular TA administration (9 mg) into the right antebrachiocarpal joint. Blood, urine and synovial fluid samples were collected prior to, and at various times, up to 60 days post drug administration and analysed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Plasma data were analysed using noncompartmental analysis. Results Maximum measured plasma TA concentrations were 0.996 ± 0.391 at 13.2 h and 1.27 ± 0.278 ng/ml at 6.5 h for i.m. and intra-articular administration, respectively. The plasma terminal elimination half-life was 11.4 ± 6.53 and 0.78 ± 1.00 days for i.m. and intra-articular administration, respectively. Following i.m. administration, TA was below the limit of detection (LOD) by Days 52 and 60 in plasma and urine, respectively. Following intra-articular administration TA was undetectable by Day 7 in plasma and Day 8 in urine. Triamcinolone acetonide was also undetectable in any of the joints sampled following i.m. administration and remained above the limit of quantitation (LOQ) for 21 days following intra-articular administration. Conclusions and potential relevance This study extends previous studies describing the pharmacokinetics of TA following i.m. and intra-articular administration to the horse and suggests that plasma and urine concentrations are not a good indicator of synovial fluid concentrations. Furthermore, results of this study supports an extended withdrawal time for TA given i.m. The Summary is available in Chinese – see Supporting information.
Some Illustrated Comments on Designing and Conducting Problem-Based Inquiry in High Needs School Districts

This article provides an overview of the use of problem-based inquiry as a data analysis and problem solving tool to energize educators’ teaching and learning improvement efforts in high needs elementary and secondary schools. Components of the problem-based inquiry method are described along with a presentation and discussion of the applied use of problem-based inquiry by collaborative teams of educators in selected elementary and secondary school case situations. The article includes examples of practical sets of actionable school improvement plans, incorporating targeted intervention programs and multiple teaching and learning improvement strategies, which educators can develop and implement as part of their problem-based data analysis and intervention design efforts.
Vetting Kepler planet candidates in the sub-Jovian desert with multiband photometry

We present new multi-band transit photometry of three small (R$_{p}$ < 6 R$_{\oplus}$), short-period (P < 6 days) Kepler planet candidates acquired with the Gran Telescopio Canarias. These observations supplement the results presented in Col\'on & Ford (2011) and Col\'on et al. (2012), where we used multicolor transit photometry of five Kepler planet candidates to search for wavelength-dependent transit depths and either validate planet candidates or identify eclipsing binary false positives within our sample. In those previous studies, we provided evidence that three targets were false positives and two targets were planets. Here, we present observations that provide evidence supporting a planetary nature for KOI 439.01 and KOI 732.01, and we find that KOI 531.01, a 6 R$_{\oplus}$ planet candidate around an M dwarf, is likely a false positive. We also present a discussion of the purported "sub-Jovian desert" in the orbital period-planet radius plane, which cannot be easily explained by observational bias. Both KOI 439.01 and KOI 732.01 are likely planets located within the so-called desert and should be investigated with further follow-up observations. As only ~30 of the ~3600 currently active Kepler planet candidates are located within the sub-Jovian desert, it will be interesting to see if these candidates also survive the vetting process and fill in the gap in the period-radius plane. Confirming planets in this regime will be important for understanding planetary migration and evolution processes, and we urge additional follow-up observations of these planet candidates to confirm their nature.
Opposing roles of STAT1 and STAT3 in IL-21 function in CD4+ T cells

