cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Responses of benthic macroinvertebrates to environmental changes associated with urbanization in nine metropolitan areas

Responses of benthic macroinvertebrates along gradients of urban intensity were investigated in nine metropolitan areas across the United States. Invertebrate assemblages in metropolitan areas where forests or shrublands were being converted to urban land were strongly related to urban intensity. In metropolitan areas where agriculture and grazing lands were being converted to urban land, invertebrate assemblages showed much weaker or nonsignificant relations with urban intensity because sites with low urban intensity were already degraded by agriculture. Ordination scores, the number of EPT taxa, and the mean pollution-tolerance value of organisms at a site were the best indicators of changes in assemblage condition. Diversity indices, functional groups, behavior, and dominance metrics were not good indicators of urbanization. Richness metrics were better indicators of urban effects than were abundance metrics, and qualitative samples collected from multiple habitats gave similar results to those of single habitat quantitative samples (riffles or woody snags) in all metropolitan areas. Changes in urban intensity were strongly correlated with a set of landscape variables that was consistent across all metropolitan areas. In contrast, the instream environmental variables that were strongly correlated with urbanization and invertebrate responses varied among metropolitan areas. The natural environmental setting determined the biological, chemical, and physical instream conditions upon which urbanization acts and dictated the differences in responses to urbanization among metropolitan areas. Threshold analysis showed little evidence for an initial period of resistance to urbanization. Instead, assemblages were degraded at very low levels of urbanization, and response rates were either similar across the gradient or higher at low levels of urbanization. Levels of impervious cover that have been suggested as protective of streams (5-10%) were associated with significant assemblage degradation and were not protective.
Fusion–fission–fusion fast ignition plasma focus

Abstract A crucial advancement in the problem for the controlled release of energy by nuclear fusion appears possible by an autocatalytic fusion–fission–fusion microexplosion, where the deuterium–tritium (DT) fusion reaction of a dense magnetized DT plasma placed inside a thin liner made up of U238, Th232 (perhaps B10) releases a sufficient number of 14 MeV fusion neutrons which by fission reactions in the liner implode the liner on the DT plasma. The liner implosion increases the DT plasma density and with it the neutron output accelerating the fast fission reactions. Following the fast fission assisted ignition, a thermonuclear detonation wave can propagate into unburnt DT to reach a high gain. The simplest way for the realization of this concept appears to be the dense plasma focus configuration, amended with a nested high voltage magnetically insulated transmission line for the heating of the DT. The large magnetic field needed for the α-particle entrapment of the DT fusion reaction is here generated by the thermomagnetic Nernst effect, amplifying the magnetic field of the plasma focus current sheet.
A "Step recovery" switching transistor

Fast rise time pulses can be generated with a special high-frequency silicon transistor structure having a collector diffusion profile designed to control the charge storage in the collector. When this transistor is switched out of saturation, the field in the collector forces the stored minority carriers towards the center of the base-collector junction. At the end of the storage phase, the transistor switches abruptly to the open condition in the same manner as a step recovery diode. The switching current flows through the base, and thus a very low base resistance is required. This is accomplished using a high-frequency interdigitated transistor geometry with metal over oxide connections. The transistor also requires a uniform impurity profile through the whole collector base junction which is obtained in a mesa-type collector junction. An unusual structure is used to combine these two requirements.
The empirical case for two systems of reasoning.

Distinctions have been proposed between systems of reasoning for centuries. This article distills properties shared by many of these distinctions and characterizes the resulting systems in light of recent findings and theoretical developments. One system is associative because its computations reflect similarity structure and relations of temporal contiguity. The other is "rule based" because it operates on symbolic structures that have logical content and variables and because its computations have the properties that are normally assigned to rules. The systems serve complementary functions and can simultaneously generate different solutions to a reasoning problem. The rule-based system can suppress the associative system but not completely inhibit it. The article reviews evidence in favor of the distinction and its characterization. One of the oldest conundrums in psychology is whether people are best conceived as parallel processors of information who operate along diffuse associative links or as analysts who operate by deliberate and sequential manipulation of internal representations. Are inferences drawn through a network of learned associative pathways or through application of a kind of"psychologic" that manipulates symbolic tokens in a rule-governed way? The debate has raged (again) in cognitive psychology for almost a decade now. It has pitted those who prefer models of mental phenomena to be built out of networks of associative devices that pass activation around in parallel and distributed form (the way brains probably function) against those who prefer models built out of formal languages in which symbols are composed into sentences that are processed sequentially (the way computers function). An obvious solution to the conundrum is to conceive of the
Perspectives from the President's Commission on Social Security Reform

