cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A 36,000-yr vegetation history from the Peloncillo Mountains, southeastern Arizona, USA

A 36,200 cal yr B.P. vegetation history was developed from macrofossils and pollen from 55 packrat middens from 1287 to 1442 m elevation in the Peloncillo Mountains of southeasternmost Arizona, USA. Today, these elevations are dominated by semidesert grassland with a mixture of Chihuahuan and Sonoran Desert shrubs, including an eastern disjunct population of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). From 36,200 to 15,410 cal yr B.P., rocky areas just above large, pluvial lakes that occupied what are now dry playas supported Pinus edulis, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus cf. coahuilensis, Quercus cf. turbinella and a rich understory of summer-flowering C4 annuals and grasses, indicating abundant summer rains and mild winters. After ∼15,410 cal yr B.P., P. edulis declined in abundance and disappeared briefly at 13,925 cal yr B.P., coincident with expansion of more xeric species and paleohydrological evidence for regional aridity during the Bolling–Allerod warm interval. P. edulis rebounded briefly during the Younger Dryas at 12,405 cal yr B.P. before disappearing along with other mesic woodland species sometime after 12,100 cal yr B.P. The few middens dating from the early to middle Holocene (10,000–4000 yr B.P.) indicate wetter conditions than today at 7790 cal yr B.P. followed by a general drying trend. The 35 middens from the late Holocene detail the sequential arrival of desertscrub species as vegetation became more modern in character.
ADRENOMEDULLIN AND THE CONTROL OF FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE HOMEOSTASIS

▪ Abstract Two potent hypotensive peptides, adrenomedullin (AM) and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP), are encoded by the adrenomedullin gene. AM stimulates nitric oxide production by ...
Tools for the Edge: What’s New for Conserving Carnivores

Abstract The loss of large carnivores at the edges of parks, preserves, and human habitations threatens the conservation of many species. Thus, effective predation management is a conservation issue, and tools to mitigate conflicts between humans and predators are required. Both disruptive-stimulus (e.g., fladry, Electronic Guards, radio-activated guards) and aversive-stimulus (e.g., electronic training collars, less-than-lethal ammunition) approaches are useful, and technological advances have led to many new, commercially available methods. Evaluating the biological and economic efficiency of these methods is important. However, social and psychological effects should also be considered. The management of animal damage to human property is necessary, and methods that allow the coexistence of livestock and large predators must be employed. With further research and development that includes interdisciplinary approaches to management methods, biologists may be better able to conserve large carnivore speci...
Reduction of roundoff noise in frequency sampling digital filters

The issues of roundoff noise and scaling for frequency sampling filters are considered. It is shown that the conventional frequency-sampling filters suffer from severe noise problems. A very simple modification to the classical frequency-sampling filter structure is described; it can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio. A lowpass-filter example is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the modification. >
Predicting in vitro drug sensitivity using Random Forests

Motivation: Panels of cell lines such as the NCI-60 have long been used to test drug candidates for their ability to inhibit proliferation. Predictive models of in vitro drug sensitivity have previously been constructed using gene expression signatures generated from gene expression microarrays. These statistical models allow the prediction of drug response for cell lines not in the original NCI-60. We improve on existing techniques by developing a novel multistep algorithm that builds regression models of drug response using Random Forest, an ensemble approach based on classification and regression trees (CART). Results: This method proved successful in predicting drug response for both a panel of 19 Breast Cancer and 7 Glioma cell lines, outperformed other methods based on differential gene expression, and has general utility for any application that seeks to relate gene expression data to a continuous output variable. Implementation: Software was written in the R language and will be available together with associated gene expression and drug response data as the package ivDrug at http://r-forge.r-project.org. Contact: riddickgp@mail.nih.gov Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effects of Land Cover and Regional Climate Variations on Long-Term Spatiotemporal Changes in Sagebrush Ecosystems

This research investigated the effects of climate and land cover change on variation in sagebrush ecosystems. We combined information of multi-year sagebrush distribution derived from multitemporal remote sensing imagery and climate data to study the variation patterns of sagebrush ecosystems under different potential disturbances. We found that less than 40% of sagebrush ecosystem changes involved abrupt changes directly caused by landscape transformations and over 60% of the variations involved gradual changes directly related to climatic perturbations. The primary increases in bare ground and declines in sagebrush vegetation abundance were significantly correlated with the 1996-2006 decreasing trend in annual precipitation.
Rotor Aerodynamics in Ground Effect at Low Advance Ratios.

