cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Positive Academic and Behavior Support Services: School Failure Prevention Plan

Urban middle school students experience poor self-efficacy and poor attitudes toward school climates after being retained. Previous research has indicated that grade-level retention in primary and secondary education might cause long-term achievement gaps, school failure, and high school dropout rates. However, current research has yet to examine relationships between archival data retrieved on retained middle school students’ achievement outcomes and perceptions of school climate. The purpose of this nonexperimental, quantitative study was to assess the relationships between retained middle school students’ self-efficacy as measured by the School Climate Survey and their performance outcomes as measured by PowerSchool®. Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy maintains that an individual must have the belief, motivation, determination, and drive to persevere when challenged. The archival data was collected from one Northeastern urban middle school in the United States representing underachieving participants (N = 45) enrolled in the Postive Academic and Behavioral Support Program during the academic school years of 2017 and 2018. Population groups of females and males students ranged in age between 11–14 years old. A repeated measure design analyzed the same participants over 6 months by measuring archival data on achievement (grade point average [GPA]); attendance; and demographics (sex and age). Results showed significant increases in GPAs and significant increases in males’ positive perceptions of school over the school years of 2017 and 2018. The results of this study could be useful for education professionals working in urban school districts providing support services to at-risk students facing school failure.
The Use of Acoustic Emission to Detect Fines for Wood-Based Composites, Part One: Experimental Setup for Use on Particleboard

Wood-based composite panels continue to be important in the wood building industry. Particleboard is commonly used for non-structural applications, while oriented strand board (OSB) is commonly used for structural applications. For both types of boards, however, manufacturers are interested in minimizing the presence of small particles or “fines” in the panels. The presence of fines can cause an increase in the consumption of resins as well as an increase in the weight of the board. Fines can be produced when a refiner or chipper blade becomes dull or when the wood raw material becomes excessively dry. There is a need for manufacturers to simply and accurately monitor the presence of fines and control their presence. Acoustic emission (AE) is an elastic or plastic wave generated when a surface is deformed or has an external force exerted on it. This research showed the feasibility of using AE to monitor the presence and percentage of fines in particleboard furnish. The research also showed the effect of the experimental setup on the AE signal level.
COMMENTARY: Chief Investment Officer (CIO) View of Trader Alpha Frontier (TAF)

Since the introduction of Trader Alpha Frontier, this framework has been adopted by asset managers of all sizes, to monitor their trading performance. The next logical step is for Chief Investment Officers to incorporate Trader Alpha Frontier into their main view of portfolio returns. The author visualizes how CIOs can get a full insight in all alpha sources throughout the investment value chain including Analysts, Portfolio Managers, Traders, and Brokers.
NFAT5 is differentially expressed in Sprague-Dawley rat tissues in response to high salt and high fructose diets

Current diets contain an increasing amount of salt and high fructose corn syrup, but it remains unclear as to how dietary salt and fructose affect organ function at the molecular level. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that consumption of high salt and fructose diets would increase tissue-specific expression of two critical osmotically-regulated genes, nuclear factor of activated T-cells 5 (NFAT5) and aldose reductase (AR). Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a control, 4% NaCl, 8% NaCl, or 64% fructose diet for eight weeks. Fourteen different tissue samples were harvested and snap-frozen, followed by RNA purification, cDNA synthesis, and NFAT5 and AR gene expression quantification by real-time PCR.Our findings demonstrate that NFAT5 and AR expression are up-regulated in the kidney medulla, liver, brain, and adipose tissue following consumption of a high salt diet. NFAT5 expression is also up-regulated in the kidney cortex following consumption of a 64% fructose diet. These findings highlight the kidney medulla, liver, brain, and adipose tissue as being "salt-responsive" tissues and reveal that a high fructose diet can lead to enhanced NFAT5 expression in the kidney cortex. Further characterization of signaling mechanisms involved could help elucidate how these diets affect organ function long term.
A Feasibility Study to Detect Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Infants of Diabetic Mothers Using Real-Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring.

Abstract Background: Infants born to mothers with diabetes commonly experience asymptomatic hypoglycemia after birth. Continuous glucose monitors (CGM) can detect asymptomatic hypoglycemia in this ...
Pathogenic tau modifications occur in axons before the somatodendritic compartment in mossy fiber and Schaffer collateral pathways

