cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Training and Transfer of Word Identification: Foreign Language Speech Rate

This study examined effects of speech rate on the training and transfer of foreign language word identification. Speeds of initial training and test speech were varied, allowing for analysis of the relative effects of training difficulty and training specificity on a practical task—learning to map words to orthography in a new language. Participants were trained to identify words in Spanish sentences at one of 3 speech rates and tested at all 3 rates with new and old sentences. During training and testing, participants who learned at the fastest rate were less accurate at word segmentation than those who learned at medium and slow rates. There were no significant differences in segmentation accuracy between participants who trained at slow and medium speeds. Results do not support the difficulty of training principle but do support specificity of training for target words and grammatical structures although not for speech rate.
Evaluation of the Effect of Probiotic Administration on Gene Expression in Goat Blood

The objective of this study was to assess the molecular impact of probiotic administration on genes involved in homeostasis and immunity in goat blood. Following initial screening for infection, one-week post weaning, female SpanishXBoer goats were drenched daily with the recommended doses of FASTtrak microbial pack (Conklin Company Inc., Shakopee, MN) in 10 mL sterile water over an 8-week period. The control group were given sterile water. Blood samples were collected weekly. Total RNA was isolated from blood collected at the beginning of the study (week 0) and at the end of the study (week 8) using Tri-reagent and then reverse-transcribed to cDNA using the Ambion-Retroscript kit. Quantification of genes was performed in the CFX96 TM Biorad Real-Time PCR detection system with the addition of the dye SYBR green. The cow Wingless (Wnt) signaling pathway, Human Innate & Adaptive Immune Responses and the Cow Inflammatory Cytokine & Receptors RT² Profiler™ PCR Arrays (QIAGEN, Valencia, CA) were used to profile the expression of 84 genes involved in each pathway. Probiotic treatment had no effect on body weight, body condition, fecal egg count and RNA concentration (p>0.05). Packed cell volume and FAMACHA scores were significantly improved by probiotic administration. Results from RT-PCR showed increased expression of genes in innate and adaptive immune response, cytokine and Wnt pathways in response to probiotics. Probiotics induced the expression of 32 genes involved in innate and adaptive immune response inflammatory cytokines, and 48 genes involved in the Wnt signaling pathway. This study provides evidence for a systematic effect of oral probiotic administration on expression of genes involved in immunity and homeostasis in goat blood.
Information Coordination, of Structure, Optimal and a Game Model Duopoly

Abstract A static market model of duopoly, with the government influencing the market, is formulated as a Stackelberg game with one leader and two Nash followers. By using a strategy which is a function of the decisions of the Nash duopolists, the government may induce them to virtually cooperate. Marginal cost, price, price elasticity of demand, total profits, and consumers' welfare, when this incentive mechanism is used, are compared to the corresponding quantities under voluntary cooperation.
A direct inverse method for subsurface properties: The conceptual and practical benefit and added value in comparison with all current indirect methods, for example, amplitude-variation-with-offset and full-waveform inversion

AbstractDirect inverse methods solve the problem of interest; in addition, they communicate whether the problem of interest is the problem that we (the seismic industry) need to be interested in. When a direct solution does not result in an improved drill success rate, we know that the problem we have chosen to solve is not the right problem — because the solution is direct and cannot be the issue. On the other hand, with an indirect method, if the result is not an improved drill success rate, then the issue can be either the chosen problem, or the particular choice within the plethora of indirect solution methods, or both. The inverse scattering series (ISS) is the only direct inversion method for a multidimensional subsurface. Solving a forward problem in an inverse sense is not equivalent to a direct inverse solution. All current methods for parameter estimation, e.g., amplitude-variation-with-offset and full-waveform inversion, are solving a forward problem in an inverse sense and are indirect inversi...
Toward a Communication Perspective of Restorative Justice: Implications for Research, Facilitation, and Assessment

As the research and practice of restorative justice has grown, conversations have been ongoing about how to define and evaluate such practices. In this conceptual review, we argue for the utility and importance of adopting a communication perspective (Pearce, 1989, Communication and the human condition. Southern Illinois University Press, Carbondale, IL.) for defining, evaluating, and practicing restorative justice. We begin by describing a communication perspective before reviewing scholarly literature regarding defining and evaluating restorative justice. We also illustrate how a communication perspective can prompt useful questions about defining, evaluating, facilitating, and administering restorative justice. We conclude with a discussion of implications for research, facilitation, and organizational administration.
Sea salts as a potential source of food spoilage fungi.

