cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Game-Based Virtual Worlds as Decentralized Virtual Activity Systems

There is widespread interest in the development and use of decentralized systems and virtual world environments as possible new places for engaging in collaborative work activities. Similarly, there is widespread interest in stimulating new technological innovations that enable people to come together through social networking, file/media sharing, and networked multi-player computer game play. A decentralized virtual activity system (DVAS) is a networked computer supported work/play system whose elements and social activities can be both virtual and decentralized (Scacchi et al. 2008b). Massively multi-player online games (MMOGs) such as World of Warcraft and online virtual worlds such as Second Life are each popular examples of a DVAS. Furthermore, these systems are beginning to be used for research, deve-lopment, and education activities in different science, technology, and engineering domains (Bainbridge 2007, Bohannon et al. 2009; Rieber 2005; Scacchi and Adams 2007; Shaffer 2006), which are also of interest here. This chapter explores two case studies of DVASs developed at the University of California at Irvine that employ game-based virtual worlds to support collaborative work/play activities in different settings. The settings include those that model and simulate practical or imaginative physical worlds in different domains of science, technology, or engineering through alternative virtual worlds where players/workers engage in different kinds of quests or quest-like workflows (Jakobsson 2006).
Donor-specific antibodies in kidney deceased donor transplantation

Aim Pre-sensitization against a broad array of HLA is associated with prolonged waiting times and inferior kidney allograft survival. Although the use of solid phase assay (SPA) for the detection and characterization of anti-HLA antibodies provides greater sensitivity than complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity (CDC) assay, it often detects donor specific antibodies (DSA) which turn out to be clinically irrelevant. In this study, our aim is to determine whether kidney deceased donor recipients with preformed DSA detectable in serum obtained prior to transplant are at an increased risk of graft failure. Methods We studied 640 patients who received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014 at Columbia University Medical Center. Sera collected from the recipients prior to transplantation were tested for DSA by CDC and SPA with single antigen coated beads. All patients were transplanted with negative CDC crossmatch. Results We analyzed the actuarial graft survival in patients with a primary allograft ( n = 525) and in patients with a secondary allograft ( n = 115). Kidney allograft survival was significantly higher in primary allograft recipients (85%) than in secondary allograft recipients (71%) at 6 years. ( P = 0.02) Forty-six out of 525 (8.7%) primary kidney allograft recipients and sixty-two out of 115 (53.9%) secondary kidney allograft recipients had SPA-detectable DSA in sera collected prior to transplantation. Six years following transplantation of primary kidney allografts the actuarial graft survival was 83% and 85%, respectively, regardless of whether DSA were detectable in recipients’ pre-transplantation sera. ( P = 0.39) In recipients of secondary kidney allografts with and without SPA-detectable DSA, the actuarial graft survival was 67% and 77% at 6 years, respectively. ( P = 0.12) Conclusions The presence of SPA-detectable DSA in recipients of kidney allografts from deceased donors is associated with lower long term (6 year) actuarial graft survival although the difference does not reach statistical significance.
Models of Ternary Complexes for Nonpeptidic Farnesyltransferase Inhibitors: Insights into Structure-Based Screen and Design of Potential Anticancer Therapeutics

Farnesyltransferase (FT) inhibitors can repress tumor cell proliferation without substantially interfering with normal cell growth and are thus promising in cancer treatment. A detailed knowledge of how substrates and inhibitors bind to FT at the atomic level can expedite screening and rational design of improved FT inhibitors. Here we report theoretical models of the FT complexed with FPP and the potent nonpeptidic inhibitor SCH 56580 and other inhibitor-FPP-FT ternary complexes derived from the docking studies prior to any crystal structures of the FT liganded with nonpeptidic inhibitors. On the basis of these models we evaluate the roles of FPP, Zn2+ and the zinc-coordinated water molecule in inhibitor binding, and propose the structural determinants of binding of nonpeptidic FT inhibitors. Furthermore, we suggest the use of the FPP-FT binary complex as a novel and effective drug target structure for screening and rational design of improved FT inhibitors.
The Influence of Natural Resource Characteristics on Property Value: A Case Study

The analysis and results discussed in this article were developed as part of a study of landed property and home owners (including seasonal homes) in three representative counties of Michigan's northern lower peninsula. A model similar to the hedonic price method was used to isolate certain natural resource characteristics and detennine if property value fluctuated with respect to location. This study attempted to measure the intrinsic worth of one's property and relate it to the existence and location of certain natural resource characteristics. Although the study areas were heavily endowed with natural resources, making generalization to other areas problematic, the use of a hedonic price type model appears to show promise in identifying specific locations where accelerated development might occur if the seasonal home market enters a new growth cycle.
Abundance Indices for Determining the Status of Lake Trout Restoration in Michigan Waters of Lake Superior