Abstract : The results of an experimental study of the aerodynamic characteristics of a helicopter rotor operating in ground effect at low advance ratios are presented. Flow visualization studies were conducted along with measurement of the forces and moments acting on the rotor as a function of advance ratio, height above ground and collective pitch. Steady state experiments as well as non-steady experiments involving translational acceleration were conducted. Three distinct flow regimes were noted from the flow visualization studies. At the low end of the advance ratio range a recirculating flow was present, at intermediate advance ratios a horseshoe shaped vorted formed under the rotor, and at the high end of the advance ratio range studied, the rotor wake flows entirely downstream. At test conditions were the recirculating flow or ground vortex is present there are marked departures from classical ground effect theory. Translational acceleration was found to have a significant effect on the rotor forces and moments indicating that some appreciable time is required for the establishment of the ground effect flow field when a recirculating flow or ground vortex exists in the steady state. The results indicate that magnitude of the ground effects experienced by a helicopter are sensitive to the flight path of the helicopter. (Author)
Two-sided prediction, orthogonalization, and random fields in images

A useful way of finding new signal-processing algorithms is to think of problems like linear prediction in a geometric way-finding prediction coefficients is the same as orthogonalizing the basis of powers of z on the unit circle. This means that powerful concepts from the theory of approximation and orthogonal polynomials, such as three-term recurrences, can be used to find highly efficient algorithms to solve least squares problems. We show how to apply these concepts to different problems than just prediction. In particular, we find optimal linear interpolation coefficients by orthogonalizing a new, different basis of Chebyshev-type functions in order 8 n-squared steps. Interpolation is also known as the non-causal or two-sided prediction problem. It is important not just for linear phase applications, but also in image processing, where the optimum linear interpolator describes a Gauss-Markov random field, as used in image restoration, texture analysis, segmentation and spatial clutter reduction.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY OF THE BIG BROWN BAT (EPTESICUS FUSCUS): GENETIC AND NATURAL HISTORY VARIATION IN A HYBRID ZONE

Several geographically distinct mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus) have been documented in North America. Individuals from 2 of these lineages, an eastern and a western form, co-occur within maternity colonies in Colorado. The discovery of 2 divergent mtDNA lineages in sympatry prompted a set of questions regarding possible biological differences between haplotypes. We captured big brown bats at maternity roosts in Colorado and recorded data on body size, pelage color, litter size, roosting and overwintering behaviors, and local distributions. Wing biopsies were collected for genetic analysis. The ND2 region of the mtDNA molecule was used to determine lineage of the bats. In addition, nuclear DNA (nDNA) intron 1 of the b-globin gene was used to determine if mtDNA lineages are hybridizing. Eastern and western mtDNA lineages differed by 10.3% sequence divergence and examination of genetic data suggests recent population expansion for both lineages. Differences in distribution occur along the Colorado Front Range, with an increasing proportion of western haplotypes farther south. Results from nDNA analyses demonstrated hybridization between the 2 lineages. Additionally, no outstanding distinctiveness was found between the mtDNA lineages in natural history characters examined. We speculate that historical climate changes separated this species into isolated eastern and western populations, and that secondary contact with subsequent interbreeding was facilitated by European settlement.
Initial development of an ion-based bidirectional flow sensor

A novel method for monitoring air or dilute air-fuel mixture flow is initially developed and tested. Although many flow sensors are commercially available, none appear to have the combination of harsh environment durability (>600degC), fast response, bidirectional flow sensitivity, and low pressure drop desired for the application in hybrid power generation systems. The flow sensor described here uses the ions produced in a hydrocarbon flame to seed the gas flow, and then detects the current resulting from the flow induced drift of charged species in two directions from the flame source. Initial results show that the sensor is sensitive to flow reversal, but suffers from difficulties with flame blowout at high gas velocities
Depression Over the Adult Life Course for African American Men: Toward a Framework for Research and Practice

Rarely are within-group differences among African American men explored in the context of mental health and well-being. Though current conceptual and empirical studies on depression among African American men exists, these studies do not offer a framework that considers how this disorder manifests over the adult life course for African American men. The purpose of this article is to examine the use of an adult life course perspective in understanding the complexity of depression for African American men. The proposed framework underscores six social determinants of depression (socioeconomic status, stressors, racial and masculine identity, kinship and social support, self-esteem and mastery, and access to quality health care) to initiate dialogue about the risk and protective factors that initiate, prolong, and exacerbate depression for African American men. The framework presented here is meant to stimulate discussion about the social determinants that influence depression for African American men to and through adulthood. Implications for the utility and applicability of the framework for researchers and health professionals who work with African American men are discussed.
Use of High Resolution DAQ System to Aid Diagnosis of HD2b, a High Performance ${\rm Nb}_{3}{\rm Sn}$ Dipole

A novel voltage monitoring system to record voltage transients in superconducting magnets is being developed at LBNL . This system has 160 monitoring channels capable of measuring differential voltages of up to 1.5 kV with 100 kHz bandwidth and 500 kS/s digitizing rate. This paper presents analysis results from data taken with a 16 channel prototype system. From that analysis we were able to diagnose a change in the current-temperature margin of the superconducting cable by analysing Flux-Jump data collected after a magnet energy extraction failure during testing of a high field Nb3Sn dipole.
Explaining Schism in American Protestant Denominations, 1890-1990

