cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pathways to State Failure

Attempts to forecast or remedy state failure would benefit from a clearer view of the multiple pathways that can lead states to fail. This paper delineates five pathways: escalating ethnic conflicts, state predation, regional guerrilla rebellion, democratic collapse, and succession/reform crises in authoritarian states. Each of these five pathways involves changes in the legitimacy and effectiveness of regimes; state failures follow upon the loss of both legitimacy and effectiveness. Examples are provided and guidelines are offered for efforts to avert failure in fragile states.
Field Independence and Performance on Ball-Handling Tasks

Subjects were administered the Children's Embedded Figures Test and four ball-handling tests. Pearson product-moment correlations were low between the measures. Girls scored significantly higher than boys on the embedded figures test while boys scored significantly higher than girls on the striking and throwing tests.
Relationship between proteases and descemetocele formation in experimental Pseudomonas keratitis

Proteases are involved in the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections of the cornea. Although there are many potential roles for these enzymes, involvement in corneal stroma destruction with subsequent descemetocele formation and/or corneal perforation is an important example. This study examined the relationship of elastase and alkaline protease to corneal destruction as indicated by descemetocele formation. The protease content of the overnight Mueller-Hinton broth cultures of various strains of P. aeruginosa correlated with the production of descemetoceles both in the rabbit trauma model of Pseudomonas keratitis and upon intrastromal injection of filtrates of the overnight culture media. The levels of alkaline protease correlated better with descemetocele formation than those of elastase. The influx of inflammatory cells was not correlated with descemetocele formation within 24 to 48 hrs.
VISUAL ACUITY IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME

The authors used the Teller acuity cards to assess the visual acuity of 51 infants and children with Down syndrome aged between two months and 18 years. The success rate and test times were comparable to those reported for normally developing children. Even those subjects in the study who were free of ocular disorders and/or who were wearing optical correction during testing showed significantly poorer visual acuity than individuals without Down syndrome. The development of visual acuity in infants and children with Down syndrome lags behind that of age-matched peers without Down syndrome, especially after the age of six months. These findings are discussed in terms of the neurological and optical factors that might account for the deficits in visual acuity that were observed.
The divine conjectures: A contemporary account of human origins and destiny

. Six “divine conjectures” frame the place of Theone (The One to Whom we pray) in the creation of our universe and for its continuing development in five subsequent stages into a loving universe. The first stage, the cosmological universe, establishes the laws of nature, understood by scientists as the “standard model”. The second stage introduces life and death into the universe by a process we are only now beginning to understand. Stage 3 requires certain life forms to become conscious with a subset of those life-forms acquiring language that results in that subset becoming self-conscious. The next stage, Conjecture 4, identifies certain persons who become addicted to learning in their unrelenting effort to learn as much of what can be known as possible. The fifth conjecture requires individual persons to act as agents of Theone in achieving Conjecture 6—a universe that is both loving and lawful. During the course of the exposition subsidiary discussions of the concepts of conjecture and hypothesis explicate the function of each in the advancement of knowledge and understanding. There are brief discussions of prayer and purpose in relation to the Divine.
Molecular weight distributions of tetrafluoroethylene‐hexafluoropropylene copolymers

A new methodology has been developed to determine molecular weight distributions (MWD) from dynamic rheometry data. The present work extends and modifies previous results and illustrates that the MWDs of tetrafluoroethylenehexafluoropropylene copolymers (FEP) are broader than previously thought. The major change in methodology involves the relationship between a reduced form of the elastic shear modulus as a function of frequency, G′(ω), and the cumulative weight fraction as a function of molecular weight. The new method uses a square root versus the former linear relationship. Spectroscopic analysis of the end group concentration was used to determine the number-average molecular weight. These data were used to reference the MWDs determined by dynamic rheometry and indicate that the molecular weights of these polymers are 20% lower than previously found.
The Value of Twin Studies: A Response to Slate Magazine / Research Reviews / Twin News Worth Noting

In late August 2001, the online magazine Slate published a series of twin-related articles covering twinning frequencies, twin relationships and related topics. Among them was an article authored by Brian Palmer, ‘The Methodological Confusion of Twin Studies’,1 August 24). The article argued strongly against the value of twin research, citing the various challenges that have been raised against twin studies (e.g., failure to fulfill the equal environments assumption; difficulties with heritability estimates), all of which have been carefully addressed by
New mini-computer automated linear photodiode array spectrometer system for high-resolution liquid chromatography

