cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multi-level organization for problem solving using many, diverse, cooperating sources of knowledge

An organization is presented for implementing solutions to knowledge-based AI problems. The hypothesize-and-test paradigm is used as the basis for cooperation among many diverse and independent knowledge sources (KS's). The KS's are assumed individually to be errorful and incomplete. A uniform and integrated multi-level structure, the blackboard, holds the current state of the system. Knowledge sources cooperate by creating, accessing, and modifying elements in the blackboard. The activation of a KS is data-driven, based on the occurrence of patterns in the blackboard which match templates specified by the knowledge source. Each level in the blackboard specifies a different representation of the problem space; the sequence of levels forms a loose hierarchy in which the elements at each level can approximately be described as abstractions of elements at the next lower level. This decomposition can be thought of as an a prion framework of a plan for solving the problem; each level is a generic stage in the plan. The elements at each level in the blackboard are hypotheses about some aspect of that level. The internal structure of an hypothesis consists of a fixed set of attributes; this set is the same for hypotheses at all levels of representation in the blackboard. These attributes are selected to serve as mechanisms for implementing the data-directed hypothesize-and-test paradigm and for efficient goal-directed scheduling of KS's. Knowledge sources may create networks of structural relationships among hypotheses. These relationships, which are explicit in the blackboard, serve to represent inferences and deductions made by the KS's about the hypotheses; they also allow competing and overlapping partial solutions to be handled in an integrated manner. The Hearsay II speech-understanding system is an implementation of this organization; it is used here as an example for descriptive purposes.
Believing Against the Evidence: Agency and the Ethics of Belief

The question of whether it is ever permissible to believe on insufficient evidence has once again become a live question. Greater attention is now being paid to practical dimensions of belief, namely issues related to epistemic virtue, doxastic responsibility, and voluntarism. In this book, McCormick argues that the standards used to evaluate beliefs are not isolated from other evaluative domains. The ultimate criteria for assessing beliefs are the same as those for assessing action because beliefs and actions are both products of agency. Two important implications of this thesis, both of which deviate from the dominant view in contemporary philosophy, are 1) it can be permissible (and possible) to believe for non-evidential reasons, and 2) we have a robust control over many of our beliefs, a control sufficient to ground attributions of responsibility for belief.
A constraint-motivated model of lexical acquisition

A cognitive model for learning associations between words and objects is presented. We first list basic constraints to which the model must adhere. The constraints arise from two sources. First they stem from observed psychological phenomena including typicality effects, extension errors observed from children and belief-dependent behavior. Secondly they arise from our choice to integrate the model in a unified theory of cognition. In presenting the constraints to the model's construction, we motivate our design decisions while describing our algorithm that takes a symbolic, production-based approach. The model's adherence to the constraints is further supported by some empirical results.
Safe Kids Worldwide: preventing unintentional childhood injuries across the globe

Unintentional injuries are predictable and preventable. Yet every hour, a child in the United States dies from an unintentional injury. Globally, the number is even more staggering, with nearly 1 million children dying from unintentional injuries each year. Motor vehicle-related injuries, burns, drowning, falls, suffocation or choking, and poisoning are just a few of the unintentional injury risks threatening children. Patient safety requires a three-pronged strategy of behavior change, use of safety devices, and improvement of laws and regulations to ensure that all children lead healthy and productive lives. Language: en
Connecting Environmental Justice, Sustainability, and Vulnerability

Justice is a core yet often ignored principle of sustainability. However, sustainability for some at the expense of others undermines the principles and practice of sustainability as a force for positive change. In this chapter, we argue that sustainability research and practice can benefit from a closer reading of environmental justice scholarship. At the same time, environmental justice can draw on sustainability principles of systems thinking, anticipatory action, and environmental stewardship to strengthen its methods and approaches while broadening its constituency. Vulnerability science can bridge environmental justice and sustainability and can also benefit from the convergence of ideas, principles, and practices of these fields.
Multicomponent Flow-Transport-Reaction Modeling of Trickle Bed Reactors: Application to Unsteady State Liquid Flow Modulation

A one-dimensional reactor and catalyst pellet scale flow-transport-reaction model utilizing the multicomponent Stefan-Maxwell formulation for inter- and intraphase transport is developed to simulate unsteady state operation in trickle bed reactors. The governing equations and method of solution are discussed. Results are presented for a model reaction system (hydrogenation of α-methylstyrene) under gas reactant limiting conditions, for liquid flow modulation as a test case of unsteady state operation. Model simulations predict that periodic liquid flow modulation can alter the supply of liquid and gaseous reactants to the catalyst and result in reactor performance enhancement above that achieved in steady state operation. The effects of key modulation parameters such as the total cycle period, cycle split, and liquid mass velocity are simulated, and model predictions are found to be in agreement with experimentally observed trends in the literature.
The NLR protein, NLRX1, and its partner, TUFM, reduce type I interferon, and enhance autophagy

The NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing) proteins serve as regulators of inflammatory signaling pathways. NLRX1, a mitochondria-localized NLR protein, has been previously shown to negatively regulate inflammatory cytokine production activated via the MAVS-DDX58 (RIG-I) pathway. The literature also indicates that DDX58 has a negative impact upon autophagy. Consistent with the inhibitory role of NLRX1 on DDX58, our recent study indicates a role of NLRX1 in augmenting virus-induced autophagy. This effect is through its interaction with another mitochondrial protein TUFM (Tu translation elongation factor, mitochondrial, also known as EF-TuMT, COXPD4, and P43). TUFM also reduces DDX58-activated cytokines but augments autophagy. Additionally it interacts with ATG12–ATG5-ATG16L1 to form a molecular complex that modulates autophagy. The work shows that both NLRX1 and TUFM work in concert to reduce cytokine response and augment autophagy.
An intravenous loading dose of azathioprine decreases the time to response in patients with Crohn's disease☆☆☆

Abstract Background & Aims: Azathioprine, an effective therapy for Crohn's disease, is limited by a prolonged time to response. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and utility of a loading dose of azathioprine to decrease the time to response in patients with Crohn's disease. Methods: Twelve patients were studied: 6 with 13 fistulae and 6 with inflammatory disease. All patients received an intravenous infusion of azathioprine (50 mg/h for 36 hours). Response was determined by physical and radiographic examination for fistulae and by the Crohn's Disease Activity Index for inflammatory disease. Erythrocyte concentrations of azathioprine metabolites were measured by chromatography. Results: Seven of 13 fistulae closed by week 4, and three had a temporary decrease in drainage. One fistula improved at week 16. Two fistulae failed to improve. Four of 6 patients with inflammatory disease achieved remission, and 1 improved temporarily. Improvement was rapid (≤4 weeks). Peak concentrations of azathioprine metabolites occurred within 3 days. Clinical response did not correlate with azathioprine metabolite concentrations at the azathioprine dose studied. No adverse events occurred. Conclusions: An 1800-mg intravenous loading dose of azathioprine is safe and may decrease the time to response to ≤4 weeks in patients with Crohn's disease. Correlation between clinical response and azathioprine metabolite concentrations at larger azathioprine doses should be determined.
SYSTEMS EDUCATION AT THE FIELDING INSTITUTE

This is an exposition of the post-graduate program evolving at the Fielding Institute to train professionals in social praxis—ting system theory and methods into programs that effect social change. We illustrate herein how the practice of intervention in social systems calls upon systems praxis, and we argue that the practitioners must have, in addition to a background in the social sciences, a pragmatic access to theories of personal, social and institutional change. The foundation of an education for systems praxis requires intermingling theoretical ideas with skills that can affect the social system. We propose three essential elements for the education of system practitioners: (1) the process of decision-making. (2) processes of inquiry suitable to living systems at personal and at societal levels, and (3) system thinking. Finally, we describe how the whole process requires self-reflection and personal maturity to maintain authentic human engagement
Prospects for the prevention of meningococcal disease: special reference to group B.

Abstract Safe and effective polysaccharide (PS) vaccines for prevention of bacteraemia and meningitis due to meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W135 have been licensed for a number of years in the United States and in some European countries. The bivalent AC and the tetravalent ACYW135 PS vaccines have generally been used in the civilian population only for the control of outbreaks. A major meningococcal disease problem persists in parts of Africa, especially in the so-called ‘meningitis belt’. Studies by Greenwood and Wali 1 have shown that a cost effective way to control the disease in Africa is to vaccinate the entire population of a village at the start of an outbreak. When this was done they found that further cases of group A disease ceased within ten days. There are, however, some problems with the existing PS vaccines. The group C PS is less immunogenic in young children than the three other PS, and does not protect children below 18 to 24 months of age. This problem will probably be solved by conjugation of the group C PS to a protein carrier, analogous to that which has been done with the Haemophilus influenzae type b PS 2 .
Cytokinesis-Based Constraints on Polarized Cell Growth in Fission Yeast

The rod-shaped fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which undergoes cycles of monopolar-to-bipolar tip growth, is an attractive organism for studying cell-cycle regulation of polarity establishment. While previous research has described factors mediating this process from interphase cell tips, we found that division site signaling also impacts the re-establishment of bipolar cell growth in the ensuing cell cycle. Complete loss or targeted disruption of the non-essential cytokinesis protein Fic1 at the division site, but not at interphase cell tips, resulted in many cells failing to grow at new ends created by cell division. This appeared due to faulty disassembly and abnormal persistence of the cell division machinery at new ends of fic1Δ cells. Moreover, additional mutants defective in the final stages of cytokinesis exhibited analogous growth polarity defects, supporting that robust completion of cell division contributes to new end-growth competency. To test this model, we genetically manipulated S. pombe cells to undergo new end take-off immediately after cell division. Intriguingly, such cells elongated constitutively at new ends unless cytokinesis was perturbed. Thus, cell division imposes constraints that partially override positive controls on growth. We posit that such constraints facilitate invasive fungal growth, as cytokinesis mutants displaying bipolar growth defects formed numerous pseudohyphae. Collectively, these data highlight a role for previous cell cycles in defining a cell's capacity to polarize at specific sites, and they additionally provide insight into how a unicellular yeast can transition into a quasi-multicellular state.
Programming tumor-reactive effector memory CD8+ T cells in vitro obviates the requirement for in vivo vaccination

