cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strengthening $(a,b)$-Choosability Results to $(a,b)$-Paintability

Let $a,b\in\mathbb{N}$. A graph $G$ is $(a,b)$-choosable if for any list assignment $L$ such that $|L(v)|\ge a$, there exists a coloring in which each vertex $v$ receives a set $C(v)$ of $b$ colors such that $C(v)\subseteq L(v)$ and $C(u)\cap C(w)=\emptyset$ for any $uw\in E(G)$. In the online version of this problem, on each round, a set of vertices allowed to receive a particular color is marked, and the coloring algorithm chooses an independent subset of these vertices to receive that color. We say $G$ is $(a,b)$-paintable if when each vertex $v$ is allowed to be marked $a$ times, there is an algorithm to produce a coloring in which each vertex $v$ receives $b$ colors such that adjacent vertices receive disjoint sets of colors. We show that every odd cycle $C_{2k+1}$ is $(a,b)$-paintable exactly when it is $(a,b)$-chosable, which is when $a\ge2b+\lceil b/k\rceil$. In 2009, Zhu conjectured that if $G$ is $(a,1)$-paintable, then $G$ is $(am,m)$-paintable for any $m\in\mathbb{N}$. The following results make partial progress towards this conjecture. Strengthening results of Tuza and Voigt, and of Schauz, we prove for any $m \in \mathbb{N}$ that $G$ is $(5m,m)$-paintable when $G$ is planar. Strengthening work of Tuza and Voigt, and of Hladky, Kral, and Schauz, we prove that for any connected graph $G$ other than an odd cycle or complete graph and any $m\in\mathbb{N}$, $G$ is $(\Delta(G)m,m)$-paintable.
Education and Migrants: A View From the United States of America

ABSTRACT Several factors contribute to the effective integration of migrants into the United States of America (U.S.), and among these is education. Educated migrants find transition to the U.S. infinitely more effective than those without education. While English language competence is essential, literacy in one’s native language increases the likelihood of acquiring English language literacy. Equal access to public education is the right of every child in the U.S., regardless of citizenship or migration status. Under law, all children between age six and sixteen years are required to be enrolled in school. College education, on the other hand, is accessible only to those with citizenship or legal visa or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status. This paper explores the educational level of immigrants in the U.S. and discusses the governmental and nongovernmental resources that can be utilized to increase the likelihood of successful functioning in the country. RESUMO Varios fatores contribuem para a efetiva integracao dos migrantes nos Estados Unidos da America (EUA), e entre eles esta a educacao. Os imigrantes com uma formacao vivem a mudanca para os EUA de forma infinitamente mais eficaz do que aqueles sem formacao. Se a competencia em lingua inglesa e essencial, a literacia na lingua nativa aumenta a probabilidade de adquirir uma literacia em lingua inglesa. O acesso igualitario a educacao publica e um direito de cada crianca nos Estados Unidos, independentemente da sua nacionalidade ou do seu estatuto de imigrante. Segundo a lei, todas as criancas entre os seis e os dezasseis anos de idade sao obrigadas a ser matriculadas na escola. O ensino superior, por outro lado, e acessivel apenas para aqueles com a nacionalidade americana ou um visto valido, ou ainda com o estatuto de Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA). Este artigo explora o nivel educacional dos imigrantes nos Estados Unidos e discute os recursos governamentais e nao-governamentais que podem ser utilizados para aumentar a probabilidade de ser bem sucedido neste pais.
Fabrication of Microstructures

We divide the present chapter to three main sections. Section 1.1 deals with steps that are common to both bulk and surface micromachining, sections 1.2, and 1.3 separately deal with bulk and surface micromachining fabrication steps. We almost exclusively discuss silicon based microstructures, and we assume that some familiarity already exist with silicon crystallography, how it is grown, and its epitaxy.
Long-Term Biofeedback Training

The major labs of this manual provide, along with an introduction to biofeedback equipment and experiences in mind/body unity, brief experiences with learning autonomic awareness and control. However, often the learning of autonomic control requires practice over a long period of time. For example, the reversal of clinical pathology has been found to require more than fifty training sessions.2 Biofeedback has been found to facilitate the learning of autonomic control.
Macroeconomic Considerations of Privatization

While fiscal motives are probably the most important driving force behind large-scale privatization programs in non-former socialist economies, other macroeconomic considerations might also play a role in the decision-making process of policymakers to pursue the divestment of public assets. The following section will analyze monetary, balance-of-payments and employment considerations of privatization.
Incidence and Risk Factors for Postpartum Severe Hypertension in Women with Underlying Chronic Hypertension.