Production of sea salt begins with evaporation of sea water in shallow pools called salterns, and ends with the harvest and packing of salts. This process provides many opportunities for fungal contamination. This study aimed to determine whether finished salts contain viable fungi that have the potential to cause spoilage when sea salt is used as a food ingredient by isolating fungi on a medium that simulated salted food with a lowered water activity (0.95 aw). The viable filamentous fungi from seven commercial salts were quantified and identified by DNA sequencing, and the fungal communities in different salts were compared. Every sea salt tested contained viable fungi, in concentrations ranging from 0.07 to 1.71 colony-forming units per gram of salt. In total, 85 fungi were isolated representing seven genera. One or more species of the most abundant genera, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Penicillium was found in every salt. Many species found in this study have been previously isolated from low water activity environments, including salterns and foods. We conclude that sea salts contain many fungi that have potential to cause food spoilage as well as some that may be mycotoxigenic.
Uncertainty Avoidance, Face-Saving, and Organizations

Chapter 8 describes the cultural dimension uncertainty avoidance. The chapter begins with a representative example to explain how those with high uncertainty avoidance also feel more stress, try to maintain the status quo, prefer structure, formalization, rules, and rituals because they are predictable. Since those with high uncertainty avoidance have anxiety, they first have to reduce their uncertainty before dealing with new people and are known to express aggression when stressed out. The associations between uncertainty avoidance and tightness, looseness, trust, openness, corruption, sexual harassment, organizational teamwork, leadership, and organizational rituals are also discussed in this chapter.
A 90-day Bundled Payment for Primary Single-level Lumbar Discectomy/Decompression: What Does “Big Data” Say?

Episode-based bundling may become the major form of reimbursement for many elective spine procedures. As the amount for a 90-day episode of care is not known for a lumbar discectomy, we analyzed the previous reimbursements from Commercial payers (2007-Q2 2015), Medicare Advantage (2007-Q2 2015), and Medicare (2005-2012) for a primary single-level lumbar discectomy/decompression. Distribution of payments among various service providers was studied and a 90-day bundle was simulated. Depending on the payer type, the average facility costs constituted 59.7% to 73.6% of total payments, followed by surgeon's fees, which accounted for 13.7% to 18.5%. Postacute services made up 8.8% to 15.8% of the total reimbursement. Surgeries performed in the inpatient setting were significantly more expensive as compared with surgeries performed in the outpatient setting (P<0.01). The average 90-day bundle amount was estimated at $11,091, $6571, and $6239 for Commercial payers, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare, respectively. Overall, service providers in the Southern region were reimbursed the lowest from Commercial payers and Medicare, compared with other regions. Postacute services are not as major cost drivers after discectomy as after total joint arthroplasty or hip fracture repair.
Human services students’ experiential learning on conducting a life story research of Chinese American family caregivers

ABSTRACTCommunity college students were involved in conducting a research project entitled “Life Stories of Chinese American Family Caregivers.” They recruited Chinese American family caregivers an...
Power Delivery Network Design for 3D IC

In this chapter, we first study the impact of P/G TSVs on the power supply noise as well as 3D IC layouts. We perform sign-off static IR-drop analysis on GDSII layouts of 2D and 3D IC designs using commercial-grade tools. We also explore the impact of 3D P/G network topology on IR-drop by varying P/G TSV pitch. Next, we study a non-regular P/G TSV placement algorithm to further reduce the number of P/G TSVs used, while satisfying the given IR-drop noise requirement. Compared with the conventional regular structure, our non-regular P/G TSV placement algorithm reduces the P/G TSV count, wirelength, and footprint area by 59.3, 3.4, and 3.5 % on average, respectively. Next, we study the TSV RC variation impact on 3D power delivery network (PDN). First, we model TSV RC variation due to process variation. Then, we perform sign-off power supply noise analysis of 3D PDN in GDSII layouts which contain power/ground (P/G) TSV RC variation model. We explore the effect of TSV RC variation range, the number of variation sources (P/G TSV count), the number of C4 bumps, and TSV size on the robustness of PDN under TSV RC variation. Our results show that TSV RC variations cause negligible influence on 3D PDN due to much smaller parasitic values of TSVs compared with that of entire PDN.
Total Body Lift After Extreme Weight Loss

Total Body Lift (TBL) surgery is the aesthetic correction of skin laxity of the torso in as few stages as safely possible. The goal is to surgically address all of the body contour changes after weight loss. This is the photographic essay of a recent TBL operation on a 43-year-old massive weight loss patient, which not only removed undesirable excess and lax skin but also used her tissues to sculpture a female form. Her breasts were broad and flat due to her massive weight loss and a prior breast reduction. The upper poles are empty, and the lower poles have elongated. Her loose-skinned torso is broad and boxy without definition of her waist. Her abdomen has two large sagging rolls and a ptotic mons pubis. Her buttocks are sagging and flat. Her thighs are large with sagging skin. The technique of the individual operations is presented as well as the relationship between them. Two surgical teams, directed by a single surgeon, performed over seven hours bilateral suture suspension mastopexy, abdominoplasty, lower body lift with fascial flap augmentation, bilateral vertical medial thigh plasties, and ultrasonic-assisted lipoplasty of her trunk. The outcome is presented.
Determination of Palpebral Closure Using a Hall Sensor Magnet Pair