The deposition of tau pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) may occur first in axons of neurons and then progress back into the cell bodies to form neurofibrillary tangles, however, studies have not directly analyzed this relationship in relatively discrete circuits within the human hippocampus. In the early phases of tau deposition, both AT8 phosphorylation and exposure of the amino terminus of tau occurs in tauopathies, and these modifications are linked to mechanisms of synaptic and axonal dysfunction. Here, we examined the localization of these tau pathologies in well-characterized post-mortem human tissue samples from the hippocampus of 44 cases ranging between non-demented and mild cognitively impaired to capture a time at which intrahippocampal pathways show a range in the extent of tau deposition. The tissue sections were analyzed for AT8 (AT8 antibody), amino terminus exposure (TNT2 antibody), and amyloid-β (MOAB2 antibody) pathology in hippocampal strata containing the axons and neuronal cell bodies of the CA3-Schaffer collateral and dentate granule-mossy fiber pathways. We show that tau pathology first appears in the axonal compartment of affected neurons in the absence of observable tau pathology in the corresponding cell bodies in several cases. Additionally, deposition of tau in these intrahippocampal pathways was independent of the presence of Aβ plaques. We confirmed that the majority of tau pathology positive neuropil threads were axonal in origin and not dendritic using an axonal marker (i.e. SMI312 antibody) and somatodendritic marker (i.e. MAP2 antibody). Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that AT8 phosphorylation and amino terminus exposure are early pathological events and that the deposition of tau pathology, at least in the studied pathways, occurs first in the axonal compartment prior to observable pathology in the somata. These findings highlight the importance on targeting tau deposition, ideally in the initial phases of its deposition in axons.
Systems biology and network medicine: An integrated approach to redox biology and pathobiology

Abstract The oxidative-reductive (redox) system and their components are essential in maintaining biological homeostasis, and disturbances in redox balance form the basis of many pathologic processes. The redox components are actively present in all organ systems across different tissue and cell types, subcellular organelles, and their subcompartments. While the actions and regulations of various redox elements are viewed highly compartmentalized, the interactions among them within and across these compartments are important considerations in view of many reactions and their downstream consequences that permeate through the structural boundaries. During the past decade, we have developed an unprecedented ability to generate large-scale, systems-level molecular data across many biological dimensions. Systems biology and network medicine approaches provide a novel framework that enables the dynamic integration of numerous redox components and their interactions across multiple biological compartments. In this chapter, we introduce the key concepts of network medicine and biological networks and discuss specific ways in which it is accelerating our compressive understanding of redox biology and pathobiology in this multiomic era.
A Model of Multipass Search: Price Search Across Stores and Time

In retail settings with price promotions, consumers often search across stores and time. However, the search literature typically only models one pass search across stores, ignoring revisits to sto...
Management of Bloodstream Infections in Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients: To Suppress, or Not to Suppress?

Background Ascertaining involvement of left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a patient presenting with bloodstream infection (BSI) can be challenging, frequently leading to use of chronic antimicrobial suppressive (CAS) therapy. We aimed to assess the efficacy of CAS therapy to prevent relapse of BSI from LVAD and non-LVAD sources. Methods We retrospectively screened adults receiving LVAD support from 2010 through 2018, to identify cases of BSI. Bloodstream infection events were classified into LVAD-related, LVAD-associated, and non-LVAD BSIs. Results A total of 121 episodes of BSI were identified in 80 patients. Of these, 35 cases in the LVAD-related, 14 in the LVAD-associated, and 46 in the non-LVAD BSI groups completed the recommended initial course of therapy and were evaluated for CAS therapy. Chronic antimicrobial suppressive therapy was prescribed in most of the LVAD-related BSI cases (32 of 35, 91.4%) and 12 (37.5%) experienced relapse. Chronic antimicrobial suppressive therapy was not prescribed in a majority of non-LVAD BSI cases (33, 58.9%), and most (31, 93.9%) did not experience relapse. Chronic antimicrobial suppressive therapy was prescribed in 9 of 14 (64.2%) cases of LVAD-associated BSI and none experienced relapse. Of the 5 cases in this group that were managed without CAS, 2 had relapse. Conclusions Patients presenting with LVAD-related BSI are at high risk of relapse. Consequently, CAS therapy may be a reasonable approach in the management of these cases. In contrast, routine use of CAS therapy may be unnecessary for non-LVAD BSIs.
Female Fashion as Leisure and Labor on Reddit

This paper examines a vibrant online community called Female Fashion Advice, which exemplifies convergence culture because its members both produce and consume its content. This large subreddit off...
Comparison of vaginal progesterone gel combined with oral dydrogesterone versus intramuscular progesterone for luteal support in hormone replacement therapy-frozen embryo transfer cycle.

