cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The European Welfare State in the Atlantic System

To regard Socialism and Communism as Siamese twins is an error, wilful or genuine, which rarely troubles American thinking on foreign politics now. It cannot be said, however, that the shadow of the confusion has been entirely dispelled. Some groups, influential in the making and execution of American foreign policy, appear to be gravely disturbed by what they term the development of the welfare state in western Europe. At a time—they argue—when the United States requires strong partners in the common attempt to defend large parts of the non-Soviet world against Communist expansion, the spread of welfare-state practices weakens western Europe economically as well as politically. The development of the welfare state is said to lessen the capacity of countries for raising productivity and hence for standing on their own feet in their economic dealings with the outside world and also for mounting substantial defense efforts. Since a less progressive and adaptable economy will frustrate expectations of income and economic security, political stability and morale are alleged to suffer. This effect, as well as the abridgment of democratic freedoms perceived to follow from abandoning the liberal economy, is believed to make such countries more susceptible to Communist subversion. These misgivings are not aroused by the behavior of all the western European nations. It is rather the United Kingdom, the three Scandinavian countries, and the Netherlands which are identified with the evolution of the welfare state, while economic liberalism is perceived to have a more abiding hold in Belgium, France, Italy, and western Germany.
Evaluating the stages of veterinary practitioner learning for continuing education needs assessment and program evaluation.

Rationale for the study—Recent behavioral change theory suggests that individuals go through stages of readiness for change. This theory has been applied to continuing medical education as a four stage theory of physician learning. The purpose of this project was to test a method that used the four-stage learning theory to evaluate differences between continuing veterinary medical education (CVME) program attendees and non-attendees and to evaluate movement from one stage to another after a continuing education activity. Methods—A survey using eight clinical scenarios was used to elucidate the stage of learning of dairy practitioner participants before and after a CVME course and of non-participating dairy practitioners. Differences in response rates before and after the course and between participants and non-participants were analyzed using Chi-square contingency table analysis.
Fine Structure of the Marine Amoeba Vexillifera telmathalassa Collected from a Coastal Site Near Barbados with a Description of Salinity Tolerance, Feeding Behavior and Prey

. Amoebae cultured from seawater collected at a coastal site near Barbados were largely a lobose amoeba with long tapered subpseudopodia identified as Vexillifera telmathalassa. Vexillifera telmathalassa occurs widely in marine environments and additional information is presented here on its fine structure, salinity tolerance, and feeding behavior toward clarification of its taxonomic characteristics and ecological niche. The amoebae were able to adjust to a gradual decline in salinity from 36‰ to 16‰, but at a salinity of 12‰. They all became immobilized and discoidal. The fine structure showed a centrally located nucleus (2.1 μm) with a prominent nucleolus. The plasma membrane is coated with glycostyles 17 nm long and 14 nm apart, and may be derived from secretory vesicles with similar glycocalyx lining. Bacteria and occasional eukaryotic remains occur in digestive vacuoles or membrane-enclosed spaces. Some vacuoles (2.0–2.5 μm) are filled with scattered masses of digested material and resemble the “glanzkorper” previously identified by light microscopy. In addition to bacterial prey, microflagellates were also ingested in laboratory culture as observed by light microscopy. Vexillifera telmathalassa may be more closely linked trophically to the microbial loop than previously recognized.
The organization of chromatic and spatial interactions in the primate striate cortex.

The cytochrome oxidase-rich patches or blobs of the monkey striate cortex have been shown to contain cells that have unoriented receptive fields, many of which are color selective. We studied the functional organization of color opponency in the blob regions of the parafoveal representation of the visual cortex. We also examined the patterns of connectivity among blob and nonblob cells by multiple electrode penetrations and cross-correlation analysis. Some of the color- selective cells in the blobs exhibited receptive fields that were similar to those found in the parvocellular layers of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN): one type exhibited center-surround spatial and chromatic opponency corresponding to the Type I cell found in the LGN; another had center-only chromatic opponency, corresponding to the Type II cell of the LGN. A blob color-selective cell with no LGN counterpart had center color opponency with a nonchromatically opponent surround antagonism. We termed this cell the “modified Type II” cell. Contrary to previous reports, few true double color-opponent cells were found. Some blob cells previously characterized as double opponent probably belong to our modified Type II category and, unlike true double opponent cells, do not respond well to isoluminant color boundaries. Occasional color-selective oriented cells were either intermixed or in close proximity to blob cells. Neighboring electrode penetrations within the same blob yielded cells of the same color opponency, either red versus green or blue versus yellow, suggesting that individual blobs are dedicated to processing one color opponency. Blobs dedicated to red/green color opponency were 3 times more numerous than blue/yellow blobs. Furthermore, the cells in layer 4C lying beneath blobs of a given color opponency had identical color opponency to the overlying cells in blobs. Cross-correlation analysis of pairs of nonblob, oriented cells in the superficial layers showed interactions between cells with matched orientation and eye preference, at varying horizontal separations. Such interactions are consistent with anatomically demonstrated clustered horizontal connections. Positive cross-correlograms were found between blob cells in the same and in adjacent blobs when the cells9 receptive field type, color opponency, and ocular dominance matched. Correlograms also indicated monosynaptic connections from Type II to modified Type II cells of the same color opponency, suggesting that Type II cells may contribute to the construction of the modified Type II fields in the cortex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Cardiac function during induction and early anesthesia with methoxyflurane. An evaluation using systolic time intervals and pressure time indices.