Naive and memory CD8+ T cells can undergo programmed activation and expansion in response to a short T-cell receptor stimulus, but the extent to which in vitro programming can qualitatively substitute for an in vivo antigen stimulation remains unknown. We show that self-/tumor-reactive effector memory CD8+ T cells (TEM) programmed in vitro either with peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells or plate-bound anti-CD3/anti-CD28 embark on a highly stereotyped response of in vivo clonal expansion and tumor destruction nearly identical to that of vaccine-stimulated TEM cells. This programmed response was associated with an interval of antigen-independent interferon-γ (IFN-γ) release that facilitated the dynamic expression of the major histocompatibility complex class I restriction element H-2Db on responding tumor cells, leading to recognition and subsequent tumor lysis. Delaying cell transfer for more than 24 hours after stimulation or infusion of cells deficient in IFN-γ entirely abrogated the benefit of the programmed response, whereas transfer of cells unable to respond to IFN-γ had no detriment to antitumor immunity. These findings extend the phenomenon of a programmable effector response to memory CD8+ T cells and have major implications for the design of current adoptive-cell transfer trials.
A regularization method for the numerical solution of periodic Stokes flow

We introduce a regularization method that gives a smooth formulation for the fundamental solution to Stokes flow driven by an infinite, triply-periodic array of point forces. With this formulation, the velocity at any spatial location may be calculated, including at and very near the point forces; these locations typically lead to numerical difficulties due to the singularity within the Stokeslet when using other methods. For computational efficiency, we build upon previous methods in which the periodic Stokeslet is split into two rapidly decaying sums, one in physical space and one in reciprocal, or Fourier, space. We present two validation studies of our method. First, we compute the drag coefficient for periodic arrays of spheres with a variety of concentrations of sphere packings; and second, we prescribe a force density onto a periodic array of spheres, compute the resulting nearby velocity field, and compare these velocities to those computed using an immersed boundary method formulation. The drag coefficients computed with our method are within 0.63% of previously published values. The velocity field comparison shows a relative error of about 0.18% in the L"2-norm. We then apply our numerical method to a periodic arrangement of sinusoidal swimmers. By systematically varying their spacing in three directions, we are able to explore how their spacing affects their collective swimming speed.
Superplasticity of coarse-grained magnesium alloy

Superplasticity of coarse-grained magnesium alloy has been investigated. Elongation of 320% has been obtained at 773 K and a strain rate of 1×10−3 s−1. The grains were refined from initial 300 to 25 μm when the stress reached its maximum. The grain size maintained about 25–30 μm dynamically in the proceeding deformation. Mechanical behavior and microstructures have also been studied.
System Performance of Dual Polarization Satellite Communication Links Affected by Attenuation and Depolarization

New models have been developed to analyze the performance of dual polarization frequency re-use links when affected simultaneously by attenuation and depolarization. The models have been used to determine the baseband signal to noise ratio for analog modulation links using FM and bit error rate for links using digital modulation (PSK). The methods are applicable to links using slant paths to satellites and also to terrestrial links.
Effects of chain structure on the melting characteristics of poly(vinyl fluoride)

