cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship of Field Emission Characteristics on Process Gas Nitrogen Content in Nitrogen Doped Diamond Films

This study explores the field emission properties of nitrogen doped diamond grown by microwave plasma CVD. Several diamond samples were grown on silicon under varying conditions. With certain process parameters, films can be grown which exhibit photoluminescence bands at 1.945eV and 2.154eV that are attributed to single substitutional nitrogen. Field emission characteristics were measured in ultrahigh vacuum with a position variable anode. For samples grown with gas phase [N]/[C] ratios less than 16, damage from micro-arcs occurred during the field emission measurements. Samples grown at higher [N]/[C] content could be measured without damage. These measurements indicate relatively high threshold fields (>100V/νm) for electron emission. From the data, two possible field emission mechanisms are presented. Conducting defect states in the bandgap of diamond may provide a source of electrons to the emitting diamond surface.
Signal-to-symbol transformation: Reasoning in the HASP/SIAP program

In the past fifteen years, artificial intelligence scientists have built several signal interpretation, or understanding, programs. These programs have combined "low" level signal processing algorithms with knowledge representation and reasoning techniques used in knowledge-based, or expert, systems. [4] They have shown how the use of task domain knowledge combined with symbolic manipulation techniques can be of use in making signal understanding systems more effective and efficient. HASP/SIAP is one such program that tries to interpret the meaning of passively collected sonar data. In this paper we explore some of the AI techniques that contribute in the "understanding" process. We also describe the organization of HASP/SIAP system as an example of a programming framework that show promise for applications in a class of similar problems.
Inverse procedure for high-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics: Analysis of satellite-borne magnetometer data

This paper presents an analysis of data from the magnetometers on board the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-15, F-16, F-17, and F-18 satellites and the Iridium satellite constellation, using an inverse procedure for high-latitude ionospheric electrodynamics, during the period of 29–30 May 2010. The Iridium magnetometer data are made available through the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) program. The method presented here is built upon the assimilative mapping of ionospheric electrodynamics procedure but with a more complete treatment of the prior model uncertainty to facilitate an optimal inference of complete polar maps of electrodynamic variables from irregularly distributed observational data. The procedure can provide an objective measure of uncertainty associated with the analysis. The cross-validation analysis, in which the DMSP data are used as independent validation data sets, suggests that the procedure yields the spatial prediction of DMSP perturbation magnetic fields from AMPERE data alone with a median discrepancy of 30–50 nT. Discrepancies larger than 100 nT are seen in about 20% of total samples, whose location and magnitude are generally consistent with the previously identified discrepancy between DMSP and AMPERE data sets. Resulting field-aligned current (FAC) patterns exhibit more distinct spatial patterns without spurious high-frequency oscillatory features in comparison to the FAC products provided by AMPERE. Maps of the toroidal magnetic potential and FAC estimated from both AMPERE and DMSP data under four distinctive interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) conditions during a magnetic cloud event demonstrate the IMF control of high-latitude electrodynamics and the opportunity for future scientific investigation.
ii) The role of surgery in low back pain

Summary Spinal fusion for low back pain (LBP) in the absence of serious underlying disease is controversial. The cause of serious LBP illness is not well understood, there is poor correlation of the presence and degree of degenerative changes with symptoms and non-structural factors such as central pain intolerance, psychological distress, social and economic issues of compensation and participation, appear to act as co-morbidities to LBP illness. Fusion surgery appears to offer only limited relative benefits over cognitive behavioural therapy and intensive rehabilitation in RCTs of surgical vs. non-operative care. At best, possibly 50% of fusion patients in this setting have high-quality outcomes. Artificial disc replacement has approximately the same outcomes as fusion in short-term studies but the long-term risks of prosthesis placement in relatively young patients is a concern. Future surgical advances may be limited by a lack of clear diagnostic certainty and the high prevalence of serious co-morbidities that impair recovery.
Preprescription Genotyping Not Yet Ready for Prime Time, but Getting There