The remarkable degree of religious diversity in the United States is produced more through schisms and mergers occurring to preexisting denominations than through foundings of new religious groups. In this article we analyze schisms, focusing on mainstream Protestant denominations over the period 1890-1990. We treat schism as an organizational process rather than an expression of purely doctrinal disputes; more specifically, we argue that schisms arise from within denominations in response to attempts by denominational elites to achieve
A Computationally Compact Sufficient Condition for Constrained Minima

This paper derives a second-order sufficient condition in differential form for a local minimum of the nonconvex nonlinear programming problem under the requirement of twice continuous differentiability. The condition is complementary to the differential form of the Kuhn-Tucker necessary conditions and involves the positive definiteness of a matrix of constrained second derivatives of rank and order equal to the number of variables having vanishing first constrained derivatives. By using linear information, the condition avoids consideration of the entire second-order portion of the Taylor expansion of the Lagrangian. An example illustrating the test is included.
Advanced Biologically-Inspired Flapping Wing Structure Development

This study examines the possibility to develop a manufacturing method to build a complicated composite structure comparable to insect wings. Stimulated by the research in flapping wing micro air vehicles, a wing structure that can be controlled with stiffness and mass distribution during manufacturing can enable complicated kinematics and efficient aerodynamics. Insects demonstrate superior flight performance and therefore their wings are good examples for building an artificial counterpart. Cicada wings are selected in this work for emulation. An artificial composite wing is built with computer numerical controlled tooling and manual fabrication, with similar vein pattern. The wings are compared with measurements of mass distribution in the spanwise direction. The results show that the composite reinforcement topology and cross section variation allow the two wings to have very similar property trends. Several difficulties are overcome in this work: replicating the cicada wing vein pattern, fabricating small composite structure components and measuring their weight distribution.
Na+-H+ exchanger expression in vascular smooth muscle of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats

The Na(+)-H+ exchanger has important modulatory effects on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and contractility. Increased Na(+)-H+ exchange activity is a general property of many tissues, including mesenteric artery and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). In the present work, we investigated whether alterations in the steady-state levels of specific Na(+)-H+ exchanger mRNA isoforms (NHE-1 through NHE-4) are associated with the observed increases in exchanger activity. Poly(A+) mRNA prepared from 12-week-old hypertensive SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) aorta, kidney, and intestine was hybridized to cDNAs specific for each NHE isoform. By Northern blot analysis, NHE-1 was detected in all tissues as well as cultured vascular smooth muscle cells and was not regulated differently in SHR compared with WKY tissues. There was no expression of NHE-2, NHE-3, or NHE-4 in SHR and WKY aortas or in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from SHR and WKY aortas. Stimulation of NHE-1 mRNA expression by growth factors was similar in cultured SHR and WKY vascular smooth muscle cells. We conclude that the previously observed increase in exchanger activity in blood vessels and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells of the SHR is not caused by induction of the NHE-2, NHE-3, and NHE-4 isoforms or by alterations in steady-state NHE-1 mRNA expression. These findings suggest that posttranslational regulation of the Na(+)-H+ exchanger is responsible for increased activity in the SHR.
Constitutive Repression of Interleukin-1α in Endothelial Cells

Activation of complement stimulates inflammation and provides an initial vigorous defense against infection. Insertion of the membrane attack complex in cell membranes of vascular endothelial cells induces changes in cell differentiation that promote coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, and immunity. These changes are mediated by production of interleukin (IL)-1α by endothelial cells, which acts locally on endothelial cells to contain infection and promote healing of the affected site. In healthy tissues, however, promoting coagulation and inflammation would be dysphysiologic. Accordingly, endothelial cell activation by the membrane attack complex depends on both transcriptional regulation of IL-1α and availability of that cytokine to broadly modify endothelial cell physiology. Here, we report that the IL-1α gene contains a suppressor sequence that cooperates with histone modification to regulate production of IL-1α by endothelial cells. The suppressor sequence binds C/EBP (CCAAT enhancer–binding protein) family DNA-binding proteins isolated from the nucleus of quiescent endothelial cells. These results suggest constitutive suppression of IL-1α maintains quiescence of endothelium and that terminal complement complexes remove that suppression, allowing IL-1α transcription and, ultimately, activation of endothelium to proceed.
Leisure and play in Plato's teaching and philosophy of learning

