cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exploring Human Emotional Transition in Heterogeneous Space

This pilot study was designed to demonstrate spaces as stimuli that evoke the continuity of personal experiences by exploring the emotional quality of different spaces via an individual’s psycho-physiological changes. That data was collected by fourteen participants through a biosensor and a body camera while walking and exploring in an indoor multi-functional public space in Manhattan. The finding verified the idea that each of us makes sense of the world differently. What underlies the reading of skin conductance responses told the granularity of our personal emotional experiences beyond verbal expression.
SOS for Systems with Multiple Delays: Part 2. H ∞ -Optimal Estimation

In this paper, we develop an SOS-based approach for design of observers for time-delay systems. The method is an extension of recently developed algorithms for control of infinite-dimensional systems. The observers we design are more general than the class of observers most commonly associated with time-delay systems in that they directly correct both the estimate of present state and the history of the state. As a result, the observer is itself a PDE. In this case the traditional notions of strong and weak observability do not apply and the resulting observer-based controllers can significantly outperform existing approaches.
Primary Patency of Long-Segment Femoropopliteal Artery Lesions in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Occlusive Disease Treated with Paclitaxel-Eluting Technology.

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance and predictors of failure of paclitaxel drug-eluting stents and paclitaxel-coated balloons in the treatment of long-segment femoropopliteal disease. We report a retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents and paclitaxel-coated balloons in lesions >100 mm, which were not included in any of the pivotal trials. Methods Ninety-seven patients with peripheral vascular disease (Rutherford III–VI) underwent long-segment (≥100 mm) femoropopliteal drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation or angioplasty with drug-coated balloons (DCB). Patients were followed after their initial procedure for target lesion restenosis, defined as a reduction in lumen diameter by greater than 50% as measured by duplex ultrasonography (ratio >2). Results The median length of the affected arterial segments was 110 mm (interquartile range [IQR] 100–150, absolute range 100–260) using up to 4 overlapping stents. During the median 13-month follow-up (IQR 7–16), no early thrombotic occlusions occurred within 30 days, but 28 (29%) patients developed a target lesion restenosis after 1 year. Cumulative primary patency at 6 and 12 months was 87% and 71% overall, respectively. The cumulative patency during the same follow-up periods varied between patients treated with different paclitaxel modalities with 88% and 80% primary patency in patients treated with DES (n = 63) versus 81% and 49% in patients treated with DCB (n = 21) (adjusted hazard ratio 2.46, P = 0.03). Lesion length, concurrent tibial intervention, and recurrent target lesions were not associated with restenosis. Conclusions Short-term outcomes in patients treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents and paclitaxel-coated balloons in long lesions, mirror results from the clinical trials. The primary patency observed in patients treated with DES was significantly higher than in patients treated with DCB.
A geospatially resolved database of hydraulic fracturing wells for chemical transformation assessment

Hydraulically fractured wells with horizontal drilling (HDHF) accounted for 69% of all oil and gas wells drilled and 670 000 of the 977 000 producing wells in 2016. However, only 238 flowback and produced water samples have been analyzed to date for specific organic chemicals. To aid the development of predictive tools, we constructed a database combining additive disclosure reports and physicochemical conditions at respective well sites with the goal of making synthesized analyses accessible. As proof-of-concept, we used this database to evaluate transformation pathways through two case studies: (1) a filter-based approach for flagging high-likelihood halogenation sites according to experimental criteria (e.g., for a model compound, cinnamaldehyde) and (2) a semi-quantitative, regionally comparative trihalomethane formation model that leverages an empirically derived equation. Study (1) highlighted 173 wells with high cinnamaldehyde halogenation likelihood based on combined criteria related to subsurface conditions and oxidant additive usage. Study (2) found that trihalomethane formation in certain wells within five specific basins may exceed regulatory limits for drinking water based on reaction-favorable subsurface conditions, albeit with wide uncertainty. While experimentation improves our understanding of subsurface reaction pathways, this database has immediate applications for informing environmental monitors and engineers about potential transformation products in residual fluids, guiding well operators' decisions to avoid unwanted transformations. In the future, we envision more robust components incorporating transformation, transport, toxicity, and other physicochemical parameters to predict subsurface interactions and flowback composition.
Creating social capital in classrooms: how different pedagogical methods could empower students and stimulate civic engagement

This study utilizes quasi-experiments to test different interventions’ effectiveness in empowering teenage students to increase civic engagement and accumulate social capital within networks that they are embedded in. Utilizing "leadership in the form of public narratives," "world trade simulations," and “student facilitated public discussions,” – three pedagogical interventions the author has practiced for many years in multiple cities in China and the U.S. – this study found that these three workshops could increase the level of trust and norms of reciprocity within groups in just a few hours. The motivational, analytical, and practical tools used in such interventions could be effective in future civic engagement educations and grassroots organizing.
Nuclear morphometry in indeterminate thyroid nodules

