cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Organizational performance referents: An empirical examination of their content and influences

Although the mechanisms by which individuals make judgments about personal success have been studied extensively, theoretical and empirical development of performance referents in organizations has been sparse. To address this shortfall, we utilized a two-study design to explore performance referents used by CEOs along with characteristics influencing referent orientation (internal vs. external). Referent use was identified through content analysis of 119 CEO annual shareholder letters in the restaurant industry. Results suggest that CEOs use a wide variety of primarily internal referents to assess performance. CEOs who integrate external referents into their performance sensemaking efforts tend to be from larger and more highly performing organizations. Post hoc analysis revealed that CEOs of larger and younger organizations used a higher percentage of external referents.
A high power cross-field amplifier at X-band

A high power cross-field amplifier (CFA) is under development at SLAC to provide sufficient peak power to feed a section of an X-band accelerator without the need for pulse compression. The CFA employs a conventional distributed secondary emission cathode and a novel anode structure which consists of an array of vane resonators alternatively coupled to a rectangular waveguide. The waveguide impedance is tapered linearly from input to output to provide a constant RF voltage at the vane tips, leading to uniform power generation along the structure. Nominal design for this tube calls for 300 MW output power, 20 dB gain, a DC voltage of 142 kV, a magnetic field of 5 kG, an anode-cathode gap of 3.6 mm, and a total interaction length of about 60 cm. The authors have used ARGUS to model the cold circuit properties and CONDOR to model the electronic power conversion. An efficiency of 60% is expected. The design effort is discussed. >
The IMS Satellite Situation Center

Following a brief historical review of the SSC (Satellite Situation Center), created by the U.S. for the IMS (International Magnetospheric Study), its main functions are discussed. The services of the SSC include the accurate orbit determination of the satellites, 12-18 months in advance and the coordination of simultaneous observations by a multispacecraft system, which are essential for the optimization of the scientific gains from experiments conducted with limited resources. For 1976 SSC generated plots of the satellites Vela 5B, Vela 6A, Vela 6B, Hawkeye 1, Imp H (7), Imp J (8) by computing certain projections of the solar ecliptic, solar magnetospheric, and solar magnetic coordinate systems. The SSC system was automated by the addition of a computer system capable of interactive graphics. The SSC can also provide the ground-based campaigns with a graphical or tabular information about the position low-altitude satellites in any coordinate system. The possible participation of the SSC in future Electrodynamics Explorer mission, Space Shuttle programs is also being explored.
Higher-order correlation-based approach to modulation classification of digitally frequency-modulated signals

A general framework that theoretically links the higher-order correlation (HOC) domain with statistical decision theory is explored. It is then applied to the problem of classification of M-ary frequency shift keying (MFSK) signals when contaminated by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). In particular, we propose a novel class of classifiers that utilizes time-domain HOC operations while completely avoiding the explicit determination of the spectrum of the observed signal. It is shown that this method delivers a performance that tightly lower-bounds that of the optimal likelihood-ratio test. In addition, this intrinsically wideband HOC-based method possesses an immunity to imperfect knowledge of exact frequency locations. Substantial performance improvement is also reported over the energy-based rule whenever it is applicable. >
ASIC yield estimation at early design cycle

This paper describes an ASIC yield model based on the CMOS bridge fault model. The model predicts defect sensitive area early in the design cycle as a function of number of gates and nets.
Substrate influence in electron–phonon coupling measurements in thin Au films

Abstract Accurate understanding and measurement of the energy transfer mechanisms during thermal nonequilibrium between electrons and the surrounding material systems is critical for a wide array of applications. With device dimensions decreasing to sizes on the order of the thermal penetration depth, the equilibration of the electrons could be effected by boundary effects in addition to electron–phonon coupling. In this study, the rate of electron equilibration in 20 nm thick Au films is measured with the Transient ThermoReflectance (TTR) technique. At very large incident laser fluences which result in very high electron temperatures, the electron–phonon coupling factors determined from TTR measurements deduced using traditional models are almost an order of magnitude greater than predicted from theory. By taking excess electron energy loss via electron-substrate transport into account with a proposed three temperature model, TTR electron–phonon coupling factor measurements are more in line with theory, indicating that in highly nonequilibrium situations, the high temperature electron system looses substantial energy to the substrate in addition to that transferred to the film lattice through coupling.
Reconstruction during camera fixation

This paper deals with quantitative aspects of camera fixation for reconstruction of a static scene. In general when the camera undergoes translation and rotation there is an infinite number of points that produce equal optical flow for any instantaneous point in time. For the case where the rotation axis of the camera is perpendicular to the instantaneous translation vector these points form a circle (called the Equal Flow Circle or simply EFC) and a line. A special case of the EFCs is the Zero Flow Circle (ZFC) where both components of the optical flow are equal to zero. A fixation point is the intersection of all the ZFCs. Points inside and outside the ZFC are quantitatively mapped using the EFCs. We show how to find the exact location of points in space during fixation. 1.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toward an integration of family systems and developmental psychopathology approaches.