Abstract A detailed investigation of Plato's dialogues reveals that he believed leisure was a central purpose for teaching the liberal arts. Schools should teach citizens not to escape leisure by choosing to work excessively and to turn instead to virtue, embodied in the state in the day‐to‐day practice of the liberal arts. But play was Plato's teaching method. Children learned best in playful activities that attracted their enthusiasms, that “turned the eye of their souls” to the Good and True. Similarly, play was the best way for adults to learn and do philosophy, and it was the only way to discover new truth. Play was also central to the Socratic method. Plato discovered that the dialogue, at its highest and most serious levels, was playing for teacher and student alike. Even though the main thrust of playful teaching was to turn people toward the truth and cause them to do philosophy themselves, somewhat paradoxically Plato offered conclusions based on the realization of playing. Experiencing “this is...
High normal fasting glucose level in obese youth: a marker for insulin resistance and beta cell dysregulation

Aims/hypothesis A high but normal fasting plasma glucose level in adults is a risk factor for future development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. We investigated whether normal fasting plasma glucose levels (<5.60 mmol/l) are associated with decreases in insulin sensitivity and beta cell function, as well as an adverse cardiovascular profile in obese youth. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis in a multiethnic sample of 1,020 obese youth (614 girls and 406 boys; mean age 12.9 years [CI 95% 12.7–13.1], BMI z score 2.34 [CI 95% 2.31–2.38]) with normal fasting plasma glucose. All participants had a standard OGTT, with calculation of indices of insulin sensitivity and beta cell function. For the analysis, prepubertal and pubertal participants were stratified into quartiles of normal fasting plasma glucose. Results We observed a significant increase in fasting insulin and AUC 2 h glucose across quartiles. Pronounced changes were observed in insulin sensitivity and secretion, particularly in the pubertal group. Moreover, the odds of presenting with impaired glucose tolerance increased by 4.5% with each 0.06 mmol/l increase in fasting plasma glucose. No significant differences in cardiovascular indices were seen across quartiles. Conclusions/interpretation These data suggest that in obese youth, independent of age, BMI z score, sex, family history and ethnicity, insulin sensitivity and secretion decline when moving from low to high normal fasting plasma glucose. The simple measure of fasting plasma glucose could assist clinicians in identifying children for targeted diabetes screening and subsequent lifestyle management.
Practical limitations of aerosol separation by a tandem differential mobility analyzer–aerosol particle mass analyzer

A cavity ring-down spectrometer and condensation particle counter were used to investigate the limitations in the separation of singly and multiply charged aerosol particles by a tandem differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and aerosol particle mass analyzer (APM). The impact of particle polydispersity and morphology was investigated using three materials: nearly-monodisperse polystyrene latex nanospheres (PSL); polydisperse, nearly-spherical ammonium sulfate (AS) and polydisperse lacey fractal soot agglomerates. PSL and AS particles were easily resolved as a function of charge. For fresh soot, the presence of multiply charged particles severely affects the isolation of the singly charged particles. In cases where the DMA-APM was unable to fully resolve the singly charged particles of interest, the peak mass deviated by up to 13 % leading to errors in the mass specific extinction cross section of over 100 %. For measurements of non-spherical particles, non-symmetrical distributions of concentration as a function of mass were a sign of the presence of multiply charged particles. Under these conditions, the effects of multiply charged particles can be reduced by using a second charge neutralizer after the DMA and prior to the APM. Dilution of the aerosol stream serves to decrease the total number concentration of particles and does not remove the contributions of multiply charged particles.
Aliens in the WASP Nest: Ethnocultural Diversity in the Antebellum Urban South

The South has been more haunted by its past and thus more shrouded in myth than the rest of the United States. Needing myths about their past to justify their present, southerners have shared in national myths -often imparting special emphases and nuances to them -while developing myths unique to their own region. In the nineteenth century, the need for distinctive regional myths grew from extraordinary regional traumas: the white South's intransigent maintenance of racial slavery (after abolition had prevailed elsewhere in the country), the bloody military defeat of the Civil War, and the violent struggle over the rights of black southerners during Reconstruction. White southerners' consequent attachment to racism, to a martyrological vision of the Lost Cause, and to a view of Reconstruction as a "tragic era" all proved the exculpatory and romanticizing power of myth and discouraged challenges to the region's system of racial discrimination and exploitation. Integral to this complex of myths was the belief that the Civil War generation of white southerners embodied an Anglo-Saxon ethnocultural purity, symbolizing not only their virtue but also a unity that had never truly existed among them. This myth helped apotheosize the morally and culturally besieged defenders of slavery, states' rights, and the Confederacy. Later generations of historians have perpetuated some of the distortions of this myth, even though most have sought to understand the distinctive traits of what has seemed a unique region, not to justify slavery and secession. Some historians have dissented from the prevailing view of antebellum white southerners as homogeneously Anglo-Saxon in their roots. In her 1940 monographic study of foreigners in the Confederacy, Ella Lonn began by describing this deeply entrenched myth: "Probably no impression has been more deeply cherished by the population living south of Mason and Dixon's line and none more widely accepted by those who dwell north of that line than that which affirms that in the veins of
CB-12LIPID DROPLET ACCUMULATION IN VON HIPPEL-LINDAU CNS HEMANGIOBLASTOMAS IS A MANIFESTATION OF HIF OVEREXPRESSION