Abstract Self-sustaining populations of lake trout Salvelinus namaycush have returned to most areas in Lake Superior, but progress toward achieving historic commercial yields has been difficult to measure because of unrecorded losses to predation by sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus and to fisheries. Consequently, we developed restoration targets (catch per effort, CPE; geometric mean number per kilometer of 114-mm stretch-measure gill net during 1929–1943, when historic yields were sustained) from linear relationships between CPE in commercial and assessment fisheries in Michigan. Target CPEs for lake trout restoration were higher and less variable than the modern CPEs in all areas. Modern CPEs generally increased during the 1970s and early 1980s but declined during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Modern CPEs were highest in western Michigan from the Keweenaw Peninsula to Marquette (71 to 81% of target CPEs), but coefficients of variation (CV, SD/mean) of mean CPEs were 1.4 to 2.4 times greater than target ...
Weak top-down constraints for unsupervised acoustic model training

Typical supervised acoustic model training relies on strong top-down constraints provided by dynamic programming alignment of the input observations to phonetic sequences derived from orthographic word transcripts and pronunciation dictionaries. This paper investigates a much weaker form of top-down supervision for use in place of transcripts and dictionaries in the zero resource setting. Our proposed constraints, which can be produced using recent spoken term discovery systems, come in the form of pairs of isolated word examples that share the same unknown type. For each pair, we perform a dynamic programming alignment of the acoustic observations of the two constituent examples, generating an inventory of cross-speaker frame pairs that each provide evidence that the same subword unit model should account for them. We find these weak top-down constraints are capable of improving model speaker independence by up to 57% relative over bottom-up training alone.
The International Boundary and Water Commission Under Fire: Policy Prospective for the 21st Century:

The venerable International Boundary and Water Commission, United States and Mexico, established by the landmark 1944 U.S.-Mexican Water Treaty, has come under fire in the past decade for a range of alleged institutional deficiencies. These deficiencies, ranging from the adequacy of its mandate to its organizational structure and management, are seen as limiting its diplomatic and administrative capacity to promote cooperative solutions to a range of binational water problems including drought, ecological conservation, and planning for sustainable water use and management in the 21st century. This article reviews this recent spate of criticisms and reform recommendations, addressing their feasibility and practicality. It argues that many of these proposals are treaty consistent and have sufficient merit to warrant serious consideration by the two governments.
Concordance of retrospective and prospective reporting of menstrual irregularity by women in the menopausal transition.

Objectives First, to compare retrospective self-report of irregular and skipped periods by women in the menopausal transition to information recorded concurrently on calendars; and, second, to describe how participants' definitions of irregularity and skipping affected reporting.Methods The sample was 161 women who returned both complete menstrual calendars and questionnaires in any year between 1997 and 2002. Irregular and skipped periods documented on menstrual calendars were compared with self-reports. Data were z-score adjusted for repeated observations in women and analyzed using Cohen's kappa.Results Agreement between calendar and questionnaire reporting of cycle irregularity was weak (kappa = 0.192). Participants' definitions of irregularity and skipping differed markedly from those of the researchers. Agreement about skipping was stronger overall and increased after a definition of skipping was provided to study participants (kappa pre-definition = 0.597; post-definition = 0.765). Counts of skippe...
A Surgeon With AIDS-Reply

In Reply.— My editorial concluded that it is acceptably safe, from the stand-point of HIV transmission risk, for HIV-infected surgeons to perform most operations. Dr Fulghum raises two of the most important corollary issues: What are the disclosure obligations of the HIV-infected surgeon? What are the implications of the physical and mental impairment that HIV infection ultimately produces? These issues are best considered in the context of other potential disclosure obligations and accommodations to physician impairment. The implications of HIV infection in health care workers are analyzed thoroughly in a position paper developed by the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and the Society of Hospital Epidemiologists of America. 1 There are many situations that might lead patients to switch physicians but that produce no or virtually no increased risk and are not ordinarily disclosed to patients. Examples include past drug use, recent physical or mental illness, or a
African Militaries and Rebellion: The Political Economy of Threat and Combat Effectiveness:

War in Africa has recently attracted significant attention because the continent seems more prone to conflict than others and because any disruption in security is especially threatening to populations, like those in most of Africa, where people are already living at the margins. A growing and productive literature has emerged focussing on the motivations of rebels during these wars. Important econometric work has attempted to explain the economic and political motivations of rebels; there have been case studies of different guerilla movements; and cross-national analysis of the organization of rebellion. However, there has been no corresponding literature on, quite literally, the other side: the political economy of how and why national militaries perform during civil war. This article will examine the geographic, political, and economic determinants of how African militaries face the threat of rebellion and of differential levels of effectiveness in combating insurgents. The size of the country appears to be an important determinant of the initial course of an insurrection: in small countries there is often a battle for the capital that can end fairly quickly, but in big countries different armies can occupy important pieces of territory far from each other and avoid having to fight an immediate battle to the death. Once conflicts have begun, it appears that the nature of the rebel threat - especially whether it is internal or external - and the degree of fungible resources provided by the international community are both important determinants of how well African armies are able to mobilize to fight. The article concludes that the international community must consider how to help African countries strengthen militaries as well as police and intelligence agencies, so that it is possible for governments to respond quickly to rebel threats.
Outcome Success in Obesity

