cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Public Support for Getting Tough on Corporate Crime: Racial and Political Divides

The recent wave of corporate wrongdoing has raised the issue of whether the public is concerned about the control of lawlessness in the business world. Using a national probability sample, we explore whether Americans want to enact stricter regulations of the stock market and advocate more punitive criminal sanctions for corporate executives who conceal their company's true financial condition. The findings reveal that Americans generally favor getting tough on corporate illegality. The analysis also indicates, however, that group differences exist in public support for punitive corporate crime control policies. Although liberals and conservatives equally support punishing corporate criminals more harshly, African Americans are more likely than Whites to endorse more restrictive and more punitive policies toward corporate criminals. We conclude that punitive attitudes are socially constructed beliefs that reflect the dynamics of conflicted class and racial relations.
The Dynamics of Error Growth and Predictability in a Model of the Gulf Stream. Part I: Singular Vector Analysis

Abstract The recently developed ideas of generalized linear stability theory for dynamical systems are applied to time evolving flows of the Gulf Stream using a quasigeostrophic numerical model. The potential for the growth of perturbations arising from errors and uncertainties in forecasts of the Gulf Stream is investigated by computing the singular vectors, or so-called optimal perturbations, of time evolving flows using a linearized model and its adjoint. The authors’ calculations reveal that the potential for rapid perturbation growth is greatest in regions of developing straining and shearing flows. Such regions include developing meanders and regions where eddies form and where existing eddies interact with the main Gulf Stream. It is found that the optimal perturbations of the Gulf Stream share many features in common with those of the jet streams in the atmosphere. The ideas and techniques developed in this paper have been applied to the problem of ensemble prediction of the Gulf Stream in Part II.
Revision of Velvet Ant Genus Dilophotopsis Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) by Using Molecular and Morphological Data, with Implications for Desert Biogeography

Abstract Taxonomy of the wide-ranging Nearctic velvet ant genus Dilophotopsis Schuster (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) is reviewed using molecular and morphological comparisons. The validity of the four designated subspecies of Dilophotopsis concolor (Cresson) is examined. Dilophotopsis concolor paron (Cameron) is morphologically and molecularly distinct from the other three subspecies, and it is raised to the species level [D. paron (Cameron), nov. stat.]. Dilophotopsis concolor crassa (Viereck) and Dilophotopsis concolor laredo Schuster are morphologically indistinguishable from the nominative subspecies D. concolor concolor, and they are considered junior synonyms of this species. A key to the species of Dilophotopsis is provided. The distributions of Dilophotopsis species, as well as the genetic variation within D. concolor, are associated with individual arid lands, and they indicate that this genus will be useful in the study of the historical biogeography of the North American arid lands.
Intermediate band solar cell design using InAs quantum dots in AlAsSb cladding

We present simulations of InAs QDs embedded in AlAsSb, which may be a promising candidate system for realizing intermediate band solar cells as it features bandgaps close to the ideal and a nearly flat type-II valence band lineup. We have also experimentally investigated InAs quantum dots (QDs) grown in an AlAs0.56Sb0.44 matrix in the unintentionally doped (uid) region of an In0.52Al0.48As solar cell. Optical and electrical properties of the solar cell were investigated to evaluate the possibility of photon assisted absorption from the QD states. As well, potential designs for a AlAs0.56Sb0.44 heterojunction QD solar cell were evaluated.
TPE upgrade for enhancing operational safety and improving in-vessel tritium inventory assessment in fusion nuclear environment

Abstract The Tritium Plasma Experiment (TPE) is a unique high-flux linear plasma device that can handle beryllium, tritium, and neutron-irradiated plasma facing materials, and is the only existing device dedicated to evaluate in-vessel tritium inventory in the nuclear environment for fusion safety. The electrical upgrade were recently carried out to enhance operational safety and to improve plasma performance. New DC power supplies and a new control center enable remote plasma operations from outside of the contamination area for tritium, minimizing the possible exposure risk with tritium and beryllium and eliminating heat stress issue. In November 2015, the TPE successfully achieved first deuterium plasma via remote operation after a significant three-year upgrade. Simple linear scaling estimate showed that the TPE is expected to achieve Γimax of >1.0 × 1023 m−2 s−1 and qheat of >1 MW m−2 with new power supplies. This upgrade not only improves operational safety of the worker, but also enhances plasma performance to better simulate extreme plasma-material conditions expected in ITER, FNSF, and DEMO for improving in-vessel tritium inventory assessment in fusion nuclear environment.
Relationship between β-Endorphin/β-Lipotropin, Hyperglycemia, and Hyperinsulinemia in Obese Male Zucker Rats:

The relationship between beta-endorphin(beta-EP)/beta-lipotropin(beta-LP) and insulin secretion in the basal state and after glucose challenge was studied in obese male Zucker rats and their lean littermates. Baseline plasma beta-EP/beta-LP concentrations were similar in the two groups of animals. Baseline plasma insulin and serum glucose concentrations were significantly higher in the obese animals. Following glucose challenge, the increase in plasma beta-EP/beta-LP concentrations was significantly lower in the obese animals than in their lean littermates. Opioid blockade with naloxone failed to alter the baseline hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia seen in the obese animals. The data suggest that the hyperinsulinemia in the obese Zucker rat is not due to endogenous hyperendorphinemia as shown in humans with polycystic ovary syndrome. The obese rats showed dissociation between glucose-stimulated plasma levels of beta-EP/beta-LP and insulin levels which may contribute to the hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in these animals.
The consequences of professionalization for health services delivery: evidence from optometry.

In this paper the effect of the professionalization of optometry on the price and content of optometric services is examined. Cross-sectional data from a national survey of optometrists, along with data on state regulation of optometry, are used. A multiple regression analysis shows that measures of professionalization are strongly associated with examinations that are higher in price and longer and more complex in content. The findings on the content of services are consistent with both the "power" perspective on professionalization and the more traditional functionalist perspective. The findings on the price of services support the power perspective on professionalization, which asserts that professions use social and political power for their own self-interest. The financial costs of professionalization, after accounting for the longer and more complex nature of services, are huge even for the one health service investigated here (the optometric examination).
An investigation into method of diagnosis in clinicopathologic conferences (CPCs)

An analysis of 50 clinicopathologic conferences (CPCs) reveals the method of diagnosis in them to consist of construction of exhaustive differential diagnosis followed by evaluation of each disease in it by the likelihood inference approach. This method leads to 98% diagnostic accuracy in these CPCs. A probabilistic approach is found not to be employed for evaluation of a disease.
Time of walking

The time of walking is both the time it takes to walk and observe, and the historical time during which walking became central to the emergence of new ideas about landscape architecture.I would the...
Shock Response Analysis of Crank and Connecting Rod Mechanism of 12VPA6 Marine Diesel Engine

Taking the crank and connecting rod mechanism as an example,based on finite element method and multi-body dynamics simulation,the calculation approach of shock response of components of the diesel engine under operation was put forward.Using the software of visual Nastran for desktop(VN4D) and Pro/E,adopting the "presumption of transient structure",the shock response of the components of the mechanism was calculated.The results show that the connecting rod satisfies the request of shock resistance.However,the critical shock load of the crankshaft is only about 10 times of the acceleration of gravity.The engine needs the protection of shock resistance.
Benign Colorectal Polyps: Endoscopic Surveillance Guidelines and Effects on Colorectal Cancer Risk

The development of fiberoptic technology, specifically flexible sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy, has lowered the mortality from colorectal cancer. Because colonoscopic screening of the entire population is not practical, this procedure is reserved for populations at high risk for developing colorectal cancer. This article discusses the significance of finding benign colorectal polyps, reviews current screening and surveillance techniques, gives specific recommendations for colonoscopic surveillance for adenomatous polyps, and comments on whether surveillance impacts on the incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer.
Adherence to Hematologic Hold Parameters in Carboplatin and Dose-Dense Paclitaxel Chemotherapy for Ovarian Malignancies: A Survey of NCCN Member Institutions

Objective To determine the adherence to hematologic chemotherapy hold parameters for the carboplatin and dose-dense paclitaxel chemotherapy regimen in patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers. Methods This is a quality assessment survey study. All 26 NCCN Member Institutions were contacted electronically. Hematologic chemotherapy hold parameter values (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] and platelet count) on days 1, 8, and 15 of each cycle were queried. These hold parameters were compared with published data supporting the use of dose-dense chemotherapy regimens in ovarian cancer. Results The overall survey response rate was 85% (22/26 sites). Of responders, 27% (6 sites) were fully adherent with all hematologic hold parameters and 64% (14 sites) used hold parameters that differed from the published protocol. Specifically, all of these sites use hold parameters higher than those recommended in the literature. Two centers did not have center-specific hold parameters. Conclusions Carboplatin and dose-dense paclitaxel chemotherapy has been shown to increase progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with stage II-IV ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers. However, our study found that two-thirds of queried sites had hold parameters higher than those in the published protocol. Using more stringent hold parameters may lead to compromised clinical outcomes. Further research is necessary to determine the optimal strategy to increase individual site adherence to chemotherapy hematologic hold parameters as specified in published trials.
Molecular and Cellular Basis of Hallucinogen Action