Objective To determine risk factors and time to diagnosis of postpartum severe hypertension (PHTN) in women with chronic hypertension (CHTN). Study Design Retrospective cohort of singleton pregnancies with CHTN at a tertiary care center. The primary outcome was PHTN, defined as hypertension ≥160/ ≥ 110 mm Hg during an emergency room (ER) or outpatient visit, or hospitalization within 8 weeks postpartum. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess independent risk factors for PHTN. Results Two-hundred thirty-five women had CHTN: 30 (12.8%) were diagnosed with PHTN, and 17 (7.2%) were hospitalized or seen in the ER for PHTN. Women with PHTN had more severe superimposed pre-eclampsia (p 135 mm Hg (aOR 4.55, 95% CI, 1.64–12.61) at discharge remained independently associated with PHTN. Median time to diagnosis of PHTN was 10 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6–32 days); time to diagnosis among women requiring readmission or ER evaluation was 8 days (IQR 5–11 days). Conclusion PHTN occurred in 13% of women with CHTN, and was associated with blood pressure level and number of medications at discharge.
Evaluating bioeconomic tradeoffs of fishing reserves via spatial optimization

Abstract No-take marine reserves are common strategies used in spatial fisheries management. There are at least four general objectives for marine reserve design: (1) maximizing conservation, (2) minimizing total reserve area, (3) maximizing reserve compactness, and (4) minimizing socioeconomic opportunity cost (e.g., fisheries revenue). A spatial optimization model was developed to solve for reserve placements under those four objectives, while evaluating the bioeconomic tradeoffs and potential gaps of a subset of bottomfish restricted fishing areas (BRFAs) for the Hawaiian bottomfish fishery. Optimized reserve placements with minimal opportunity costs had little overlap (
Multi-functional, Active and Information Processing Antenna Surfaces in Chip-scale THz Systems

Silicon-based integrated circuit technology provides a great platform for enabling compact, efficient, low-power, chip-scale THz systems for new applications in sensing, imaging and communication While this is partially facilitated by scaling that has pushed device cut-off frequencies ($f _{t},\,f_{max}$) up into the sub-THz and THz frequency range, the true paradigm shift in silicon integration is that it provides a unique opportunity to enable a new field of active THz electromagnetics realizable through a circuits-EM-systems co-design approach. At these frequencies, the chip dimension is several times larger than the THz wavelengths which allows novel scattering and radiating properties in a substrate that simultaneously supports a billion high-frequency transistors that can generate, process and sense these signals. The ability to actively synthesize, manipulate and sense THz EM fields at subwavelength scales with circuits opens up a new design space for THz electronics. THz architectures emerging from this space are often multi-functional, reconfigurable and break many of the classical trade-offs of a partitioned design approach. This paper provides examples to illustrate this design methodology on THz signal generation with beam-forming and spectrum control and THz spectrum sensing.
Stratified shear instability in a field of pre-existing turbulence

Turbulent mixing of heat and momentum in the stably-stratified ocean interior occurs in discrete events driven by vertical variations of the horizontal velocity. Typically, these events have been modelled assuming an initially laminar stratified shear flow which develops wavelike instabilities, becomes fully turbulent, and then relaminarizes into a stable state. However, in the real ocean there is always some level of turbulence left over from previous events. Using direct numerical simulations, we show that the evolution of a stably-stratified shear layer may be significantly modified by pre-existing turbulence. The classical billow structure associated with Kelvin–Helmholtz instability is suppressed and eventually eliminated as the strength of the initial turbulence is increased. A corresponding energetics analysis shows that potential energy changes and dissipation of kinetic energy depend non-monotonically on initial turbulence strength, with the largest effects when initial turbulence is present but insufficient to prevent billow formation. The mixing efficiency decreases with increasing initial turbulence amplitude as the development of the Kelvin–Helmholtz billow, with its large pre-turbulent mixing efficiency, is arrested.
Community as an equal partner for region-based climate change vulnerability, risk, and resilience assessments

Understanding and planning for climate change is a complex systems problem that is interdisciplinary and requires place-based and impact-specific management practices for communities to become resilient to a changing environment. The greater Charleston Harbor region is highly susceptible to the projected impacts of climate change due to low lying geography, a strongly bimodal socioeconomic spectrum, and invaluable coastal ecosystem services. Using Charleston as an example community, this paper discusses a selection of increasingly holistic approaches used in developing a system-level, community-focused assessment for vulnerability, risk, and resilience that aim to enable community involvement in the assessment of and planning for climate change-induced severe weather events, more extreme temperatures, and sea level rise.
“How do I do life?” The challenges of preparing student-athletes for professional roles

Ensuring that student-athletes develop the competencies and skills needed to get jobs, not just degrees, after graduation is a responsibility that college athletic departments are trying to achieve...
Synthetic inhibitor leads of human tropomyosin receptor kinase A (hTrkA)

In silico virtual screening followed by in vitro biochemical, biophysical, and cellular screening resulted in the identification of distinctly different hTrkA kinase domain inhibitor scaffolds. X-ray structural analysis of representative inhibitors bound to hTrkA kinase domain defined the binding mode and rationalized the mechanism of action. Preliminary assessment of the sub-type selectivity against the closest hTrkB isoform, and early ADME guided the progression of select inhibitor leads in the screening cascade. The possibility of the actives sustaining to known hTrkA resistance mutations assessed in silico offers initial guidance into the required multiparametric lead optimization to arrive at a clinical candidate.
Variations in FLT3 ligand levels during the course of AML treatment.

