cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex-specific effects of size and condition on timing of natal dispersal in kangaroo rats

The effects of proximal cues in eliciting natal dispersal are predicted to vary between sexes because of differences in reproductive strategies. I examined how body mass and condition affected timing of natal dispersal in male and female banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis), a species that lacks sex-biased dispersal. I experimentally manipulated cues by providing additional food to a subset of offspring prior to dispersal. All supplemented offspring, regardless of sex, grew faster, were in better condition, and had higher survivorship than unsupplemented offspring. Sons who received food supplements dispersed earlier than unsupplemented sons, indicating that timing of dispersal was related to size and condition. Timing of dispersal in daughters was unaffected by resource supplementation, suggesting that size and condition are less important proximal cues. These sex-specific responses match the intersexual differences in mammalian reproductive strategies and parental investment patterns. My results support the hypothesis that sons remain at the natal territory until a certain threshold of size and condition is reached. Male reproductive success is typically dependent on body size, which affects their ability to find and defend mates. By allowing sons to remain at the natal territory until this threshold is attained, mothers likely increase the fitness of their sons. Female reproductive success is influenced more by securing resources than by body size. Thus, dispersing as early as developmentally feasible would allow daughters to secure an existing burrow system and maximize the time available for caching food prior to their first breeding attempt. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Low-Temperature PETEOS-to-PETEOS Wafer Bonding Using Titanium as Bonding Intermediate

Bonding of pre-processed silicon wafers at back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) compatible conditions is one of the attractive approaches for three-dimensional (3D) integration. Among various technologies being evaluated, bonding of low temperature oxides (e.g., plasma-enhanced tetraethylorthosilicate (PETEOS)) is of great interest. In this work, we report low-temperature PETEOS-to-PETEOS wafer bonding, using a thin layer of titanium (Ti) as bonding intermediate. The bonding strength is evaluated qualitatively, while the bonding interface is examined by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Preliminary results of PETEOS/Ti/PETEOS bonding on patterned wafers with single-level Cu damascene structures are also discussed.
“CANADA'S POSTWAR BALANCE OF PAYMENTS: A CASE STUDY OF REMEDIES FOR BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DISEQUILIBRIUM” (A DOCTORAL DISSERTATION)*

This study concentrates on Canada's international financial experience from 1945 to 1948 in an attempt to isolate the fundamental causes of the balance of payments disequilibrium which developed and the implications of the remedies applied to correct it. As a program for eliminating restrictions on trade and payments must be based on a thorough understanding of the difficulties leading to, and the distortions resulting from, direct controls, this case study is an attempt to provide a realistic basis for formulation of such a policy. Such a formulation will be useful only if the theoretical framework is both rigorous and operational, and if the hypotheses developed are exposed to reality as represented by statistics.
Signaling Foreign Policy Interests: Tying Hands versus Sinking Costs

The author distinguishes between two types of costly signals that state leaders might employ in trying to credibly communicate their foreign policy interests to other states, whether in the realm o...
Suspended-sediment transport in an intensively cultivated watershed in southeastern California

The purpose of this study is to investigate the variation of sediment movement at multiple spatial and two temporal scales of an agricultural watershed in southeastern California where surface runoff is primarily supplied by irrigation. An extensive turbidity and stage monitoring program based on grab sampling using 500-mL plastic bottles and in situ monitoring using both turbidity sensors and pressure transducers was designed to capture the spatial and temporal heterogeneities of suspended-sediment loads. The obtained turbidity values and stages at weekly and 5-min time scales were subsequently converted to suspended-sediment concentrations and water discharges, respectively, using established calibration methods. Weekly data were analyzed using a mass-balance approach to distinguish erosion and deposition processes in drain channels at various spatial scales. Further analysis on weekly data led to an empirical model describing the process of sediment transport at various spatial scales. The model revealed that drain channels at larger spatial scales (i.e. downstream channels) tended to be dominated by weekly net deposition, while those at smaller spatial scales (i.e. upstream channels) were controlled by weekly net erosion. However, analysis of the 5-min data showed that in small-scale drain channels, large amount of sediment was indeed deposited over a short period of one week (about one day). In the rest of the week, low-intensity erosion prevailed. Therefore, sediment transport in the study watershed was generally controlled by deposition, which supports the necessity of on-going drain-channel dredging by Imperial Irrigation District.
Approximation algorithms for facility location problems

One of the most flourishing areas of research in the design and analysis of approximation algorithms has been for facility location problems. In particular, for the metric case of two simple models, the uncapacitated facility location and the k-median problems, there are now a variety of techniques that yield constant performance guarantees. These methods include LP rounding, primal-dual algorithms, and local search techniques. Furthermore, the salient ideas in these algorithms and their analyzes are simple-to-explain and reflect a surprising degree of commonality. This note is intended as companion to our lecture at CONF 2000, mainly to give pointers to the appropriate references.
The development of the extracellular space in neonatal rat inferior colliculus: an electron microscopic study.

