cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustainable technologies: bioenergy and biofuel from biowaste and biomass

The combustion of petroleum-based fossil fuels has become a concern with respect to global climate change due to accelerated carbon emissions. Reliance on the burning of fossil fuels has also creat...
Dynamics of monotone travelling fronts for discretizations of Nagumo PDEs

When PDEs are discretized, the dynamics of the resulting equations differ from those of the original PDE. In this paper, we study the dynamics of travelling wave solutions to the discretized Nagumo PDE (A(α) stable in time and/or uniform in space) with smooth bistable nonlinearities. In general, time discretization significantly speeds up travelling wave fronts and spatial discretization slows (or even halts) such fronts.
Diligence and Academic Performance

The research literature in education is devoting increasing attention to the role of student effort in academic performance. This study posits a construct, diligence, which expresses or reflects an...
Transactional Associations between Youths' Responses to Peer Stress and Depression: The Moderating Roles of Sex and Stress Exposure.

This study examined transactional associations between responses to peer stress and depression in youth. Specifically, it tested the hypotheses that (a) depression would predict fewer effortful responses and more involuntary, dysregulated responses to peer stress over time; and (b) fewer adaptive and more maladaptive responses would predict subsequent depression. Youth (M age = 12.41; SD = 1.19; 86 girls, 81 boys) and their maternal caregivers completed semi-structured interviews and questionnaires at three annual waves. Multi-group comparison path analyses were conducted to examine sex and stress-level differences in the proposed reciprocal-influence model. In girls and in youth exposed to high levels of peer stress, maladaptive stress responses predicted more depressive symptoms and adaptive stress responses predicted fewer depressive symptoms at each wave. These findings suggest the utility of preventive interventions for depression designed to enhance the quality of girls’ stress responses. In boys, depression predicted less adaptive and more maladaptive stress responses, but only at the second wave. These findings suggest that interventions designed to reduce boys’ depressive symptoms may help them develop more adaptive stress responses.
Mechanism-Based Inactivation of Human Cytochromes P450s: Experimental Characterization, Reactive Intermediates, and Clinical Implications

The P450 type cytochromes are responsible for the metabolism of a wide variety of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. Although P450-catalyzed reactions are generally thought to lead to detoxication of xenobiotics, the reactions can also produce reactive intermediates that can react with cellular macromolecules leading to toxicity or that can react with the P450s that form them leading to irreversible (i.e., mechanism-based) inactivation. This perspective describes the fundamentals of mechanism-based inactivation as it pertains to P450 enzymes. The experimental approaches used to characterize mechanism-based inactivators are discussed, and the criteria required for a compound to be classified as a mechanism-based inactivator are outlined. The kinetic scheme for mechanism-based inactivation and the calculation of the relevant kinetic constants that describe a particular inactivation event are presented. The structural aspects and important functional groups of several classes of molecules that have been found to impart mechanism-based inactivation upon metabolism by P450s such as acetylenes, thiol-containing compounds that include isothiocyanates, thiazolidinediones, and thiophenes, arylamines, quinones, furanocoumarins, and cyclic tertiary amines are described. Emphasis throughout this perspective is placed on more recent findings with human P450s where the site of modification, whether it be the apoprotein or the heme moiety, and, at least in part, the identity of the reactive intermediate responsible for the loss in P450 activity are known or inferred. Recent advances in trapping procedures as well as new methods for identification of reactive intermediates are presented. A variety of clinically important drugs that act as mechanism-based inactivators of P450s are discussed. The irreversible inactivation of human P450s by these drugs has the potential for causing serious drug-drug interactions that may have severe toxicological effects. The clinical significance of inactivating human P450s for improving drug efficacy as well as drug safety is discussed along with the potential for exploiting mechanism-based inactivators of P450s for therapeutic benefits.
Multiresolution video segmentation using wavelet transformation

This paper describes a new fade and dissolve detection methodology that utilizes wavelet transformation. This approach takes advantage of the production aspects of video as well as mimicking human perception. Each frame of the video is first decomposed into low-resolution component and high- resolution component using wavelet transformation. The possible gradual changes are first detected with edge spectrum average (ESA) feature which is obtained from the high- resolution component, in the mean time, the changing statistics of the ESA is studied to identify fades. Double chromatic difference is applied later on the low-resolution component to identify the dissolve transitions.
Treatment of the Stiff Elbow

Elbow contracture is a debilitating complication of trauma that can arise from intra-articular and extraarticular sources. When nonoperative treatment fails, operative intervention is indicated. Evaluation begins with thorough preoperative planning. The column approach allows excellent exposure and treatment of anterior and posterior capsular and osseous sources of contracture. For posterior medial capsular contraction, a medial approach is often indicated. This allows access for decompression and transposition of the ulnar nerve. Postoperative care involves early clinic follow up with continuous passive motion (CPM) and/or splinting.
Allo-anti-C in a patient who had previously made an autoantibody mimicking anti-C.

