cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interactive Genetic Algorithm with Mixed Initiative Interaction for multi-criteria ground water monitoring design

Design of optimal plans for environmental planning and management applications should ideally consider the multiple quantitative and qualitative criteria relevant to the problem. For example, in ground water monitoring design problems, qualitative criteria such as acceptable spatial extent and shape of the contaminant plume predicted from the monitored locations can be equally important as the typical quantitative criteria such as economic costs and contaminant prediction accuracy. Incorporation of qualitative criteria in the problem-solving process is typically done in one of two ways: (a) quantifying approximate representations of the qualitative criteria, which are then used as additional criteria during the optimization process, or (b) post-optimization analysis of designs by experts to evaluate the overall performance of the optimized designs with respect to the qualitative criteria. These approaches, however, may not adequately represent all of the relevant qualitative information that affect a human expert involved in design (e.g. engineers, stakeholders, regulators, etc.), and do not necessarily incorporate the effect of the expert's own learning process on the suitability of the final design. The Interactive Genetic Algorithm with Mixed Initiative Interaction (IGAMII) is a novel approach that addresses these limitations by using a collaborative human-computer search strategy to assist users in designing optimized solutions to their applications, while also learning about their problem. The algorithm adaptively learns from the expert's feedback, and explores multiple designs that meet her/his criteria using both the human expert and a simulated model of the expert's responses in a collaborative fashion. The algorithm provides an introspection-based learning framework for the human expert and uses the human's subjective confidence measures to adjust the optimization search process to the transient learning process of the user. This paper presents the design and testing of this computational framework, and the benefits of using this approach for solving groundwater monitoring design problems.
Are birth order effects on intelligence really Flynn Effects? Reinterpreting Belmont and Marolla 40 years later

Abstract I reinterpret a forty-year-old finding by Belmont and Marolla (1973), who believed their Dutch IQ patterns were caused by within-family processes related to birth order. However, their inferred relation was almost certainly caused by differences between families — in parental IQ, maternal education, and/or dozens of other processes. I show that the Flynn Effect (which emerges from and is likely caused by combinations of such between-family processes) can theoretically account for the Belmont and Marolla patterns. I then draw on past research and additional analysis to show that the Flynn Effect was actually occurring in The Netherlands at the correct time and magnitude to explain the Belmont and Marolla patterns.
A reexamination of product and process innovations using a knowledge-based view

Using knowledge-based dimensions, we reexamine the characteristics of product and process innovations and their strategic implications. We find that process innovations are more systemic and complex than product innovations. Also, process innovations tend to be more internally sourced, more costly to implement, and more effective than product innovations.
Production of Nanocrystalline Sulfated Zirconia Catalysts via a Flow-Through Hydrothermal Process

Nanocrystalline sulfated zirconia catalysts were prepared using the rapid thermal decomposition of precursors in solution (RTDS) powder formation process. Zirconia gel formation, initial crystallization, and sulfate incorporation occurred during a brief exposure to hydrothermal conditions in the RTDS reactor. The partially crystalline zirconia solid was collected as a suspension, separated by centrifugation, and subjected to calcination to achieve full catalytic activity. Crystallinity, sulfate content, and catalytic activity of the calcined powders toward butane isomerization varied according to the hydrothermal conditions at which the zirconia powders were originally precipitated. The powders were characterized using powder XRD, FTIR, and XAS.
Habitat Assessment and Conservation Status of Endangered Northeastern Bulrush

Scirpus ancistrochaetus (Northeastern Bulrush) is a federally endangered sedge that grows in temporary wetlands. We performed surveys of 90 wetlands in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, measuring areal extent, stem density, and number of fl owering stems of Northeastern Bulrush. We also measured percentage of tree canopy closure, presence of threats, and size of wetland. Percentage of tree canopy closure was negatively correlated with wetland area, percentage of wetland area occupied by North- eastern Bulrush, total number of stems, stem density, and percentage of fl owering stems. Wetland area was positively related to percentage of fl owering stems and had a tendency to be positively related to stem density, likely in part due to larger wetlands having lower tree canopy closure. Invasive Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canarygrass) and Microstegium vimineum (Japanese Stiltgrass) were present at 7% and 21% of the wetlands, respectively. Odocoileus virginianus (White-tailed Deer) and Ursus americanus (Black Bear) damage were present in 38% and 17% of wetlands, respectively. Modifi cation of habitat was noted at 27% of wetlands. For wetlands with previous data on population size, 14% had increased, 34% were stable, 25% had decreased, and 27% were absent or had severely decreased. Our recommendations for management include reducing tree canopy closure with control of invasive species and White-tailed Deer where needed.
Neural plasticity and treatment-induced recovery of sentence processing in agrammatism