Intentional weight loss improves many of the medical complications associated with obesity. Moreover, many of these beneficial effects have a dose-dependent relationship with the amount of weight lost and begin after only modest weight losses of 5% to 10% of initial body weight. There is no conclusive evidence that weight loss decreases mortality in obese people. The therapeutic effect of weight loss on risk factors for cardiovascular disease (insulin resistance and diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) has received the most attention in clinical trials. The hazard of developing coronary heart disease is directly related to the concomitant burden of risk factors. Modest weight loss can affect the entire cluster of risk factors simultaneously. Both negative energy balance and weight loss improve insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. Most studies have found that weight loss decreases serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and increases serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration. Regain of weight leads to relapse in triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations. Weight loss, independent of sodium restriction, decreases systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Dietary intervention is the cornerstone of weight-loss therapy. Most diets proposed for losing weight vary in two principal dimensions: energy content and macronutrient composition. Manipulation of food macronutrient content, energy density, and portion size can help decrease energy intake and facilitate weight loss.
State and local government fraud survey for 1995

Reports on a questionnaire survey of US local government auditors conducted to determine the amount of fraud in state and local governments. Concludes that fraud is a significant problem for state and local governments and finds that management is not responding effectively to “red flags” or to the actual frauds when they are discovered; most of the loss in fraud cases is accounted for by misappropriation of funds, other false representation, other fraud, or false invoices. The most effective fraud detection methods include: internal audit review; specific investigation by management; employee notification; internal controls; and accidental discovery. Finds that most of the legal departments of the government entities studied did not have policies and procedures for dealing with employees suspected of fraud.
Mechanical Crystallization of Metglas Fe78B13Si9 by Cryogenic High Energy Ball Milling

A nanocrystalline material was synthesized by cryogenic ball milling of Metglas Fe78B13Si9 ribbons. The nanocrystalline structure consisted of α-Fe(Si) and Fe2B grains of 2-13 nm in diameter. In the early stages of milling, bending-induced shear bands were formed, followed by the initial stages of crystallization. As the milling proceeded, predominantly wearlike mechanisms caused further crystallization. The crystallization process was slowed considerably by the addition of 17 at.% Ni during cryogenic milling. The results indicate that the 17 at.% Ni did not form a supersaturated solid solution in the metallic glass, but impeded crystallization by reducing the efficiency of bending and wear-like mechanisms during milling.
In vitro and in vivo studies on the digestibility of the major storage protein of the navy bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Fraction G1, the major storage protein of the navy bean (P. vulgaris), was subjected to in vitro digestion with pepsin, trypsin, or chymotrypsin. Based on measurements of the release of free amino groups, G1 appeared to be markedly resistant to digestion unless subjected to heat treatment. Molecular weight determinations by sedimentation equilibrium and amino acid analysis, however, indicated that G1 had in fact undergone limited proteolysis and a reduction in size, from 140,000 to 120,000, as a result of exposure to either trypsin or chymotrypsin. Disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulfate also revealed significant changes in subunit composition. Native G1 was composed of two subunits, 43,000 and 49,000, in a ratio of 1:2, whereas trypsinor chymotrypsin-modified G1 had subunits of 22,500 and 30,000, in a ratio of 4:1. The true digestibility of native G1 as measured in rats was 57% compared with 92% after heat treatment. Although virtually devoid of trypsin inhibitory activity, G1 caused a significant enlargement of the pancreas, an effect which was partially overcome by heat treatment. It is concluded that a major factor contributing to the poor nutritive value of unheated navy beans is the marked resistance of its major storage protein to intestinal proteolysis.
Editorial: Historical Review of Optical Engineering

This PDF file contains the editorial “Editorial: Historical Review of Optical Engineering” for OE Vol. 31 Issue 11
Coronary artery bypass grafting within 30 days of an acute myocardial infarction

Risks and benefits of performing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) within 30 days of an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) were examined. In 642 patients operated on between January 1988 and December 1993, emergent CABG was performed in 46 patients for cardiogenic shock mainly for failed thrombolysis in patients with an evolving AMI. The remaining patients underwent urgent ( 72 hours) revascularization for failed percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (n = 73), postinfarction angina (n = 381), vein graft stenosis (n = 100), and complications after an AMI (n = 42). In patients who underwent primary CABG for an uncomplicated AMI, the infarct was subendocardial in 68, anterolateral or septal in 200, inferior or posteroinferior in 200, and posterolateral in 32 patients. Early mortality (
Treatment of acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis

Objective The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy of three available treatments for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT): systemic anticoagulation, surgical thrombectomy, and catheter-directed thrombolysis. Methods We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus) and sought additional references from experts. Eligible studies enrolled participants with acute iliofemoral DVT and measured the outcomes of interest. Reviewers working independently in duplicate extracted study characteristics, quality, and outcome data (death, pulmonary embolism, local complications, hemorrhagic complications, postthrombotic syndrome, pain, quality of life, and surrogate markers of venous function such as valve competence and patency). We pooled relative risks (RRs) from each study using the random effects model and estimated the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Bayesian indirect comparison techniques were used to compare thrombectomy to catheter-directed thrombolysis. Results We found 15 unique studies that fulfilled eligibility criteria. When compared to systemic anticoagulation, thrombectomy was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the risk of developing postthrombotic syndrome (RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.52-0.87), venous reflux (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.46-0.99), and a trend for reduction in the risk of venous obstruction (RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.60-1.19). When compared to systemic anticoagulation, pharmacologic catheter-directed thrombolysis was associated with statistically significant reduction in the risk of postthrombotic syndrome (RR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07-0.48), venous obstruction (RR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.18-0.37), and a trend for reduction in the risk of venous reflux (RR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.16-1.00). Overall, the quality of evidence was low; downgraded due to the observational nature of the majority of studies, lack of comparability of study cohorts at baseline, loss to follow-up, imprecision, and indirectness of outcomes (surrogacy). There were insufficient data to compare the outcomes of thrombectomy to catheter-directed thrombolysis. Conclusions Low-quality evidence suggests that surgical thrombectomy decreases the incidence of postthrombotic syndrome and venous reflux. Catheter-directed pharmacologic thrombolysis decreases the incidence of postthrombotic syndrome and venous obstruction.
The origins and development of complex prehispanic society in the Lower Santa Valley, Peru: Implications for theories of state origins

Abstract A major issue in attempts to construct cross-culturally valid theories of state origins is the relative roles of irrigation agriculture, population growth, and warfare in the rise of complex society. Recently, data from the coast of Peru has provided the stimulus for the formulation of the “coercive theory” of state origins. This theory proposes that state formation in circumscribed environments was the result of population pressure, internecine (local level) warfare, and the incorporation of defeated groups into ever larger, victorious polities. Yet, although the pioneering study of settlement patterns was carried out in Viru Valley, the lack of a comprehensive regional study of the development of prehispanic subsistence-settlement systems in any Peruvian coastal valley meant that the “coercive theory” rested on a precarious data base. Selected results of an extensive and systematic survey carried out in 1979–1980 in the Lower Santa Valley, an area only partly studied prior to our research but long famous for its large number of major prehispanic walls and fortresses, are discussed. Following a discussion of the problem, research methods and data for the early periods leading to state formation are outlined. Analysis of settlement patterns, maize-based carrying capacity, and settlement-cluster ceramic assemblages is then carried out to suggest refutation of the “coercive” model and acceptance of an alternative model of multivariate causality. External, or intervalley, warfare is shown to have been an important socioenvironmental stress leading to sociocultural complexity not only in Santa, but probably in adjacent valleys as well.
Ion funnels for the masses: experiments and simulations with a simplified ion funnel.

A modified ion funnel is described. Counterintuitively, increased spacing between electrodes results in enhanced “focusing” of the ions through the funnel. Consequently, the internal diameter (i.d.) of the funnel need not decrease to the conductance limit (as in previous designs). A simple dc-only lens, which also serves as the conductance limit, combined with the natural flow of gas is used to extract the ions from the funnel. Ions with mass to charge ratios varying between 75 and 3000 m/z are passed through the funnel with no apparent discrimination. The funnel can be operated under mild conditions that preserve weakly bound noncovalent complexes. After testing several designs, a thin closely spaced dc lens was found to be the best solution for extracting ions. A simple method for simulating ion trajectories at nonzero pressures based on ion mobility and explicit diffusion is described. This theoretical approach was used to design and calculate ion trajectories for the modified funnel presented here. Finally, the increased spacing between electrodes in the current funnel significantly relaxes machining constraints, reduces cost, and enhances ease of use versus previous funnel designs.
Available Clay and Feldspar Reference Samples As Standards for Archaeological Pottery Studies

The available clay and feldspar reference samples, rather than the frequently used rock reference samples, are suggested as standards for archaeological pottery studies because their trace-element contents are more like those of the artefacts. Such samples may provide a basis for correlating archaeological studies throughout the world. The assumption that bottles of such reference samples should have homogeneous trace-element contents because of the nature of the materials has been confirmed by the analysis of variance of trace -element data by instrumental neutron activation analysis.
CH hydrogen bonding: 3. Hammett correlations for phenylacetonitriles and tetrafluorobenzenes with HMPA