Rat inferior colliculi were fixed by intracardiac perfusion of 4% methanol-free formalin in an isotonic phosphate-sucrose buffer, dehydrated in ethanol and studied during the first two weeks of postnatal life. The extracellular space during the first week was made up of intercellular gaps about 100–150 A wide and large intercellular lakes (1–3 μ long) which diminished in size and number as maturation proceeded. Similar intercellular lakes were found in tissue fixed by immersion in glutaraldehyde containing ruthenium red. In these tissues an intense ruthenium red reaction product, distributed extracellularly, suggested an intercellular substance comparable to that described in adult brain. Intercellular lakes were also found in tissue dehydrated in acetone. Morphometric estimations indicated the extracellular space of neuropil during the first week to be about twice that of the adult, which was approached progressively.
Fixed eyelid due to metastatic breast cancer.

A62-YEAR-OLD WOMAN was told that her left eyelidremainedopen when she looked downward as well as when she slept. Soon afterward, pain and weakness developed in her right leg. On admission 2 months later, her eyelids were symmetrical on forward gaze (the left eye was slightly lower), but the left upper eyelid elevated minimally on upgaze, failed to descend on downgaze,anddidnotrelaxoneyelidclosure(Figure).Proptosiswasabsent, eye movements were full, and neither orbital pain nor diplopia occurred. Physical examination revealed a 46-cm mass in the patient’s right breast, which proved to be an adenocarcinoma on biopsy. Radiographic investigation showed widespread lytic metastases in the skull, throughout the spine, in multiple ribs, in the pelvis and both femurs, and throughout the liver. Orbital scans were not performed. The patient initially responded to chemotherapy but died 10 months later. Breast cancer is the most common metastasis to the eye and orbit, 1 occurring in up to 30% of such cases. 2 Metastases to the extraocular muscles are uncommon, but not rare, and usually produce pain, diplopia,andproptosis. 3 Thepresent
Lung function and airway diseases

Two studies report genome-wide association studies for lung function, using cross-sectional spirometric measurements in healthy individuals. They identify six genetic loci newly associated to natural variation in lung function, which may have implications for the related airway diseases of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Determination of the median toxic dose of type C botulinum toxin in lactating dairy cows

Because of the difficulty in identifying botulinum toxin in cattle, it is hypothesized that cattle are sensitive to levels of toxin below the detection limits of current diagnostic techniques (the mouse protection bioassay and the immunostick enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] for type C botulinum toxin). Using an up-down method for toxicologic testing, the median toxic dose (MTD50) for cattle was determined. Four lactating Holstein cows were dosed at 0.125 or 0.25 ng/kg with Clostridium botulinum type C toxin and failed to develop clinical signs of botulism during the 7-day observation period. Three cows given 0.50 ng/kg of toxin developed clinical signs of botulism. From these results, the MTD50 was calculated at 0.388 ng/kg (3.88 mouse lethal doses/kg) using the trim-logit method. These results suggest that cattle are 12.88 times more sensitive to type C botulinum toxin than a mouse on a per kilogram weight basis. The mouse protection bioassay and the immunostick ELISA for type C botulinum toxin failed to identify the presence of the toxin in the serum, blood, and milk samples taken from all 7 animals.
The inactivation of pectin depolymerase associated with isolated tomato fruit cell wall: implications for the analysis of pectin solubility and molecular weight

An approach commonly employed to assess the potential role of the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG, EC 3.2.1.15) in tomato fruit cell-wall pectin metabolism includes correlating levels of extractable PG with changes in specific characteristics of cell wall pectins, most notably solubility and molecular weight. Since information on these features of pectins is generally derived from analyses of subfractions of isolated cell wall, assurance of inactivation of the various isoforms of wall-associated PG is imperative. In the present study, cell wall prepared from ripe tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Rutgers) fruit was examined for the presence of active PG and for the ability of phenolic solvents to inactivate the enzyme. Using pectin solubility and Mr (relative molecular mass) changes as criteria for the presence of wall-associated PG activity, pectins from phenol-treated and nonphenol-treated (enzymically active) cell wall from ripe fruit incubated in 50 mM Na-acetate, 50 mM cyclohexanetrans-1,2-diamine tetraacetic acid (CDTA), pH 6.5 (outside the catalytic range of PG), were of similar Mr and exhibited no change in size with incubation time. Wall prepared without exposure to the phenolic protein-denaturants exhibited extensive pectin solubilization and depolymerization when incubated in 50 mM Na-acetate, 50 mM CDTA at pH 4.5, indicating the presence of active PG. Based on the changes in the Mr of pectins solubilized in 50 mM Na-acetate, 50 mM CDTA, pH 4.5, active PG was also detected in wall exposed during isolation to phenolacetic acid-water (PAW, 2:1:1, w/v/v), a solvent commonly employed as an enzyme denaturant. Although the depolymerization of pectins in PAW-treated wall was extensive, oligouronides constituted minor reaction products. Interestingly, PAW-treated wall did not exhibit PG-mediated pectin release when incubated under conditions (30 mM Na-acetate, 150 mM NaCl, pH 4.5) in which nonphenol-treated cell wall exhibited high autolytic activity. In an alternative protocol designed to inactivate PG, cell wall was exposed to Tris-buffered phenol (BP). In contrast to pectins released from PAW-treated wall, pectins solubilized from BP-treated wall at pH 4.5 were indistinguishable in Mr from those recovered from BP-treated wall at pH 6.5 Even when incubated at pH 4.5 at 34°C, conditions under which pectins from PAW-treated wall underwent more rapid and extensive depolymerization, pectins from BP-treated wall exhibited no change in Mr, providing evidence that active PG was not present in these wall preparations. The implications of this study in interpreting the solubility and Mr of pectin in cell wall from ripening fruit are discussed.
Radar interferometer observations of mesospheric echoing layers at Jicamarca