This study examined patterns of neural activation associated with treatment-induced improvement of complex sentence production (and comprehension) in six individuals with stroke-induced agrammatic aphasia, taking into account possible alterations in blood flow often associated with stroke, including delayed time-to-peak of the hemodynamic response function (HRF) and hypoperfused tissue. Aphasic participants performed an auditory verification fMRI task, processing object cleft, subject cleft, and simple active sentences, prior to and following a course of Treatment of Underlying Forms (TUF; Thompson et al., 2003), a linguistically based approach for treating aphasic sentence deficits, which targeted object relative clause constructions. The patients also were scanned in a long-trials task to examine HRFs, to account for any local deviations resulting from stroke, and perfusion images were obtained to evaluate regions of hypoperfused tissue. Region-of-interest (ROI) analyses were conducted (bilaterally), modeling participant-specific local HRFs in left hemisphere areas activated by 12 healthy age-matched volunteers performing the same task, including the middle and inferior frontal gyri, precentral gyrus, middle and superior temporal gyri, and insula, and additional regions associated with complex syntactic processing, including the posterior perisylvian and superior parietal cortices. Results showed that, despite individual variation in activation differences from pre- to post-treatment scans in the aphasic participants, main-effects analyses revealed a general shift from left superior temporal activation to more posterior temporoparietal areas, bilaterally. Time-to-peak of these responses correlated negatively with blood flow, as measured with perfusion imaging.
A robust time-varying identification algorithm using basis functions.

We extend a recently developed time invariant (TIV) model order search criterion named the optimal parameter search algorithm (OPS) for identification of time varying (TV) autoregressive (AR) and autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models. Using the TV algorithm is facilitated by the fact that expanding each TV coefficient onto a finite set of basis sequences permits TV parameters to become TIV. Taking advantage of this TIV feature of expansion parameters exploits the features of the OPS, which has been shown to provide accurate model order selection as well as extraction of only the significant model terms. Another advantage of the new algorithm is its ability to discriminate insignificant basis sequences thereby reducing the number of expansion parameters to be estimated. Due to these features, the resulting algorithm can accurately estimate TV AR or ARMA models and determine their orders. Indeed, comparison via computer simulations of AR models between the proposed method and one of the well-known iterative methods, recursive least squares, shows the greater capability of the new method to track TV parameters. Furthermore, application of the new method to experimentally obtained renal blood flow signals shows that the new method provides higher-resolution time-varying spectral capability than does the short-time Fourier transform (STFT), concomitant with fewer spurious frequency peaks than obtained with the STFT spectrogram. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8710+e, 8719Uv, 8780Tq
The First President: A Life of John L. Dube, Founding President of the ANC. By Heather Hughes. (Auckland Park, South Africa: Jacana Media, 2011. Pp. xxiii, 312. $35.95.)

Considering the current state of the African National Congress (ANC), which is riven with internal divisions, this new biography of its first President, John Langalibalele Dube, is exceptionally ti...
Environment, Damages, and Compensation

This article, the first part of a larger study devoted to the compensation of damages caused by pollution, reviews the existing sources of compensation in the United States: the common law of torts, federal and state statutes, and various forms of commercial insurance coverages. It shows how the rules of nuisance law have remained flexible in response to changing customs and public policies, how for a long time prevailing attitudes favored industrial development and economic growth over physical comfort, and how increasing concerns about the long-term health effects of environmental pollution have created a trend in the opposite direction. The author also points out that the existing system of liability and compensation, which relies on individual actions and case-by-case adjudication, is not ideally suited for dealing with the effects of large-scale pollution or for the —primarily political—task of evaluating and balancing all of the interests and values, present and future, economic and noneconomic, that need to be considered before decisions can be made that are bound to affect the health and economic well-being of a large part of the population beyond the immediate parties to a lawsuit. This indicates a need for a comprehensive approach that would not only coordinate the rules concerning liability and those concerning insurance and other sources of compensation but would also make the compensation of pollution damages an integral part of a thoroughly rational and consistent environmental policy. The various possibilities of constructing such a comprehensive compensation system will be discussed in the second part of the study, to be published in a forth-coming issue of the American Bar Foundation Research Journal.
Textile properties of cotton cellulose graft copolymers and terpolymers

Cotton cellulose graft copolymers and terpolymers were prepared by radiation initiated processes. Monomers copolymerized with irradiated cellulose from solutions of methanol-water were: methacrylic acid (MAA), methacrylonitrile (MAN), and hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate (6FIPA). Cotton cellulose, immersed in solutions of N-vinyl carbazole (NVC) in 1,2-dichloroethane, was irradiated to form a copolymer. Terpolymers prepared were; cellulose-poly(MAA)-poly(MAN), cellulose-poly(MAA)-poly(6FIPA), and cellulose-poly(MAN)-poly(6FIPA). Textile properties of the cotton fabric copolymers and terpolymers determined included: flex and flat abrasion resistance, breaking strength, and water repellency. The properties of the cellulose copolymers and terpolymers were related to chemical structures of the monomers used and the glass transition temperatures of their homopolymers.
Sex and the selfish herd: sexual segregation within nonmating whirligig groups