In addition to the standard monitoring of heart rate and blood pressure, the Systolic Time Intervals were used to evaluate cardiac performance, and the Pressure Time Indices (tension time index = TTI; diastolic pressure time index = DPTI) were used to estimate myocardial oxygen balance. Twelve patients with known heart disease were studied during induction with thiopental, intubation, and early anesthesia with methoxyflurane. Cardiac performance diminished after thiopental; and during methoxyflurane it was reflected in increases in pre-ejection period (PEP) and the ratio PEP/LVET. Intubation resulted in a hyperactive state of the heart, as shown by maximal decreases in PEP and PEP/LVET. Myocardial oxygen balance - estimated from the supply/demand ratio (DPTI/ TTI) - was impaired after thiopental. After intubation, DPTI/TTI decreased to its lowest value due to an excess of myocardial oxygen demand (TTI) over myocardial oxygen supply (DPTI), signifying a transitory underperfusion of the subendocardium. During methoxyflurane the oxygen balance was gradually restored towards control value. The Systolic Time Intervals and the Pressure Time Indices provided valuable information on cardiac function not available from standard monitoring alone.
Visual Landscapes and the Abortion Issue

Despite increased scholarly interest in how activists use visuals in claim-making and mobilization, little is known about how mainstream news media visually represent social movements and their causes over time. Given the number of studies that argue that journalistic routines, norms, and conventions create hegemonic discourse around political issues, this gap is surprising. In this article, the authors examine whether the images used to visually represent the abortion issue are homogenized. Drawing on an analysis of 2,093 print and electronic news images associated with the abortion debate, the authors find that the visuals used in media coverage are very similar. Likewise, the authors find that the most frequently shown visual landscapes for the abortion issue are relatively stable across six different kinds of events including commemorations, incidents of clinic violence, legislation, Supreme Court decisions, presidential elections, and executive nominations. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of this work for the study of social movements and call for more research on how visual landscapes influence audience understanding of both new and enduring issues.
Non-indigenous species as stressors in estuarine and marine communities: Assessing invasion impacts and interactions

Invasions by non-indigenous species (NIS) are recognized as important stressors of many communities throughout the world. Here, we evaluated available data on the role of NIS in marine and estuarine communities and their interactions with other anthropogenic stressors, using an intensive analysis of the Chesapeake Bay region as a case study. First, we reviewed the reported ecological impacts of 196 species that occur in tidal waters of the bay, including species that are known invaders as well as some that are cryptogenic (i.e., of uncertain origin). Second, we compared the impacts reported in and out of the bay region for the same 54 species of plants and fish from this group that regularly occur in the region’s tidal waters. Third, we assessed the evidence for interaction in the distribution or performance of these 54 plant and fish species within the bay and other stressors. Of the 196 known and possible NIS, 39 (20%) were thought to have some significant impact on a resident population, community, habitat, or process within the bay region. However, quantitative data on impacts were found for only 12 of the 39, representing 31% of this group and 6% of all 196 species surveyed. The patterns of reported impacts in the bay for plants and fish were nearly identical: 29% were reported to have significant impacts, but quantitative impact data existed for only 7% (4/54) of these species. In contrast, 74% of the same species were reported to have significant impacts outside of the bay, and some quantitative impact data were found for 44% (24/54) of them. Although it appears that 20% of the plant and fish species in our analysis may have significant impacts in the bay region based upon impacts measured elsewhere, we suggest that studies outside the region cannot reliably predict such impacts. We surmise that quantitative impact measures for individual bays or estuaries generally exist for ,5% of the NIS present, and many of these measures are not particularly informative. Despite the increasing knowledge of marine invasions at many sites, it is evident that we understand little about the full extent and variety of the impacts they create—singly and cumulatively. Given the multiple anthropogenic stressors that overlap with NIS in estuaries, we predict NIS‐stressor interactions play an important role in the pattern and impact of invasions.
SDS, a structural disruption score for assessment of missense variant deleteriousness.

