cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diel patterns of foraging aggression and antipredator behaviour in the trashline orb-weaving spider, Cyclosa turbinata

Diel rhythms of physiology and behaviour are present in virtually all taxa examined to date. However, few studies have rigorously assessed the adaptive value of physiological and behavioural rhythms in animals. We laid the groundwork for an assessment of the adaptive rhythm hypothesis by assaying diel rhythms of foraging and antipredator behaviour in the trashline orb-weaver Cyclosa turbinata (Araneae: Araneidae). When confronted with a predator stimulus in experimental arenas, C. turbinata showed thanatosis behaviour more frequently and for longer durations during the day. However, assays of antipredator response within webs revealed more complex diel patterns of avoidance behaviours and no pattern of avoidance behaviour duration. A preliminary assay of prey capture behaviour suggested that C. turbinata also shows nocturnal patterns of foraging aggression. A refined foraging experiment, in which we randomized prey stimulus frequency, found that time of day and spider ID strongly predicted the likelihood of showing prey capture behaviour. Only spider ID predicted latency to attack the prey stimulus despite low individual repeatability (r = 0.10). These results support our prediction that C. turbinata modulate foraging aggression over the diel cycle, but we found no evidence of a trade-off between foraging behaviour and predator vigilance. However, overall patterns of vigilance may be masked by diel changes in antipredator strategies that correspond to fluctuations in the relative abundances of predator types.
Thermoforming crystallizing poly(ethylene terephthalate) (CPET)

Nonisothermal crystallizing kinetics for nucleated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are combined with transient heat transfer models to predict crystalline levels throughout the process of extruding and thermoforming crystallizing PET (CPET). The analysis includes: PET molecular weight effect (through IV) Nucleant level effect Cooling of extruded sheet on chill rolls Convection in the thermoforming oven Oven radiant heater temperature Radiation interchange efficiency in the heating oven Equilibration Mold surface temperature and atmosphere Cooling time The analysis compares distributed parameter finite difference analysis with a lumped parameter method. Material-environmental parametric studies are conducted using the lumped parameter method. The patent literature data are confirmed using an expanded version of the lumped parameter method.
Inhibition of Bone Resorption by Colchicine in Organ Culture

Stimulation of bone resorption in organ culture by parathyroid hormone or vitamin D metabolites was blocked when colchicine was added to the medium at concentrations of 10-5- 10-7M. Colchicine inhibition was not readily reversible, as treatment for 6 hr at 10-5M blocked PTH responsiveness for 48 hr. However, 48-hr treatment with colchicine did not impair incorporation of labeled thymidine, uridine or leucine in bone cultures. Colchicine could also block resorption acutely in bones pretreated with parathyroid hormone, an effect similar to that of calcitonin. (Endocrinology92: 556, 1973)
Semantic integration of data on transcriptional regulation

Motivation: Experimental and predicted data concerning gene transcriptional regulation are distributed among many heterogeneous sources. However, there are no resources to integrate these data automatically or to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ experience for users seeking information essential for deciphering and modeling gene regulatory networks. Results: IntegromeDB, a semantic graph-based ‘deep-web’ data integration system that automatically captures, integrates and manages publicly available data concerning transcriptional regulation, as well as other relevant biological information, is proposed in this article. The problems associated with data integration are addressed by ontology-driven data mapping, multiple data annotation and heterogeneous data querying, also enabling integration of the user's data. IntegromeDB integrates over 100 experimental and computational data sources relating to genomics, transcriptomics, genetics, and functional and interaction data concerning gene transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes and prokaryotes. Availability: IntegromeDB is accessible through the integrated research environment BiologicalNetworks at http://www.BiologicalNetworks.org Contact: [email protected] Supplementary information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A Study of Individualism: Some Demographic and Psychological Correlates

Individualism was measured by offering students a choice between an individual and a group experience. It was assumed that a preponderance of favorable experiences of differentiation within the social field is associated with the development of individualism. Data from questionnaries and group rating scales indicated that family sibling patterns, spatial mobility, race, religion, age and preferences for joining "out" groups were significantly related to preferences for individual experiences. The findings in general support the hypotheses and suggest that individualism may be conceptualized in terms of differentiation within the social field. I ndividualism has been defined as "free and independent individual action or thought"' and has frequently been considered as a cultural or economic trait. In this context, it has been related to the Protestant ethic, to the rise of capitalism,2 and to a society's motivation for achievement.3 Individualism may, however, also be considered an aspect of personality; that is, within a culture, certain persons may habitually behave more independently than others. Consistent individual differences have thus been found in such behaviors as independence of judgment,4 resistance to persuasion,5 and the choice of an individual rather than a group experience.6 The present study has continued the investigation of individualism as a personality characteristic. Subjects were offered a choice between participating in an individual or a group experiment. The choice of the individual experiment was assumed to typify the behavior of the individualist-the person with a propensity for acting independently rather than as a part of a group. Attention was focused upon the background characteristics of the individualist and upon the kinds of groups he preferred.
Ypt32 recruits the Sec4p guanine nucleotide exchange factor, Sec2p, to secretory vesicles; evidence for a Rab cascade in yeast