Abstract The neuropsychological effects of naturally occurring hallucinogens have been recognized for millennia. Hallucinogens, which include naturally occurring compounds such as psilocybin and mescaline, as well as synthetic compounds such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), induce profound alterations of human consciousness, emotion, cognition, and mood. The discovery of LSD and the observation that LSD and the endogenous neurotransmitter serotonin share chemical and pharmacological profiles led to the suggestion that biogenic amines like serotonin were involved in the mechanism of action of hallucinogens as well as in psychotic mental disorders such as schizophrenia. Based on evidence from rodents and humans, the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor appears to be responsible for the hallucinogenic effects of tryptamine, ergoline, and phenethylamine hallucinogens. In this chapter, we review existing literature on the molecular and signaling mechanisms involved in the behavioral effects of hallucinogens.
LEF1 Is a Tumor Suppressor in T Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Abstract In an effort to further unravel the molecular pathogenesis of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), we performed array CGH on diagnostic specimens from 47 pediatric patients with T-ALL. The LEF1 transcription factor is best known as a positive mediator of oncogenic β-catenin signaling, and it is required for the expression of MYC, Cyclin D1 and Survivin in some contexts, including some normal hematopoietic progenitors. Additionally, Lef1 has been shown to be required for the survival of murine Notch-dependent T cell lymphoma cells. We were thus surprised to find highly focal deletions of LEF1 in 10.6 % (n = 5 of 47) of primary T-ALL patient samples, with 3 cases harboring homozygous deletions and 2 harboring heterozygous deletions of this locus. These deletions involved no other known genes. We then sequenced this gene in 45 of these cases and found heterozygous mutations in 3 additional T-ALL samples, including 2 cases with frameshift mutations predicted to truncate the protein prior to its context-dependent activation and HMG box domains, and one case with an Asp85Asn substitution. Seven of the eight samples harboring LEF1 abnormalities also had mutations in the heterodimerization or PEST domains of NOTCH1. In an effort to characterize the biologic consequences of LEF1 loss in T-ALL, we took advantage of expression microarrays that were previously performed on most of these samples. LEF1 loss defines a novel T-ALL subtype characterized by arrest at the CD1-positive early cortical stage, and whose gene expression profile resembles that of HOX11-positive cases, although expression of HOX11 was generally low in these samples. Loss of LEF1 was mutually exclusive to overexpression of TAL1 and of the HOXA/MEIS1 cluster. Interestingly, LEF1-negative T-ALL cases were associated with increased expression of MYC, and gene set enrichment analysis identified a significant association between LEF1 loss and upregulation of MYC target genes. In addition to its role as a transcriptional activator in the setting of active WNT/β-catenin signaling, LEF1 can also act as a transcriptional repressor in some cellular contexts. Experiments are currently underway to establish the mechanism mediating the tumor suppressor activity of LEF1 in T-ALL.
Low breeding propensity and wide‐ranging movements by marbled murrelets in Washington

The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a threatened seabird that forages in nearshore marine waters but nests inland, commonly in older coniferous forests. Information on ranging behavior and breeding propensity can be useful for informing management, especially when comparisons can be made between declining or threatened populations and more stable, unthreatened populations. Over 5 years, we measured ranging behavior and breeding propensity of marbled murrelets in Washington, USA where murrelets are considered threatened. Our primary objective was to compare space use and breeding by murrelets in Washington with those from other regions and where the species is not considered threatened. We radio tracked 157 murrelets from 2004 to 2008. Median marine 95% kernel ranges were 487 km2 (x¯=938±1,348 [SD]) and larger than those reported for non-threatened populations in Alaska, USA in other studies. Ranges computed from minimum convex polygons (MCPs; median = 404 km2; x¯=708±847) were on average similar to those reported for threatened populations in California, USA, although larger than those reported for Alaska. Distances traveled between consecutive marine telemetry locations were greater than reported previously in Alaska. Variation in movements in our study were not associated with oceanographic conditions although appeared greater for murrelets captured along the Pacific Coast compared to those occupying interior marine waters in the Salish Sea. Twenty individuals (12.7%) attempted to breed in our study, and we estimated breeding propensity was 13.1–20.0%. This is the lowest breeding propensity reported for a population of murrelets to date. For breeders, nest-sea commuting distances were greater than reported previously, with 4 breeders traveling farther than the previously reported maximum of 125 km. The low breeding propensity, large marine ranges, and long nest-sea commutes in this study may point to poor-quality marine habitat in Washington compared to other parts of the murrelet's range. In combination with reported declines in terrestrial nesting habitat from other studies, this indicates that additional management is needed to improve murrelet breeding habitat in Washington. Future management actions should focus on improving both terrestrial and marine habitat. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Single-center retrospective review of ultrasound-accelerated versus traditional catheter-directed thrombolysis for acute lower extremity deep venous thrombosis.