Developmental psychopathology and family systems theory are distinct approaches that have flourished in relative isolation from each other. Contributing to their distinctiveness, important differences exist between the approaches in the primary unit of analysis. Whereas developmental psychopathology commonly focuses on individual development as the main unit of analysis, the whole family unit is the central object of study in family systems approaches. Accordingly, the primary objective of developmental psychopathology is to understand the nature, origins, and sequelae of individual patterns of adaptation and maladaptation over time ( Cicchetti, 1993 ; Sroufe & Rutter, 1984 ). In contrast, the principal goal in the family systems approach is to achieve a rich characterization of the interplay among relationships and individuals in the whole family unit, with a specific focus on identifying relationship structures, interpersonal boundaries, power distributions, and communication patterns ( Cox & Paley, 1997 ; Minuchin, 1985 ). Work on this special issue was supported, in part, by a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH 57318) awarded to Patrick Davies and grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH 45027-01 and MH 45027-06) and the Spunk Fund, Inc. awarded to Dante Cicchetti.
Dyspnea and quality of life indicators in hospice patients and their caregivers.

This study describes the assessment of dyspnea, symptom distress, and quality of life measures in 163 hospice patients with cancer who reported dyspnea. Mean age of the hospice patient sample was 70.22 years and 61.86 for caregivers (65% were spouses). The majority of patients and caregivers were white: 87%, 63% of the patients were male while 78% of caregivers were female. Mean dyspnea intensity as reported by patients was 4.52 (SD 2.29) and caregivers, 4.39 (SD 2.93). Patients' and caregivers' ratings of the patient's dyspnea intensity revealed no significant differences in ratings thus verifying that caregivers can assess dyspnea severity accurately. Patients' perceived quality of life ratings were not significantly correlated with ratings of their caregivers' perceived quality of life. For patients, symptom distress and education were significant predictors of variance in quality of life (R2 = .35, p = .04). However, mastery, symptom distress, age, and education were found to be significant predictors of variance in quality of life of caregivers (R2 = .40, p = .02).
CotQuest: Improved algorithm and software for nonlinear regression analysis of DNA reassociation kinetics data

Cot analysis (DNA reassociation kinetics) has long been used to explore genome structure in individual species, estimate genome similarity among organisms, and evaluate diversity in ecological samples, yet the algorithms and computational tools designed for analyzing Cot data are outdated, difficult to use, and prone to error. We report a new nonlinear regression procedure for analysis of Cot data and describe our algorithms in detail. Our procedure is implemented as CotQuest, a suite of scripts designed for use with the statistics package SAS. Unlike previous programs, CotQuest does not require users to input guesses as to the final values of parameters; rather, it employs a novel algorithm to step through a sequence of progressively more complex models, with the results from a given analysis being used to generate starting values for the next model. Moreover, CotQuest returns a statistical comparison of potential models and provides a variety of model assessment and selection diagnostics to help users in model selection. In situations where two models possess similar goodness-of-fit assessments, visual analysis of the Cot curves and comparison of CotQuest-generated graphs and statistics reflecting the normality and homoscedasticity of residuals can be employed to make educated choices between models.
A simulation-based controller builder for flexible manufacturing systems

This paper discusses a new simulation and control prototype software package that can be employed as a controller for a simple FMS. In developing this software, we attempted to achieve a compromise between the program ming flexibility of a general-purpose language like C++ and the convenience of a simulation language like SIMAN (see Pegden et al. [ 1995]). In particular, we desire to provide standard programming features within the model such as recursive function calls while providing a single model which can be used to simulate and control a real-world system. To test the efficacy of the developed simulation tool, we developed a simulation model which can control a physical emulator of an FMS which has been constructed in our research laboratory.
Vasodilatation is obligatory for contraction‐induced hyperaemia in canine skeletal muscle