Abstract Background It remains under subject of debate regarding the optimal route of luteal support for hormone replacement therapy- frozen embryo transfer (HRT-FET) cycles. We compared efficacy of vaginal progesterone gel combined with oral dydrogesterone and intramuscular progesterone for HRT-FET lutein support. Methods This is a retrospective observational study. After matching for propensity score of getting vaginal + oral treatment, a total of 208 FET cycles in the vaginal progesterone combined with oral dydrogesterone and 624 cycles in the intramuscular progesterone group were enrolled. Pregnancy outcomes and neonatal outcomes including chemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate, implantation rate, spontaneous abortion rate, live birth rate, gestational weeks, pre-term delivery, birth weight, and congenital anomalies rate were compared. Results No significant differences were observed in patient characteristics such as age, duration of infertility, type of infertility, or hormone level after matching. Chemical pregnancy rate (68.3 % versus 70.5 %), clinical pregnancy rate (64.9 % versus 64.4 %), implantation rate (52.3 % versus 50.2 %), spontaneous abortion rate (21.5 % versus 18.4 %), and live birth rate (49.0 % versus 51.3 %) were similar in both group without statistically significant difference. No significant differences in neonatal outcomes were observed between the two groups. Conclusion We observed similar pregnancy outcomes in both vaginal progesterone gel combined with oral dydrogesterone and intramuscular progesterone protocol. Vaginal progesterone gel combined with oral dydrogesterone can be substituted for intramuscular progesterone given that vaginal plus oral use has good safety and is more convenient and may be associated with less side effect caused by intramuscular injection.
Diversity is destiny: How racial disparities in health are shaping the future American political landscape

Because racial/ethnic minorities in the US are comparatively young as a group, their relatively high growth rates have not translated into corresponding increases in their share of the voting population in the last decades. Recent events suggest this pattern will soon change. Using Census data, this study proposes a theoretical framework to outline how racial disparities in health affects electoral and party politics, and, accordingly, how aging patterns by race and ethnicity affect the electorate available for mobilization. Taking this into consideration, we here introduce the notion of an “aging trap”  the fallacy that increasing mobilization of high-participation older adults alone can increase average participation in favor of a given party. Implications for the future racial composition of the electorate are discussed. We use graphical and formal methods to demonstrate that vote choice and turnout trends linked to demographic changes among US-born minority groups could lead toward a less racially/ethnically and socioeconomically exclusionary democracy. This greater inclusion and responsiveness to minority and lower socioeconomic constituencies can lead the American two-party system toward significant changes in the near future.
A Word on a Word in a Word in William Wordsworth’s THE SOLITARY REAPER

In his book The Curious Frame, John Edward Hardy describes the rhyme scheme of William Wordsworth’s “The Solitary Reaper” as follows:[It is] normally abab followed by ccdd. The first break in this ...
Applying Machine Learning for Sensor Data Analysis in Interactive Systems: Common Pitfalls of Pragmatic Use and Ways to Avoid Them

With the widespread proliferation of (miniaturized) sensing facilities and the massive growth and popularity of the field of machine learning (ML) research, new frontiers in automated sensor data analysis have been explored that lead to paradigm shifts in many application domains. In fact, many practitioners now employ and rely more and more on ML methods as integral part of their sensor data analysis workflows—thereby not necessarily being ML experts or having an interest in becoming one. The availability of toolkits that can readily be used by practitioners has led to immense popularity and widespread adoption and, in essence, pragmatic use of ML methods. ML having become mainstream helps pushing the core agenda of practitioners, yet it comes with the danger of misusing methods and as such running the risk of leading to misguiding if not flawed results. Based on years of observations in the ubiquitous and interactive computing domain that extensively relies on sensors and automated sensor data analysis, and on having taught and worked with numerous students in the field, in this article I advocate a considerate use of ML methods by practitioners, i.e., non-ML experts, and elaborate on pitfalls of an overly pragmatic use of ML techniques. The article not only identifies and illustrates the most common issues, it also offers ways and practical guidelines to avoid these, which shall help practitioners to benefit from employing ML in their core research domains and applications.
Analytical bias in studies of pregnancy outcome.

Abstract This report has described three types of bias introduced into analyses of studies of pregnancy. In each case the bias came from selection of patients for final analysis. The application of the examples of bias described is not restricted to studies of pregnancy outcome. Any comparative study continued over an interval of time is open to similar opportunities for selection leading to similar problems of bias. It is hoped that this report will emphasize the need to control selection during the study or to use adjusted rates during analysis.
Natural Disaster Analysis after Hurricane Katrina: Risk Assessment, Economic Impacts and Social Implications by Harry W. Richardson, Peter Gordon, and James E. Moore II (eds.)

Natural Disaster Analysis after Hurricane Katrina provides a diverse mix of topics and authors that address different aspects of natural disasters. The book is truly interdisciplinary, and, as the ...
Gas metabolism evidence in support of the juxtaposition of hydrogen-producing and methanogenic bacteria in sewage sludge and lake sediments.