We have developed a novel structure-based evaluation for missense variants that explicitly models protein structure and amino acid properties to predict the likelihood that a variant disrupts protein function. A structural disruption score (SDS) is introduced as a measure to depict the likelihood that a case variant is functional. The score is constructed using characteristics that distinguish between causal and neutral variants within a group of proteins. The SDS score is correlated with standard sequence-based deleteriousness, but shows promise for improving discrimination between neutral and causal variants at less conserved sites.The prediction was performed on 3-dimentional structures of 57 gene products whose homozygous SNPs were identified as case-exclusive variants in an exome sequencing study of epilepsy disorders. We contrasted the candidate epilepsy variants with scores for likely benign variants found in the EVS database, and for positive control variants in the same genes that are suspected to promote a range of diseases. To derive a characteristic profile of damaging SNPs, we transformed continuous scores into categorical variables based on the score distribution of each measurement, collected from all possible SNPs in this protein set, where extreme measures were assumed to be deleterious. A second epilepsy dataset was used to replicate the findings. Causal variants tend to receive higher sequence-based deleterious scores, induce larger physico-chemical changes between amino acid pairs, locate in protein domains, buried sites or on conserved protein surface clusters, and cause protein destabilization, relative to negative controls. These measures were agglomerated for each variant. A list of nine high-priority putative functional variants for epilepsy was generated. Our newly developed SDS protocol facilitates SNP prioritization for experimental validation.
Midodrine for Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope

Most vasovagal fainters who seek medical attention require no more than the reassurance that their physician understands the basis of their symptoms, and education regarding both the nature of the problem and techniques which may avert recurrences. However, when spells are frequent, or are associated with physical injury, or threaten to compromise occupational status, prophylactic treatment measures become a consideration. Unfortunately, the optimum treatment approach remains uncertain.
Multisubstrate biodegradation kinetics for binary and complex mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Biodegradation kinetics were studied for binary and complex mixtures of nine polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): Naphthalene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, 2-ethylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, fluorene, and fluoranthene. Discrepancies between the observed biodegradation rates and those predicted by a sole-substrate model indicate that significant substrate interactions occurred in both the binary and complex-mixture experiments. For all compounds except naphthalene, biodegradation was enhanced. The observations were compared to predictions from two multisubstrate biodegradation kinetic models: One that accounts for competitive inhibition, and one that does not. Both models are fully predictive in that parameters had been determined from an independent set of sole-substrate experiments. In the binary experiments, the major multisubstrate effect was biomass enhancement as a result of growth on naphthalene. Substrate interactions were orders of magnitude larger for most compounds in the complex mixtures, but significant competitive inhibition effects counteracted some of the biomass enhancement effect. The present study has demonstrated that the sole-substrate model is inadequate to describe multisubstrate biodegradation kinetics for a broad range of PAH mixtures. Whereas the multisubstrate model without inhibition did an adequate job of predicting the observed effects in some cases, we advocate the use of the multisubstrate model with inhibition for similar modeling efforts in light of the evidence that the model was correct more often than not. Theory supports its use because of the common enzyme pathways for biodegradation of PAHs.
Serine Protease PrtA from Streptococcus pneumoniae Plays a Role in the Killing of S. pneumoniae by Apolactoferrin

It is known that apolactoferrin, the iron-free form of human lactoferrin, can kill many species of bacteria, including Streptococcus pneumoniae. Lactoferricin, an N-terminal peptide of apolactoferrin, and fragments of it are even more bactericidal than apolactoferrin. In this study we found that apolactoferrin must be cleaved by a serine protease in order for it to kill pneumococci. The serine protease inhibitors were able to block killing by apolactoferrin but did not block killing by a lactoferrin-derived peptide. Thus, the killing of pneumococci by apolactoferrin appears to require a protease to release a lactoferricin-like peptide(s). Incubation of apolactoferrin with growing pneumococci resulted in a 12-kDa reduction in its molecular mass, of which about 7 to 8 kDa of the reduction was protease dependent. Capsular type 2 and 19F strains with mutations in the gene encoding the major cell wall-associated serine protease, prtA, lost much of their ability to degrade apolactoferrin and were relatively resistant to killing by apolactoferrin (P < 0.001). Recombinant PrtA was also able to cleave apolactoferrin, reducing its mass by about 8 kDa, and greatly enhance the killing activity of the solution containing the apolactoferrin and its cleavage products. Mass spectroscopy revealed that PrtA makes a major cut between amino acids 78 and 79 of human lactoferrin, removing the N-terminal end of the molecule (about 8.6 kDa). The simplest interpretation of these data is that the mechanism by which apolactoferrin kills Streptococcus pneumoniae requires the release of a lactoferricin-like peptide(s) and that it is this peptide(s), and not the intact apolactoferrin, which kills pneumococci.
Examination of hypotheses for the Permo–Triassic boundary extinction by carbon cycle modeling