Understanding the hydrogen bond, or H-bond, arguably the strongest known intermolecular attractive force, is of great importance. Models of H-bonding hold that both electrostatic and covalent components are at work. H-bonding of CH bonds, and thus presumably other AH bonds, is greatly facilitated by polar substituents. We have found that equilibrium constants, K, for CH H-bonding in series of phenylacetonitriles and tetrafluorobenzenes with HMPA are closely correlated by the Hammett equation. That is, K values vary as substituents of different polarities are introduced at positions remote from the donor CH bond. This result is consistent with a significant electrostatic component in these examples of H-bonding. It may, however, also be explained by interaction with the σ* orbital of the CH bond, which is involved in the covalent component of the H-bond. Theoretical models need to be applied to this and other cases. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High performance direct flame fuel cell using a propane flame

Abstract This work presents the performance of the direct flame fuel cell based on the anode-supported solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) with a propane flame, which serves not only as a fuel reformer but also as a heat source to sustain the fuel cell operation. The anode-supported SOFC was successfully fabricated and showed an extraordinary fuel cell performance of 584 mW/cm2 by using a propane flame; far higher than that of the electrolyte-supported SOFC. The total flow rates of premixed propane–air greatly influenced the range of fuel cell operation and fuel cell performance. With the fixed flow rate of propane, the introduction of an air flow exhibited a complex effect on the peak power density and the maximum current density due to the variation of fuel cell temperature and fuel concentration.
Reliability analysis of MOS varactor in CMOS LC VCO

The paper investigates the reliability of MOS varactor tuned voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO). Due to the stress induced threshold voltage shift of the MOS varactor, the resonant tank degrades and the center frequency and phase noise of VCO deviate. The behavior is modeled and an adaptive body biasing scheme is proposed to make VCO resilient to reliability. In the mean time it does not degrade the VCO performance. An LC VCO at 24GHz carrier frequency with adaptive body biasing is compared with VCO without such biasing design in PTM 65nm technology. The ADS simulation results show that the biasing design helps improve the robustness of the VCO in resonant frequency. The design reduces the frequency sensitivity of VCO by 20% when subjected to threshold voltage degradation.
Reading teachers’ knowledge of children’s literature and English phonology

We investigated relationships among elementary teachers’ reading-related content knowledge (knowledge of literature and phonology), their philosophical orientation toward reading instruction, their classroom practice, and their students’ learning. Correlations showed little relationship between instructional philosophy and content knowledge, and little relationship between instructional philosophy and classroom practice. However, relationships emerged between content knowledge and instruction, and between kindergarten teachers’ phonological knowledge and their students’ reading achievement. We recommend that the recent focus on teacher’s disciplinary knowledge be broadened to include teachers of beginning reading and that teachers be afforded opportunities to develop the necessary knowledge base to teach reading effectively.
Longest cycles in r-regular r-connected graphs

Abstract Let r ≥ 3 be an integer, and e > 0 a real number. It is shown that there is an integer N(r, e) such that for all n ≥ N (if r is even) or for all even n ≥ N (if r is odd), there is an r-connected regular graph of valency r on exactly n vertices whose longest cycles have fewer than en vertices. That is, the number e > 0, no matter how small, is a “shortness coefficient” for the family of r-valent regular r-connected graphs.
Survey of Nutrient Status in Vitis vinifera Grapes in North Carolina

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) production is a rapidly growing industry in North Carolina; however, no local-research-based information is available to support nutrient-management decisions. Field studies were initiated to survey soil and plant nutrient status over a wide range in geography and management conditions in the dominant V. vinifera regions in North Carolina. While the survey data are still being analyzed, significant information was initially obtained to identify aluminum toxicity and phosphorus and potassium deficiency as potential limiting factors to vine health and productivity. Field studies were initiated to quantify soil test and plant nutrient responses to lime, phosphorus, and potassium rates. Responses to phosphorus and potassium application were observed at most sites predicted by soil tests. However, lime responses were not observed in either petiole or blade samples collected at full bloom or veraison. These studies will be continued until sufficient response data are collected to estab...
C-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) isoforms play differing roles in otitis media