Background Up to 30% of thyroid nodules undergoing fine needle aspiration (FNA) yield an indeterminate result. Recent research efforts have suggested that nuclear morphometry and morphology may enhance the diagnostic accuracy of FNA as an objective adjunct. We applied nuclear morphometric analysis on a diverse cohort of patients to evaluate the association between nuclear morphometry and malignancy. Methods Forty-five randomly selected patients, who underwent thyroid surgery after an indeterminate FNA result (Bethesda III & IV) between 2012-2015, were reviewed. One hundred representative nuclei per FNA of a thyroid nodule were analyzed using ImageJ. Seven validated morphometric parameters were collected: nuclear area, perimeter, circularity, aspect ratio, roundness, and maximum/minimum Feret's diameter. L/S ratio was subsequently calculated. All 8 nuclear parameters were reported as averages with standard errors of the mean (SEM). A Student's t-test was used to assess the association of nuclear parameters with final surgical pathology. Results The mean age of all patients was 56.31±15.39 years, with female patients comprising 68.9% of the cohort. Twenty-two patients had malignant thyroid nodules. The mean perimeter of nuclei for the cohort was 18.48±0.45 µm, the mean area was 22.19±0.93 µm, and the mean maximum Feret's diameter was 6.67±0.13 µm. No significant differences in the 8 nuclear parameters were observed between the malignant and non-malignant groups. Conclusions In the population examined, our results suggest that nuclear morphometry is not yet a tool of reliable diagnostic value in accessing malignant and non-malignant thyroid nodules. Further investigation is necessary to identify objective parameters that will enhance diagnostic accuracy of indeterminate FNA cytology to minimize the number of diagnostic thyroid surgery.
Intermittent breeding is associated with breeding group turnover in a cooperatively breeding bird

Intermittent breeding, in which an adult skips a breeding opportunity, can represent a non-adaptive constraint or an adaptive response to the tradeoff between current and future reproduction. In group-living animals, the social group may also affect the frequency of reproduction, but this possibility has received little attention. Here we use an 11-year data set to investigate intermittent breeding in the greater ani (Crotophaga major), a tropical bird that nests in stable breeding groups containing several unrelated co-breeding females. Population-wide, an average of 62% of females laid eggs in a given year (range 35–84%), and the average female failed to lay eggs once every 3.2 years. We found little support for the hypothesis that intermittent breeding reflects a tradeoff between current and future reproduction: breeding in year t did not affect a female’s likelihood of breeding in year t + 1, and clutch size in year t did not affect clutch size in year t + 1. Increases in clutch size were associated with decreases in egg mass for eggs laid at the end of that clutch, but this did not affect subsequent nesting attempts. However, reproductive skipping was associated with changes in group membership. Females whose groups changed in composition after year t were significantly less likely to breed in year t + 1 than females whose groups remained stable. These results indicate that breeding group stability influences the frequency of reproduction, suggesting that transitions between groups may be costly to females and their mates.
35 – Transgenic Mice

Publisher Summary Animals carrying new genes are referred to as transgenic. Transgenic animals are unique models that are custom-tailored to address a specific question associated with gene function. One of the more commonly used animals in transgenic techniques is the mouse species, as the methods involving the microinjection of transgenes into the pronuclei of fertilized mouse oocytes and the subsequent expression of the transgene in the mouse have been worked out. Transgenic mice are useful for studying cell physiology and pathology and for developing animal models of particular human diseases. The most commonly used method for creating transgenic mice is the microinjection of the DNA of interest (transgene) into the pronuclei of fertilized mouse oocytes. This technique is used to introduce a linear DNA fragment which contains sequences required for directing correct transcriptional initiation and for encoding a gene product that can be readily identified using various biochemical and immunocytochemical assays. Pronuclear microinjection of DNA leads to random integration of variable copies of the injected DNA into a single site on a mouse chromosome.
Edge Centrality Matrix: Impact of Network Modification on Gramian Controllability Metrics.

Due to recent technological advances, performance enhancement of complex networked control systems by edge modification done according to their importance in the network is becoming increasingly feasible. Unlike the nodal case, edge characterization with respect to a given performance metric is a rather unexplored research area. In this work, we seek to address this problem by proposing a novel Gramian-based edge centrality matrix which characterizes all the possible edges in the network with respect to physically realizable energy-based performance metrics. We rigorously prove the relationship of the various edge centrality matrix for different performance metrics with the gradient of the controllability Gramian with respect to edge weights. Notable feature of our proposed edge characterization is that it exhibits the contribution of individual inputs. We then analyze the edge centrality matrix for directed ring and line networks. Finally, through numerical examples, we validate a structural property of proposed edge centrality matrix and demonstrate its utility in network edge modification.
Generation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Pseudotyped Virus for Viral Entry and Neutralization Assays: A 1-Week Protocol

