cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Desorption of pyrethroids from suspended solids.

Pyrethroid insecticides have been widely detected in sediments at concentrations that can cause toxicity to aquatic organisms. Desorption rates play an important role in determining the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic compounds, such as pyrethroids, because these compounds are more likely to be sorbed to solids in the environment, and times to reach sorptive equilibrium can be long. In the present study, sequential Tenax desorption experiments were performed with three sorbents, three aging times, and four pyrethroids. A biphasic rate model was fit to the desorption data with r2 > 0.99, and the rapid and slow compartment desorption rate constants and compartment fractions are reported. Suspended solids from irrigation runoff water collected from a field that had been sprayed with permethrin 1 d before were used in the experiments to compare desorption rates for field-applied pyrethroids with those for laboratory-spiked materials. Suspended solids were used in desorption experiments because suspended solids can be a key source of hydrophobic compounds in surface waters. The rapid desorption rate parameters of field-applied permethrin were not statistically different from those of laboratory spiked permethrin, indicating that desorption of the spiked pyrethroids is comparable to desorption of the pyrethroids added and aged in the field. Sorbent characteristics had the greatest effect on desorption rate parameters; as organic carbon content of the solids increased, the rapid desorption fractions and rapid desorption rate constants both decreased. The desorption rate constant of the slow compartment for sediment containing permethrin aged for 28 d was significantly different compared to aging for 1 d and 7 d, whereas desorption in the rapid and slow compartments did not differ between these treatments. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2011; 30:1760–1766. © 2011 SETAC
Modal analysis of coherent linear photonic crystal VCSEL arrays

Formalism from Young?s two-pinhole experiment is used to study the lasing modes of coupled 2×1 photonic crystal vertical cavity laser arrays. The eigenmodes of the system as well as the coherence change with injection current.
Naturally occurring variation in high temperature induced floral bud abortion across Arabidopsis thaliana accessions

A system to study the basis of high temperature-induced floral bud abortion using naturally occurring variation for heat-tolerance of floral development among Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. wild-collected accessions is described. High temperature-induced floral bud abortion was dependent on both temperature and duration of exposure. Normalizing high temperature exposures to degree-hours (°C-h) above 33 °C indicated that abortion of flower buds increased as exposure increased between 200 and 300 °C-h above 33 °C and exposures > 300 °C-h above 33 °C resulted in abortion of the entire primary inflorescence. Thirteen wild-collected Arabidopsis accessions representing a latitudinal gradient were screened for variation in high temperature-induced floral bud abortion, and Col-0 and No-0 were selected as models for heat-tolerance and -sensitivity for flower development, respectively. No-0 flower buds were heat-sensitive across a wider range of developmental stages (stages 9–12, compared to stage 12 for Col-0 flower buds). Exposing the inflorescence alone to high temperature was sufficient to induce floral bud abortion, and Col-0 and No-0 photosynthetic rates were similar during high temperature exposure and recovery, indicating that high temperature induced floral abortion is not simply due to reductions in carbon assimilation under high temperatures. Determining that exposing floral buds alone to high temperature is sufficient to induce abortion and identifying the stages of floral development sensitive to high temperature-induced abortion will aid in identifying the developmental events subject to disruption under high temperatures.
BMP-mediated induction of GATA4/5/6 blocks somitic responsiveness to SHH

The relative timing of SHH and BMP signals controls whether presomitic mesoderm (PSM) cells will adopt either a chondrogenic or lateral plate mesoderm fate. Here we document that SHH-mediated induction of Nkx3.2 maintains the competence of somitic cells to initiate chondrogenesis in response to subsequent BMP signals by repressing BMP-dependent induction of GATA genes. Conversely, administration of BMP signals to PSM or forced expression of GATA family members in chick PSM explants blocks induction of hedgehog-dependent gene expression. We demonstrate that GATA factors can interact with Gli factors and can recruit the transcriptional co-factor FOG1 (ZFPM1) to the regulatory region of the mouse Gli1 gene, repressing the induction of Gli1 by SHH by binding to both GATA and Gli binding sites. Knockdown of FOG1 reverses the ability of GATA factors to repress Gli1 expression. Our findings uncover a novel role for GATA transcription factors as repressors of hedgehog signaling, and document that NKX3.2 maintains the ability of sclerotomal cells to express SHH transcriptional targets in the presence of BMP signals by repressing the induction of Gata4/5/6.
Theoretical Studies of Steric Effects on Intraligand Electron Delocalization: Implications for the Temporal Evolution of MLCT Excited States