There is an immediate increase in blood flow to active skeletal muscle with the onset of exercise (Corcondilas et al. 1964; Lind & Williams, 1979; Leyk et al. 1994; Tschakovsky et al. 1996; Shoemaker et al. 1998; Naik et al. 1999; Valic et al. 2002). Whether this initial blood flow response represents vasodilatation is not known. Studies employing in situ and in vitro techniques have suggested that the vascular response to contraction (Gorczynski et al. 1978; Jacobs & Segal, 2000) or to topical application of vasodilator agents (Wunsch et al. 2000) is too slow for vasodilatation to play a role in the initial active hyperaemia. Some researchers have used these observations as evidence that instantaneous activation of the skeletal muscle pump must account for the initial increase in blood flow (Sheriff et al. 1993). Although the muscle pump is an inviting explanation for the rapid increase in blood flow following muscle contraction, recent data from our laboratory do not support the muscle pump hypothesis (Hamann et al. 2003). Our perspective is that the rapid increase in blood flow observed in in vivo models is attributable to vasodilatation as a consequence of smooth muscle hyperpolarization. We reasoned that preventing changes in vascular smooth muscle membrane potential would permit assessment of the role of vasodilatation in the immediate change in blood flow following contraction. To accomplish this, we have adapted an established model for clamping membrane potential in isolated in vitro vessels (Ishizaka & Kuo, 1997; Miura & Gutterman, 1998; Nishikawa et al. 1999; Woodman et al. 2000). This experimental model clamps the membrane potential of isolated vessels by elevating the external potassium concentration ([K+]o). Although this approach has been widely used in vitro, to our knowledge, this approach has never been applied to in vivo studies. Thus, we examined the blood flow response to a brief tetanic contraction in which potassium (K+) was infused intra-arterially to elevate the [K+]o which we assumed would clamp the smooth muscle membrane potential within the skeletal muscle vascular bed. These experiments tested the hypothesis that vasodilatation can occur rapidly due to smooth muscle hyperpolarization following skeletal muscle contraction.
Optimization of purge cycle for dead-ended anode fuel cell operation

Abstract Dead-Ended Anode (DEA) operation of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) yields a system with lower complexity and the potential to reduce system cost as fewer external components are required. Optimization of the purge interval and cycle duration, for a given operating power, can increase the fuel cell efficiency which depends on three interrelated objectives, namely, the hydrogen loss during the purge, the average voltage output between the purges, and the voltage decrease due to the carbon corrosion caused by hydrogen starvation over the lifetime of the DEA operation. In advancing past results, this paper shows how the purge cycle can be optimized for better efficiency in DEA operation by considering the impact of carbon corrosion. For this optimization, a model capturing the liquid water and nitrogen accumulation in the anode is needed to accurately describe the evolution of corrosion rate and the amount of hydrogen wasted during the purge. The optimization process is first defining a target range of purge intervals based on the physical constraints of the actuator and the model-based prediction of the species concentration distributions. The search of optima is performed then by scanning the target domain to quantify the trade-off between wasted hydrogen and reducing the corrosion rate over a long time horizon.
Selective finger transposition and primary metacarpal ray resection in multidigit amputations of the hand

In multidigit amputations parts with the most favorable prognosis (cleaner amputation, less crushed, short ischemia time) can be "selectively" replanted in positions most appropriate to providing useful function and cosmetic acceptability, regardless of their anatomic origin. Digits with poor prognosis are not reattached. These principles are applied in four selected cases involving multidigit amputations proximal to the proximal interphalangeal joints in which the least traumatized digits were selectively joined to the more ulnar metacarpal rays; intervening metacarpal shafts were primarily resected to clear the first web space of obstructing bony stumps. The narrowed palmar arch, although weaker, achieves wider palmar span grasp. Fingers in contiguity, although fewer in number, allow improved precision handling, chuck pinch, and cosmetic acceptability.
Differential Role of Gamma Interferon in Inhibiting Pulmonary Eosinophilia and Exacerbating Systemic Disease in Fusion Protein-Immunized Mice Undergoing Challenge Infection with Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Secondary exposure to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to immunopathology and enhanced disease in vaccinated individuals. Vaccination with individual RSV proteins influences the type of secondary RSV-specific immune response that develops upon challenge RSV infection, as well as the extent of immunopathology. RSV-specific memory CD4 T cells can directly contribute to immunopathology through their cytokine production. Immunization of BALB/c mice with a recombinant vaccinia virus (vv) expressing the attachment (G) protein of RSV results in pulmonary eosinophilia upon RSV challenge, whereas immunization of mice with a vv expressing the fusion (F) protein does not. We analyzed the CD4 T-cell response to an I-Ed-restricted CD4 T-cell epitope within the F protein of RSV corresponding to amino acids 51 to 66 in an effort to better understand the similarities and differences in the immune response elicited by the G versus the F protein. Vaccination with the G protein induces a mixture of RSV G-specific Th1 and Th2 cells with a restricted T-cell receptor repertoire. In contrast, we demonstrate here that immunization with the F protein elicits a broad repertoire of RSV F-specific CD4 T cells that predominantly exhibit a Th1 phenotype. However, in the absence of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), RSV F51-66-specific CD4 T cells secreted interleukin-5, and mice developed pulmonary eosinophilia after RSV challenge. IFN-γ-deficient mice exhibited decreased weight loss compared to wild-type controls, suggesting that IFN-γ exacerbates systemic disease. These data demonstrate that IFN-γ can have both beneficial and detrimental effects during a secondary RSV infection.
Dynamics of the power control of a double fed induction generator connected to the soft power grid