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus requires reliable assays for studying viral entry mechanisms which remains poorly understood. This knowledge is important for the development of therapeutic approaches to control SARS-CoV-2 infection by permitting the screening for neutralizing antibodies and other agents that can block infection. This is particularly important for patients who are at high risk for severe outcomes related to COVID-19. The production of pseudotyped viral particles may seem like a daunting task for a non-virology laboratory without experience in the two most commonly used pseudotyping systems, namely retro/lentiviruses and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) which lacks the VSV envelope glycoprotein (VSVΔG). By incorporating the most up-to-date knowledge, we have developed a detailed, easy-to-follow novel protocol for producing SARS-CoV-2 spike-bearing pseudovirus using the VSV-ΔG system. We describe the infection assay which uses GFP fluorescence as a measure of infection in a 24-well live imaging system. We present results of our optimization of the system to enhance viral infection levels through the over-expression of human ACE2 receptor and the overexpression of at least one of two proteases - TMPRSS2 or Furin, as well as, supplementation with Poloxamer 407 (P407) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as adjuvants. We show that the system works efficiently in three unrelated, clinically relevant cell lines: human 293T (renal epithelial) cells, human Calu-3 (lung epithelial) cells, and the non-human primate (African Green Monkey) cell line, Vero-E6 (renal epithelial) cells. In addition, we have used this system to show infection of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPS-CMs). This system is efficient (virus generation, titration, and infection assays can be performed in 1 week), quantitative, inexpensive, and readily scalable for application in drug development and therapeutic screening approaches.
Assessing the Impact of Mask Usage on COVID-19 Transmission Using a Computer Simulation

Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is highly contagious and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Mask usage has been advocated by health professionals to minimize its spread. Thus, it is important to develop a simulation that models SARS-CoV-2 spread in indoor environments to evaluate mask usage effectiveness. Methods: A visual computer simulation was developed with Pygame in Python 3. A virtual indoor supermarket is simulated by a given flow of customers with an initial infection percentage and mask usage percentage who enter, move around, and exit a supermarket with shelves, tables and cashiers to demonstrate a systems dynamic complexity, i.e. nonlinear interactions of system elements over time. A supermarket was simulated with initial infection rates of 5%, 10%, and 20% and mask use percentages of 0%, 25%, 50% 75%, and 100%. The environmental settings (e.g. shelf number and location) and total customers (N=200) were kept constant. Results: The number of infected customers increased as the percentage of mask usage decreased (p < 0.01). At 5% initial infection, almost no infections were observed at 50% mask usage, with a logarithmic best-fit model (R2 = 0.947). At 10% initial infection, the association between mask usage and decrease in number of infections was best fit with a linear model (R2 = 0.924). For 20% initial infection, a quadratic model was the best fit (R2 = 0.934). While a linear model suggests proportional decreases in infection, the quadratic model suggests more significant reductions in infections at higher rates of mask use (i.e. increasing mask usage from 5% to 10% is less impactful than from 65% to 70%). Conclusion: The results suggest that mask usage has a significant impact on decreasing COVID-19 transmission. Ideally, mask usage should be as high as possible to achieve more significant reductions in COVID-19 infections. Various parameters can be adjusted during simulation as we learn more about SARS-CoV-2 to guide policies for minimizing COVID-19 transmission.
Hometown Favoritism and Intercity Investment Networks in China

In this paper, I study the effects of hometown favoritism on intercity investments in China, or more specifically, whether and how local government officials will bring more investments from their hometown to their workplace. In generalized difference-in-differences specifications, I find that the intercity investments, measured by the total paid-in capital of newly registered firms, increase by about 15%. Further evidence supports the explanation that officials reduce the information asymmetry and thus entry barriers for businesspeople in their hometown, which is incentivized by promotion prospects, rather than that officials and businesspeople form collusive and corruptive deals. Such hometown favoritism is beneficial to productivity and local development. Moreover, I structurally estimate a discrete choice model of firms' location choices, and the estimates also indicate that officials reduce the entry costs for firms from their hometown. The effects of hometown favoritism are amplified in the intercity investment networks.
The impact of place-based poverty relief: Evidence from the Federal Promise Zone Program

Abstract We investigate the impact of targeted, federal spending in an economically depressed urban area by exploring the effects of the Los Angeles Promise Zone (LAPZ), one of the first-round designations of the Department for Housing and Urban Development's Promise Zone program. The place-based program sought to identify and assist struggling areas by providing them with primary access to grants from multiple federal agencies. With an understanding that improvements in local conditions are likely capitalized in housing values, we leverage parcel-level property data and estimate the change in property values for property inside the LAPZ compared to nearby, similar properties just outside of the Promise Zone boundary. We find that property values within the LAPZ differentially increased by approximately 6–11 percent (3–5 percent using an alternative estimator (DDNNM)) following the awarding of Promise Zone status in 2014, an increase of at least $50,000 on average. We show that this increase in property value stems from increases in land value, rather than through property improvements. In our discussion of the results, we explore potential mechanisms and consider welfare implications.
Klinische Symptomatik bei Säuglingen, insbesondere in der Neugeborenenzeit