The effect of steric bulk on electron delocalization in 4-arylpyridines has been studied by computational methods. Ab initio (HF, UHF, ROHF, MP2, UMP2, and ROMP2) as well as density functional theory (USVWN and UB-LYP) approaches were applied to a series of molecules and their corresponding anions. These molecules are put forth as models for the ground and MLCT excited states of three polypyridyl ligands that were the subject of a recent report on the effects of sterics and delocalization on the photophysics of several Ru II complexes (Damrauer, et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc.1997, 119, 8253). The present study finds that, in the series 4-phenylpyridine, 4-(o-tolyl)pyridine, and 4-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)pyridine, the steric effect of the ortho-methyl groups serves to increase the dihedral angle between the pyridyl and phenyl rings of the neutral compounds from ca. 45° in the case of 4-phenylpyridine to ca. 65° and 90° in the mono- and dimethylated compounds, respectively. These results are generally consistent with the single-crystal X-ray structures of the three corresponding bipyridines, also reported herein. Upon one-electron reduction, calculations on all three model ligands reveal a preference for a coplanar structure, with the optimized geometries reflecting a balance between an energetic stabilization gained via conjugation in the planar form and unfavorable steric interactions between the methyl group(s) of the 4-aryl substituent and the pyridyl protons ortho to the central C-C bond. Calculated dihedral angles were 0°,25°, and45° for 4-phenyl-, 4-(o-tolyl)-, and 4-(2,6dimethyl)pyridine, respectively. Finally, a simulation of the Franck -Condon state evolution of MLCT states of molecules containing the bipyridyl analogues of the three models was carried out by computing singlepoint energies of each compound as its monoanion in the optimized neutral geometry. Comparison of these energies with those of the fully optimized anions revealed effective reorganization energies of 4 -7 kcal/mol for 4-phenylpyridine, 4-7 kcal/mol for 4-(o-tolyl)pyridine, and ca. 6 kcal/mol for 4-(2,6-dimethylphenyl)pyridine. The implications of these results as they pertain to ultrafast spectroscopic studies of MLCT excitedstate evolution in the corresponding Ru II bipyridyl complexes are discussed.
Tailoring mTOR-based therapy: molecular evidence and clinical challenges

The mTOR signaling pathway integrates inputs from a variety of upstream stimuli to regulate diverse cellular processes including proliferation, growth, survival, motility, autophagy, protein synthesis and metabolism. The mTOR pathway is dysregulated in a number of human pathologies including cancer, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disorders, neurological disease and aging. Ongoing clinical trials testing mTOR-targeted treatments number in the hundreds and underscore its therapeutic potential. To date mTOR inhibitors are clinically approved to prevent organ rejection, to inhibit restenosis after angioplasty, and to treat several advanced cancers. In this review we discuss the continuously evolving field of mTOR pharmacogenomics, as well as highlight the emerging efforts in identifying diagnostic and prognostic markers, including miRNAs, in order to assess successful therapeutic responses.
Body-Image Stereotypes and Body-Type Preferences among Male College Students

The interrelationships among body-image stereotypes, body type preferences, and body weight were examined. Three male silhouettes, depicting extreme endomorphy, mesomorphy, and ectomorphy, were rated by 17 overweight, 17 underweight, and 17 normal weight male college Ss on 21 bipolar traits of temperament. The mesomorph was perceived by all Ss as more active, energetic, and dominant, whereas the endomorph and ectomorph were both rated as more withdrawn, shy, and dependent. No relationship was found between body-image stereotypes and Ss' body weight, although all Ss expressed a preference to look like the mesomorph silhouette. It was suggested that cultural influences and the role of body dissatisfaction may serve as crucial mediators in accounting for the results.
Gestodene: a review of its pharmacology, potency and tolerability in combined contraceptive preparations.

Combined progestin–estrogen pills are an established and reliable contraceptive option used by women worldwide. Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) containing the progestins – gestodene, desogestrel or norgestimate – were developed to minimize androgenic side effects and are considered an effective, well-tolerated contraceptive option. Gestodene achieves contraceptive efficacy with the lowest dose of any progestin in a COC, and has an established and favorable short- and long-term tolerability profile. In this review we present an overview of the pharmacology, potency and tolerability of gestodene.
Significados de la vinculación universidad-comunidad para los actores sociales involucrados en la cátedra Enfermería Comunitaria del Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud en la Universidad Centroccidental "Lisandro Alvarado"

This study aimed to generally know the meanings of the University-Community link to social actors involved with the Department of Community Nursing Dean of Health Sciences at the University "Lisandro Alvarado." It took a phenomenological approach based on the references Symbolic Interaction theory, structuralism and existentialism Dialectic of Husserl. We selected nine (09) social actors, three (03) teachers, three (03) students of the eighth semester and three (03) members of the health committee of the community of Las Tunas in the village of Tamaca. We used open interview technique to get the information from which emerged the meanings through interpretation. The findings showed that: 1) for teachers there is a clear and definite meaning of Community Nursing and what is expected of students. 2) For the students through the meanings they gave to their own experiences play a dynamic role. However, many of them expressed that they have no vocation for the performance of community service, despite having knowledge in this field and finally 3) for members of the community through the meaning they gave to their experience showed that there are significant changes in the development of activities, but they stated that the values should be strengthened. As final reflections it was revealed that there is a link between the university and the community which is weak in some aspects such as resources, community profile and vocation of the student.
Interactions of astringent substances