We developed new techniques to measure dissolved H2 and H2 consumption kinetics in anoxic ecosystems that were not dependent on headspace measurements or gas transfer-limited experimentation. These H2 metabolism parameters were then compared with measured methane production rates, and estimates of H2 production and interspecies H2 transfer were made. The H2 pool sizes were 205 and 31 nM in sewage sludge from an anaerobic digestor and in sediments (24 m) from Lake Mendota, respectively. The H2 turnover rate constants, as determined by using in situ pool sizes and temperatures, were 103 and 31 h−1 for sludge and sediment, respectively. The observed H2 turnover rate accounted for only 5 to 6% of the expected H2-CO2-dependent methanogenesis in these ecosystems. Our results are in general agreement with the results reported previously and are used to support the conclusion that most of the H2-dependent methanogenesis in these ecosystems occurs as a consequence of direct interspecies H2 transfer between juxtapositioned microbial associations within flocs or consortia.
Florida's Permeable Labor Markets

Conventional analyses of labor markets assume their boundaries to be fixed. For exan1ple, urban geography long focused on the urban commuting sheds of workers, in which it was assumed that the high friction of distance involved in commuting limited the extent to which workers could travel for jobs. The existence of long-distance commuting patterns is simply inconceivable in such a perspective. In this light, wages for a given occupation could be assumed to be relatively equal within a particular labor market. This assumption is significant, for example, in the use of counties as the primary unit in the Census' definition and measurement of Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs).
Communications relay and autonomous tracking applications for Wave Glider

MBARI biological oceanographers make increasing use of mobile autonomous sensor platforms to observe dynamic phenomena, and require near real-time data in order to focus resources on rapidly evolving areas of interest. We have implemented a Wave Glider-based payload called Hot Spot that creates a disruption-tolerant communications network between shore and at-sea autonomous platforms. The Hot Spot uses multiple radio and acoustic modems and software to implement a store-and-forward network; the system reliably transfers data between the at-sea Wave Glider Hot Spot, Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV's), benthic instrument packages, and computers on shore. Hot Spot achieves this reliability in an environment where communication links are often unpredictably disrupted. Onboard Hot Spot applications use these capabilities to acoustically determine the location of multiple underwater targets, and can autonomously direct the Wave Glider to follow a moving underwater object. We describe deployments during which Hot Spot quickly transferred science and engineering data between multiple vehicles and shore, and where the Wave Glider used its Hot Spot acoustic tracking application to autonomously follow a moving submerged AUV as part of a large biochemical science campaign.
Participatory Human-Centered Design: User Involvement and Design Cross-Fertilization

Design and development of new instruments requires much attention with respect to safety, performance and comfort. Introducing new technology is a matter of taking care of past user experience on current technology and anticipating possible user experience on prototypes incrementally developed. The intricate spiral combination of prototyping and formative evaluations provides excellent support to include end-users in the design and development process. Human-centered design is also a combination of both analytical and user-centered (experimental) approaches. We cannot get rid of analyzing human-machine interaction using methods such as GOMS for example, and neither using professional design expertise. These methods provide an envelope of usability and usefulness issues; some are directly applicable, others issues require an experimental user-centered evaluation, i.e., real professional users are needed. Usability engineering is now very much used in industry and provides good results. Crucial problems are not technical any longer; they are financial, legal, social and finally relational. The various actors who will have an influence on the product being developed should participate. Participatory design enables to improve awareness of product attributes, i.e., what the product is really for, and how it should be made and used. A running example of the design of a new flight attendant panel to be included in the cabin of commercial aircraft is presented to support methodological claims and demonstrate approach soundness.
Association between Influenza A Virus Infection and Pigs Subpopulations in Endemically Infected Breeding Herds

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) are distributed worldwide in birds, pigs and humans, and cause important endemic disease affecting hosts in all countries. Although pigs play a key role in the ecology of IAVs, the epidemiology of IAVs within swine herds is poorly understood. In this longitudinal study we describe the prevalence of IAVs infection in three subpopulations of pigs in 5 breeding herds in the Midwestern USA. Each herd was sampled monthly for a year and, at each visit, 30 individual nasal swabs were collected from the three subpopulations, namely, a) replacement females, resident on-farm for less than 4 weeks (new gilts), b) replacement females, resident on-farm for more than 4 weeks (gilts), and c) neonatal pigs less than 21 days of age (piglets). Real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RRT-PCR) was used to detect IAVs, and the association between IAVs infection and pig subpopulation was measured using a mixed logistic regression model. Nasal swabs (n = 4,190) were collected from 141 groups of pigs. At least, one IAV-positive nasal swab was found in 19.9% (n = 28) of the sampled groups, and 7.7% (n = 324) of all nasal swabs tested positive. After adjusting by annual quarter and sampling event, the odds of testing IAV positive were 7.9 (95% CI 1.4, 43.9) and 4.4 (95% CI 1.1, 17.1) times higher in groups of new gilts and piglets compared to groups of gilts, respectively. Results indicate that new gilts and piglets had higher odds of testing IAV positive than gilts in swine breeding herds and that season influences IAV infection in pigs. Based on these findings, we recommend that IAV control strategies be aimed at preventing infection before gilts are introduced into the farm, and in pigs prior to weaning.
The feasibility of developing very high speed variable reluctance electric alternators of significant power