Kenntnis und Verstandnis neuromuskularer Erkrankungen haben sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten vervielfacht; dies wohl dank der Einfuhrung und Verbesserung histochemischer, biochemischer und elektronenmikroskopischer Untersuchungsmethoden. Die viel umstrittene Myatonia congenita Oppenheim der Jahrhundertwende hat sich in zahlreiche spezifische Krankheiten aufgesplittert. Eine Auslese derselben, soweit sie fur das Sauglingsalter von Belang sind, findet sich in Tabelle 1.
Somatosensory evoked potential monitoring with dermatomal stimulation

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the dermatomal somatosensory evoked potentials (DSEPs) as a means to assess segmental-level function of the spinal cord in both the clinical and the operating room settings. The technique is based on the concept that each spinal nerve innervates a well-defined area of skin called a dermatome. The chapter focuses on a description of the DSEP technique, its application in the operating room, and a discussion of the factors that may affect DSEP acquisition. It discusses that DSEPs were developed as a refinement of mixed nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). It has long been recognized that nerve fibers from mixed nerves, such as median, ulnar, or tibial nerves enter the spinal canal over several nerve roots. An underlying assumption of the technique is that electrical stimulation of the skin may be done so that the ascending afferent activity is mostly confined to a single sensory nerve root. The chapter also reviews that DSEPs have been recorded clinically from all segmental levels from cervical to sacral levels. Most studies have focused on the cervical or lumbar levels.
Reimagining Revolution: A Critical Review of Simon Schama’s Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves, and the American Revolution

This critical book review examines Simon Schama’s historical work on slavery and the American Revolutionary War. It offers an overview of the author’s main argument and approach, followed by a textual anatomy that elaborates on the work’s strengths and weaknesses. Beyond, the review describes the political implications of Schama’s thesis.
VModel: a visual qualitative modeling environment for middle-school students

Learning how to create, test, and revise models is a central skill in scientific reasoning. We argue that qualitative modeling provides an appropriate level of representation for helping middle-school students learn to become modelers. We describe Vmodel, a system we have created that uses visual representations that enables middle-school students to create qualitative models. Software coaches use simple analyses of model structure plus qualitative simulation to provide feedback and explanations. This system has been used in several studies in Chicago Public School classrooms, using curricula developed in collaboration with teachers. We discuss the design of the visual representation language, how Vmodel works, and evidence from school studies that indicate it is successful in helping students.
Abstract Volume of Sixth Nepal Geolgical Congress on Geology, Natural Resources, Infrastructures, Climate Change and Natural Disasters, 15 – 17 November 2010, Kathmandu, Nepal

This is the full volume of the Abstracts from the Sixth Nepal Geolgical Congress on Geology, Natural Resources, Infrastructures, Climate Change and Natural Disasters, 15 – 17 November 2010, Kathmandu, Nepal Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 2010, Vol. 41 (Sp. Issue)
Sensory neuron subtypes have unique substratum preference and receptor expression before target innervation.

The factors controlling the specification and subsequent differentiation of sensory neurons are poorly understood. Data from embryological manipulations suggest that either sensory neuron fates are specified by the targets they encounter or sensory neurons are considerably more “plastic” with respect to specification than are neurons of the CNS. The prevailing view that sensory neurons are specified late in development is not consistent, however, with the directed outgrowth of sensory neurons to their targets and the characteristic spatial distribution of sensory neuron fates within the peripheral ganglia. To address when in development different classes of sensory neurons can first be distinguished, we investigated the interactions of early dorsal root ganglia neurons with the extracellular matrix before neurite outgrowth to targets. We found that subclasses of sensory neurons in early dorsal root ganglia show different patterns of neurite outgrowth and integrin expression that are predictive of their fates. In the absence of neurotrophins, presumptive proprioceptive neurons extend neurites robustly on both laminin and fibronectin, whereas presumptive cutaneous neurons show a strong preference for laminin. Cutaneous afferents that have innervated targets show a similar strong preference for laminin and show higher levels of integrin α7β1 than do proprioceptive neurons. Finally, presumptive proprioceptive neurons express fibronectin receptors, integrin α3β1, α4β1, and α5β1, at higher levels than do presumptive cutaneous neurons. Our results indicate that subtypes of sensory neurons have unique patterns of neurite outgrowth and receptor expression before target innervation.
Electrohydrodynamics and hierarchical structure control: submicron-thick silica ribbons with an ordered hexagonal mesoporous structure

Electrically-driven, thin jets of liquids containing ionic surfactants are used to produce films consisting of randomly oriented ribbons with submicron thickness and hexagonal mesoporous structures.
More, or less, than human?

