cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intuition, The Manifold of Intuition, and Its Synthesis

If we ignore the difficulties for Kant that we have so far noted, then the picture of the Transcendental Deduction that we suggested at the beginning of the last chapter runs roughly as follows. Kant seeks to show that the categories apply, with necessity, to all the objects that we do or can know. He seeks to show this conclusion in a non-question-begging manner by beginning with the minimum assumption that, by means of an arbitrary given sensible intuition, an object is known (but not an object that we assume to be category-subsumed). He argues that, because of the way in which we can think in the first-person of all our experiences as ours, it follows that that intuition must be so generated in our mind that the object that it represents to us (and the object that we know via it) necessarily falls under the categories. And he then infers that this same result holds for all the objects that can be represented by our sensible intuitions and so for all the objects that we can know.
Computational Fluid Dynamics of Four-Quadrant Marine-Propulsor Flow

Computational fluid dynamics results are presented of four-quadrant flow for marine-propulsor P4381. The solution method is unsteady three-dimensional incompressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in generalized coordinates with the Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model. The method was used previously for the design condition for marine-propulsor P4119, including detailed verification and validation. Only limited verification is performed for P4381. The validation is limited by the availability of four-quadrant performance data and ring vortex visualizations for the crashback conditions. The predicted performance shows close agreement with the data for the forward and backing conditions, whereas for the crashahead and crashback conditions the agreement is only qualitative and requires an ad hoc cavitation correction. Also, the predicted ring vortices for the crashback conditions are in qualitative agreement with the data. Extensive calculations enable detailed description of flow characteristics over a broad range of propulsor four-quadrant operations, including surface pressure and streamlines, velocity distributions, boundary layer and wake, separation, and tip and ring vortices. The overall results suggest promise for Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes methods for simulating marine-propulsor flow, including off-design. However, important outstanding issues include additional verification and validation, time-accurate solutions, and resolution and turbulence modeling for separation and tip and ring vortices.
Modeling threats

This paper discusses the prior information of choosing model parameters for constant threat from well planned, sophisticated and coordinated terrorist operations against geographically diverse targets, which causes significant loss to human life and property. A semiautomated model-based tool to detect and track terrorist activity are developed based on the analysis of prior terrorist attacks through the clues about the enabling events and the information from open sources. A pattern of transactions is a potential realization and prediction of a possible terrorist event. The HMMs is a stochastic model used to detect the monitored terrorist activity and measure local threat levels. The Bayesian network probabilistic model is well-suited for modelling the global threats and for computing/assessing the overall threat. Optimization techniques can be used to allocate counter terrorism resources and software to track multiple terrorist activities using multitarget tracking algorithms for intelligence analysis.
Tropospheric water vapor climatology

Biases in radiosonde based water vapor climatologies due to systematic instrument errors are investigated. Correlative comparisons between different hygrometer types shows that the goldbeaters hygrometer reports measurements consistently higher than the thin film capacitive and carbon hygristor. Comparisons between like hygrometers finds no bias, suggesting that the hygrometer operational characteristics are similar within hygrometer types. The use of isentropic trajectory air mass calculations as a way to increase the number of correlative pairs is investigated in a comparison of SAGE II water vapor to hygrometer measurements. (Author)
Synthesis of (±)-amathaspiramide F and discovery of an unusual stereocontrolling element for the [2,3]-stevens rearrangement

A formal total synthesis of (±)-amathaspiramide F through a tandem palladium-catalyzed allylic amination/[2,3]-Stevens rearrangement is reported. The unexpected diastereoselectivity of the [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement was controlled by the substitution patterns of an aromatic ring. This discovery represents a new stereocontrolling element for [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangements in complex molecular settings.
Nitrogen in austenitic stainless steels

Nitrogen alloyed in austenitic stainless steels improves austenite stability, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Steels supersaturated with nitrogen (“super-nitrogen steels”) have been investigated, which rival the latest ferritic steels in strength but have potentially greater toughness.
A pH dependence study on the unfolding and refolding of apoazurin: comparison with Zn(II) azurin.

Azurin, a small blue copper protein from the bacterial species Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is mostly a β-sheet protein arranged into a single domain. Previous folding studies have shown that the equilibrium denaturation of the holoprotein follows a two-state process; however, upon removal of the copper, the denaturation had been reported to follow a three-state process. The two unfolding transitions measured for apoazurin had been thought to arise from two different folding domains. However, in the present work, we found that the denaturation of apoazurin occurs over a single transition and we determined the folding free energy to be −27.8±2.4 kJ mol−1. From this measurement along with measurements previously reported for the unfolding of the holoazurin, we were able to determine that Cu(II) and Cu(I) stabilize the native structure by 25.1±6.9 kJ/mol and 12.9±8.1 kJ/mol, respectively. It is our contention that the second transition displayed in the denaturation curves previously reported for apoazurin arise from protein heterogeneity—in particular, from the presence of Zn(II) azurin. We extended our investigation into the denaturation of Zn(II) azurin at pH 6.0 and 7.5. The equilibrium denaturation studies show that the zinc ion significantly stabilizes the native-state structure at pH 7.5 and very little at the lower pH. We attribute the decrease in the stabilizing effect of the zinc ion with decreasing pH to the protonation of two histidinyl side chains. When protonated the ligands, His 46 and His 117, are incapable of binding a metal ion. Further, comparing the denaturation curves of Zn(II) azurin measured by circular dichroism with those measured by fluorescence indicates that the denaturation of Zn(II) azurin is far less simple than the denaturation of apoazurin.
Hypoderatid Mites (Acari) Associated with Cormorants (Aves: Phalacrocoracidae), With Description of a New Species