SEC2 is an essential gene required for polarized growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. It encodes a protein of 759 amino acids that functions as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase Sec4p, a regulator of Golgi to plasma membrane transport. Activation of Sec4p by Sec2p is needed for polarized transport of vesicles to exocytic sites. Temperature-sensitive (ts) mutations in sec2 and sec4 result in a tight block in secretion and the accumulation of secretory vesicles randomly distributed in the cell. The proper localization of Sec2p to secretory vesicles is essential for its function and is largely independent of Sec4p. Although the ts mutation sec2-78 does not affect nucleotide exchange activity, the protein is mislocalized. Here we present evidence that Ypt31/32p, members of Rab family of GTPases, regulate Sec2p function. First, YPT31/YPT32 suppress the sec2-78 mutation. Second, overexpression of Ypt31/32p restores localization of Sec2-78p. Third, Ypt32p and Sec2p interact biochemically, but Sec2p has no exchange activity on Ypt32p. We propose that Ypt32p and Sec4p act as part of a signaling cascade in which Ypt32p recruits Sec2p to secretory vesicles; once on the vesicle, Sec2p activates Sec4p, enabling the polarized transport of vesicles to the plasma membrane.
TESTS OF PLEISTOCENE SPECIATION IN MONTANE GRASSHOPPERS (GENUS MELANOPLUS) FROM THE SKY ISLANDS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract There has a been a resurgence of debate on whether the Pleistocene glaciations inhibited speciation. This study tests a model of Pleistocene speciation, estimating the phylogenetic relationships and divergence times of 10 species of montane grasshoppers, genus Melanoplus, using 1300 bp of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase I (COI). Based on average pairwise distances (corrected for multiple substitutions using Kimura's two-parameter model), all species appear to have originated within the Pleistocene. Sequence divergences between species are less than 4%, corresponding to divergence times less than 1.7 million years ago. Branching patterns among the species suggest that speciation was associated with more than one glacial-interglacial cycle. A likelihood-ratio test rejected a model of simultaneous species origins, the predicted branching pattern if species arose from the fragmentation of a widespread ancestor. These grasshoppers live in an area that was previously glaciated and, as inhabit...
A literature review of serials in administrative office systems and business education

Garrett is assistant professor, administrative office systems, and Mackey is associate dean of library services, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri. Administrative Office Systems (AOS) encompasses four primary areas of study: office systems, office management, business education/training and development, and business communication. As an academic discipline the field has grown from the traditional business education areas of typing, shorthand, and office practice to encompass the latest of office systems and procedures involving the newest computer and communications technologies. The ability to identify needed systems and procedures, to incorporate them into offices, and to train others to make the most efficient use of these systems requires in-depth study and practice. Offices have become much more complex in the past 20 years and indications are that the trend will continue. Administrativeoffice systems as an academic area focuses on the management of complex systems, the technology and communications to provide an efficient office environment, and the trained employees to work in this environment. In the 1960s and 1970s it was sufficient to know how to set up manual files and have a standard format for correspondence. Since the 1980s it has become necessary to know how to develop and manage computer files, select the best software for various office functions, and develop, where necessary, specialized information systems for a particular type of business or function. As the United States develops a stronger service economy, it is imperative that workers be well trained in basic business practices. Business education at the secondary level and in the business setting provides that
A review on belt and chain continuously variable transmissions (CVT): Dynamics and control

Over the last two decades, significant research effort has been directed towards developing vehicle transmissions that reduce the energy consumption of an automobile. This effort has been a direct consequence of the growing environmental concern imposing the directives of reduced exhaust emissions and increased vehicle efficiency on current vehicle manufacturers and users. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) offers a continuum of gear ratios between desired limits, which consequently enhances the fuel economy and dynamic performance of a vehicle by better matching the engine operating conditions to the variable driving scenarios. Although a CVT plays a crucial role in the plan to improve vehicle fuel economy, its complete potential has not been realized in a mass-production vehicle. The current paper reviews the state-of-the-art research on dynamic modeling and control of friction-limited continuously variable transmissions. The basic concepts, mathematical models, and computational schemes are extensively discussed. Challenges and critical issues for future research on modeling and control of such CVTs are also discussed.
Role of Food in Gastrointestinal Ulceration Produced by Indomethacin in the Rat