Abstract A third generation multi-wavelength array spectrometer was developed as a detector for the high-resolution liquid chromatographic characterization of metabolites. The design features include a PDP-8/e mini-computer, a matched pair of linear photodiode (256 element) arrays (Reticon), holographically ruled gratings, fiber optics, flow cells, and a high-intensity xenon light source. The wavelength range is 256 nm differential with 1 nm resolution and can be independently adjusted in the spectral range of 200–800 nm. Correction for the quantum efficiency curve is made on both of the cooled (−30°) photodiode arrays by an assembly language subroutine. The system is capable of 20 spectra/sec (200–456 nm) in a dual-beam mode. The dynamic range and linearity of the photodiode arrays are approximately 4000:1. Special features include mini-computer driven signal enhancement via integration as a function of signal strength. The display output includes presentation of the total absorption chromatogram vs. elution time in both real and post-run time as well as selectable single absorption band ( e.g. , 280 nm) vs. elution time (post-run time). Application of this dedicated mini-computer automated liquid chromatography-UV spectrometry system for the separation and characterization of the metabolites of a carcinogen, 4-ethylsulfonyl-1-naphthalenesulfonamide, will be discussed.
Optimising learning from animations by minimising cognitive load: cognitive and affective consequences of signalling and segmentation methods

Prospective teachers learned about seven teaching skills either with or without (control group) an exemplar classroom video (Experiment 1) or animation (Experiment 2) showing how an expert teacher applied such skills. It was hypothesised that directing attention to relevant dynamic information with signalling (SI) and/or segmenting (SE) the video/animation into smaller chunks of information would facilitate students' learning. Across both experiments, the control group outperformed SI and SE groups on retention of the theoretical information but underperformed most video/animation groups when asked to evaluate and apply teaching skills to a classroom scenario. SE groups outperformed no-SE groups on all learning measures and reported lower levels of cognitive load. The findings encourage segmenting instructional videos and animations into small chunks to help novice students learn from complex dynamic visualisations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Correlates of HPV Knowledge in the Era of HPV Vaccination: A Study of Unvaccinated Young Adult Women

Until recently, awareness of the sexually transmitted infection human papillomavirus—the virus that causes cervical cancer—was relatively low. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with human papillomavirus knowledge now that human papillomavirus vaccines have become widely available. Young adult women (n = 739; aged 18–26 years) attending Florida State University who had not yet initiated human papillomavirus vaccination completed a survey between March–August 2009. The survey assessed human papillomavirus awareness, human papillomavirus knowledge, demographics, socio-political variables, sexual history, and health history variables. Over 97% of participants were aware of human papillomavirus prior to study enrollment; however, knowledge of human papillomavirus was only moderate. A multivariate regression analysis examining factors related to human papillomavirus knowledge revealed five independent correlates: Latina ethnicity, premarital sex values, number of lifetime sexual partn...
The effect of cholesterol on the accumulation of intracellular calcium

Cholesterol/egg phosphatidylcholine (PC) liposomes (1:1 or 4:1, M/M), in which the absolute amount of PC was adjusted to be the same, were incubated with cultured bovine arterial smooth muscle cells for up to 8 h at 37°C. The effect of increased cellular cholesterol on the accumulation of intracellular calcium in these cells was studied. The results indicate that the intracellular calcium content, measured by Fura-2/AM, was increased 2,3-fold by incubation with 4:1, cholesterol/PC liposomes. Kinetic analysis using 45 Ca 2+ indicated that the increased calcium influx was due to increase of pool size, not from a change of rate constant. (Ca 2+ +Mg 2+ )-ATPase activity was decreased by 4:1, cholesterol/PC liposomes. The molar ratio of cholesterol/phospholipids in the cell membranes was directly proportional to that in liposomes. No change in phospholipid composition was noted. We suggest that the accumulation of intracellular calcium was a composite result due to the altering effect of inserted cholesterol on surface area, and to direct interactions between cholesterol and the proteins of the Ca 2+ channel and (Ca 2+ + Mg 2+ )-ATPase.
Disease competition as a factor in ecological studies of mortality: The case of urban centers

Abstract Disease competition is a condition in which death rates are not what would be expected from the combination of etiological factors present in a region. Four types of disease competition are described: error; dominant occupational-lifestyle etiology leading to dominant diseases; dominant lifestyle with a variety of disease outcomes; and protective effect. Three clues that disease competition exists are discussed. In order to assess the importance of disease competition, an analysis was made of the geographical distribution of male white mortality from 23 causes in the 73 most populous countries in the United States. The results showed evidence only of the dominant lifestyle type.
Numerical models in land subsidence control

Abstract One consequence of growing concern over subsurface fluid pumping is the irreversible soil compaction and the related land subsidence. The mechanism of subsidence is an interaction between the stress field and the flow field operating within a deforming and permeable system. The use of high-speed digital computers appears quite promising in its ability to handle large geological systems and to predict the impact on the environment of an intensive exploitation of the underground resources. The models described in this paper can predict land sinking due to fluid withdrawals in natural two or three-dimensional basins and reservoirs. They can be applied at both the reconnaissance and intermediate stage to assess the convenience of alternative pumping schedules in relation to the permanent modifications that land subsidence produces in the environment.
Overview of a Modal-Based Condition Assessment Procedure