Two-component mixtures of astringent materials were rated for perceived intensity of astringent and taste attributes over time. Components included alum (a complex salt), gallic acid (the monomeric component of hydrolyzable tannins), catechin (the monomeric component of condensed tannins) and citric acid. Mixtures of alum and gallic acid showed mixture suppression, in that the 50/50 mixture was less intense than either component in astringency, drying, roughing and puckery/drawing sensations. Suppression was seen at concentration levels producing moderate to strong astringency but was absent or less pronounced at lower concentration levels. A similar pattern held for citric acid, although the suppressive effects were less pronounced. Catechin and gallic acid mixtures were additive. Sensory interactions between astringent materials appears to depend on the substances involved and their concentrations (or intensity levels).
Platelet influence on T- and B-cell responses

Understanding the adaptive immune response is an area of research critically important in medicine. Several positive regulators of B- and T-cell activation exist to eliminate pathogens, in which CD40 ligand (CD154) plays a fundamental role. It is well documented that CD154 expressed by CD4 T helper cells can be critical in the proper activation of dendritic cells for the productive stimulation of CD8 T cells and is required for proper T-dependent B-cell immunity. However, platelets are an abundant and systemic source of CD154. While classically known to be important for hemostasis and inflammation, several lines of evidence suggest that platelet-derived ligands can modulate the adaptive immune compartment.
THE POTENTIAL ROLE OF ORAL PH IN THE PERSISTENCE OF TRICHOMONAS GALLINAE IN COOPER'S HAWKS (ACCIPITER COOPERII)

Abstract Trichomoniasis, caused by the protozoan Trichomonas gallinae, affects a variety of species worldwide including avivorious raptors. Existing information suggests that the disease is most prevalent in young birds, and differential susceptibility to trichomoniasis among individuals in different age groups was documented in Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) nesting in Tucson, Arizona. In that population, 85% of nestling Cooper's Hawks had T. gallinae in their oral cavity, compared to only 1% of breeding-age hawks. Trichomonads generally are sensitive to environmental pH and we explored the possibility that differences in oral pH may contribute to the differential prevalence of infection between age groups. We measured the pH of the fluid in the oral cavity in 375 Cooper's Hawks from three age groups (nestlings, fledglings, and breeding age) in Tucson, Arizona, in 2010 and 2011 and clinically tested for T. gallinae in a subsample of hawks. Oral pH of nestlings (∼6.8) was 7.3 times less acidic than i...
Higher-Order Soft Gluon Corrections in Single Top Quark Production at the CERN LHC

I present a calculation of soft-gluon corrections to single top-quark production in $pp$ collisions at the LHC via the standard model partonic processes in the $t$ and $s$ channels and associated top quark and $W$ boson production. Higher-order soft-gluon corrections through next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (NNNLO) are calculated at next-to-leading logarithmic (NLL) accuracy. The soft-gluon corrections in the $s$ channel and in $tW$ production are large and dominant, while in the $t$ channel they are not a good approximation of the complete QCD corrections.
Advances in Therapy for HIV/Hepatitis C Virus–Coinfected Patients in the Liver Transplant Setting

Complications of cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) are increasing, and liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment for those with liver decompensation or small hepatocellular carcinoma. However, for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection, barriers to LT exist. This is related to the poorer survival rates post-LT (55% at 5 years) and, up until this year, the limited options for treating those coinfected LT recipients with progressive recurrent HCV disease, the commonest reason for reduced survival. The newly approved antiviral therapies sofosbuvir and simeprevir, with significantly improved efficacy and markedly better safety and tolerability in HIV and transplant patients, offer the opportunity to transform the outcomes of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with liver complications. Additional new therapies, anticipated within the year, are expected to further simplify the management of coinfected patients in the transplant setting.
Ultraviolet color centers and refraction in silicate glasses

We studied the uv absorption of optical glasses to clarify the role of disorder and modifier ions in deter-mining the refractive index for visible light. We find these uv absorptions are analogous to traditional color-center spectra. Processes include ionic absorption and perturbation of host excitons. These absorptions essentially determine the visible index, which is predicted to within a few percent from the uv spectrum by the generalized Cauchy dispersion formula.
Plasma transforming growth factor-β1 reflects disease status in patients with lung cancer after radiotherapy: a possible tumor marker

Abstract Purpose: To determine the frequency with which elevated plasma transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) concentrations occur in lung cancer patients, to determine the kinetics of TGFβ1 expression during and after radiotherapy and to correlate plasma TGFβ1 levels with disease status after treatment. Materials and methods: Plasma samples were obtained before, during and after radiotherapy in 54 patients with lung cancer and 20 normal controls. Plasma TGFβ1 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Baseline TGFβ1 levels in lung cancer patients and normal controls were 13.0 ± 2.5 and 4.4 ± 0.3 ng/ml, respectively. Elevated TGFβ1 were found in 50% ( 27 54 ) of lung cancer patients. During radiation therapy plasma TGFβ1 levels declined, however, by the completion of treatment the mean TGFβ1 level had not normalized in patients with lung cancer. The TGFβ1 level at last follow-up correlated with disease status in those patients with an increased pretreatment plasma level. Three of four patients with no evidence of cancer had normal follow-up TGFβ1 levels, compared to 2 16 patients with residual or recurrent tumor (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Elevated plasma TGFβ1 levels occur frequently in patients with lung cancer. In those patients with an elevated plasma TGFβ1 level at diagnosis, monitoring this level may be useful in detecting both disease persistence and recurrence after therapy.
Speaker Verification using 3-D ROC Curves for Increasing Imposter Rejections