Recently we were asked to serve on the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security (CSSS) along with 14 other members drawn equally from both major political parties. The Commission's charge was to provide recommendations to modernize the Social Security system, restore its fiscal soundness, and develop a workable system of Personal Retirement Accounts. This paper explains how the Commission arrived at some of its recommendations and the role that economics played in contributing to these recommendations. We describe the key institutional constraints confronting efforts to reform Social Security and how these constraints influenced Commission decisions. We also illustrate how economics research influenced the Commission's analysis of how to structure personal accounts, ways to enhance traditional Social Security program finances, and means of measuring the extent of financial progress achieved through reform.
Multi-domain cognitive optical software defined networks with market-driven brokers

We propose a new multi-domain networking paradigm where multiple broker agents compete to provide desirable inter-networking services to autonomous systems (ASes) through market-driven incentives. Broker agents with cognitive intelligence can adaptively offer end-to-end performance on a distributed platform involving ASes.
Invariant fringe-adjusted joint transform correlation-based target tracking in FLIR sequences

Presented in this paper is a fringe-adjusted joint transform correlator (FJTC) based invariant target tracking of forwar looking infra-red (FLIR) image sequences. The proposed FJTC based tracking approach employed a modified synthetic discriminant function (SDF) concept together with an efficient camera motion compensation technique to accommodate the problem of target signature variation due to in-plane/out-of-plane rotations, scale variations, noise, and bad frames. The proposed technique can track small objects comprising of only a few pixels and is capable of compensating the high ego-motion of the sensor. The robustness of the proposed technique is demonstrated with computer simulation performed on sequences of eal life FLIR imagery taken from an airborne moving platform.
Monetary Policy and Politics in Mid-Eighteenth-Century Sweden: A Comment

Political power in Sweden from 1739 to 1772 was centered in the Swedish Riksdag, a representative body composed of the Four Estates: burghers, nobles, clergy, and peasants.2 Within this organization, the mercantile class predominated by virtue of its control of the influential House of Burghers when the Riksdag was in session and its control of the Secret Committee, which directed government policy when the Riksdag was not in session (p. 739).
Yemeni Unity and Saudi Security

The definitive version of this document can be found at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com This document was created using OCR technology, and may contain minor discrepancies from the published document.
The analysis of protein pharmaceuticals: Near future advances

The analysis of protein pharmaceuticals currently involves a complex series of chromatographic, electrophoretic, spectroscopic, immunological and biological measurements to unequivocally establish their identity, purity and integrity. In this review, I briefly consider the possibility that at least the functional identity and integrity of a protein drug might be established by either a single analysis involving X-ray diffraction, NMR or mass spectrometry, or by a chromatographically based multi-detector system in which a number of critical parameters are essentially simultaneously determined. The use of a protein standard to obtain comparative measurements and new advances in the technology of each of these methods is emphasized. A current major obstacle to the implementation of these approaches is the frequent microheterogeneity of protein preparations. The evolution of biological assays into measurements examining more defined intracellular signal transduction events or based on novel biosensors as well as the analysis of vaccines is also briefly discussed.
LORE: a Lightweight Object REpository for semistructured data

LORE: A Lightweight Object REpository for Semistructured Data Dallan Quass, Jennifer Widom, Roy Goldman, Kevin Haas, Qingshan Luo, Jason McHugh, Svetlozar Nestorov, Anand Rajaraman, Hugo Rivero, Serge Abiteboul, Jeff Ullman, Janet Wiener Stanford University Database Group, http://db.stanford.edu The number of information sources accessible electronically is growing rapidly. Many of these sources store and export unstructured data in addition to or instead of structured data. In most cases, however, the unstructured data is not entirely devoid of structure, i.e., the data is semistructured. We consider data to be semistructured when there is no schema fixed or known in advance and when the data may be incomplete or irregular. For example, HTML files on the World-Wide Web usually contain some structure, but often the data is irregular or In addition, data integrated from multiple, heterogeneous information sources often is semistructured. Storing and querying semistructured data poses considerably different problems and requirements than those for traditional databases, where data storage and query processing are dependent upon structured data. Relational, nested-relational, and object-oriented database systems, for example, all depend upon the data having a known and regular schema. We have developed a system called LORE (for Lightweight Object REpositoryand a query language called LOREL (for LORE aimed specifically at handling semistructured data. The data model used in Lore is a "lightweight" object model called OEM (for Object Exchange Model) [3]. OEM is a simple, self-describing model with object nesting and identity. Because we use Lore primarily for storing and querying data obtained from other information sources, Lore itself also is "lightweight," in the sense that it is a repository and a query engine but not a full-feature database management system. Currently, Lore does not provide transaction management, concurrency control, or recovery. Lorel, the query
A low-complexity high-performance noncoherent receiver for GFSK signals