Elliott reviews The Proactionary Imperative: A foundation for transhumanism by Steve Fuller and Veronika Lipinska.
Data and Safety Monitoring in Clinical Research: A National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke Perspective

The National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke supports a broad spectrum of research in the diagnosis and treatment of neurologic disease. Emergency medicine is increasingly involved in clinical research for patients with neurologic emergencies. Independent data and safety monitoring are critical components of clinical trials to ensure the protection of patients and the scientific integrity of the research. We review National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke principles of data and safety monitoring and provide examples to illustrate key concepts.
Immunohistochemical analysis in hepatocellular carcinoma: does age matter?

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in the world, and although it is considerably less common in the United States, an increase in the number of cases has been observed during the past 2 decades. 1 Studies from western Europe and Japan also have documented a rising trend in the incidence and mortality of HCC. 2 The incidence of HCC seems to be related to age; however, the age distribution varies in different geographic regions of the world. In the Western world, the increased incidence of HCC is observed only in patients older than 45 years, and the incidence continues to increase until 70 years of age, whereas in other parts of the world, HCC in people younger than 45 years is not uncommon.
Some Shibboleths in the Teaching of Technical Writing

A good many teachers of technical writing are guilty of blindly following tradition and convention in teaching students to rely on the outline as an organizing device, in categorically condemning the passive voice, in magnifying the importance of form and format, and in insisting on a set of inflexible rules for grammar and style that ignore widespread usage. Implicit in the attack on shibboleths is a plea for honest pragmatism in determining effectiveness in technical writing.
Black and White and Banned All Over: Race, Censorship and Obscenity in Postwar Memphis

Memphis, Tennessee was renowned for its restrictive censorship policies in the mid-20th century. This article argues that racial considerations overrode traditional concerns regarding sex or violence in the formulation of those policies. More specifically, the article outlines three stages of race-based censorship. The first stage developed in the 1940s, as a censorial regime predicated upon suppressing threats to the racial status quo of white supremacy began cutting images of African Americans in non-servile roles. Beneath this lay a sexualized but unarticulated understanding of "social equality," a favored phrase of Memphis censor Lloyd Binford. This underlying meaning rose to the forefront in the 1950s, as Memphis officials responded to Supreme Court decisions and increased Hollywood frankness with a racialized construction of obscenity, this time directed toward depictions of interracial sex or romance. Finally, as overt racism lost its political cachet, New Right mayor Henry Loeb used outcries over pornography as part of a strategy to discursively displace the racial issues facing Memphis by engineering new moral crises, helping to pave the way for Nixon’s tactic of "benign neglect."
Problem classification method to enhance the ITIL incident and problem

Problem determination and resolution PDR is the process of detecting anomalies in a monitored system, locating the problems responsible for the issue, determining the root cause and fixing the cause of the problem. The cost of PDR represents a substantial part of operational costs, and faster, more effective PDR can contribute to a substantial reduction in system administration costs. In this paper, we propose to automate the process of PDR by leveraging machine learning methods. The main focus is to effectively categorize the problem a user experiences by recognizing the problem specificity leveraging all available training data such like the performance data and the logs data. Specifically, we transform the structure of the problem into a hierarchy which can be determined by existing taxonomy in advance. We then propose an efficient hierarchical incremental learning algorithm which is capable of adjusting its internal local classifier parameters in real-time. Comparing to the traditional batch learning algorithms, this online learning framework can significantly decrease the computational complexity of the training process by learning from new instances on an incremental fashion. In the same time this reduces the amount of memory required to store the training instances. We demonstrate the efficiency of our approach by learning hierarchical problem patterns for several issues occurring in distributed web applications. Experimental results show that our approach substantially outperforms previous methods.
Rapid Emotional Contagion and Expressive Congruence Under Strong Test Conditions

The present research examined whether the observation of emotional expressions rapidly induces congruent emotional experiences and facial responses in observers under strong test conditions. Specifically, participants rated their emotional reactions after (a) single, brief exposures of (b) a range of human emotional facial expressions that included (c) a neutral face comparison using a procedure designed to (d) minimize potential experimental demand. Even with these strong test conditions in place, participants reported discrete expression-congruent changes in emotional experience. Participants’ Corrugator supercilii facial muscle activity immediately following the presentation of an emotional expression appeared to reflect expressive congruence with the observed expression and a response indicative of the amount of cognitive load necessary to interpret the observed expression. The complexity of the C. supercilii response suggests caution in using facial muscle activity as a nonverbal measure of emotional contagion.
Finding Positive Meaning After Loss: The Mediating Role of Reflection for Bereaved Individuals

This study examined the mediating effect of reflection on the relationship between search for meaning, positive affect, negative affect, and positive meaning-finding among 380 bereaved individuals. Using structural equation modeling, reflection was found to mediate the relationship between search for meaning, affect (positive and negative), and positive meaning-finding. The hypothesized model accounted for 32% of the variance in reflection and 34% of the variance in positive meaning-finding. Implications of the findings, including strategies to increase reflection and positive affect following the loss of a loved one, are discussed.
A two-stage design for randomized trials with binary outcomes.