The fitness costs and benefits at different positions in fish shoals, bird flocks, and insect swarms can be asymmetric; a group’s edge may provide more feeding opportunities, but also greater predator risk. Animals make trade-offs between these selection pressures based on individual differences in traits including satiation level, ability to avoid predators, and sex. Previous studies did not evaluate the impact of sex on group positioning in these types of nonhierarchical, nonmating groups called congregations. A controlled laboratory experiment was conducted, using marked whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae), to test for sexual segregation and why different sexes might choose different positions. Soon after a disturbance, males often were found at the periphery and females at the center of groups. There was also an overlying influence of feeding on position; satiated individuals moved toward the center and hungry individuals toward the periphery. Several minutes after a disturbance, sexual segregation disappeared, but segregation due to hunger persisted. Sexual segregation in this study was best explained by the predator avoidance hypothesis, not the energy needs hypothesis. Females weighed less than males; this may make them more at risk to predation because of reduced swimming speed or less mechanical protection from their exoskeleton. No difference between the sexes was found in the volume of their defensive chemicals. This is one of the first studies to show that sex influences position of individuals within simple nonmating groups (congregations) and suggests that more attention should be given to positional sex differences within shoals, flocks, herds, and swarms. Key words: congregation, Dineutes, grouping, gyrinidae, nondimorphic, predator avoidance, sexual segregation, spatial position, swarm, trade-offs, whirligig. [Behav Ecol]
Automation of the BD GeneOhm Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Assay for High-Throughput Screening of Nasal Swab Specimens

This study demonstrated that an automated version of the BD-GeneOhm methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) assay (BD-MRSA), using achromopeptidase sample lysis and PCR setup performed on the Hamilton MICROLAB STARlet (Auto-MRSA), gave results comparable to those obtained with BD-MRSA. The positive- and negative-result concordance rates and overall concordance of BD-MRSA and Auto-MRSA were 98.2, 97.7, and 97.6%, respectively. Auto-MRSA required 60% less technical time than BD-MRSA, and the time required to obtain results was 50% of that required for BD-MRSA. Auto-MRSA provides a reliable, robust system for high-volume clinical use.
Source reliability in a multiple cue probability processing task

The reliabilities of information sources concerning two events were manipulated in a multiple cue probability processing task. Five treatments were used in which varying levels of reliability were associated with cues that were of higher or lower probability and were outlier or nonoutlier cues. Different assessments of occurrence of events showed that the reliability of a source of information influenced the subjects’ decisions. A cue of high reliability increased preference for that event with which it was associated. A cue of low reliability decreased preference. The strongest preferences occurred when high reliability was associated with a high-probability cue; the weakest preferences occurred when low reliability was associated with a low-probability cue. These results were consistent in each of two replications.
Safety of retained microcatheters: an evaluation of radiofrequency heating in endovascular microcatheters with nitinol, tungsten, and polyetheretherketone braiding at 1.5 T and 3 T.

Background The use of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer for liquid embolization of cranial vascular lesions has resulted in microcatheter fragments entrapped in patients following endovascular procedures. Undergoing subsequent diagnostic MRI examinations poses a safety concern due to the possibility of radiofrequency heating of the metallic braid incorporated into the microcatheter. Heating of nitinol, tungsten, and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) braided microcatheters was assessed and compared using a phantom model. Methods Microcatheters coupled with fluoroptic temperature probes were embedded in a polyacrylamide gel within a head and torso phantom. Experiments were performed at 1.5 T and 3 T, analyzing the effects of different catheter immersion lengths, specific absorption rate (SAR) levels, short clinical scans, long clinical scans, and microcatheter fragment lengths. Results The maximal increase in temperature for the nitinol braided microcatheter during a 15 min scan was 3.06°C using the T1 fast spin echo sequence at 1.5 T and 0.45°C using the balanced steady state free precession sequence at 3 T. The same scans for fragment lengths of 9, 18, 36, and 72 cm produced maximal temperature rises of 0.68, 0.80, 1.70, and 1.07°C at 1.5 T, respectively. The temperature changes at 3 T for these fragment lengths were 0.66, 0.83, 1.07, and 0.72°C, respectively. The tungsten and PEEK braided microcatheters did not demonstrate heating. Conclusions Substantial heating of nitinol braided microcatheters occurred and was a function of SAR level and geometric considerations. SAR and time limitations on MR scanning are proposed for patients with this microcatheter entrapped in their vasculature. In contrast, tungsten and PEEK braided microcatheters showed potential safe use in MRI.
Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for AIDS-related lymphoma (ARL)