7026 Background: FLT3 ligand (FL) is a hematopoietic growth factor expressed in many tissues. AML patients who are administered myeloablative therapy exhibit a marked and transient rise in plasma F...
A model to estimate bed demand for COVID-19 related hospitalization

As of March 23, 2020 there have been over 354,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in over 180 countries, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic, and the United States (US) announced a national state of emergency.1, 2, 3 In parts of China and Italy the demand for intensive care (IC) beds was higher than the number of available beds.4, 5 We sought to build an accessible interactive model that could facilitate hospital capacity planning in the presence of significant uncertainty about the proportion of the population that is COVID-19+ and the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading in the population. Our approach was to design a tool with parameters that hospital leaders could adjust to reflect their local data and easily modify to conduct sensitivity analyses. We developed a model to facilitate hospital planning with estimates of the number of Intensive Care (IC) beds, Acute Care (AC) beds, and ventilators necessary to accommodate patients who require hospitalization for COVID-19 and how these compare to the available resources. Inputs to the model include estimates of the characteristics of the patient population and hospital capacity. We deployed this model as an interactive online tool.6 The model is implemented in R 3.5, RStudio, RShiny 1.4.0 and Python 3.7. The parameters used may be modified as data become available, for use at other institutions, and to generate sensitivity analyses. We illustrate the use of the model by estimating the demand generated by COVID-19+ arrivals for a hypothetical acute care medical center. The model calculated that the number of patients requiring an IC bed would equal the number of IC beds on Day 23, the number of patients requiring a ventilator would equal the number of ventilators available on Day 27, and the number of patients requiring an AC bed and coverage by the Medicine Service would equal the capacity of the Medicine service on Day 21. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, hospitals must understand their current and future capacity to care for patients with severe illness. While there is significant uncertainty around the parameters used to develop this model, the analysis is based on transparent logic and starts from observed data to provide a robust basis of projections for hospital managers. The model demonstrates the need and provides an approach to address critical questions about staffing patterns for IC and AC, and equipment capacity such as ventilators.
The Ties that Bind: Assessing the Effects of Political and Racial Church Homogeneity on Asian American Political Participation

Research consistently emphasizes the importance of religious institutions for influencing political action among Asian Americans. The social capital literature offers two theoretical explanations for why churches increase political activity: bridging capital between different groups and bonding capital among similar groups. The latter argues that individuals who attend racially homogeneous churches are more participatory. This paper expands on these accounts by examining another aspect of bonding. That is, how does similarity in political views among church members affect Asian Americans' political participation? Results from the 2016 Collaborative Multi-Racial Post-Election Survey show that Asian Americans who attend politically homogeneous churches are more likely to vote and participate in conventional activities. The effects of racial homogeneity are limited once taking political homogeneity into consideration. These findings provide evidence that political homophily within religious organizations may facilitate the bonding of social capital between racial/ethnic minorities, and this homophily is indeed salient to democratic participation.
You’re Doing Less Good Than You Should: The Impact of Social Misprediction on OCBs

To be effective, organizations must have employees who go above and beyond their contractual obligations, performing extra-role behaviors for each other and their employer (Organ, 1988). With this ...
RIDB: A Dataset of fundus images for retina based person identification

The paper describes a dataset, entitled Retina Identification Database (RIDB). The stated dataset contains Retinal fundus images acquired using Fundus imaging camera TOPCON-TRC 50 EX. The abovementioned dataset holds a significant position in retinal recognition and identification. Retinal recognition is considered as one of the reliable biometric recognition features. Biometric recognition has become an integral part of any organization's security department. Before biometrics, the information was secured through passwords, pin keys, etc. However, the fear of decryption and hacking retained. Biometric verification includes behavioural (voice, signature, gait), morphological (Fingerprint, face, palm print, retina) and biological (Odour, saliva, DNA) features [1]. Amongst all of them, retina based identification is considered as the spoof proof and most accurate identification system. Since the retina is embedded inside the eye thus is least affected by the outer environment and retain in its original state. Moreover, the vascular pattern in the retina is unique and remains unchanged during the entire life span. The data presented in the paper is composed of 100 retinal images of 20 individuals (5 images were captured from each patient). The dataset is supported by research work [2] and [7]. These research papers proposed retinal recognition algorithms for biometric verification and identification. The proposed method utilized both vascular and non-vascular features for identification and yields recognition rates of 100 % and 92.5% respectively.
Visualization and analysis of coupling between plasmas self-organization and plasma-induced fluid circulation in 1 atm DC glows with liquid anode