A patient, previously studied by us,3 who had produced a benign autoantibody with a specificity that mimicked anti-C, has now produced allo-anti-C that is not of the mimicking type. She is no longer producing any serologically demonstrable autoantibody. It is highly probable that conversion from auto to alloantibody production in this patient was prompted by the introduction of additional foreign immunogen on fetal red blood cells during her third pregnancy.
Irradiation-Induced Changes in the Mechanical Properties and Microstructures of Solution Annealed Austenitic Stainless Steel at Low to Intermediate Temperatures

The evolution of the microstructure of solution annealed austenitic stainless steels irradiated by neutrons at temperatures less than 300°C is dominated by black spots and Frank loops. This leads to hardening and a degradation of ductility and work hardening accompanied by a loss of fracture toughness. Microscopic flow localization is attributed to the annihilation of loops by their interaction with moving dislocations. The resulting loss of work hardening can lead to flow localization on a macroscopic scale as well in the vicinity of notches, holes and cracks. The combination of macro and microscopic flow localization may have important implications to the failure modes available to structures and to irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking.
Geographically Informed Inter-Domain Routing

In this paper we propose a new routing protocol and address scheme, geographically informed inter-domain routing (GIRO). GIRO departs from previous geographic addressing proposals in that it uses geographic information to assist, not to replace, the provider-based IP address allocation and policy-based routing. We show that, by incorporating geographic information into the IP address structure, GIRO can significantly improve the scalability and performance of the global Internet routing system. Within the routing policy constraints, geographic information enables the selection of shortest available routing paths. We evaluate GIRO'S performance through simulations using a Rocketfuel-measured Internet topology. Our results show that, compared to the current practice, GIRO can reduce the geographic distance for 70% of the existing BGP paths, and the reduction is more than 40% for about 20% of the paths. Furthermore, encoding geographic information into IP addresses also enables GIRO to apply geographical route aggregation, and a combination of geographic and topological aggregation can lead to 75% reduction of the current BGP routing table size.
ALTERED RESPONSE TO ANTIDEPRESSANT TREATMENT IN FOXG1 HETEROZYGOUS KNOCKOUT MICE

Evidence from a variety of sources suggests that structural alterations in the brain, including neurogenesis, may play a role in both the pathogenesis of mood disorders and the mechanism of action of antidepressants. Previous studies have implicated both the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and the phosphatidyl inositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathways in the neurogenesis-promoting and behavioral properties of antidepressants. Forkhead box protein G1 (FoxG1) is a major regulator of both of these pathways, and FoxG1 heterozygous null mice (FoxG1+/-) have previously been reported to have deficits in adult hippocampal neurogenesis and behavioral abnormalities including deficits in contextual fear learning. However the role of FoxG1, if any, in the response to antidepressants has not been previously investigated.To investigate the role of the FoxG1 gene in the behavioral and neurogenic properties of antidepressants, we tested FoxG1+/- mice and littermate controls in two different rodent models of antidepressant action: the tail suspension test and the forced swim test. FoxG1+/- mice showed no response to antidepressants in either of these tests. These results suggest that normal levels of FoxG1 may be required for the behavioral response to antidepressants.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors: the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital experience.

Background: Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are uncommon in young patients. To contribute to the understanding of these tumors, we reviewed the records of all patients treated for PNSTs at one institution over a 30-year period. Methods: We reviewed the records of eight patients treated for benign PNSTs and 28 patients treated for 29 MPNSTs. We focused on the latter group, statistically testing several clinical factors for their significance in affecting survival. Results: Five-year survival in patients with MPNSTs was 39%. The most significant prognostic factor was gross tumor resectability (p=0.0004). Five-year survival for patients with resectable tumors was 65%, whereas no patient with unresectable disease survived >25 months. Tumor grade, site, and patient race were also significant factors by univariate analysis but were not significant when adjusted for resectability. Conclusion: Gross tumor resection is crucial in treating malignant PNSTs. Supplemental radiation therapy is recommended for positive microscopic margins. More effective treatment is still being sought for unresectable disease.
Three-dimensional ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography imaging of age-related macular degeneration

Ultrahigh resolution optical coherence tomography (OCT) enhances the ability to visualize different intra retinal layers. In age-related macular degeneration (AMD), pathological changes in individual retinal layers, including photoreceptor inner and outer segments and retinal pigment epithelium, can be detected. OCT using spectral/Fourier domain detection enables high speed, volumetric imaging of the macula, which provides comprehensive three-dimensional tomographic and morphologic information. We present a case series of AMD patients, from mild drusen to more advanced geographic atrophy and exudative AMD. Patients were imaged with a research prototype, ultrahigh resolution spectral/Fourier domain OCT instrument with 3.5 µm axial image resolution operating at 25,000 axial scans per second. These cases provide representative volumetric datasets of well-documented AMD pathologies which could be used for the development of visualization and imaging processing methods and algorithms.
Particle export at Cape Hatteras