This work describes the feasibility of designing variable reluctance machine and an accompanying rectifier/inverter or a cycloconverter to do the necessary frequency conversion. In addition, the possibility of designing a complementary variable reluctance motor have a wide range of speed variability as well as a very high starting torque without undue starting currents such as is required in conventional induction motors. The proposed variable reluctance magnetic circuit concept is illustrated in this paper.
Insurance Claim Operations: The Role of Economic Incentives

We develop a theory of insurance claim settlement whose structure embodies an insurer’s capacity decision and negotiation between the insurer and claimant in an asymmetrically informed environment. We offer a solution to an insurer’s choice of upfront claim settlement amount under a plausible set of assumptions. Implications from theory are tested with a large sample of liability insurance claims collected over two years in the state of Texas and we find that insurer’s deployment of more capacity to handle a claim and longer settlement times occur for claims with more uncertainty. The empirical results also reveal factors relevant to insurer’s operational choices. Descriptive features of a claim, the age of the claimant and attorney representation on the plaintiff’s side are important determinants of the final settlement amount.
Targeting DNA through-covalent interactions of reversible binding drugs.

Publisher Summary This chapter deals with ethidium, acridine, and actinomycin derivatives, providing key studies utilizing the photoreactive analogs to examine a number of biophysical and structural problems. The use of photoaffinity labeling to study ligand–DNA interactions provides a powerful tool for the overall assessment of ligand targeting, complex structure, and biological and/or molecular mechanism(s) resulting from these interactions. Many of the reversible binding ligands that interact with DNA do so with high affinities, have chromophores that absorb in the visible range, and hence are amenable as potential candidates or parent compounds for the development of photoreactive analogs. The utility of the photoaffinity analog depends on the following criteria: (1) the ligand should be photoreactive at visible wavelengths such that cellular and/or DNA damage is not incurred; (2) the lifetime of the reactive product (nitrene) should be sufficiently short to assure quenching by solvent interactions and exclusion of any secondary perturbations; (3) the reaction time of the reactive nitrene should be sufficiently fast to ensure that the covalent adduct formed is representative of the bound ligand in its reversible state; and (4) the resulting ligand–DNA adduct must be stable such that isolation and characterization of the adduct is possible.
Evaluation of a new radioimmunoassay method for carcinoembryonic antigen in plasma, with use of zirconyl phosphate gel.

A radioimmunoassay of carcinoembryonic antigen in plasma is described and evaluated. The assay can be easily performed and implemented in a clinical laboratory. Assessed by Rodbard’s statistical quality-control procedure, the assay is shown to be highly sensitive, precise, and reproducible.
Cutting Like a Razor: Female Children Address Sexism and Sexuality Through Poetry

AbstractThis article examines data from a qualitative study of hip‐hop literacies in an after‐school community center program. Using a critical literacies theoretical framework, the article analyzes poems by two young Black and Latina females writing about sexuality and sexism. The findings illustrate the power of children’s poetry to disrupt sanctioned classroom writing, name inequities, and encourage social justice. Implications include bridging educational contexts through children’s critical literacies practices, questioning how children are discursively constructed, and reconsidering the topics conventionally silenced and marginalized in classrooms.
Designing a two-level monitoring method to detect network abnormal behaviors

Monitoring network traffic behavior is very critical for securing computing infrastructures. In this paper, we focus on enhancing the way of detecting anomalous network traffic behaviors by proposing a new two-level detection method that consists of abnormality detection and exact attack type identification. The abnormality detection is performed with the rules generated by Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Then, Support Vector Machine (SVM) is applied to design a predictive model to identify exact attack types (among DoS, U2R, R2L, and Probes). Since feature extraction is an important step for designing an efficient predictive model, we used Higuchi fractal dimension and statistical measures (mean, median, and standard deviation) with an overlapping sliding window operation to extract features. Among the extracted features, only significant features are selected by applying statistical analysis and used to design a predictive model. As results, we found that our approach shows about 80.03% accuracy in detecting network abnormal behaviors. From a comparative study, we concluded that our proposed SVM-based predictive model is superior to a broadly known NN-based predictive model for identifying exact types of attacks.
Testing for linear dependence in heavy-tailed data

We use the sample covariation to develop tests for lagged linear dependence in symmetric time series data. We propose tests for both finite and infinite variance processes. The finite sample performance of the tests is investigated using simulated data and compared to tests based on the von Neumann ratio.
Accurate Measurement of Small Airways on Low-Dose Thoracic CT Scans in Smokers

Background Partial volume averaging and tilt relative to the scan plane on transverse images limit the accuracy of airway wall thickness measurements on CT scan, confounding assessment of the relationship between airway remodeling and clinical status in COPD. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of partial volume averaging and tilt corrections on airway wall thickness measurement accuracy and on relationships between airway wall thickening and clinical status in COPD. Methods Airway wall thickness measurements in 80 heavy smokers were obtained on transverse images from low-dose CT scan using the open-source program Airway Inspector. Measurements were corrected for partial volume averaging and tilt effects using an attenuation- and geometry-based algorithm and compared with functional status. Results The algorithm reduced wall thickness measurements of smaller airways to a greater degree than larger airways, increasing the overall range. When restricted to analyses of airways with an inner diameter 1 , differed more between BMI, airflow obstruction, dyspnea, and exercise capacity (BODE) index scores, and explained a greater proportion of FEV 1 variability in multivariate models. Conclusions Correcting for partial volume averaging improves accuracy of airway wall thickness estimation, allowing direct measurement of the small airways to better define their role in COPD.
Helical tomotherapy for spine oligometastases from gastrointestinal malignancies.