Abstract The effects of configurational disorder and chain branching on the melting characteristics of the addition polymer poly(vinyl fluoride) (PVF) have been investigated. For PVF, the melting point (Tm) was found to be strongly dependent on polymerization temperature, and only weakly dependent on polymerization pressure. Structural investigation of the polymer backbone using 19F nuclear magnetic resonance analysis reveals that the pronounced increase in Tm results predominantly from a decrease in chain branching and, to a far lesser extent, from improved main-chain regio-regularity. For PVF with a (tertiary fluorine) branch-point content above 2.2% (∼ one branch per 45 monomer additions) the melting point is reduced to below 180°C, whereas for samples with branch-point content less than 0.3% (∼ one branch per 300 monomer additions) the melting point lies above 205°C. Moreover, for the same polymers, the number of head-to-head monomer linkages was found to remain largely constant (= 12.5 ± 1%).
Morbidity of transcallosal and transcortical approaches to lesions in and around the lateral and third ventricles: a single-institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Resection of an intraventricular mass can result in life-altering complications. Many advocate transcallosal rather than transcortical approaches to these lesions, citing differential postoperative seizure risk. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the complication rates and patient outcomes are no different between these ventricular approaches. METHODS: The medical records of 127 patients (93 adults and 34 children) operated on for intraventricular lesions between 1996 and 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Risk factors for specific postoperative complications and outcome were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The transcallosal (59%) or transcortical (41 %) approach was used. Gross or nearly total resection was achieved in 87% of cases. The permanent neurological complication rate determined by a staff neurologist was 23.6%. Seizure attributable to surgery occurred after 8% of transcortical and 25% of transcallosal operations (P = .01). After controlling for a variety of factors, the transcallosal approach carried a 4.4-fold increased risk of seizure (95% confidence interval, 1.3-18.9). The operative approach was not a risk factor for any other postoperative complication. One year after surgery, 72% of patients had excellent functional outcome (Karnofsky Performance Score ≥ 70 and Glasgow Outcome Score = 5). High tumor grade and impaired preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score predicted poor outcome. More than 90% of patients operated on for symptomatic colloid cysts (n = 34) had an excellent outcome. CONCLUSION: Although the 2 traditional approaches to the ventricular system had similar major complication rates, the transcallosal approach was associated with significantly increased seizure risk. Accordingly, the chosen operative corridor should optimize tumor access and the protection of vulnerable neurovascular structures.
Reaction of 4-methylumbelliferylguanidinobenzoate with proteases in human amniotic fluid.

SUMMARY: An arginine esterase activity similar to that observed in plasma has been demonstrated in second trimester and term human amniotic fluid. Like plasma, the protease(s) hydrolyzed esters of arginine, were reactive towards 4-methylumbel-liferylguanidinobenzoate (MUGB), a sensitive active site titrant of trypsinlike enzymes, and had a pI of 5.1-5.4. The pH optimum for proteolytic activity was 8.0. This protease activity was inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI), benzamidine and (p-nitrophenyl)-p'-guanidinobenzoate (NPGB), and was insensitive to 1-chloro-3-tosylamido-7-amino-2-heptanone (TLCK) and p-hydroxymer-curibenzoic acid (HMB). Upon gel filtration, two MUGB-reactive fractions were observed, one with an apparent molecular weight of 200,000 and the other, 100, 000. Both fractions had arginine esterase activity and appeared to be sensitive to inhibition by STI and benzamidine. The mean MUGB titre value (nmoles of 4-methylumbelliferone released per m1 amniotic fluid) for 300 mid-trimester amniotic fluids was 11.40 ± 2.40 nmoles MU/m1. The mean specific activity was 2.36 ± 0.41 nmoles MU/mg protein. Two amniotic fluids from pregnancies which delivered children with cystic fibrosis (CF) were analyzed in blind samples sent from other laboratories. The MU titre values obtained were 4.73 and 4.32 with specific activities of 1.24 and 1.30 respectively. A third was identified in our screening program of amniotic fluids obtained from amniocenteses done for the intrauterine detection of genetic abnormalities. The MU titre value was 5.52 nmoles/m1 with a specific activity of 1.34. The specific activities of these fluids when compared to the controls were significantly different (p<0.001). The mean titre value for 23 term amniotic fluids samples was 8.14 ± 1.69 nmoles MU/m1. The mean specific activity was 3.37 ± 0.76 nmoles MU/mg protein. A term amniotic fluid obtained from a woman who delivered a baby with CF showed a markedly reduced level of MUGB reactivity (3.01 nmole/m1). The specific activity was 1.06 which was significantly different from the control term fluids. The MU titre values and specific activities of amniotic fluids obtained from abnormal pregnancies (such as those with neural tube defects, chromosomal abnormalities and polymorphisms, abortions and stillbirths) and fluids with elevated alphafetoprotein and maternal blood contaminants did not significantly vary from the mean control values (Table 3). Speculation: The reduced MUGB reactivity of proteases in mid-trimester amniotic fluid from women who subsequently delivered children with cystic fibrosis suggests that these MUGB-reactive proteases may prove useful as a marker for the prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.
Effectiveness of Less than Lethal Force in Suicide-by-Cop Incidents

A review of 143 suicide-by-cop incidents found 23 cases in which police employed less than lethal (LTL) force requiring some instrument or technology and an additional 13 cases in which police attempted to physically overpower the subject. These were compared with 16 cases involving negotiation and 21 cases presenting scenarios in which some form of LTL force may have been possible. Although no cause-and-effect relationships are implied, the authors found that 44% of the LTL force incidents were resolved without the death of the subject, as opposed to only 11% of the comparison incidents. Deadly force was least likely to be resorted to in cases where police attempted to physically overcome the subject, although these cases also presented a heightened level of risk to law enforcement officers.
GABA binding in mammalian brain: Inhibition by endogenous GABA