Abstract A simple method of shelf, slope and basin waters near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina is used to estimate the sources and sinks of organic carbon within the Gulf Stream System. The analysis employs water transport estimates, nutrient data, satellite imagery, surficial sediment records and particle distributions caught by bottle, camera and sediment trap to compute vertical and lateral fluxes of particulate carbon. Particle export from the SAB and MAB shelf ecosystems may constitute 62–82% of the source of the carbon flux within the Gulf Stream near 75°W, after settling at 100 m day−1, with an oxidation loss of 4% day−1, to a nominal mid-depth of 1000 m on the slope. As a result of light limitation, denitrification and DON solubilization, partial utilization of onwelled nitrate from the Gulf Stream System by coastal phytoplankton suggests that the time-averaged f ratio may be as small as 0.12 for the ratio of the “new” portion of primary production to the total. After burial loss, the expert of particulate matter from the shelves then represents at most 11% of the total carbon fixation of coastal waters. If the shelf export of DON and unutilized NO3 is consumed within adjacent slope waters, however, the f ratio and the percentage of particle export from the carbon fixation of shelf-affected waters might increase to 0.25 and 24%.
On the use of acceleration waves to characterize the dynamic response of non‐linear viscoelastic materials

We consider the analysis of data obtained in one-dimensional acceleration wave experiments on a non-linear viscoelastic material and discuss how such data can be used to characterize the dynamic response of the material. To begin, we review briefly the general theory of one-dimensional motions in viscoelastic materials and the methods employed to generate and observe acceleration waves in a material sample. We then discuss two methods of data analysis, a wave front analysis and a wave profile analysis, and indicate the type of information each analysis provides with regard to the dynamic properties of the material. Finally, using a known model for poly(methyl methacrylate) in a finite-difference, Lagrangian wave-propagation code, we calculate acceleration wave profiles at several locations in the sample and, treating these profiles as “experimental” data, we then illustrate how data from three or more acceleration wave experiments can be used to formulate a specific viscoelastic constitutive model for the material.
Urgent care centers in the U.S.: findings from a national survey.

Due to long waits for primary care appointments and extended emergency department wait times, newer sites for episodic primary care services, such as urgent care centers, have developed. However, little is known about these centers. The purpose of this study is to provide information about the organization and functioning of urgent care centers based on a nationally representative U.S. sample. We conducted a mail survey with telephone follow-up of urgent care centers identified via health insurers' websites, internet searches, and a trade association mailing list. Descriptive statistics are presented. Urgent care centers are open beyond typical office hours, and their scope of services is broader than that of many primary care offices. While these characteristics are similar to hospital emergency departments, such centers employ significant numbers of family physicians. The payer distribution is similar to that of primary care, and physicians' average salaries are comparable to those for family physicians overall. Urgent care centers report early adoption of electronic health records, though our findings are qualified by a lack of strictly comparable data. While their hours and scope of services reflect some characteristics of emergency departments, urgent care centers are in many ways similar to family medicine practices. As the health care system evolves to cope with expanding demands in the face of limited resources, it is unclear how patients with episodic care needs will be treated, and what role urgent care centers will play in their care.
At the Bar of History: Japanese Americans Versus the United States

Writing recent American history presents numerous hazards and challenges. All historians bring some ideological, partisan, and emotional commitments to their subject, whether it be the Laws of Hammurabi or the constitutional and political crisis of Watergate. But the closer the historian's experience to the subject, the more the obstacles mount. Thus, the immediacy of Vietnam inevitably will influence historians of that conflict for decades to
Legislators urge carbon emissions cuts