A small device that can detect eyelid closure was designed using a Hall sensor and magnet. The ability of the sensor to differentiate blinks from saccadic motion is of vital interest in development of a device to alleviate complications of facial nerve paralysis. Twelve physically normal human subjects were used in this study. A small Hall sensor (3 x 2.5 x 1.1 mm), a device that detects magnetic fields, was attached to the lower eyelid near the lid margin, and an opposing small magnet (3 x 2 x 1 mm) was attached to the upper eyelid, also near the lid margin. Output potentials from the Hall sensor were monitored during eye blinks and saccadic eye movements to correlate sensor potentials with eye movements. Results indicate that the Hall sensor is effective at determining palpebral closure and discriminating eye closure from other eye movements. Therefore, we conclude that the Hall sensor is a reliable means for determining palpebral closure and is ideally suited for use in a facial prosthesis that uses the normal blink as a trigger to reanimate the contralateral paralyzed eyelid.
Daily- and Person-Level Associations Between Physical Activity and Alcohol Use Among College Students:

Emerging adults, particularly university students, who are physically active, drink more than their less physically active peers. We extended this between-person relationship to the within-person l...
Structural Optimization of Cyclic Sulfonamide Based Novel HIV-1 Protease Inhibitors to Picomolar Affinities Guided by X-Ray Crystallographic Analysis.

Novel cyclic sulfonamide-based inhibitors of HIV-1 protease are designed, synthesis and evaluated for their activity.
Utility of the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students in Clinically Referred Youth With Insomnia: Risk Identification and Relationship With Polysomnographic Measures.

Objective/Background: This study evaluated the overall performance of the Sleep Disorders Inventory for Students (SDIS) in identifying sleep disorders risk and the sensitivity and specificity of sp...
Morning Circadian Misalignment Is Associated With Insulin Resistance in Girls With Obesity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Context To our knowledge, circadian rhythms have not been examined in girls with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), despite the typical delayed circadian timing of adolescence, which is an emerging link between circadian health and insulin sensitivity (SI), and decreased SI in PCOS. Objective To examine differences in the circadian melatonin rhythm between obese adolescent girls with PCOS and control subjects, and evaluate relationships between circadian variables and SI. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants Obese adolescent girls with PCOS (n = 59) or without PCOS (n = 33). Outcome measures Estimated sleep duration and timing from home actigraphy monitoring, in-laboratory hourly sampled dim-light, salivary-melatonin and fasting hormone analysis. Results All participants obtained insufficient sleep. Girls with PCOS had later clock-hour of melatonin offset, later melatonin offset relative to sleep timing, and longer duration of melatonin secretion than control subjects. A later melatonin offset after wake time (i.e., morning wakefulness occurring during the biological night) was associated with higher serum free testosterone levels and worse SI regardless of group. Analyses remained significant after controlling for daytime sleepiness and sleep-disordered breathing. Conclusion Circadian misalignment in girls with PCOS is characterized by later melatonin offset relative to clock time and sleep timing. Morning circadian misalignment was associated with metabolic dysregulation in girls with PCOS and obesity. Clinical care of girls with PCOS and obesity would benefit from assessment of sleep and circadian health. Additional research is needed to understand mechanisms underlying the relationship between morning circadian misalignment and SI in this population.
vIIS: a vocational interactive immersive storytelling framework for skill training and performance assessment

Training and assessment of a new worker is the most vital part of any vocational industry. The landscape of jobs and work is changing rapidly, thanks to the emerging new technology and the advancement of knowledge in the scientific fields. This technological and scientific revolution presents an opportunity in the creation of new industries and occupations, enhanced productivity and quality of work life, and the potential for more people to participate in the workforce. But these come at risk and disadvantage of an increased cost of training as well as lack of proper training in a few industries. In this paper, we propose to build a vIIS framework - A Vocational Interactive Immersive Storytelling system that uses storytelling in an Interactive virtual environment to train and assess a worker a new skill. The major advantage of this vIIS system is that it provides constant feedback in an engaging immersive virtual reality environment and has better memory retention and recall of the trained task. For assessment, we intend to collect data such as task completion time, accuracy, error rate, qualitative feedback and also measure transfer learning.
Funding New Ventures with Digital Tokens: Due Diligence and Token Tradability