High-dose therapy with ASCT is an established therapy for relapsed Non-Hodgkins (NHL) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). Randomized trials have shown a benefit for this approach when compared to standard dose salvage therapy for HIV-negative NHL. Since these first trials, transplant-related mortality (TRM) has decreased due to the use of peripheral stem cells and improved supportive care. Concomitantly, the treatment of HIV infection has also improved. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved hematologic and immune function in HIV positive patients. In addition, with the use of HAART and prophylactic antibiotics, the incidence of opportunistic infections has greatly decreased. This improvement in control of OIs and immunologic function in HIV infected patients due to HAART set the platform for the use of ASCT in patients with high-risk ARL. Herein we report the long-term follow-up of 32 patients with ARL who underwent ASCT at the City of Hope Cancer Center between 1998 and 2007. Median age at ASCT was 42 years. Histologies included Diffuse large cell n = 16, Burkitts n = 9, Anaplastic large cell n = 2, HL n = 5. The conditioning regimen consisted of CBV (carmustine 450 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide (CY) 100 mg/kg, VP16 60 mg/kg) in 28 patients and FTBI 1200 cGY/CY 100 mg/kg/VP16 60 mg/kg in 4 patients, All patients engrafted at a median of 10 days to an ANC >500 (range 5–19 days). One patient died of regimen-related cardiac toxicity. Other regimen-related toxicities included grade 3–4 hepatic toxicity n = 3, interstitial pneumonitis n = 2. OI's included PCP pneumonia in 2 patients who were not compliant with prophylaxis, CMV infection n = 3, VZV n = 2. One case of treatment related myelodysplasia was seen and the patient ultimately died of myelodysplasia while in remission from his ARL. Median HIV viral load at ASCT was 5726 copies/ml, with 25 patients having an undetectable viral load. Median CD4 count at ASCT was 156 (range 25–1064), which rose to 420 (range 95–1164) at 2-year follow-up. Only 10 patients had an undetectable VL at 2 years. Three patients who were in remission were lost to follow-up after 4 years. Median f/u for the entire group is 47 (range 0.7–104) months. Two-year overall survival is 80 percent (95% CI 66–89) and progression-free survival (PFS) is 81 percent (95% CI 67–90). In conclusion, this large single institution series of ASCT in ARL demonstrates that the procedure has low transplant-related mortality and can lead to long-term remission without deleterious effects on the underlying HIV infection.
Normes et censure: ne pas confondre

Il arrive que des theoriciens associent a une forme de censure les interventions des relecteurs ou des reviseurs. C'est peut-etre oublier qu'en matiere de demarches evaluatives, les recherches sont guidees par le souci de l'objectivite. Le domaine des divers agents d'evaluation, c'est le respect d'une norme professionnelle connue, en meme temps qu'evolutive, et garante de l'efficacite de la communication. Cette serie de regles interiorisees par la profession garantit aussi la cohesion de cette derniere, et c'est la sa fonction sociale. La relecture et la revision ne sont pas la police de la traduction, mais ses gardiens.
Postprandial Induction of Chaperone Gene Expression Is Rapid in Mice

Molecular chaperones assist in the biosynthesis and processing of proteins. Most chaperones are induced by physiological stresses. We have shown that dietary energy restriction decreases the mRNA and protein levels of many endoplasmic reticulum chaperones in the livers of mice. Here, we have investigated the response of chaperone mRNA to feeding. Control and 50% energy-restricted C3B10RF1 mice were deprived of food for 24 h, fed, and killed 0, 1.5, 5 or 12 h after feeding. Chaperone mRNAs were strongly induced as early as 1.5 h after feeding in control and energy-restricted mice. The integrated levels of these mRNA over 24 h were significantly lower in energy-restricted mice. The mRNA response to energy intake was mirrored over the course of days in the level of chaperone protein. A similar but smaller response to feeding was found in kidney and muscle. Puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the feeding response, suggesting that feeding releases chaperone expression from an unstable inhibitor. Studies with dibutyryl-cAMP- and glucagon-supplemented, normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice suggest that glucagon and insulin may be mediators of the feeding response. Adrenalectomy enhanced the feeding induction, but dexamethasone administration had no effect. Thus, postprandial changes in insulin and glucagon may link chaperone gene expression to feeding, possibly in several tissues including liver.
Professional communication and Poe's "The Purloined Letter"

At first glance, there seems to be very little in common between professional communication and a nineteenth-century detective story. However, there is a strong link between Poe's "The Purloined Letter" (E.A. Poe, 1975) and the successful practices of today's professional communicators, particularly technical writers and editors. In the story, Poe's writing methodology and his main character's investigative advice both offer useful guidelines for successful professional communication. "The Purloined Letter" is a formulaic detective story about Dupin, a witty detective who solves the case of a stolen letter, a case previously unsolved by the French police. Dupin uses intimate knowledge of human logic and reasoning to find the stolen letter. His method is contrasted with that of the French police who had spent months unsuccessfully searching for it. Dupin's means of finding the letter is a series of significant courses of action that can be applied to effective professional communication strategies. The article summarizes Dupin's advice and how it can be applied to effective technical communication today.
Embedded Assessment Algorithms within Home-Based Cognitive Computer Game Exercises for Elders