The biological extinction that occurred at the Permian–Triassic boundary represents the most extensive loss of species of any known event of the past 550 million years. There have been a wide variety of explanations offered for this extinction. In the present paper, a number of the more popular recent hypotheses are evaluated in terms of predictions that they make, or that they imply, concerning the global carbon cycle. For this purpose, a mass balance model is used that calculates atmospheric CO2 and oceanic δ13C as a function of time. Hypotheses considered include: (i) the release of massive amounts of CO2 from the ocean to the atmosphere resulting in mass poisoning; (ii) the release of large amounts of CO2 from volcanic degassing; (iii) the release of methane stored in methane hydrates; (iv) the decomposition and oxidation of dead organisms to CO2 after sudden mass mortality; and (v) the long-term reorganization of the global carbon cycle. The modeling indicates that measured short-term changes in δ13C at the boundary are best explained by methane release with mass mortality and volcanic degassing contributing in secondary roles. None of the processes result in excessively high levels of atmospheric CO2 if they occurred on time scales of more than about 1,000 years. The idea of poisoning by high levels of atmospheric CO2 depends on the absence of subthermocline calcium carbonate deposition during the latest Permian. The most far-reaching effect was found to be reorganization of the carbon cycle with major sedimentary burial of organic matter shifting from the land to the sea, resulting in less burial overall, decreased atmospheric O2, and higher atmospheric CO2 for the entire Triassic Period.
On the (in)feasibility of covered interest parity as a solution to the forward bias puzzle

Abstract This paper examines Pippenger's (2011) proposed solution to the forward bias puzzle, which is based on the covered interest parity (CIP) condition. It is argued that the CIP-based approach does not solve this well known and long-standing puzzle in international finance in a meaningful way. Moreover, it is shown that empirical results from such an approach follow mechanically from the identity-like nature of the theory of covered interest parity, which, aside from small deviations due to transaction costs, is assumed to hold in all periods (as if it were an identity). We show that rather than leading to new insights, the simple reconfiguration of CIP to solve for the time t + 1 spot exchange rate leads to tautological expressions that, when estimated, might appear to successfully explain the forward bias, but in actuality are trivial. Results from simple simulation exercises further illustrate the inconclusiveness of the proposed solution method.
Effect of nitric oxide synthase inhibition on arteriovenular control of capillary perfusion

Postcapillary venules contribute to the control of arteriolar tone and therefore capillary perfusion. In a previous study of the rat mesentery, we found a significant correlation between capillary red blood cell velocity (V/sub RBC/) and the percent of the feeding arteriole length that was paired (proximity < 15 microns) with a postcapillary venule (% pairing). In the present study using the same model, we test whether nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the arteriovenular control of capillary perfusion. The baseline relationship between V/sub RBC/ and % pairing (p<0.001; positive slope of 0.079 mm/sec/%) not only is eliminated following NO synthase inhibition with L-NAME, but also becomes negative (p=0.004; -0.035 mm/sec/%). The negative correlation may indicate that in the absence of NO, venules (or venular leukocytes) promote constriction of nearby arterioles, therefore limiting capillary perfusion. For individual capillaries, the decrease in VRBC (L-NAME minus baseline) was highly correlated with % pairing (p<0.001; r/sup 2/=0.81), with the intercept near zero. This suggests that L-NAME has no effect on capillary perfusion when the arteriolar pathway lacks nearby venules, and that L-NAME has a maximal effect when arteriovenular pairing is high. These results confirm a role for NO in the control of capillary perfusion by arteriovenular communication.
RTM Model for Resin Flow over Nonuniformly Heated Fibers

Abstract This study examines the effect of heating the fibers of a unidirectional mat on the resin flow between fibers. The model used assumes steady incompressible flow in the direction of the fibers. The resulting Stoke' equation is solved analytically assuming linear variation of pressure, while the energy equation is solved numerically using finite differencing. An iterative scheme is used to update velocity in the direction of flow by using the temperature dependence of viscosity according to the Arrhenius equation. The fibers are heated conductively from their ends producing a temperature distribution down the length of the fibers. Velocity profiles between fibers, resulting from thermally-induced viscosity gradients, are compared for various steps along the fiber lengths. The resulting reductions in flow time are compared to those for fibers held at a constant temperature and to the flow times for the simple isothermal case of unheated
Top-Down Federalism: State Policy Responses to National Government Discussions

The national government can influence state-level policymaking by adopting laws that specifically direct the states to take certain actions or by providing financial incentives. But can national institutions also influence state-level policy change by drawing attention to an issue and by providing information about it, even when these activities do not produce new national laws? In other words, do policy ideas diffuse from the national government to the states? In this article, we examine whether hearings and the introduction of bills in Congress about antismoking restrictions influenced state-level adoptions between 1975 and 2000. Our findings reveal that national policy activities stimulated state policy adoptions, but only for states with professionalized legislatures and strong policy advocates.
Arsenic and other oxyanion-forming trace elements in an alluvial basin aquifer: Evaluating sources and mobilization by isotopic tracers (Sr, B, S, O, H, Ra)