ObjectiveSystemic anticoagulation remains the standard for acute lower extremity (LE) deep venous thrombosis (DVT), but growing interest in catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and its potential to reduce the incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) has led to advent of ultrasound-accelerated CDT (US-CDT). Few studies to date have examined the outcomes of US-CDT against traditional CDT (T-CDT).MethodsThis is a retrospective, single-center review of all patients treated for acute LE DVT over a five-year period with either US- and T-CDT. Patients were stratified based on demographics, presentation, co-morbidities, risk factors, and peri-procedural data.ResultsSeventy-six limbs in 67 patients were treated; 51 limbs in 42 patients were treated with US-CDT, and 25 limbs in 25 patients were treated with T-CDT. Adjuncts include: pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (n = 28 vs. 20, p = 0.04), angioplasty (n = 22 vs. 18, p = 0.11), stenting (n = 30 vs. 6, p ≤ 0.001), and IVC filter insertion (n = 5 vs. 0, p = 0.07)....
General Causes of Violent Crime: The Income Inequality

This essay has two goals. The first is to show that the heat hypothesis, per se, provides a partial explanation of causes of the violent crime in society. The second is to stress the importance of the concept of socioeconomic inequality that can negatively affect mental health and induce violence, controlling the climate factor. In fact, a fundamental problem in social psychology is what environmental stressors lead to aggressive behavior and violent crime in society. The vast literature has suggested several approaches, such as the heat hypothesis that more violence is associated to very hot temperature. However, the manifold determinants of violent crime in society are hardly known. This study shows that, controlling the climate, the socioeconomic inequality at country level negatively affects human functioning and leads to high rates of violent crime in society. In particular, the statistical evidence seems in general to support the hypothesis that, controlling the climate, the intentional homicides (per 100,000 people) can be explained by the high level of income inequality, both in hot tropical areas and in temperate zone of the globe. The socioeconomic inequality is one of contributing factors that generates aversive environments and, as a consequence, a deteriorated human behavior leading to high rates of intentional homicides in society. The interdisciplinary results here, combining psychological and sociological approaches, suggest an alternative hypothesis that can integrate the current theoretical frameworks to explain one of principal causes of deteriorated human functioning that leads to violent crime in society. Overall, then, these findings can clarify whenever possible, a vital source of the aggressive behavior and violent crime, controlling the climate, to support appropriate policies directed to preempt these critical problems in society.
Integrated polarization beam-splitter with 116 THz bandwidth via topographically anisotropic photonics

Topographically anisotropic integrated photonics is proposed for extremely broadband polarization-selective devices. Polarization beam-splitting with an unprecedented 116 THz of bandwidth (0.52 octaves), insertion losses 16 dB is experimentally demonstrated.
Postcolonialité, exil et transmigrance des littératures et cultures francophones

This article is a re-reading of the history of the French language postcolonial literatures in a broader context of transnational basically expressed by the emergence and affirmation of "migrant writings" as the privileged site of the world culture which postcoloniality is just, perhaps, one of the dimensions. To do this, it is to examine the modalities in which postcoloniality is registered, historically and culturally, in the phenomenon of the increasingly truly universal "migritude", of the "immigrant identity", according to Marco Micone's expression. --- Original in French.
An agent-based model to evaluate recovery times and monitoring strategies to increase accuracy of sea turtle population assessments

Abstract Green sea turtles are threatened globally, and some populations continue to decline while others are recovering. Assessing recovery status largely depends on monitoring efforts that encounter sea turtles on nesting beaches and sample nesters, nests, or both. Monitoring nesting beaches provides an imperfect index of true population level changes in abundance due to demographic time lags and inter-annual variability in nesting. But, it is still unclear how much and in which direction nesting beach indices diverge from true population status. To address this concern, we used demographic parameters estimated from the Hawaiian green turtle population to develop and implement the green sea turtle agent-based model (GSTABM) to simulate stable and transient population dynamics, monitoring and population assessment. We subjected the virtual populations to sub-adult, adult, and nest disturbances and simulated the monitoring process of observing nesters and nests with error. The GSTABM simulates population-level processes of nester abundance and corresponds with observed data from Hawaii. In simulating 100 years of recovery, populations began to increase but did not fully return to pre-disturbance levels in adult and nester abundance, population growth or nester recruitment. The accuracy of estimated adult abundance was influenced by population trajectory and impacts, and was not sensitive to increasing detection probability. The accuracy of estimated recruitment improved with increasing detection levels, but depended on the impact legacy. The GSTABM is an important tool to determine relationships with monitoring, population assessment, and the underlying biological processes that drive changes in the population. The ultimate purpose of the GSTABM is to be an operating model with which to evaluate optimal monitoring strategies for nesting beach surveys that will enhance accuracy of population assessments, allowing agencies to invest in the most cost-effective monitoring efforts.
On the high rate, independence, and optimal prediction assumptions in predictive coding