A speaker verification system (SVS) is developed based on a bank of radial basis function (RBF) neural modules (BRBFNM). The output thresholds of the RBF networks are set using 3-dimensional receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Moreover, a customized cepstral-based feature extraction pre-processing approach is used at each module to select only those features of the speakers that will contribute to enhancing the SVS's performance. These feature vectors are used to train and test the BRBFNM. Each of four speakers was asked to speak 10 different key words 12 times. From the 479 signals (one speaker missed one word), 279 signals were used for training and 200 for testing. The BRBFNM can achieve a 90.5% correct verification rate (CVR), thus reducing false acceptances (i.e., increasing imposter rejections).
A novel neural network traffic descriptor for ATM networks

Accurate characterization of the multimedia traffic is essential, in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) broadband networks, in order to develop a robust set of traffic descriptors. Such a set is required, by the usage parameter control (UPC) algorithm, for traffic enforcement (policing). The authors present a novel approach to characterize and model the multimedia traffic using neural networks (NNs). A backpropagation NN is used to characterize and predict the statistical variations of the packet arrival process resulting from the superposition of N packetized video sources and M packetized voice sources. The accuracy of the results is verified by matching the index of dispersion for counts (IDC), the variance, and the autocorrelation of the arrival process to those of the NN output. The results show that the NNs can be successfully utilized to characterize the complex nonrenewal process with extreme accuracy. >
Cognitive and contextual factors in the emergence of diverse belief systems: creation versus evolution

The emergence and distribution of beliefs about the origins of species is investigated in Christian fundamentalist and nonfundamentalist school communities, with participants matched by age, educational level, and locale. Children (n = 185) and mothers (n = 92) were questioned about animate, inanimate, and artifact origins, and children were asked about their interests and natural-history knowledge. Preadolescents, like their mothers, embraced the dominant beliefs of their community, creationist or evolutionist; 8- to 10-year-olds were exclusively creationist, regardless of community of origin; 5- to 7-year-olds in fundamentalist schools endorsed creationism, whereas nonfundamentalists endorsed mixed creationist and spontaneous generationist beliefs. Children's natural-history knowledge and religious interest predicted their evolutionist and creationist beliefs, respectively, independently of parent beliefs. It is argued that this divergent developmental pattern is optimally explained with a model of constructive interactionism: Children generate intuitive beliefs about origins, both natural and intentional, while communities privilege certain beliefs and inhibit others, thus engendering diverse belief systems.
A Human Dignity Perspective: Exploring The Implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility☆

Abstract God has created man in His own image. Every man has the sublime dignity so they become the centre point in business activities. This research aimed to explore the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in human dignity perspective. This research used qualitative method. Human dignity principle, from social doctrine of the church, as an analysis instrument. In human dignity perspective, respect becomes the CSR basic value. CSR is an attitude of respect from a company to all stakeholders, both inside and outside the company. Annual report becomes the communication instrument between the company and their stakeholders which brings respect values.
Scientific misconducts in the darkening gray zone