CNS hemangioblastomas (HBs) are a major manifestation of the Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) inherited tumor syndrome. Loss of functional VHL protein results in constitutive upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and its downstream targets (e.g. VEGF) in affected cell types. The HB tumor cell exhibits a characteristic histologic lipid-laden "foamy" appearance, the biological basis of which has not been examined. Lipid accumulation in cells is an organized process and involves specific proteins that assist in assembling newly synthesized lipids into protein-covered droplets. The most studied lipid droplet proteins belong to the PAT family, named for the first three members: perilipin, adipose differentiation-related protein, and 47-kDa tail-interacting protein, now referred to as perilipin (PLIN) 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Of these, only PLIN2 is a HIF target gene, consistent with our observation that PLIN2 in glioblastoma occurs only focally in perinecrotic/hypoxic areas. We hypothesized that PLIN2 would be strongly upregulated in HB tumor cells. Twenty-two VHL-associated hemangioblastomas were examined immunohistochemically for PLIN1, -2, and -3. PLIN1 was absent and PLIN3 was observed only occasionally in small focal patches. However, all 22 HBs stained positively and robustly for PLIN2, which clearly outlined the lipid droplets in almost all HB tumor cells. In many cases, these droplets had enlarged and appeared to occupy the entire cytoplasm of the tumor cell. Double immunofluorescence indicated PLIN2 presence in the tumor/stromal, but not endothelial, cell compartment of HBs, another observation consistent with PLIN2 upregulation via HIF. The widespread, intense, and selective expression of PLIN2 in HBs suggests that HIF, via PLIN2 overexpression, promotes the extensive lipid droplet accumulation characteristic of these tumors. The extent to which this distinctive upregulation of PLIN2 has ramifications for understanding the biology of these tumors, or might be exploited for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, remains to be determined.
Situational Factors Affecting Forecast Accuracy

Forecasts generated by five popular extrapolations are compared with each other and with a random-walk model over nearly 1500 situations. Relative to the random walk, forecasting with extrapolation...
Long-term Follow-up of Patients With Lyme Disease: Longitudinal Analysis of Clinical and Quality-of-life Measures

Background. Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Some patients report persistent or intermittent subjective symptoms of mild to moderate intensity after antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease. We sought to evaluate trends in clinical and quality-of-life (QOL) measures in a cohort of patients with Lyme disease enrolled in a natural history study at the National Institutes of Health from 2001–2014. Methods. QOL was measured using the self-administered 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) during study follow-up. Primary outcomes included mean physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health QOL composite scores and reporting long-term (≥2 years) symptoms, adjusted for Lyme disease stage and severity at diagnosis. Results. Overall, 101 patients with an average follow-up time of 3.9 years (range, 0.5–11.3 years) were included. At first visit, overall mean QOL scores were below the US population mean for both PCS (45.6 ± 10.4) and MCS (47.3 ± 11.5) but increased to just above the national average after 3 years of follow-up for both PCS (50.7 ± 9.6) and MCS (50.1 ± 10.0). Baseline QOL scores were lowest in those with late disease (P < 0.01) but also increased by the end of follow-up to national averages. In multivariate analysis, the only factors significantly associated with long-term symptoms or lower QOL scores were other comorbidities unrelated to Lyme disease. Conclusions. Comorbid conditions can play a role in the reporting of long-term symptoms and overall QOL of Lyme disease patients and should be considered in the evaluation of these patients. Clinical Trials Registration. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00028080","term_id":"NCT00028080"}}NCT00028080.
Waiting in the seat of sensation: the Brown existentialism of Ryan Rivera

This article considers the work of queer Puerto Rican avant-garde multimedia artist, Ryan Rivera, by focusing on four of his very short experimental videos from his series Body/Psyche. The author argues that his art performs a mode of Brownness that operates as a shared sense of endurance between both the spectator and artist, or in what the author calls an aesthetics of mediated ontologies in brief durations. Through an engagement with Heideggerian phenomenology, the author contends that Rivera's sardonic, aggressive, and histrionic videos situate the viewer directly in the seat of sensation where Brownness unfolds as a waiting-with and a waiting-on, oriented by limited control over one's labor. Violence and melodrama intensify and elongate the short timeframe of each video, enacting Brownness-as-waiting. The author also highlights how waiting is not a neutral act: it is a specific aesthetic and political exercise for a Brown subject that performs within what the author terms, a genealogy of Brown existe...
Deal or No Deal? The End of the Cold War and the U.S. Offer to Limit NATO Expansion