The mites of the family Hypoderatidae that live as deutonymphs under the skin of cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) are reviewed. Two species of Phalacrodectes and 3 of Neottialges are recorded. New host and locality records are provided for Phalacrodectes gaudi and Neottialges evansi, and a new species, Neottialges pelagicus, is described from Phalacrocorax pelagicus, from Alaska, USA. The subgenus Peledectes within the genus Phalacrodectes is considered a synonym of the nominate subgenus. A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among species of Phalacrodectes is proposed. Historical ecology of cormorant-hypoderatid mite associations is discussed, with tentative hypotheses suggesting that co-speciational patterns do not explain most observed host-parasite distributions.
When instability is a good thing

Among the tumor types found to be most responsive to PD-1 blockade are tumors rich in somatic mutations as a result of exposure to environmental mutagens, such as melanoma and lung cancer. The peptides derived from proteins encoded by mutated genes serve as effective cancer rejection antigens; these neoantigens circumvent central T cell tolerance and are more efficiently recognized by the immune system. Therefore, one would expect that tumors with higher mutation rates would have more neoantigen formation and hence would be more sensitive to immunotherapy. Tumors with mutations in mismatch repair genes also have elevated mutation rates. As a proof of concept, Le et al. conducted a phase 2 clinical trial in 41 patients with and without mismatch deficient tumors who were treated with the anti–PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab. None of the patients with mismatch repair–proficient colorectal cancers (CRC) had an objective response to therapy; in contrast, the disease control rate in mismatch repair–deficient tumors was 90% (9 of 10 patients) in CRC and 71% (5 of 7 patients) in non-CRC patients. Further, the authors applied tumor somatic exome sequencing data combined with each patient’s major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I HLA haplotype to an epitope prediction algorithm. A higher number of potential mutation-associated neoantigens was identified from mismatch repair–deficient versus proficient tumors (mean 578 versus 21 neoantigens) and this was associated with a longer progression-free survival and a greater density of CD8+ lymphoid infiltrates, especially at invasive tumor fronts. Anti–PD-1 therapies rely on the ability of activated CD8 T cells to recognize cancer cells; it is therefore quite plausible that the subset of patients who are more likely to respond have a reactive endogenous T cell compartment and that neoantigens contribute to this reactivity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are promising drugs, but their benefit is restricted to certain patient populations. Future interventions to boost neoantigen-specific T cell reactivity may increase the range of human cancers that respond to these immunotherapeutic agents. D. T. Le et al. , PD-1 blockade in tumors with mismatch-repair deficiency. N. Engl. J. Med. 10.1056/NEJMoa1500596 (2015). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1500596#t=abstract
Differences in cardiovascular function comparing prior preeclamptics with nulliparous controls.

Abstract Objective The objective of the current study was to evaluate cardiovascular function; including blood pressure, cardiac output, pulse wave velocity and vascular compliance in nonpregnant nulliparous women compared to women with a history of preterm preeclampsia. Study design This was a case control study. Blood pressure was measured using the Finapres Pro. Baseline cardiac output was determined by echocardiography. Pulse wave velocity was estimated using simultaneous electrocardiographic tracings and ultrasound determined arterial flow waveforms and calculated as estimated distance divided by the time interval between EKG r-wave peak and ultrasound derived peak popliteal artery flow. During volume challenge, 500mL of lactated Ringers solution was infused through an indwelling antecubital catheter over 10min. Cardiac output and blood pressure during and 15min after the infusion were estimated using the Finapres Pro. Main outcome measures Indices of arterial stiffness and vascular compliance. Results Previous preeclamptics exhibited a significant increase in pulse pressure and cardiac output in response to volume challenge when compared with nulliparous controls. Prior preeclamptics had a strong positive correlation between blood pressure indices (r=0.50–0.68, p⩽0.01) and pulse pressure (r=0.58, P=0.008) with pulse wave velocity that was not evident in control women. Conclusions In women with prior preterm preeclampsia a relationship between blood pressure, intravascular volume and arterial stiffness, is evident in the nonpregnant state and in the absence of hypertension or overt cardiovascular disease. This supports an overarching hypothesis that nonpregnant physiology is an important contributor to pregnancy adaptations.
Necessary, But Was It Right?