IL-21 is a type I cytokine essential for immune cell differentiation and function. Although IL-21 can activate several STAT family transcription factors, previous studies focused mainly on the role of STAT3 in IL-21 signaling. Here, we investigated the role of STAT1 and show that STAT1 and STAT3 have at least partially opposing roles in IL-21 signaling in CD4+ T cells. IL-21 induced STAT1 phosphorylation, and this was augmented in Stat3-deficient CD4+ T cells. RNA-Seq analysis of CD4+ T cells from Stat1- and Stat3-deficient mice revealed that both STAT1 and STAT3 are critical for IL-21–mediated gene regulation. Expression of some genes, including Tbx21 and Ifng, was differentially regulated by STAT1 and STAT3. Moreover, opposing actions of STAT1 and STAT3 on IFN-γ expression in CD4+ T cells were demonstrated in vivo during chronic lymphocytic choriomeningitis infection. Finally, IL-21–mediated induction of STAT1 phosphorylation, as well as IFNG and TBX21 expression, were higher in CD4+ T cells from patients with autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome, which is caused by STAT3 deficiency, as well as in cells from STAT1 gain-of-function patients. These data indicate an interplay between STAT1 and STAT3 in fine-tuning IL-21 actions.
REVEILLE8 and PSEUDO-REPONSE REGULATOR5 form a negative feedback loop within the Arabidopsis circadian clock.

Circadian rhythms provide organisms with an adaptive advantage, allowing them to regulate physiological and developmental events so that they occur at the most appropriate time of day. In plants, as in other eukaryotes, multiple transcriptional feedback loops are central to clock function. In one such feedback loop, the Myb-like transcription factors CCA1 and LHY directly repress expression of the pseudoresponse regulator TOC1 by binding to an evening element (EE) in the TOC1 promoter. Another key regulatory circuit involves CCA1 and LHY and the TOC1 homologs PRR5, PRR7, and PRR9. Purification of EE–binding proteins from plant extracts followed by mass spectrometry led to the identification of RVE8, a homolog of CCA1 and LHY. Similar to these well-known clock genes, expression of RVE8 is circadian-regulated with a dawn phase of expression, and RVE8 binds specifically to the EE. However, whereas cca1 and lhy mutants have short period phenotypes and overexpression of either gene causes arrhythmia, rve8 mutants have long-period and RVE8-OX plants have short-period phenotypes. Light input to the clock is normal in rve8, but temperature compensation (a hallmark of circadian rhythms) is perturbed. RVE8 binds to the promoters of both TOC1 and PRR5 in the subjective afternoon, but surprisingly only PRR5 expression is perturbed by overexpression of RVE8. Together, our data indicate that RVE8 promotes expression of a subset of EE–containing clock genes towards the end of the subjective day and forms a negative feedback loop with PRR5. Thus RVE8 and its homologs CCA1 and LHY function close to the circadian oscillator but act via distinct molecular mechanisms.
Intimacy’s Politics: New Directions in Caribbean Sexuality Studies

Review of:Pleasures and Perils: Girls’ Sexuality in a Caribbean Consumer Culture. Debra Curtis. New Brunswick NJ: Rutgers University Press, 2009. xii + 222 pp. (Paper US$ 23.95)Economies of Desire: Sex and Tourism in Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Amalia L. Cabezas. Philadelphia PA : Temple University Press, 2009. xii + 218 pp. (Paper US$ 24.95)Queer Ricans: Cultures and Sexualities in the Diaspora. Lawrence La Fountain-Stokes. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2009. xxvii + 242 pp. (Paper US$ 22.50)[First paragraph]Over the last ten years the field of Caribbean Studies has seen a precipitous expansion of work on sexualities, as recent review essays by Jenny Sharpe and Samantha Pinto (2006) and Kamala Kempadoo (2009) have observed. The three books under review here, all based on dissertation research and all published in 2009, make important contributions to this growing literature. While each one approaches sexual politics from a distinctive disciplinary, geographic, and theoretical vantage point, all three ask readers to take seriously the central place that sexual desires and practices occupy in the lives of Caribbean people, both at home and in the diaspora. Caribbean sexuality studies are still sometimes thought of as belonging to a domain outside of, or auxiliary to “real” politics, but these studies demonstrate without hesitation how sexuality functions as an important prism through which we might understand broader debates about ethics, politics, and economics in the region. Building from the insights of feminist theorists who connect the “private” realm to community, national, and global geopolitics, they show that sex is intimately connected to certain freedoms – be they market, corporeal, or political – as well as to their consequences. Taken together, they consider sexual subjectivity, political economy, and cultural production in unexpected ways and point to exciting new directions for the scholarship on sexuality and sexual politics in the region.
New insights into segmentation and patterning during vertebrate somitogenesis.