VHF radar observations at Jicamarca show that the most intense mesospheric echoes at the equator are returned from thin horizontal layers with lifetimes ranging from tens of minutes to many hours. A few such layers may be present at a time, typically separated in altitude by a few kilometers. Interferometric studies of radar returns from these layers indicate that the characteristic widths of the corresponding Doppler spectra are usually determined by the spatial integration effect due to finite size scattering volumes. Radar returns from lower mesospheric layers appear to be due to randomly distributed scatterers convected through the observation volume by nonturbulent wind fields. The scatterers in question may possibly be specularity points or glints on corrugated refractive index surfaces. Higher mesospheric layer echoes, however, imply the existence of turbulent flow fields in the vertical plane, with dominant eddy motions at scale sizes comparable with the scattering volume dimensions of about a kilometer.
Chlorinated phenol-induced physiological antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous environmental bacterium and an opportunistic pathogen with the ability to rapidly develop multidrug resistance under selective pressure. Previous work demonstrated that upon exposure to the environmental contaminant pentachlorophenol (PCP), P. aeruginosa PAO1 increases expression of multiple multidrug efflux pumps, including the MexAB-OprM pump. The current study describes increases in the antibiotic resistance of PAO1 upon exposure to PCP and other chlorinated organics, including triclosan. Only exposure to chlorinated phenols induced the mexAB-oprM-mediated antibiotic-resistant phenotype. Thus, chlorinated phenols have the potential to contribute to transient phenotypic increases of antibiotic resistance that are relevant when both compounds are present in the environment.
Role of silica and nitrogen interaction in submergence tolerance of rice

Abstract Submergence is an intensifying problem in major rice producing areas, when intolerant cultivars are submerged, they show a number of morpho-physiological changes such as elongation and chlorosis which is markedly developed after desubmergence probably due to oxidative damage. We studied the effects of submergence on survival, photosynthesis, nonstructural carbohydrate content, enzymatic activities, growth and yield of Sub1 and non-Sub1 cultivars. The interaction effect of nitrogen (N) and silica (Si) application was also examined for the submergence tolerance in rice. The photosynthetic rate, survival, growth of all the cultivars decreased during submergence but to a greater extent in IR64 and Swarna. After desubmergence, both the type of cultivars experienced oxidative damage, however, the oxidation of lipids was maintain at lower levels in Sub1 cultivars and anti-oxidants activities was increased more than intolerant cultivars. Application of basal Si was beneficial whereas, pre- and post-submergence Si spray was detrimental in relation to submergence tolerance. Basal Si resulted in significantly reduced elongation, lodging, leaf senescence, and chlorosis; when combined with post-flood N application either as broadcasting or spray, it led to significantly highest survival, photosynthesis, anti-oxidant activity and ultimately yields. Interaction of basal Si and post-flood N spray was the most promising method of nutrient application which not only resisted the damage during submergence but also enhanced the survival, growth after recovery in terms of number of green leaves emergence, leaf area and photosynthetic rate leading to significantly higher yield. The findings of the investigation propounds that a simple alteration in the time and method of nutrient application can significantly contribute to higher survival, crop establishment and yield in flash-flood prone areas.
The Rev. Proc. That Ate Cleveland

In this report, Mr. Nolan examines the method of accounting sanctioned in Rev. Proc. 2000-22 for small merchants and manufacturers and concludes that it violates the code and regulations and might be unconstitutional. The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not represent the views of the IRS.
Laser-tissue interactions: cw and pulsed HF/DF chemical laser interactions with cardiovascular tissues