Condition assessment is a term that is used to describe the process of characterizing the physical condition of constructed systems. This paper summarizes a condition assessment (CA) procedure based on a complete system of field-testing, finite element (FE) modeling, and load rating. Experimental techniques, including both modal testing and truckload testing, are used to collect measurements of the constructed systems. The basic mechanism and procedure of the FE modeling and calibration are presented. Different physical parameters of FE models are adjusted during the calibration process using both static and dynamic responses as criteria to achieve convergence between experimental measurements and analytical results using carefully developed objective functions. Finally, a bridge load rating is completed on the basis of the calibrated model. These developments are described and illustrated using a representative bridge as an example.
Cost Functions Under Production Uncertainty

We characterize the cost functions which would be consistent with expected utility maximization when production is uncertain. It is not generally possible, assuming risk aversion, to use only expected output as the constraint in a cost minimization problem. In some leading cases, cost functions consistent with expected utility maximization are particularly useful because they are devoid of risk preferences.
The Self-Governing Republic: a Critical Review of the Major Reforms Proposed By Solidarity

The present contribution is an attempt at a presentation and preliminary analysis of the major proposals contained in the Solidarity program. The rise of Solidarity (the union) called into question the very cornerstones of the communists' ideology: Lenin's concepts of the dictatorship of the proletariat and the Communist Party as the vanguard of the working class. Thus, those in power lost their doctrinal legitimacy. It is not surprising that the ultimate goal of Solidarity was to change the communist system into a democratic one. The union wanted to carry out the transformation by peaceful means, aware of the complexity of both the internal and external situation. This caused some Solidarity proposals to become obscure and inconsistent. Nevertheless, two proposals were of great significance and differ from any other democratic concepts: self-government both in the management of enterprises and in the Seym (the Polish Parliament). These were far-reaching proposals envisaging changes leading to essential constitutional consequences. Though the imposition of the "state of war" on 13 December 1981 disrupted the process of their completion, they comprise a bold offer, not only limited to the second party of the social agreement signed on 31 August 1980.
The effect of nicotinamide on microvascular density and thermal injury in rats

The effects of nicotinamide on the microvasculature and wound healing were examined in rats subjected to thermal injury. Rats (250 g) were treated with 50 mg nicotinamide intraperitoneally twice daily for 21 days and then heart and brain biopsies were taken. Skin biopsies were removed from sites in and adjacent to the injury throughout the course of healing. Tissues were stained for alkaline phosphatase and capillary length density was determined by morphometric analysis. Significant increases were observed in the heart, brain, and dermal tissue of treated animals compared to controls. Capillary density in the injured skin was significantly greater when compared to the injured skin of saline-treated controls. The injuries of the rats that were treated systemically with nicotinamide healed significantly faster than saline-treated as determined by planimetric evaluation of the granulation bed and eschar.
Energy-efficiency Retrofitting and Transformation of the FIU-college of Architecture + The Arts into a Net-Zero-Energy-Building by 2018☆

Abstract Net-Zero-Energy-Buildings (Net-ZEBs) are part of both the U.S. Department of Energy 2020 policy and the American Institute of Architecture 2030 Agenda on energy conservation, efficiency benchmarking and carbon neutrality for buildings. This research paper connects to these national frameworks for diagnosing, redesigning, retrofitting and transforming the 9,476 m2 large Paul L. Cejas Architecture (PCA) College of the Florida International University in Miami into a Net-Zero-Energy-Building. The PCA complex was designed by the renowned architect Bernard Tschumi in 2003. The reputation of this architecture involves difficult design issues for any resource efficient retrofitting Net-ZEB master plan of the future. In November 2012 an interdisciplinary research team at FIU started to analyze and deploy a smart-sensor infrastructure within the PCA complex, compatible with the ‘The Metasys® building management system’ from Johnson Controls, to collect real-time data, identify problems and develop strategies to implement conservation measures. The paper will compare these different energy, water and CO2 reduction strategies with automated data collection techniques. The research paper concludes with 3-D-BIM (Building Information Modeling) resource scenarios of how to improve the performance of the PCA with passive and active strategies towards a Net-Zero-Energy-Building by 2018.
Incidence and Treatment of Local Site Recurrences Following RFA of Colorectal Liver Metastases