Abstract A two-stage rule for a randomized clinical trial with a dichotomous outcome is presented. It is based on a rule discussed by Ellenberg and Eisenberger (Cancer Treat Rep 69:1147–1154, 1985). The rule is shown to lead to a reduction in expected sample size if the test treatment is ineffective, with almost no loss in power. All the mathematical formulas required to design such a rule are given, as well as some time-saving approximations. The accuracy of the approximations is shown.
Stereodynamics of multistate roaming

We present a molecular level description of NO3 → NO + O2 photodissociation for both of the experimentally observed reaction pathways using the results of ion imaging experiments and recent theoretical studies. Vector correlation and Λ doublet propensity measurements have been performed on state-selected NO fragments in order to further characterize the stereodynamics of this reaction. Previous measurements (Grubb et al., Science, 2012, 1075–1078) of relative Λ doublet propensities along with ab initio calculations revealed that both pathways arise from roaming-type mechanisms, but each pathway arises from roaming on a different electronic potential. This model, however, assumes that NO3 dissociation takes place in the molecular plane. In the present paper, we have confirmed this assumption through speed-dependent vector correlation measurements. Strong perpendicular correlations between the velocity vector v and the angular momentum vector j are observed in the NO fragment originating from both pathways, in agreement with a constrained planar dissociation. These results are discussed in light of the absence of vector correlations in other roaming systems, which have previously been characterized by an unconstrained intra-molecular abstraction. We show that geometrical constraints should in fact be quite prevalent in roaming dynamics, and are analogous to the geometrical constraints of the corresponding bimolecular abstraction reaction.
Calciphylaxis: a poor prognostic indicator for limb salvage.

Abstract Introduction: Calciphylaxis (calcific uremic arteriolopathy) is a rare complication of end-stage renal disease in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism. Subcutaneous skin nodules and extensive tissue necrosis with vascular calcification characterize this process. Design and Setting: The design of the study included case series and literature review. The study was set in a tertiary care hospital. Patients: Four patients presented over an 8-month period with extensive tissue loss and the subsequent diagnosis of calciphylaxis. Two of these patients were revascularized. One underwent primary amputation, and the final patient died before revascularization. The mortality rate for this group was 75%. All patients had significant vascular complications outside the area of initial presentation. Conclusions: These individuals represent a subset of patients who may not benefit from revascularization or may require extensive regulation of divalent metabolism before consideration for revascularization. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:1275-9.)
Evidence for a sodium/calcium exchanger and voltage-dependent calcium channels in adipocytes.

The objective of these studies is to identify and characterize Ca2+-transport systems that may be of potential importance in the action of Ca2+-mobilizing hormones in the adipocyte. Using the Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein, aequorin, [Ca2+]i was estimated to be 0.15 μM, assuming an intracellular [Mg2+] of 1 mM. Substitution of Na+ with choline+ caused a transient increase in [Ca2+]i which was inversely related to extracellular [Na+], consistent with operation of a mediated Na+-Ca2+ exchange system. The stoichiometry was 3Na+:Ca2+. Elevation of extracellular K+ caused an increase in [Ca2+]i that was blocked by the Ca2+ channel antagonist, diltiazem, by omitting extracellular Ca2+, or by substituting Sr2+ for Ca2+. These findings indicate the presence of an Na+-Ca2+ exchanger and voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels in adipocytes.
Nanoparticles Embedding Into Metallic Materials by Laser Direct Irradiation

We report a method to half-embed nanoparticles into metallic materials. Transparent and opaque nanoparticle (laser wavelength 1064 nm) were both successfully half-embedded (partial part of nanoparticles embedded into matrix while other parts still stay above the matrix) into metallic materials. Nanoparticles were coated on sample surface by dip coating before laser irradiation. After laser irradiation of different pulses and laser fluencies, nanoparticles were embedded into metal. The mechanism and process of embedding were investigated.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
On Dialectics and Human Decency: Education in the dock

AbstractSet against the backdrop of the contemporary crisis of capitalism and world-historical events, this article examines the advance of globalized imperialism from the perspective of a Marxist-humanist approach to pedagogy known as ‘revolutionary critical pedagogy’ enriched by liberation theology. It is written as an epistolic manifesto to the transnational capitalist class, demanding that those who willingly serve its interests reconsider their allegiance and calling for a planetary revolution in the way that we both think about capitalism and how education and religion serves to reproduce it at the peril of both students and humanity as a whole.
Effects of nitrous acid on intracellular T2 bacteriophage