This paper presents an efficient algorithm for noncoherent demodulation of Gaussian frequency shift keying (GFSK) signals when the receiver is operating in a decision-feedback mode to aid the current symbol demodulation based on the previous decision bits. Enlightened by the data-aided noncoherent demodulation of DPSK signal, the maximum likelihood (ML) noncoherent receiver for GFSK signals is derived. The proposed algorithm adopts a recursive structure that significantly reduces the computational cost compared with the standard ML methods. The simulation results show that the proposed method achieves comparable bit-error-rate (BER) performance with the matched filter band (MFB) receiver using an observation period of 7 bits, but with two orders of magnitude lower computation complexity.
Microwave radiometer inter-calibration using the vicarious calibration method

The vicarious cold and warm calibration methods of Ruf, and Brown and Ruf, have been used to assess the calibration of the WindSat radiometer as well as the biases of the TMI, SSM/I F13 and SSM/I F14 radiometers relative to WindSat. WindSat biases computed as a function of scan position are consistent with a roll offset of the instrument of ⋅2° and a pitch offset of ⋅15°, and biases in the 6 GHz and 22 GHz channels of up to 8 Kelvins are consistent with an obstruction in the feed-horn edge of scan fields of view. Beam fractions and effective brightness temperatures of the obstructions are estimated for each affected channels using both the vicarious cold and warm calibration observations to produce an end-to-end WindSat calibration. Computed biases of TMI, SSM/I F13 and SSM/I F14 relative to WindSat agree well with independent estimates.
A comparison of the moderating effect of tourism reliance on the economic development for islands and other countries

Abstract Tourism is usually one of the top industries in most countries, especially islands. However, there is some question as to whether there is a negative potential impact if a country relies too much on tourism as a means of economic development to the detriment of other industries such as manufacturing and agriculture. The purpose of this paper is to examine the moderating effect of tourism reliance on the relationship between tourism development and economic development for regular countries and island economies, including “small island developing states” (SIDS). This study uses quantile regression on panel data from the WDI database from 1995 through 2014 for all of the countries that report tourism and economic data. The findings demonstrate that tourism reliance does have a moderating effect on the relationship between tourism development and economic development for all countries, but mainly at higher levels of economic development.
Neural Coding of Sound with Cochlear Damage

The cochlea is a delicate and complex structure designed to transduce sound into the electrical activity of neurons. Damage to any of the components of the cochlea can result in hearing impairment. The development, structure, and vulnerability of the cochlea are the subject of the other chapters in this volume. Here, the focus is on the consequences of cochlear malfunction for the representation of sound in the brain. To make the task feasible in the face of the many known physiological causes of hearing impairment, this chapter discusses the well-studied effects of damage to inner (IHCs) or outer hair cells (OHCs) and to spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). For most cochlear malfunctions, the hair cells and the SGNs are the final common path for the effects of the damage, so that the implications of a particular type of damage can usually be understood in terms of its effects on these cells and the consequent changes in the brain. Most of the chapter focuses on the effects of acoustic trauma (i.e., exposure to a sustained loud sound), with some discussion of the effects of ototoxic substances, because these have most often been used in experimental studies to produce controlled cochlear lesions.
TGF-β signaling in mammary gland development and tumorigenesis

Ligands of the TGF-β superfamily are unique in that they signal through transmembrane receptor serine-threonine kinases, rather than tyrosine kinases. The receptor complex couples to a signal transduction pathway involving a novel family of proteins, the Smads. On phosphorylation, Smads translocate to the nucleus where they modulate transcriptional responses. However, TGF-βs can also activate the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)4 pathway, and the different biological responses to TGF-β depend to varying degrees on activation of either or both of these two pathways. The Smad pathway is a nexus for cross-talk with other signal transduction pathways and for modulation by many different interacting proteins. Despite compelling evidence that TGF-β has tumor suppressor activity in the mammary gland, neither TGF-β receptors nor Smads are genetically inactivated in human breast cancer, though receptor expression is reduced. Possible reasons are discussed in relation to the dual role of TGF-β as tumor suppressor and oncogene.
Closed-Form Solution for Axial Flux Permanent-Magnet Machines With a Traction Application Study

This research attempts to find a new closed-form solution for axial flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) machines and applies it in a traction application example. The machine types considered are with toroid and overlapping windings. The proposed closed-form solution includes analytical derivations for winding lengths, resistances, and inductances as functions of fundamental air-gap flux density and inner-to-outer diameter ratio. Finite-element analysis is used to verify the accuracy of the proposed analytical calculations. Furthermore, a parametric analysis is performed on inductances, resistances, phase back-EMFs, phase terminal voltages, efficiencies, and torque speed capability to compare for both winding types. The proposed solution should assist traction machine designers to ascertain benefits and limitations of the toroid and overlapping winding types in traction application as well as to achieve faster design results.
How to Make the Perfect Fireworks Display: Two Strategies for Hanabi

The game of Hanabi is a multiplayer cooperative card game that has many similarities to a mathematical “hat guessing game.” In Hanabi, a player does not see the cards in her own hand and must rely ...
Deducing markups from stockout behavior

Abstract Stockouts bear an inverse relation to the price markup in models with a stockout constraint on sales because stockouts cost the seller the markup of price over marginal cost. I examine stockouts in micro-CPI data, for goods comprising more than a quarter of consumer expenditures, to deduce the level and cyclicality of markups for 1988–2009. The predictable increase in stockouts, as price declines, over durables׳ product life implies markups on the order of 15 percent. For much of the sample period stockouts were acyclical, suggesting markups were acyclical. But for the latter part of the sample, including the Great Recession, stockouts are procyclical consistent with countercylical markups.
Tests of acaricides for control of Boophilus annulatus and B. microplus.