With the recent consumer interest in computer-based activities designed to improve cognitive performance, there is a growing need for scientific assessment algorithms to validate the potential contributions of cognitive exercises. In this paper, we present a novel methodology for incorporating dynamic cognitive assessment algorithms within computer games designed to enhance cognitive performance. We describe how this approach works for variety of computer applications and describe cognitive monitoring results for one of the computer game exercises. The real-time cognitive assessments also provide a control signal for adapting the difficulty of the game exercises and providing tailored help for elders of varying abilities.
Specific Control of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Surface-Associated Behaviors by Two c-di-GMP Diguanylate Cyclases

The signaling nucleotide cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) regulates the transition between motile and sessile growth in a wide range of bacteria. Understanding how microbes control c-di-GMP metabolism to activate specific pathways is complicated by the apparent multifold redundancy of enzymes that synthesize and degrade this dinucleotide, and several models have been proposed to explain how bacteria coordinate the actions of these many enzymes. Here we report the identification of a diguany- late cyclase (DGC), RoeA, of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that promotes the production of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) and contributes to biofilm formation, that is, the transition from planktonic to surface-dwelling cells. Our studies reveal that RoeA and the previously described DGC SadC make distinct contributions to biofilm formation, controlling polysaccharide produc- tion andflagellar motility, respectively. Measurement of total cellular levels of c-di-GMP in roeAandsadCmutants in two different genetic backgrounds revealed no correlation between levels of c-di-GMP and the observed phenotypic output with re- gard to swarming motility and EPS production. Our data strongly argue against a model wherein changes in total levels of c-di-GMP can account for the specific surface-related phenotypes of P. aeruginosa. IMPORTANCE A critical question in the study of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) signaling is how the bacterial cell integrates contri- butions of multiple c-di-GMP-metabolizing enzymes to mediate its cognate functional outputs. One leading model suggests that the effects of c-di-GMP must, in part, be localized subcellularly. The data presented here show that the phenotypes controlled by two different diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes have discrete outputs despite the same total level of c-di-GMP. These data sup- port and extend the model in which localized c-di-GMP signaling likely contributes to coordination of the action of the multiple proteins involved in the synthesis, degradation, and/or binding of this critical signal.
Comparative DNA methylation among females with neurodevelopmental disorders and seizures identifies TAC1 as a MeCP2 target gene

Several proteins involved in epigenetic regulation cause syndromic neurodevelopmental disorders when human genes are mutated. More general involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in neurodevelopmental phenotypes is unclear. In an attempt to determine whether DNA methylation differentiates clinical subgroups, profiling was performed on bisulfite converted DNA from lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) in discovery (n = 20) and replication (n = 40) cohorts of females with Rett syndrome (RTT; n = 18), autism (AUT; n = 17), seizure disorder (SEZ; n = 6), and controls (CTL; n = 19) using Illumina HumanMethylation27 arrays. TAC1 CpGs were validated using a Sequenom EpiTYPER assay and expression was measured in LCLs and postmortem brain. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed in HEK cells. Cells were treated with valproic acid and MeCP2 binding was assessed. Two female-only cohorts were analyzed. DNA methylation profiling in a discovery cohort identified 40 CpGs that exhibited statistically significant differential methylation (≥15%) between clinical groups (P <0.01). Hierarchical clustering and principal components analysis suggested neurodevelopmental groups were distinct from CTL, but not from each other. In a larger and more heterogeneous replication cohort, these 40 CpG sites suggested no clear difference between clinical groups. Pooled analysis of DNA methylation across all 60 samples suggested only four differentially methylated CpG sites (P <0.0005), including TAC1. TAC1 promoter CpG hypermethylation was validated in AUT and SEZ (P <0.005). Analyzed for the first time in postmortem brain, TAC1 expression was reduced in cingulate cortex in RTT and AUT+SEZ (P = 0.003). However, no significant difference in TAC1 promoter CpG methylation was detected in RTT and AUT+SEZ brains. Additional molecular analyses revealed that MeCP2 binds directly to the TAC1 promoter and is sensitive to antiepileptic drug treatment. These data suggest that DNA methylation is not widely altered in RTT, consistent with subtle changes in gene expression previously observed. However, TAC1 may be an important target for further functional analyses in RTT. Studies of larger sample cohorts using primary cells that also consider shared clinical features and drug treatments may be required to address apparent subtle disruptions of DNA methylation in neurodevelopmental disorders.
The Finite Supernatural: Theological Perspectives

Since the last half of the nineteenth century western Christian theologians have argued periodically about the supernatural, with liberals ordinarily denying the value of the concept and conservatives affirming it. The debate has usually turned around its function or disfunction within apologetics or the philosophy of religion. The anti-supernaturalists have claimed that the concept seriously inhibits the conversation between Christianity and contemporary culture. The pro-supernaturalists have replied that, whatever its current cultural status, the supernatural is absolutely essential to Christianity. And any attempt to abandon it for apologetic or philosophical reasons would falsify the very meaning of the Christian message itself. The debate commonly ends there with both sides fixed in disagreement.
High-Resolution Analysis of Ethanol-Induced Locomotor Stimulation in Drosophila