We examine the common assumptions of high rate, independence, and optimal prediction often used in the theoretical performance analyses of differential predictive coding. We demonstrate that these assumptions are never valid for this structure. We then perform an analysis of the performance of differential predictive coding without these assumptions and show that not only are these assumptions invalid, the results obtained using these assumptions underestimate system performance. Both theoretical and practical illustrations are provided.
Ictal Vasoconstriction of the Left Middle Cerebral Artery on Magnetic Resonance Angiography in Pediatric Confusional Migraine: A Case Series of Five Patients (P02.098)

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate several cases of confusional migraines in children that were associated with ictal vasoconstriction in the left middle cerebral artery territory on MRA. BACKGROUND: Confusional migraines are a relatively uncommon presentation of migraines in pediatrics. We present five cases of confusional migraine, all of whom had MRI and MRA imaging during the ictal event. All five cases demonstrated vasoconstriction in the L MCA territory. Two of these cases had post-ictal imaging, which demonstrated resolution of the vasoconstriction within 24 hours of the event. A few case reports have demonstrated similar phenomena in the past, but this is the first to document both ictal and post-ictal findings. DESIGN/METHODS: Case series. RESULTS: Five patients, aged 7-17 years, presented to a tertiary care center with confusional migraines. Symptoms consisted of a headache followed by impaired comprehension, and dysfluent speech as well as amnesia surrounding the event. Two of the five patients also had associated right-sided weakness and paresthesias. On neurological examination, all patients demonstrated varying degrees of impaired comprehension and dysfluent speech, with one of the five patients demonstrating an UMN pattern of weakness of her right side. All five patients received an MRI and MRA during the event, which demonstrated decreased caliber of the left MCA. All patients had resolution of their symptoms in less than twenty-four hours. Two patients received follow-up imaging immediately following the event, which demonstrated resolution of the vasoconstriction. CONCLUSIONS: Our cases demonstrate vasoconstriction in the L MCA territory during a confusional migraine. Vasoconstriction has also been described in some case reports of hemiplegic migraines, lending further credence to the relationship between hemiplegic and confusional migraines. These cases reinforce the role of neurovascular changes in the pathophysiology of migraines. Disclosure: Dr. Spencer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schomer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Minster has nothing to disclose.
Integration of Risk Assessment in Prostate Cancer Screening

While the current value of prostate cancer screening in reducing mortality is debatable, there is no doubt that screening has created overdetection of clinically insignificant cancers. An individualized risk assessment model incorporating the known risk factors associated with prostate cancer could be of potential value for predicting the risk of prostate cancer and helping individual patients make rational decisions regarding further diagnostic evaluation. Promising risk assessment tools, combining multiple established risk factors, current and newly developed markers for prostate cancer detection could impact downstream decisions, including screening options. This chapter will summarize some of the currently available risk assessment models for prostate cancer detection.
Laparoscopy in Oncology Cases

Diagnostic laparoscopy, developed in the early 1990s, has become an integral part of evaluation in the management of abdominal malignancy, including hepatocellular carcinoma, metastatic hepatic cancer, and abdominal lymphoma. Comparison of laparoscopic diagnosis to conventional imaging shows either a superiority in the endoscopic approach or a complimentary role for laparoscopy when compared with conventional or computerized tomography and ultrasound. Future therapeutic and diagnostic roles for laparoscopy indicate a continued important role for this modality.
Oral Management for Pediatric Lyme Meningitis.

Background Guidelines for pediatric Lyme meningitis recommend treatment with parenteral therapy [1, 2]. Adult studies suggest that Lyme meningitis can be successfully treated with oral therapy. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical response, side effects and outcome of oral therapy for Lyme meningitis in the pediatric population compared with parenteral therapy in an area endemic for Lyme disease. Methods We conducted a case series chart review from January 2012 to May 2017 of pediatrics patient diagnosed and treated for Lyme meningitis. We recorded clinical presentation, laboratory values, antimicrobial therapy and follow up after therapy to compare the efficacy of oral versus parenteral route of therapy. Results We identified 38 patients diagnosed with Lyme meningitis. Thirty-two patients were discharge with exclusively oral therapy with: doxycycline and amoxicillin. We had only 2 patients developed potential adverse effects from oral doxycycline therapy. All patients treated with oral antibiotics had resolution of symptoms on follow up appointments. Conclusions Oral therapy for Lyme meningitis yields no serious adverse events, was well tolerated and showed resolution of symptoms.
Mindfulness as a Promoter of Adaptive Development in Adolescence

Adolescence is characterized by neurological reorganization, developments in cognitive and emotional processing, and an increasingly complex social world. During this sensitive transitional period, the ways in which adolescents identify and engage with internal and external challenges is integral to developmental trajectories. More resources should be dedicated to promoting adaptive development in adolescence, particularly ones that capitalize on and support adolescent’s growing self-regulatory and socio-cognitive skills. This article summarizes research and theory on one such resource, mindful practices, and evaluates these practices as they relate to the needs and challenges of adolescence. Mindfulness-based programs are also evaluated as interventions for adolescents who are at risk for, or have already developed, maladaptive behaviors. By promoting self-regulatory and socio-cognitive skills, mindfulness practices may enhance adolescents’ agentic control over their own developmental trajectories. While more research is still needed, there is substantial evidence that mindfulness is a flexible and efficacious program with potentially far-reaching implications for promoting adaptive development in adolescence.
The ontogenesis of pituitary hormones and hypothalamic factors in the human fetus: maturation of central nervous system regulation of anterior pituitary function.