In the nineteen fifties, General George C. Marshall, army chief of staff during World War II and the great “organizer of victory,” sat for a series of interviews with his biographer, Forrest C. Pogue. Asked about the necessity of dropping the atomic bombs, Marshall replied that “I think it was quite necessary to drop the bombs in order to shorten the war.” He explained that “what they [the Japanese] needed was shock action, and they got it. I think it was very wise to use it.” Marshall took no pleasure in their use but the distinguished soldier–statesman correctly understood that the two terrible weapons had forced the Japanese surrender when it occurred. By July of 1945 the Japanese had been subjected to months of devastating attacks by B-29s, their capital and other major cities had suffered extensive damage, and the home islands were subjected to a naval blockade that made food and fuel increasingly scarce. The Japanese military and civilian losses had reached approximately three million and there seemed no end in sight. Despite all this, however, Japan's leaders and especially its military clung to notions of Ketsu-Go , to a plan that involved inflicting such punishment on the invader in defense of the homeland that the invader would sue for terms. Even after Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and the Soviet attack in Manchuria the military still wanted to pursue that desperate option, but Hirohito broke the impasse in the Japanese government and ordered surrender.
Perceived Muscle Soreness in Recreational Female Runners.

The purpose of this study was to determine if rating of perceived exertion correlated with perceived muscle soreness during delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in female runners. This study examined the pre and post running economy measures and perceived muscle soreness before and after a 30-min downhill run (DHR) at −15% grade and 70% of the subjects predetermined maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). Six female recreational runners (mean age = 24.5) performed level running at 65%, 75%, and 85% of their VO2 peak prior to DHR (baseline economy runs), as well as, immediately following and 4 successive days after the DHR. Results: Subjective response related to perceived muscle soreness increased significantly from a mean of 2 (pre DHR) to 62 (2 days post DHR) on a scale of 1–100. Creatine kinase levels and oxygen consumption increased post DHR compared to pre DHR. Rating of perceived exertion did not change between the economy runs performed prior to or at any point after the DHR. Conclusion: Perceived muscle soreness is a better tool than the RPE scale to monitor exercise intensity for recreational female runners during periods of DOMS and running economy is adversely affected by DOMS.
Fall Injuries In Older Adults in a USA-Mexico Border Community: Personal Characteristics, Fall Event and Emergency Medical System Utilization

Unintentional falls are a major problem affecting the lives of older adults and considered a public health issue likely to escalate as the older adult population, 60 years old and older, grow exponentially. One out of every three older adults fall yearly with escalating severity of injury with each occurrence and it is the fourth leading cause of death and the most common cause of injury-related hospitalization. Older adults who sustain a fall injury find the need for immediate medical help and activate the emergency system where care is provided by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) whose immediate care influences injury outcome. A 12 month retrospective, quantitative study of unintentional fall injury related responses by EMS in El Paso, Texas was analyzed to determine personal characteristics, fall event, and resulting injury of older adults who received EMS care and ambulance transport to Emergency Department (ED). Majority of participants were Hispanic. Findings point to gender differences in males and females. Females had greater representation, were older than males, and had higher percentage of indoor falls that occurred in daytime, more hip and lower limb injuries but less acuity of injury as compared to males. Males fell outside and during the night more frequently, sustained more head injuries and had greater injury acuity level. This study provides a snap shot of injurious falls and the utilization impact in EMS and opens the forum for asking significant questions to further evaluate the multifactorial components of fall injuries and initiate multidisciplinary health prevention strategies at the most opportune time to create greatest impact. This is a perfect opportunity for social workers and other health care team member to work together and find solutions to this daunting problem.
Increased Interferon-αa Signaling During Megakaryocyte Ontogeny: Implications for the Spontaneous Resolution of Down Syndrome Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder.

Abstract Abstract 1272 Poster Board I-294 About ten percent of infants with Down syndrome (DS) are born with a transient myeloproliferative disorder (DS-TMD), which spontaneously resolves within the first few months of life. However, the basis for this resolution remains unknown. Acquired mutations leading to exclusive production of a short isoform of the transcription factor GATA-1 (GATA-1s) occur in all cases of DS-TMD, and knock-in mice that exclusively produce GATA-1s have hyperproliferation of megakaryocytes during early fetal liver hematopoiesis, but not during later developmental stages. In this study, we found striking upregulation of the interferon-αa (IFN-αa) receptor and multiple IFN-αa responsive genes, including Ifi203, Ifi205, Irf-1, Irf-8, and Ifitm6, in immunophenotypically isolated megakaryocyte progenitor cells (MkPs) from bone marrow versus embryonic day 13.5 (e13.5) fetal liver of wild type mice. These differences were confirmed at the protein level in megakaryocytes by in situ immunohistochemistry. Addition of IFN-αa to GATA-1s containing e13.5 fetal liver MkPs reduces their hyperproliferation in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Conversely, injection of neutralizing IFN-αa/β antibodies, but not control IgG, into adult GATA-1s mice markedly increases the percentage of bone marrow CD41+ cells and morphologically recognizable megakaryocytes, in contrast to wild type mice. We propose that increases in IFN-αa signaling during megakaryocyte ontogeny may account for the developmental stage-specific effects of GATA-1s on megakaryocyte hyperproliferation, and possibly the spontaneous resolution of DS-TMD. Interestingly, the genes encoding the IFN-αa/β receptor are located on human chromosome 21 and are expressed at 1.6 times that in trisomy versus disomy 21 cells. We speculate that increased interferon alpha signaling during embryogenesis may be the basis for the strong selective pressure for GATA-1s producing mutations in trisomy 21 fetuses in the first place. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Amicus Brief in Blackman v. Gascho Et Al., (Re Fees in Class Actions)