Purpose This study evaluated the treatment effectiveness and proper radiation dose of helical tomotherapy (HT) in spine oligometastases from gastrointestinal cancers.
The Electric Heart Center for the QRS Complex in Cardiac Patients

A modification of Frank's cancellation data-matching method for location of the QRS electric heart center in the human was applied to 40 patients, most of whom had advanced cardiac disease. The equivalent dipole locations for the QRS complex were found to cluster in a 5 cm. by 5 cm. square area forward and to the left in the transverse plane. Correlation of electric heart center location with orthodiagraphic estimate of the center of ventricular mass was poor in many of the cases.
A imaginary number system

For centuries the decimal number system reigned supreme, except, perhaps, among the Mayan Indians, until the advent of digital computers brought the binary and octal systems into the limelight. This paper introduces another number system which may prove useful for manipulating complex numbers on machines.
Very High Responsivity Fiber Optic Hydrophones for Commercial Applications

The design and performance of single element fiber optic hydrophones for shallow water applications is described. Hydrophone responsivities up to -113.8 dB re rad/?Pa were measured while maintaining a usable depth capability. A system with this design of hydrophone is being used to monitor the deterioration of water carrying siphons in Arizona.
An inexpensive method for preparing freeze-dried sections of tissue for autoradiography.

Abstract An inexpensive method is presented for preparing thin-section autoradiograms of diffusible substances by freeze-drying and osmium tetroxide vapor fixation of tissue. The unit can be easily constructed, occupies a minimum of space, and should be within the budget of most research laboratories. Both thin sections for light microscopy and ultrathin sections for electron microscopy can be prepared with the apparatus. Due to thinness of sections, the apparatus is best utilized for autoradiographic studies of tissue where there is a significant concentration of the isotope being studied.
Modeling prosodic feature sequences for speaker recognition

Abstract We describe a novel approach to modeling idiosyncratic prosodic behavior for automatic speaker recognition. The approach computes various duration, pitch, and energy features for each estimated syllable in speech recognition output, quantizes the features, forms N-grams of the quantized values, and models normalized counts for each feature N-gram using support vector machines (SVMs). We refer to these features as “SNERF-grams” (N-grams of Syllable-based Nonuniform Extraction Region Features). Evaluation of SNERF-gram performance is conducted on two-party spontaneous English conversational telephone data from the Fisher corpus, using one conversation side in both training and testing. Results show that SNERF-grams provide significant performance gains when combined with a state-of-the-art baseline system, as well as with two highly successful long-range feature systems that capture word usage and lexically constrained duration patterns. Further experiments examine the relative contributions of features by quantization resolution, N-gram length, and feature type. Results show that the optimal number of bins depends on both feature type and N-gram length, but is roughly in the range of 5–10 bins. We find that longer N-grams are better than shorter ones, and that pitch features are most useful, followed by duration and energy features. The most important pitch features are those capturing pitch level, whereas the most important energy features reflect patterns of rising and falling. For duration features, nucleus duration is more important for speaker recognition than are durations from the onset or coda of a syllable. Overall, we find that SVM modeling of prosodic feature sequences yields valuable information for automatic speaker recognition. It also offers rich new opportunities for exploring how speakers differ from each other in voluntary but habitual ways.
Time-resolved fluorescence studies of the A2Σ+(υ′=1) state of nitric oxide: Lifetimes and collisional deactivation rates

Abstract Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy has been utilized to determine lifetimes and collisional deactivation rates for the A 2 Σ + (υ′=1) state of nitric oxide. Individual rotational levels within the υ′=1 state were populated. No rotational dependence was observed. The lifetime of the υ′=1 state was measured to be 196±3 ns. Quenching rates from the υ′=1 state were found to be (1.4±0.2)×10 −10 and (2.7±0.2)×10 −13 cm 3 s −1 for O 2 and N 2 respectively. The vibrational cross-over rate from υ′=1 to υ′=0 was measured to be 9.5×10 −14 cm 3 s −1 for N 2 .
Validating Regression Procedures With New Data