Legislators from the world's largest carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emitting countries met on 14–15 February in Washington, D.C., to discuss the future of the global climate and strategies to mitigate temperature increases resulting from global warming. The world faces a “double challenge— how to reduce damaging carbon emissions while still meeting the energy demand that the world's poor need to escape poverty,” said World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz during a keynote talk.
Involvement of CCAAT enhancer binding protein transcription factors in the regulation of prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 expression by interleukin-1 in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) stimulates prostaglandin production in bone by a rapid and transient activation of prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PGHS-2) gene expression. In osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, IL-1 caused a transient increase in PGHS-2 messenger RNA (mRNA), which peaked at 2 h. IL-1 caused a 2- to 4-fold activation of a 371-base pair (bp) murine PGHS-2 promoter/luciferase construct in stable transfectants. This response mapped to a proximal promoter element(s) located between −150 and −40 bp. This region contains a putative CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) site (centered at −135 bp), which shows enhanced binding of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ by mobility shift analysis after IL-1 treatment. A transient cotransfection approach was used to examine the effects of C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ overexpression. IL-1 caused a maximal 3- to 7-fold stimulation of PGHS-2 promoter activity after 2.5 h. Overexpression of murine C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ caused a dose-dependent increase in basal and IL-1-stimulated luciferase activity. C/EBPδ caused a greater enhancement of basal and IL-1-stimulated promoter activity than C/EBPβ, suggesting that C/EBPδ is a stronger transactivator. Overexpression of p20C/EBPβ, a dominant negative inhibitor of C/EBP function, blocked the stimulation of PGHS-2 promoter activity by IL-1 and blocked the ability of overexpressed C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ to increase basal and IL-1-stimulated promoter activity. Mutagenesis of the C/EBP site reduced, but did not abolish, the stimulation of PGHS-2 promoter activity by IL-1 and blunted the effect of overexpressed C/EBPδ on basal and IL-1-stimulated promoter activity. These results suggest an essential role for C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ in the induction of PGHS-2 gene expression by IL-1 in osteoblastic cells.
Comparison of visual field defects using matrix perimetry and standard achromatic perimetry

Purpose To compare visual field (VF) defects found by Swedish interactive thresholding Algorithm (SITA) perimetry and Matrix perimetry, a new VF device that utilizes frequency doubling technology in a 24-2 test pattern. Design Prospective cross-sectional study. Participants Fifty eyes from 50 subjects with SITA field defects were recruited for an observational study. Methods Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithm and Matrix VF testing were performed on patients from a glaucoma practice. To evaluate the learning effect on the performance of the VF, we tested subsets of each group who had previous experience with standard automated perimetry (SAP). Main Outcome Measures Test duration, mean threshold, mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), glaucoma hemifield test, and number of abnormal points on the pattern deviation plot were evaluated for each device. Results Test duration was significantly shorter for Matrix (SITA, 357.0±85.6 seconds; Matrix, 319.5±16.5 seconds; P = 0.0002, paired t -test). Thirty-six percent of eyes with SITA VF defects showed a normal Matrix field. In 30 of 32 eyes (94%) where both devices showed VF defects, the defects were congruent. Mean threshold value was significantly lower with Matrix compared to SITA ( P t -test), as was MD (−5.34±5.42 dB, −4.14±5.29 dB, respectively; P = 0.03, paired t -test). There was no significant difference in PSD between the 2 devices ( P = 0.78, paired t -test). Matrix delineated significantly smaller ( P = 0.005, Wilcoxon's test) and deeper ( P Conclusions The Matrix examination did not detect 36% of abnormal SITA fields. Matrix field defects were smaller and deeper than those appearing in SITA perimetry.
Explicit pattern matching assignment algorithm

Sharing data between two tracking systems frequently involves use of an object map: the transmitting system sends a frame of data with multiple observations, and the receiving system uses an assignment algorithm to correlate the information with its local observation data base. The usual prescription for this problem is an optimal assignment algorithm (such as JVC or auction) using a cost matrix based upon chi-squared distances between the local and remote observation data. The optimal assignment algorithm does not actually perform pattern matching, so this approach is not robust to large registration errors between the two systems when there exist differences in the number of observations held by both systems. Performance of a new assignment algorithm that uses a cost function including terms for both registration errors and track to track random errors is presented: the cost function explicitly includes a bias between the two observation sets and thus provides a maximum likelihood solution to the assignment problem. In practice, this assignment approach provides near perfect assignment accuracy in cases where the bias errors exceed the dimension of the transmitted object map and there exist mismatches in the numbers of observations made by the two systems. This performance extends to many cases where the optimal assignment algorithm methodology produces errors nearly 100% of the time. The paper includes the theoretical foundation of the assignment problem solved and comparison of achieved accuracy with existing optimal assignment approaches.
N D Method for Complex Partial Waves

Conditions on complex partial-wave amplitudes necessary and sufficient for the validity of the Mandelstam representation have been derived for both nonrelativistic potential scattering and relativistic two-particle scattering. These conditions have been used to obtain iterative solutions to the nonrelativistic scattering problem with a given potential (restricted to superposition of Yukawa potentials), and to the relativistic problem in the elastic unitarity approximation with a given discontinuity across the left-hand cut. In the first case, the method used reduces to the well-known determinantal method for physical partial waves, and in the second case, it is a natural generalization of the $\frac{N}{D}$ method to complex values of $l$. The Regge poles, given by the zeros of the denominator, can be studied in a perturbative expansion in terms of the strength of the potential. Several applications are pointed out.
Resilience: Promoting Well-Being Through Recovery, Sustainability, and Growth