This study was undertaken to determine the role of food in indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal lesions. Following a 24- or 48-h fast, rats were given various amounts of rat Chow pellets or various types of diets (high-bulk non-nutritive diet, equicaloric liquid diet, or liquid diet containing cellulose) for 1 h. One-half hour after the feeding, 30 mg/kg of indomethacin was administered subcutaneously, and 6 h later the animals were killed and gastrointestinal lesions measured. In the fasted rat, indomethacin produced lesions predominantly in the gastric corpus. In the rat that was fed Chow pellets, indomethacin produced lesions in both the gastric antrum and small intestine. By increasing food intake, the corpus lesions decreased while antral and intestinal lesions increased. In the rat that was fed cellulose or sawdust pellets, indomethacin produced lesions in all three areas. In contrast, indomethacin did not produce any lesions in the liquid diet group. However, when cellulose was added to the liquid diet, indomethacin produced lesions in both the antrum and small intestine, the lesions increasing in proportion to increasing concentrations of cellulose. It is concluded that in indomethacin-induced gastrointestinal lesions: (a) the nutritional component of food prevents the formation of corpus lesions, and (b) the solid component of food, whether nutritive or not, plays an essential role in the formation of antral and intestinal lesions.
Historically underserved students: What we know, what we still need to know

Community colleges educate many traditionally underserved students, including students of color, first-generation students, and low-income students. This chapter discusses what we know about these students, how they have fared in college transitions, how educational pipeline and deficit models have helped or hindered their progress, and what community college educators should seek to understand about this diverse population of students.
Human liver mitochondrial cytochrome P450 2D6 – individual variations and implications in drug metabolism

Constitutively expressed human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6; EC 1.14.14.1) is responsible for the metabolism of approximately 25% of drugs in common clinical use. It is widely accepted that CYP2D6 is localized in the endoplasmic reticulum of cells; however, we have identified this enzyme in the mitochondria of human liver samples and found that extensive inter-individual variability exists with respect to the level of the mitochondrial enzyme. Metabolic assays using 7-methoxy-4-aminomethylcoumarin as a substrate show that the human liver mitochondrial enzyme is capable of oxidizing this substrate and that the catalytic activity is supported by mitochondrial electron transfer proteins. In the present study, we show that CYP2D6 contains an N-terminal chimeric signal that mediates its bimodal targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. In vitro mitochondrial import studies using both N-terminal deletions and point mutations suggest that the mitochondrial targeting signal is localized between residues 23-33 and that the positively-charged residues at positions 24, 25, 26, 28 and 32 are required for mitochondrial targeting. The importance of the positively-charged residues was confirmed by transient transfection of a CYP2D6 mitochondrial targeting signal mutant in COS-7 cells. Both the mitochondria and the microsomes from a CYP2D6 stable expression cell line contain the enzyme and both fractions exhibit bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation activity, which is completely inhibited by CYP2D6 inhibitory antibody. Overall, these results suggest that the targeting of CYP2D6 to mitochondria could be an important physiological process that has significance in xenobiotic metabolism.
Decreasing Reliability and Increasing Synchroneity of Western North American Streamflow

Abstract Assessing climate-related societal vulnerability and mitigating impacts requires timely diagnosis of the nature of regional hydrologic change. A late-twentieth-century emergent trend is discovered toward increasing year-to-year variance (decreasing reliability) of streamflow across the major river basins in western North America—–Fraser, Columbia, Sacramento–San Joaquin, and Upper Colorado. Simultaneously, a disproportionate increase in the incidence of synchronous flows (simultaneous high or low flows across all four river basins) has resulted in expansive water resources stress. The observed trends have analogs in wintertime atmospheric circulation regimes and ocean temperatures, raising new questions on the detection, attribution, and projection of regional hydrologic change induced by climate.
Resolution Of A Shadow Image

The 19th century art of shadow imaging, as started by Wedgwood (1803), and as used by William Henry Fox-Talbot (1851) in England, has been revived by using a small-area electronic flash lamp and fine grain film. One immediate application has been the photographic recording of large samples of living plankton. The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the resolution of the shadow system, and to describe some of the strobe light sources that are presently available. Also, a modified method of shadow photography is described where enhanced color images give interesting and, perhaps, important color effects that may be useful in the study of plankton and other semitrans-parent subjects.
What Research Tells Us: Green Schools and Student Achievement

With the advent of Green Schools in the educational establishment, the theory was advanced that these schools would have a great deal of influence upon student and teacher performance. However, there has been little research conducted using certified Green School because of the paucity of such schools. The National Research Council of the National Academies of Science enlisted a group of scholars to investigate the possible relationship between Green Schools and student achievement. The committee had difficulty finding any research available that addressed the topic. The findings from existing research have produced mixed results. At the same time, research efforts on the relationship between Green Schools and student and teacher performance have slowed and different variables have been employed to try to find out the possible influence upon the users of the Green School. This recent development is encouraged by the US Green Buildings Council, which is developing a new research agenda.
Work Engagement: Trust as a Mediator of the Impact of Organizational Job Embeddedness and Perceived Organizational Support

ABSTRACTThis study furthers the research on work engagement, organizational (on-the-job) embeddedness, and perceived organizational support by examining the relationships between these variables through a mediating factor, trust in leadership. Specifically, the study investigates the role of trust as a mediator between organizational job embeddedness and work engagement, and between perceived organizational support and work engagement. In a sample of 318 local county government employees, findings provide support for the hypothesized relationships. Trust in leadership is strongly related to work engagement; trust partially mediates the relationship between organizational job embeddedness and work engagement, and between perceived organizational support and work engagement. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Successful Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients with Immune-Mediated Thrombocytopenia Treated with Romiplostim.