Did the United States promise the Soviet Union during the 1990 negotiations on German reunification that NATO would not expand into Eastern Europe? Since the end of the Cold War, an array of Soviet/Russian policymakers have charged that NATO expansion violates a U.S. pledge advanced in 1990; in contrast, Western scholars and political leaders dispute that the United States made any such commitment. Recently declassified U.S. government documents provide evidence supporting the Soviet/Russian position. Although no non-expansion pledge was ever codified, U.S. policymakers presented their Soviet counterparts with implicit and informal assurances in 1990 strongly suggesting that NATO would not expand in post–Cold War Europe if the Soviet Union consented to German reunification. The documents also show, however, that the United States used the reunification negotiations to exploit Soviet weaknesses by depicting a mutually acceptable post–Cold War security environment, while actually seeking a system dominated ...
Case 11: American Indian

An 84-year-old American Indian woman is brought to the emergency department at a tertiary care hospital by Advanced Life Support ambulance from an Indian Health Services clinic on a Pueblo approximately 2 hours away. She is accompanied by her daughter, who brought her to the clinic from home due to cough and fever. She is a frail-appearing older woman in a hospital gown, lying under a traditional blanket. She is on oxygen by non-rebreather. The patient is somnolent but easily arousable to voice. She speaks some English, but Navajo is her primary language. The resident has difficulty understanding her responses and is not certain that the patient understands her questions.
DEVS-SCHEME IN THE LARGER SCHEME OF THINGS

This chapter attempts to clarify and evaluate the contribution of DEVS-Scheme to state-of-the-art modelling and simulation. This is done in two ways. First, the “selling point” attributes of DEVSScheme are enumerated and briefly described. How DEVS-Scheme can be extended further along these same lines is is also discussed. Second, other properties of simulation environments are considered. Some of these are incompatible with our approach, some can be incorporated fairly readily. The selection of the first list of properties obviously lays out a slanted playing field in favor of DEVS-Scheme relative to other possibilities. Hence, we present the second set, a kind of wish list, gleaned from colleagues and the literature, as a balancing perspective. Together, the properties described should improve our “knowledge base” for designing and evaluating modelling and simulation environments of the future.
The Effects of Atmosphere on the Sintering of Ultrafine-Grained Tungsten with Ti

Tungsten (W) is a brittle material at room temperature making it very difficult to fabricate. Although the lack of ductility remains a difficult challenge, nano-sized and ultrafine-grained (UFG) structures offer the potential to overcome tungsten’s room-temperature brittleness. One way to manufacture UFG W is to compact and sinter nano-sized W powder. It is challenging, however, to control grain growth during sintering. As one method to inhibit grain growth, the effect of Ti-based additives on the densification and grain growth of nano-W powders was investigated in this study. Addition of 1% Ti into tungsten led to more than a 63% decrease in average grain size of sintered samples at comparable density levels. It was found that sintering in Ar yielded a finer grain size than sintering in H2 at similar densities. The active diffusion mechanisms during sintering were different for W-1% Ti nano powders sintered in Ar and H2.
Nonintrusive pilot fatigue monitoring

Cognitive abilities are diminished when individuals are deprived of sleep. Due to the safety risks posed while flying fatigued, the effectiveness of a nonintrusive pilot fatigue monitoring system was evaluated by classifying yoke inputs. An AUC value of 0.9 was achieved. Critically, the system remained unobtrusive to the pilots by passively observing yoke behavior.
“Civilization” and the Self-Critical Tradition

Of all the terms in modern social science, none is more reviled by academics today than “civilization.” Post-colonial theorists such as Aime Cesaire and Edward Said have influenced generations of scholars who see the term as little more than a veil for scientific racism and colonial aggression. The sociologists Norbert Elias and Pierre Bourdieu have also portrayed European conceptions of civilization as justifications for social hierarchy and exclusion. This article highlights the convergent denunciation of “civilization” by these theorists. The article provides a fresh perspective on the history of the word “civilization” by highlighting the role of the term in generating an atmosphere of self-critical reflection. The word “civilization” post-dates, and bears a strong trace of, Rousseau’s indictment of modern society in The Discourse on Inequality. The first author to use the word “civilization,” the Marquis de Mirabeau, spoke in a Rouseauian fashion of “false civilization” and “the barbarity of our civilizations.” In nineteenth- and twentieth-century usages, “civilization” was a central term in the framing of questions about the contradictory nature of progress. The term even figures prominently in debates about the basis of colonial authority—debates sponsored by some colonial administrators themselves. Some of the top colonial administrators in the early twentieth were pioneers in advancing cultural anthropology. These administrators forged the viewpoint that natives had valuable “civilizations” of their own. The radical theorists discussed in this article have portrayed “civilization” as a sign of colonial arrogance inherited from a hyper-rational and chauvinistic Enlightenment. In contrast, this article traces how a keyterm was born in the liberal atmosphere of the Enlightenment and generated an expanding space of self-doubt afterward. When we appreciate that a large slice of modern Western civilization is a critical inquiry about the meaning of itself, and when we recognize that the language of civilization helped create a public sphere of doubt even within the colonial enterprise, we can conclude that the radical theorists discussed in this essay are less than reliable guides to the contours of European cultural history.
The somatic mutation landscape of premalignant colorectal adenoma.