In laboratory tests, 4 strains (3 from Mexico and 1 from Texas) of the southern cattle tick, Boophilus Microplus (Canestrini), were not resistant to 9 commonly used acaricides. “Solubilized” formulations of both chlorpyrifos (2 lb/gal) and Compound 4072 (2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl) vinyl diethyl phosphate) (8 lb/gal) were as effective as emulsifiable formulations. Of 18 acaricides sprayed onto cattle artificially infested with B. microplus and with the cattle tick, B. annulatus (Say), 16 were applied at concentrations that afforded > 99% control of either or both species. Sprays of an 8 lb/gal and a diluent-free formulation (both solubilized) of Compound 4072 afforded > 99% control of both species at 0.02–0.025%. In dipping vat lests, a solubilized formulation (1 part AI:1 part Triton® X-100) of Compound 4072, after an initial charge of 0.1%, was still effective at 126 wk postcharge (end of test) though the vat contained only 0.0051% AI. Phosmet (Imidan®) in the vat at 0.25% caused poisoning in cattle but was effective for 68 wk at a concentration of 0.003% though not at 79 wk at a concentration of 0.001%.
The inhibitory effect of a dithiosemicarbazone on acute infections of Anaplasma marginale.

Summary Acute infections of Anaplasma marginale in splenectomized calves and adult cattle were inhibited by administering a micronized suspension of α-ethoxy-ethylglyoxal dithiosemicarbazone. Intravenous administration produced the best results. A comparison of treated principals with untreated infected controls showed that a single dose of 5 mg./kg. body-weight suppressed parasite development, lessened anaemia and increased the survival rate. Acute anaplasmosis did not develop in a yearling steer given a subcutaneous dose of 10 mg./kg. suspended in Freund’s incomplete adjuvant
Functional Measurement of Respiratory Muscle Motor Behaviors Using Transdiaphragmatic Pressure.

The diaphragm muscle must be able to generate sufficient forces to accomplish a range of ventilatory and non-ventilatory behaviors throughout life. Measurements of transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) can be conducted during eupnea, hypoxia (10 % O2)-hypercapnia (5 % CO2), chemical airway stimulation (i.e., sneezing), spontaneously occurring deep breaths (i.e., sighs), sustained airway or tracheal occlusion, and maximal efforts elicited via bilateral phrenic nerve stimulation, representing the full range of motor behaviors available by the diaphragm muscle. We provide detailed methods on the in vivo measurements of Pdi in mice.
Negative activation energies for carbene additions to tetramethoxyethylene

Abstract Activation energies were determined for the additions of three arylhalocarbenes to tetramethoxyethylene (TMeOE) and tetramethylethylene (TME) in pentane and decane. For addition of 3,5-dinitrophenylchlorocarbene to TMeOE in decane, E a = −10.4 ± 0.7 kcal/mol, the most negative activation energy yet encountered in a carbene–alkene addition reaction. Computational studies parallel and elucidate the experimental results.
Abstract A131: B7-H1 identifies tumor-reactive effector CD8 T cells susceptible of deletion by agonist PD-L1 antibodies

B7-H1 (aka PD-L1) blocking antibodies have been tested in the treatment of human cancers through blocking B7-H1 expressed by tumor cells; however, its impact on B7-H1 expressed by tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells is still unknown. Here, we report that tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells expressing B7-H1 were functional effector cells. An agonist antibody to PD-L1 deleted B7-H1+ PD-1+ tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells via activation of p38 MAPK, and failed to suppress tumor growth. As activation of p38 MAPK leads to CD8+ T cell apoptosis upon T cell activation, a PD-L1 antibody that activated p38 MAPK enhanced apoptosis of activated CD8+ T cells. An intracellular molecule, DNA-PKcs, was identified in association with B7-H1 and a DNA-PKcs inhibitor increased p38 MAPK activation in wild type but not in B7-H1 deficient CD8+ T cells. Our results suggest B7-H1 suppresses p38 MAPK activation via DNA-PKcs to prevent CD8+ T cell death. To maximize antitumor function, PD-L1 antibodies should be selected to avoid their collateral activation of p38 MAPK in tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells. Citation Format: Siyu Cao, Xin Liu, Xiaosheng Wu, Aaron Mansfield, Haidong Dong. B7-H1 identifies tumor-reactive effector CD8 T cells susceptible of deletion by agonist PD-L1 antibodies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Second CRI-CIMT-EATI-AACR International Cancer Immunotherapy Conference: Translating Science into Survival; 2016 Sept 25-28; New York, NY. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2016;4(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A131.
Prevention of Colorectal Cancer: Guidelines Based on New Data