Abstract Sodium-independent binding of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) to receptor-like sites in mammalian brain homogenates was much greater in membrane fractions which had been thoroughly washed with buffer, or detergent, and frozen and thawed several times, than in fresh unwashed membranes. As previously shown (Greenlee, Van Ness, & Olsen, Life Sciences 22 , 1653 (1978), the washing procedure removed endogenous inhibitors of GABA binding which led to an apparent improvement in GABA binding affinity to a low affinity class of sites (KD ≅ 170 nM), and, additionally, the appearance of a high affinity (KD ≅ 10 nM) class of sites. This endogenous inhibitory material was found to inhibit both classes of GABA binding sites, but with greater potency towards the high affinity sites for GABA. Biochemical characterization of the inhibitor fraction revealed that the activity was heat-stable, insensitive to trypsin and disulfide reducing compounds, dialyzeable through membrane sieves which would retain molecules with a molecular weight of 5000, and eluted 100% from a molecular sieve column in the position of small molecules (salt volume), clearly separated from a 16,000 molecular weight marker. The inhibitor was over 80% inactivated by the enzyme GABAse, indicating that most, and perhaps all of the endogenous inhibitor of GABA binding was indeed GABA itself. The difficulty in removing endogenous GABA from brain membranes must be considered in studies on benzodiazepine receptors (since they are affected in vitro by GABA) and in any comparison of GABA or benzodiazepine receptors in human neuropsychiatric disorders, drug treatment or lesion studies.
Category use in first impressions of restaurant interiors

Category use in first impressions of restaurant interiors was investigated. Subjects were 98 students who viewed slides of four restaurant interiors and wrote descriptions of each restaurant. The contents of the descriptions were analyzed using a classification system developed by the researchers. “Holistic impressions” was the most common category used, followed by “room components” and “color and pattern.” Category use was not related to characteristics of the restaurants or to subjects' major fields of study.
The economics of vaccinating restaurant workers against hepatitis A.

The economics of vaccinating restaurant workers against hepatitis A were studied using Monte Carlo simulation models, one with a restaurant-owner perspective, and one with a societal perspective. The restaurant model allowed for a different size, number of employees and employee turnover rate. Benefits were the avoidance of loss of business (including the possibility of bankruptcy) after publicity linking the restaurant to an outbreak associated with a case of hepatitis A in a food handler. Additional benefits in the societal model included reductions in costs of food handler-associated cases of hepatitis A. The outcome used was Net Present Value (NPV), allowing comparison between models. Regardless of the cost of vaccination ($50–140/employee), for a restauranteur to ensure that all employees were vaccinated at all times substantial costs were involved (i.e. negative NPV). Even a 75% probability of bankruptcy still resulted in negative NPVs at the 95th percentiles. For society, vaccination was only cost-saving (i.e. positive NPV) if done only during epidemics and if it cost <$20/employee. Vaccinating restaurant employees is unlikely to be economical from either the restaurant owner or the societal perspective, even during hepatitis A epidemics.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of DHEA treatment effects on quality of life in women with adrenal insufficiency.

Context: Women with primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency report a decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL) despite traditional adrenal replacement therapy. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been studied as an agent to improve HRQOL in these patients. Objective: We sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of DHEA effects on HRQOL in women with adrenal insufficiency. Data Sources: We searched electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PsycInfo) and reference lists of eligible studies through July 2008. Study Selection: Eligible trials randomly assigned women with primary or secondary adrenal insufficiency to either DHEA or control and measured the effect of treatment on HRQOL. Data Extraction: Reviewers working independently and in duplicate assessed the methodological quality of trials and collected data on patient characteristics, interventions, and outcomes. Data Synthesis: We found 10 eligible trials t...
Nicholas Steno's Chaos and the shaping of evolutionary thought in the Scientific Revolution

Nicholas Steno (1638–1686) compiled a notebook in 1659 when he was a student at the University of Copenhagen. Titled Chaos by Steno, it remains unstudied in English-speaking countries, despite having been translated in 1997. Chaos adds important insight into geology9s place in the Scientific Revolution. It shows Steno disengaging from speculations about the cosmos based on the ruling paradigms of Aristotelian metaphysics and Cartesian misconceptions in favor of an empirical model based on the new mathematics of geometry applied to all of nature, from what we now would consider the atomic level, to the human body, and to the planet. Steno thereby earns heretofore unacknowledged credit for helping to establish the geometric definition of form that makes it possible to understand the evolution of the structure of organisms as well as of the planet.
Role of airway receptors in altitude-induced dyspnea.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the role of airway receptors in respiratory-related sensations after ascent to altitude. Methods Ratings of respiratory-related sensations, perceived exertion and acute mountain sickness, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation were recorded at rest and exercise in male and female subjects who had inhaled either aerosolized saline or saline with tetracaine after acute ascent to an altitude of 3500 m and after prolonged acclimatization of 18 d at altitudes between 4000 and 5000 m. Results Tetracaine had no effect on respiratory-related sensations at altitude either at rest or during exercise, and male and female subjects experienced similar respiratory-related sensations. Sensations of rapid breathing were experienced at rest after acute exposure to 3500 m as compared with sea level, but not after acclimatization to 5000 m. Sensations of rapid breathing, air hunger, and heavy breathing were experienced during exercise after acute and prolonged altitude exposure as compared with sea level, with a sensation of chest tightness experienced at 3500 m and a sensation of gasping experienced at 5000 m. Conclusion These results suggest that airway afferents play no role in the respiratory-related sensations experienced by male and female subjects either during acute ascent to altitude or after prolonged acclimatization at altitude.
Beyond Enforcement: Welcomeness, Local Law Enforcement, and Immigrants