Innate immunity and tissue proliferation play important roles in otitis media (OM), the most common disease of childhood. CJUN terminal kinase (JNK) is potentially involved in both processes. Genes involved in both innate immune and growth factor activation of JNK are upregulated during OM, while expression of both positive and negative JNK regulatory genes is altered. When compared to wildtypes (WTs), C57BL/6 mice deficient in JNK1 exhibit enhanced mucosal thickening, with delayed recovery, enhanced neutrophil recruitment early in OM, and delayed bacterial clearance. In contrast, JNK2−/− mice exhibit delayed mucosal hyperplasia that eventually exceeds that of WTs and is slow to recover, delayed recruitment of neutrophils, and failure of bacterial clearance. The results suggest that JNK1 and JNK2 play primarily opposing roles in mucosal hyperplasia and neutrophil recruitment early in OM. However, both isoforms are required for the normal resolution of middle ear infection.
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Dissociation : An Examination of the Dissociative Experiences Scale in a Nonclinical Population

The present study sought to examine normative dissociation within a racially and ethnically diverse nonclinical sample. In all, 317 undergraduates, including 190 Whites and 127 racial/ethnic minorities from a large research university participated in the current study. Results indicated differences in dissociation as a function of race: African and Asian Americans reported significantly higher rates of dissociation compared to Whites. There were no differences in psychological adjustment indicators as a function of race. The findings indicate that race moderates the relationship between dissociation and psychological adjustment outcomes for Blacks (all models) and Asian Americans (1 model), such that higher rates of dissociation are associated with lower rates of psychological distress as compared to Whites.
Plasma endothelin concentrations in humans with end-stage heart failure and after heart transplantation.

Abstract Objectives and Background. Endothelin is an endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor peptide that increases systemic and renal vascular resistance at pathophysiologic concentrations. Recent studies have demonstrated its presence in the circulation and its elevation in animals with congestive heart failure, suggesting that endothelin may contribute to the vasoconstrictive state of heart failure. The current study was designed with two objectives: 1) to demonstrate the elevation or circulating endothelin in patients with heart failure, and 2) to determine the short- and long-term response of endothelin levels after heart transplantation. Methods. Plasma endothelin concentrations were measured in two patient groups. Group 1 included 24 patients with end-stage heart failure who were studied during evaluation for potential heart transplantation. Group 2 included 12 patients from Group 1 who had had heart transplantation. Plasma endothelin concentrations were measured before and on days 1, 3 and 7 after heart transplantation. Eight of these patients also had levels measured 3 to 12 months later. Results. Plasma endothelin concentrations were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure compared with those in an age-matched control group (11.7 ± 1.1 vs. 6.8 ± 0.3 pg/ml). In response to heart transplantation, plasma eadothelin concentrations increased further and were sustained during a long-term follow-up. These later changes were associated with a significant increase in arterial pressure and serum creatinine. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that endothelin concentrations are increased in patients with heart failure and increase further after heart transplantation. It suggests a possible role for endothelin in the cardiovascular and renal adaptive responses to human heart transplantation.
That Child Is a Yellow: New Immigrant Children's Conceptions of English Language, Literacy, and Learners' Identities in the NCLB Era

In this article, we utilize the concepts of conceptual metaphors, cultural models, and master myths to discuss the ways by which three new immigrant children, native speakers of Spanish, were developing conceptions of English language, literacy, and learner's identities. Our findings point to 3 main metaphors that were often implicit in the school environment: (a) writing as procedures, (b) English as success, and (c) learners as test scoring categories. These metaphorical conceptualizations appear to be a reflection of the discourse around No Child Left Behind (NCLB) policies that permeate American school contexts. We argue that this discourse can serve to promote reduced conceptions of literacy (and writing in particular), to essentialize learners' identities, and to preserve the hegemony of English. We suggest that a focus on meaning during literacy instruction can be helpful in providing opportunities to counteract these conceptions and to foster the development of more robust ones.
Nuclear imaging in the management of thyroid carcinoma.

The avidity of differentiated thyroid carcinoma for iodine is the basis for the use of radioiodine (131I) both for the detection and the treatment of recurrent thyroid cancer in patients following ...
Ultraviolet imaging spectroscopy of dust in the interstellar medium

This paper describes a system for performing high resolution spectroscopy with 2D spatial imaging. We motivate the discussion by describing the application of our system to the astronomical study of dust in the interstellar medium. Our methodology can be implemented on a wide variety of optical systems from a wide variety of platforms. Several such configurations are discussed.
The ionium method of age determination

Abstract The ionium method of age determination, potentially applicable to deep sea sediments over the past 400,000 years, has been studied in an attempt to define its validity and limitations. In order for the method to apply, a chronologically undisturbed sediment column must be present and the sediment must be homogeneous with regard to chemisorption potential. The experimental techniques which were employed on a number of deep-ocean cores from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Caribbean Sea included total radium and gas-phase radon measurement with a low-level ionization chamber, total alpha emission by scintillation counting and absolute surface area determination by gas adsorption. A complete age analysis was carried out on two cases: one, a red-clay core from the Pacific and the other, a globigerina-ooze core from the Caribbean. This analysis shows the sources of error. For those cores that meet the geological requirements, the accuracy of the dates is largely dependent on the accuracy of the radium determination and the frequency with which the samples are taken along the core. From these two cores rates of sedimentation can be calculated with fair precision. From 200,000– 300,000 years ago until 30,000–40,000 the rates of sedimentation were apparently constant for the red play at one locality at 0.15 ± 0.05 cm/1000 years and for the globigerina ooze at another locality at 0.60 ± 0.20 cm/1000 years. At the close of the Wisconsin the rates of sedimentation for both sediment types increased by factors of 2–4. The ionium method holds some promise as a dating technique for restricted areas of the deep ocean floor. Determination of ages in one core by the independent ionium and carbon-14 methods exhibited satisfactory agreement.
Circling behavior elicited from the pedunculopontine nucleus: evidence for the involvement of hindbrain GABAergic projections