Objective There are few studies which characterised the molecular alterations in premalignant colorectal adenomas. Our major goal was to establish colorectal adenoma genome atlas and identify molecular markers of progression from colorectal adenoma to adenocarcinoma. Design Whole-exome sequencing and targeted sequencing were carried out in 149 adenoma samples and paired blood from patients with conventional adenoma or sessile serrated adenoma to characterise the somatic mutation landscape for premalignant colorectal lesions. The identified somatic mutations were compared with those in colorectal cancer (CRC) samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas. A supervised random forest model was employed to identify gene panels differentiating adenoma from CRC. Results Similar somatic mutation frequencies, but distinctive driver mutations, were observed in sessile serrated adenomas and conventional adenomas. The final model included 20 genes and was able to separate the somatic mutation profile of colorectal adenoma and adenocarcinoma with an area under the curve of 0.941. Conclusion The findings of this project hold potential to better identify patients with adenoma who may be candidates for targeted surveillance programmes and preventive interventions to reduce the incidence of CRC.
Checklists and Criteria for Evaluating the Cost and Schedule Estimating Capabilities of Software Organizations

Abstract : This report provides criteria and checklists for evaluating the capability of an org an ization's software estimating process and the infrastructure that supports it. It also supplies guidelines tor good estimating practice. The checklists and guidelines can be used to elicit information for process assessments and to motivate and guide organizations in process improvement efforts.
Synthetic Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins.

Abstract : Current development in 'Synthetic Porphyrins and Metalloporphyrins' which has been rapid and has impact in various disciplines in science is reviewed.
Laboratory models of treatment relapse and mitigation techniques.

Behavioral treatments arranging differential reinforcement effectively treat severe problem behavior while interventions are underway. However, many events challenge these treatments clinically, thereby producing relapse of problem behavior. This paper reviews six laboratory models of treatment rela
Understanding Parental Ethnotheories and Practices About Healthy Eating: Exploring the Developmental Niche of Preschoolers

Purpose:To understand parental ethnotheories (ie, belief systems) and practices about preschoolers’ healthy eating guided by the developmental niche framework.Design:Qualitative hermeneutic phenome...
Clinical Spectrum of West Nile Virus Neuroinvasive Disease

West Nile virus (WNV) is the most common arbovirus infection in the United States. The diagnosis requires consideration of not only a broad spectrum of presenting symptoms, ranging from a mild febrile illness to severe encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis, but also public health risk factors and seasonality. There is no approved targeted therapy for WNV, so treatment relies on supportive care, management of neurologic sequelae and airway, treatment of other systems including the eye, and aggressive rehabilitation. Here, we describe a series of 3 cases of WNV encountered in September 2018 at one institution. First, we describe a case of WNV encephalitis with worsened dyskinesias and a relatively good recovery. Second, we describe a severe WNV encephalitis with overlying motor neuron involvement with a poor outcome. Finally, we describe a case of a WNV meningitis with significant bilateral chorioretinitis, an underappreciated complication of WNV infections. Through these cases, we review the epidemiology of WNV, risk factors for infection, the neurologic sequalae and long-term outcomes, and the importance of recognizing ocular involvement to prevent ophthalmologic complications.
Motivators and inhibitors to change: Why and how geoscience faculty modify their course content and teaching methods

The call to improve undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education can be answered by undergraduate faculty modifying their course content and teaching methods to ...
Practical Considerations in Management of Non-eosinophilic Asthma

Asthma is heterogeneous disease that can be broadly classified into eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic asthma based on sputum and or blood eosinophils. Noneosinophilic asthma can be further subdivided by predominant inflammatory cell types: neutrophilic, mixed granulocytic, and paucigranulocytic asthma. Patients with non-eosinophilic asthma represent approximately half of all asthma cases in adults and have been shown to have the full spectrum of disease, ranging from mild to severe asthma. Non-eosinophilic asthma accounts for approximately half of all asthma cases, however because its mechanisms are not well understood there are a lack of available therapies targeted to this population. This chapter discusses the major phenotypes of Non-eosinophilic and current treatment approaches.
School Deferred: When Bias Affects School Leaders:

In the classroom, Black students are disciplined more frequently and more severely for the same misbehaviors as White students. Though teachers have influence over disciplinary actions, the final d...
Understanding primary care-oncology relationships within a changing healthcare environment.