Three proposals of a control system for a double-fed induction machine working as a generator are presented. Possibilities of the parallel operation of induction and synchronous generators are also investigated. A simplified model of synchronous machine dynamics have been assumed. Computer simulation results are presented. >
The functional neuroanatomy of depression: Distinct roles for ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

A primary aim in the neuroscientific study of depression is to identify the brain areas involved in the pathogenesis of symptoms. In this review, we describe evidence from studies employing various experimental approaches in humans (functional imaging, lesion method, and brain stimulation) that converge to implicate the ventromedial and dorsolateral sectors of prefrontal cortex as critical neural substrates for depression, albeit with distinct functional contributions. The putative roles of ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in depression are discussed in light of the results.
Achievable rates of transmitted-reference ultra-wideband radio with PPM

In this letter, we study the achievable rates of practical ultra-wideband (UWB) systems using pulse position modulation (PPM) and transmitted-reference (TR) transceivers. TR obviates the need for complex channel estimation, which is particularly challenging in the context of UWB communications. Based on an upper bound we derive for the error probability with random coding, we establish that for signal-to-noise ratio values of practical interest, PPM-UWB with TR can achieve rates on the order of C(infin)=P/N0 (nats/s), where C(infin) denotes the capacity of an additive white Gaussian noise channel in the UWB regime for average received power P and noise power spectrum density N0
Effect of arginine deficiency on growth and intermediary metabolism in rats.

Male, Sprague-Dawley rats (35-40 g) were fed a purified diet contain ing L-amino acids with and without arginine. Feed intake for the 30 rats fed no arginine was lower than that of 30 control rats throughout the 18-day feeding period (P < 0.05). Average daily weight gains were lower for the deficient group after 2 days (P < 0.01). All animals were in positive nitrogen balance with control rats showing higher retention (P < 0.01). Weanling rats showed marked increases in urinary citrate, isocitrate, malate, cts-aconitate, and orotate after 48 hours of consuming the deficient diet. After 18 days of feeding the deficient diet, urinary citrate, isocitrate, cts-aconitate, and orotate re mained highly elevated compared with control levels. During the first 24 hours of con suming the arginine-deficient diet, the total urinary orotate was 65 times higher than control levels for mature rats, and by the end of day 3, their 24-hour orotate excretion was 175 times higher than control levels. Urinary urea excretion increased dramatically during the first 24 hours of consuming the deficient diet and with the duration of feeding. Paired-feeding showed that the increase in urinary urea, citrate, or orotate was not clue to depressed feed intake. The data indicate that during arginine deficiency, the urea cycle is limited in its capacity for urea synthesis and consequently, there is a rise in urinary excretion of citrate and orotate. The evidence indicates that immature and mature rats have limited reserves of arginine from endogenous synthesis. J. Nutr. 104: 1681-1689, 1974.
Metabolism and ultrastructure of dormant podocysts of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (scyphozoa)

Oxygen uptake by the podocyst of the scyphozoan, Chrysaora quinquecirrha, is about one-fourth that of the scyphistoma, based on total protein, but is nearly equal to that of the scyphistoma when calculated on the basis of total DNA. Opening the podocyst cuticle causes a two to threefold increase in oxygen consumption within the first hour. Podocysts held for 11–13 months at 25°C retain viability, even though more than half of the DNA, one-third of the protein, and one-fifth of the lipid are lost. Ultrastructural observations indicate that the cyst contains a population of active cells, with numbers of mitochondria and microvilli, and a mass of internal yolkfilled cells, some of which are lysed and/or phagocytized during dormancy. The active cells acquire many phagocytic vacuoles containing large particles. This may represent a unique mechanism for prolonged survival in the dormant condition.
Reducing mode-transition loss in silicon-on-insulator strip waveguide bends

Mode-transition loss in silicon-on-insulator strip waveguides is reduced from 0.019 dB/transition to 0.0046 dB/transition for a bending radius of 4.5 micrometer, by adding a gradual-transition curved waveguide to connect the bend section and straight section.
Development of Performance Tracking for a Pediatric Hospitalist Division

OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to develop a comprehensive performance tracking process for a large pediatric hospitalist division. We aimed to use established dimensions and theory of health care quality to identify measures relevant to common inpatient diagnoses, reflective of current standards of clinical care, and applicable to individual physician performance. We also sought to implement a reproducible data collection strategy that minimizes manual data collection and measurement bias. METHODS: Washington University Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine provides clinical care in 17 units within 3 different hospitals. Hospitalist services were grouped into 5 areas, and a task group was created of divisional leaders representing clinical services. The group was educated on the health care quality theory and tasked to search clinical practice standards and quality resources. The groups proposed a broad spectrum of performance questions that were screened for electronic data availability and modified into measurable formulas. RESULTS: Eighty-seven performance questions were identified and analyzed for their alignment with known clinical guidelines and value in measuring performance. Questions were distributed across quality domains, with most addressing safety. They reflected structure, outcome, and, most commonly, process. Forty-seven questions were disease specific, and 79 questions reflected individual physician performance; 52 questions had electronically available data. CONCLUSIONS: We describe a systematic approach to the development of performance indicators for a pediatric hospitalist division that can be used to measure performance on a division and physician level. We outline steps to develop a broad-spectrum quality tracking process to standardize clinical care and build invaluable resources for quality improvement research.
Functional Bracing After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Study