In LAWYER BARONS: WHAT THEIR CONTINGENCY FEES REALLY COST AMERICA (2011), I describe ways in which class action lawyers game fee-setting to elevate their own financial interests over that of the class. These include “clear sailing” provisions, use of experts to bless the fees in what are essentially ex parte proceedings, falsifying time records, reversionary settlements, grossly inflated settlement values, restricting access to response rates, the end run around the “no multiplier” rule in fee-shifting cases, the fee-shifting/common fund mix-and-match ploy and the separately paid fee ploy.In the separately paid fee ploy, class counsel enter into settlements with defendants that provide that the agreed upon fee will not come out of the common fund but instead will be paid directly by defendants; furthermore, if the court reduces the fee, a “kicker” clause provides that the amount of any reduction will revert to defendant and not to the class. Using this ploy enables class counsel to bargain away gain for the class in exchange for a higher fee and a reduced likelihood that the court will determine that the fee is excessive. This eviscerates class counsel’s duty of loyalty to the class which requires counsel to place their clients’ interests above their own financial interests.In this amicus brief, I urge the Supreme Court to “deliver to courts of appeal the wake-up they need . . . [and] restore class counsel’s duty of loyalty to the class by kicking the clause out of class action practice entirely.”
Deceit by Design: A Two-Part Analysis

Klein shifts the focus on digital hate inward to examine the strategic design and driving discourses found in today’s extremist websites. Through a content and frame analysis, the research peels back the presentation, functions, and coded language of hate by addressing two underlying questions: First, how have hate websites designed their homepages and content offerings to generate an air of legitimacy and community in keeping with Internet culture? Second, how have the hate sites framed the modern messages of intolerance intended to target unwelcome races, ethnicities, genders, nationalities, and sexual orientations? Klein digs into the predominant claims and encoded language circulating in the news stories and forums of these sites to expose six common narratives emanating from digital hate culture today.
Measuring the unimaginable: Imaginative resistance to fiction and related constructs

Abstract Imaginative resistance refers to a perceived inability or unwillingness to enter into fictional worlds that portray deviant moralities (Gendler, 2000): we can all easily imagine that dragons exist, but many people feel incapable of imagining fictional worlds in which morality works differently. Although this phenomenon has received much attention from philosophers, no one has attempted to operationalize the construct in a self-report scale. In Study 1, we developed the Imaginative Resistance Scale (IRS), investigated its relationship to theoretically related constructs, and confirmed its structure and reliability (rα = 0.92) in a large sample. In Study 2, we asked participants to rate scenarios expected to provoke imaginative resistance and predicted these ratings from the IRS and its validity measures. IRS scores accounted for variability in ease of imagining these scenarios over and above gender, political orientation, and three related measures. The results are discussed in terms of theories of imaginative resistance and directions for future research.
Are Consumers Vulnerable to Consumer Financial Services? An Exploration of Psychological Antecedents of Attitudes and Behaviors in the Consumer Financial Services Industry: An Abstract

Founded in 2010, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) aims to protect vulnerable consumers from businesses such as payday lenders, car title lenders, subprime mortgage lenders, and other consumer financial services (CFS), whose core target market shows demographic characteristics of lower incomes and lower levels of education. While supporters of this bureau believe that these consumers are more vulnerable than other groups (c.f., Chatterjee et al. 2009), other researchers argue that these consumers are wise about their financial situation and do not need such government regulation (c.f., Cole 2007, 2015). Demographic characteristics of CFS users are well established, but psychological characteristics and attitudes of this group are not. Thus, this research seeks to examine the impact of gullibility, self-control, interpersonal influence, cognition, and the ability to judge value on attitudes and behaviors of CFS users. A combination of existing Likert-type scales and newly created items was used to measure the constructs in the model. A survey was administered through Survey Sampling International, and online consumer panel/surveying company. A total of 510 usable surveys were collected. Respondents matched the US population with respect to gender and ethnicity, and we requested that respondents earn less than $100,000 per year. Cronbach’s alpha values ranged from 0.79 to 0.95, indicating evidence of measure reliability. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed and provided evidence of convergent and discriminant validity. Structural equation modeling was used to measure the impact of the independent variables listed above on attitudes towards CFS. Gullibility and susceptibility to interpersonal influence appear to be strong, significant predictors of attitudes towards CFS. It was found that the more gullible the respondent, attitudes towards CFS were more positive. Similarly, those who were more susceptible to interpersonal influence also displayed more positive attitudes towards CFS. There was also a link between cognition and attitude; however, this path was only marginally significant. Self-control and the ability to judge value were not significant predictors of attitude.
Important global and regional differences in aerosol cloud-albedo effect estimates between simulations with and without prognostic aerosol microphysics†