The Willcox Basin is a hydrologically closed basin in semi-arid southeastern Arizona (USA) and, like many other alluvial basins in the southwestern USA, is characterized by oxic, near-neutral to slightly basic groundwater containing naturally elevated levels of oxyanion-forming trace elements such as As. This study evaluates the sources and mobilization of these oxyanionic trace elements of health significance by using several isotopic tracers of water–rock interaction and groundwater sources ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, d 34 SSO4, d 11 B, d 2 H, d 18 O, 3 H). Values of d 2 H( � 85‰ to � 64‰) and d 18 O( � 11.8‰ to � 8.6‰) are consistent with precipitation and groundwater in adjacent alluvial basins, and low to non-detectable 3 H activities further imply that modern recharge is slow in this semi-arid environment. Large variations in 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios imply that groundwater has interacted with multiple sediment sources that constitute the basin-fill aquifer, including Tertiary felsic volcanic rocks, Paleozoic sedimentary rocks, and Proterozoic crystalline rocks. In general, low concentrations of oxyanion-forming trace elements and F � are associated with a
University infirmary admissions for drug abuse, 1968--1970 and 1973--1975.

University overnight infirmary admissions for drug abuse were reviewed over the 2-year periods 1968–1970 and 1973–1975. Hallucinogen abuse diminished over the years studied while alcohol abuse increased. Marijuana abuse was essentially unchanged. Diazepam overdosage generally replaced barbiturate overdosage, while aspirin remained the most common drug in overdose situations.
Maya history and religion

Believing that Maya studies today are ""suffering from imbalance,"" J. Eric S. Thompson here approaches Maya history and religion from the standpoint of ethno-history. Present-day archaeologists often tend to restrict their curiosity to their excavations and social anthropologists to observe the modern Maya as members of a somewhat primitive society in an era of change. In this volume, a distinguished Maya scholar seeks to correlate data from colonial writings and observations of the modern Indian with archaeological information in order to extend and clarify the panorama of Maya culture.The shock of the Spanish Conquest was devastating to the Maya. Not only were they placed under the domination of a people uninterested in their ancient ways, but their religion was proscribed, they were removed from their familiar settlements into new areas, and new diseases were introduced which ravaged their civilization. In spite of these ordeals, the Maya have clung closely to the old ways, and Maya culture is still very much alive, though slowly giving way before modern technology and influences. Topics discussed include Putun Maya expansion in Yucatan and the Pasion drainage, the depopulation of the Maya Central area at the time of the Conquest on account of newly introduced diseases, the location of the controversial eastern boundary of the Maya area, trade relations between the highlands and the lowlands, the use of hallucinatory drugs and tobacco, lowlands Maya religion, and the creation myths of the Maya in relation to those of other Middle American cultures. Mr. Thompson's approach to Maya life will prove thought-provoking to archaeologists, ethnologists, historians, and all others interested in the ancient Maya civilization.
A compact multiband antenna with MIMO implementation for USB size 4G LTE wireless devices

A compact low cost multiband antenna design is proposed for future 4G Long term evolution (LTE) wireless devices of USB size and Bluetooth headsets. The printed inverted F- antenna (PIFA) type antenna structure is on a 1.6mm thick FR4 substrate. The Antenna covers LTE band-3 (1710–1880MHz)/ DCS 1800 and LTE band-7 (2500–2690MHZ) based on S 11 = −6dB matching criterion. Radiation efficiency above 65% in the lower band and 80% in the upper band is achieved. Next the Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) configuration of this antenna is investigated. The MIMO configuration shows an envelope correlation (ρ) value of 0.5 which meets the required industry standards. Radiation efficiency is always above 60% for the MIMO configuration. Measured and simulated data are presented in this paper.
Gastrointestinal helminth communities of two gekkonid lizard species, Nactus multicarinatusandNactus pelagicus(Squamata: Gekkonidae), from the Republic of Vanuatu, Oceania

Gastrointestinal helminth communities of two gekkonid species, Nactus multicarinatus and Nactus pelagicus, from the Vanuatu Archipelago were examined. Both helminth communities were depauperate: N. multicarinatus harboured one species of Digenea, Mesocoelium monas, one species of Cestoda, Oochoristica javaensis, four species of Nematoda, Hedruris hanleyae, Parapharyngodon maplestoni, Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts), Filarioidea gen. sp. (juvenile); N. pelagicus harboured one species of Cestoda, O. javaensis, four species of Nematoda, H. hanleyae, Falcaustra tannaensis, P. maplestoni, Physocephalus sp. (larvae in cysts). In each helminth community P. maplestoni represented a core species and H. hanleyae was a secondary species. It is postulated that the helminth fauna infecting lizards of the Vanuatu Archipelago originated in Australia and Papua New Guinea and reached the archipelago by rafting; their establishment in Vanuatu was fortuitous.
Software requirements prioritization and selection using linguistic tools and constraint solvers--a controlled experiment