Studies of local law enforcement actions toward immigrants show that while some cities engage in enforcement, many others do not. The extent and determinants of enforcement have been assessed, but these studies have not evaluated the full range of practices, including welcoming practices, toward immigrants. This article introduces the concept of “welcomeness,” develops a framework for measuring it, and, using a nationwide survey of local police departments, examines how widely departments are welcoming (or unwelcoming) to immigrants. The data show that many police departments have consciously and deliberately developed practices intended to foster positive relationships between the police and immigrants and to encourage immigrants to call the police for assistance. Practitioner Points Welcomeness encompasses a range of practices toward immigrants that are often intentionally created, thoughtfully implemented, and found in a variety of communities. The dimensions of welcomeness provide a framework for police departments to assess their practices and provide a model for police departments that want to engage positively with immigrants. Welcoming practices may improve interactions between police officers and immigrants and may improve immigrants’ perceptions of local law enforcement. Welcoming police departments often have a deeper commitment to community policing.
Utilizing spatial features in classifying high-resolution imagery data

The spatial resolution of spaceborne instrument has increased substantially in the three decades since Landsat-1 was launched. Higher spatial resolution has made some applications possible. But it has also brought about new challenges in ground cover classification. At a resolution around 1 meter, vegetation often displays distinct textures. Hence texture may make differentiation among some cover types possible. Ikonos panchromatic and multispectral data are used to examine how spatial features improve classification accuracy. In this study, textural features are extracted from co-occurrence matrices, contextual features are derived from neighborhood properties, and maximum likelihood method is used for classifications. It is shown that for the test data both types of spatial features, and especially the contextual measures, can significantly improve the classification accuracies. Discrete wavelet transform is used to extract textural features for two types of vegetation. Transformed divergence, a measure of separability, is shown much enhanced when textural features are included.
Dialect and point of view : The ideology of translation in The Sound and the Fury in French

This article is an analysis of translations into French of non-standard literary dialect, in particular the speech of African Americans, in William Faulkner’s The sound and the fury. It shows that the contingency of dialect variation upon narrative point of view (focalization) is not taken into account in translation, an omission that alters the ideological framework of the novel. In addition, it argues that the maintenance of this variation, when systematic, should be at least as important a concern as, for instance, the most accurate translation of single dialectal or non-standard words and utterances.
Enzyme models. The attachment of N-methylhydroxamic acid to cyclohexaamylose. Its reactivity and specificity with phenyl esters

Abstract The N -methylacetohydroxamic acid group has been introduced into cyclohexaamylose by the following sequence of reactions: (1) carboxymethylation of cyclohexaamylose by iodoacetic acid, (2) methylation of carboxymethylcyclohexaamylose with diazomethane, and (3) reaction of the carboxymethylcyclohexaamylose methyl ester with N -methylhydroxylamine to form the N -methylacetohydroxamic acid-substituted cyclohexaamylose. By employing purification procedures involving ionexchange chromatography, the synthesis yielded a mono-substituted cyclohexaamylose- N -methylacetohydroxamic acid with selective modification of the C-2, C-3 hydroxyl group side of the cyclohexaamylose ring. p -Nitrophenyl acetate and 2-hydroxy-5-nitro-α-toluenesulfonic acid sultone react 20- and 70-fold faster with cyclohexaamylose- N -methylacetohydroxamic acid than with N -methylmethoxyacetohydroxamic acid. Cyclohexaamylose- N -methylacetohydroxamic acid also displays a marked kinetic stereospecificity for p -nitroover m -nitrophenyl acetate (whereas cyclohexaamylose itself exhibits the reverse stereospecificity). These reactions were shown to be competitively inhibited by cyclohexanol. This evidence indicates that cyclohexaamylose- N -methylacetohydroxamic acid binds the substrate in a reversible complexation step prior to nucleophilic attack and thus is an enzyme model.
Delirium monitoring and patient outcomes in a general intensive care unit.