We study funding mechanisms for new ventures based on cryptographic tokens enabled by blockchain technology, such as initial coin offerings (ICOs). The infrastructure built around blockchain allows for efficient trading of these tokens. Thus the due diligence process can be crowdsourced beyond the potential early adopters, as favorable assessments of the venture can be leveraged with speculative token purchases exceeding the buyer's individual demand. We develop a model for an entrepreneur considering digital tokens to finance a new venture, focusing on token tradability and broader crowdsourcing of due diligence. We then compare funding via digital tokens with funding from traditional financing sources like venture capital as well as with pre-sale crowdfunding with non-tradable rewards. We find that tradable digital tokens are more attractive when there is higher uncertainty about market demand, which is frequently the case when developing applications of new technologies, such as blockchain-based platforms. In such cases crowdsourcing due diligence benefits from the information contained in the private valuations of the early potential adopters. Token tradability leverages that information and increases the amount that can be financed, thus enabling new ventures with higher development costs. The increased funding comes at the cost of a lower digital token price and lower total profit for the entrepreneur, but may still be preferable to the alternatives, if such alternatives are available at all. This work makes a contribution to the emerging literatures on digital cryptographic tokens and on crowdfunding new ventures.
Internationaler Einsatz von HP-Standardsoftware im Finanz- und Rechnungswesen

Hewlett — Packard setzte 1983 weltweit 4,7 Mrd. US-$ um. 1,5 Mrd. DM waren es allein in Deutschland durch die groesste Tochtergesellschaft des Konzerns.
P69 Inquiry of social media use in adolescents assessed in a camhs clinic in UK

Aims The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) published guidelines (in 2019) for parents and clinicians on screen time for children and young people. The impact of social media use on a young person’s physical and mental health is currently being researched. We are aware of the positive and negative effects of social media use on mental health. Negative effects can include body-image disturbances, cyberbullying, poor sleep, mood disturbances and anxiety. The aim of the audit was to investigate whether social media usage was considered during an initial assessment (and risk assessment) of a young person in a CAMHS clinic in UK. Methods An Audit was completed at 3 different CAMHS clinics over a 2 month period for all initial assessments. Electronic case records (nationally used) were checked. Total number of cases reviewed were 150. The authors devised a data collection tool to check for evidence of questions asked in relation to social media usage. A survey of all CAMHS professionals in the region was also completed to enquire if they routinely asked questions in relation to screen time and social media use during initial assessment. Results The audit showed less than 5% of young people assessed in clinics over a 3 month period were routinely asked about their social media use during their initial assessment. Moreover, there was no proportional increase in enquiry for ‘high risk’ cases. The results are likely to be applicable County-wide as a single electronic record system is used. The survey showed that social media use and associated risks were not routinely enquired. Furthermore, there were no prompts on the electronic assessment tools for professionals. Conclusions The audit demonstrated a significantly low (almost negligent) percentage of young people (or their parents) actively asked about social media use and its impact on their mental health. Given the likely effects especially in a vulnerable population, it is important these are asked routinely. The authors devised a simple screening tool to be part of the assessment tool on the electronic records. Local teaching sessions were also arranged with clinicians and parent workshops were organised. A re-audit will be completed to evaluate the impact of the training and workshops.
Nevertheless, they persisted: How a group of ‘noisy moms’ overcame dismissal and helped to improve school food in a US small city school district

The feeding of children has long been a gendered project and women have historically led the charge in most US school food activism. I center the pivotal role of women volunteers in the initiation,...
Facile Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel Tamavidin‐Luciferase Reporter Fusion Protein for Universal Signaling Applications

Despite the avidin/biotin reaction being one of the most ubiquitous noncovalent immobilization and sensing strategies in scientific research, the ability to synthesize useful amounts of biotin-binding fusion constructs is hampered by poor solubility in bacterial expression systems. As such, there are few reports of successful genetic reporter fusions incorporating a biotin-binding partner. To address this, a sensitivity-enhanced, synthetically facile reporter fusion is developed to merge the bioluminescence output of Gaussia luciferase (Gluc) with the recently characterized biotin-binding ability of tamavidin 2 (TA2) for general and universal signaling applications in biological and analytical systems. This fusion construct enables direct bacterial expression of a reporter system incorporating two important functionalities in a 1:1 stoichiometric relationship that can provide detection of discrete events at low concentrations. Using a cold-shock expression system, highly concentrated construct can be obtained from standard culture volumes while retaining essentially native protein activity. To demonstrate feasibility and provide an example application, this fusion construct is then included in a standard target-bridged assay design for the sensitive detection of four miRNA targets.
Modeling flow and pressure distributions in multi-branch light-commercial duct systems

This paper describes a numerical model that was developed to predict flow and pressure distribution in three multi-branch air duct systems as a function of upstream static gauge pressure. The duct ...
Changes in visual cortical processing attenuate singleton distraction during visual search.