Understanding how ethanol influences behavior is key to deciphering the mechanisms of ethanol action and alcoholism. In mammals, low doses of ethanol stimulate locomotion, whereas high doses depress it. The acute stimulant effect of ethanol has been proposed to be a manifestation of its rewarding effects. In Drosophila, ethanol exposure transiently potentiates locomotor activity in a biphasic dose- and time-dependent manner. An initial short-lived peak of activity corresponds to an olfactory response to ethanol. A second, longer-lasting period of increased activity coincides with rising internal ethanol concentrations; these closely parallel concentrations that stimulate locomotion in mammals. High-resolution analysis of the walking pattern of individual flies revealed that locomotion consists of bouts of activity; bout structure can be quantified by bout frequency, bout length, and the time spent walking at high speeds. Ethanol exposure induces both dramatic and dynamic changes in bout structure. Mutants with increased ethanol sensitivity show distinct changes in ethanol-induced locomotor behavior, as well as genotype-specific changes in activity bout structure. Thus, the overall effect of ethanol on locomotor behavior in Drosophila is caused by changes in discrete quantifiable parameters of walking pattern. The effects of ethanol on locomotion are comparable in flies and mammals, suggesting that Drosophila is a suitable model system to study the underlying mechanisms.
North Korean Power Play Vis-à-Vis the United States: Focusing on Nationalism as ‘Independence’ and ‘Resistance’

The fundamental hypothesis of this paper is that the North Korean regime employs nationalism for regime security and stability when it confronts threats from the outside. A sub-hypothesis is that North Korean nationalism has had a tendency to react actively and aggressively to coercive demands by, or threat of, the United States. This hypothesis was tested by analyzing the behavior and rhetoric during the process of the negotiations during the Pueblo incident in 1968 and the nuclear crisis of 1993–94. At these times, war had to be averted at all costs and, at the same time, North Korea had to induce United States' concessions because the supreme national value of North Korea was regime security and stability. Therefore, North Korea showed an aggressive reaction based on strategic rationality with its nationalism instead of dealing passively with the United States' coercive threats. Consequently, the effects of North Korean nationalism showed strongly due to the imperatives of regime security and stability...
Characterization of the photolysis of 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexabromobiphenyl

Abstract 2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-Hexabromobiphenyl (2,4,5-HBB) was irradiated with ultraviolet light in hexane with stirring, and photolysis was monitored by gas chromatography (GC). 2,4,5-HBB decomposed at an average rate of 0.66 ± 0.02 μmol/min and the reaction appeared zero order from 0.159 to 1.59 m m 2,4,5-HBB. Several polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners were identified as photoproducts of 2,4,5-HBB. 2,4,5,2′,5′-Pentabromobiphenyl (-PBB), formed by para debromination, accumulated at a higher rate than did 2,4,5,3′,4′-PBB, formed by ortho debromination. 2,4,5,2′,4′-PBB was formed by meta debromination. 3,4,3′,4′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (-TBB) was found as a secondary photoproduct, formed by ortho debromination of 2,4,5,3′,4′-PBB. 2,5,2′,5′-TBB and 2,4,2′,5′-TBB were formed by debromination of 2,4,5,2′,5′-PBB para and meta, respectively. 2,5,3′,4′-TBB could be formed by either ortho debromination of 2,4,5,2′,5′-PBB or para debromination of 2,4,5,3′,4′-PBB. Rates of degradation and accumulation of the penta- and tetrabrominated biphenyls were also studied. The ultraviolet spectra of the 2,4,5-HBB photolysis mixture, as well as the purified components, were studied and are also reported.
Medicago truncatula transporter database: a comprehensive database resource for M. truncatula transporters

Background: Medicago truncatula has been chosen as a model species for genomic studies. It is closely related to an important legume, alfalfa. Transporters are a large group of membrane-spanning proteins. They deliver essential nutrients, eject waste products, and assist the cell in sensing environmental conditions by forming a complex system of pumps and channels. Although studies have effectively characterized individual M. truncatula transporters in several databases, until now there has been no available systematic database that includes all transporters in M. truncatula. Description: The M. truncatula transporter database (MTDB) contains comprehensive information on the transporters in M. truncatula. Based on the TransportTP method, we have presented a novel prediction pipeline. A total of 3,665 putative transporters have been annotated based on International Medicago Genome Annotated Group (IMGAG) V3.5 V3 and the M. truncatula Gene Index (MTGI) V10.0 releases and assigned to 162 families according to the transporter classification system. These families were further classified into seven types according to their transport mode and energy coupling mechanism. Extensive annotations referring to each protein were generated, including basic protein function, expressed sequence tag (EST) mapping, genome locus, threedimensional template prediction, transmembrane segment, and domain annotation. A chromosome distribution map and text-based Basic Local Alignment Search Tools were also created. In addition, we have provided a way to explore the expression of putative M. truncatula transporter genes under stress treatments. Conclusions: In summary, the MTDB enables the exploration and comparative analysis of putative transporters in M. truncatula. A user-friendly web interface and regular updates make MTDB valuable to researchers in related fields. The MTDB is freely available now to all users at http://bioinformatics.cau.edu.cn/MtTransporter/.
Cancer Incidence in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia: Disparities in Appalachia