In plasma–liquid interactions, the phenomenon of induced liquid flow that originates at the plasma–liquid contact point is important in that it influences mass, charge, and heat transport from the source to the surrounding bulk fluid. Such stimulated flows have been observed in 1 atm glows with a liquid anode. Because the plasma contact point in such discharges is patterned, a natural question is what is the relationship between the observed self-organized patterns and the induced flow field? It is, therefore, of great interest to investigate the coupling mechanism between the self-organization patterns in an atmospheric pressure dc helium glow discharge with a liquid anode and the induced flow circulation. Particle imaging velocimetry is used to probe the flow fields in the plane normal and parallel to the plasma–liquid interface. A strong ascending flow with maximum speed up to 1.5 cm/s and circulation vortices nearby are observed in the plane normal to the interface centered at the plasma attachment. The experiment results suggested that the ascending flow is caused by water evaporation and the vortices are formed by viscous stress. With a self-organization pattern formed, the flow structures become non-static and the circulation vortices are observed to periodically form and decay. In the plane parallel to the interface, a strong swirl flow was found to exist only when the plasma attachment is self-organized. The analysis revealed that the driving mechanism could be the electrohydrodynamics force. Averaged flow velocity over time in the field of view was found to scale linearly with increasing input power and increasing liquid conductivity.
Team-Based Online Multidisciplinary Education on Big Data + High-Performance Computing + Atmospheric Sciences

Given the context of many institutions moving to online instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we share our experiences of an online team-based multidisciplinary education program on big data + high performance computing (HPC) + atmospheric sciences (cybertraining.umbc.edu). This program focuses on how to apply big data and high-performance computing techniques to atmospheric sciences. The program uses both an instructional phase with lectures and team-based homework in all three areas and a multidisciplinary research experience culminating in a technical report and oral presentation. The paper discusses how our online education program can achieve the same learning objectives as face-to-face instruction via pedagogy and communication methods including flipped classroom, online synchronous meetings, and online asynchronous discussion forum.
Isolated tricuspid valve surgery—Repair versus replacement: A meta-analysis

Objective There is a paucity of data on outcomes after isolated tricuspid valve surgery. This meta-analysis aims to compile available data on isolated tricuspid valve surgery and compare isolated tricuspid valve repair (iTVr) with isolated tricuspid valve replacement (iTVR) to elucidate outcomes after tricuspid valve surgery. Methods A literature search of 6 databases was performed. The primary outcomes was 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were early stroke, post-op pacemaker placement, and tricuspid reoperation within 5 years. Publication bias was explored using the funnel plot. Results Ten retrospective studies involving 1407 patients (iTVr group = 779 patients and iTVR group = 628 patients) were included. A cumulative analysis demonstrated a significant difference favoring iTVr for 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR]: 10 studies [95% confidence interval [CI]]: 0.34 [0.18-0.66]); 4.7% versus 12.6%, for iTVr and iTVR, respectively. Post-op pacemaker placement favored iTVr (OR: 6 studies [95% CI]: 0.37 [0.18-0.77]). Although stroke rates and TV reoperation favored iTVr, they did not reach statistical significance. No publication bias was identified. Conclusions This meta-analysis demonstrates that iTVr has better 30-day mortality and fewer permanent pacemaker placements. Etiology and severity of TR, as well as careful patient selection remain the most important factors for optimal outcomes.
A wide geographical survey of mitochondrial DNA variation in the great spotted woodpecker complex, Dendrocopos major (Aves: Picidae)

One of the fundamental goals of phylogeographical studies should be to achieve a comprehensive geographical sampling of any investigated group. In this study, we conducted the most comprehensive geographical investigation to date for the great spotted woodpecker complex (Dendrocopos major), including populations from North Africa and Eurasia [including specimens from China, Japan and southern Caucasia (Anatolia, Azerbaijan and Iran)], in order to evaluate its genetic structure and population history. At the same time, we tested species limits within the D. major complex, which currently includes 14 recognized subspecies based on morphology and coloration. We based our study on haplotypes for the mitochondrial gene NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (ND2). Most haplotypes were obtained from museum toe pads, although we also used some previously published data. We also tested gene flow through MDIV, and estimated divergence dates among lineages using BEAST. The analysis of 352 base pairs of the ND2 gene from 155 individuals sampled from 33 populations showed significant phylogeographical structure across the breeding range. Our results found four distinct and reciprocally monophyletic clades: China, Japan, Iran–Azerbaijan and Eurasia–North Africa, with no phylogeographical structure within them. Coalescent-based gene flow analysis showed restricted gene flow between China and Japan and between Japan and Eurasia. On the basis of the gene flow and phylogenetic analysis results, we propose the recognition of at least four different species within the complex. We also propose that, within the Eurasia–North Africa clade, a rapid population expansion through ‘leading edge expansion’ from refugia in Iberia, Kursk and North Africa, as well as irruptive and loop migration, can explain the lack of phylogeographical structure. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, ••, ••–••.
Polysaccharides and Complex Oligosaccharides