Abstract The ability to suppress distractions is essential to successful completion of goal-directed behaviors. Several behavioral studies have recently provided strong evidence that learned suppression may be particularly efficient in reducing distractor interference. Expectations about a distractor's repeated location, color, or even presence are rapidly learned and used to attenuate interference. In this study, we use a visual search paradigm in which a color singleton, which is known to capture attention, occurs within blocks with high or low frequency. The behavioral results show reduced singleton interference during the high compared to the low frequency block (Won et al., 2019). The fMRI results provide evidence that the attenuation of distractor interference is supported by changes in singleton, target, and non-salient distractor representations within retinotopic visual cortex. These changes in visual cortex are accompanied by findings that singleton-present trials compared to non-singleton trials produce greater activation in bilateral parietal cortex, indicative of attentional capture, in low frequency, but not high frequency blocks. Together, these results suggest that the readout of saliency signals associated with an expected color singleton from visual cortex is suppressed, resulting in less competition for attentional priority in frontoparietal attentional control regions.
Tetrahydroquinoline derivatives as CRTH2 antagonists

A series of tetrahydroquinoline-derived inhibitors of the CRTH2 receptor was discovered by a high throughput screen. Optimization of these compounds for potency and pharmacokinetic properties led to the discovery of potent and orally bioavailable CRTH2 antagonists.
Accreditation of Epilepsy Centers

In 2012, the Institute of Medicine recommended that a formal process be developed for the accreditation of epilepsy centers in the United States. This article provides some of the background and pr...
International Evidence on the Impact of Macroprudential Policies on Bank Risk Taking and Systemic Risk

In this paper, we examine the impact of adopting macroprudential policies on bank risk taking and systemic risk. Using a difference-in-differences (DiD) design and a sample of 3,342 banks from 77 countries over the period 1997-2016, we find that macroprudential policy instruments mitigate bank risk taking and lower systemic risk. The mitigation depends on the policy target. We find borrower-targeted policies are effective, while policies targeting financial institutions’ assets or liabilities are not effective. We find the impact of borrower-targeted macroprudential policies on systemic risk is stronger in countries with more closed economies and those with tighter restrictions on bank activities. We find some evidence of a reduction in the effectiveness of policies adopted after the global financial crisis (GFC). Our results are robust to a battery of tests.
Therapeutic strategies to enhance crizotinib anti-tumor efficacy in ALK + ALCL

Abstract In 1985, a new type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma was discovered using a monoclonal antibody, Ki-1 (anti-CD30), raised against a Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cell line. It, ultimately named anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), was characterized and found to usually contain translocation t(2;5)(p23;q35) fusing nucleophosmin (NPM) and a “new” gene, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). The NPM-ALK fusion gene results in a constitutively active ALK tyrosine kinase that drives neoplastic cell growth, in large part through activation of STAT3 and downstream signaling. ALK positive ALCL is predominantly a disease of children, adolescents, and young adults, while similar tumors in adults are ALK negative. The discovery of ALK + ALCL occurred during a time of progress in the treatment of pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL), and it was initially considered to have a favorable prognosis, with 60–70% event free survival compared to other pediatric NHLs for which treatment results were less favorable. Since that time, however, progress has occurred in other pediatric NHLs, but has stalled in ALCL. ALK translocations and other abnormalities have subsequently been found in a number of neoplasms including a portion of non-small cell lung cancers, and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been successfully used in their therapy. Tumors often develop resistance to TKIs, limiting their long-term success. TKI therapy is gradually being introduced into the treatment of ALK + ALCL in efforts to reduce toxicity of chemotherapy while preserving and increasing cure rates. Other targeted modalities are also available to aid in this quest, including the anti-CD30 antibody drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin, other immune therapies including bi-specific antibodies and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T).
Empirical Testing of a Farm Firm Growth Theory

Researchers in agricultural economics have become increasingly concerned with the effects of structural and technical changes in agriculture upon the size of the farm firm. These researchers not only want to understand firm growth in order to make suggestions for necessary changes in social institutions but also to advise the managers of farm firms. Recent farm firm growth research studies were conducted using empirically based mathematical programming models to explore growth and to test hypotheses concerning the influence of various economic factors upon growth. For examples, see. Growth in these studies is a function of the assumptions of the particular programming model.
Estimation of Temporally Evolving Typhoon Winds and Waves from Synthetic Aperture Radar