Abstract Understanding how muscles and the skeleton develop is essential to understanding how distinct form arises in different vertebrate organisms. The meristic somites give rise to the serially-repeated precursors of the axial skeleton and musculature. Recent studies of somitogenesis have shed light upon the mechanisms of segmentation in vertebrates and the relationship between segmentation and patterning. Significant advances have also been made in connecting signaling molecules that possess somite patterning activity with downstream effector genes.
Behavior genetics of aggression in children: Review and future directions

Abstract A thorough understanding of factors that influence aggression in children cannot be achieved without including behavior genetic studies that allow us to examine the effects of shared versus non-shared environment, as well as genes, on aggressive behaviors. This review details the growing body of evidence on the genetic effects on aggression. The majority of twin and adoption studies on antisocial behavior in children suggest that genetic effects are important influences, but most of these studies utilize parent reports rather than observational data. Some recent studies of non-parent raters are beginning to suggest that aggression in childhood may indeed be heritable and that this may not be a function simply of parent reporting bias. Future studies will need to focus on gene–environment correlations and interactions to begin to disentangle the myriad ways that children and the people in their environments inter-relate and mutually affect each other.
Communicating for Diversity: Using Teacher Discussion Groups to Transform Multicultural Education

The author argues that in order to create space for authentic multicultural engagement in the face of Eurocentric norms, teachers should form discussion groups that follow five basic guidelines: engage, don't enrage; be comfortable with negative emotion; watch for and change unproductive language; talk about everything; and engage in classroom dialogue.
The mitotic apparatus in the dinoflagellate Amphidinium carterae

Aspects of mitosis in the dinoflagellateAmphidinium carterae have been examined using TEM, SEM and fluorescence immunochemistry. The extranuclear spindle is composed of 2–4 bundles of microtubules arranged into two interdigitated half-spindles. Unlike previous reports of dinomitosis, the spindle bundles converge at the poles. These bundles of microtubules are inserted into a multilobed, vesiculate body containing electron opaque, amorphous material. This spindle pole body has ribosomes associated with it and is continuous with the endoplasmic reticulum. Chromosomes are attached to the nuclear envelope, which is persistent throughout mitosis. Kinetochore microtubules attach to the nuclear envelope via elongate electron dense kinetochores (one microtubule per daughter kinetochore). Several microtubules pass alongside the kinetochore, forming a “halo” of 3–4 spindle microtubules. Electron dense connections can be seen between some of these microtubules and the kinetochore. Chromosome segregation appears to be a function of spindle elongation (anaphase B), since chromosome-to-pole distance (anaphase A) remains relatively unchanged throughout mitosis.
An Unusual Case of Rounded Atelectasis

An unusual case of rounded atelectasis (RA) is described. This entity is likely to develop as a consequence of asbestos-induced pleura] disease. The sine qua non of RA is a curvilinear tail extending from the inferior medial surface of a peripheral mass. Recognition of this "comet tail" prevents the necessity for surgery.
Pharmaco-economics of anaesthetic drugs in day-case surgery — a cost-effectiveness model for anti-emetic drugs

An increasing amount of surgery is now being performed on an ambulatory (day-case) basis. With the advent of newer shorter acting agents, it is possible to titrate the depth of anaesthesia to a desired level, achieve rapid awakening at the end of the operation and thereby ensure an early discharge of the outpatient surgical patient. However, the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), a major cause of delayed discharge and unanticipated admission to hospital, remains high, in spite of the availability of anti-emetic therapy. 1-3 Although the recent introduction of anti-serotonin agents such as ondansetron has improved our ability to prevent and/or treat PONV, 4-7 the high costs of these newer agents along with the limited efficacy and side effects of older drugs (droperidol and metoclopramide) make it unclear what is the best strategy for preventing and treating PONV. 8,9 Before a new drug can replace existing ones, it is essential to demonstrate both efficacy and some advantage associated with the preferential use of the new drug (e.g. improved safety profile or duration of action). Similarly, the role of newer anaesthetic agents in day-case anaesthesia is still undetermined) In an era of limited resources, it is important to identify, measure and compare the costs, risks and benefits to determine which alternative agent provides the best outcome for the resources invested. This examination of the economic consequences of the use of a drug had led to the development of a separate branch of pharmacology termed pharmaco-economics. 1° In this article, we have reviewed the terminology and methodological issues associated with the pharmaco-economic evaluation of anaesthetic
Analytical solutions for period-m motions in a periodically forced van der Pol oscillator