Abstract Background: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) for large stone burden can be problematic in patients with significant risk of bleeding complications, specifically thrombocytopenia. This report demonstrates effective correction of two patients' thrombocytopenia, subsequently leading to removal of large stone burden through PCNL. Case Presentation: We present two Middle Eastern patients who presented with medical histories significant for thrombocytopenia, secondary to splenomegaly and hepatic vein thrombosis, and large volume nephrolithiasis. Patient 1 is a 65-year-old female with a right 5 cm stone and a platelet count of 34,000. Patient 2 is a 45-year-old female with a 3 cm left staghorn stone and a platelet count of 44,000. After consultation with hematology, both underwent therapy with prednisone and intravenous immunoglobulin without improvement in their platelet count. They then received 3 μg/kg/dose of romiplostim weekly that improved their platelet counts to 133,000 and 195,000 in 2 weeks...
High-Resolution Soil Moisture Retrieval With ASCAT

Satelliteborne C-band scatterometer measurements of the radar backscatter coefficient $(\sigma^{0})$ of the Earth can be used to estimate soil moisture levels over land. Such estimates are currently produced at 25- and 50-km resolution using the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) sensor and a change detection algorithm originally developed at the Vienna University of Technology (TU-Wien). Using the ASCAT spatial response function (SRF), high-resolution (approximately 15–20 km per pixel) images of $\sigma^{0}$ can be produced, enabling the creation of a high-resolution soil moisture product using a modified version of the TU-Wien algorithm. The high-resolution soil moisture images are compared to images produced with the Water Retrieval Package 5.5 algorithm, which is also based on the TU-Wien algorithm, and to in situ measurements from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration U.S. Climate Reference Network (NOAA CRN). The WARP 5.5 and high-resolution image products generally show good agreement with each other; the high-resolution estimates appear to resolve soil moisture features at a finer scale and demonstrate a tendency toward greater moisture values in some areas. When compared to volumetric soil moisture measurements from NOAA CRN stations for 2010 and 2011, the WARP 5.5 and high-resolution soil moisture estimates perform similarly, with both having a root-mean-square difference from the in situ data of approximately 0.06 m3/m3 in one study area and 0.09 m3/m3 in another.
Teaching a Complex Process: Insertion in Red Black Trees

Red black trees (and all balanced trees) are an important concept in computer science with many applications. This paper describes a new approach using an example tracing tutor and our experince in using it to teach insertion in red black trees.
Failure mechanisms of single-crystal silicon electrodes in lithium-ion batteries

Long-term durability is a major obstacle limiting the widespread use of lithium-ion batteries in heavy-duty applications and others demanding extended lifetime. As one of the root causes of the degradation of battery performance, the electrode failure mechanisms are still unknown. In this paper, we reveal the fundamental fracture mechanisms of single-crystal silicon electrodes over extended lithiation/delithiation cycles, using electrochemical testing, microstructure characterization, fracture mechanics and finite element analysis. Anisotropic lithium invasion causes crack initiation perpendicular to the electrode surface, followed by growth through the electrode thickness. The low fracture energy of the lithiated/unlithiated silicon interface provides a weak microstructural path for crack deflection, accounting for the crack patterns and delamination observed after repeated cycling. On the basis of this physical understanding, we demonstrate how electrolyte additives can heal electrode cracks and provide strategies to enhance the fracture resistance in future lithium-ion batteries from surface chemical, electrochemical and material science perspectives.
Programming for Full Employment

The state of affairs in which long periods of idleness alternate with periods in which urgent labour demands cannot be met should naturally lead to attempts, scientific or rule of thumb as the case may be, to programme agricultural output in such a way as to make the demand for labour more uniform. This matter already arises with particular urgency in Japan, where nearly all farming districts are now rapidly losing the reserve of low-paid labour on which they used to count, and even the farmers and their families are being offered better-paid alternative employment in their own districts. Under these circumstances a farm has to re-programme output to provide for more regular employment if it is to survive at all.
Beyond Freedom and Dignity

(1973). Beyond Freedom and Dignity. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 166-168.
Patient Selection and Perioperative Management

Robotic surgery is rapidly gaining popularity throughout the United States. Increasing numbers of hospitals are offering robotic procedures for a variety of indications. Surgical patients, especially those considered higher risk, benefit from the minimally invasive nature of robotic surgery.
Inactivation of Salmonellae in Autoclaved Ground Beef Exposed to Constantly Rising Temperatures