Continuous wave (cw) and repetitively pulsed (rp) hydrogen fluoride (HF) and deuterium fluoride (DE) chemical laser Interactions with cardiovascular tissues have been studied to analyze the intrinsic ablation performance of these materials and to measure their responses and properties In well- characterized laser Irradiation conditions. The optical absorption spectra of these tissues were also obtained in the 2500-400D-cm−1 spectral region. Over 100 cw experiments were performed on normal and atherosclerotic tissues over a broad range of intensities (3-20 kW/cm2) to determine burn-through times, reflectances at HF and DF wavelengths, and front and back surface temperatures during irradiation.
The hypocrisy of European moralism: Greece and the politics of cultural aggression ‐ part 2

In the current debt crisis, Greeks often stand accused of irresponsible borrowing, corruption, and laziness. In this article, I argue that the patently unfair way in which these stereotypes have framed the ongoing tensions between Greece and the other European countries is deeply grounded in the dynamics of “crypto-colonialism.” German fascination with ancient Greece has combined with the needs of British, French, and, later, American strategic interests to produce a toxic brew of humiliation and contempt for the Greek people of today. Yet Greece, by escaping from the aftermath of military dictatorship under the unexpectedly benign guidance of the elder Constantine Karamanlis, is now – in marked contrast to at least one other crypto-colonial state – giving the unelected leadership of the European Union and other creditors a lesson in democratic self-sufficiency. Resolution of the residual tensions will nevertheless only be possible when both sides agree to cease trading insulting stereotypes and admit the errors of a shared and embarrassing past – a process for which anthropological perspectives can offer significant support.
Analysis of Clinical Features and Medications in Children with Suppurative Meningitis Complicating Cerebral Infarction

Objective To investigate the clinical features and medications in children with suppurative meningitis complicating cerebral infarction and in children with simple suppurative meningitis.Methods 45 patients with suppurative meningitis complicating cerebral infarction treated in our hospital from March 2010 to March 2014 were selected as observation group,and 41 patients with simple suppurative meningitis were selected as control group.The clinical features,results of blood routine test and conditions of medications between two groups were observed and compared.Results The incidence of headache,stomachache and skin symptoms in two groups had no statistical difference(P 0.05); the incidence of fever,vomit and consciousness disorders in observation group were higher than those in control group,with statistical difference(P 0.05).The leukocyte count,CSF cell count and neutrophil proportion of observation group were higher than those of control group,with statistical difference(P 0.05).The usage of antibiotic in two groups,including ceftriaxone and penicillin,had no statistical difference(P 0.05); the usage of Xuesaitong and Xingnaojing injection in observation group were higher than those in control group,with statistical difference(P 0.05).Conclusions Patients with suppurative meningitis complicating cerebral infarction has more complex pathomechanism and treatment methods.We should combine laboratory examination with children's clinical features to give comprehensive diagnosis,and choose suitable treatment methods according to practical situations of children.
Hybrid Configuration Scrubbing for Xilinx 7-Series FPGAs

Configuration memory scrubbing is an essential component of any reliable FPGA-based system used in harsh radiation environments like space. Configuration scrubbing involves the periodic writing of configuration data onto the FPGA to repair configuration upsets that occur within the FPGA due to high-energy ionizing radiation. Configuration scrubbing typically requires external memory and hardware to manage the scrubbing process. This paper presents a novel configuration scrubber for the Xilinx 7-Series FPGAs that requires less external circuitry than traditional scrubbers by exploiting the on-chip Frame ECC and internal scan capability. By exploiting the on-chip features, this scrubber operates faster than traditional scrubbers and with less external hardware. The effectiveness of this scrubber was validated with a radiation test at the Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center (LANSCE). This scrubber will be used on a Xilinx 7-Series based space processor and a high-energy physics experiment.
Interaction and Syntax in the Structure of Conversational Discourse: Collaboration, Overlap, and Syntactic Dissociation

In this paper we investigate the relationship between interaction and syntax. Using a database of conversational American English, we show how what has traditionally been taken as ‘syntax’ is intimately involved in the interactional organization of conversational discourse, and we propose a way of thinking about syntax which allows us to integrate the production of syntactic units with interactional structure. We suggest that conversational structure is dependent on a dynamic, interactional notion of syntax. We suggest that examining how syntax works in actual interaction can lead us to a clearer understanding of what syntax is. We hope that an examination of linguistic production in conversation, the most mundane form of linguistic activity, will illuminate the way linguistic resources are exploited in actual production, and that it will further show us how syntactic structures are organized.
Learning discrete event simulation design methodology via interactive and collaborative projects

This paper reports on learning discrete-event simulations using project-based learning (PBL) and modeling and simulation concepts, in particular those of conceptual modeling, calibration and validation. Briefly, students attempted to replicate a published case study of a hospital emergency department simulation with considerations 1) that further abstraction was needed and that 2) the simulation model and/or simulation results should be close to the original model. Students arrived separately to different simulation models and different ways to evaluate closeness of model and results. Students were then asked to reconcile these models through the exchange of assumptions, conceptual models, and simulation models using both web-based communication tools and a cloud-based simulator discrete-event simulator. Initial assessment suggests that the PBL approach on an existing case study 1) exposes students to the challenges of building simulations for real-life cases and the rigors of the simulation development process and 2) highlight the importance of group work when working on non-trivial problems, in this case facilitated with web-based tools.
Fluorescent Assay of Ubiquitin Conjugation