科学界一直以来关注的不端行为有三种形式：伪造、篡改和剽窃（Fabrication，Falsification，Plagiarism，简称FFP）。然而，明目张胆的FFP行为很少见。这些行为一旦暴露，其后果通常会很严重。实际上，更加常见并且难以判决的是处于灰色地带的疑似科研不端行为，诸如不恰当的数据筛选、分析和表述，同行评议和学术交流过程中的不端行为，论著或其他形式研究成果产出贡献分配中的不合理等。很多这些灰色地带的行为正演变成新形式的不端行为，严重损害着科学诚信。 生物医学中心（BioMed Central）和施普林格出版社于2015年3月和8月先后撤销了很多文章，这些遭撤稿的作者几乎全部来自中国。撤稿的原因是这些文章在审稿过程中采用了伪造的审稿意见，其中有些被撤稿的文章涉及第三方机构，这些第三方机构不仅提供投稿前的编辑服务，而且还提供代替作者投稿的服务。这是一种新的科研不端行为，显然可归类于伪造科研信息。 在2015年9月召开的首都高校科学道德和学风建设宣讲教育报告会上，中国科学技术协会（CAST）主席韩启德先生在演讲中告诫，中国学术界面临着科研不端行为正在变得“更加多样，更加复杂”的严峻挑战。他认为，尽管中国的政府部门在促进科研诚信方面投入巨大，但猖獗的科研不端行为仍然在科教领域蔓延。根据中国科协的调查，许多第三方机构不仅提供语言服务，而且还提供投稿，甚至提供论文代写和销售服务，从而形成了一个产业链。韩启德先生代表中国科协郑重宣布了在学术期刊发表论文的“五不”行为准则：不由第三方代写论文，不由第三方代投论文，不由第三方对论文的内容进行修改，不提供虚假审稿人的信息，不违反论文署名规范。他还呼吁对学术不端要严格监督惩罚，发现一起严格处理一起。 最近的多起撤稿事件表明，学术机构和科学界需要密切关注以下三方面： 首先，最关键的问题是如何加强对科学不端行为的严厉处罚，包括业已发现的科学不端及科学不端行为的苗头。在我看来，目前我国科研道德危机的主要原因是科研机构和资助机构在严厉的惩罚措施方面执行不力。虽然国际标准的科学伦理规范和规章早已颁布，然而，为了避免行政处理过程中的棘手问题、负面影响及“和谐”社会的动荡，实际上只有很少部分的不当行为被追诉。调查涉嫌不端行为的侦查委员会很少保持中立，最终的判决结果也往往充斥着模棱两可的、旨在掩盖宽松惩罚措施的表述。宽松的惩罚措施招来追求眼前利益的不端行为，这与科学界以外的冒险的不道德行为没有太大的不同。 其次，要预防灰色地带的学术不端行为，例如论文署名不当问题，这在很大程度上依赖科学家的自律。实际上，目前很多期刊都有明确的稿件要求，国际医学期刊编辑委员会（International Committee of Medical Journal Editors）发布的“生物医学期刊投稿统一要求”（Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals）已被超过600种期刊采纳，其中有关作者署名资格的规定包括：（1）对构思或设计，数据获取、分析或解读有实质性贡献；（2）起草文章，或对文章的重要学术内容作过实质性修改；（3）同意稿件的最终版本被公开发表；（4）同意对有关论文各方面研究工作的诚信问题负责。如果科学家本人不遵守这些要求，难道我们的研究机构在监督机制上就没有责任了吗？ 第三，研究机构要致力于展开严格的科学不端教育，不仅要有定义FFP和科学伦理的教程指南，而且也要结合具体的伦理道德案例在师生中开展教学讨论，要澄清灰色地带的不端行为有哪些，包括那些有选择地使用符合研究假说的实验数据、藉特权信息“汲取”他人的成果、在各种形式的科学评审中违反保密规则、把对研究工作没有贡献的人署名为论文的作者，等等。 当前中国政府在管理部门和国有企业根除腐败已经取得了巨大进展。“十三五”规划中科技体制改革被列为重要位置，加强科研道德建设应当是科技体制改革中一个不可分割的部分。我们期待着政府和科学界更加关注科研道德和不端行为问题，尤其是那些日益严重的灰色地带的学术不端问题。
Aristotle Teaches Persuasion: The Psychic Connection

This article demonstrates that at the heart of Aristotle's Rhetoric is deep instruction in how to make your arguments resonate most effectively with the audience - how to make a psychic connection between the speaker and the audience is the core, unifying theme of the whole Rhetoric. In demonstrating this thesis, I focus primarily on how, to Aristotle, logical argument, particularly the enthymeme (rhetorical syllogism), is less about logic per se than about knowing and connecting with the audience. To Aristotle, logical arguments are persuasive not because of something inherently true about logic, but rather because the audience values and responds to logical arguments. That is, logic is not outside human experience, but of it. Even the seeming inevitability of the syllogism has been shown to be culture-bound, at least in the sense that one must believe in it for it to be persuasive. One can choose not to believe either in its logic or in its completeness or precision. In the law completeness and precision are sought after, but never fully realized or realizable. Hence even the honored syllogism is open to rhetorical attack.
Nonequilibrium steady states in a model for prebiotic evolution.

Some statistical features of steady states of a Kauffman-like model for prebiotic evolution are reported from computational studies. We postulate that the interesting ``lifelike'' states will be characterized by a nonequilibrium distribution of species and a time variable species self-correlation function. Selecting only such states from the population of final states produced by the model yields the probability of the appearance of such states as a function of a parameter $p$ of the model. $p$ is defined as the probability that a possible reaction in the the artificial chemistry actually appears in the network of chemical reactions. Small $p$ corresponds to sparse networks utilizing a small fraction of the available reactions. We find that the probability of the appearance of such lifelike states exhibits a maximum as a function of $p$: at large $p$, most final states are in chemical equilibrium and hence are excluded by our criterion. At very small $p$, the sparseness of the network makes the probability of formation of any nontrivial dynamic final state low, yielding a low probability of production of lifelike states in this limit as well. We also report results on the diversity of the lifelike states (as defined here) that are produced. Repeated starts of the model evolution with different random number seeds in a given reaction network lead to final lifelike states which have a greater than random likelihood of resembling one another. Thus a form of ``convergence'' is observed. On the other hand, in different reaction networks with the same $p$, lifelike final states are statistically uncorrelated. In summary, the main results are (1) there is an optimal $p$ or ``sparseness'' for production of lifelike states in our model---neither very dense nor very sparse networks are optimal---and (2) for a given $p$ or sparseness, the resulting lifelike states can be extremely different. We discuss some possible implications for studies of the origin of life.
Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Groin Hernia Repair and Quality of Life at 2-Year Follow-Up