Recently published good quality data are the basis for this update. The newly reported studies include randomized trials, non-randomized cohort studies, and case-control studies; some of the data had mortality reduction as the endpoint. These guidelines, which were developed by the WHO Collaborating Center for the Prevention of Colorectal Cancer at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in conjunction with an International Advisory Committee, include primary prevention, screening of average-risk individuals, screening of individuals with heritable factors for colorectal cancer, surveillance of patients with colorectal polyps, and surveillance of patients with chronic ulcerative colitis. A list of papers reviewed for this update are cited, including recently published trials evaluating faecal occult-blood testing, case-control studies of sigmoidoscopy, the National Polyp study, and familial colon cancer studies. These guidelines will help inform patients and guide physicians in their approach to the prevention of colorectal cancer.
Condensin II is anchored by TFIIIC and H3K4me3 in the mammalian genome and supports the expression of active dense gene clusters

Structural maintenance of chromosome complexes, such as cohesin, have been implicated in a wide variety of chromatin-dependent functions such as genome organization, replication, and gene expression. How these complexes find their sites of association and affect local chromosomal processes is not well understood. We report that condensin II, a complex distinct from cohesin, physically interacts with TFIIIC, and they both colocalize at active gene promoters in the mouse and human genomes, facilitated by interaction between NCAPD3 and the epigenetic mark H3K4me3. Condensin II is important for maintaining high levels of expression of the histone gene clusters as well as the interaction between these clusters in the mouse genome. Our findings suggest that condensin II is anchored to the mammalian genome by a combination of H3K4me3 and the sequence-specific binding of TFIIIC, and that condensin supports the expression of active gene-dense regions found at the boundaries of topological domains. Together, our results support a working model in which condensin II contributes to topological domain boundary-associated gene activity in the mammalian genome.
Ontogeny and function of murine epidermal Langerhans cells

Langerhans cells (LCs) are epidermis-resident antigen-presenting cells that share a common ontogeny with macrophages but function as dendritic cells (DCs). Their development, recruitment and retention in the epidermis is orchestrated by interactions with keratinocytes through multiple mechanisms. LC and dermal DC subsets often show functional redundancy, but LCs are required for specific types of adaptive immune responses when antigen is concentrated in the epidermis. This Review will focus on those developmental and functional properties that are unique to LCs.
Violência de gênero e lei maria da penha: uma análise dos critérios jurisprudenciais do TJRS para determinação de competência

O objetivo principal desse trabalho e identificar os criterios para incidencia da Lei Maria da Penha em materia criminal, a partir de decisoes proferidas pelo TJRS em conflitos de competencia e em recursos em sentido estrito, bem como compreender os significados destas decisoes.
Principles of Electrocatalysis

Abstract The challenges associated with sustainable fuels production have seen a major growth in the need for, and application of, electrocatalysis in chemical transformations. Electrochemical analysis allows for a detailed and quantitative thermodynamic and kinetic analysis of critical reaction mechanisms that govern the most pressing energy concerns. This chapter will address the current state of the art in homogeneous molecular electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction. Before discussion of any applications of electrochemical catalysis, the fundamentals of cyclic voltammetry are summarized followed by an introduction to the topics of proton-coupled electron transfer and turnover frequency-voltammetry analysis (including foot-of-the-wave analysis), which are necessary to gain a true appreciation of any CO2 reduction electrocatalyst. Armed with this knowledge, interpretation and appreciation of scientific advancements in this field will be straightforward.
Excited-State Properties of Bacteriochlorophyll-a and of Bacterial Photosynthetic Reaction Centers as Revealed by Picosecond Absorption Studies

Picosecond and femtosecond spectroscopic techniques have been used to probe excited-state dynamic processes in a variety of dye molecules. These studies indicate that intramolecular vibrational relaxation generally occurs on a time-scale of 1 to 2 ps, or less, whereas relaxations due to solvent reorganization at room temperature can occur from femtoseconds to hundreds of picoseconds. Electron transfer in bacterial photosynthetic reaction centers (RC) proceeds from an excited state of a pair of strongly interacting pair (P) of bacteriochlorophyll molecules (BChl) in a few picoseconds. It has been suggested that vibrational relaxations may influence the rate of this electron transfer reaction (1). To investigate this question, transient absorption changes resulting from excitation of monomeric BChl-a in methanol and in 1-propanol were measured with approx. 1 ps time-resolution. In addition, stimulated emission spectra of RCs of the purple non-sulfur bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides were monitored as a function of time.
A study of selected variables associated with projected voting behavior in a community college tax referendum