Aerosol-cloud interactions are among the most uncertain climate forcings, in part due to the strong sensitivity of cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) to changes in the size distribution of potential cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). Despite this sensitivity of simulated aerosol-cloud interactions to variations in size-resolved aerosol concentrations being well established, many chemistry-climate and chemical-transport models do not include explicit treatment of the aerosol size distribution. We use a global chemical-transport model to estimate the aerosol cloud-albedo effect (CAE) due to anthropogenic emissions with prognostic sectional aerosol microphysics and compare this to the CAE calculated when the simulated aerosol mass of each species is re-mapped onto a prescribed size distribution. We find that, although both the prescribed and prognostic methods compare similarly well with present-day size-distribution observations, there are substantial differences in the relative CDNC and CAE due to anthropogenic emissions. When using the prognostic size-distribution method, anthropogenic emissions yield a 25-75% larger increase in CDNC over most land masses but a 50-75% smaller increase in some remote-marine regions than in the prescribed size-distribution methods. Simulations using the prognostic scheme yield a global-mean anthropogenic CAE of -0.87 W m−2, while the simulations with the prescribed scheme predict -0.66 W m−2. In South America and South Asia, differences in the CAE exceed 3.0 W m−2. These differences suggest that simulations with prescribed size-distribution mapping are unable to capture regional and temporal variability in size-resolved aerosol number, and thus may lead to biases in estimates of the CAE.
Comparative volumetric analysis of the extent of resection of molecularly and histologically distinct low grade gliomas and its role on survival

The authors investigate the role of extent of resection (EOR) and genetic markers on patient outcome and survival for LGGs. We conducted a retrospective cohort between 2005 and 2015, of 109 adult patients who underwent surgery for a LGG by a single surgeon. Volumetric computations of MRI studies were conducted to evaluate the EOR, and genetic markers (IDH1, 1p/19q co-deletion, and p53) were assessed and their effects on survival and neurological outcome were evaluated. The median EOR was 88.1%. Permanent postoperative neurological deficits were seen in 4.6% of patients. EOR was a significant predictor for both overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.979, 95% CI 0.961-0.980, p = 0.029) and progression free survival (PFS) (HR = 0.982, 95% CI 0.968-0.997, p = 0.018). Malignant progression free survival (MPFS) was predicted by the 1p/19q co-deletion (HR = 0.148, 95% CI 0.019-1.148, p = 0.048). Patients with EOR of 100% had a significantly better OS than EOR less than 90% (p = 0.038). Patients with an EOR of at least 76% had a better OS than EOR less than 76% (p = 0.025). Patients with an EOR of at least 71% had a better PFS than EOR less than 71% (p = 0.030). Preoperative tumor volume was found to have significant association with EOR (R2 = 0.049, p = 0.031). Increased EOR is associated with improved OS and PFS survival outcomes, while 1p/19q co-deletion provides improved MPFS. Understanding both surgical resections and molecular markers of the tumor are important for effective management of LGG patients.
Border Culture, Mexican Identity, Class, And Media Consumption: A Look Into “Fresa” High School Students

The border strip between the south of the United States and the north of Mexico provide an excellent opportunity to study the effects of the flow of media productions from the United States to Mexico. Many communication theories have attempted to explain the reception of transnational media flows to Latin American countries. Scholars from the cultural imperialism camp argue that the flow of culture is unidirectional from capitalist or First World countries (mainly the United States) to developing countries (also know as the Global South); other theories claim there is an asymmetrical dependence between developed and underdeveloped countries (Fejes, 1981). However, recent arguments claim audiences tend to prefer content closely related to their own cultural values (Straubhaar, 1991). Audience research has concluded there is no evidence to support the loss of cultural identity in some Latin American countries and regions according to their media preference (Straubhaar, 1991 Lozano, 1992). Nonetheless, those studies have also found that regardless of the geographical or cultural proximity to the United States or Europe, upper and middle class audiences tend to prefer to a certain degree US media content or international programming over domestic programming. Combining those two theoretical propositions, the purpose of this study is to look at the media consumption preferences of high school students in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas and find a relation between the cultural products they consume, their sense of Mexican identity, and nationalism. Using both methodological approaches, quantitative and qualitative, a survey was conducted with students from three different private high schools in Nuevo Laredo and a total of 22 participants were interviewed in separate focus groups. One of the most important findings of this study is that upper-middle and upper class students from Nuevo Laredo are not worried about losing their Mexican identity as a consequence of continuous exposure to American media. It could be argued that they are more afraid of not being able to attain the best from what their privileged geographical location has to offer in terms of cultural capital. They recognize that one of the biggest advantages of living in the border with the United States is the ability to practice while learning English and to have access to American products.
Action-Level Real-Time Network-on-Chip Modeling