Abstract : The long-term goal of this project is to develop a methodology for using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data to improve characterization of the winds and waves generated by typhoons in the western Pacific Ocean. The specific objective of the project is to develop a variational assimilation algorithm based on the SWAN model to estimate the near-surface typhoon wind field from SAR data. Third-generation wave spectrum models such as SWAN can be used to predict wind-generated waves. Combining SWAN and a model relating the SAR-image spectrum to the computed wave spectrum, one can predict the SAR-image spectrum which results from a known wind field. Using variational data assimilation, this relationship can be inverted to estimate the wind field from SAR data. The focus of this effort is to extend an existing SAR assimilation algorithm to enable the estimation of surface wind fields from SAR data. An assimilation algorithm has been developed to estimate the ocean-wave field for a near-shore region for stationary conditions using SAR data. The algorithm is variational in nature and is based on the SWAN 40.51 ocean-wave-spectrum model coupled to the nonlinear SAR-spectrum model of Hasselmann and Hasselmann. For this case, the algorithm is used to estimate the boundary conditions for SWAN that result in a wave-spectrum prediction which best fits the SAR data.
A new type of climate network based on probabilistic graphical models: Results of boreal winter versus summer

[1] In this paper we introduce a new type of climate network based on temporal probabilistic graphical models. This new method is able to distinguish between direct and indirectconnections and thus can eliminate indirect connections in the network. Furthermore, while correlation-based climate networks focus onsimilarity between nodes, this new method provides an alternative viewpoint by focusing on information flowwithin the network over time. We build a prototype of this new network utilizing daily values of 500 mb geopotential height over the entire globe during the period 1948 to 2011. The basic network features are presented and compared between boreal winter and summer in terms of intra-location properties that measurelocal memoryat a grid point and inter-location properties that quantifyremote impactof a grid point. Results suggest that synoptic-scale, sub-weekly disturbances act as the main information carrier in this network and their intrinsic timescale limits the extent to which a grid point can influence its nearby locations. The frequent passage of these disturbances over storm track regions also uniquely determines the timescale of height fluctuations thuslocal memoryat a grid point. The poleward retreat of synoptic-scale disturbances in boreal summer is largely responsible for a corresponding poleward shift of local maxima inlocal memory and remote impact, which is most evident in the North Pacific sector. For the NH as a whole, both local memory and remote impactstrengthen from winter to summer leading to intensified information flow and more tightly-coupled network nodes during the latter period.
Should the Law Favor Consumers or Producers? A Look at the Effects of Protectionist Trade Policies

There is no doubt that protectionism costs. But it is less clear exactly how much it costs and who pays. And while protectionism results in a deadweight loss -- there are more losers than winners -- some individuals and groups gain from protectionism. And it is those who stand to gain who have the ear of the legislature, at least for the most part. Part I of this article provides an introduction and overview of the topic. Part II provides an overview of protectionism and the costs associated with it. Part III examines the monetary costs of protectionism, with emphasis on the costs of protectionism in the auto, steel, textile and agricultural industries. Part IV discusses the nonmonetary costs associated with protectionism, such as unemployment, reduction in social harmony, reduced choice and rights violations. Part V concludes that protectionism is a bad policy, whether viewed from a utilitarian or rights perspective, and recommends that laws that support protectionism should be repealed because protectionism is not in the public interest.
Ecological Climatology: Concepts and Applications

The third edition of Gordon Bonan's comprehensive textbook introduces an interdisciplinary framework to understand the interaction between terrestrial ecosystems and climate change. Ideal for advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying ecology, environmental science, atmospheric science, and geography, it reviews basic meteorological, hydrological, and ecological concepts to examine the physical, chemical, and biological processes by which terrestrial ecosystems affect and are affected by climate. This new edition has been thoroughly updated with new science and references. The scope has been expanded beyond its initial focus on energy, water, and carbon to include reactive gases and aerosols in the atmosphere. The new edition emphasizes the Earth as a system, recognizing interconnections among the planet's physical, chemical, biological, and socioeconomic components, and emphasizing global environmental sustainability. Each chapter contains chapter summaries and review questions, and with over 400 illustrations, including many in color, this textbook will once again be an essential student guide.
The Role of Ethics Audits in Improving Ethical Conduct in Law Firms: An Empirical Examination

For decades, legal malpractice experts have urged lawyers to implement risk management measures. To assist law firms in doing so, legal malpractice insurers have provided audit services and self-audit materials. The ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct also recognize the importance of policies and procedures as an aspect of a firm’s ethical infrastructure. Specifically, Model Rule 5.1 and state versions of Model Rule 5.1 require that firm principals make reasonable efforts to ensure that the firm has in effect measures to ensure that firm lawyers conform to the rules of professional conduct.In Australia, legislation requires that incorporated law firms appoint a director to be responsible for management of legal services and that the director ensure that “appropriate management systems” be implemented and maintained to enable the provision of legal services in accordance with obligations imposed by law. Under this regulatory regime, incorporated legal practices are required to complete a self-assessment process and to report on the firm’s compliance with ten objectives of sound law practice.Early studies in Australia revealed that management-based regulation of law firms dramatically reduced the number of complaints involving incorporated law firms that completed the self- assessment process. To obtain data on the reasons for the reduction in complaints, as well as other effects of the self-assessment process, I conducted an empirical study, surveying and interviewing practitioners in law firms that completed the self-assessment process. Study results revealed that the self-assessment process first raised lawyers’ “ethics awareness” and then contributed to their firms implementing and improving their management systems.This article discusses study findings and recommendations related to the effects of the self-assessment process. The article examines how features of management-based regulation may be integrated into lawyer regulation in the U.S. and how regulators, insurers, and bar leaders can create incentives encouraging lawyers and firms to examine and improve their management systems and practice controls.
Design concept of direct-drive manipulators using rare-earth DC torque motors