This article discusses the construct of resilience and suggests potential benefits of taking a resilience-based approach in social science research. Inspired by the early work of Werner on resilient children, the authors provide conceptual guidelines and suggest methods of inquiry into how people and communities stay healthy, even thrive in stressful contexts. They examine the recruitment of positive emotion, a fundamental resilience resource and as an example, offer their own intervention to promote resilience in individuals with chronic pain by enhancing resilience capacities through the cultivation of emotional complexity. Their discussion of community well-being reveals a burgeoning field of study that promises to contribute to our understanding of individual and community resilience and the importance of social connection.
An enhanced IEEE 802.11 retransmission scheme

In the IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard, a positive acknowledgement informs the sender of successful arrivals of data frames. However unacknowledged frames could result from either unsuccessful delivery of data frames or positive ACK frame losses. Therefore the sender will simply retransmit the unacknowledged data frame, which may cause redundant retransmission in case of positive ACK frame losses. In this paper we propose an enhanced retransmission scheme that we call Dynamically Adaptive Retransmission (DAR), which uses modified RTS and CTS frames containing additional information on transmission status of unacknowledged frames. Based on that information, the sender is able to dynamically determine whether to retransmit or not. Experiments and analysis show that our proposed scheme efficiently decreases redundant retransmission by clearly differentiating the reasons for frame loss.
Disseminated cutaneous Curvularia infection in an immunocompromised host; diagnostic challenges and experience with voriconazole

An increasing spectrum and number of opportunistic fungal pathogens have been reported to cause disease in humans over the past decade. Disseminated phaeohyphomycoses caused by rare dematiaceous molds in immunocompromised patients have a high mortality rate and are increasingly reported in the literature. Early diagnosis of disseminated phaehyphomycosis is critical especially in neutropenic patients but can be hindered by the low sensitivity of fungal blood cultures and low clinical suspicion. Cutaneous manifestations are often the earliest sign of disease and conducting a thorough skin exam in febrile neutropenic patients can lead to more rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment. PCR amplification and sequencing of mold RNA extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue can be useful for diagnosing rare fungal infections when negative fungal cultures preclude morphologic diagnosis. Effective treatment for disseminated phaehyphomycosis is lacking and there is a need to report experiences with the use of newer antifungals.
Modeling the interplay of multilevel risk factors for future academic and behavior problems: A person-centered approach

This study identified profiles of 13 risk factors across child, family, school, and neighborhood domains in a diverse sample of children in kindergarten from four US locations (n = 750; 45% minority). It then examined the relation of those early risk profiles to externalizing problems, school failure, and low academic achievement in Grade 5. A person-centered approach, latent class analysis, revealed four unique risk profiles, which varied considerably across urban African American, urban White, and rural White children. Profiles characterized by several risks that cut across multiple domains conferred the highest risk for negative outcomes. Compared to a variable-centered approach, such as a cumulative risk index, these findings provide a more nuanced understanding of the early precursors to negative outcomes. For example, results suggested that urban children in single-parent homes that have few other risk factors (i.e., show at least average parenting warmth and consistency and report relatively low stress and high social support) are at quite low risk for externalizing problems, but at relatively high risk for poor grades and low academic achievement. These findings provide important information for refining and targeting preventive interventions to groups of children who share particular constellations of risk factors.
Neuropsychological impairments of executive functions and memory in a case of bilateral paramedian thalamic infarction

Abstract There is a relative absence of studies which longitudinally examine the neuropsychological correlates of bilateral thalamic infarctions across a range of tests purported to be sensitive to the executive functions and memory. A case is reported of a patient with bilateral paramedian thalamic infarctions who, upon repeated neuropsychological examinations, exhibited performances indicative of impaired executive functions and memory. The neuropsychological findings corresponded with the patient's computerized tomograph (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results which confirmed the presence of paramedian thalamic hypodensities that were greater on the left than on the right side. The longitudinal findings indicated that the patient's neurocognitive impairments were relatively chronic and long-standing. Possible anatomical mechanisms that may be responsible for these results are discussed.
Functional basis of a molecular adaptation: Prey-specific toxic effects of venom from Sistrurus rattlesnakes

Understanding the molecular bases of adaptations requires assessing the functional significance of phenotypic variation at the molecular level. Here we conduct such an assessment for an adaptive trait (snake venom proteins) which shows high levels of interspecific variation at the molecular level. We tested the toxicity of venom from four taxa of Sistrurus rattlesnakes with different diets towards 3 representative prey (mice, lizards and frogs). There were significant differences among prey in their overall susceptibility to Sistrurus venom, with frogs being an order of magnitude more resistant than mice or lizards. However, only in mice was there substantial variation in the toxicity of venom from different Sistrurus taxa, with the variation being roughly correlated with the incidence of mammals in the snake's diet. A comparative analysis using published data of the toxicity of rattlesnake and outgroup (Agkistrodon) venoms to mice confirms that both the gain and loss of toxicity to mammals were major modes of venom evolution in Sistrurus catenatus and Sistrurus miliarius. Our findings identify toxicity to mammals as a major axis along which venom evolution has occurred among Sistrurus rattlesnakes, with little evidence for evolutionary changes in toxicity towards the other prey tested. They also emphasize the need to consider ecological and evolutionary factors other than diet alone as causes of variation in venom toxicity.
Dominance, proficiency, and second language grammatical processing