BackgroundBracing after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is expensive and is not proven to prevent injuries or influence outcomes.PurposeTo determine whether postoperative functional knee bracing influences outcomes.Study DesignProspective, randomized, multicenter clinical trial.MethodsOne hundred volunteers from the 3 US service academies with acute anterior cruciate ligament tears were randomized into braced or nonbraced groups. Only those subjects with anterior cruciate ligament tears treated surgically within the first 8 weeks of injury were included. Patients with chondral injuries, significant meniscal tears, or multiple knee ligament injuries were excluded. Surgical procedures and the postoperative physical therapy protocols were identical for both groups. The braced group was instructed to wear an off-the-shelf functional knee brace for all cutting, pivoting, or jumping activities for the first year after surgery.ResultsNinety-five subjects were available with a minimum 2-year follow-up. ...
The Relationship of Teachers' Spanish Proficiency to Pupils' Achievement.

To explore the relationship between teachers’ proficiency in Spanish and their pupils’ achievement, a test designed to measure the teachers’ proficiency in Spanish was developed as part of a battery of tests for teachers in bilingual education programs – the CERAS Teacher Tests for Spanish/English Bilingual Education. [Center for Educational Research at Stanford University – in addition to the Spanish proficiency test, the test battery includes tests on methods of teaching English and Spanish as a second language, methods of teaching reading in Spanish, and knowledge of southwest Spanish.] The report which follows summarizes efforts to establish the reliability and validity of the Spanish Proficiency Test. The relationship of pupils’ performances on standardized and criterion-referenced tests to their teachers’ proficiency in Spanish was explored. Based on two independent studies, it appears that the relationship between pupils’ achievement in Spanish and English and their teachers’ Spanish proficiency is...
Self-Closing Irrigation Pipe Valve

The purpose of this note is to describe how an 18-in. self-closing experimental pipe valve with diaphragm or pillow can operate on water pressure in the distribution pipeline to control release of water from that pipelines.
Aquifer Parameter Identification

This paper presents an analysis of the inverse problem of parameter (or parameters) identification in unsteady ground-water flow. The response of the system is governed by a typical nonlinear second-order partial differential equation for which there exists no closed-form solution. Identification is an inverse process whereby the parameters embedded in a differential equation are determined from observations of the system’s input and output along with appropriate initial and boundary conditions. These parameters are usually not physically measurable. In this paper, a simple but illustrative inverse problem is analyzed by quasilinearization, maximum principle, gradient method, the influence coefficient method, and linear programming. A comparison is made between these methods. The problem of convergence and stability is examined and demonstrated by numerical experimentation.
Pheromone trapping to determine Hessian fly (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) activity in Kansas.

Abstract The Hessian fly (HF), Mayetiola destructor (Say), has historically been a significant pest of wheat throughout the Great Plains, including Kansas. However, it has been many decades since the flies’ activity has been monitored in the field. This paper presents research on the activity of the HF throughout the year in Kansas, i.e., examining when the fly is active and how moisture events may play a role. Results of a newer technology, pheromone trapping, in four counties in Kansas shows that HF males are active in the fall, at least 6 wk later than the historical fly-free dates established nearly 100 yr ago. Therefore, the ‘Hessian Fly-Free Date’ is not as valid as previously thought and might be better referred to as the ‘Best Pest Management Planting Date’. Using pheromones for fall and spring trapping also indicated that HF is more active throughout the spring than previously thought, with almost continuous fly emergence and numerous emergence peaks in both spring and fall. Pheromone traps were ...
Ceramic Heat Engine Programs in the USA

Ceramic heat engine programs in the USA are discussed in general with a philosophical approach, within the perspective of the framework of the DOE/ ORNL program. From the technical viewpoint ceramic processing, design considerations and the establishment of a ceramic data base are all considered to have made substantial progress within the past decade. It is, however, re-emphasized that the economic consideration is an equally important one for the ultimate utilization of technical ceramics in consumer heat engines.
161. Inhibition of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase prevents amyloid-beta-induced neuropsychiatric-like behaviors in mice

Neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety are the most prevalent comorbidities of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), accelerating cognitive decline and impairing quality-of-life. Post-mortem analysis of brain tissue from AD patients has revealed increased proinflammatory cytokines, indicative of chronic neuroimmune activation, possibly due to AD-related pathology. Recent data has shown that activation of the immune system can precipitate neuropsychiatric symptoms, which may be mediated through the tryptophan metabolizing enzyme, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). We sought to determine if central amyloid-beta (1–42) administration caused neuroimmune activation and subsequent IDO-dependent neuropsychiatric-like behaviors. Male C57BL/J6 mice received a single intracerebroventricular injection of amyloid-beta (1–42) (400 pmol/1μL) or vehicle. Sucrose preference was measured 3 days post-injection, while open field activity and behavior during the forced swim test were measured 7 days post-injections. Amyloid-beta (1–42) or vehicle was also administered to IDO deficient mice (IDO−/−) or mice pretreated with a competitive IDO inhibitor (1-methyltryptophan, 1-MT). In control mice, amyloid-beta (1–42) administration triggered an increase in depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, characterized by a reduction in sucrose preference, decreased open field central time, increased open field thigmotaxis, and increased immobility during the forced swim test. These neuropsychiatric-like behaviors did not develop in response to amyloid-beta (1–42) administration after 1-MT pretreatment or in IDO−/− mice. Together, these data suggest IDO may play an important role in mediating AD-related neuropsychiatric disorders.
Deservingness, Discretion, and the State Politics of Welfare Spending, 1990–96:

Are the politics of welfare policy for the “deserving” and “undeserving” poor the same? We use pooled cross-sectional time-series analyses of state government discretionary welfare spending on general assistance (GA) and Supplemental Security Income supplements (SSI-S) to address this question. We find that efforts to assist the GA population decline as electoral competition increases while efforts to assist the SSI-S population increase, providing evidence that only the deserving poor are favored by heightened political competition. We also find that SSI-S benefits rise with ideological liberalism, electoral competition, and the percentage of African Americans in a state. When considered in light of the negative effect of larger African American populations on states' SSI-S efforts, this suggests targeting of particular groups. Finally, we find that SSI-S enrollments are reduced, but the per-recipient payments are increased under state administration, suggesting that state administrators are more likely ...
Asymmetric Synthesis of Chiral Fluorinated Compounds

The synthesis of chiral compounds having fluorine atoms has become an important part of organofluorine chemistry in connection with analytical, biological and medicinal chemistry and opto-electric substances such as liquid crystals. This review is focused on asymmetric synthesis of chiral compounds having a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group (especially a trifluoromethyl group). The examples cited in this review are divided in three different types; (a) asymmetric monofluorination, (b) asymmetric fluoroalkylation (trifluoromethylation), and (c) conversion from prochiral fluorinated compounds.
41 URINE DRUG SCREENING OF CHILDREN BROUGHT INTO PROTECTIVE CUSTODY: THE CASE FOR EXPANDED SCREENING CRITERIA.

The recent national explosion of methamphetamine use has led to a recognition that children are silent victims of this epidemic. Drug-endangered children (DEC) are those children who suffer physical and/or psychological harm resulting from environmental exposure to illegal drugs or to persons involved in drug use and/or manufacturing. As part of the DEC evaluation, urine samples are obtained from the children to test for the presence of any illicit drug, in particular methamphetamine and cocaine. The traditional nationally recommended protocol for drug screening in children who are brought into protective custody are Level 1, the presence of a drug laboratory or those chemicals used in drug manufacturing, or Level 2, drugs and/or drug paraphernalia present and easily accessible to the child. A third group of children, deemed Level 3, were seen at the UC Davis CAARE Center and tested for drugs in their urine solely because there were clinical concerns of parental drug use in the home, but no drugs or paraphernalia were found. Using the above three level criteria, 865 children were examined at the UCD from March 2001 to July 2006. Of the 865 children tested, 111 (13%) were positive for illegal drugs. Of the Level 1 victims (n = 23), 17% tested positive; of Level 2 (n = 468), 15% tested positive; and of Level 3 (n = 327), 10% were positive. The results show that in the Level 3 group of children in which there were no drugs found in the home, there was statistically no difference in the drug test results between all three groups. This argues strongly for expanding the screening criteria for children brought into protective custody to include that group of children in which there are only concerns of parental drug use.
A Summary of Studies on Chufangcheng in Recent Three Decades

Chufangcheng is synonymous with the Great Wall in northern Chu(South west Henan nowadays),of which name origin,construction time,scale and location have been discussed and studied extensively by academia that uphold different opinions in the past three decades.There are three perspectives in academia about that why the Great Wall of Chu is known as "Chufangcheng";and the explanation is that "Fangcheng" was originally the northern border and citadel in the north of Chu and latter evolved into the Great Wall of Chu;either it may be named after Fangcheng Mountain and Fangcheng Citadel or the Great Wall of Chu is in the shape of rectangle so named "Fangcheng".There are three different arguments on the construction time of Chufangcheng,the Spring and Autumn Period,the Warring States Period and in different period various sections are constructed.As for Chufangcheng's scale and location,there are several sayings,such as two,three or five sections etc..
Making argument systems for outsourced computation practical (sometimes)