Implementing the entire set of requirements for a software system is often not feasible owing to time and resource limitations. A key driver for successful delivery of any software system is the ability to prioritize the large number of requirements. Prioritization of requirements is a key challenge because current methods are not scalable to handle a realistic number of requirements. Current methods for requirements prioritization in market-driven software development projects are neither sufficient nor proven. A prioritization technique that is more time-efficient, accurate, and easier to implement for large-scale projects than current practices is needed. We address these challenges with a prioritization method that incorporates the use of a linguistic tool and constraint solver. In this paper we propose a method, referred to as SNIPR, for requirements prioritization and selection based on natural language processing and satisfiability modulo theories solvers. We present a controlled experiment in which 40 systems engineers prioritized and selected 20 requirements from a list of 100 using SNIPR and the weighted sum model. Results show that the SNIPR method consumes less time, improves selection accuracy, and is easier to perform than the weighted sum model. These results motivate further research using linguistic tools and constraint solvers for the prioritization of large sets of requirements.
Treatment of Spinal Conditions in Young Adults

Spinal stenosis of the cervical spine, or cervical spondylotic myelopathy, is a debilitating, typically progressive condition, and surgery has been shown to produce better outcomes than conservative measures do. Surgical options include single-level or multilevel anterior cervical discectomy with fusion, single-level or multilevel anterior corpectomy with fusion, posterior laminectomy with or without fusion, and posterior laminoplasty. The location of the pathology and geometry of the spinal canal, in addition to the risks and benefits of each surgical approach, determine the procedure chosen. In the case of younger patients, laminoplasty is an excellent option over laminectomy. We review the indications, surgical technique, and outcomes of cervical laminoplasty.
The Writing Consultant and the Corporate/Industry Culture How to Learn the Lingo, Mind-Set, and Issues

Many teachers of technical and business communication consult in business, industrial, and governmental organizations. To make the consulting experience successful and to understand the communication problems in an organization, the consultant should be aware of how the organization's culture may affect communication practices of members and should learn to read the various signs of organizational culture. Effective reading of cultural signs may be critical to the consultant's success or failure.
A computer approach to finding an optimal log landing location and analyzing influencing factors for ground-based timber harvesting

Locating a log landing is an important task in forest operations planning. Several methods have been developed to find an optimal landing location and compute a mean skidding distance, but they simplify harvest unit attributes and do not simultaneously consider multiple design factors influencing optimal landing locations. In this study, we introduce a computerized model developed to determine the optimal landing location for ground-based timber harvesting. Using raster- based GIS data, the model finds skid trails from stump to each of candidate landings and selects the best landing location that minimizes total skidding and spur road costs. The model is applied to several hypothetical harvest units with different terrain and harvest volume attributes to analyze the effects of design factors influencing optimal landing locations. Unit boundary shapes, volume distribution, the presence of obstacles, terrain conditions, and spur road construction are consid- ered as influencing design factors. Resume´ : Le choix de l'emplacement d'une jetee est une tache de planification importante en operations forestieres. Plu- sieurs methodes ont etedeveloppees afin de trouver l'emplacement optimal des jetees et de calculer la distance moyenne de debardage. Par contre, toutes ces methodes tendent a simplifier les attributs de la parcelle de recolte et ne permettent pas de tenir compte simultanement des nombreux facteurs qui influencent l'emplacement optimal des jetees. Dans cette etude, nous presentons un modele informatique concu pour determiner l'emplacement optimal des jetees pour des opera- tions de debardage sur le terrain. Utilisant les donnees de type matriciel d'un SIG, le modele localise les sentiers de debar- dage de la souche jusqu'achacune des jetees envisagees et selectionne le meilleur emplacement, c'est-a`-dire celui qui permet de minimiser le cout total de debardage et de construction des routes forestieres de desserte. Le modele est appli- queaplusieurs parcelles hypothetiques de recolte ayant des conditions de terrain et de volume differentes afin d'analyser les effets des facteurs qui influencent l'emplacement optimal des jetees. La forme du contour des parcelles, la distribution du volume, la presence d'obstacles, la condition du terrain et la construction de chemin de desserte sont considerees comme des facteurs qui influencent l'emplacement optimal des jetees. (Traduit par la Redaction)
SPEAR: A monopedal robot with Switchable Parallel Elastic actuation