Abstract To simulate time-constrained operations and scheduling for Network-on-Chip (NoC) systems, we introduce a new set of component specifications at flit level grounded in Action-Level Real-Time DEVS formalism. These models capture the dynamics of NoC systems through action-based behavior under strict execution time intervals. These DEVS-based models are well-suited for development and simulation of asynchronous NoC architectures. This is achieved by extending the DEVS-Suite simulator to support real-time executions of ALRT-DEVS models. Representative simulation models capturing structure and behavior of prototypical Mesh NoC systems are developed. A set of experiments are designed, implemented, executed, and analyzed to show the kind of real-time simulation capabilities that can be achieved for Network-on-Chip systems.
Nutrition, reproduction, and young stock performance on dairy farms throughout Illinois: A Dairy Focus Team approach

ABSTRACT The world dairy industry has been changing over the last decades, and Illinois dairy farms are not an exception to these transformations. The objective of this study was to develop research and educational data that could help farmers to identify improvements and opportunities. To evaluate potential nutritional, reproductive, and young stock management opportunities, a total of 20 farms in Illinois were visited from May through June 2014.The farms were divided between the northern (NOR) and southern (SOU) regions of Illinois. During the visit to each farm, a questionnaire, DHI records along with the individual farm data set, samples of corn silage and TMR, and weather (ambient temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed) measurements were collected by a trained team of university and industry scientists. Average herd size was 413 ± 192 and 451 ± 949 lactating and dry cows for NOR and SOU, respectively. Average daily milk yield per cow was 37.9 ± 6.7 kg and 33.8 ± 5.7 kg for NOR and SOU, respectively (P = 0.21). Mean density of corn silage was greater for SOU than NOR (221.2 ± 8.2 vs. 168.5 ± 12.2 kg/m3, P = 0.003). Dry matter content of the TMR offered to both lactating and dry cows was greater for NOR than SOU (48.7 ± 1.7 vs. 44.1 ± 1.0%, P = 0.006). Yearly pregnancy rate (19.8 ± 2.2 vs. 12.6 ± 1.6; P = 0.006) was greater for cows and heifers in NOR than SOU. Results suggested that geographical aspects such as weather differences (NOR vs. SOU) are important factors related to performance of dairy farms. Educational and extension programs tailored to the aforementioned differences might be more effective.
Reprint of: Accuracy consideration by DRP schemes for DNS and LES of compressible flow computations

Abstract Several dispersion relation-preserving (DRP) spatially central discretizations are considered as the base scheme in the framework of the Yee & Sjogreen low dissipative nonlinear filter approach. In addition, the nonlinear filter of Yee & Sjogreen with shock-capturing and long time integration capabilities is used to replace the standard DRP linear filter for both smooth flows and flows containing discontinuities. DRP schemes for computational aeroacoustics (CAA) focus on dispersion error consideration for long time linear wave propagation rather than the formal order of accuracy of the scheme. The resulting DRP schemes usually have wider grid stencils and increased CPU operations count compared with standard central schemes of the same formal order of accuracy. For discontinuous initial data and long time wave propagation of smooth acoustic waves, various space and time DRP linear filter are needed. For acoustic waves interacting with shocks and turbulence induced noise, DRP schemes with linear filters alone usually are not capable of simulating such flows. The investigation presented in this paper is focused on the possible gain in efficiency and accuracy by spatial DRP schemes over standard central schemes having the same grid stencil width for general direct numerical simulations (DNS) and large eddy simulations (LES) of compressible flows. Representative test cases for both smooth flows and problems containing discontinuities for 3D DNS of compressible gas dynamics are included.
Topographic controls of soil organic carbon on soil-mantled landscapes.