Inactivation of a composite of five serotypes of salmonellae was monitored in autoclaved ground beef exposed to constantly rising temperatures increased at rates similar to those used in beef cookery. Rising temperature rates of 6.0 C/h, 8.5 C/h and 12.5 C/h and constant temperatures of 55, 57, 61 and 63 C were examined. Survival of Salmonella typhimurium TM-1 was compared to survival of the composite. D and z values were compared for constant and rising temperature rates. The D50 C for constant temperature data was 30.2 min, and the D50 C for changing temperature data was 78.6 min (6.0 C/h), 82.4 min (8.5 C/h), and 49.8 min (12.5 C/h). Neither serotype nor heat treatment of ground beef had a major influence on apparent heat resistance of salmonellae. A comparison of these results to previous rising temperature work with Clostridium perfringens suggested that controlling C. perfringens will result in control of salmonellae. On the basis of these results, the July 18, 1978, USDA processing ruling appears adequate to control salmonellae in precooked beef roasts.
Membrane Lipid Asymmetry, a Key Property of the Mammalian Plasma Membrane, Alters the Insertion of the pHLIP Peptide

The plasma membrane has an asymmetric distribution of lipids between the inner and outer leaflets of the bilayer. Two types of phospholipid asymmetry can occur between the leaflets: head group asymmetry and acyl chain asymmetry. One lipid head group of interest is phosphatidylserine (PS), which carries a net negative charge. In healthy cells, PS is actively sequestered to the inner leaflet of the membrane but can redistribute to the outer leaflet in situations such as apoptosis and cancer. Not only do membranes contain lipids, they also contain proteins. Marginally hydrophobic membrane proteins can contain acidic residues in their transmembrane sequence and can have topological transitions after membrane association. What is unclear is how lipid asymmetry affects these topological transitions. Here, we propose to use the pH low insertion peptide (pHLIP) as a model to study topological transitions in relation to membrane head group asymmetry in free floating asymmetric phosphatidylcholine (PC)/PS vesicles. Based on environmental pH, pHLIP undergoes a topological reorientation and inserts into the membrane. The inclusion of PS in symmetric vesicles affects the insertion process by lowering the pH midpoint of insertio n. However, we do not know how PS asymmetry will affect insertion. We propose that having an asymmetric distribution of PS (more in the inner leaflet) will affect the insertion of pHLIP. Fluorescence spectroscopy data show that the pH midpoint of pHLIP insertion into asymmetr ic vesicles is higher compared to symmetric vesicles containing PS. Acrylamide quenching data show that the two tryptophans in pHLIP are more solvent exposed in the presence of asymmetry. We hypothesize that pHLIP insertion is affected by a change in the transmembrane potential induced by the asymmetric distribution of charged lipids between the leaflets.
Teachers’ Perspectives on Bullying

In this chapter, DeOrnellas and Spurgin describe bullying from the viewpoint of the teacher, noting that teachers vary significantly in how they perceive bullying with some holding complacent attitudes and others taking a proactive stance against bullying. DeOrnellas and Spurgin describe how teachers’ understanding of bullying varies based on level of training, experience, and beliefs regarding bullies and that this, in turn, influences if and how they will intervene. The chapter concludes with focus on effective interventions that teachers can use to handle bullying in their classrooms.
Financial Flexibility and Investment: Evidence from REIT At‐the‐Market (ATM) Equity Offerings

This article examines changes in real estate investment around the establishment of at-the-market (ATM) equity programs by equity REITs. We document a significant increase in the rate of investment following an ATM program announcement and its subsequent use. However, we find ATM access has a differential impact on the investment activity of REITs facing more significant financial constraints. We also provide further evidence that REITs with ATM programs generate positive long-run returns in excess of that of similarly timed SEOs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Percutaneous Cryoablation of Solitary, Sporadic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Outcome Analysis Based on Clear-Cell versus Papillary Subtypes.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate treatment outcomes with percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) based on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) histology. Methods and Materials Patients treated with PCA for a solitary, sporadic stage T1a RCC from 2003 to 2016 were identified from a single institution’s renal ablation registry. Patients with multiple tumors, history of RCC, or genetic syndromes associated with RCC (n = 60); no specific RCC subtype determined from core biopsy (n = 66); RCC subtype other than clear-cell or papillary (n = 7); or less than 3 mo of follow-up imaging (n = 5) were excluded. In total, 173 patients met study inclusion criteria. Oncologic outcomes, clinical outcomes, and complications were evaluated based on tumor subtype. Results Of the 173 patients who underwent PCA for a stage T1a RCC, 130 (75%) had clear-cell RCC (ccRCC) and 43 (25%) had papillary RCC (pRCC). Median tumor size was 2.9 cm (range, 1.3–4.0 cm). Technically successful cryoablation was achieved in all 173 patients. Local tumor recurrence developed in 6 patients with ccRCC (4.6%), new renal tumors developed in 1 patient (0.8%), and metastatic RCC developed in 1 patient (0.8%) who also had local tumor recurrence. No patients with pRCC showed local tumor recurrence, new renal tumors, or metastatic disease. The 5-year disease-free survival rate in patients with ccRCC was 88%, compared with 100% in patients with pRCC (P = .48). Nine patients (5.2%), all with ccRCC, experienced major complications (P = .11). Conclusions Percutaneous ablation is a viable treatment option for patients with clinical stage T1a pRCC and ccRCC. Percutaneous ablation may be a very favorable treatment strategy particularly for pRCC.
On measuring niches and not measuring them