Inspired by biological systems, compliant elements are introduced in the driving train of legged robots with the purpose of recycling energy. This paper presents the design and control concept of the monopedal robot SPEAR, driven by a novel implementation of a Switchable Parallel Elastic Actuator (S-PEA). At the stance phase, the parallel spring in S-PEA works with the actuator to support body weight and recover energy. The spring is removed from the system at the flight phase to gain precise joint control. The stiffness of the whole leg is also adjustable online either by active control of the motor or by changing the knee angle at touchdown. Experimental results show that the spring recycles part of energy during hopping, reducing the peak torque and peak power of the motor.
Diagnoses of vehicle malfunctions using a computer-controlled recorder. II: Preignition engine damage

Diagnostic du mauvais fonctionnement d'un vehicule a l'aide d'un enregistreur commande par ordinateur. Avaries dues a une avance a l'allumage
Phase II presurgical study of bevacizumab plus erlotinib in untreated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma

5004 Background: The safety and efficacy of presurgical bevacizumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) is not known. The current study was designed to answer these clinical que...
Reconsidering Collaboration and Modeling: Enriching Clinical Pedagogy

Clinical legal education scholarship has primarily emphasized "nondirective" supervision of law students by lawyer supervisors, although some scholars have contended that other supervision methods may be helpful for some students and a few have contended that the method of supervision was not critical to student learning. Externship supervision provides examples of a varied repertoire of supervision methods that may be applicable to on-campus clinics as well, depending on the educational goals of the clinic. Student views of the teaching value of supervision they experienced in externship at the author's law school support the view that collaboration and modeling, as well as nondirective supervision, are effective at helping students assume and understand their professional roles as lawyers.
Cell biology: Form follows function for mitochondria

The fission of organelles called mitochondria has now been linked to the stress-sensor protein AMPK. When activated by stress, this protein phosphorylates the mitochondrial receptor protein MFF, which recruits the fission machinery.
Field Investigation and Fault Plane Solution of the Bath, Maine Earthquake of April 18, 1979

On April 18, 1979 an m b (Lg) 4.0 earthquake occurred near Bath, Maine and was followed by a number of aftershocks within five hours. A four-station temporary network was deployed around the epicenter for three days and recorded two possible aftershocks. Intensity interviews were also conducted with fiftyfive residents of the area. Many residents reported observing intensity effects similar to those of historical New England earthquakes, such as booming sounds rather than low-frequency rumblings normally associated with ground shaking. The maximum intensity was V (M.M.) and the intensity near the Wiscasset Nuclear Power Plant was IV. The highest intensities were found north of the epicenter. Reports of unusual animal behavior prior to the earthquake were given by a number of the residents. The fault plane solution determined for this event shows thrust faulting on nearly north-south striking fault planes dipping 45 degrees.
A Survey of Phthalates and Parabens in Personal Care Products from the United States and Its Implications for Human Exposure

Despite the widespread usage of phthalates and parabens in personal care products (PCPs), little is known about concentrations and profiles as well as human exposure to these compounds through the use of PCPs. In this study, nine phthalates and six parabens were determined in 170 PCPs (41 rinse-off and 109 leave-on), including 20 baby care products collected from Albany, New York. Phthalates were less frequently found in rinse-off PCPs but were more frequently found in perfumes (detection frequency of 100% for diethyl phthalate [DEP], 67% for dibutyl phthalate [DBP]), skin toners (90% for DEP), and nail polishes (90% for DBP). Parabens were found in ∼40% of rinse-off products and ∼60% of leave-on products. The highest concentrations of DEP, DBP, methyl- (MeP), ethyl- (EtP), propyl- (PrP), and butyl parabens (BuP) were on the order of 1000 μg per gram of the product. On the basis of amount and frequency of use of PCPs and the measured median concentrations of target analytes, the total dermal intake doses (sum of all phthalates or parabens) were calculated to be 0.37 and 31.0 μg/kg-bw/day for phthalates and parabens, respectively, for adult females. The calculated dermal intake of phthalates from PCPs was lower for infants and toddlers than for adult females. In contrast, dermal intake of parabens from PCPs by infants and toddlers was higher than that for adult females. The calculated maximum daily exposure dose of MeP, EtP, and PrP from PCPs ranged between 58.6 and 766 μg/kg-bw/day for infants and toddlers, which was 3 times higher than that calculated for adult females. PCPs are an important source of human exposure to parabens; the contribution of PCPs to phthalate exposure is low, except for DEP.
Longevity and further Flight Range Studies on the Blackflies (Díptera, Simuliidae), with the Use of Dye Markers.