This paper describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a system for performing verifiable outsourced computation. It has long been known that (1) this problem can be solved in theory using probabilistically checkable proofs (PCPs) coupled with modern cryptographic tools, and (2) these solutions have wholly impractical performance, according to the conventional (and well-founded) wisdom. Our goal is to challenge (2), with a built system that implements an argument system based on PCPs. We describe a general-purpose system that builds on work of Ishai et al. (CCC ’07) and incorporates new theoretical work to improve performance by 20 orders of magnitude. The system is (arguably) practical in some cases, suggesting that, as a tool for building secure systems, PCPs are not a lost cause.
Retarded Recovery of Functional T Cell Frequencies in T Cell–Depleted Bone Marrow Transplant Recipients

Abstract We have studied the effect of removing donor T cells by treatment with the monoclonal antibody Leu-1 and complement before marrow transplantation on the regeneration of functionally competent T lymphocytes in the blood at selected times after transplant. Using sensitive limiting-dilution methods that allow us to enumerate helper, cytotoxic, and proliferating T lymphocyte precursors, we report that regeneration of a functional T cell compartment is more severely impaired for the first 180 days after transplantation in those patients given T cell–depleted bone marrow than in recipients of untreated marrow. After this first 6 months, however, patients given T cell–depleted bone marrow had blood T cell frequencies comparable to those observed in patients given untreated marrow. Diminished frequencies of reactive T cells in recipients of depleted marrow could leave them more susceptible to infection or to the recurrence of neoplastic cells.
Emergency radiology fellowship training in the USA: a web-based survey of academic programs

Interest in emergency radiology as a distinct subspecialty within radiology continues to rise in the USA and globally. While acute care imaging has been performed since the earliest days of the specialty, fellowship training in emergency radiology is a relatively new phenomenon. The purpose of this study was to examine the current status of emergency radiology training in the USA, using data derived from the official websites of US residency training programs. The most current list of radiology residency programs participating in the 2017 match was obtained from the official Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) website. The total number of emergency radiology fellowships was recorded after visiting available websites of each academic radiology program. The total number of subspecialty fellowships offered by each academic radiology program was also recorded. There were 12 confirmed emergency radiology fellowships offered in the USA for a combined total of 22 fellowship positions. Eleven programs were 1 year in duration, with one program offering a one- or two-year option. One hundred eight of the 174 (approximately 62 %) surveyed academic radiology programs offered at least one subspecialty fellowship. Emergency radiology fellowships are on the rise, paralleling the growth of emergency radiology as a distinct subspecialty within radiology.
Assessment of autonomic symptoms in a medically complex, urban patient population.

Urban, minority communities are disproportionately affected by the chronic diseases associated with autonomic neuropathy; however validated measures of autonomic symptoms have not been studied in these complex populations. We sought to validate the Autonomic Symptom Profile (ASP) in a low income, medically complex, urban patient population. Ninety-seven adults were recruited from the outpatient neurology clinic of an academic medical center serving the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Participants completed the ASP, and underwent a comprehensive neurologic examination, and a standardized battery of autonomic function tests (quantitative sweat testing, heart rate response to deep breathing (HRDB), Valsalva maneuver, and tilt table). Burden of chronic disease was summarized using the Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI), and detailed medication history was obtained. The ASP displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .88), even among lower literacy participants. In univariate analyses, the ASP was correlated with HRDB (r = −.301, p = .002), a marker of cardiac autonomic neuropathy, with the CCI (r = .37, p < .001), and with use of medications with autonomic effects [t(95) = −2.13, p = .036]. However, in multivariate analysis, only the CCI remained significant. In this urban, predominantly minority patient population, the symptoms captured by the ASP were more closely associated with burden of medical disease than with autonomic dysfunction. Due to this lack of specificity, it is essential that results from autonomic questionnaires be interpreted in the context of the neurologic history and exam, burden of co-morbid illness and medications, and most importantly autonomic function tests.
A Qualitative Content Analysis of 19,000 Medieval Studies Conference Tweets

This poster examines the content of nearly 19,000 tweets archived from two large Medieval Studies conferences in both 2014 and 2015. The study sought to examine beyond anecdote how Medieval Studies scholars use Twitter in the context of the academic conference. Content analysis was done by hand so as to ensure accuracy. The study discovered that, for these scholars, note taking comprises the majority of the tweets. The additional prevalence of activity such as sharing resources, conversation, and whimsy show that conference tweeting is the digital extension of the community-building activity of face-to-face conferences. These findings invite academics, event organizers, and programmers to explore ways to enhance the conference experience based on data-driven analysis of user needs.
Crypt-Delay: Encrypting IP Cores with Capabilities for Gate-level Logic and Delay Simulations