Approximate, analytical solutions of period-m motions in a periodically forced, van der Pol oscillator are obtained through the Fourier series expression, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation analysis of such period-m motions are carried out. To verify the approximate, analytical solutions of period-m motions, numerical simulations are performed, and the numerical results are compared with analytical solutions. The harmonic amplitude distributions are presented to show the significance of harmonic terms in the finite Fourier series expression of the analytical periodic solutions. Period-m motions are separated by quasi-periodic motion or chaos, and the stable period-m motions are in independent periodic motion windows.
Thin Layer Chromatographic Separation of Ortho, Meta, and Para Substituted Benzoic Acids and Phenols with Aqueous Solutions of α-Cyclodextrin

Abstract The use of aqueous solutions of α-cyclodextrin as the mobile phase in thin layer chromatography (TLC) is described. A series of eighteen substituted benzoic acid compounds were chromatographed on polyamide thin layer sheets. The Rf values were dependent on the concentration of α-cyclodextrin in the mobile phase as well as the structure and size of the individual molecules. Possible advantages of this technique over those which use pure or mixed solvent systems as the mobile phase are discussed.
Low-voltage, high-speed AlSb-InAsSb HEMTs

Antimonide-based HEMTs have been fabricated with an InAsSb channel. Infra-red photoluminescence measurements at 5 K confirm that the addition of Sb changes the band structure from a staggered type II heterojunction lineup to a type I. These HEMTs with 0.1 /spl mu/m gate length exhibit decreased output conductance and improved voltage gain. At V/sub DS/=0.6 V, a microwave transconductance of 700 mS/mm and an output conductance of 110 mS/mm were obtained corresponding to a voltage gain of 6.
Remarks on Cosmic-Ray Composition

It is noted that evidence exists that cosmic primaries having total energies greater than about 10/sup 17/ ev are nearly all protons. This evidence requires, in order to explain large air showers (greater than 10/sup 10/ particles), that there exist a metagalactic component of cosmic radiation. (T.F.H.)
Diagnosis and Treatment of Choledochoceles

Choledochoceles are cystic dilatations of the intraduodenal portion of the common bile duct. Although often classified as Type III biliary cysts, choledochoceles have distinctive demographic and anatomic features and a lower risk of malignancy than other types of choledochal cysts. Type A choledochoceles are cystic dilatations of a segment of the intra-ampullary bile duct and are located proximal to the ampullary orifice. Type B choledochoceles are diverticula of the intra-ampullary common channel and are located distal to the ampullary orifice; they can be distinguished from duodenal duplication cysts both anatomically and histologically. Both types of choledochocele may present with pancreatitis, biliary obstruction, or nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms. Cross-sectional imaging, endoscopic ultrasound, and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography are useful for diagnosis. Choledochoceles may be drained or resected endoscopically. Surveillance for dysplasia should be considered for lesions that are not resected.
Development of in situ blends of poly(p-oxybenzoate-co-p-phenyleneisophthalate) with other thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers

A new in situ polymerization method is discussed wherein monomers of the major component are polymerized in the presence of a preformed thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (LCP). Poly(p-oxybenzoate-co-p-phenyleneisophthalate) (HIQ) was chosen for this study. HIQ is well known to have a narrow process window and to be difficult to process reproducibly, both drawbacks for a commercial product. An in situ polymerization of the HIQ monomers in the presence of a fully polymerized LCP, such as poly(4-oxybenzoate-co-6-oxy-2-naphthoate) (CO) results in the “CO–HIQ” in situ blend. The in situ blend exhibited reduced biphasic morphology and was more homogeneous than was HIQ. The glass fiber-filled CO–HIQ resin also featured improved melt flow and more reproducible mechanical properties than those of HIQ. The in situ blends were characterized by optical microscopy, 1H-NMR, and melt rheology. The effect of the LCP level on the morphology of the in situ blend is discussed. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
What Is Stuttering