Ubiquitination of proteins is a post translational protein modification linked to protein degradation, cell cycle regulation, and DNA damage repair. Many of the functions of ubiquitin and ubiquitin...
Effective method to characterize the bandwidth of unknown receiver

An effective and non-destructive receiver characterization method is proposed in this paper. This method can extract unknown third party device bandwidth information. It enables accurate end to end signal integrity study from transmitter to receiver.
FRAIL Questionnaire Screening Tool and Short-Term Outcomes in Geriatric Fracture Patients

Abstract Objectives There are limited screening tools to predict adverse postoperative outcomes for the geriatric surgical fracture population. Frailty is increasingly recognized as a risk assessment to capture complexity. The goal of this study was to use a short screening tool, the FRAIL scale, to categorize the level of frailty of older adults admitted with a fracture to determine the association of each frailty category with postoperative and 30-day outcomes. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Level 1 trauma center. Participants A total of 175 consecutive patients over age 70 years admitted to co-managed orthopedic trauma and geriatrics services. Measurements The FRAIL scale (short 5-question assessment of fatigue, resistance, aerobic capacity, illnesses, and loss of weight) classified the patients into 3 categories: robust (score = 0), prefrail (score = 1–2), and frail (score = 3–5). Postoperative outcome variables collected were postoperative complications, unplanned intensive care unit admission, length of stay (LOS), discharge disposition, and orthopedic follow-up after surgery. Thirty-day outcomes measured were 30-day readmission and 30-day mortality. Analysis of variance (1-way) and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare continuous variables across the 3 FRAIL categories. Fisher exact tests were used to compare categorical variables. Multiple regression analysis, adjusted by age, sex, and Charlson index, was conducted to study the association between frailty category and outcomes. Results FRAIL scale categorized the patients into 3 groups: robust (n = 29), prefrail (n = 73), and frail (n = 73). There were statistically significant differences between groups in terms of age, comorbidity, dementia, functional dependency, polypharmacy, and rate of institutionalization, being higher in the frailest patients. Hip fracture was the most frequent fracture, and it was more frequent as the frailty of the patient increased (48%, 61%, and 75% in robust, prefrail, and frail groups, respectively). The American Society of Anesthesiologists preoperative risk significantly correlated with the frailty of the patient (American Society of Anesthesiologists score 3–4: 41%, 82% and 86%, in robust, prefrail, and frail groups, P Conclusions Frailty, measured by the FRAIL scale, was associated with increase LOS, complications after surgery, and discharge to rehabilitation facility in geriatric fracture patients. The FRAIL scale is a promising short screen to stratify and help operationalize the perioperative care of older surgical patients.
Combustion of Aluminum Nanoparticles and Exfoliated 2D Molybdenum Trioxide Composites

Abstract Exfoliated two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) of approximately 3-4 monolayers in thickness was produced from sonicating bulk MoO3 powder, and then mixed with 80 nm diameter Al nanoparticles to prepare nanoenergetic composites with high interfacial contacts between the fuel and oxidizer. Combustion measurements demonstrated peak pressures as high as 42.05 ± 1.86 MPa, pressurization rates up to 3.49 ± 0.31 MPa/µs, and linear combustion rates up to 1,730 ± 98.1 m/s, the highest values reported to date for Al/MoO3 composites. TGA/DSC measurements indicate energetic reactions between the Al and 2D MoO3 sheets occur prior to the melting temperature of Al. SEM and TEM analysis of the composites prior to combustion suggests high interfacial contact area between the Al and MoO3. After reaction, we observe that the 2D MoO3 sheets are converted to extended alumina flakes during reaction in a process attributed to Al adsorption and diffusion processes. These alumina features act as a physical barrier against Al NP sintering while also provide separation for reaction gases to flow and preheat unreacted materials.
Development of a Polar Stratospheric Cloud Model within the Community Earth System Model: Assessment of 2010 Antarctic Winter

To simulate polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs) during the Antarctic winter of 2010, we have developed a PSC model within the Community Earth System Model framework that includes detailed microphysics of sulfuric aerosols and three types of PSCs: supercooled ternary solution (STS), nitric acid trihydrate (NAT) and ice. Our model includes two major NAT formation mechanisms both of which are essential to reproduce the PSC and gas phase chemical features in the 2010 Antarctic winter. Homogeneous nucleation of NAT from STS produces NAT particles with sizes near 8 μm, which are important to properly simulate denitrification and the gas phase HNO3 observed by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). Heterogeneous nucleation of NAT on ice particles or ice particles on NAT and subsequent evaporation of the ice produces NAT particles with sizes from sub-micrometers to a few micrometers. These particles account for the large backscattering ratio from NAT observed by the CALIPSO satellite, especially in the mid-winter season. Adding temperature fluctuations from gravity waves is important to produce larger number density and higher backscattering ratio from ice and NAT particles. However, our model needs a better representation of waves to improve the backscattering ratio and gas phase HNO3 compared with observations. Our model also includes homogeneous nucleation of ice from STS and heterogeneous nucleation of ice on NAT. The model reproduces the gas phase H2O during the winter within the uncertainty of the MLS observations.
Value Added: School Leaders Can Promote Student Energy Literacy