Unilateral microinjection of GABA agonists into the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) of the rat resulted in contraversive postural asymmetry and circling behavior; GABA antagonists caused ipsiversive asymmetry and circling when applied to the PPN. A hemitransection was placed immediately caudal to substantia nigra (SN) and rostral to PPN in order to interrupt all connections between the PPN and ipsilateral forebrain nuclei. After hemitransection, microinjection of GABAergic drugs into the PPN on the hemitransected side produced postural asymmetry and circling identical to that observed in intact rats. The hemitransection resulted in a loss of glutamic acid decarboxylase activity in PPN (25%) not substantially greater than that observed in animals with unilateral destruction of SN, indicating that a major proportion of GABA terminals in PPN are derived from hindbrain sources. It appears that forebrain (that is, nigrotegmental) GABAergic projections are not essential for the GABA-mediated asymmetry elicited from PPN.
Bullermen and Zamis: The LGB West Indian's Perspective

The lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) West Indian migrant experience has not been extensively investigated. As a result, practitioners may not be aware of this group's unique circumstances and thus may not be equipped to treat clients from a culturally sensitive standpoint. Considering what has been studied regarding asylum seeking, immigration issues, cultural beliefs of same-sex behavior, mental illness, help seeking, and prevalence rates of affective disorders, the authors discuss the implications on mental health this combination can yield, while providing guidelines for treatment. Areas of future research include studies of psychopathology in larger and more representative samples of West Indians in the Caribbean and in the United States, efficacy studies of treatment modalities, and the impact of internalized homophobia on mental health for LGB West Indians.
Effect of Fiber Extensibility on the Fracture Toughness of Short Fiber or Brittle Matrix Composites

A micromechanical model based on probabilistic principles is proposed to determine the effective fracture toughness increment and the bridging stress-crack opening displacement relationship for brittle matrix composites reinforced with short, poorly bonded fibers. Emphasis is placed on studying the effect of fiber extensibility on the bridging stress and the bridging fracture energy, and to determine its importance in cementitious matrix composites. Since the fibers may not be in an ideal aligned or random state, the analysis is placed in sufficiently general terms to consider any prescribable fiber orientation distribution. The model incorporates the snubbing effect observed during pull-out of fibers inclined at an angle to the crack face normal. In addition, the model allows the fibers to break; any fiber whose load meets or exceeds a single-valued failure stress will fracture rather than pull out. The crack bridging results may be expressed as the sum of results for inextensible fibers and an additional term due to fiber extensibility. An exact analysis is given which gives the steady-state bridging toughness G directly, but presents a non-linear problem for the bridging stress-crack opening (σb – δ) relationship. An approximate analysis is then presented which gives both G and σb – δ directly. To illustrate the effect of extensibility on bridging stress and fracture energy increment due to bridging fibers, a comparison with the inextensible fiber case is provided. It is found that effect of extensibility on fracture energy is negligible for common materials systems. However, extensibility may have a significant effect on the bridging stress-crack opening relationship. The effect of other physical and material parameters such as fiber length, fiber orientation and snubbing friction coefficient is also studied.
Determining the Causes of Irredentism: Logit Analyses of Minorities at Risk Data from the 1980s and 1990s