Publisher Summary Early in fetal life there is relatively autonomous secretion of hypothalamic hypophysiotropic releasing factors and later in development the maturation of inhibitory or restraining influences, mediated via the central nervous system (CNS), modulates pituitary secretion. Even at birth, CNS regulation of pituitary function is incomplete. Therefore, the maturation of CNS control of anterior hypophysial function can be looked upon as a continuum, extending from fetal life into a variable period in infancy and in relation to gonadotropin secretion, into adolescence. This chapter emphasizes on the limitations of measuring pituitary content and serum concentration of hormones in human fetuses obtained largely after therapeutic abortion. It also provides an overview of some of the factors that can influence the plasma concentration of pituitary hormones. The chapter discusses the morphological changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary complex in the fetus, human fetal hypothalamic-hypophysiotropic factors, hypothalamic content and concentration of releasing factors in human fetuses, human fetal pituitary hormones, placental polypeptide hormones, and pituitary hormones in anencephaly. The developmental pattern of secretion of fetal pituitary hormones is not only diverse, but the hormones apparently develop independently of each other.
Cyber-Physical Systems of Microgrids for Electrical Grid Resiliency

Microgrids are increasingly being adopted in distribution systems to maintain operation of electrical systems in adverse situations, such as storms or cyber attacks. Modern microgrids rely on cyber communication for fast measurement and control of intelligent distributed energy resources (DERs), making microgrids complex cyber-physical systems. This work presents control strategies, as well as approaches for resiliency to attacks against measurements, system stability, and secure communications within and between partitions when microgrids are islanded from the utility area electric power system. Modes of graceful degradation, whose objective is to continuously serve identified critical loads, are presented. Finally, we conclude with a use case that unifies all concepts, in which we mitigate effects of an attack against generation on a critical load bus. Mitigation is achieved by consensus between controllers for peer systems to close a normally open tie line between two systems. The attack is detected, the suspicious DER is tripped, and the appropriate tie line between the two systems is closed to continuously supply the critical load. Rapid, secure communication of measurements between the systems allows the stability algorithm to restore stability of the now-combined system within an acceptable time interval. Results from real-time simulation are provided to validate the effectiveness of our approach.
Perception precedes production in native Mandarin speakers of English

Nonnative accents are commonplace, but why? Ample research shows that perceptual representations of second-language speakers are shaped by their first language. But is production also affected? If perceptual representations perfectly control motor production, then second-language speakers should understand their own speech accurately. To test this, we recorded 48 native Mandarin speakers labeling pictures in English. We then played back their own recorded productions (e.g., “lock”) as they chose one of four pictures (lock, log, shape, and ship). They also heard a paired native English speaker. Words contained contrasts challenging for Mandarin speakers, principally coda voicing (lock, log) and similar-vowel (shape, ship) pairs. Listeners achieved 89% accuracy on both their own productions and native speakers,’ suggesting good matching between perception and production. However, errors were unevenly distributed: Mandarin speakers heard their own voiced codas (log) as voiceless (lock) more often than the reverse (10% vs. 5%, p = 0.002). This mirrors a similar but larger voiceless bias in native-English listeners hearing accented stimuli, suggesting that Mandarin speakers’ coda voicing perception is more nativelike than their production. Ongoing work attempts to differentiate interlanguage intelligibility effects from learning of idiosyncratic speech patterns, and we are exploring which acoustic features predict recognition.Nonnative accents are commonplace, but why? Ample research shows that perceptual representations of second-language speakers are shaped by their first language. But is production also affected? If perceptual representations perfectly control motor production, then second-language speakers should understand their own speech accurately. To test this, we recorded 48 native Mandarin speakers labeling pictures in English. We then played back their own recorded productions (e.g., “lock”) as they chose one of four pictures (lock, log, shape, and ship). They also heard a paired native English speaker. Words contained contrasts challenging for Mandarin speakers, principally coda voicing (lock, log) and similar-vowel (shape, ship) pairs. Listeners achieved 89% accuracy on both their own productions and native speakers,’ suggesting good matching between perception and production. However, errors were unevenly distributed: Mandarin speakers heard their own voiced codas (log) as voiceless (lock) more often than the re...
Revisiting the generality of rational choice theory: Evidence for general patterns but differential effects across varying levels of psychopathy