Abstract Nitrous acid has been found to be an effective mutagenic and inactivating agent for bacteriophage T2 in the vegetative phase. The mutagenic efficiency for infected 2- and 5-minute complexes of Escherichia coli B is at least as high as that observed with extracellular phage, both with respect to r and ht mutations. The kinetics of inactivation of infected complexes by nitrous acid has been shown to be sensitive to the stage of development and to the presence of chloramphenicol.
Metabolic Syndrome and Outcomes after Renal Intervention

Metabolic syndrome significantly increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. The increased risk for cardiovascular diseases can partly be caused by a prothrombotic state that exists because of abdominal obesity. Multiple observational studies have consistently shown that increased body mass index as well as insulin resistance and increased fasting insulin levels is associated with chronic kidney disease, even after adjustment for related disorders. Metabolic syndrome appears to be a risk factor for chronic kidney disease, likely due to the combination of dysglycemia and high blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome is associated with markedly reduced renal clinical benefit and increased progression to hemodialysis following endovascular intervention for atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis. Metabolic syndrome is associated with inferior early outcomes for dialysis access procedures.
The Composite Insect Trap: An Innovative Combination Trap for Biologically Diverse Sampling

Documentation of insect diversity is an important component of the study of biodiversity, community dynamics, and global change. Accurate identification of insects usually requires catching individuals for close inspection. However, because insects are so diverse, most trapping methods are specifically tailored to a particular taxonomic group. For scientists interested in the broadest possible spectrum of insect taxa, whether for long term monitoring of an ecosystem or for a species inventory, the use of several different trapping methods is usually necessary. We describe a novel composite method for capturing a diverse spectrum of insect taxa. The Composite Insect Trap incorporates elements from four different existing trapping methods: the cone trap, malaise trap, pan trap, and flight intercept trap. It is affordable, resistant, easy to assemble and disassemble, and collects a wide variety of insect taxa. Here we describe the design, construction, and effectiveness of the Composite Insect Trap tested during a study of insect diversity. The trap catches a broad array of insects and can eliminate the need to use multiple trap types in biodiversity studies. We propose that the Composite Insect Trap is a useful addition to the trapping methods currently available to ecologists and will be extremely effective for monitoring community level dynamics, biodiversity assessment, and conservation and restoration work. In addition, the Composite Insect Trap will be of use to other insect specialists, such as taxonomists, that are interested in describing the insect taxa in a given area.
Secondary ion mass spectra of quaternary pyridine aldoximes

Abstract The secondary ion mass spectra (s.i.m.s.) of the most widely used therapeutic monoquaternary pyridine aldoximes and diquaternary pyridine aldoximes, as well as some related monoquaternary ammonium salts and neutral oximes, are reported. The monoquaternary derivatives of the oximes yield prominent intact cations which provide molecular weights, and fragmentation patterns which are dominated by even-electron ions. The diquaternary oximes investigated do not give dications, but rather undergo charge separation reactions sometimes accompanied by intramolecular aromatic substitution, and they sometimes yield monoquaternaries by expulsion of a proton. The s.i. mass spectra are structure-specific for the monoquaternary salts, allowing isomer distinction in the cases examined. Quaternary salts can be quantified by s.i.m.s., and low detection limits (less than 50 ng) are demonstrated here for the oxime salts; thus s.i.m.s. is an appropriate analytical technique for the title compounds. Procedures of derivatization which convert the neutral amines to ionic compounds, such as quaternization with alkyl halides, provide a simple means of obtaining high-quality s.i.m.s.
Calcareous K-bentonite deposits in the Utica Shale and Trenton Group (Middle Ordovician), of the Mohawk Valley, New York State

Abstract Numerous cemented and partially cemented K-bentonite beds occur in the long, complex succession of altered ash beds with the Middle to Late Ordovician Trenton Group and Utica Shale of New York State. Petrography and trace element geochemistry suggest a generally felsic-intermediate, calc-alkaline composition of the volcanic component. Cementation by carbonate is expressed as nodular concretionary masses within K-bentonite clay, or as a complete transformation of ash layers to hard, tabular ledges. Cementation typically imparts a sparry texture to K-bentonites, which is distinct from that of normal concretionary micrite layers observed at many levels. Cemented K-bentonites display remarkably well-developed glass shard textures, suggesting that carbonate cementation sometimes occurs prior to alteration of glass to clay minerals. The presence of cross-lamination in several cemented K-bentonites, dramatically shows that post-depositional hydraulic reworking or bioturbation of tuffaceous material was an important process on the Ordovician seafloor. Preliminary observations show the potential for detailed petrographic textural characterization of certain ash layers where cementation occurred soon after burial. Given that ashes are often associated with sedimentary condensation and frequently occur above submarine discontinuities, petrographic study of cemented ash should reveal if, and to what degree, ash layers record multiple depositional events. REE patterns show enrichments in light REE and moderate to pronounced Eu anomalies consistent with a felsic-intermediate igneous signature. Individual Calcareous ash bed trace element patterns and ratios – for example, REE and Hf/Zr, Th/U, K/Rb – may persist laterally in the Mohawk Valley, allowing their use as correlation tools.
DETERMINANTS OF WOOD THRUSH NEST SUCCESS: A MULTI-SCALE, MODEL SELECTION APPROACH