Background Use of an evidence-based tool for routine assessment for delirium by bedside nurses in the intensive care unit is recommended. However, little is known about patient outcomes after implementation of such a tool. Objective To evaluate the implementation and effects of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit as a bedside assessment for delirium in a general intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital. Methods Charts of patients admitted to the unit during a 3-month period before implementation of the assessment tool and 1 year after implementation were reviewed retrospectively. Patient outcomes were incidence of delirium diagnosis, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and time spent in restraints. Results The 2 groups of patients did not differ in demographics, clinical characteristics, or predisposing factors. The groups also did not differ significantly in delirium diagnosis, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in the intensive care unit, or time spent in restraints. Barriers to use of the tool included nurses' lack of confidence in performing the assessment, concerns about use of the tool in patients receiving mechanical ventilation, and lack of interdisciplinary response to findings obtained with the tool. Conclusions No change in patient outcomes or diagnosis of delirium occurred 1 year after implementation of the Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit. Lessons learned and barriers to adoption and use, however, were identified.
On the reduced parameter dependence of the Mori–Tanaka theory

Abstract In this paper we study the effective elastic moduli of composite materials and explore the possibility of reducing the number of independent variables. More specifically we consider the results for the effective planar elastic moduli of composites containing circular inclusions. We assume that the interface between the matrix and inclusions is either perfectly bonded or is allowed to slip, and we employ the Mori–Tanaka theory (T. Mori, K. Tanaka, Acta Metall. 21 (1973) 571; Y. Benveniste, Mech. Mater. 6 (1987) 147) to account for inclusions’ interaction. In the analysis we use a recent result in plane elasticity due to Cherkaev et al. (A. Cherkaev, K. Lurie, G.W. Milton, Proc. R. Soc. A 438 (1992) 519) and Dundurs constants (J. Dundurs, J. Comp. Mater. 1 (1967) 310; J. Dundurs, J. Appl. Mech. 36 (1969) 650).
A Study on an Effective Motion Tracking Algorithm

Moving objects tracking in video sequences are the fundamental and challenging research topics in computer vision area at present. They have great research and application values in modern industry, military, avigation and spaceflight area. But so far robust object tracking is still an open problem especially when the scene is complex. The main obstacles in the research are the scale of object, occlusion, background complexity and other non-rigid deformation. The system presents an integration of Kalman prediction [1] and Mean-shift [2] tracking method. A large number of experimental results show that the proposed tracking algorithm not only can improve the reliability and accuracy which traditional tracking algorithm cannot, but also can improve the real-time performance which SIFT tracking algorithm fails.
A Study of the Spatial Vectorcardiogram in Left Bundle Branch Block

A method of vectorcardiography, in which the projections of the spatial vectorcardiogram in various planes of an equilateral tetrahedron reference system are recorded, has been applied to the study of left bundle branch block. Results suggest that the method employed may provide information relative to the state of the myocardium and the extent of myocardial lesions which is not evident from electrocardiographic examination.
Studies on the relationship between 5' leader sequences and initiation of translation of adenovirus 2 and simian virus 40 late mRNAs.

Abstract The question of whether or not 5′ leader sequences might confer characteristic translational properties to the mRNAs to which they are spliced was studied using two complementary experimental situations with respect to the composition of mRNA molecules. Late in adenovirus type 2 (Ad-2) infection of human cells, a common tripartite 5′ leader sequence is spliced to mRNA sequences coding for at least 13 different late viral proteins. This results in different mRNAs with identical 5′ leader sequences. In the second experimental system, identical coding sequences are spliced to different 5′ leader sequences with different caps. Wild-type SV40 VP1 mRNA (16 S) contains a 5′ leader sequence coded for at position 72–76 on the SV40 genome; in the SV40 mutant dl-808 part of the sequences in this region, including the sequence coding for cap, is deleted. The relative ability of these mRNAs to direct incorporation of radioactive amino acids into their respective polypeptide products was assayed in vivo under conditions of hypertonic initiation block (HIB) or in the presence of low concentrations of cycloheximide. Messenger RNAs with identical 5′ leader sequences were observed to exhibit very different responses in both experimental situations. Conversely, similar responses to HIB were observed for VP1 mRNAs with different 5′ leader sequences. It thus appears that the presence of specific sequences per se between the 5′ cap and the initiation codon does not alone confer characteristic initiation properties as measured indirectly by perturbation of the in vivo environment.
Antiischemic effects of nicardipine and nitroglycerin after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Abstract Background . We assessed the efficacy of a continuous infusion of nicardipine and nitroglycerin in reducing the incidence and severity of perioperative myocardial ischemia during elective coronary artery bypass grafting procedures in a prospective, randomized, controlled study. Methods . Patients received either nicardipine infusion (0.7 to 1.4 μg · kg · −1 · min −1 ; n=30) or nitroglycerin (0.5 to 1 μg · kg −1 · min −1 ; n=30) or neither medication (n = 17) after aortic occlusion clamp release and for 24 hours postoperatively. Myocardial ischemic episodes (MIE) were considered to have occurred with ST-segment depressions or elevations of at least 1 mm and at least 2 mm (for both depressions or elevations), each at J + 60 ms and lasting at least 1 minute, using a two-channel Holter monitor. Results . Only nicardipine significantly decreased the duration ( p = 0.02) of the 1-mm or greater minutes per hour (3.2 ± 1.2 minutes per hour) and eliminated the number ( p = 0.02) of the 2-mm or greater minutes per hour (zero minutes per hour) when compared with control patients (17.2 ± 5.6 minutes per hour and 0.17 minutes per hour, respectively) during the intraoperative postbypass period. Conclusions . Our results suggest that nicardipine lessened the severity of myocardial ischemia shortly after coronary revascularization and could be considered as an alternative to standard antiischemic therapy.
Surgical management of previously untreated glomus jugulare tumors