Niche overlap measures have been used extensively by ecologists, but until recently it was not possible to evaluate whether calculated overlap values differed significantly from chance expectations. We provide test statistics and a method for calculating confidence intervals for 3 overlap measures based on: (1) the likelihood ratio statistic; (2) the chi-square goodness-of-fit statistic; and (3) the Freeman-Tukey statistic. We also provide a means of calculating confidence intervals for 3 other commonly used measures, (4) the percentage similarity index; (5) Morisita’s adjusted measure; and (6) an information theory index.
Statistical Debugging and Automated Program Failure Triage

Recent years have seen great advances in software engineering and programming languages. Unfortunately, software is still far from bug-free, even for those deployed. Static analysis is a good approach to eliminating numerous bugs, but its conservative nature of analysis unavoidably constrains its capacity. Dynamic analysis, on the other hand, utilizes program runtime execution data, which complements static approaches. This thesis describes three dynamic techniques that leverage program runtime data to improve software quality. First, we present a statistical debugging algorithm, called S OBER, which automatically localizes software faults without any prior knowledge of the program semantics. This statistical debugging alleviates the high cost associated with manual debugging. Featuring a similar rationale to hypothesis testing, SOBER quantifies the fault relevance of each predicate in a principled way. We systematically evaluate S OBER under the same setting as previous studies, and compare S OBER with other seven algorithms. The result clearly demonstrates the advantages of SOBER over existing approaches. Second, we discuss automated program failure triage, which is a closely related problem with automated debugging. Recent software systems usually feature an automated failure reporting component, with which a huge number of failures are collected from software end-users. In order to effectively leverage the valuable program failure data, the collected failures need to be first triaged, i.e., to locate the most severe failures, and to assign them to appropriate developers. Lying in the center of failure triage is failure indexing, which tries to group failures due to the fault together. In this thesis, we propose a statistical debugging-based approach to program failure triage, called R-PROXIMITY, which better indexes failures and facilitates failure assignment than existing approaches. Finally, we describe a program dynamic slicing-based approach to failure indexing, which complements R-PROXIMITY. R-PROXIMITY is a quality failure indexing tool, but its effectiveness relies on a sufficient number of correct executions, which may or may not be available in practice. The proposed dynamic slicing-based approach does not require any correct executions, and hence perfectly complements R-PROXIMITY . All the three techniques are subject to three mid-sized programs grep, gzip, and flex, and the result validates their advancement of the state of the art.
West African Iron Age

RELATIVE TIME PERIOD: Follows the West African Neolithic tradition and precedes the West Africa Regional Development tradition. It must be emphasized that the term Iron Age, as well as the preceding and following periods, subsumes a tremendous range of variation. Such partitions do not represent well-defined chronological or culture historical divisions in West Africa. Indeed, the defining characteristic of this period—indigenous metallurgy—may not have played a significant role in some of the cultures considered during the entire time represented. As a whole, West Africa is poorly known archaeologically, particularly the Liberian, Sierra Leone, and Guinea coasts and hinterland. The term Iron Age is hence used very guardedly to indicate a general period of technological development, although one that is not universal or contemporary throughout the whole of West Africa.
Proceedings of the 10th ACM Workshop on Programming Languages and Analysis for Security

Welcome to the ACM SIGPLAN Tenth Workshop on Programming Languages and Analysis for Security (PLAS 2015). This year, PLAS meets in Prague, Czech Republic, co-located with the European Conference on Object-Oriented Programming (ECOOP). We thank the organizers of ECOOP for their assistance with the logistics of PLAS.
The Christian Closet: A Phenomenological Study of Queer Christian Women’s Navigation of Church Communities

ABSTRACTThis phenomenological study explored the experiences of Queer Christian women in the Southeastern United States, who were not out in their church communities. Grounded in intersectional fem...
Using Data Science to Understand Complexity and Quantify Heterogeneity in the Onset and Progression of Chronic Disease