The most definitive evidence about any aspect of stuttering is that listeners are unable to judge unit-by-unit occurrences of it acceptably. This result has been replicated repeatedly in every decade for a half century. Nonetheless, for virtually all research and most clinical practice, stuttering has been defined perceptually as if listeners could identify it accurately. Reasons for this state of affairs and its implications for therapy, theory, and research are analyzed. An alternative speech production definition with its implications is proposed. Further, a diagnostic method of validating authentic stuttering is described, as is an objective for fluency-skill therapy that reduces rather than reinforces avoidance behavior.
Long-term User and Community Impacts of High-speed Rail in the United States' Midwest Corridor

This study contributes new insights in the debate over the viability of high-speed rail (HSR) in the United States and the value proposition for government investment. The modeling focus of this study is two-fold, and the modeling approach makes a case for a fundamental shift from the current perspective of HSR viability. First, the user and community impact assessment of HSR is conducted in the same manner as traditional transportation system evaluation (i.e., vehicle operating costs (VOC), travel time, safety, emissions, and energy consumption) to provide comparable conclusions regarding intercity transportation alternatives. Second, the model presented in this study analyzes both ridership and impacts within the same systematic framework to assess the long-term impacts on the individual transportation modes, total system metrics, and efficacy of alternate policies. Using this model, decision-makers can introduce various externalities to determine both the ideal and problematic conditions for the viability of a new HSR system.
Integrated planning for precision machining of complex surfaces. Part 2: Application to the machining of a turbine blade die

The applications of the proposed cutting-path-adaptive-feedrate strategy, described in part 1 of this paper, to real three-dimensional complex surfaces are examined. Its applications to the aerospace, automobile, and die-mold industries are of particular interest. As an example, the proposed strategy is used in planning the machining of a turbine blade die. This process consists of rough milling (using the stock material), and the subsequent semi-finish and finish milling operations. Computer simulations along with experimental verifications are presented in this paper.
Characterization of humic substances by advanced solid state NMR spectroscopy: Demonstration of a systematic approach

Characterization of humic substances is challenging due to their structural complexity and heterogeneity. Solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is regarded as one of the best tools for elucidating structures of humic substances. The primary solid state NMR technique that has been used so far is the routine 13C cross polarization-magic angle spinning (CP-MAS) technique. Although this technique has markedly advanced our understanding of humic substances, the full potential of NMR for characterizing humic substances has yet to be realized. Recent technical developments and applications of advanced solid state NMR have revealed the promise to provide deeper insights into structures of humic substances. In this paper, we summarized and demonstrated the systematic solid state NMR protocol for characterization of humic substances using a humic acid as an example. This protocol included (1) identification of specific functional groups using spectral editing techniques, occasionally assisted by 1H13C two-dimensional heteronuclear correlation (2D HETCOR) NMR, (2) quantification of specific functional groups based on direct polarization-magic angle spinning (DP-MAS) and DP-MAS with recoupled dipolar dephasing, combined with spectral editing techniques, (3) determination of connectivities and proximities of specific functional groups by 1H13C 2D HETCOR or 2D HETCOR combined with spectral editing techniques, and (4) examination of domains and heterogeneities by 1H13C 2D HETCOR with 1H spin diffusion. We used a soil humic acid as an example to demonstrate how this protocol was applied to the characterization of humic substances step by step. Afterwards, based on typical 13C NMR spectra of humic substances we described how we could combine different NMR techniques to identify specific functional groups band by band from downfield to upfield. Finally, we briefly mentioned the potential new NMR techniques that could be developed to enrich the current systematic protocol. This systematic protocol is not only applicable to humic substances but also to other natural organic matter samples.
Multi-grid Monte Carlo (II). Two-dimensional XY model