Context: Composed of all or a portion of 13 states, Appalachia is a heterogeneous, economically disadvantaged region of the eastern United States. While mortality from cancer in Appalachia has previously been reported to be elevated, rates of cancer incidence in Appalachia remain unreported. Purpose: To estimate Appalachian cancer incidence by stage and site and to determine if incidence was greater than that in the United States. Methods: Using 1994-1998 data from the central registries of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated for the rural and nonrural regions of Appalachia. These state rates were compared to rates from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program for the same years by calculating the adjusted rate ratio (RR) and a 95% confidence interval (CI). Findings: Both the entire and rural Appalachian regions had an adjusted incidence rate for all cancer sites similar to the SEER rate (RR ¼ 1.00 (95% CI, 1.00-1.01) and RR ¼ 0.99 (95% CI, 0.99-1.00), respectively). However, incidence of cancer of the lung/ bronchus, colon, rectum, and cervix in Appalachia was significantly elevated (RR ¼ 1.22 (95% CI, 1.20-1.23), 1.13 (95% CI, 1.11-1.14), 1.19 (95% CI, 1.16-1.22), and 1.12 (95% CI, 1.07-1.17), respectively). Incidence of cancer of the lung/bronchus and cervix in rural Appalachia was even more elevated (RR ¼ 1.34 (95% CI, 1.31-1.36) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.21-1.38), respectively). Incidence of unstaged disease for all cancer sites in Appalachia (RR ¼ 1.06 (95% CI, 1.05-1.08)), particularly rural Appalachia (RR ¼ 1.28 (95%CI, 1.25-1.30)), was elevated. Conclusions: Cancer incidence in Appalachia was not found to be elevated. However, incidence of cancer of the lung/bronchus, colon, rectum, and cervix was elevated in Appalachia. The rates of unstaged cancer of every examined site were elevated in rural Appalachia, suggesting a lack of access to cancer health care.
Thermally Developing Flow in an Annulus with a Boiling Boundary

Heat transfer from a liquid flowing in an annulus to a boiling fluid flowing in a tube was analyzed using four general formulations and several variations of them. The degree of complexity varied significantly among these analysis methods due primarily to the assumption of thermally fully developed flow applied in some methods and not in others. Measurements from a sodium-heated boiling water experiment provided the boundary conditions for the annulus heat-transfer problem. Finite-difference techniques were employed in some of the analyses, and an appropriate inverse heat-transfer technique was included in one of them. Comparisons of heat-transfer parameters calculated from the analysis methods are presented and the accuracies assessed. Three of these methods compared favorably with the most complete and complex of the analyses considered. Nomenclature Cp = specific heat, J/kg K D = diameter, m f(r) = initial sodium temperature distribution at z=0, °C h = heat transfer coefficient, W/m2 K k = thermal conductivity, W/m K
Telemetry platform for deeply implanted biomedical sensors

This paper describes the design of low-power platform circuits for deeply implanted biomedical sensors, a bidirectional transceiver with Manchester decoder and a successive-approximation ADC. Potential operating frequencies are analyzed with respect to system limitations of power, size and complexity. It is argued that operation using low carrier frequencies provides high power efficiency while slightly increasing the size of off-chip antennas, and 125-kHz OOK and 27.12-MHz FSK are chosen for forward- and reverse-telemetry, respectively. The 8-bit SAR ADC achieves a balance between power, resolution, and sampling rate, and the scalable architecture increases its versatility. The platform circuits were fabricated in the AMI 0.5-mum process and test measurements confirm the transceiver consumes 1.05 mW while the ADC consumes 50 muW.
Electrospun ultrathin nylon fibers for protective applications

Electrospun nylon 6 fiber mats were deposited on woven 50/50 nylon/cotton fabric with the motive of making them into protective material against submicron-level aerosol chemical and biological threats. Polymer solution concentration, electrospinning voltage, and deposition areal densities were varied to establish the relationships of processing-structure-filtration efficiency of electrospun fiber mats. A high barrier efficiency of greater than 99.5% was achieved on electrospun fiber mats without sacrificing air permeability and pressure drop. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010
THE ETHOS FACTOR: MEMORABLE AND FORGETTABLE PRESIDENTIAL EPIDEICTIC ORATION