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Covalent Structure Determination 3 Conformation and Dynamics 4 Acknowledgements 5 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
WATCHMAN: A Data Warehouse Intelligent Cache Manager

Data warehouses store large volumes of data which are used frequently by decision support applications. Such applications involve complex queries. Query performance in such an environment is critical because decision support applications often require interactive query response time. Because data warehouses are updated infrequently, it becomes possible to improve query performance by caching sets retrieved by queries in addition to query execution plans. In this paper we report on the design of an intelligent cache manager for sets retrieved by queries called WATCHMAN, which is particularly well suited for data warehousing environment. Our cache manager employs two novel, complementary algorithms for cache replacement and for cache admission. WATCHMAN aims at minimizing query response time and its cache replacement policy swaps out entire retrieved sets of queries instead of individual pages. The cache replacement and admission algorithms make use of a profit metric, which considers for each retrieved set its average rate of reference, its size, and execution cost of the associated query. We report on a performance evaluation based on the TPC-D and Set Query benchmarks. These experiments show that WATCHMAN achieves a substantial performance improvement in a decision support environment when compared to a traditional LRU replacement algorithm.
Bright Star of the West: Joe Heaney, Irish Song Man

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Sean Williams and Lillis O Laoire Year: 2011 Pages: 250 Publisher: Oxford University Press ISBN: 9780195321180 (hard cover).
Two-dimensional hybridization mapping of nucleosomes: Comparison of DNA and protein patterns☆

Abstract A new approach was developed for analysis of complex mixtures of staphylococcal nuclease-produced nucleosomes, consisting of two-dimensional electrophoretic fractionation of nucleosomes (low ionic strength electrophoresis of deoxyribo-nucleoproteins in the first dimension followed by DNA electrophoresis in the second dimension), with subsequent electrophoretic transfer of nucleosomal DNA from polyacrylamide gels to DBM † paper for hybridization with specific DNA probes. Hybridization was accompanied by parallel two-dimensional analysis of protein composition of mononucleosomes from HeLa chromatin. The major results are: 1. (1) The H1-lacking mononucleosomes containing proteins HMG 14 and HMG 17 migrate as a broad band in the first dimension, and their DNA fragments form an identifiable subset of the total mononucleosomal DNA pattern. 2. (2) Hybridization of a highly repetitive human DNA fragment to fractionated HeLa mononucleosomal DNA lights up all major mononucleosomal DNA spots, suggesting that transcriptionally inactive regions of HeLa chromatin contain both A24 semihistone and HMG proteins. 3. (3) Hybridization of cloned ribosomal DNA to fractionated HeLa mononucleosomal DNA also lights up all major DNA spots. The regions corresponding to A24- and HMG-containing mononucleosomes, however, appear to be under-represented in the hybridization pattern. 4. (4) A fragment of highly repetitive rat DNA hybridizes to a subset of the total oligonucleosomal DNA pattern from rat 14B chromatin, strongly suggesting that the range of nucleosomal DNA repeat lengths within regions of chromatin homologous to this highly repetitive probe is much narrower than that in bulk chromatin. Our findings indicate that specific interactions of HMG proteins with transcriptionally active regions of chromatin (Weisbrod et al. , 1980) are superimposed over a significant background of apparently non-specific HMG chromatin interactions. We suggest that the process of transcription itself is responsible for “saturation” of a chromatin region with HMG proteins in vitro .
A quarter century of performance evaluation-Impact on science and engineering

Performance evaluation has matured. It is an accepted discipline at universities, and industrial research laboratories maintain substantial groups of specialists. What has been accomplished? The author tries to answer this question by looking at three areas: contribution to science, contribution to engineering; and performance evaluation as business and in industry. A case study is also presented which highlight the importance of performance evaluation in the development of the IBM token ring LAN. >
Canada Must Make Broadband Infrastructure a Priority

Abstract: This article argues that just as universal access to traditional communications media, such as the post office and the telephone, is considered an essential service, so also should access to high-speed Internet, particularly in areas that currently lack the infrastructure to make this possible. This paper illustrates the need for high-speed Internet connectivity, or broadband access, in remote and rural areas of Canada. The article outlines the rationale for establishing high-speed access throughout Canada and provides an overview of infrastructure implementation barriers faced by the private and public sectors. It concludes with a discussion of the ways in which community-based networks could play a role in the strategic planning, implementation, and application of broadband infrastructure. Resume : Cet article soutient que, de la meme maniere que l'on en est venu a considerer comme essentiel l'acces universel aux medias de communication traditionnels comme la poste et le telephone, on devrait considerer comme essentiel l'acces a Internet a haute vitesse, particulierement dans les regions qui n'ont pas encore une infrastructure de base pour Internet. Cet article explique le besoin d'une connectivite Internet a haute vitesse ou a large bande dans les regions isolees et rurales du Canada. Il justifie pourquoi il est raisonnable d'etablir l'acces a haute vitesse partout au Canada et offre une vue d'ensemble sur les barrieres que les secteurs public et prive doivent surmonter avant de pouvoir instaurer une infrastructure. Il conclut en discutant comment les reseaux communautaires pourraient jouer un role dans la planification, l'etablissement et le maintien d'une infrastructure a large bande.
Is gestational weight gain associated with offspring obesity at 36 months