Large uncertainties in global carbon (C) budgets stem from soil carbon estimates and associated challenges in distributing soil organic carbon (SOC) at local to landscape scales owing to lack of information on soil thickness and controls on SOC storage. Here we show that 94% of the fine-scale variation in total profile SOC within a 1.8 km2 semi-arid catchment in Idaho, U.S.A. can be explained as a function of aspect and hillslope curvature when the entire vertical dimension of SOC is measured and fine-resolution (3 m) digital elevation models are utilized. Catchment SOC stocks below 0.3 m depth based on our SOC-curvature model account for >50% of the total SOC indicating substantial underestimation of stocks if sampled at shallower depths. A rapid assessment method introduced here also allows for accurate catchment-wide total SOC inventory estimation with a minimum of one soil pit and topographic data if spatial distribution of total profile SOC is not required. Comparison of multiple datasets shows generality in linear SOC-curvature and -soil thickness relationships at multiple scales. We conclude that mechanisms driving variations in carbon storage in hillslope catchment soils vary spatially at relatively small scales and can be described in a deterministic fashion given adequate topographic data.
Personalized Recipe Recommendations for Toddlers Based on Nutrient Intake and Food Preferences

Many guidelines on healthy diet for toddlers have been established; however, they do not suggest recipes for daily meals. Even though recipe recommendation methodologies have been well-studied and implemented, they are not designed specifically with toddlers in mind. Instead, existing recipe recommendation systems focus on users' food preference and the nutrition of an individual dish without considering the total daily nutrient needs. In order to provide toddlers with a healthy diet, it is important for parents to know how much food toddlers should be eating and what foods satisfy their daily nutrient requirement, since feeding style and attitude of parents can influence toddlers' present and future dietary behavior and food preference. Given that toddler recipes recommended to parents with the required nutrition can reduce bias introduced by parents' own food preference, there is a need for a recipe recommendation system specifically designed for toddlers. In this paper, we propose a personalized toddler recipe recommendation system which incorporates the standard nutrition guideline published by the US government at ChooseMyPlate.gov with users' food preferences. Our recommender, which makes suggestions using initial data gathered from user profiles and MyPlate information, suggests relevant recipes for toddlers. Recommended recipes not only satisfy the daily nutrient intake from different food groups for toddlers, but also offer them a healthy eating habit.
Anti-Angiogenesis and Disintegrins

Angiogenesis is a critical process in tumor and disease progression. A number of features are central to both tumor growth and development, and the recruitment and invasion of a growing vascular network supplying the tumor with nutrients and a mechanism of escape to allow meastatic growth. One class of molecules important to both tumor growth and blood vessel recruitment are a family of cell surface receptors identified as integrins. Integrins are α/β heterodimeric glycoproteins in which the different α subunits combine with distinct β subunits resulting in a range of specificities toward various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The RGD sequence found in a number of ECM proteins is recognized by several classes of integrins, allowing for linkage of cytoskeletal proteins associated with the integrins to the ECM which leads to involvement in bi-directional signaling that displays profound effects on cellular functions. Among these integrin mediated interactions are the adhesion of both endothelial cells and cancer cells to ECM proteins, an interaction that is integral to metastasis, tumor growth and angiogensis. Antibodies targeted to integrins have been shown to retard tumor growth and subsequent tumor induced angiogenesis. One concern with this approach is that the antibody targets a single integrin, which may allow the tumor to utilize other non-targeted integrins to circumvent this type of blockage. A more broad spectrum agent is available that binds to and blocks the function of several different integrins at a time, this agents is identified as a disintegrin. Originally purified from the venom of Viperidae family of snakes, a disintegrins role in nature is presumably to block platelet aggregation following envenomation based on interaction of an integrin on the activated platelet surface with an RGD sequence in the disintegrin. It has been observed that integrins overexpressed on some tumor types and angiogenic vasculature have similar affinity for RGD motifs found in ECM proteins. Based on disintegrin structure we have developed a recombinant form of a snake venom disintegrin, which we call vicrostatin (VCN). VCN is a potent anti-angiogenic/anti-tumor agent in in vitro and in vivo laboratory studies. Further development of the recombinant venom derived disintegrin along with new technology looking at additional disintegrin-like proteins may offer a novel therapeutic approach in targeting tumor induced angiogenesis.
The Impact of Changes in Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Laws on Proximity to Environmental Hazards: A Case Study of Connecticut

Environmental policies affect proximity to environmental hazards. In the late 1980s, the State of Connecticut implemented mandatory recycling laws to improve management of municipal solid waste. At that time, more than 80% of the State’s 169 towns disposed of trash within their own borders. The regulatory change redirected flows of waste to transfer stations and trash-to-energy plants. To assess changes in the proximity to hazards associated with this shift, the origins and destinations of solid waste shipment flows are modeled using data for 2008. Ton-weighted distances to disposal are estimated for 2008 and compared to the distances if solid waste had continued to be disposed of within towns. Changes in municipal solid waste management in Connecticut have differentially impacted local communities. Residents of the Town of Hartford, particularly low-income minority residents in the North End, have been affected by the operation of municipal solid waste management facilities in Hartford, which receive waste from almost half the towns in the state. The implementation of environmental policies intended to improve municipal solid waste disposal at the state level adversely affected proximity to environmental hazards in selected communities and the abilities of local communities to improve environmental quality in their own jurisdictions.
Physical and Chemical Properties of β-Methylaspartase