Clahsen and Felser (CF) deserve praise for their superlative synthesis of literature relating to grammatical processing, as well as for their original contributions to this area of research. CF “explore the idea that there might be fundamental differences between child L1 and adult L2 processing.” The researchers present evidence that adult second language (L2) processing is often less automatic and less efficient than first language (L1) processing. Qualitative differences are suggested as well. Adult L2 processing may be restricted to shallow computations, whereas L1 processing typically involves detailed representations. These conclusions are reached in large part by comparing highly proficient L2 learners with natives on various neurological and behavioral dimensions of processing. I propose that additional comparisons might be carried out that involve an understudied population: learners whose L2 is their dominant language.
Praxis-based Research Networks: An Emerging Paradigm for Research That is Rigorous, Relevant, and Inclusive

Practice-based research networks (PBRNs) have developed a grounded approach to conducting practice-relevant and translational research in community practice settings. Seismic shifts in the health care landscape are shaping PBRNs that work across organizational and institutional margins to address complex problems. Praxis-based research networks combine PBRN knowledge generation with multistakeholder learning, experimentation, and application of practical knowledge. The catalytic processes in praxis-based research networks are cycles of action and reflection based on experience, observation, conceptualization, and experimentation by network members and partners. To facilitate co-learning and solution-building, these networks have a flexible architecture that allows pragmatic inclusion of stakeholders based on the demands of the problem and the needs of the network. Praxis-based research networks represent an evolving trend that combines the core values of PBRNs with new opportunities for relevance, rigor, and broad participation.
Design and application of subwavelength diffractive lenses for integration with infrared photodetectors

We present the design and application of subwavelength diffractive lenses for integration with IR photodetectors. In addition to 100% fill factor, low f /numbers, and the ability for monolithic integration, subwavelength lenses offer high diffraction efficiencies yet require only single step fabrication. However, their design is made difficult due to the subwavelength nature, which precludes the use of scalar diffraction theory, and finite extent, which prevents the use of rigorous coupled wave techniques. To overcome these limitations we employ a design algorithm that uses the boundary element method as a vector model of diffraction. We apply our algorithm to the design of subwavelength lenses for integration with a microbolometer and a quantum well IR photodetector.
Hyaluronic Acid Binding Protein 2 Is a Novel Regulator of Vascular Integrity

Objective— The disruption of the endothelial cell barrier is a critical feature of inflammation and an important contributing factor to acute lung injury (ALI), an inflammatory condition that is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. We evaluated the role of the extracellular serine protease, hyaluronic acid binding protein 2 (HABP2), in vascular barrier regulation. Methods and Results— By using immunoblot and immunohistochemical analysis, we observed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces HABP2 expression in murine lung endothelium in vivo and in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) in vitro. High-molecular-weight hyaluronan (HMW-HA, approximately 1×106 Da) decreased HABP2 protein expression in human pulmonary microvascular ECs and decreased purified HABP2 enzymatic activity, whereas low-molecular-weight HA (LMW-HA, approximately 2500 Da) increased these activities. The effects of LMW-HA, but not HMW-HA, on HABP2 activity were inhibited with a peptide of the polyanion-binding domain of HABP2. Silencing (small interfering RNA) HABP2 expression augmented HMW-HA–induced EC barrier enhancement and inhibited LPS and LMW-HA–mediated EC barrier disruption, results that were reversed with overexpression of HABP2. Silencing protease-activated receptor 1 and 3, RhoA, or Rho kinase expression attenuated LPS-, LMW-HA–, and HABP2-mediated EC barrier disruption. By using murine models of acute lung injury, we observed that LPS- and ventilator-induced pulmonary vascular hyperpermeability was significantly reduced with vascular silencing (small interfering RNA) of HABP2. Conclusion— HABP2 negatively regulates vascular integrity via activation of protease-activated receptor/RhoA/Rho kinase signaling and represents a potentially useful therapeutic target for syndromes of increased vascular permeability.
Combined cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and C-reactive protein levels identify a cohort at low risk for defibrillator firings and death.