Summary Objective We examined the association between gestational weight gain (GWG) and offspring obesity at age 36 months. Methods Mother–infant dyads (n = 609) were followed from a first study visit (mean [standard deviation]: 18.8 [2.7] weeks gestation) to 36 months postpartum. Total GWG over the entire pregnancy was defined as excessive or non-excessive according to the 2009 Institute of Medicine guidelines. Four mutually exclusive categories of excessive or non-excessive GWG across early (conception to first study visit) and late (first study visit to delivery) pregnancy defined GWG pattern. Body mass index (BMI) z-scores ≥95th percentile of the 2000 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) references defined offspring obesity at 36 months. Multivariable log-binomial models adjusted for pre-pregnancy BMI and breastfeeding were used to estimate the association between GWG and childhood obesity risk. Results Nearly half of the women had total excessive GWG. Of these, 46% gained excessively during both early and late pregnancy while 22% gained excessively early and non-excessively late, and the remaining 32% gained non-excess weight early and excessively later. Thirteen per cent of all children were obese at 36 months. Excessive total GWG was associated with more than twice the risk of child obesity (adjusted risk ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.20 [1.35, 3.61]) compared with overall non-excessive GWG. Compared with a pattern of non-excessive GWG in both early and late pregnancy, excessive GWG in both periods was associated with an increased risk of obesity (2.39 [1.13, 5.08]). Conclusions Excessive GWG is a potentially modifiable factor that may influence obesity development in early childhood.
An interferon antagonist: its effect on interferon action in mengo-infected Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Abstract Ehrlich ascites tumor (EAT) cells were pretreated with crude or purified interferon made in L cells with live NDV. After 14 hours of infection with mengovirus, in the presence of actinomycin D and orthophosphate- 32 P, the cells were extracted for RNA with a mixture of hot phenol-Dupanol. The extracts were chromatographed on MAK columns and assayed for radioactivity and infectivity. Crude interferon, active in L cells, had no inhibitory effect on the synthesis of viral RNA in EAT cells, and in fact caused a three- to fourfold stimulation. In contrast, interferon purified on a CM-Sephadex (C25) column completely suppressed the production of viral RNA. A substance eluting just ahead of interferon was found to prevent activity of interferon in EAT cells. Enzyme inactivation studies revealed the antagonist to be a protein. It was concluded that the apparent intraspecific selectivity of crude interferon was due to an effect of the antagonist which is manifest in EAT, but not in L cells.
Servqual and the Quest for New Measures

L'etude realisee par Texas A & M sur l'utilite de SERVQUAL en tant qu'outil d'evaluation des performances des bibliotheques, montre qu'il faut proceder a certaines modifications de cet instrument, originalement concu pour mesurer la qualite des services dans le secteur prive, sont necessaires. L'ARL (Association of Research Libraries) a lance un projet pilote destine a tester l'efficacite de SERVQUAL comme outil d'identification des meilleures pratiques pour les bibliotheques de recherche.
The Mechanism of Carbohydrate Utilization.

The purpose of this note is to outline a theory elaborated by the author which appears to afford satisfactory explanation of much of the published data relating to the degradation of carbohydrates by enzyme systems both "in vivo" and "in vitro." Experimental work to test the theory has been in progress for some time(1) and on completion may necessitate certain modifications. As this is intended to be merely a preliminary note, the arguments for the various assumptions are not elaborated.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) Process Optimization of 2.0 mm Uncoated Boron Steel to 1.0 mm Usibor® 1500 P Steel Joint for Automotive Body Structural Applications

With the increasing demand for safety, energy saving and emission reduction, Advanced High Strength Steels (AHSS) have become very attractive steels for automobile makers. The usage of AHSS steels is projected to grow significantly in the next 5–10 years with new safety and fuel economy regulations. These new steels have significant manufacturing challenges, particularly for welding and stamping. Welding of AHSS remains one of the technical challenges in the successful application of AHSS in automobile structures due to heat affected zones (HAZ) at the weld joint. In this study, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) of a lap joint configuration consisting of 2.0 mm uncoated boron steel and 1.0 mm Usibor® 1500 steel was investigated. The objective of the study was to understand the wire feed rate (WFR) and torch (or robot) travel speed (TTS) influence on lap joint tensile strength. Design of Experiments (DOE) methodology was used to understand the process parameter influence on the joint strength. Based on the statistical analysis, wire feed rate and torch travel speed were significant factors on static tensile strength. The interaction effect between wire feed rate and torch travel speed was not significant. Metallurgical properties of the lap joints were evaluated using optical microscopy. Significant drops in hardness at the HAZ were observed on both Usibor® 1500 P and boron steels.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The effect of lymphocytes from renal transplant patients on glomerular basement membrane sulfate uptake