Management of care transitions from primary care into and out of oncology is critical for optimal care of cancer patients and cancer survivors. There is limited understanding of existing primary care-oncology relationships within the context of the changing health care environment. Through a comparative case study of 14 innovative primary care practices throughout the United States (U.S.), we examined relationships between primary care and oncology settings to identify attributes contributing to strengthened relationships in diverse settings. Field researchers observed practices for 10–12 days, recording fieldnotes and conducting interviews. We created a reduced dataset of all text related to primary care-oncology relationships, and collaboratively identified patterns to characterize these relationships through an inductive “immersion/crystallization” analysis process. Nine of the 14 practices discussed having either formal or informal primary care-oncology relationships. Nearly all formal primary care-oncology relationships were embedded within healthcare systems. The majority of private, independent practices had more informal relationships between individual primary care physicians and specific oncologists. Practices with formal relationships noted health system infrastructure that facilitates transfer of patient information and timely referrals. Practices with informal relationships described shared commitment, trust, and rapport with specific oncologists. Regardless of relationship type, challenges reported by primary care settings included lack of clarity about roles and responsibilities during cancer treatment and beyond. With the rapid transformation of U.S. healthcare towards system ownership of primary care practices, efforts are needed to integrate strengths of informal primary care-oncology relationships in addition to formal system driven relationships.
Post-Doc Interviews in the Life Sciences: An Often-Overlooked Process that Is Susceptible to Bias

Post-doctoral training is a critical career stage for researchers in the life sciences, yet interviewing for a post-doctoral position is largely an unregulated process. Without regulation, interviews are susceptible to unconscious biases that may lead to discrimination against certain demographic groups (e.g., women and minorities). Using data from an online survey of post-docs, we show that interview procedures for post-doctoral positions in the life sciences are correlated with several factors (e.g., candidate demographics) in ways that may bias the outcome of interviews. We discuss key components of interviews and suggest that conducting standardized, well-planned interviews that are less susceptible to unconscious biases may help increase the retention of women and under-represented minorities in the life sciences.
Mice With Increased Numbers of Polyploid Hepatocytes Maintain Regenerative Capacity But Develop Fewer Hepatocellular Carcinomas Following Chronic Liver Injury.

Background & Aims Thirty to 90% of hepatocytes contain whole-genome duplications, but little is known about the fates or functions of these polyploid cells or how they affect development of liver disease. We investigated the effects of continuous proliferative pressure, observed in chronically damaged liver tissues, on polyploid cells. Methods We studied Rosa-rtTa mice (controls) and Rosa-rtTa;TRE-short hairpin RNA mice, which have reversible knockdown of anillin, actin binding protein (ANLN). Transient administration of doxycycline increases the frequency and degree of hepatocyte polyploidy without permanently altering levels of ANLN. Mice were then given diethylnitrosamine and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce mutations, chronic liver damage, and carcinogenesis. We performed partial hepatectomies to test liver regeneration and then RNA-sequencing to identify changes in gene expression. Lineage tracing was used to rule out repopulation from non-hepatocyte sources. We imaged dividing hepatocytes to estimate the frequency of mitotic errors during regeneration. We also performed whole-exome sequencing of 54 liver nodules from patients with cirrhosis to quantify aneuploidy, a possible outcome of polyploid cell divisions. Results Liver tissues from control mice given CCl4 had significant increases in ploidy compared with livers from uninjured mice. Mice with knockdown of ANLN had hepatocyte ploidy above physiologic levels and developed significantly fewer liver tumors after administration of diethylnitrosamine and CCl4 compared with control mice. Increased hepatocyte polyploidy was not associated with altered regenerative capacity or tissue fitness, changes in gene expression, or more mitotic errors. Based on lineage-tracing experiments, non-hepatocytes did not contribute to liver regeneration in mice with increased polyploidy. Despite an equivalent rate of mitosis in hepatocytes of differing ploidies, we found no lagging chromosomes or micronuclei in mitotic polyploid cells. In nodules of human cirrhotic liver tissue, there was no evidence of chromosome-level copy number variations. Conclusions Mice with increased polyploid hepatocytes develop fewer liver tumors following chronic liver damage. Remarkably, polyploid hepatocytes maintain the ability to regenerate liver tissues during chronic damage without generating mitotic errors, and aneuploidy is not commonly observed in cirrhotic livers. Strategies to increase numbers of polypoid hepatocytes might be effective in preventing liver cancer.
Day by Day: Investigating Variation in Elementary Mathematics Instruction That Supports the Common Core:

The Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSS-M) aim to engage students in complex mathematical practices, including modeling, reasoning, and argumentation. Currently, little is known about...