Novel discoveries in genomics and other omics sciences are rapidly redefining our understanding of health and disease as well as advancing the development of targeted therapeutics for improving health outcomes. The scale of these findings, fueled by vast increases in computing power and new techniques in data analytics, easily supersedes that of phenomena observed using more traditional research approaches. Until recently, the classification and diagnosis of disease has involved rather subjective processes, whereby signs and late symptom patterns are linked with clinical outcomes. However, symptom patterns, disease trajectories, and health outcomes are complex entities characterized by a wide range of clinical manifestations and progression patterns. The burgeoning fields of data science and bioinformatics are opening opportunities for nurse scientists to quantify disease heterogeneity by defining and categorizing disease phenotypes and endotypes. Nurse scientists and clinicians can play a critical role in engaging patients and the larger scientific community in these efforts. The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to concepts critical to understanding and quantifying heterogeneity in the onset and progression of chronic disease. To present and exemplify key concepts, we (1) discuss evidence for heterogeneity in the onset and progression of Type 1 diabetes, (2) link emerging research approaches in data science with principles in network science and systems biology to lay the groundwork for stratifying subclinical and advanced chronic disease, thus expanding the purview of symptom science, and (3) describe the computational skills needed to engage in these analyses.
Nanoscale topological defects and improper ferroelectric domains in multiferroic barium hexaferrite nanocrystals

Multiferroic materials that demonstrate magnetically driven ferroelectricity have fascinating properties such as magnetic (electric) field-controlled ferroelectric (magnetic) response that can be used in transformative applications including fast-writing, power-saving, and nondestructive data storage technologies in next-generation computing devices. However, since multiferroicity is typically observed at low temperatures, it is highly desirable to design multiferroic materials that can operate at room temperature. Here we show that $\mathrm{BaF}{\mathrm{e}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ is a promising room-temperature multiferroic material, and we unravel in three dimensions (3D) the dynamics of topological defects, strain, and improper ferroelectric domains driven by electric fields in individual $\mathrm{BaF}{\mathrm{e}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ nanocrystals. Using Bragg coherent diffractive imaging in combination with group-theoretical analysis, first-principles density functional calculations of phonons, and Landau phase-field theory we uncover in 3D the dynamics of topological defects, strain, and improper ferroelectric domains driven by electric fields in individual $\mathrm{BaF}{\mathrm{e}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ nanocrystals. Our results show that $\mathrm{BaF}{\mathrm{e}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ is an improper ferroelectric, in contrast to the current paradigm that adheres to the absence of improper ferroelectricity. Moreover, the fine structure of the reconstructed Bragg electron density suggests that $\mathrm{BaF}{\mathrm{e}}_{12}{\mathrm{O}}_{19}$ may be able to harbor novel topological quantum states of matter and a pathway to transform information technologies.
PANDAA-monium: Intentional violations of conventional qPCR design enables rapid, HIV-1 subtype-independent drug resistance SNP detection

ABSTRACT Global efforts to ensure that 90% of all HIV-infected people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) will be virally suppressed by 2020 could be crippled by increases in acquired and transmitted HIV drug resistance (HIVDR), which challenge ART efficacy. The long-term sustainability of ART treatment programs is contingent on effective HIVDR monitoring yet current Sanger sequencing genotypic resistance tests are inadequate for large-scale implementation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A simple, rapid, affordable HIVDR diagnostic would radically improve the treatment paradigm in LMICs by facilitating informed clinical decision-making upon ART failure. Although point mutation assays can be broadly deployed in this context, the primary challenge arises from extensive sequence variation surrounding targeted drug resistance mutations (DRMs). Here, we systematically and intentionally violate the canonical principles of qPCR design to develop a novel assay, Pan-Degenerate Amplification and Adaptation (PANDAA), that mitigates the impact of DRM-proximal secondary polymorphisms on probe-based qPCR performance to enable subtype-independent, focused resistance genotyping. Using extremely degenerate primers with 3’ termini overlapping the probe-binding site, the HIV-1 genome is adapted through site-directed mutagenesis to replace secondary polymorphisms flanking the target DRM during the initial qPCR cycles. We show that PANDAA can quantify key HIV DRMs present at ≥5% and has diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 96.9% and 97.5%, respectively, to detect DRMs associated with ART failure. PANDAA is an innovative solution for HIVDR genotyping and is an advancement in qPCR technology that could be applicable to any scenario where target-proximal genetic variability has been a roadblock in diagnostic development.
Considerations in the Diagnosis and Management of Lower-Extremity Infections in Injection Heroin Users: A Case Series.