Patients with colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) who are ineligible for curative surgery are potential candidates for radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Although RFA has emerged as a well accepted and documented treatment modality, there are still some reservations because of initially high rates of local site recurrences (LSR). The aim of the present study was to evaluate LSR levels following RFA treatment, with a specific focus on re-treatment and survival. All patients ineligible for curative resection of CRLM and undergoing RFA alone or in combination with resection were prospectively included from July 2000 to December 2010 and retrospectively analyzed. Patients with untreatable extrahepatic disease were excluded. FDG PET–CT was conducted at 3–6 month intervals after RFA. Patients with LSR were evaluated for re-treatment. A total of 132 patients were treated with RFA, which was combined with resection in 64 patients. A total of 290 lesions were ablated, with a mean number of 2.19 per patient and a mean size of 2.2 cm. Median survival was 41 months, with a 3- and 5-year survival of, respectively, 60 and 30.8 %. Following initial RFA, 39 patients developed an LSR in 40 ablated lesions, and local recurrence was strongly related to lesion size. Re-treatment could be performed in 26/39 patients, of whom eight remained disease-free. Radiofrequency ablation can be applied to CRLM of less than 3 cm with curative intent. In the absence of extensive intrahepatic or extrahepatic disease, renewed treatment of local recurrences should be considered and is often successful.
Could there have been unicorns

Abstract Kripke and Dummett disagree over whether or not there could have been unicorns. Kripke thinks that there could not have been; Dummett thinks otherwise. I argue that Kripke is correct: there are no counterfactual situations properly describable as ones in which there would have been unicorns. In attempting to establish this claim, I argue that Dummett's critique of an argument (reminiscent of an argument of Kripke's) to the conclusion that there could not have been unicorns, is vitiated by a conflation of two superficially similar, though importantly different, claims. I then attempt to provide an account of the counter‐intuitiveness of Kripke's position, arguing that the claim that there could not have been unicorns is best understood as a semantic, rather than metaphysical, claim. Finally, I provide a brief argument on behalf of the semantics of species terms that appears to underpin Kripke's position.
The effects of distal limb warming on sleep latency.

Sleep onset is best predicted by an increase in the amount of hand and foot warming relative to more proximal areas (Krauchi, Cajochen, Werth, & Wirz-Justice, 1999; Krauchi, Cajochen, Werth, & Wirz-Justice, 2000). We assessed if an increase in sleepiness would also occur if the distal limbs were warmed through an external manipulation. In this study, 5 min before participants (N = 11) attempted to fall asleep on a multiple sleep latency test (Carskadon et al., 1986) their hands and feet were immersed in water heated to either 42 °C or heated to the temperature of the warmest limbs. The results show no difference in sleep latency between the warm and control water conditions. There was a decrease in sleep latency in the control and warm water conditions compared to the initial (noncounterbalanced) baseline multiple sleep latency test. Further studies are necessary to determine if any degree of limb warming hastens sleep onset.
Multimodal MRI as a diagnostic biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Objective Reliable biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are needed, given the clinical heterogeneity of the disease. Here, we provide proof-of-concept for using multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a diagnostic biomarker for ALS. Specifically, we evaluated the added diagnostic utility of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Methods Twenty-nine patients with ALS and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls underwent brain MRI which used proton MRS including spectral editing techniques to measure γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and DTI to measure fractional anisotropy of the corticospinal tract. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, t-tests, and generalized linear models with leave-one-out analysis to generate and compare the resulting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results The diagnostic accuracy is significantly improved when the MRS data were combined with the DTI data as compared to the DTI data only (area under the ROC curves (AUC) = 0.93 vs. AUC = 0.81; P = 0.05). The combined MRS and DTI data resulted in sensitivity of 0.93, specificity of 0.85, positive likelihood ratio of 6.20, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.08 whereas the DTI data only resulted in sensitivity of 0.86, specificity of 0.70, positive likelihood ratio of 2.87, and negative likelihood ratio of 0.20. Interpretation Combining multiple advanced neuroimaging modalities significantly improves disease discrimination between ALS patients and healthy controls. These results provide an important step toward advancing a multimodal MRI approach along the diagnostic test development pathway for ALS.
Negative slope conductance at large depolarization in cat spinal motoneurons

The current-voltage relation of cat spinal motoneurons obtained by somatic voltage clamp exhibits a region of negative slope conductance at large depolarizations in addition to the previously reported N-shaped region at small depolarizations. The N shape at large depolarizations is caused by one outward current component which grows larger and then smaller with depolarization.
The Contribution of Extreme Ultraviolet from Clusters of Galaxies to the Cosmic Ionizing Background

Recent observations with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) suggest that at least some clusters of galaxies are luminous sources of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. It is not clear yet whether EUV emission is a general feature of clusters; for the purposes of limiting the contribution to the background radiation, we assume that it is true of most clusters. Assuming that the source of the EUV emission is inverse Compton (IC) scattering of the cosmic microwave background photons by relativistic electrons, we construct a simple model for the expected average emission from clusters as a function of their mass and the redshift of interest. Press-Schechter theory is used to determine the abundance of clusters of various masses as a function of redshift. We determine the amount of background radiation produced by clusters. The total mean intensity, spectrum, and the ionization rates for H I and He II are determined at present and at a variety of redshifts. Because clusters form by the merger of smaller subclusters, the amount of EUV background radiation should be larger at present than in the past. We compare our results to the ionizing background expected from quasars. We find that while clusters do contribute a significant EUV background, it is less than 1% of that expected from quasars.
STUDIES CONCERNING THE MECHANISM CONTROLLING THE INITIATION OF LACTATION AT PARTURITION III. CAN ESTROGEN ACCOUNT FOR THE PRECIPITOUS INCREASE IN THE LACTOGEN CONTENT OF THE PITUITARY FOLLOWING PARTURITION?1,2