Abstract Examining the role of individual differences in perceptions of risk and rewards to offending has become an important line of inquire ( Pratt, Cullen, Blevins, Daigle, & Madensen, 2006 ); however, psychopathy has yet to be considered. We tested the interaction between psychopathy and rational choice variables to determine if those with elevated psychopathy were differentially motivated to offend. Using a panel of 1307 serious juvenile offenders, we found a within-individual interaction effect between changes in psychopathy and changes in perceptions of risk and rewards after controlling for several relevant factors (e.g., early onset conduct problems, race, gender, exposure to violence, delinquent peer association, family criminal history, having children, gang involvement, and street time) and unobserved, between-individual heterogeneity. We further explored significant interactions using group-based models. These findings suggested that those with elevated psychopathy were more motivated by perceived rewards. However, the interaction for psychopathy and risk suggested that those with elevated levels of psychopathy were also more deterred by the perceived risks of offending. Findings support rational choice variables as robust predictors of offending; however, they may be most influential on decisions to offend among those demonstrating the greatest risk of offending.
Lactobacillus Bacterial Cell Segmentation Based on Marker Controlled Watershed Method

A technique for the segmentation of Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) image of bacteria cells is proposed. There have been lots of efforts to replace the human eye inspection of biological data by automatic inspection. SEM image inspection is one of the major initiatives in this direction. Conventional biologist identify bacteria using colony morphology or by using bio-chemical approaches. However these approaches are tedious, time consuming and depends on the expertise of biologist. It is a complex task to segment SEM image of bacteria cells due to diversity of patterns, high level of noise content and variation in the image offset. In order to preserve the details at fine scales, marker controlled watershed is used, where markers are generated automatically this helps in limiting over segmentation. Experiment shows that method can accurately and quickly segment the bacteria cells.
Chapter 5. Serious Mental Illness Among Mexican Immigrant Families: Implications for Culturally Relevant Practice

The importance of family involvement in psychosocial interventions for persons with serious mental illnesses continues to gain empirical support. However, even as ethnic minority cultures are known to be more family-centered in comparison to Euro-American cultures, only a few studies focus on family context or on family treatment approaches for Mexicans. The focus of this paper is on mental health practice with Mexican immigrant families dealing with serious mental illness. We review available research on treatment issues and the sociocultural context that has relevance to serious mental illness within the family. Practice implications for increasing the cultural relevance of community based mental health services for this population are addressed. Several treatment strategies are delineated for practitioners confronted with clinical, social, and ethnocultural complexities when serving Mexican immigrant families dealing with serious mental illnesses.
In the Fertile Minefield: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities with Facilitating Self-development and Growth in the Intercultural and Interracial Clinical Treatment Dyad

The “use of self” is a powerful tool that social workers rely upon to facilitate treatment growth for their clients. Yet, for many ethnic and racial minority clinicians, their self contains personal, psychological, social, and cultural aspects that they must acknowledge, examine and negotiate as they enter into the clinical arena. The therapeutic world is increasingly diverse, therefore, the profession must address issues relating to researching, educating, training, supervising, and supporting clinicians from diverse backgrounds to attend with greater knowledge and self-examination. They must attend to the nuances of use of self with respect to issues of intersectionality in order to provide attuned, culturally responsive, and socially just treatment. This paper demonstrates how clinical social work practitioners can facilitate self-development and growth in clients through their strategic use of self as grounded in early British and American object relations theories and contemporary relational theory. The clinical materials in the composite case study (employed to protect the confidentiality of the clients) are used to illustrate that when clinicians embrace the challenges of working in the intercultural and interracial treatment arena and dive deeply beyond the choppy surface, there are many opportunities to further the therapeutic progress while providing a culturally sensitive and socially just clinical practice. Implications for clinical social work practice, education and research are identified.
Intelligent System for Detection of Wild Animals Using HOG and CNN in Automobile Applications

Animal Vehicle Collision, commonly called as roadkill, is an emerging threat to humans and wild animals with increasing fatalities every year. Amid Vehicular crashes, animal actions (i.e. deer) are unpredictable and erratic on roadways. This paper unveils a newer dimension for wild animals' auto-detection during active nocturnal hours using thermal image processing over camera car mount in the vehicle. To implement effective hot spot and moving object detection, obtained radiometric images are transformed and processed by an intelligent system. This intelligent system extracts the features of the image and subsequently detects the existence of an object of interest (i.e. deer). The main technique to extract the features of wild animals is the Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) transform. The features are detected by normalizing the radiometric image and then processed by finding the magnitude and gradient of a pixel. The extracted features are given as an input to the basic deep learning model, a one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN), where binary cross-entropy is used to detect the existence of the object. This intelligent system has been tested on a set of real scenarios and gives approximately 91% accuracy in the correct detection of the wild animals on roadsides from the city of San Antonio, TX, in the USA.
Effects of Oxygen Plasma Treatments on Surface Functional Groups and Shear Strength of Carbon Fiber Composites