This study was conducted at Northwest Iowa Community College (NCC), located in Sheldon, Iowa. Northwest Iowa Community College serves a 4 1/2 county rural area. In December of 1992 NCC placed a seven million dollar bond issue before the voters. This referendum which needed a 60% plus one voter approval received a 36.41% approval. Campaign strategies for the 1992 referendum included a targeting of possible affirmative voters. This research identified six subgroups of constituents five subgroups affiliated with the college (college advisory committee members, credit students and alumni, employees, continuing education participants and senior citizens who had taken classes from the college) and the sixth subgroup: the general public. This research ascertained which criteria voters in the district believe impacted their decision making process on a tax referendum. The study determined if there were differences among identified subgroups in relation to demographics, perceptions of the institution, and voting tendencies on tax referendum. A mail survey (sent in January of 1994) yielded a response rate of 47.38% (N=379) The results indicated that the major criteria used in determining support or rejection of a tax levy was how the funds were going to be used. That criteria was followed by a concern for the cost to the individual tax payer and whether the
Spatial analysis of multispectral and thermal imagery from multiple platforms

Airborne and satellite remote sensing can potentially be used to model crop characteristics. However, satellite imagery usually exhibit low spatial and temporal resolutions, and manned aircraft imagery, despite improved resolutions, is not cost-effective. Recent developments in UAV remote sensing have allowed for imagery at improved spatial resolutions relative to satellites and at a fraction of the cost relative to manned aircraft. Furthermore, UAVs offer potential advantages over proximal soil sensors (i.e. EM-38) in terms of in-season decision making. However, it is unclear at this point whether these benefits translate to higher quality information. This question has relevance within fields that exhibit contrasting environments, such as soil spatial variability. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were twofold: 1) to quantify improvements in UAV-based plant (cotton) modelling relative to proximal sensing (i.e. EM-38), manned aircraft, and satellites (Landsat 8); and 2) to determine how such modeling can be affected by soil spatial variability. Results indicate that UAVs show higher nugget/sill ratios and larger ranges than manned aircraft and satellites. These results have implications for predicting agronomic variables (i.e. yield, plant height), as well as soil/plant sampling.
As We Head into the 21st Century, Is there Still Value in Total Synthesis of Natural Products as a Research Endeavor?

This year (1994) marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of the total synthesis of quinine (1) by Woodward and Doering [1], This accomplishment was the first of a series of increasingly ambitious total syntheses by Woodward and his students and ushered in what has been called the “Woodwardian Era” of organic chemistry. The outstanding synthetic successes that were realized during the 1940s and 1950s, first by Woodward and then by a number of other talented organic chemists, gave birth to a whole new sub-field of chemistry — “Natural Products Total Synthesis”.
Giant Cell Tumor of Major Salivary Glands: Report of Three Cases, One Occurring in Association with a Malignant Mixed Tumor

Three cases of a heterofore undescribed neoplasm of major salivary glands morphologically similar to giant cell tumor of bone are presented. All tumors were located in the parotid gland of adult individuals, and all patients are alive and well following surgical excision. One of the three cases was associated intimately with a malignant mixed tumor (carcinoma in pleomorphic adenoma). Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical studies failed to provide conclusive evidence about the specific nature of the tumor cells. The major salivary glands should be added to the long list of organs in which extraskeletal giant cell tumors have been observed, whether alone or in association with an epithelial malignancy.
The Analysis of Polymers by Oxidative Degradation

Some preliminary work on the characterization of polymeric and highmolecular-weight organic compounds is discussed. The method is essentially a characterization of the polymer or its oxidative behavior on the basis of its oxidation products.
Small-sample and large-sample statistical model selection criteria