The second highest expense beyond personnel salaries is energy cost to operate schools and other needed facilities. Therefore, there is a growing practice for school leaders to seek ways to decreas...
On broadcast-based self-learning in named data networking

In local area networks and mobile ad-hoc networks, broadcast-based self-learning is a common mechanism to find packet delivery paths. Self-learning broadcasts the first packet, observes where the returning packet comes from, then creates the corresponding forwarding table entry so that future packets will only need unicast. The main benefits of this mechanism are its simplicity, adaptability, and support of mobility. While the high-level idea of broadcast-based self-learning is straightforward, making the scheme efficient and secure, especially in a data-centric network architecture like Named Data Networking (NDN), requires careful examination. In this paper, we study how broadcast-based self-learning may be applied to NDN networks, point out two major issues: the name-prefix granularity problem and the trust problem, and propose corresponding solutions. We also apply self-learning to switched Ethernet as an example to develop a specific design that can build forwarding tables without any control protocol, recover quickly from link failures, and make use of off-path caches. Simulations are conducted using both real and synthetic traffic to evaluate the performance of the design.
Large vessel appliqué arteriovenous shunt for hemodialysis: A new concept

Summary A high-flow arteriovenous shunt has been developed which is attached to the common femoral artery and vein. This large vessel “applique” shunt resulted from the vexations of repeated cannulations in aging patients receiving dialysis using the standard peripheral arm or leg arteriovenous shunt. Thirty-nine patients have been operated on for a total of forty shunts and these patients have been followed up for from four to eighteen and a half months, with satisfactory results to date. Complications other than infection have been negligible and readily handled without rehospitalization and reoperation. Forty per cent of the patients are receiving anticoagulation therapy for repetitive minor shunt thromboses and heavy fibrin formation on the artificial kidney. Infection remains a serious problem and has caused the death of two patients. Further follow-up studies will ultimately make it possible to ascertain whether or not this concept, with continuing changes in the prosthesis, will be adequate for all patients. As it stands currently, it is a readily satisfactory back-up and support shunt when all other available shunt sites have been used. Acceptance by the patient of this femoral shunt, with its position, high-flow characteristics and ease of handling, is high.
Queer/Trans/Feminist Educations: On Becoming Queer

Greteman turns to his own teaching in this chapter to investigate the ephemeral, but necessary work of queer pedagogies. Concerned with animosities between queer, feminist, and trans studies, Greteman proposes a course that taught queer, feminist, and trans theories alongside one another to investigate their roles in understanding the body. Drawing on the history of pedagogical writing rooted in one’s teaching, Greteman focuses specifically on the national tragedy at Pulse Nightclub that occurred during the course in question to explore the importance of queer, feminist, and trans theories in giving voice to the complex lives the twenty-first century provides.
Negative-order integrable modified KdV equations of higher orders

A variety of negative-order integrable modified KdV (mKdV) equations of higher orders is constructed. The inverse profile of the recursion operator of the modified KdV equation is invested to develop these new integrable equations. The correlation between integrability and recursion operators is demonstrated. We employ the bilinear method for obtaining multiple-soliton solutions for the generalized developed equation.
Antenna on glass for 60GHz WiGig application

In this paper, we investigate antenna on glass and compare the property with antenna on ceramic substrate at 60GHz band for Wireless Gigabit alliance application. The design of Antenna on Corning EAGLE XG Glass is dependent on the result of simulation. The structure of a glass antenna with one redistribution layer (RDL) on the front-side and one ground metal on the backside has been fabricated. The antenna property is compared with the simulation result and on ceramic substrate. The results indicate that performance of this antenna on glass is better than on low temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) substrate. The data show the feasibility of glass substrate for electronics applications.
Smart Environments for All

Smart Environments also called Smart Homes or Smart Houses are often topics of research projects. Some have been and some will be realised. People with disabilities in particular could benefit most from such environments as they offer basic assistive functionalities enabling an increased independence and personal freedom and hence the quality of their life improved.This paper provides a short introduction to the field of “Smart Environments” and to the Special Thematic Session “Smart Environments for All”.
SOCIAL FORAGING IN RATS: GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL CHOICE IN DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTS

Group and individual choice behavior in dynamic social environments was examined in a laboratory foraging analogue. Five rats were studied across multiple sessions in a free-ranging paradigm, where food reinforcement was delivered from two patches according to variable time intervals. Five reinforcement ratios (1:1, 1:4, 1:8, 8:1, 4:1) were presented either in irregular sequence within a session (Variable condition) or across sessions (Stable). Competitiveness, defined in terms of obtained resources, was assessed by delivering food at one feeder only. The generalized matching law and ideal free distribution accounted for individual and group data well. Sensitivity of the group and individual behavior to reinforcement contingencies increased with less variability in resource availability, but also increased with greater experience. The experimental paradigm shows great promise for examining adaptive behavior in a social context.
Suppressing Memories by Shrinking the Vesicle Pool

The cohesin complex regulates cellular functions spanning cell division and neuronal morphogenesis. Now, Phan et al. uncover a role for the cohesin complex in regulating memory acquisition and the size of the synaptic and dense-core vesicle pool.
Depolymerization of Bottlebrush Polypentenamers and Their Macromolecular Metamorphosis

The depolymerization of bottlebrush (BB) polymers with varying lengths of polycyclopentene (PCP) backbone and polystyrene (PS) grafts is investigated. In all cases, ring closing metathesis (RCM) depolymerization of the PCP BB backbone appears to occur through an end-to-end depolymerization mechanism as evidenced by size exclusion chromatography. Investigation on the RCM depolymerization of linear PCP reveals a more random chain degradation process. Quantitative depolymerization occurs under thermodynamic conditions (higher temperature and dilution) that drives RCM into cyclopentenes (CPs), each bearing one of the original PS grafts from the BB. Catalyst screening reveals Grubbs' third (G3) and second (G2) generation catalyst depolymerize BBs significantly faster than Grubbs' first generation (G1) and Hoveyda-Grubbs' second generation (HG2) catalyst under identical conditions while solvent (toluene versus CHCl3) plays a less significant role. The length of the BB backbone and PS side chains also play a minor role in depolymerization kinetics, which is discussed. The ability to completely deconstruct these BB architectures into linear grafts provides definitive insights toward the ATRP "grafting-from" mechanism originally used to construct the BBs. Core-shell BB block copolymers (BBCPs) are shown to quantitatively depolymerize into linear diblock polymer grafts. Finally, the complete depolymerization of BBs into α-cyclopentenyl-PS allows further transformation to other architectures, such as 3-arm stars, through thiol-ene coupling onto the CP end group. These unique materials open the door to stimuli-responsive reassembly of BBs and BBCPs into new morphologies driven by macromolecular metamorphosis.
Tight oil, real WTI prices and U.S. stock returns

Abstract Following the adoption of new techniques of shale and fracking by U.S. oil companies, a structural vector autoregression model (SVAR) complements studies on why Brent and WTI started to diverge around early-2011. Using monthly data from 2000 to 2018, we decompose oil supply into: world oil (excluding U.S.), U.S. conventional (non-tight) oil and U.S. tight oil. We examine the variance decomposition of stock returns for the aggregate market (S&P 500), the S&P Energy sector and Chevron and Exxon Mobil oil companies, and we further identify differences between two subsamples from 2000 to 2010 and 2011 to 2018, respectively. We find that supply considerations (especially due to tight oil) become more important in the subsample after 2011, not only for individual oil companies but also for the aggregate market and energy sector: Supply shocks due to tight oil explain in our benchmark model between 29% (S&P 500) and 31% (S&P Energy) of the variance in stock returns after 24 months and between 28% and 29% for oil companies. None of these are statistically significant in the pre-2011 subsample. Among impulse responses, tight oil production responds positively to disruptions in world oil, and U.S. stock returns respond positively to oil price shocks and respond negatively to tight oil shocks which is a further finding while being consistent with the literature. Copula modeling uncovers stronger tail dependences in the second subsample for the interactions during downturns and upturns among global demand, crude oil prices and stock markets.
Small-Scale Mass Executions and Individual Killings

The large-scale massacres mainly took place along the Yangtze River and outside the city. Relatively small-scale mass executions were carried out in many sections within the city walls, as well as in the eastern and southern suburbs. Japanese troops committed mass murders at such locations as Qingliang Hill (清凉山), Gulin Temple (古林寺), Sanpailou (三牌樓), Shanxi Road (山西路), Dafang Lane (大方巷), Drum Tower (鼓樓), Yinyangying (陰陽營), Wutai Hill (五台山), Shanghai Road (上海路), and the Pude temple (普德寺) vicinity.
Factors controlling drought resistance in grapevine (Vitis vinifera, chardonnay): application of a new microCT method to assess functional embolism resistance