I remember 28 January 1986. I don’t recall the name of my fifth grade teacher, but I remember he wheeled a television into the classroom that day, excited to let my class watch the live broadcast of the first teacher in space taking off in the space shuttle Challenger. I’ll never forget the way he reacted when we all watched that shuttle explode before it even left Earth’s atmosphere; I had never before seen a teacher at a loss for answers to give a group of worried and questioning children. Later that evening, I watched the news at home with my family. At first, as usual, I was uninterested in the news, even when I saw President Reagan’s face consuming the entire television screen. But I looked up when he clearly mentioned the children at school who had watched this disaster. My young mind thought he was talking just to me, trying to help me make sense out of the sad day’s events. I also remember 1 February 2003. America was still living in the fearful aftermath of 9/11. I woke that morning to a live news broadcast of the space shuttle Columbia exploding in the sky. The media immediately and speculatively connected this disaster to the terrorist masterminds who had attacked the U.S. eighteen months earlier. Like other Americans, I believed the tenuous connection the media had created and sat on the foot my bed, fearfully awaiting news of how the terrorists had managed this spectacular event. When President Bush finally spoke on live television, he said nothing about the terrorists, nor did he try to quell our fears. Instead, he simply stated the basic details of the event and gave the usual condolences to the astronauts’ loved ones. Reagan’s speech has been hailed by many in the rhetorical community as important and successful. However, this oratorical success was, unfortunately, not duplicated by Bush. The ways in which the two speeches will be remembered can be seen in commentator Carl Cannon’s 2003 article “Mourner-in-Chief.” Cannon turns quickly away from Bush’s recent address to the nation, offering no direct quotes from the speech. Instead, Cannon focuses on Reagan’s celebrated speech from seventeen years earlier as a model of presidential oratory. Bush himself (and his speechwriters) seems to have recognized the effectiveness of Reagan’s Challenger speech, as there are startling parallels between the two speeches. The layout of each is organized in the same manner. Each man begins by stating the purpose of the speech. Each then names the dead, praising the astronauts for their courage. Each speaks of the dangers of space travel, though Americans so often take space missions for granted. Next, each expresses condolences to the astronauts’ loved ones, NASA, and others affected by the tragedy. Finally, each president makes religious references in his final remarks. These similarities are not surprising since both speeches were a response to a major space disaster that was widely viewed on live television.
Mortgage Pricing Differentials Across Hispanic, African-American, and White Households: Evidence From the American Housing Survey

This article uses recent metropolitan area samples of the American Housing Survey (AHS) for 1998, 2002, and 2004 to investigate differences in the terms, conditions, and use of mortgage financing alternatives. It investigates how financing and mortgage rates differ for Hispanics compared with other ethnic groups across a number of different U.S. housing markets. The principal focus of the article is to examine the extent to which differences in the interest rates obtained by homeowners of different race/ethnicity and income levels can be explained by differences in the characteristics of the borrowers, the property, and the loan itself. For example, Hispanic households appear to have a relatively high burden of first mortgage debt. Although limitations in the information available in the AHS do not allow for the determination of whether discrimination exists for minorities in the sample, this data set does identify important differences in the characteristics of these households, which in turn affect mortgage pricing.
Missing radar pulse clutter processing

The degradation incurred with a conventionally weighted moving target indication (MTI) or Doppler filter radar when one of the return pulses is missing is investigated. It is shown that, for conventional MTI and Doppler filter bank processor, the loss in performance can be large. For the single filter, such as an MTI filter, it is shown that the eigenvector methods for determining the weighting can result in large losses. However, the minimax log energy (MMLE) method is shown to give nearly optimal performance. It is shown that, using the MMLE design procedure, the number of filters could be substantially reduced without incurring a large degradation in performance. >
REHABILITATING DEMOCRACY: RESTORING CIVIL RIGHTS AND LEADING THE NEXT HUMAN RIGHTS REVOLUTION

This article describes the culture of activist black Christian congregations that propelled campaigns to dismantle legalized racial segregation and advocate for equal justice. Historically, as the imperfections of American democracy were exposed, the most marginal people in the society acted persistently and repeatedly to extend the benefits of democracy to all citizens. The article highlights the distinctive social and intellectual contributions of the secular activist W. E. B. Du Bois and social gospel minister Martin Luther King. The author sees the contemporary discussion and faith-based mobilization around reversing mass incarceration as an outgrowth of the civil rights movement. Finally, the article suggests that leadership for the next global human rights revolution is likely to emerge from students and young leaders who are committed to radically inclusive conceptions of democracy, equality, and social justice.
Textbook Characteristics That Support or Thwart Comprehension: The Current State of Social Studies Texts

Textbooks are heavily used in secondary-level content area classes, but previous research has identified numerous challenges for students associated with reading and understanding these texts. While students can learn reading strategies that help them better understand text, it is unclear the extent to which textbooks are written to promote or hinder the use of those strategies. The current study systematically coded and analyzed characteristics of current editions of middle school social studies textbooks from four major textbook publishers (N = 14). Findings suggest that there continue to be limitations inherent to textbooks that have the potential to “thwart comprehension,” and supplemental instruction will be required in order for students to learn. However, findings also reveal that contemporary textbooks contain features that “support comprehension,” which teachers may utilize to assist students with comprehension rather than augmenting with separate instructional materials. Implications for instruc...
Successful percutaneous repositioning of a dislodged pacemaker lead.

A 70-year-old man underwent ablation for atrial flutter 3 months after a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation. The fluoroscopy revealed dislodgement of the …