Background The lack of long-term data on quality of life after groin hernia repair presents a challenge in setting patients' postoperative expectations. This study aimed to describe quality of life outcomes after laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal groin hernia repair with a minimum of 2 years follow-up. Study Design We prospectively evaluated 293 patients who had laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal groin hernia repair in an IRB-approved study. The Short-Form 36-item Health Survey (version 2), Surgical Outcomes Measurement System, and Carolinas Comfort Scale were administered pre- and postoperatively. Pairwise comparisons using nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test were made between time points. Results Mean patient age was 56 ± 15 years and 93% were male; 80% of patients presented with painful hernias and 15% of hernias were recurrent. Mean operative time was 43 ± 16 minutes. No operative complications occurred. Mean duration of narcotic pain medication use was 2.5 ± 3.4 days, and daily activities were resumed and return to work occurred 5.4 ± 4.4 days and 5.4 ± 3.9 days post operation, respectively. Recurrence rate was 2%. The Short-Form 36-item Health Survey outcomes improved from baseline for domains of Physical Functioning, Role Limitations due to Physical Health, and Pain at 2 years post operation; Surgical Outcomes Measurement System outcomes improved for domains of Pain Impact on Quality of Life, Body Image, and Patient Satisfaction (p ≤ 0.05). The percentage of patients reporting no or mild but not bothersome symptoms on the Carolinas Comfort Scale at 2 years post operation for sensation of mesh, pain, and movement limitations were 98%, 95%, and 97%, respectively. Conclusions Measuring both general and procedure-specific quality of life, patients' perceptions of health status improved significantly 2 years after laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal groin hernia repair.
The Task-Centered Model for Field Instruction

Although the practicum is a central component of social work education, it is rarely offered in a clearly structured manner that systematically operationalizes the principles of effective field education. This article describes a task-centered model for field instruction that provides discrete guidelines for those who supervise students in the field. The model offers strategies for setting and achieving target goals through a collaborative teaching–learning process. Evaluation of the field trial, recommendations for future development of the model, and potential applications are also discussed.
Towards Speeding Audio EQ Interface Building with Transfer Learning

Potential users of audio production software, such as parametric audio equalizers, may be discouraged by the complexity of the interface. A new approach creates a personalized on-screen slider that lets the user manipulate the audio in terms of a descriptive term (e.g. “warm”), without the user needing to learn or use the interface of an equalizer. This system learns mappings by presenting a sequence of sounds to the user and correlating the gain in each frequency band with the user’s preference rating. The system speeds learning through transfer learning. Results on a study of 35 participants show how an effective, personalized audio manipulation tool can be automatically built after only three ratings from the user.
Neural basis of pedophilia: Altered sexual preference following traumatic brain injury

Sexual problems post-injury are found to be the result of three components of the injured person: physiological makeup, sociocultural background, and neurological location of the injury [1]. Among many common disorders, hypersexual behavior disorder is one we seldom hear about in humans [2]. Hypersexuality has been defined as the subjective experience of loss of control over sexuality. This disorder has appeared in animals due to the production of experimental brain injury, but has rarely been found in humans. A great deal of our current understanding regarding this disorder has come from studies of non-traumatic brain injury [3]. The appearance of this offers an interesting understanding of the anatomical basis of human sexual behavior [4]. It also provides us with important verification regarding the neurological basis of irregular behavior. This study describes a patient who developed hypersexuality behavior toward children, following a brain injury.
Ungulate impacts on herbaceous‐layer plant communities in even‐aged and uneven‐aged managed forests

Forest management and ungulate herbivory are extant drivers of herbaceous-layer community composition and diversity. We conducted a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) exclosure experiment across a managed landscape to determine how deer impacts interact with the type of forest management system in influencing herb-layer (all vascular plants < 0.5 m tall) species richness and composition. Our study took place 3 yr after harvest in a deciduous forest landscape being managed through even-aged (~4.1 ha openings) and uneven-aged (~1.4 ha openings) silvicultural systems. We expected the severity of deer impacts on herb layer species richness and composition to vary according to opening position, opening size, and the spatial scale of inference. At forest stand and landscape scales, species richness within silvicultural openings was greater outside compared to inside deer exclosures, and did not differ according to deer access in edges or the forest matrix. However, greater levels of species richness associated with deer access were driven by infrequently occurring forbs, and overall species composition did not differ. Notably, these species were not exotics or ferns. Deer reduced the density of large saplings and blackberry (Rubus spp.) shrubs in the smaller openings characteristic of uneven-aged management stands, but had no effect on sapling density in the larger openings characteristic of even-aged management stands. This result extends the forage maturation hypothesis to silvicultural systems, and is consistent with predictions that plant tolerance and avoidance of herbivory increase with resource availability. Deer may have facilitated the establishment of forbs in recently created silvicultural openings by temporarily slowing sapling regeneration, creating establishment sites through physical disturbance, and seed dispersal via epizoochory and endozoochory. This outcome is contingent upon declining deer visitation rates as woody vegetation matures as well as distance from source populations of exotic species. We conclude that ecological context, such as local ungulate abundance, disturbance, and landscape factors, influence how ungulates interact with forest management systems.
What we know about the dramatic increase in PhD degrees and the reform of doctoral education worldwide : implications for South Africa