Premise Quantifying resistance to embolism in woody plants is important for understanding their drought response. Methods to accurately quantify resistance to embolism continue to be debated. Methods We used a new microCT-based approach that quantifies embolized conduits and also analyzes conductive conduits by using an x-ray-dense, iodine-rich tracer that moves though the vascular system and can easily be observed in microCT images. Many previous microCT studies assumed that all conduits were initially conductive, which may not be the case if there are developing or occluded conduits. We compared microCT results to a standard benchtop dehydration method and a centrifuge method. During dehydration, we measured gas exchange and quantified water potential at mortality. Results Our microCT curves agreed with previously published microCT curves from the same greenhouse-grown cultivar. We found a significant difference in embolism estimates if we assumed that all water-filled conduits were functional rather than only those containing tracer. Embolism estimates from microCT differed from both the benchtop and centrifuge methods. The benchtop and centrifuge methods did not differ from one another. Conclusions The new microCT method presented here is valuable in sampling species that may contain nonconductive conduits. Disagreement between microCT and two other methods was likely due to differences in the ways they quantify embolism. MicroCT assess the theoretical effect of embolism, whereas benchtop and centrifuge methods directly measure hydraulic conductivity. The theoretical approach does not fully account for the resistances of flow through a complex 3D vascular network.
Metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma with dramatic response to combined checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab and nivolumab.

IntroductionPrognosis for patients with lymph node positive or metastatic penile squamous cell carcinoma remains poor. Chemotherapy with paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (TIP regimen) is recom...
Homogeneous Systems of Equations

In Chapters 2.4 and 3.4, we studied systems of equations in n unknowns for n = 2 and 3. What if n > 3?
Subtle case of dapsone-induced methaemoglobinaemia

Methaemoglobinaemia is a rare disease that is typically caused by a medication or other exogenous agent, with dapsone being the most common. It occurs when the concentration of methaemoglobin rises via ferrous haeme irons becoming oxidised to the ferric state, which shifts the oxygen dissociation curve to the left. The net result of an elevated methaemoglobin concentration is functional anaemia and impaired oxygen delivery to tissues. At lower blood levels, this can cause symptoms such as cyanosis, lethargy, headache and fatigue, whereas at higher levels it can be fatal. Here we discuss a subtle case of dapsone-induced methaemoglobinaemia presenting as subacute mental status changes and apparent hypoxia, thus highlighting the association between methaemoglobinaemia and dapsone. This case demonstrates the importance of thorough medication reconciliation and maintaining a broad differential diagnosis, while also recognising the significance of conflicting data and their implications for the workup.
RNA therapeutics for retinal diseases

In the retina, noncoding RNA (ncRNA) plays an integral role in regulating apoptosis, inflammatory responses, visual perception, and photo-transduction, with altered levels reported in diseased stat...
Serving up hope

Food allergies are a growing, potentially life-threatening problem. The good news is we can turn this around, says Kari Nadeau
El análisis subnacional: aportes teóricos y metodológicos a la política comparada

Subnational research (SNR) plays an increasingly prominent and important role in Comparative Politics. This article assesses the theoretical and methodological contributions of SNR. In particular it demonstrates the capacity of SNR to strengthen theory building by mitigating the problem of “theory stretching” and shows its comparative advantage for crafting multilevel theories that provide stronger explanations of outcomes of interest. With regard to methods and research design, the article offers new research strategies and shows how SNR can be combined fruitfully with a diverse set of widely-used methodologies.
Quality Improvement in Public Health Emergency Preparedness

Quality improvement (QI) methods have been used in many industries to improve performance and outcomes. This chapter reviews key QI concepts and their application to public health emergency preparedness (PHEP). We conclude that for QI to flourish and become standard practice, changes to the status quo are necessary. In particular, public health should build its capabilities in QI, enhance implementation, and align incentives to facilitate use of QI.
Space invader: pleural penetration of a hypoglossal nerve stimulator sensor lead.

The mainstay of treatment for obstructive sleep apnea is positive airway pressure therapy, which may be difficult for some patients to tolerate leading to compromised adherence and requiring altern...
Estimating the forcing function in a mechanical system by an inverse calibration method

This article proposes and demonstrates a calibration-based integral formulation for resolving the forcing function in a mass–spring–damper system, given either displacement or acceleration data. Th...
Female Labor Supply Response to Alimony: Evidence from Massachusetts

This paper studies the labor supply response of women to changes in expected alimony. Using an alimony law change in the US that significantly reduced the post-divorce alimony support among women, I first show that this led to an increase in divorce probability. Second, consistent with the theoretical prediction from a simple model of labor supply, the reform led to an increase in the female labor force participation, with a larger increase among ever-married and more educated samples of women. As a result, the average female wage income increased after the reform. However, while labor supply increased, I show that most of this increase was concentrated in part-time employment, which may not be sufficient to compensate for the expected loss in alimony income. I estimate a net loss of $40,621 in PDV of lifetime income due to the reform. In light of the recent movement in the US to reform alimony laws, these findings are pertinent to understand its implications on women's labor supply and economic well-being.