We study the dynamic critical behavior of the multi-grid Monte Carlo (MGMC) algorithm applied to the two-dimensional XY model, on lattices up to 128 X 128. In the low-temperature (spin-wave) phase, we find that critical slowing-down is completely eliminated (z = 0). On the high-temperature side of criticality, we find that the dynamic critical exponent is z = 1.4 +/- 0.3, compared to z = 2.1 +/- 0.3 for the heat-bath algorithm. We attribute the remaining critical slowing-down on the high-temperature side of criticality to the limited effectiveness of the MGMC updates in creating and destroying widely separated vortex-antivortex pairs.
Alterations in adenyl cyclase activity and glucose utilization of Bordetella pertussis-sensitized mouse spleen

Abstract The effects of Bordetella pertussis sensitization on the cyclic AMP content, adenyl cyclase activity and glucose uptake and utilization of mouse spleen were examined. Injection of B. pertussis vaccine into mice resulted in a decrease (36 per cent) in cyclic AMP content of the spleens 4 days after vaccination, while decrease in blood glucose (53 per cent) occurred within 6 hr. Experiments in vitro using membrane fractions of spleens have shown that epinephrine, norepinephrine, isoproterenol and sodium fluoride stimulated adenyl cyclase activity to a much less extent in those derived from pertussis-sensitized mice than in those from nonsensitized mice. When nonsensitized mice were injected with propranolol (5–40 mg/kg), a beta-adrenergic blocking agent, cyclic AMP content decreased (58 per cent) to a level equivalent to that obtained by pertussis sensitization. Whereas epinephrine and aminophylline enhanced spleen cyclic AMP content (62 per cent) and blood glucose levels (115 per cent), pretreatment with propranolol blocked this enhancement. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that adenyl cyclase activity in the spleen is a function of a beta-adrenergic receptor which is subject to blockade by pertussis sensitization. Uptake and utilization of glucose is markedly enhanced in spleen slices of pertussis-sensitized animals compared with that in nonsensitized, reflecting a probable generalized increase in peripheral uptake which may, in part, explain the hypoglycemia and adjuvancy observed in sensitization.
Hybrid PIC-DSMC simulation of a Hall thruster plume on unstructured grids

AQUILA, a hybrid PIC-DSMC Hall thruster plume simulation on unstructured grids, has been developed to work within the Air Force's COLISEUM framework. The importance of the effect of a background neutral density is investigated in terms of charge exchange wing formation, non-neutral regions of the plume, and foreign material emitted by the thruster reaching behind a shadow shield.
Non-randomized evaluations of the outcomes of treatment of pediatric cardiovascular disease

Abstract The randomized controlled clinical trial is generally acknowledged to provide the most scientifically valid evidence of the efficacy of therapeutic interventions compared to results of specified alternatives. While this approach represents the top of a hierarchy of levels of evidence, other study designs may also be appropriate at various stages in the evaluation of therapy. This article describes other study designs which may be used to assess clinical outcomes, namely case reports, case series, intra- and inter-institutional non-randomized cohort comparisons with historical or concurrent controls, and case-control studies. The relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach are reviewed, and illustrations are provided from the literature in pediatric cardiology and related fields.
Pose-Robust Recognition of Low-Resolution Face Images

Face images captured by surveillance cameras usually have poor resolution in addition to uncontrolled poses and illumination conditions, all of which adversely affect the performance of face matching algorithms. In this paper, we develop a completely automatic, novel approach for matching surveillance quality facial images to high-resolution images in frontal pose, which are often available during enrollment. The proposed approach uses multidimensional scaling to simultaneously transform the features from the poor quality probe images and the high-quality gallery images in such a manner that the distances between them approximate the distances had the probe images been captured in the same conditions as the gallery images. Tensor analysis is used for facial landmark localization in the low-resolution uncontrolled probe images for computing the features. Thorough evaluation on the Multi-PIE dataset and comparisons with state-of-the-art super-resolution and classifier-based approaches are performed to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed approach. Experiments on surveillance imagery further signify the applicability of the framework. We also show the usefulness of the proposed approach for the application of tracking and recognition in surveillance videos.
Xenopus Fibrillin Regulates Directed Convergence and Extension