Statistical model selection criteria provide answers to the questions, “How much improvement in fit should be achieved to justify the inclusion of an additional parameter in a model, and on what scale should this improvement in fit be measured?” Mathematically, statistical model selection criteria are defined as estimates of suitable functional of the probability distributions corresponding to alternative models. This paper discusses different approaches to model-selection criteria, with a view toward illuminating their similarities and differences. The approaches discussed range from explicit, small-sample criteria for highly specific problems to general, large-sample criteria such as Akaike’s information criterion and variants thereof. Special emphasis is given to criteria derived from a Bayesian approach, as this presents a unified way of viewing a variety of criteria. In particular, the approach to model-selection criteria by asymptotic expansion of the log posterior probabilities of alternative models is reviewed. An information-theoretic approach to model selection, through minimum-bit data representation, is explored. Similarity of the asymptotic form of Rissanen’s criterion, obtained from a minimum-bit data representation approach, to criteria derived from a Bayesian approach, is discussed.
What's Unique About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth and Young Adult Suicides? Findings From the National Violent Death Reporting System.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of the study was to explore variability in circumstances around suicide deaths among youth and young adults by sexual/gender identity category (gay male, lesbian/gay female, bisexual male, bisexual female, transgender male, transgender female, non–LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] male, and non-LGBT female). Methods Secondary analysis of National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data for all 12- to 29-year-olds who died by suicide in NVDRS participating states. Coverage begins in 2013, the year that NVDRS began coding for sexual orientation and transgender status, and ends in 2015, the latest year of NVDRS data available. The valid sample was limited to cases in which sexual orientation or transgender status could be determined postmortem, n = 2,209. Results Almost one quarter (24%) of 12- to 14-year-olds who died by suicide were LGBT, whereas only 8% of 25- to 29-year-olds who died by suicide were LGBT. Most non-LGBT males and bisexual males died by firearm and had intimate partner problems contribute to their deaths. Non-LGBT females and LGBT persons other than bisexual males were generally less likely to use firearms. They were also more likely to have psychiatric diagnoses, prior suicidality, and family problems contributing to their deaths. Rates of many circumstances varied widely among LGBT subgroups. Conclusions The LGBT versus non-LGBT suicide disparity is greatest at younger ages, and each LGBT subgroup has its own specific risk profile for suicide. Suicide prevention and intervention efforts targeted at LGBT youth may increase their effectiveness by attending to these distinct risk profiles.
Cells to Surgery Quiz: October 2015.

1. A patient presents to the clinic with the lesion pictured above. A somatic mutation in which of the following gene products is most commonly seen in this disease? a. BRAF. b. NF1. c. NRAS. d. CDKN2A. Cells to Surgery Quiz: October 2015 Adam S. Aldahan1, Stephanie Mlacker1, Vidhi V. Shah1, Sahal Samarkandy1, Mohammed Alsaidan1 and Keyvan Nouri1 Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2015) 135, e18. doi:10.1038/jid.2015.310
Let’s Play: Using Systemic and Experiential Techniques in the Play Therapy Instruction of MFT Masters’ Students

Marriage and family therapists are uniquely poised to work with entire families, including children. It is surprising then, that so few MFTs affiliate with play therapy. Many COAMFTE accredited mas...
Ambulatory Rhythm Monitoring to Detect Late High-Grade Atrioventricular Block Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement

Abstract Background High-grade atrioventricular block (H-AVB) is a well-described in-hospital complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Delayed high-grade atrioventricular block (DH-AVB) has not been systematically studied among outpatients post-TAVR, using latest-generation TAVR technology and in the early post-TAVR discharge era. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess utility of ambulatory event monitoring (AEM) in identifying post-TAVR DH-AVB and associated risk factors. Methods Patients without pre-existing pacing device undergoing TAVR at the University of Colorado Hospital from October 2016 to March 2018, and who did not require permanent pacemaker implantation pre-discharge, were discharged with 30-day AEM to assess for DH-AVB (≥2 days post-TAVR). Clinical and follow-up data were collected and compared among those without incident H-AVB. Results Among 150 consecutive TAVR patients without a prior pacing device, 18 (12%) developed H-AVB necessitating permanent pacemaker Conclusions DH-AVB is an underappreciated complication of TAVR among patients without pre-procedure pacing devices, occurring at rates similar to in-hospital, acute post-TAVR H-AVB. RBBB is a risk factor for DH-AVB but has poor sensitivity, and other predictors remain unclear. In this single-center analysis, AEM was helpful in expeditious identification and treatment of 10% of post-TAVR outpatients. Prospective study is needed to clarify incidence, risk factors, and patient selection for outpatient monitoring.
Groups and Modules that are Slender as Modules over Their Endomorphism Rings

It was shown in Huber [4; Theorem 3.3] that an R-module E is slender as a module over its endomorphism ring S = EndR E if it is of the form E = M(IN) for some R-module M. This had important consequences for questions of E-reflexivity. In Mader [6; Lemma 5.1] it was shown that the abelian group E = M i=1 ∞ Z(pi)is slender over S = End E and this was a key step in proving that the completion of a group A of non-measurable cardinality equipped with the direct-sum-of-cyclics topology of D’Este [1] is algebraically the group HomS(HomZ (A, E), E). At the Honolulu Conference on Abelian Group Theory 1982/83, Martin Huber suggested to me that [6; Lemma 5.1] should be extendable to more general direct sums. In this note we prove such a theorem and use it to characterize completely the totally projective p-groups which are slender as modules over their endomorphism rings.
ACUTE EFFECTS OF NEURAL GLIDING ON ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE.