Background: On a national level, heroin-related hospital admissions have reached an all-time high. With the foot being the fourth most common injection site, heroin-related lower-extremity infectio...
Direct Trade Between Wind Farm and Flexible Load in Competitive Electricity Market

Wind farms in a competitive electricity market may suffer from economic losses due to the intermittent nature of wind power. This paper proposes a solution by establishing direct trade between a wind farm and a flexible load. Unlike traditional cooperation scheme, the benefits of wind farm and flexible load are considered individually. Each participant of the trade considers the other's reaction to its decision and adjust its strategy until both sides are satisfied. Uncertainties of wind power generation, energy market prices, and the rest loads are considered. To solve the model, L-shaped method and Lagrangian Relaxation are adopted to decompose the problem. Study cases show that the revenue of the wind farm and the cost of the flexible load can be improved compared with the case when there is no direct trade.
Video Contents Understanding using Deep Neural Networks

We propose a novel application of Transfer Learning to classify video-frame sequences over multiple classes. This is a pre-weighted model that does not require to train a fresh CNN. This representation is achieved with the advent of "deep neural network" (DNN), which is being studied these days by many researchers. We utilize the classical approaches for video classification task using object detection techniques for comparison, such as "Google Video Intelligence API" and this study will run experiments as to how those architectures would perform in foggy or rainy weather conditions. Experimental evaluation on video collections shows that the new proposed classifier achieves superior performance over existing solutions.
Matches Made With Information: Fitting Measurement Models to Adult Attachment Data:

Many self-report inventories in social/personality psychology are developed and scored using dominance-based assumptions. Specifically, they assume that the relationship between item endorsement an...
Higher pedicle screw density does not improve curve correction in Lenke 2 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Higher pedicle screw density posterior spinal fusion (PSF) constructs have not been shown to result in improved curve correction in Lenke 1 and 5 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) but do increase cost. The purpose of this study questioned whether higher screw density constructs improved curve correction and maintenance of correction in Lenke 2 AIS. Secondary goals were to identify predictive factors for correction and postoperative magnitude of curves in Lenke 2 AIS. We identified patients 11 to 17 years old who underwent primary PSF for Lenke 2 AIS between 2007 and 2017 who had minimum follow-up of 2 years. Demographic and radiographic data were collected to perform regression and elimination analysis. Thirty patients (21 females, 9 males) were analyzed. Average age and SD at time of surgery was 14.0 ± 1.8 years (range, 11–17 years), and median follow-up was 2.8 years (IQR 2.1–4.0 years). Implant density did not predict final postoperative curve magnitude. Predictors of final postoperative curve magnitude were sex and preoperative curve magnitude. Predictors of percentage of correction of major curve were sex and age at the time of surgery. Predictors of final postoperative thoracic kyphosis were sex and percent flexibility preop. Females had lower final postoperative major curve magnitude, a higher percent curve correction, and lower postoperative thoracic kyphosis. Increased implant density is not predictive of postoperative curve magnitude in Lenke 2 AIS. Predictors of postoperative curve magnitude are sex and preoperative curve magnitude. Level III, retrospective observational
Simultaneous deformation twinning and martensitic transformation in CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy at high temperatures

Abstract Severe plastic deformation (SPD) leads to substantial strengthening in materials via grain refinement, however, the main drawback of the materials processed using known SPD techniques is the lack of uniform plastic deformation due to low strain hardening capability. In this study, equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) at high temperatures was utilized to activate simultaneous twinning-induced (TWIP) and transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) in the CoCrFeMnNi high entropy alloy (HEA), which are anomalous at high temperatures and reported for the first time. Transmission electron microscopy and electron backscattered diffraction analysis were performed to reveal microstructural features. The presence of the transformed and twinned regions as well as grain refinement in this alloy yielded a high strength level (around 1 GPa) with uniform plastic deformation ability in room temperature tension experiments. The observation of TWIP/TRIP was attributed to high strength levels applied via ECAP and relatively low stacking fault energy of the present HEA.
Impact of artificial intelligence on US medical students' choice of radiology

Abstract Purpose International student surveys have shown significant anxiety about pursuing radiology as a career due to artificial intelligence (AI). For a counterpart study in the US, we examined the impact of AI on US medical students' choice of radiology as a career, and how such impact is influenced by students' opinions on and exposures to AI and radiology. Methods Students across 32 US medical schools participated in an anonymous online survey. The respondents' radiology ranking with and without AI were compared. Among those considering radiology within their top 3 choices, change in radiology ranking due to AI was statistically examined for association with baseline characteristics, subjective opinions, and prior exposures. Results AI significantly lowered students' preference for ranking radiology (P Conclusion AI has a significantly negative impact on US medical students' choice of radiology as a career, a phenomenon influenced by both individual concerns and exposure to AI from the medical community.
The Search for a Truly International Radio Frequency Interference Standard

SAE J551a (radio interference from ignition systems) was the first Standard revised specifically for compatibility with international requirements. Subsequent revisions (presently 551g) have made it significantly more stringent than the standard used overseas. U.S. automotive manufacturers have voluntarily designed vehicles to conform since 1962, without the necessity of Federal regulation. Liaison with Canada resulted in the use of the SAE Standard when RFI regulations were promulgated. Twenty years international negotiaitons have resulted in a common ceoncept for North American and world requirements. The RFI Subcommittee will continue harmonization toward the objective of achieving a worldwide standard.