Fibrillin-based human diseases such as Marfan syndrome and congenital contractural arachnodactyly implicate fibrillins in the function and homeostasis of multiple adult tissues. Fibrillins are also expressed in embryos, but no early developmental role has been described for these proteins. We use three independent methods to reveal a role for Xenopus fibrillin (XF) at gastrulation. First, expressing truncated forms of XF in the embryo leads to failure of gastrulation concomitant with a dominant-negative effect on native fibrillin fibril assembly. Expressing truncated XF also inhibits normal progression of the patterned, polarized cell motility that drives convergence and extension at gastrulation and perturbs directed extension in cultured explants of dorsal mesoderm. Second, injection of a synthetic peptide encoding a cell-binding domain of XF into midgastrula embryos causes acute failure of gastrulation associated with defective fibrillin fibril assembly. These injections also reveal a critical role for this peptide in the fibril assembly process. Third, morpholino-mediated knockdown of translation of XF in the embryo also perturbs normal gastrulation and directed extension. Together, these data show that native Xenopus fibrillin is essential for the process of directed convergent extension in presumptive notochord at gastrulation.
Effects of gibberellic acid and uniconazole on the activities of some enzymes of anthocyanin biosynthesis in carrot cell cultures

Gibberellic acid (GA3) inhibition of anthocyanin accumulation by carrot cell-suspension cultures was reversed by supplying dihydroquercitin or naringenin to the culture and not by supplying 4-coumaric acid or malonic acid. This suggested that gibberellic acid was inhibiting chalcone synthase, chalcone isomerase, or acetyl CoA carboxylase. Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase specific activity was the same in GA3-treated and untreated cultures and was not detected in cultures treated with uniconazole, an inhibitor of gibberellic acid biosynthesis. Chalcone-isomerase specific activity was lower in GA3-treated cultures than in untreated cultures and was lower in uniconazole-treated cultures than in the GA3-treated cultures. The total chalcone synthase activity in extracts from GA3- and from uniconazole-treated cells was not significantly different from that in extracts of untreated tissue. When these extracts were chromatographed on a Mono Q column, three peaks of chalcone synthase activity were found in extracts of nontreated cells, whereas only two of these peaks were detected in extracts of GA3-treated cells. The extracts from GA3-treated cells did not contain the peak of chalcone synthase activity that, in untreated cells, preceded the main peak. The correlation between the absence of this peak and the inhibition of anthocyanin accumulation suggests that this form of chalcone synthase is responsible for anthocyanin synthesis and that GA3 prevents this form from appearing in the cells.
Patient versus informant perspectives of Quality of Life in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Background Prior studies on Quality of Life (QOL) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have rarely included control participants, or participants with very mild levels of cognitive impairment. Furthermore, there is little data to indicate whether or not mildly impaired patients can provide self-report QOL data or if informant reports are needed. Objectives This study compared QOL ratings from informants and patients with mild AD (n = 26), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI, n = 30), and elderly controls (n = 23). Methods Participants (aged 60–91 years) were recruited from an outpatient memory disorder clinic. Elderly controls were recruited from the community. Measures about patients were the Dementia Quality of Life scale, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory—Questionnaire, Instrumental of Activities of Daily Living, and Mini-mental State Exam. Informant depression was assessed with the Geriatric Depression Scale. Results Results indicated that overall patient-informant agreement for MCI (M=0.24), AD (M=0.48), and controls (M=0.49) did not differ significantly. Self-reported QOL did not differ significantly across the 3 groups. For caregiver-reports, QOL in MCI again did not differ from controls but was significantly greater than QOL in AD for 2 of 6 scales, and QOL in controls was greater than AD for 4 of 6 scales. Regression analyses indicated that neuropsychiatric symptoms were the most consistent predictors of QOL. Conclusions In summary, informant- and self-perceptions of QOL differed substantially. Results suggest that future investigators should carefully consider gathering QOL information from both informants and patients because they provide unique information regarding patient QOL and, to date, neither source of information has been established to be superior. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary care practices’ perceived constraints to engaging in research: the importance of context and ‘Flow’