We have studied the effect of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from renal transplant patients on 35sulfate uptake by rat glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Nine patients were included in the study; six were studied during an episode of acute allograft rejection and seven while not undergoing acute rejection. The sulfate uptake index, calculated as the ratio between uptake by GBM from rat glomeruli cocultured with PBMC and 35sulfate incorporation by GBM from glomeruli cultured alone, was significantly higher when glomeruli were cocultured with PBMC from patients undergoing an acute rejection (3.26 +/- 1.18, mean +/- SEM) than it when glomeruli were cocultured with PBMC from nonrejecting transplant patients not showing proteinuria (0.81 +/- 0.11) (P = 0.0053). After reversing the acute allograft rejection with resolution of proteinuria, the sulfate uptake index returned to normal in four of five patients. The fifth patient had persistent nephrotic syndrome and his sulfate uptake index remained elevated. These findings are similar to those observed in idiopathic minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome patients in relapse. Because the GBM sulfated compounds may play a role in glomerular permeability to plasma proteins, by acting on these compounds PBMC may be a common mechanism for proteinuria.
Intraoperative Sonography for the Evaluation and Management of Renal Tumors: Experience with 100 Patients

AbstractPurpose: Intraoperative sonography was used to evaluate prospectively the renal parenchyma of patients undergoing surgery for presumed renal neoplasia.Materials and Methods: One surgeon (F. F. M.) evaluated 100 kidneys using a triple-head sector ultrasonic transducer (5 MHz., 7.5 MHz. and 10 MHz. with duplex Doppler imaging). The size, number, echo texture, location, and relationship of suspected lesions to the collecting system, vasculature and renal capsule were recorded. Real-time Doppler imaging was used to distinguish among renal arteries, renal veins and the collecting system. Sonography was used to delineate the extent of the tumor and presence or absence of satellite lesions. All patients were evaluated preoperatively with abdominal computerized tomography.Results: Under ultrasonic guidance partial nephrectomy was done in 40 cases, radical nephrectomy in 56, unroofing of renal cysts in 3 and renal biopsy in 1. Of the patients 8 were considered candidates for partial nephrectomy but underwe...
Land-use regulations and property values in Portland, Oregon: A regression discontinuity design approach

Over the past two decades, the tension between public and private interests in the use of land has given rise to state-level legislation seeking to limit government controls on private property. In 2004, voters in Oregon approved Measure 37, which required payments to private landowners for reductions in the value of their property resulting from land-use regulations. The central economic question behind Measure 37 and compensation statutes adopted in other states is, what is the effect of land-use regulations on property values? Economists investigating this question have typically estimated hedonic property value models with regulations included as exogenous regressors. This approach is likely to be invalid if the parcel characteristics that determine property values also influence the government's decision about how to implement regulations. We use Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) to study the effect of the Portland, Oregon, Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) on property values. RDD provides an unbiased estimate of the treatment effect under relatively mild conditions and is well-suited to our application because the UGB defines a sharp treatment threshold. We find a price differential on the western and southern sides of the Portland metropolitan area ranging from $30,000 to at least $140,000, but no price differential on the eastern side. Support for Measure 37 was fueled by price differences such as these among parcels subject to different regulations, but one must be careful not to view current price differentials as evidence that regulations have reduced property values.
High‐risk Technology, Legitimacy and Science: The U.S. Search for Energy Policy Consensus

Since the 1980s, a growing body of social scientific research has focused on the organizational character of the institutions that are responsible for the management and functioning of high‐risk technological systems. While there are differences among the social theories of risks that have developed on both sides of the Atlantic, much of the work offers warnings that are relevant to public policy. The warnings have largely been ignored in recent U.S. policy decisions, as illustrated most clearly by the U.S. Energy Act of 2005, which largely overlooks important questions regarding the environmental and technological risks of the technologies favored by the Act. Sociological work suggests that the scientific systems that have been instrumental in the legitimization process of high‐risk technological options of energy, more broadly, should be examined in connection with the societal institutions having responsibility for transparency, safety, and environmental protection.
Children's mental-health language access laws: state factors influence policy adoption.