The best way to validate the predictive ability of a statistical model is to apply it to new data. This article compares eight ways to form regression models by forming them with old data and then validating them with fresh data. One goal here is to study which methods will work as a function of the type of data. To some extent one can tell which methods will work well by looking at the data. Another goal is to study the quality of prediction when the regression is applied to new data. Prediction quality is determined in large part by the distance of the new data in relation to the old.
A review of mechanical properties of lead-free solders for electronic packaging

The characterization of lead-free solders, especially after isothermal aging, is very important in order to accurately predict the reliability of solder joints. However, due to lack of experimental testing standards and the high homologous temperature of solder alloys (Th > 0.5Tm even at room temperature), there are very large discrepancies in both the tensile and creep properties provided in current databases for both lead-free and Sn–Pb solder alloys. Some recent researches show that the room temperature aging has significant effects on mechanical properties of solders. This paper is intended to review all available data in the field and give rise to the possible factors including room temperature effects which causes the large discrepancies of data. This review of the research literatures has documented the dramatic changes that occur in the constitutive and failure behavior of solder materials and solder joint interfaces during isothermal aging. However, these effects have been largely ignored in most previous studies involving solder material characterization or finite element predictions of solder joint reliability during thermal cycling. It is widely acknowledged that the large discrepancies in measured solder mechanical properties from one study to another arise due to differences in the microstructures of the tested samples. This problem is exacerbated by the aging issue, as it is clear that the microstructure and material behavior of the samples used in even a single investigation are moving targets that change rapidly even at room temperature. Furthermore, the effects of aging on solder behavior must be better understood so that more accurate viscoplastic constitutive equations can be developed for SnPb and SAC solders. Without such well-defined relationship, it is doubtful that finite element reliability predictions can ever reach their full potential.
Infant carrying by adult male mangabeys (Cercocebus atys)

Sixty-five interactions where an adult male carried an infant in the proximity of a second male were observed during a 19-mo period in a captive sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) social group. The behavior was distributed nonrandomly in both the adult male and infant classes. In all but three of the interactions, the recently deposed alpha male carried an infant in the presence of the newly ascendant dominant male. In the first phase of the study, infants that were carried included the entire unweaned infant cohort (n = 5) born before the rank reversal. The rate of carrying in this class declined as a function of increasing infant age and time since the rank reversal. Infant carrying was not observed in the context of fighting, which was rare, and intermale aggression never preceded the behavior. However, in 40% of the cases, carrying occurred after an infant had been threatened by the dominant male. These results suggest that infant carrying served to protect the infant from aggression rather than to exploit the infant as an agonistic buffer. The data did not unequivocally support the postulate that carrying may be a form of paternal care since paternity could not be assessed. The similar structural and contextual patterns of infant carrying in this species suggest a common origin for triadic male-infant interactions in mangabeys and baboons.
Small bowel obstruction

The optimal treatment of patients with small bowel obstruction should be predicated upon answering the following diagnostic questions in each patient: 1) does the patient have mechanical bowel obstruction or an ileus?, 2) could the patient have colonic obstruction or a cause of obstruction other than adhesions (eg, hernia, cancer, Crohn’s disease)?, 3) is the obstruction partial or complete?, and 4) is strangulation present, and hence immediate operation necessary, or is a period of observation appropriate? The most efficient way to answer these questions in many patients is by performing a careful history and physical examination, laboratory tests, and CT scanning. Surgical intervention should occur within 48 hours of admission in the vast majority of patients with complete small bowel obstruction due to adhesions. The chance for durable endoscopic treatment of any patient with SBO, in our opinion, is remote.
Some Impulse-Voltage Breakdown Tests on Oil-Treated Paper-Insulated Cables

Data are presented on impulse-voltage breakdown values obtained on oil-treated paper-insulated cables over the insulation thickness range from 0.187 inch to 0.600 inch. The average stress at breakdown approximates 1,600–1,700 volts per mil. High-density papers show some superiority over ordinary-density papers. Cathode-ray oscillograms of the testing wave (1½x40 impulse wave — positive polarity) before and at breakdown are included for a typical test.
Shear Stress Enhances Chemokine Secretion from Chlamydia pneumoniae-infected Monocytes

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a common respiratory pathogen that is considered a highly likely risk factor for atherosclerosis. C. pneumoniae is disseminated from the lung into systemic circulation via infected monocytes and lodges at the atherosclerotic sites. During transit, C. pneumoniae-infected monocytes in circulation are subjected to shear stress due to blood flow. The effect of mechanical stimuli on infected monocytes is largely understudied in the context of C. pneumoniae infection and inflammation. We hypothesized that fluid shear stress alters the inflammatory response of C. pneumoniae-infected monocytes and contributes to immune cell recruitment to the site of tissue damage. Using an in vitro model of blood flow, we determined that a physiological shear stress of 7.5 dyn/cm2 for 1 h on C. pneumoniae-infected monocytes enhances the production of several chemokines, which in turn is correlated with the recruitment of significantly large number of monocytes. Taken together, these results suggest synergistic interaction between mechanical and chemical factors in C. pneumoniae infection and associated inflammation.
Thinking through “Vernacular Cosmopolitanisms”: Historical Archaeology in Senegal and the Material Contours of the African Atlantic