Irredentism and secessionism have been important causes of international conflict in the 1990s, yet few have considered why ethnic groups desire union with kin elsewhere or want to become independent. Why do groups desire independence rather than union with kin, or vice versa? We consider five distinct explanations: the nature of the group itself; characteristics of the group's kin; contagion processes; ethnic security dilemmas; and the end of the cold war. Using logit, we analyze data from the Minorities at Risk data set. Our findings support elements of the conventional wisdom: Ethnic kin influence irredentism, and violence between a group and its host state increases secessionism. Contrary to current debates, groups that are more concentrated are more likely to be secessionist. Further, some factors are less important than usually argued: relative size, a group's ethnic distinctiveness, economic and political differences, regime type, and economic growth.
Deterioration Following Spontaneous Improvement Sonographic Findings in Patients With Acutely Resolving Symptoms of Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose —Some stroke patients will deteriorate following improvement (DFI), but the cause of such fluctuation is often unclear. While resolution of neurological deficits is usually related to spontaneous recanalization or restoration of collateral flow, vascular imaging in patients with DFI has not been well characterized. Methods —We prospectively studied patients who presented with a focal neurological deficit that resolved spontaneously within 6 hours of symptom onset. Patients were evaluated with bedside transcranial Doppler (TCD). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), computed tomographic angiography (CTA), or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were performed when feasible. DFI was defined as subsequent worsening of the neurological deficit by ≥4 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale points within 24 hours of the initial symptom onset. Results —We studied 50 consecutive patients presenting at 165±96 minutes from symptom onset. Mean age was 61±14 years; 50% were females. All patients had TCD at the time of presentation, and 68% had subsequent angiographic examinations (DSA 10%, CTA 4%, and MRA 44%). Overall, large-vessel occlusion on TCD was found in 16% of patients (n=8); stenosis was found in 18% (n=9); 54% (n=27) had normal studies; and 6 patients (12%) had no temporal windows. DFI occurred in 16% (n=8) of the 50 patients: in 62% of patients with TCD and angiographic evidence of occlusion, in 22% with stenosis, and in 4% with normal vascular studies ( P <0.001, Φ=0.523, χ2=12.05). DFI occurred in 31% of patients with large-vessel atherosclerosis, 23% with cardioembolism, and 9% with small-vessel disease when stroke mechanisms were determined within 2 to 3 days after admission ( P =0.2, NS). Conclusions —DFI is strongly associated with the presence of large-vessel occlusion or stenosis of either atherosclerotic or embolic origin. Normal vascular studies and lacunar events were associated with stable spontaneous resolution without subsequent fluctuation. Urgent vascular evaluation may help identify patients with resolving deficits and vascular lesions who may be candidates for new therapies to prevent subsequent deterioration.
Techniques for Dispersion of Microorganisms into Air

Many commercially available devices initially developed for dispersion of biologically inert particles have been adopted for aerosolization of microoganisms in laboratory settings. However, these d...
Framework composed of interconnected quadruple-octahedra infinite chains: Synthesis and structure of calcium ytterbium sulfide, CaYb2S4, with the Yb3S4-type structure

Abstract Single crystals of the ternary calcium ytterbium compound, CaYb2S4, have been synthesized using an eutectic, halide flux and have been structurally characterized by the X-ray single-crystal diffraction method. The compound crystallizes in an orthorhombic unit cell, Pnma (No. 62), with cell dimensions of a = 12.807 (3) A, b = 3.836 (2) A, c = 12.964 (3) A, V = 636.9 (7) A3, and Z = 4. The least-squares refinement of 658 observed reflections (with F20 > 3σ (F20)) gives a final structure solution of R = 0.026, Rw = 0.030, and GOF = 1.06 for 45 variables. This compound has adopted a Yb3S4-type structure in which the 7-coordinated divalent Yb2+ sites are occupied by Ca2+ cations. The refined occupancy factor on the calcium site suggests some nonstoichiometry, which is attributed to the solid solution of a ytterbium-rich phase. The crystal formula found is Ca1−xYb2+xS4 (x = 0.04). The CaYb2S4 structure is a three-dimensional lattice which consists of interconnected quadruple-octahedra infinite chains. Each quadruple chain is built up from four edge-sharing octahedra that are composed of two pairs of asymmetric Yb(1)S6 and Yb(2)S6 groups. Structure comparison with another ternary rare-earth sulfide bearing a larger alkaline earth metal cation, BaSm2S4 (CaFe2O4-type), gives rise to some important insight for structure formation of rare-earth chalcogenide compounds.
Advances in the WRF model for convection-resolving forecasting

Abstract. The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model has been designed to be an efficient and flexible simulation system for use across a broad range of weather-forecast and idealized-research applications. Of particular interest is the use of WRF in nonhydrostatic applications in which moist-convective processes are treated explicitly, thereby avoiding the ambiguities of cumulus parameterization. To evaluate the capabilities of WRF for convection-resolving applications, real-time forecasting experiments have been conducted with 4 km horizontal mesh spacing for both convective systems in the central U.S. and for hurricanes approaching landfall in the southeastern U.S. These forecasts demonstrate a good potential for improving the forecast accuracy of the timing and location of these systems, as well as providing more detailed information on their structure and evolution that is not available in current coarser resolution operational forecast models.
Carcinoma of the bladder

Over the past 20 years, advances in tumor staging, tumor biology, and therapeutic management have positively influenced both cure rates and overall survival of patients with bladder cancer. Treatment recommendations depend on the stage of the disease, the grade of tumor, likelihood of recurrence, and the patient's medical condition. These patients continue to be faced with treatment options that affect their physical, sexual, and psychosocial well-being.