THE FOLLOWING FACTS have been established concerning the relation of the lactOgenic hormone to the initiation of lactation, a). Estrogen can increase the secretion of lactogenic hormone by the pituitary and initiate lactation, b). During pregnancy there is little if any increase in lactogenic hormone despite the presence of large amounts of estrogen. This is attributed to the predominant quantity of progesterone which overrides certain effects of estrogen during pregnancy. Evidence will now be submitted showing that the diminution or cessation of progesterone secretion just prior to parturition permits estrogen to assume the ascendency and quickly stimulate an increased elaboration of lactogenic hormone, which in turn brings about the onset of lactation. There is considerable evidence in favor of the view that estrogen plays a major ro1e in the initiation of labor, and it is not unexpected that this event should be closely associated with the initiation of milk secretion.
Aging, microglial cell priming, and the discordant central inflammatory response to signals from the peripheral immune system

Recent studies suggest that activation of the peripheral immune system elicits a discor- dant central (i.e., in the brain) inflammatory re- sponse in aged but otherwise healthy subjects com- pared with younger cohorts. A fundamental differ- ence in the reactive state of microglial cells in the aged brain has been suggested as the basis for this discordant inflammatory response. Thus, the aging process appears to serve as a "priming" stimulus for microglia, and upon secondary stimulation with a triggering stimulus (i.e., peripheral signals com- municating infection), these primed microglia re- lease excessive quantities of proinflammatory cyto- kines. Subsequently, this exaggerated cytokine re- lease elicits exaggerated behavioral changes including anorexia, hypersomnia, lethargy, de- creased social interaction, and deficits in cognitive and motor function (collectively known as the sick- ness behavior syndrome). Whereas this reorgani- zation of host priorities is normally adaptive in young subjects, there is a propensity for this re- sponse to be maladaptive in aged subjects, resulting in greater severity and duration of the sickness behavior syndrome. Consequently, acute bouts of cognitive impairment in elderly subjects increase the likelihood of poor self-care behaviors (i.e., an- orexia, weight loss, noncompliance), which ulti- mately leads to higher rates of hospitalization and mortality. J. Leukoc. Biol. 84: 932-939; 2008.
The Industrial Organization of Private Politics

Private politics social pressure in led by social activists that use confrontational and cooperative strategies to cause rms to provide social benets. This paper presents theories of the supply of social pressure by activists and the demand for social pressure as represented by the attractiveness of rms as targets and partners. A confrontational activist can drive potential targets into competition for an engagement with a cooperative activist, as characterized by an ascending auction. A moderately socially responsible rm is more likely than a prot-maximizing rm to win the engagement with the cooperative activist. The threat of confrontation creates a positive externality for the cooperative activist, which has an incentive to participate in the campaign of the confrontational activist.
Axiomatic foundations for structural software metrics

The field of software metrication can be divided between those measurement techniques that are largely textual vs. those that are more structural (i.e. based on the decomposition structure of the underlying flowgraph). We are concerned with the latter. Methods are presented for the effective design of new structural or hierarchical metrics within a uniform methodology, while proposing a corresponding new axiomatic framework capturing the essential features of those classical metrics found in the applications. Our methodology is sufficiently flexible as to allow for a uniform design technique for extending a measure defined only for structured flowgraphs, to a hierarchical metric-in the strong sense that it be applicable to the entire class of flowgraphs (i.e. programs), and that the resulting extension be guaranteed to satisfy the proposed axiomatic scheme. >
Defect morphology in oriented systems

In fibrils composed of highly extended chains, a characteristic clustering of defects into laminae perpendicular to the chain axes is often found. One model suggested to explain this morphology assumes that initially the defects are randomly distributed but that under heat treatment the system undergoes a spinodal phase separation in which the defects cluster to form the laminar structure. Here we report results obtained from numerical simulations which support this picture. We then explore the more general question of the response of such a nonequilibrium system to small imposed patterns. We examine under what conditions the patterns are amplified or attenuated.
Regularization and datuming of seismic data by weighted, damped least squares

The possibility of improving regularization/datuming of seismic data is investigated by treating wavefield extrapolation as an inversion problem. Weighted, damped least squares is then used to produce the regularized/datumed wavefield. Regularization/datuming is extremely costly because of computing the Hessian, so an efficient approximation is introduced. Approximation is achieved by computing a limited number of diagonals in the operators involved. Real and synthetic data examples demonstrate the utility of this approach. For synthetic data, regularization/datuming is demonstrated for large extrapolation distances using a highly irregular recording array. Without approximation, regularization/datuming returns a regularized wavefield with reduced operator artifacts when compared to a nonregularizing method such as generalized phase shift plus interpolation (PSPI). Approximate regularization/datuming returns a regularized wavefield for approximately two orders of magnitude less in cost; but it is dip limi...
The herpetofauna of the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Mississippi.