Background Neural mobilization has been used to treat individuals with musculoskeletal and neuromuscular pathologies, but research on neural mobilization in sports rehabilitation is scarce. Furthermore, there have been no studies investigating the effects of neural gliding on sport performance. Purpose/hypothesis The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between the acute effects of sciatic nerve gliding and lower extremity dynamic stretching exercises on hamstring flexibility and athletic performance. Study design A cross-sectional, quasi-experimental design with block assignment was used. Methods Twenty-seven (16 males, 11 females, age: 23.6 ± 2.65, height (m): 1.74 ± 0.12, weight (kg): 73.73 ± 16.09) healthy college students volunteered for the study. The neural gliding group had 14 subjects and the dynamic stretching group had 13 subjects. Participants performed a jogging or walking up stairs warm up at a self-selected pace prior to testing. Baseline data was obtained for each of the following measurements: bilateral hamstring flexibility using the active straight leg raise test measured by a digital inclinometer, vertical jump height, 20-yard shuttle run and 10 and 20-yard dash sprint. The participants then performed one of the assigned five-minute stretching protocol, bilateral sciatic neural gliding or dynamic stretching of the lower extremities, followed by the post-test data collection of the same measures. Results There were no significant group by time interaction for any of the six measurements (2 x 2 repeated measures ANOVA). However, significant time differences, pre-test vs post-test for all participants as one group, for right hamstring length (p = .001), left hamstring length (p = .002) and vertical jump (p = .028) were observed. Post hoc paired t-tests found a significant increase between the pre and post-tests in right hamstring flexibility, (p = .011) in the dynamic stretching group and left hamstring flexibility of participants in the neural gliding condition, (p = .004). When analyzing the groups individually, pre-test vs post-test, a significant difference in vertical jump was not observed in either group. Conclusion Similar improvement in hamstring flexibility with both dynamic stretching and neural gliding exercises without a negative effect on three sports performance tests was demonstrated. Therefore, athletic performance will not be negatively affected by a pre-participation warm-up which includes neural gliding, but more research is needed. Level of evidence Level 3.
Robust weighted SVD-type latent factor models for rating prediction

Abstract Recommending system is a popular tool in many commercial or social platforms which finds interesting products for users based on their preference history. Predicting the ratings of items, such as movies, plays an essential role in the recommending system. In this context, we develop a new type of latent factor models by attaching weights to the entries of the incomplete ratings matrix. The weights are computed after estimating the user/item mean errors caused by the basic SVD model under the low-rank assumption on the ratings matrix. To accelerate the optimization process of our proposed models and other existing SVD-type models, a special design of the initial guess is suggested. In the experiments on real-world datasets, the proposed weighted models outperform other SVD-type methods, and the usage of the special initial guess improves the optimization significantly, obtaining lower MRSEs within fixed number of iterations, in comparison with the random initial guess. Furthermore, artificially noised datasets are taken to evaluate the methods, where the weighted models still perform better than other SVD-type models, implying their effectiveness and robustness in noised environment.
High-Temperature Nucleation of GaP on V-Grooved Si

The use of nanopatterned {111}-faceted v-grooves has recently shown promise for growing high-quality III–V material on Si. Here, we study the effect of reactor conditions and surface pretreatments ...
Role of Key Guidelines in an Era of Precision Oncology: A Primer for the Radiologist

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to familiarize radiologists with the evidence-based imaging guidelines of major oncologic societies and organizations and to discuss approaches to effective implementation of the most recent guidelines in daily radiology practice. CONCLUSION. In an era of precision oncology, radiologists in practice and radiologists in training are key stakeholders in multidisciplinary care, and their awareness and understanding of society guidelines is critically important.
Using a Microsimulation of Energy Balance to Explore the Influence of Prenatal Sugar‐Sweetened Beverage Intake on Child BMI

Objective Experiments with animals suggest that high sugar consumption during pregnancy may predispose offspring to obesity, but few human studies have examined this relationship. This study explored the association between the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) during pregnancy and caloric intake through childhood. Methods Using cohort data on child weight, height, and physical activity levels, a lab-validated microsimulation model of energy balance was employed to infer the caloric intake of children through age 11 years. Random effects models were then employed to explore the relationships between prenatal maternal consumption and inferred caloric intake during childhood. Results An additional daily serving of SSBs during the second trimester of pregnancy was associated with an increase in child consumption of 13 kcal/d (95% CI: 1.2-26.8). Age-stratified models adjusting for maternal and child covariates suggested that this association was strongest for children aged 2.5 to 5.5 years. The consumption of SSBs during the first trimester was not found to have a consistently positive relationship to caloric intake. Conclusions These findings suggest that SSB consumption during the second trimester of pregnancy is associated with child energy intake and may influence anthropometry in early childhood, which is consistent with and suggestive of the presence of biological causal pathways alongside likely simultaneous contributions of social and environmental influences.