In discussing the role of blackflies in the transmission of onchocerciasis in Guatemala, three important problems must be considered. First, it should be determined whether the flight range of the anthropophilic species is sufficient to permit the introduction and subsequent establishment of vector species into areas supposedly free of onchocerciasis; second, the length of life of the females should be known in order to correlate it with the first point, thereby giving additional weight to the possibility that the disease may extend beyond its present boundaries; and third, it must be determined whether or not infection with the immature stages of Onchocerca adversely affects the flight range and longevity of blackflies. If infection greatly reduces flight range and life span, this may explain the restriction of the disease to its presently known areas. From the standpoint of insecticidal control of the anthropophilic species of blackflies, the first two mentioned considerations would indicate to what extent infiltration by the flies from non-treated to treated areas might be expected. This information would serve in establishing the size of the area that must be treated in order to achieve adequate control.
Transplantation of hepatocytes: an in-vitro and in-vivo study in canines.

We isolated and transplanted hepatocytes in the canine, large animal model to evaluate hepatocyte yield and purity as well as the optimal site for hepatocyte engraftment (i.e., the spleen or the portal bed). We obtained viable, pure, single hepatocyte suspensions that were readily preserved at 4 degrees C in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution for up to 3 days. Both intrasplenic and portal vein injection were well tolerated, with minimal recipient morbidity and mortality when 1-2 x 10(9) hepatocytes were injected into immunosuppressed allogeneic hosts. We noted the embolization of hepatocytes into the parenchyma of the native liver within 7 days of intrasplenic transplantation that produced a mild reversible derangement of liver function and histology. These results warrant consideration prior to clinical trials of hepatocyte transplantation in man.
Safety Effects of Widening Shoulders on Rural Multilane Roads: Developing Crash Modification Functions with Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines:

The presented study used crash modification (CM) factors and CM functions to assess the safety effectiveness of widening shoulders. The study first evaluated CM factors for widening shoulders on rural multilane roadways with the empirical Bayes (EB) observational before–after method to check the overall safety effects. Second, the CM factors were calculated for each aggregated break point according to roadway characteristics such as the original shoulder widths of treated sites in the before period and the actual increased widths. Finally, CM functions were developed with multiple linear regression and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) models to determine the variation of CM factors. The results indicated that widening the shoulders resulted in a 12% crash reduction for total crashes (all severities), 18% for injury crashes, and 21% for severe crashes on rural multilane roadways for all types of crashes. For run-off-roadway crashes, the overall crash reductions of the treatment were 25% for ...
Scanning paths for lossless compression of pseudo-color images

Pseudo-color images are widely used on World-Wide-Web (WWW) to reduce file storage, RAM, video memory buffer space, and to speed up data transfers. A pseudo-color image consists of indices and indices are stored in a file with raster scan order. The investigations on different scanning patterns in filing of indices showed that further improvements on compression are possible. In this paper, we propose a lossless compression technique based on various scan patterns along with Burrows-Wheeler transformation and inversion rank. We show that proposed technique yields better compression gain than well-known techniques such as GIF, PNG and others on pseudo-color images.
Enhancing Stent Effectiveness with Nanofeatures.

Abstract Drug-eluting stents are an effective therapy for symptomatic arterial obstructions, substantially reducing the incidence of restenosis by suppressing the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells into the intima. However, current drug-eluting stents also inhibit the growth of endothelial cells, which are required to cover the vascular stent to reduce an excessive inflammatory response. As a result, the endothelial lining of the lumen is not regenerated. Since the loss of this homeostatic monolayer increases the risk of thrombosis, patients with drug-eluting stents require long-term antithrombotic therapy. Thus, there is a need for improved devices with enhanced effectiveness and physiological compatibility towards endothelial cells. Current developments in nanomaterials may enhance the function of commercially available vascular devices. In particular, modified design schemes might incorporate nanopatterns or nanoparticle-eluting features that reduce restenosis and enhance re-en...
A flexible method for the synthesis of 2-substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and piperidines from chloro-containing propargylamines

Abstract A general approach for the stereoselective synthesis of 2-substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and piperidines is described. The addition of 4-chloro-1-butyne to Ellman sulfinimines to produce chloro-containing propargylamines, reduction with Lindlar catalyst, and cyclization using LHMDS provides efficient, stereoselective access to diverse 2-substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines. For substrates incompatible with the LHMDS cyclization reaction conditions removal of the sulfinamide moiety and cyclization with Cs2CO3 allows the preparation of the corresponding 2-substituted 1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines. This method can be extended to the synthesis of 2-substituted piperidines through reduction of the chloro-containing propargylamine with PtO2.
Telemedicine Applications in Pediatric Retinal Disease

Teleophthalmology is a developing field that presents diverse opportunities. One of its most successful applications to date has been in pediatric retinal disease, particularly in screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Many studies have shown that using telemedicine for ROP screening allows a remote ophthalmologist to identify abnormal findings and implement early interventions. Here, we review the literature on uses of telemedicine in pediatric retinal disease and consider future applications.