Theories of the “knowledge economy” view knowledge, and particularly new knowledge, as a critical resource to enhance a nation’s economic growth. Governments around the world have invested in doctoral education expansion. Reforms in doctoral education are being shaped by the changing needs of society, of research modes, and of a changed labor markets for PhD holders. The reform elements strive for excellence, expansion, quality assurance, accountability, and international and inter-sector network building. The expansion in doctoral studies has gone hand in hand with an increased flow of international doctoral students, the wish to become a world-class university, and the adoption of more standardized structures and practices of doctoral education. This paper ends with a number of promising reform practices that may be useful for South Africa’s expanding doctoral systems, such as the introduction of postgraduate schools that help implement and initiate innovations in doctoral education on a campus with an eye to high quality.
The Probit Link Function in Generalized Linear Models for Data Mining Applications

The use of logistic regression for outcome classification of dichotomous variables is well known in data mining applications. The estimated probability of the logit transformation belongs to the class of canonical link functions that follow from particular probability distribution functions. A closely related model is the probit link which can be used for binary responses. Although the probit link is not canonical, in some cases the overall fit of the model can be improved by using non-canonical link functions. This article reviews the properties of the probit link function and discusses its applications in data mining problems. Contrasts and comparisons are made with the logistic link function and an example provides further illustration.
Mapping effective connectivity within cortical networks with diffuse optical tomography

Understanding how cortical networks interact in response to task demands is important both for providing insight into the brain’s processing architecture and for managing neurological diseases and mental disorders. High-density diffuse optical tomography (HD-DOT) is a neuroimaging technique that offers the significant advantages of having a naturalistic, acoustically controllable environment and being compatible with metal implants, neither of which is possible with functional magnetic resonance imaging. We used HD-DOT to study the effective connectivity and assess the modulatory effects of speech intelligibility and syntactic complexity on functional connections within the cortical speech network. To accomplish this, we extend the use of a generalized psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis framework. In particular, we apply PPI methods to event-related HD-DOT recordings of cortical oxyhemoglobin activity during auditory sentence processing. We evaluate multiple approaches for selecting cortical regions of interest and for modeling interactions among these regions. Our results show that using subject-based regions has minimal effect on group-level connectivity maps. We also demonstrate that incorporating an interaction model based on estimated neural activity results in significantly stronger effective connectivity. Taken together our findings support the use of HD-DOT with PPI methods for noninvasively studying task-related modulations of functional connectivity.
Chapter 7 – From real to Virtual Communities: Cognition, Knowledge, and Intention in the World Wide Web

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a framework for the development of Web-based learning environments defining different psychosocial roots by which the knowledge and subjectivity of users are built. This has resulted in new ways of describing cyberspace, the virtual space inhabited by electronic network users. Community, for persons interacting in a technological environment, is shifting from culture-defining mass media to a proliferation of media as alternative sources of mediated experience. The key feature of cyberspace is interaction, from which a new sense of self and community can be built. A conceptual model of context is also presented in the chapter to account for interaction, identity, and knowledge construction processes. Context, according to the proposed model, is not restricted to the physical copresence of other people, but consists of the interlocutory space, which provides the subject with socially recognizable meanings. Internet-based information and communication are changing how instruction and assessment are being conducted in innovative schools, colleges, and universities throughout the world. By assembling people with similar interests and surfing habits, new Internet platforms transform web browsing into a social activity.
Outcomes of hydralazine induced renal vasculitis.

Objective Hydralazine has been implicated as an etiologic agent for lupus-like syndrome and vasculitis. Hydralazine-induced vasculitis frequently affects the kidney, but the long-term renal outcomes in these patients have not yet been studied. Methods Patients who had a diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and were on hydralazine at the time of AAV diagnosis were included in this retrospective cohort study. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from the review of medical records. Results Seven patients met the criteria for hydralazine-induced AAV. Five patients (71%) were African-American and four (57%) were female. The median age was 69 years at the time of diagnosis. All patients had renal involvement with two of them showing lung involvement as well. All patients had positive MPO antibody and one patient had positive PR3 antibody. ANA was positive in all patients, and three of seven patients had positive anti-histone antibody. All of them were treated with immunosuppression and withdrawal of hydralazine. Three patients reached end-stage renal disease. The median follow-up time was 13 months. Conclusion Renal involvement in hydralazine-induced AAV was universal and can be associated with a poor renal outcome despite immunosuppressive therapy.
Driving future sounds: imagination, identity and safety in electric vehicle noise design

Global soundscapes in the 20th century have largely been defined by the sounds of combustion-engine automobiles. Yet, as nearly-silent hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) rise in popularity, newly c...
Silage review: Recent advances and future technologies for baled silages