AIM The primary purpose of this study is to understand primary care practices' perceived constraints to engaging in research from micro-, meso-, and macro-level perspectives. BACKGROUND Past research has spotlighted various barriers and hurdles that primary care practices face when attempting to engage in research efforts; yet a majority of this research has focused exclusively on micro- (physician-specific) and meso-level (practice-specific) factors. Minimal attention has been paid to the context - the more macro-level issues such as how these barriers relate to primary care practices' role within the dominant payment/reimbursement model of U.S. health-care system. METHODS Semi-structured focus groups were conducted in five U.S. practices, all owned by an independent academic medical center. Each had participated in at least one research study but were not part of a practice-based research network or affiliated with a medical school. Data were analyzed using NVIVO-9 by using a multistep coding process. Findings The perceived constraints offered by the participants echoed those featured in previous studies. Secondary analyses of the interconnected nature of these factors highlighted a valuable and sensitive 'Flow' that is evident at the individual, interaction, and organizational levels of primary care practice. Engaging in research appears to pose a significant threat to the outcomes of Flow (i.e., revenue, patient health outcomes, and the overall well-being of the practice). It is posited that the risk of not meeting expected productivity-based outcomes, which appear to be dictated by current dominant reimbursement models, frames the overall process of research-related decision making in primary care. Within the funding/reimbursement models of the US health-care system, engaging in research does not appear to be advantageous for primary care practices.
STUDIES ON HYPERTROPHY, REGENERATION, AND RETARDATION OF OVARIAN WEIGHTS IN GROWING RATS AFTER ŒSTRONE INJECTIONS

1. The effects of œstrone on the estrous cycle, ovaries, hypophysis, and several other organs have been studied in semi-ovariectomised rats, in rats with one-half of each ovary removed, and in rats with entire ovaries. 2. Œstrone in 1 to 20 rat units daily for six weeks had little, if any, effect on the secretion of the hypophysis as shown by (1) normal hypertrophy of the remaining ovary, (2) normal regeneration of ovarian fragments, and (3) insignificant reduction in the weight of the entire ovaries. 3. The length of the estrous cycles was practically unaffected, but the percentage of time in estrus was somewhat longer in the œstrone injected groups. This latter effect may not be specific, as shown by similar results in the saline injected controls. 4. The spleen, liver, lungs, and thymus were slightly increased in weight. The adrenals, pituitary, uterus, thyroid, heart, kidneys, intestines, and brain were unchanged in weight by œstrone. 5. A discussion indicating that ovarian hypertrophy and regeneration may not be entirely controlled by the action of œstrone on the pituitary gland is presented for consideration.
Synthesis factors affecting mechanical properties, microstructure, and chemical composition of red mud–fly ash based geopolymers

Abstract The influence of synthesis factors, including chemical composition of raw materials and curing conditions, on the microstructure and mechanical properties of geopolymers synthesized from red mud (RM) and class F fly ash (FFA) was investigated. Mechanical properties, microstructure, mineralogy, and chemical composition of the resulting geopolymers were characterized by unconfined compression testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), respectively. Geopolymers were successfully synthesized at the ambient condition of 23 °C and 40–50% relative humidity (RH) with the 28-day unconfined compressive strength (UCS) ranging from 11.3 to 21.3 MPa. The formation of amorphous geopolymer gel was confirmed by XRD patterns, SEM images, and EDX spectra. This study suggests that a nominal Na/Al molar ratio in the range of 0.6–0.8 with a fixed nominal Si/Al molar ratio of 2 is a good starting point to synthesize geopolymer from RM and FFA. The ambient condition is also confirmed to be a practically feasible scheme for curing RM–FFA based geopolymers, and exceptional mechanical properties can be obtained at a curing time period of up to 180 days.