We collected data on 212 wood thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) nests in central New York from 1998 to 2000 to determine the factors that most strongly influence nest success. We used an information–theoretic approach to assess and rank 9 models that examined the relationship between nest success (i.e., the probability that a nest would successfully fledge at least 1 wood thrush offspring) and habitat conditions at different spatial scales. We found that 4 variables were significant predictors of nesting success for wood thrushes: (1) total core habitat within 5 km of a study site, (2) distance to forest–field edge, (3) total forest cover within 5 km of the study site, and (4) density and variation in diameter of trees and shrubs surrounding the nest. The coefficients of these predictors were all positive. Of the 9 models evaluated, amount of core habitat in the 5-km landscape was the best-fit model, but the vegetation structure model (i.e., the density of trees and stems surrounding a nest) was also supported by the data. Based on AIC weights, enhancement of core area is likely to be a more effective management option than any other habitat-management options explored in this study. Bootstrap analysis generally confirmed these results; core and vegetation structure models were ranked 1, 2, or 3 in over 50% of 1,000 bootstrap trials. However, bootstrap results did not point to a decisive model, which suggests that multiple habitat factors are influencing wood thrush nesting success. Due to model uncertainty, we used a model averaging approach to predict the success or failure of each nest in our dataset. This averaged model was able to correctly predict 61.1% of nest outcomes.
Inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of soils

Abstract A simple method to assay inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in soils is described. It involves extraction and colorimetric determination of the orthophosphate (Pi) released when 1 g soil is incubated with buffered (pH 8) pyrophosphate (PPi) solution at 37°C for 5 h. The 1 n H2SO4 used to extract Pi gives quantitative recovery of Pi added to soils, and the colorimetric method used to determine the Pi extracted in the presence of PPi is specific for Pi. The inorganic pyrophosphatase activity of the six soils studied ranged from 50 to 450 μg Pi released·g−1 soil·5 h−1. Steam sterilization (121°C for l h), formaldehyde, fluoride, oxalate, and carbonate inhibited and toluene, Na+, K+, NH+4, Cl−, NO−3, NO−2, SO2−4, and EDTA had no effect on the activity of this enzyme in soils. The initial rates of Pi released obeyed zero-order kinetics. The temperature dependence of the rate constant conformed to the Arrhenius equation up to the point of enzyme inactivation (55°C). The activation energy of pyrophosphatase activity of the six soils studied ranged from 32.5 to 43.2 (av 36.1) kJ·mole−1. Application of the three linear transformations of the Michaelis-Menten equation indicated that the Km values of PPi for pyrophosphatase in four soils ranged from 20 to 51 (avg. 35) mM and that the Vmax ranged from 130 to 830 (av 500) μg Pi released g−1 soil·5 h−1. Studies of other properties of inorganic pyrophosphatase activity in soils are reported.
Training effects of long versus short bouts of exercise in healthy subjects

To evaluate the "threshold" duration of exercise required to produce training effects, 18 healthy men aged 51 +/- 6 years completing 30 minutes of exercise training/day were compared with 18 men aged 52 +/- 6 years completing three 10-minute bouts of exercise/day, each separated by at least 4 hours. Exercise training intensity was moderate (65 to 75% of peak treadmill heart rate). During the 8-week study period VO2 max increased significantly in both groups from 33.3 +/- 3.2 to 37.9 +/- 3.5 ml/kg/min in men performing long exercise bouts and from 32.1 +/- 4.6 to 34.5 +/- 4.5 ml/kg/min in men performing short exercise bouts (p less than 0.05 within and between groups). Adherence to unsupervised exercise training performed at home and at work by men in long and short bouts was high; total duration of training completed was 96 and 93% of the prescribed amount and total number of sessions completed was 92 and 93% of that prescribed, respectively. In both groups exercise heart rate measured by a portable microprocessor was within or above the prescribed range for greater than 85% of the prescribed duration. Thus, multiple short bouts of moderate-intensity exercise training significantly increase peak oxygen uptake. For many individuals short bouts of exercise training may fit better into a busy schedule than a single long bout.