A direct-drive robotic manipulator (CMU DD Arm) is being developed at Carnegie-Mellon University. This paper describes the design concept and theory of this new mechanical arm based on the direct-drive method using rare-earth DC torque motors. Because these motors have high torque, light weight and compact size, we can construct robots with far better performance than those presently available. For example, we can eliminate all the transmission mechanisms between the motors and their loads, such as reducers and chain belts, and construct a simple mechanism (direct-drive) where the arm links are directly coupled to the motor rotors and stators. This elimination can lead to excellent performance: no backlash, low fraction, low inertia, low compliance and high reliability.
From Curriculum Guides to Classroom Enactment: Examining Early Career Elementary Teachers' Orientations Toward Standards-Based Mathematics Curriculum Implementation

This article examines three early career elementary teachers’ orientations toward standards-based mathematics curriculum implementation in New York City public schools. It is important to have a greater understanding of teachers who are responsible for enacting standards-based curriculum in authentic teaching situations in order to learn more about what may facilitate or hinder student learning. Findings from this study reveal that all three teachers had varied orientations toward mathematics curriculum implementation due to their particular school contexts, expectations from their respective school administrators, and their personal beliefs about mathematics teaching and learning. Implications from this study include the need for school administrators to allow teachers greater flexibility and autonomy to tailor their district’s formal curriculum to greater suit their classroom needs, which could potentially lead to higher student mathematics achievement.
On the measurement of radiation induced crosstalk in polarization preserving optical fibers and directional coupler waveguides

The measurement of radiation induced crosstalk in optically coupled waveguide devices is presented. Experimental techniques used for the detection, processing and analysis of complex optical signal polarizations, intensities, and attenuations within an index-perturbed medium are shown to be formidable but manageable. Successfully measured and first reported crosstalk and absorption data occurring over eight decades of time are presented. >
Morphological differences in Neisseria meningitidis pili

Disease and carrier isolates of Neisseria meningitidis were examined for their ability to adhere to human buccal epithelial cells and human cell lines and to hemagglutinate human erythrocytes, properties thought to be associated with the presence of pili. Seventy percent (7 of 10) of carrier isolates were found to be highly adherent to human buccal epithelial cells and to agglutinate human A, B, O, Rh-, and Rh+ erythrocytes. In contrast, 60% of the disease isolates adhered poorly to human buccal epithelial cells and 80% failed to agglutinate human erythrocytes. No adherence of either disease or carrier isolates was observed when several human cell lines were tested. When the meningococcal strains were examined by electron microscopy, 7 of 10 disease isolates were found to possess large bundles of aggregated pili (alpha-type pili), while 7 of 10 carrier isolates were found to have numerous unaggregated pili (beta-type pili). A monoclonal antibody against meningococcal pili and one against gonococcal pili reacted with 6 of 10 piliated carrier isolates and 4 of 10 piliated disease isolates. These results suggest that meningococci, like gonococci, possess different types of pili which differ in morphological, antigenic, and binding properties. In addition, antigenic and morphological differences between pili from carrier and disease isolates were observed as well as differences in adherence and hemagglutinating properties.
Large-Scale Expansions of Friedreich's Ataxia GAA Repeats in Yeast

Large-scale expansions of DNA repeats are implicated in numerous hereditary disorders in humans. We describe a yeast experimental system to analyze large-scale expansions of triplet GAA repeats responsible for the human disease Friedreich's ataxia. When GAA repeats were placed into an intron of the chimeric URA3 gene, their expansions caused gene inactivation, which was detected on the selective media. We found that the rates of expansions of GAA repeats increased exponentially with their lengths. These rates were only mildly dependent on the repeat's orientation within the replicon, whereas the repeat-mediated replication fork stalling was exquisitely orientation dependent. Expansion rates were significantly elevated upon inactivation of the replication fork stabilizers, Tof1 and Csm3, but decreased in the knockouts of postreplication DNA repair proteins, Rad6 and Rad5, and the DNA helicase Sgs1. We propose a model for large-scale repeat expansions based on template switching during replication fork progression through repetitive DNA.
Measurement of integrated tuning elements for SIS mixes with a Fourier transform spectrometer