The treatment of glomus jugulare tumors is controversial. Changes in the surgical treatment of glomus jugular tumors at The House Ear Clinic have allowed complete resection in 85% of patients with minimal morbidity and no surgical mortalities. Our experience with 52 previously untreated patients with glomus jugular tupors is reviewed. Two primary surgical techniques were used. The mastoid/neck approach was used in 9 patients with small tupors limited to the jugular bulb. The infra-temporal fossa approach was used in the remaining 43 tumors
STEP (Statistical Test of Equivalent Pathways) analysis: a mass spectrometric method for carbohydrates and peptides.

We have recently developed a new mass spectrometry method, the STEP (statistical test of equivalent pathways) analysis that uses ion abundances in two tandem mass spectrometry experiments to obtain genealogy information about product ions present in mass spectra. The method requires minimal sample, and it can be performed using a conventional quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer. To obtain genealogy information, STEP ratios are calculated by comparing the relative abundances of product ions in two MS/MS experiments. These ratios are directly related to the origin of the product ions. Product ions that result directly from the precursor ion always have STEP ratios that are ≤1. Ions that result from secondary fragmentation pathways have STEP ratios that are significantly larger than the primary ions, based on a Q test of statistical significance. Consequently, the type (primary or secondary) of all the product ions in an MS/MS experiment can easily be identified in this analysis. The STEP method is applied...
A Test of Consensus in Aesthetic Evaluation among Professional Critics of Modern Music

To evaluate the approximate level of aesthetic consensus among a large sample of professionals, modern music critics were sampled from known music rating books that rated comparable genres of music...
Geometric and Material Contributions to Whole Bone Structural Behavior in GDF-7-Deficient Mice

The growth/differentiation factors (GDFs) are a subfamily of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) known to play a role in a variety of skeletal processes. Previous work using the brachypod mouse demonstrated that mice deficient in GDF-5 have long bones with diminished material properties and ash content compared with control littermates. Our aim was to examine the role of a related GDF family member, GDF-7 (BMP-12), in cortical bone by examining the geometric and material contributions to whole bone structural behavior in GDF-7-deficient mice. Femora from 16-week-old GDF-7 −/− animals had significantly smaller bone cross-sectional geometric parameters (e.g., −20% medial/lateral and anterior/posterior moments of inertia). Despite having smaller bone cross-sections, all structural parameters obtained from four-point bending tests were comparable to those of wild-type bones due to elevated cortical bone material properties (+18% modulus of elasticity, +28% yield strength, and +18% ultimate strength). No signif...
Quantitative PCR for measuring biomass of decomposer fungi in planta

The biomass of brown and white rot fungi were estimated using ergosterol and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Each biomass estimate was compared with biomass measured gravimetrically from liquid cultures, as well as from three wood substrata at two decay stages. Fungal morphological changes in two different substrata, agar and pine, were measured using a chitin-specific fluorophore and confocal microscopy. In liquid culture, the two fungal isolates had significantly different biomass conversion factors for both methods. In wood colonized for 3 wks, qPCR yielded a lower estimate than did ergosterol, while at week 8 it yielded a higher estimate. Changes in average fungal cell dimensions partially explained differences between the two methods. Overall, our results suggest that a constant conversion factor cannot be assumed as default for either method. Instead, it demonstrates the importance of standardizing wood species, decay class, fungus-specific conversion factor, and DNA extraction protocol in order to properly estimate fungal biomass in woody substrata.
Fundamental causality and a criterion of negative refraction with low optical losses

From the fundamental requirement of causality, we derive a rigorous criterion of negative refraction (left-handedness). This criterion imposes the lower limits on the electric and magnetic losses in the region of the negative refraction. If these losses are eliminated or significantly reduced by any means, including the compensation by active (gain) media, then the negative refraction will disappear. This theory can be particularly useful in testing the feasibility of the left-handed materials design.