Background— Annually, ≈80 000 Americans receive guideline-based primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), but appropriate firing rates are low. Current selection criteria for ICDs rely on left ventricular ejection fraction, which lacks sensitivity and specificity. Because scar-related myocardial tissue heterogeneity is a substrate for life-threatening arrhythmias, we hypothesized that cardiac magnetic resonance identification of myocardial heterogeneity improves risk stratification through (1) its association with adverse cardiac events independent of clinical factors and biomarker levels and (2) its ability to identify particularly high- and low-risk subgroups. Methods and Results— In 235 patients with chronic ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤35% undergoing clinically indicated primary prevention ICD implantation, gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance was prospectively performed to quantify the amount of heterogeneous myocardial tissue (gray zone [GZ]) and dense core scar. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and other biomarkers were assayed. The primary end point was appropriate ICD shock for ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation or cardiac death, which occurred in 45 (19%) patients at a 3.6-year median follow-up. On univariable analysis, only diuretics, hsCRP, GZ, and core scar were associated with outcome. After multivariable adjustment, GZ and hsCRP remained independently associated with outcome ( P <0.001). Patients in the lowest tertile for both GZ and hsCRP (n=42) were at particularly low risk (0.7% per year event rate), whereas those in the highest tertile for both GZ and hsCRP (n=32) had an event rate of 16.1% per year, P <0.001. Conclusions— In a cohort of primary prevention ICD candidates, combining a myocardial heterogeneity index with an inflammatory biomarker identified a subgroup with a very low risk for adverse cardiac events, including ventricular arrhythmias. This novel approach warrants further investigation to confirm its value as a clinical risk stratification tool. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: . Unique identifier: [NCT00181233][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00181233&atom=%2Fcirccvim%2F5%2F2%2F178.atom
Right ventricular ejection fraction measured by first-pass intravenous krypton-81m: reproducibility and comparison with technetium-99m.

Abstract Study of the effects of various diseases and therapeutic manipulation of pulmonary vascular resistance on the right ventricle has been restricted by methodologic limitations. The radioactive gas in solution, krypton-81m was used to study the right ventricle and the technique was compared with a technetium-99m method. In 22 subjects, first-pass krypton-81m right ventricular ejection fraction, acquired both in list mode and electrocardiogramgated frame mode, correlated well (r = 0.81 and 0.86, respectively, p
Pleistocene Carbonate Stratigraphy of South Florida: Evidence for High-Frequency Sea-Level Cyclicity

Abstract Pleistocene carbonates of south Florida and islands of the Florida Keys are currently divided into five marine sequences designated, from oldest to youngest, the Q1–Q5 units. The units include a mosaic of freshwater and shallow marine deposits that accumulated on the Florida platform during high sea-level stands. The units are separated by regional-scale subaerial-exposure surfaces that formed during glacioeustatic lowstands. Analyses of cores recovered at Grossman Ridge Rock Reef and Joe Ree Rock Reef in the Florida Everglades reveal additional subaerial-exposure surfaces that are used to delineate subdivisions within units Q1 (Q1a–Q1b), Q2 (Q2a–Q2d), and Q4 (Q4a–Q4b). Units Q1–Q5 preserve evidence of at least 10 separate sea-level highstands, rather than 5 as indicated by previous studies. Compilation of available uranium-series dates on corals recovered from the Florida Keys indicates that the Q4 unit accreted during sea-level maxima associated with marine oxygen-isotope Stage 9 (Q4a) and isot...
On the serial concatenation of soft RS codes and space-time block codes over quasistatic fading channels

This paper presents a serial concatenation coding scheme that employs a Reed-Solomon (RS) outer code with soft-decision decoding and a simple space-time block inner code to improve the performance of wireless communications over quasistatic fading channels. A comparison is made with a system that uses a turbo code as an outer code with the same code rate and codeword length. Simulation results for frame error rate (FER) show that the proposed scheme can provide several dB of coding gain.
Arterial baroreceptor denervation impairs long-term regulation of arterial pressure during dietary salt loading

Experiments were performed to examine the contribution of arterial baroreceptors to long-term regulation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) during changes in dietary salt intake. Normotensive Sprague-...
Microbial Kinetic Controls on Calcite Morphology in Supersaturated Solutions

Recognizing microbial imprints in the morphology of calcium carbonate minerals that form in very supersaturated solutions containing a high level of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) is challenging. To better define criteria for this purpose, we have analyzed the influence of sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio desulfuricans strain G20 on the morphology of calcite in such solutions. G20 does not induce large shifts of pH or alkalinity under these conditions, but its uptake of millimolar sulfate and lactate decreases the number of anhedral crystals and stimulates growth of subhedral spar crystals relative to the abiotic controls. In addition, organic compounds associated with the basal growth medium, purified exopolymeric substances produced by G20 and lypopolysaccharide, stimulate the growth of anhedral crystals and crystals with rounded edges at low supersaturation index (SI) of calcite. The effect of organic compounds is reduced at higher SI, where rhombohedral habits dominate. Our results suggest that the local production and uptake of kinetic inhibitors within microbial biofilms may be an important control on calcite morphology in supersaturated solutions.
Susceptibility of fruit from diverse apple and crabapple germplasm to attack from apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae).