Despite federal legislation to equalize healthcare for children with limited English language proficiency, some state healthcare agencies and programs fall short in providing children’s linguistic services for mental healthcare. While some states have been aggressive in passing cultural and linguistic laws aimed at providing protection for children, other states have not, limiting children of all ages to potential substandard care. This research uses state-level data and multivariate regression analysis to explore why some states are adopting these laws, whereas others are not. We find two dissimilar forces with unrelated goals must work in tandem to bring about policy change—the desire of civil rights and liberty groups to ensure equality in the delivery of healthcare services, and the desire of state legislature to reduce healthcare costs.
Capacity Enhancement of Hybrid Wireless Optical Networks Using MIMO Links

Wireless mesh networks play a key role in the overall performance of hybrid wireless optical access networks. In many cases, the wireless multihop network causes a bottleneck and under- utilizes the network resources. In this paper, we propose a new approach to increase the wireless network capacity by enhancing the congested links, normally those which are closer to the gateways, using MIMO antennas. We are mainly interested in determining the links which provide the network with the highest improvement if they get enhanced. We suggest a TDMA-based framework for link activation to avoid interference, and the problem is formulated as an integer linear program. Based on the optimal solution, we assign a few extra antenna modules to some critical transceivers to significantly increase the entire capacity of the network. We also propose a simple routing algorithm based on the optimal schedule which handles the variations of traffic demand efficiently.
Internet impacts on supply chain management

Abstract The traditional way of managing supply chains has changed dramatically over the last 5 years. Face-to-face management, manual tracking systems, paper-dominated order processing systems, and wired communication links were the primary management tools available to logistics managers. Today, they are obsolete. The article provides an overview of some of the new tools and trends discussed in this issue, including website structure, e-purchasing, electronic marketplaces, building vendor relationships, and the use of the Internet in managing supply chains in China.
Effect of interval between induction of ovulation and artificial insemination (AI) and supplemental progesterone for resynchronization on fertility of dairy cows subjected to a 5-d timed AI program

Objectives were to investigate 2 intervals from induction of ovulation to artificial insemination (AI) and the effect of supplemental progesterone for resynchronization on fertility of lactating dairy cows subjected to a 5-d timed AI program. In experiment 1, 1,227 Holstein cows had their estrous cycles presynchronized with 2 injections of PGF(2α) at 46 and 60 d in milk (DIM). The timed AI protocols were initiated with GnRH at 72 DIM, followed by 2 injections of PGF(2α) at 77 and 78 DIM and a second injection of GnRH at either 56 (OVS56) or 72h (COS72) after the first PGF(2α) of the timed AI protocols. All cows were time-inseminated at 72h after the first PGF(2α) injection. Pregnancy was diagnosed on d 32 and 60 after AI. In experiment 2, 675 nonpregnant Holstein cows had their estrous cycles resynchronized starting at 34 d after the first AI. Cows received the OVS56 with (RCIDR) or without (RCON) supplemental progesterone, as an intravaginal insert, from the first GnRH to the first PGF(2α). Pregnancy diagnoses were performed on d 32 and 60 after AI. During experiment 2, subsets of cows had their ovaries scanned by ultrasonography at the first GnRH, the first PGF(2α), and second GnRH injections of the protocol. Blood was sampled on the day of AI and 7 d later, and concentrations of progesterone were determined in plasma. Cows were considered to have a synchronized ovulation if they had progesterone 2.26 ng/mL on the day of AI and 7 d later, respectively, and if no ovulation was detected between the first PGF(2α) and second GnRH injections during resynchronization. In experiment 1, the proportion of cows detected in estrus at AI was greater for COS72 than OVS56 (40.6 vs. 32.4%). Pregnancy per AI (P/AI) did not differ between OVS56 (46.4%) and COS72 (45.5%). In experiment 2, cows supplemented with progesterone had greater P/AI compared with unsupplemented cows (51.3 vs. 43.1%). Premature ovulation tended to be greater for RCON than RCIDR cows (7.5 vs. 3.6%), although synchronization of the estrous cycle after timed AI was similar between treatments. Timing of induction of ovulation with GnRH relative to insemination did not affect P/AI of dairy cows enrolled in a 5-d timed AI program. Furthermore, during resynchronization starting on d 34 after the first AI, supplementation with progesterone improved P/AI in cows subjected to the 5-d timed AI protocol.
Comparison of 0.005% and 0.01% diphacinone and chlorophacinone baits for controlling California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Abstract.Diphacinone and chlorophacinone, first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, are frequently used for control of California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) in agricultural and rangeland areas in California, USA. Owing to growing concerns over the risks to non-target species associated with the use of these rodenticides, the USA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed that the concentration of baits for above-ground use should be reduced from 0.01% to 0.005% active ingredient. We conducted field trials to compare the efficacy of 0.005% and 0.01% chlorophacinone and diphacinone baits in broadcast and spot applications for control of California ground squirrels on rangeland. We found no significant difference in efficacy owing to bait type, concentration or application method. Repeat testing is needed in other habitat types (e.g. crop areas) where alternative foods might reduce the effectiveness of a 0.005% bait application.