System-on-Chip is a promising model for design of complex integrated circuits. In this model, designers may easily incorporate licensed and/or purchased Intellectual Property (IP) modules from other vendors to significantly reduce the design cycle time. However, the need to fulfill the legal obligations in the associated license or purchase contracts usually imposes considerable burden on the design process. The burden is often in the form of design access constraints that have to be imposed on SoC design team and/or in the form of additional costs needed to acquire a less constraining contract. To alleviate these problems, this paper proposes a encryption approach that assures confidentiality of the gate-level circuit information for the module designer while allowing the SoC designers an ability to perform gate-level digital simulations with gate-level delays. Empirical evaluation on benchmark circuits shows that, in addition to not being able to identify the gate types, an attacker cannot decrypt the delays associated with most of the gates in the circuit.
Directional Growth of DNA-Functionalized Nanorods to Enable Continuous, Site-Specific Metallization of DNA Origami Templates.

This work examines the anisotropic electroless plating of DNA-functionalized gold nanorods attached to a DNA origami template to fabricate continuous metal structures of rectanglar, square, and T shapes. DNA origami, a versatile method for assembling a variety of 2- and 3-D nanostructures, is utilized to construct the DNA breadboard template used for this study. Staple strands on selective sites of the breadboard template are extended with an additional nucleotide sequence for the attachment of DNA-functionalized gold nanorods to the template via base pairing. The nanorod-seeded DNA templates are then introduced into an electroless gold plating solution to determine the extent to which the anisotropic growth of the nanorods is able to fill the gaps between seeds to create continuous structures. Our results show that the DNA-functionalized nanorods grow anisotropically during plating at a rate that is approximately 4 times faster in the length direction than in the width direction to effectively fill gaps ...
The Supreme Court and the New Deal - An Answer to Texas

Resolved by the State Bar of Texas: I. That the Supreme Court of the United States is losing, if it has not already lost, the high esteem in which it has been held by the people, an esteem created by their belief that it had always remained free of political, personal and unworthy motives and had interpreted and declared the law as it is written, according to tradition and precedent, and agreeable to the provisions of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 2. Lately it has repeatedly overruled decisions, precedents and landmarks of the law, of long standing, without assigning any valid reason therefor, dismissing the question with a wave of the hand, and contenting itself with the assertion that these precedents have been eroded by the processes of the years; or basing its decision on casuistry and sophistry rather than logic. An example of this is found in decisions of the Court by which jurisdiction is held under the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution. 3. We do not believe that any person who at all values the judicial process or distinguishes its method and philosophy from those of the political and legislative process would abandon or substantially impair the rule of stare decisis. Unless the assumption is substantially true that cases will be disposed of by application of known principles and previously disclosed courses of reasoning, our common law process would become the most intolerable kind of ex post facto judicial law-making. 4. By plainly disregarding these principles and these processes, and by its vacillations and uncertainties, and the inconsistencies of its decisions, it has rendered it impossible for the practicing lawyer to advise his client as to what the law is today, or even to offer a guess as to what it will be tomorrow. And by this conduct and by controversies within its own personnel, it has subjected itself to the suspicion, widely held, that it speaks, or undertakes to speak, in the voice of the appointing power, rather than the voice of the law, as witness the following from a writer, well known and widely read: Mr. Roosevelt's appointees to the Supreme Court have just ruled that all insurance is under federal control. To do so they have reversed previous decisions that had stood for a hundred years. And this from the Houston Post, widely circulated and respected throughout the country:
VAM Under Scrutiny: Teacher Evaluation Litigation in the States

As teacher quality is judged and tenured teachers are rated ineffective, educators are challenging teacher evaluation systems in the courts as they adversely affect their employment. Teachers have ...
Improving Provider Communication about HPV Vaccines for Vaccine-Hesitant Parents Through the Use of Motivational Interviewing.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake is below that of other routine adolescent vaccines. This is due in part to the fact that the HPV vaccine is often not routinely recommended by providers to all eligible adolescents. While providers’ recommendations are crucial, even a strongly stated recommendation can be insufficient among HPV vaccine-hesitant parents. Providers must be prepared to respond to parental concerns following giving the recommendation for the HPV vaccine. This paper presents the analysis of implementation of an intervention aimed at improving provider communication with HPV vaccine-hesitant parents. Healthcare providers and staff at eight pediatric and family medicine clinics received communication training that included motivational interviewing (MI) techniques. Process evaluation in the form of serial surveys, as well as program evaluation in the form of focus groups with participating providers and staff, assessed the perceived efficacy of the intervention. Outcomes included time sp...