Planar lithographed quasioptical mixers can profit from the use of integrated tuning elements to improve the coupling between the antenna and the SIS mixer junctions. We have used a Fourier transform spectrometer with an Hg-arc lamp source as an RF sweeper to measure the frequency response of such integrated tuning elements. The SIS junction connected to the tuning element served as the direct detector for the spectrometer. This relatively quick, easy experiment can give enough information over a broad range of millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths to test both design concepts and success in fabrication. One type of tuning element, an inductive wire connected in parallel with a series array of 5 SIS junctions across the terminals of a bow-tie antenna, shows a resonant response peak at 100 GHz with a 30% bandwidth. This result is in excellent agreement with theoretical calculations based on a simple L-C circuit. It also agrees very well with the RF frequency dependence of the mixer gain measured using the same structure. The other type of tuning element, an open-circuited stub connected in parallel with a single SIS junction across the terminals of a bow-tie antenna, exhibits multiple resonances at 110, 220, and 336 GHz, with bandwidths of 9–15 GHz. This result is in good agreement with theoretical calculations based on an open-circuited stub with small loss and small dispersion. The position and the bandwidth of the resonance at 110 GHz also agrees with the RF frequency dependence of the mixer gain measured using similar structures.
The effect of binge fetal alcohol exposure on the number of vasoactive intestinal peptide-producing neurons in fetal sheep brain.

Previously we demonstrated that fetal alcohol exposure attenuates hypoxic cerebral vasodilation in fetal and neonatal sheep. One mechanism may be altered expression of brain vasoactive substances. We
Offset-vertical seismic profiling for marine gas hydrate exploration - is it a suitable technique? First results from ODP Leg 164

Abstract : Walkaway vertical seismic profiles were acquired during Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) Leg 164 at the Blake Ridge to investigate seismic properties of hydrate-bearing sediments and the zone of free gas beneath them. An evaluation of compressional (P-) wave arrivals Site 994 indicates P-wave anisotropy in the sediment column. We identified several shear (S-) wave arrivals in the horizontal components of the geophone array in the borehole and in data recorded with an ocean bottom seismometer deployed at the seafloor. S-waves were converted from P-waves at several depth levels in the sediment column. One of the most prominent conversion points appears to be the bottom simulating reflector (BSR). It is likely that other conversion points are located in the zone of low P-wave reflectivity above the BSR. Modeling suggests that a change of the shear modulus is sufficient to cause significant shear conversion without a significant normal-incidence P-wave reflection.
Protein restriction during pregnancy induces hypertension in adult female rat offspring – influence of oestradiol

We previously reported that gestational dietary protein restriction in rats causes gender-related differences in development of offspring's blood pressure (BP) that is more pronounced in the males than females. Since such effects may depend on sex hormones, we investigated the role of estradiol in the development of hypertension in female offspring of protein restricted dams. Female offspring of pregnant rats fed normal (20%) or protein restricted (6%) casein diets throughout pregnancy were kept either, intact, ovariectomized or ovariectomized with estradiol supplementation. BP, estradiol and testosterone levels and vascular estrogen receptor (ER) were examined. BP was significantly higher and plasma estradiol levels were significantly lower by 34% in intact protein restricted female offspring compared to corresponding controls. Further decrease in estradiol levels by ovariectomy exacerbated hypertension in the protein restricted females with an earlier onset and more prominent elevation in BP compared to controls. Estradiol supplementation in ovariectomized protein restricted females significantly reversed ovariectomy-induced hypertension but did not normalize BP to control levels. The hypertensive protein restricted females have reduced vascular ERα expression that was unaffected by ovariectomy or estradiol replacement. In addition, the testosterone levels were significantly higher by 2.4-, 3.4-, and 2.8-fold in intact, ovariectomized and estradiol replaced protein restricted females compared to corresponding controls. Our data show that: 1) hypertension in protein restricted adult female offspring is associated with reduced plasma estradiol levels, 2) estradiol protects and limits the severity of hypertension in protein restricted females and contribute for sexual dimorphism, and 3) Estradiol replacement fails to completely reverse hypertension, which may be related to limited availability of vascular ERα receptors and/or increased circulating testosterone levels.
Limiting relation for the eddy diffusivity close to a wall

Experiments on mass transfer for fully developed flow in a pipe show that the eddy diffusivity for mass close to the wall is described by the functionality The best interpretation of presently available data in a pipe and in an annulus is given by the following, more explicit relation The evidence for this latter relation is not as conclusive as one would like. Accurate measurements of concentration profiles close to a wall are needed.