1. A modified purification procedure for β-methylaspartase from Clostridium tetanomorphum, which gives electrophoretically pure enzyme in almost 50% yield, is described. 2. The z-average molecular weight of the native enzyme was determined to be 100,000 by the sedimentation equilibrium technique. The molecular weight was invariant in the pH range, 5.9 to 9.7, and was also not affected by ethylenediaminetetraacetate (10-4 m ) or by Mg++ and K+ at concentrations which are optimal for catalytic activity. 3. Under a variety of experimental conditions similar to those used in the sedimentation equilibrium studies, sedimentation velocity experiments yielded an s020,w value of 6.05 S for the native enzyme. 4. Trailing boundary sedimentation experiments showed that the sedimentation coefficient associated with β-methylaspartase activity was very close to 6.05 S. This result established that the enzyme species having an s020,w value of 6.05 S and a molecular weight of 100,000 was present, and catalytically active, under the conditions we have commonly used in steady state kinetic studies of the reaction. 5. The value of e279 was 5.63 x 104 m -1 cm-1 and the molar turnover number at pH 9.7, with Mg++ and K+ as activators, was 650 sec-1. 6. All catalytic activity was lost when 2 sulfhydryl groups, out of a total of 20 in the enzyme molecule, had reacted with p-chloromercuribenzoate.
Recent Advances in Detectors for Single-Photon Counting

The time-correlated single-photon counting method has gained wide acceptance for investigating time behaviors of the fluorescence associated with electronic energy relaxation of excited molecules, optical ranging and communication experiments, plasma diagnostics and optical time domain reflectometry. The measurement of fluorescence lifetimes in studying the photophysical properties of organic molecules require photon detectors with high sensitivity and fast time response. The time width of the measuring system response in time-correlated single-photon counting experiments using picosecond light excitation is mainly determined by the single photoelectron time spread of photon detector. Recent progress that has been made in fast high-gain detectors using photoemission and secondary emission processes is reviewed and summarized. Specifically, performance characteristics are presented and compared of the ITT F4129, Hamamatsu R1564U and R2287U extended lifetime microchannel plate photomultipliers. Also characteristics of the Amperex XP2020 and RCA C31024 conventionally design photomultipliers are presented. Finally, the silicon avalanche photodiodes are compared with respect to their preliminary performance in time-correlated single-photon counting applications.
Building a Digital Silk Road? Situating the Internet in China's Belt and Road Initiative

Recently China has adopted the Belt and Road Initiative as a core component of its foreign policy. An important goal of the initiative is to connect China to major Eurasian and African nations through infrastructure building, including Internet infrastructure. Drawing on the critical political economy tradition to media policies, this article offers a broad overview of the communication and information segment of the initiative, which has so far been undervalued or even overlooked in the existing literature. Based on a two-level document analysis, I argue that a growing and complex alliance has been formed between the state and its homegrown Internet companies in building a “digital Silk Road,” with a multifaceted aim to mitigate industrial overcapacity, facilitate corporate China’s global expansion, support the internationalization of the renminbi, construct a China-centered transnational network infrastructure, and promote an Internet-enabled “inclusive globalization.” The highly dynamic state-capital interplays, however, continue to create tensions and conflicts.
Substance Use Among Young Mothers: An Analysis of Facebook Posts

BACKGROUND Substance use among young pregnant women is a common and significant public health concern associated with a number of adverse outcomes for both mothers and infants. Social media posts by young women can provide valuable, real-world insight into their perceptions of substance use immediately before and during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to characterize the frequency and content of posts regarding substance use in the year before pregnancy and during pregnancy among young mothers. METHODS Facebook posts were mined from young pregnant women (age, 16-24 years) who consented from 2 Midwest primary care clinics that serve a predominantly low-income community. Natural language processing was used to identify posts related to substance use by keyword searching (eg, drunk, drugs, pot, and meth). Using mixed-methods techniques, 2 investigators iteratively coded and identified major themes around substance use from these mined Facebook posts. Outcome measures include the frequency of posts and major themes expressed regarding substance use before and during pregnancy. RESULTS Women in our sample (N=43) had a mean age of 21 (SD 2.3) years, and the largest subgroup (21/43, 49%) identified as non-Hispanic black; 26% (11/43) identified as non-Hispanic white; 16% (7/43) as Hispanic; and 9% (4/43) as non-Hispanic mixed race, Native American, or other. The largest subgroup (20/43, 47%) graduated high school without further education, while 30% (13/43) completed only some high school and 23% (10/43) completed at least some postsecondary education. Young women discussed substance use on social media before and during pregnancy, although compared with the year before pregnancy, the average frequency of substance-related posts during pregnancy decreased. Themes identified included craving alcohol or marijuana, social use of alcohol or marijuana, reasons for abstaining from substance use, and intoxication. CONCLUSIONS Facebook posts reveal that young pregnant women discuss the use of substances, predominantly alcohol and marijuana. Future work can explore clinical opportunities to prevent and treat substance use before and during pregnancy among young, at-risk mothers.