The morphology and chemical function of surfaces strongly influence adhesion at interfaces within carbon fiber composites (i.e., carbon fiber-reinforced polymer) and the mechanical strength of the ...
Management of Do Not Resuscitate Orders Before Invasive Procedures

Background In 2017, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implemented the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions Initiative (LSTDI), which created a portable and durable code status for use across its health care system. Patients who now have a durable do not resuscitate (DNR) status may undergo invasive procedures. Few studies have examined whether proceduralists discuss DNR status and document changes before procedures. Objective To assess baseline percentage of suspension of DNR before nonsurgical invasive procedures and determine whether an academic detailing intervention consisting of training proceduralists in the use of a template that allows rapid suspension of DNR status increases percentage of DNR acknowledgments. Methods Single-center, quasi-experimental pre- and postassessments were done in high-volume, procedural areas, including gastroenterology, cardiology, and interventional radiology, in a VA medical center. The primary outcome was the proceduralists' documentation of DNR status acknowledgment before a nonsurgical invasive procedure at baseline and after the intervention. Logistic regression was used to compare percentage of DNR acknowledgment with time (before, after) and procedural area and assessing their interaction in the model. Results The interaction between department and time revealed wide variation in documentation of DNR acknowledgment. Examining the model predicted percentages from the interaction, preintervention percentages for gastroenterology, cardiology and interventional radiology were 46%, 75.6%, and 7.5%, respectively, and postintervention model predicted percentages were 53.5%, 91.7%, and 26.3%, respectively. Only the before vs after contrast for interventional radiology was significantly different. When all procedural areas were combined, the percentage of DNR acknowledgment significantly improved from 38.6% to 61.1% (P = .01). Conclusions Before nonsurgical invasive procedures, the percentage of DNR acknowledgment was low but after, the intervention significantly improved. Further research is needed to assess its impact on patient-centered outcomes.
Telemedicine for patients undergoing arthroplasty : access, ability, and preference.

Aims The purpose of this study was to determine the access to and ability to use telemedicine technology in adult patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA),...
The Predatory State and Coercive Assimilation: The Case of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang

We use the predatory theory of the state to explain China’s violent assimilationist campaign targeting the Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim minority group in China that constitutes a majority of people in Xinjiang Province. Our analysis suggests that increasing political centralization under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, combined with technological changes that reduced the costs of implementing predatory policing in Xinjiang and increased the perceived economic benefits from assimilation, contributed to the choice of destructive cultural assimilation rather than respect for the rights and autonomy of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. While the economics literature sometimes describes the political economy of China’s growth miracle as the byproduct of a constrained Leviathan, this paper shows that a predatory theory of the state is more useful to understand how a cultural genocide can occur alongside economic growth.
Resonant interactions of Alfvén waves and electrons in the LAPD and the acceleration of auroral electrons

Alfven waves have long been thought to resonantly accelerate auroral electrons [1] . The acceleration process is hypothesized to involve inertial Alfven waves, which have typical length scales perpendicular to the background magnetic field B 0 comparable to the electron skin depth [2] . At these perpendicular scales, inertial Alfven waves have an electric field component parallel to B 0 that could resonantly accelerate electrons to auroral energies. The Polar and FAST missions have identified a statistical coincidence between Alfven waves, accelerated electrons, and auroras [3] , [4] . Simulations have detailed the motion of an ensemble of test particles and identified the characteristics of an accelerated population.
Tech Terms: What Every Telecommunications and Digital Media Professional Should Know

An avalanche of acronyms, terms-of-art, buzz words, and short-hand phraseology confronts today's busy communications professionals. Now in its 3rd edition, Tech Terms is an invaluable learning tool to help grasp key aspects of the television and video, PC hardware and software markets, multimedia authoring tools, and the exploding wireless Internet and mobile telecomputing worlds. With more than 1000 terms described in four sentences or less, Tech Terms is perfect the perfect desk reference.
Nonparametric Inference in Heteroskedastic Regression

We consider the problem of making inferences about the parameters in a heteroskedastic regression model. The model assumes a general (not necessarily symmetric) error distribution and a parametric model for the error variance. We present a survey of some recent developments in making inference for this model. The methods to be discussed use the ranks of weighted observations. In particular, weighted R-estimators and weighted aligned rank tests will be presented. It is seen that there is no loss in the asymptotic efficiency of these procedures due to estimating the unknown weights. Computational aspects of the procedures are discussed. Computational considerations suggest a new class of estimates that are termed MR-estimates.