This article draws on recent archaeological research on coastal Senegal to examine how the concept of “vernacular cosmopolitanism” can contribute to scholarship about the construction of cultural hybridity in West Africa during the Atlantic era. It argues that Senegambia between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries was a vibrant theater of international exchanges, and that archaeological examinations of these processes can both assist our understanding of regional history and enrich discussions about the African diaspora, diasporic identities, French imperialism, and Atlantic modernity. The study of material experiences can also raise critical questions about our conceptual categories and limits to our understanding of the Atlantic past.
On the EPR spectra of iron(III) spin-equilibrium compounds

Abstract The postulate of a limiting resonances structure involving low-spin iron(II) and an unpaired electron on a radical ligand for the spin-equilibria iron(III) tris(dithiocarbamates), Fe(S2CNR2)3, is disproved as a result of the observation of a structured line in the g = 2 region of the EPR spectrum of Fe(S2COEt)3, ascribed to an impurity [Fe(NO)(S2COEt)2]. A similar signal in the spectra of the dithiocarbamates is assigned to [Fe(NO)(S2CNR2)2]. Evidence for unequivocal assignment of signals for separate isomers in the EPR spectra of a spin-equilibrium compound, Fe(Ph.CS.CH.CO.Ph)3, is presented.
Forensic Sentencing Evaluations under Post-Booker Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Incorporating Voluntary Substance Use

The United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Booker (2005) significantly changed the Federal Sentencing Guidelines by making the Guidelines advisory rather than mandated. This holding suggests that forensic mental health evaluators may need to approach federal sentencing evaluations somewhat differently. Prior to Booker, federal sentencing evaluations focused on downward-departure factors related to mental state at the time of the offense, particularly influences affecting a defendant's respective capacities to understand the wrongfulness of the alleged offense and conform conduct to the requirements of the law. In making the Guidelines advisory, Booker allows courts to consider additional influences relevant to cognitive and mental health functioning in making sentencing decisions, thereby broadening the scope of forensic mental health assessment conducted to inform federal sentencing.
Is satisfaction redundant with organizational climate

Abstract This research investigated the question raised by Johannesson ( Organizational Behavior and Human Performance , 1973 , 10 , 118–144) as to whether organization climate is redundant with job satisfaction. For a sample of employees in a major medical center, organization climate ( G. H. Litwin and R. A. Stringer, Jr., Motivation and Organizational Climate , Boston: Harvard University, 1968 ) and organization practices ( R. J. House and J. R. Rizzo, Journal of Applied Psychology , 1972 , 56 , 388–396) were found to be related to job satisfaction. However, climate and practices related to performance in a different manner than the satisfaction/performance relationship, which did not tend to support the redundancy hypothesis. Johannesson's research methodology was evaluated, and the redundancy hypothesis was found to rest on judgmental assumptions, rather than causal or longitudinal analysis. In addition, other research was evaluated which tended to support the climate-causes-satisfaction hypothesis as opposed to the redundancy hypothesis. The need for further longitudinal research to evaluate causality was emphasized.
Controlled study of the treatment of coronary occlusion with urokinase-activated human plasmin

Abstract One hundred and twenty patients were treated with urokinase-activated human plasmin or placebo in a double-blind study. Anti-coagulation with heparin and Dicumarol-type drugs was employed in both groups. Eighty-four patients were adequate for evaluation from the point of view of all criteria established (43 plasmin-treated, 41 controls). The two groups were found comparable from the point of view of age and sex distribution, body build, history and physical and laboratory findings on admission. No significant difference was seen between the two groups in mortality, evolution of the electrocardiogram, SGOT and LDH and other therapeutic criteria. Of the patients classified into the worst prognostic group on admission, 47 per cent died in the control group and 24 per cent in the plasmin-treated group. However, since only 32 patients were classified in this category, the numbers are too small to draw definite conclusions. No difference was seen in the occurrence of side effects between the control and plasmin-treated groups, indicating that this enzyme is safe at the dosage employed in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction.
Personality, Achievement Test Scores, and High School Percentile as Predictors of Academic Performance Across Four Years of Coursework

Abstract This research examined the role of three Big Five-related personality traits (Prudence, Sociability, and Ambition) as unique predictors of academic performance. Two successive undergraduate classes (entering in 1998 and 1999) completed personality inventories upon entering college. The authors obtained grade point averages (GPA’s) for all students in the Spring of 2003. Two of the traits, Prudence and Sociability, contributed unique variance to GPA when the effects of high school percentile rank and achievement test scores were controlled for both classes. There was a decline in incremental validity for these two personality traits as predictors of GPA later in student tenure. Ambition was unrelated to academic performance for both classes.