Apple maggot, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a pest of major concern to apple, Malus × domestica (Borkh.) production in eastern North America. Host plant resistance to apple maggot among apple germplasm has been previously evaluated among a small number of exotic Malus accessions and domestic hybrid selections. However, a large number of exotic accessions housed in USDA collections have never been evaluated for their susceptibility to apple pests. Additionally, previous reports of resistance need to be confirmed under both field conditions and with more rigorous laboratory evaluations. Thus, studies were conducted to evaluate the susceptibility of a number of Malus accessions housed at the USDA Plant Genetic Resources Unit “core” collection. Contrary to earlier published reports, these results suggest that some selections previously described as “resistant” are in fact susceptible to both oviposition damage and larval feeding damage by apple maggot. One domestic, disease-resistant apple accession, ‘E36-7′ is resistant to survival of apple maggot larvae except when the fruit is nearly ripe in late fall. This is the first report of an apple cultivar that is confirmed to be resistant to larval feeding of apple maggot. Although adults can successfully oviposit on all accessions examined, larval survival was zero in a number of small-fruited crabapple accessions classified as resistant in previous studies and also in two accessions, Malus tschonoskii (Maxim) C. K. Schneid. and M. spectabilis (Aiton) Borkh., that have not been previously evaluated.
EVALUATING TREATMENT CHALLENGES WITH DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE BEHAVIOR

In prior research, differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) has been implemented at optimal treatment values: Problem behavior is never reinforced, and alternative behavior is always reinforced. However, in application, DRA is unlikely to be conducted optimally. In this study, following a functional analysis phase and a differential reinforcement at full implementation phase, we challenged initially positive treatment effects for 3 participants by implementing DRA at less than optimal parameters. For example, some occurrences of problem behavior were reinforced, and some occurrences of alternative behavior were not reinforced. Results suggested that when exposed to DRA at full implementation, participants showed a bias toward appropriate behavior in subsequent conditions during which ‘‘mistakes’’ (treatment challenges) were intentionally introduced. In addition, the negative effects of treatment challenges were quickly reversible, in comparison to the positive effects of DRA, which were not quickly reversible in the face of treatment challenges. DESCRIPTORS: functional analysis, differential reinforcement, aberrant behavior, treatment challenges
Relationships among emotional, intellectual, and rational appeals in advertising

The advertiser, no less than other pleaders, seeks to know the nature of persuasive appeals. The experiment reported here presupposes that the traditional dichotomy of emotional vs. intellectual (logical) appeals may be fruitfully applied to analyzing advertisements. The findings of Ruechelle, which strongly structure thinking on this topic, were that listeners to speeches did not dichotomize appeals as exclusively emotional or intellectual; the same speech might be perceived as containing both or neither kind of appeal. Despite this, the distinction has been kept alive; Cronkhite, for one, claims observers can recognize it under certain circumstances. The present writer reasoned that most national advertisements have characteristics which could produce such "certain circumstances" as Cronkhite suggested. The advertising man's audience is bombarded by hundreds of ads per day; estimates have ranged as high as the now-disputed claim of 1500-1G00 ad exposures daily for the typical American. An average reader or viewer ignores most of these, and even the avid recipient must severely limit his attention.
Anisole and Guaiacol Hydrodeoxygenation Reaction Pathways over Selected Catalysts

Optimizing catalysts and reaction conditions for transalkylation as well as hydrodeoxygenation reactions in a hydropyrolysis process while minimizing demethylation reactions may improve carbon yield and energy recovery in the liquid product. Pyrolysis vapor model compound hydrodeoxygenation reactions were investigated in a fixed bed reactor at 350–450 °C, 1.7–15 bar (10–200 psig), with 14–60 mol % hydrogen in the feed gas mixture to determine reaction pathways under a range of reaction conditions. Anisole hydrodeoxygenation reaction pathways in the gas phase were studied over a commercially available Ni-based hydrotreating catalyst, whereas guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation reaction pathways were studied over two different commercially available Ni-based hydrotreating catalysts, a Fe-based catalyst, and a zeolite-based catalyst using online mass spectrometry analysis. Both Ni-based catalysts exhibited greater hydrodeoxygenation activity than the Fe-based and zeolite-based catalysts. Guaiacol conversion over eac...
Charles Laselle Jamison

Pays tribute to Professor Charles Adelle Jamison, founder of the Academy of Management. Educational and professional background; Writings of Jamison; Contributions in business management and research.