Abstract The Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center (CSJFTC) is a 54,315-ha National Guard training installation located in the Piney Woods subprovince of the Gulf Coastal Plain physiographic region of south-central Mississippi. A list of 108 native amphibian and reptile species possibly occurring on the CSJFTC was generated using known geographic distribution ranges and museum records. General herpetofaunal field-collecting techniques were used to survey the CSJFTC's aquatic and terrestrial habitats from April 2004-April 2007. Eighty-three native and one introduced species were identified, comprising 59% of the state's known (excluding marine species) and 77% of the CSJFTC's suspected herpetofauna. Ten species listed as needing special protection by state or federal agencies occur at the site, including Crotalus adamanteus, Gopherus polyphemus, Lampropeltis calligaster, Masticophis flagellum, Micrurus fulvius, Ophisaurus attenuatus, Pituophis melanoleucus, Pseudacris ornata, Pseudotriton ruber, and Reg...
Two peers are better than one: aggregating peer reviews for computing assignments is surprisingly accurate

Scientific peer review, open source software development, wikis, and other domains use distributed review to improve quality of created content by providing feedback to the work's creator. Distributed review is used to assess or improve the quality of a work (e.g., an article). However, it can also provide learning benefits to the participants in the review process. We developed an online review system for beginning computer programming students; it gathers multiple anonymous peer reviews to give students feedback on their programming work. We deployed the system in an introductory programming class and evaluated it in a controlled study. We find that: peer reviews are accurate compared to an accepted evaluation standard, that students prefer reviews from other students with less experience than themselves, and that participating in a peer review process results in better learning outcomes.
Renal Function Outcomes in Patients Treated With Nephron Sparing Surgery for Bilateral Wilms Tumor

Purpose: Management of bilateral Wilms tumor represents a particular challenge in the consideration of long-term renal function for affected patients. Aggressive surgical resection to prevent recurrence must be balanced with the desire to preserve renal function. We evaluated our institutional experience with nephrological outcomes in patients treated with nephron sparing surgery for bilateral Wilms tumor.Materials and Methods: We identified all patients with synchronous bilateral Wilms tumors presenting to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital between October 1987 and February 2004. We also included patients with Wilms tumor involving a solitary kidney presenting during the same period. A total of 17 patients were identified who underwent nephron sparing surgery, including 16 with bilateral tumors and 1 with tumor in a solitary kidney. Institutional review board approval was obtained to retrospectively review records and analyze outcomes based on long-term renal function, hypertension, proteinuria, need ...
Indenter flaw geometry and fracture toughness estimates for a glass-ceramic

Shapes of cracks associated with Vickers indenter flaws in a glass-ceramic were assessed by stepwise polishing and measuring surface traces as a function of depth. The cracks were of the Palmqvist type even at200-N indentation load. The toad dependence of crack lengths and fracture toughness estimates were examined in terms of relations proposed for Palmqvist and half-penny cracks. Estimates based on the half-penny crack analogy were in closer agreement with bulk fracture toughness measurements despite the Palmqvist nature of the cracks.
Reduction of Toxicity of a Vinca Alkaloid by an Anti-Vinca Alkaloid Antibody

Inadvertent oncolytic overdoses occur rarely, but can have serious consequences. We have investigated the possibility of using an antibody, 27.8.1A, reactive with vinca alkaloids, as a means of reducing the toxicity associated with overdose situations. In vitro cytotoxicity of a vinca derivative, 4-desacetyl-vinblastine-3-car-box-hydrazide (DAVLBHYD), with and without the addition of 27.8.1A, was determined. Using CCRF-CEM, a human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, as a target in this assay, we observed a greater than 90% increase in cell viability using 100 μg/ml 27.8.1A with a 0.1 pglml concentration of DAVLBHYD. 27.8.1A had no effect on cell viability when doxorubicin was used as a control drug in this assay. Similarly, the addition of an irrelevant antibody, EGFrL11, had no effect on the toxicity of DAVLBHYD. In an in vivo survival experiment, nude mice were injected with a toxic dose of DAVLBHYD and subsequently given four doses of 27.8.1A. All anti vinca antibody-treated mice survived, in cont...
Delayed recovery of non-marine tetrapods after the end-Permian mass extinction tracks global carbon cycle