Although the concept of ensiling large-round or large-square bales dates back to the late 1970s, many refinements have been made to both equipment and management since that time, resulting in much greater acceptance by small or mid-sized dairy or beef producers. This silage preservation technique is attractive to producers for several reasons, but the primary advantage is a reduced risk of weather damage to valuable forage crops compared with preservation as dry hay. Most core principles for making high-quality precision-chopped silages also apply to baled silages; among these, establishing and subsequently maintaining anaerobiosis are priorities. For baled silages, these priorities are critical, in part because recommended moisture concentrations (45 to 55%) are drier, and particle length is much longer. These factors act to restrict the rate and extent of silage fermentation, often resulting in less production of desirable fermentation acids and a greater (less acidic) final pH. Within this context, preservation of baled silages can be improved by applying polyethylene (PE) film wraps promptly, using an appropriate number of PE film layers (6 to 8), selecting a storage site free of sharp objects or other debris, and by monitoring wrapped bales closely for evidence of puncture, particularly by birds or vermin. Under certain conditions, such as those in which the bale moisture of highly buffered forages exceeds the recommended range, the heterogeneous nature of baled silages coupled with a restricted rate and extent of fermentation may increase susceptibility to clostridial activity compared with precision-chopped forages ensiled at comparable moisture concentrations. To date, research evaluating inoculants or other additives designed to improve the fermentation of challenging forages or aerobic stability has been limited, but should not be discontinued. Development of PE film embedded with an oxygen-limiting barrier has yielded positive results in some trials; however, most differences between these novel formulations and reputable commercial PE film have been related to decreases in yeast and mold counts at the surface layer. Related assessments of fermentation or nutritive value determined on a whole-bale basis have been less conclusive. Baled silages can be produced successfully by adhering to straightforward management principles; as such, this form of silage production is likely to remain popular for the foreseeable future.
Someday My Chance Will Come: Women Contesting for Executive Leadership in West Europe

This paper investigates the pattern of women’s success in becoming leaders of major parties in West Europe and, subsequently, in becoming prime ministers. Identifying a set of conditions under which two-stage success is most likely, the paper develops a testable model for explaining women’s success. The paper argues that is not just the behavior of political women that advances them to executive office; it is also the behavior of male politicians in specific crisis circumstances that creates the political opportunity. The paper discusses the particularities of ascension to prime minister in parliamentary democracies, and investigates two conditions that create an opening for a woman’s rise to prime ministerial power: 1) a scandal or major electoral failure that removes a male party leader and his leadership team; and 2) the desistement, or candidacy deferral, of quality male replacements in conditions of uncertainty. In developing the inductive model, the paper presents evidence for three cases of women’s executive succession and the process by which each approached executive power: Margaret Thatcher (Great Britain), Gro Brundtland (Norway), and Angela Merkel (Federal Republic of Germany). The paper concludes with a discussion of appropriate research designs for further testing of the model.
Justice and the Hippocratic Tradition of Acting for the Good of the Sick

In this paper I will examine whether the construction of a just system of health care is impeded or assisted by a Hippocratic tradition, the duty of beneficence. It will be argued that it is an important part of a just system of health care that seeks empathy, and equity as well as impartiality. In the first section the charges that the duty of beneficence promotes unwarranted partiality and paternalism are examined. It is found that this tradition understood as a prima facie or imperfect duty of beneficence, neither entails nor fosters unwarranted paternalism and that this moral duty may be important to a just system. Partiality, for example, when it results in empathetic care, may be defensible in a just system. In the second section the reason why this kind of duty may be important in a just system is explored. Providing care for individuals, rather than thinking of what faceless members of some group need, encourages personal regard and discretion.
Exploring the attributes and practices of alumni associations that advance social change

Abstract Through a multi-case study, this research explores how three higher education alumni associations organize to influence social change in Georgia, Ghana, and Mongolia. All organizations started as international scholarship program alumni associations, yet findings show they developed into social change organizations over time. In the absence of extensive financial support, these associations sustained their network based on close personal relationships among members. Targeted social issues varied by country, as did relationships with the scholarship funder. Results aim to inform those who consider how international higher education contributes to social change in low- and middle-income countries, especially through alumni networks.
Anodic stripping electrochemical analysis of metal nanoparticles

Abstract Traditional anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) involves electrodeposition (reduction) of metal ions from solution over some time scale onto a working electrode followed by stripping (oxidation) of the deposited metal in a second step, where the stripping potential and quantity of charge passed provide information about the metal identity and solution concentration, respectively. ASV has recently been extended to the analysis of metal nanoparticles (NPs), which have grown popular because of their fascinating properties tunable by size, shape, and composition. There is a need for improved methods of NP analysis, and because metal NPs can be oxidized to metal ions, ASV is a logical choice. Early studies involved metal NPs as tags for the detection of biomolecules. More recently, anodic stripping has been used to directly analyze the physical, chemical, and structural properties of metal NPs. This review highlights the stripping analysis of NP assemblies on macroelectrodes, individual NPs in solution during collisions with a microelectrode, and a single NP attached to an electrode. A surprising amount of information can be learned from this very simple, low-cost technique.