During the end-Permian mass extinction, marine ecosystems suffered a major drop in diversity, which was maintained throughout the Early Triassic until delayed recovery during the Middle Triassic. This depressed diversity in the Early Triassic correlates with multiple major perturbations to the global carbon cycle, interpreted as either intrinsic ecosystem or external palaeoenvironmental effects. In contrast, the terrestrial record of extinction and recovery is less clear; the effects and magnitude of the end-Permian extinction on non-marine vertebrates are particularly controversial. We use specimen-level data from southern Africa and Russia to investigate the palaeodiversity dynamics of non-marine tetrapods across the Permo-Triassic boundary by analysing sample-standardized generic richness, evenness and relative abundance. In addition, we investigate the potential effects of sampling, geological and taxonomic biases on these data. Our analyses demonstrate that non-marine tetrapods were severely affected by the end-Permian mass extinction, and that these assemblages did not begin to recover until the Middle Triassic. These data are congruent with those from land plants and marine invertebrates. Furthermore, they are consistent with the idea that unstable low-diversity post-extinction ecosystems were subject to boom–bust cycles, reflected in multiple Early Triassic perturbations of the carbon cycle.
Uniform flux heat transfer to a gas in laminar forced convection in a circular tube

Heat transfer from a circular tube to a contained gas in laminar forced convection was studied dimensionally and experimentally. The boundary condition of uniform heat flux was physically achieved, and the experiments were conducted in a statistically designed pattern. The dimensional analysis, based upon the principle of corresponding states, and more general than any hitherto proposed, indicated four independent variables in this experiment. Of these, only bulk velocity showed a statistically significant effect in the region studied: a reduction in heat transfer coefficient with decreasing bulk velocity. No existing theories could explain this effect.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Atypical Squamous Cervical Cytology: the Invader HPV Test as a New Screening Assay

In surveillance for cervical neoplasia, a diagnosis of cytologically atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) presents a significant clinical issue, often dependent on testing for high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) for the triage of patients. HPV type 16 now appears to be a critical concern in the follow-up of patients with ASCUS. The Invader HPV (Inv2) test, by Third Wave Technologies, Inc., is a recently developed analyte-specific reagent assay that uses probe sets for the detection of 14 HR HPV subtypes. These probe sets are A5/A6 (HPV types 51, 56, and 66), A7 (HPV types 18, 39, 45, 59, and 68), and A9 (HPV types 16, 31, 33, 35, 52, and 58). This report describes the performance characteristics of the Inv2 test in the screening of ASCUS cervical cytology specimens and correlates the results of the Inv2 test with those of the Hybrid Capture II HPV (HC2) test by Digene. The linear array HPV genotyping test (Roche Molecular Systems) was used as a reference method for the testing of samples with discordant results. Ninety-four Pap smear samples with a cytological diagnosis of ASCUS and 39 samples with a negative diagnosis were tested. The results of the Inv2 test demonstrated a good (86.6%) concordance with those of the HC2 test, with an overall sensitivity and specificity of 96% for the Inv2 test. Additionally, the Inv2 assay, which offers high-throughput, semiautomated DNA extraction, allows the subgrouping of HPV types by differential probe sets, could provide a useful test for screening for HPV, and has the potential to provide an improved means of risk stratification and the selection of patients for further HPV subtyping.
Role of Microscopic Stress Fluctuations in Glass Transition and Glass Formation

Although the structure of liquids and glasses may appear highly disordered, the atomic motions in these phases are rather strongly correlated. Such a correlation, however, cannot be readily described by a pair density function, and higher order correlation functions are necessary. We suggest that the microscopic stresses defined at each atom are quite useful in describing such high order correlations. We discuss how the concept of the microscopic stress fluctuation helps to describe and understand the glass transition and glass formation phenomena. In a molecular dynamics study the local shear stresses were found to become orientationally correlated below a transition temperature, T s , which is close to the melting temperature. Below T s the viscosity shows a rapid increase and transverse phonons become more stable. Thus T s could be viewed as a dynamical glass transition temperature. The conventional glass transition can be described in terms of the elastic percolation of the orientationally correlated regions. On the other hand, the microscopic stresses in the crystalline solid solutions define the topological stability limit of the crystalline phase, and predict the minimum solute concentration to form stable amorphous alloys.
Hybrid message passing for mixed bayesian networks

The traditional message passing algorithm developed by Pearl in 1980s provides exact inference for discrete poly-tree Bayesian networks. When there are multiple paths (loops) in the network, we can still apply Pearl's algorithm to provide approximate solutions and it is so-called "loopy propagation". However, when mixed random variables (continuous and discrete variables) are present in the network, there is no theoretical sound method so far for efficient message passing. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to compute, propagate and integrate the messages for hybrid models. Specifically, we propose to first partition the network into separate parts by introducing the concept of interface nodes. We then apply different algorithms for each sub-network. Finally we integrate the information through the channel of interface nodes and then calculate the posterior distributions for all hidden variables. The numerical experiment results show that the algorithm works well for hybrid Bayesian networks.
Political Scale and Electoral Turnout: Evidence From the Less Industrialized World:

This article attempts to bring the politics of scale back into the study of comparative politics. Explicitly focusing on the question of electoral turnout in the less industrialized world, it explo...
Life and the Evolution of Earth's Atmosphere

Harvesting light to produce energy and oxygen (photosynthesis) is the signature of all land plants. This ability was co-opted from a precocious and ancient form of life known as cyanobacteria. Today these bacteria, as well as microscopic algae, supply oxygen to the atmosphere and churn out fixed nitrogen in Earth's vast oceans. Microorganisms may also have played a major role in atmosphere evolution before the rise of oxygen. Under the more dim light of a young sun cooler than today's, certain groups of anaerobic bacteria may have been pumping out large amounts of methane, thereby keeping the early climate warm and inviting. The evolution of Earth's atmosphere is linked tightly to the evolution of its biota.
Restoring punctuation and capitalization in transcribed speech

Adding punctuation and capitalization greatly improves the readability of automatic speech transcripts. We discuss an approach for performing both tasks in a single pass using a purely text-based n-gram language model. We study the effect on performance of varying the n-gram order (from n = 3 to n = 6) and the amount of training data (from 58 million to 55 billion tokens). Our results show that using larger training data sets consistently improves performance, while increasing the n-gram order does not help nearly as much.
First Report of a Double-brooded Swainson's Warbler

Abstract Here I report the first case of double brooding in a Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii). On 7 June 2002, I observed a color-banded female feeding an 8-day-old fledgling 20 m from her first nest. On 12 July 2002, I saw the same bird feeding a banded 12-day-old fledgling 8 m from her second nest. Double brooding is one strategy by which a genotype may increase genetic representation in future generations.
A Safety Evaluation of Cangrelor in Patients Undergoing PCI.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and an oral ADP P2Y12 receptor antagonist is the standard-of-care for treatment of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, oral P2Y12 receptor antagonists have several limitations, including inter- and intra-individual response variability, drug-drug interactions, slow onset and offset of action and delayed platelet inhibition in high-risk clinical settings, such as patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.Areas covered: Cangrelor is an intravenous, direct-acting, reversible, potent P2Y12 receptor antagonist. It rapidly achieves near complete platelet inhibition and has a very short half-life and a fast offset of action. We conducted a systematic review searching PubMed/MEDLINE for pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic studies and clinical trials in which cangrelor was investigated, published from any time up to November 1st 2015. For clinical trials, those investigating cangrelor in the setting of PCI we...
Die Entwicklung von Kindern: Eine Einführung

Erbe und Umwelt Das aktive Kind Kontinuitat/Diskontinuitat Mechanismen der Veranderung Der soziokulturelle Kontext Individuelle Unterschiede Forschung und das Wohl der Kinder
Abstract 3550: Temporal Trends, Risk Factors, and Hospital Costs of the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) after Acute Ischemic Stroke in the United States

Background. We sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors of ARDS, and its impact on hospital length of stay (LOS) and cost, after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the U.S. Methods. Data wer...
Nonlinear Model Predictive Control Of A 6 DOF Air Vehicle

A nonlinear model predictive control strategy is developed for a general 6 degree-offreedom air vehicle. A closed form solution for the control input is made possible by expanding both the output and control vectors with a truncated Taylor series expansion. The control technique is demonstrated on a parafoil and payload aircraft system through simulation. It is shown that the number of Taylor series expansion terms can be used to penalize the control sequence even though control is absent in the original performance function. It is also shown that ill conditioning in the optimal control gain equation limits the practical selection of number of Taylor series expansion terms. Nomenclature
A case of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the hypoglossal nerve after stereotactic radiosurgery treatment.

Objectives Hypoglossal schwannomas are rare. Surgical resection has been the standard treatment modality. Radiosurgery has been increasingly used for treatment. Radiation-associated secondary malignancy/malignant transformation has not been documented in the literature for the treatment of nonvestibular schwannomas. Setting The patient was a 52-year-old man with an enlarging high cervical/skull base lesion 8.5 years after CyberKnife treatment of a presumed vagal schwannoma. A decision was made for surgical resection, and the tumor was found to originate from the hypoglossal nerve intraoperatively. Final pathology diagnosis was malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Results Patient had a gross total resection. Three months after resection, he received fractionated radiation of 50 Gy in 25 fractions and a boost gamma knife radiosurgery of 10 Gy to the 50% isodose surface. He remained tumor free on repeat magnetic resonance imaging 9 months after the resection. Conclusion Although extremely rare, radiation treatment of nonvestibular schwannomas can potentially cause malignant transformation.