here are few, if any, situations in medicine in which aclinician can predict with certainty an individual’sresponse to drug therapy. A host of factors canmodulate this response: concomitant disease or drug therapy,sex, age, ethnicity, or dysfunction of excretory organs, toname but a few. Even when we correct for changes antici-pated by such conditions, however, drug responses remainhighly variable. It is an appealing concept, and one to whichwe subscribe, that some portion of this variability—andperhaps a great portion in many cases—is attributable togenetic factors. An increasingly sophisticated view of thegenetic determinants of drug action in the context of complexdiseases now raises the realistic expectation that this possi-bility can be addressed.
Mutations in the TSGA14 gene in families with autism spectrum disorders

Linkage to 7q has been the most robust genetic finding in familial autism. A previous scan of multiplex families with autism spectrum disorders found a linkage signal of genome-wide significance at D7S530 on 7q32. We searched a candidate imprinted region at this location for genetic variants in families with positive linkage scores. Using exon resequencing, we identified three rare potentially pathogenic variants in the TSGA14 gene, which encodes a centrosomal protein. Two variants were missense mutations (c.664C>G; p.P206A and c.766T>G; p.C240G) that changed conserved residues in the same protein domain; the third variant (c.192+5G>A) altered splicing, which resulted in a protein with an internal deletion of 16 residues and a G33D substitution. These rare TSGA14 variants are enriched in the affected subjects (6/348 patients versus 2/670 controls, Fisher's exact two tailed p= 0.022). This is the first report of a possible link of a gene with a centrosomal function with familial autism.
Manifold Grace in John Cassian and Prosper of Aquitaine

This article is about John Cassian and Prosper of Aquitaine's understanding of grace and free will as put forward during the initial phase of the Western Church's struggle to define the doctrine of grace in the wake of the Pelagian controversy. Although both figured prominently in this struggle, both Cassian and Prosper's later understandings of grace and free will, which appreciated the diverse expressions of grace, failed to have any influence on the terms of the debate set forth in the Pelagian controversy. The history of the debate on grace and free will followed the mutually exclusive model in which salvation was the result of either grace or free will. Cassian and Prosper, who both offered an alternative to the mutually exclusive model, have not been fully recognised for their innovative views.
Calculation of high-temperature steradiancy for vibration-rotation bands of carbon monoxide

Abstract The high-resolution high-temperature spectral absorption coefficient and steradiancy for vibration-rotation bands of carbon monoxide are calculated. For the fundamental spectral region of carbon monoxide, calculations of steradiancy are presented at 1800, 2400 and 4000°K for optical density values of 10, 10 2 and 10 3 cm-atm with the absorption coefficient calculated at 0.6 and 1.5 atm. Similar calculations of steradiancy are presented for the first overtone region at 4000°K and at 1 atm.
Building a research infrastructure for program comprehension observations

Detailed program comprehension studies are expensive. Today, most of those studies are difficult to aggregate, as analysis methods for the data differ widely between researchers. As part of an effort to build a research infrastructure, a uniform, systematic analysis method for analyzing think-aloud protocols is proposed. This method is shown to be compatible with other analysis methods and extensible. It provides the possibility of aggregating results from experiments and leveraging results through such aggregation.
Accuracy of Commercial and Reference Susceptibility Testing Methods for Detecting Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus

We compared the results obtained with six commercial MIC test systems (Etest, MicroScan, Phoenix, Sensititre, Vitek Legacy, and Vitek 2 systems) and three reference methods (agar dilution, disk diffusion, and vancomycin [VA] agar screen [VScr]) with the results obtained by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution (BMD) reference method for the detection of VA-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA). A total of 129 S. aureus isolates (VA MICs by previous BMD tests, ≤1 μg/ml [n = 60 strains], 2 μg/ml [n = 24], 4 μg/ml [n = 36], or 8 μg/ml [n = 9]) were selected from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strain collection. The results of BMD with Difco Mueller-Hinton broth were used as the standard for data analysis. Essential agreement (percent ±1 dilution) ranged from 98 to 100% for all methods except the method with the Vitek Legacy system, for which it was 90.6%. Of the six commercial MIC systems tested, the Sensititre, Vitek Legacy, and Vitek 2 systems tended to categorize VISA strains as susceptible (i.e., they undercalled resistance); the MicroScan and Phoenix systems and Etest tended to categorize susceptible strains as VISA; and the Vitek Legacy system tended to categorize VISA strains as resistant (i.e., it overcalled resistance). Disk diffusion categorized all VISA strains as susceptible. No susceptible strains (MICs ≤ 2 μg/ml) grew on the VScr, but all strains for which the VA MICs were 8 μg/ml grew on the VScr. Only 12 (33.3%) strains for which the VA MICs were 4 μg/ml grew on VScr. The differentiation of isolates for which the VA MICs were 2 or 4 μg/ml was difficult for most systems and methods, including the reference methods.
Benign Intrascrotal Lesions

ABSTRACTPurpose: We summarize important clinical, pathological and diagnostic features of benign intrascrotal lesions, including paratesticular lesions (adenomatoid tumors, fibrous pseudotumors, cystadenomas, spermatoceles, hydroceles, varicoceles and hernias) and intratesticular lesions (tunica albuginea cysts, testicular simple cysts, epidermoid cysts, cystic ectasia of the rete testis, intratesticular varicocele, adrenal rest tumors and splenogonadal fusion). This review provides the reader with a better understanding of benign lesions that occur in the scrotum.Materials and Methods: A directed MEDLINE literature review of benign scrotal lesions and of each individual lesion was performed. This information was enhanced with relevant information from select journals and texts. Particular emphasis was placed on clinical, pathological and diagnostic features.Results: Intrascrotal lesions continue to provide a diagnostic challenge for physicians. A diagnosis can be made with a thorough history, physical ex...
Creative Terror Management: Creativity as a Facilitator of Cultural Exploration After Mortality Salience

Research indicates that people respond to the elicitation of death thoughts by dogmatically defending their cultural worldviews. The current research examines the potential for conditions of creativity, a construct associated with open-mindedness, to promote a more explorative reaction to the threat of death thoughts. In Studies 1 and 2, thoughts of death or a control topic were activated and then participants engaged in either a creative or a control task. In Study 3, thoughts of death or a control topic were activated and then participants were presented with information suggesting that creativity is or is not culturally valued. After these conditions, social, intellectual, and environmental exploration (Study 1) and cultural worldview exploration (Studies 2 and 3) were measured. Results indicated that both engaging in a creative task and being informed that creativity is culturally valued facilitated exploration in response to thinking about death. Conceptual and applied implications are discussed.
Modulators of dyslipidaemia

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in most developed nations and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease accounts for approximately one-half of all deaths due to CHD. Dyslipidaemias, which include various combinations of hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and hypoalphalipoproteinaemia, are major risk factors for atherosclerotic CHD. Current therapy largely treats hypercholesterolaemia, as reflected in the sales of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors (HMGR-Is, statins) which account for a worldwide market share of 88%. The fibrates, which account for 9% of worldwide market share, effectively treat hypertriglyceridaemia but have inconsistent effects on hypercholesterolaemia and hypoalphalipoproteinaemia. Niacin, although an effective treatment for dyslipidaemias, suffers from a poor side-effect profile and therefore poor compliance. Moreover, niacin is not recommended for diabetics, a population in which atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseas...
Chlorpromazine inhibition of granulocyte superoxide production

Superoxide production by granulocytes is a result of the activation of an NAD(P)H-dependent oxidase present in the plasma membrane. Chlorpromazine (5–50 muM) prolongs the time necessary to activation of the superoxide generating system and inhibits the extent of activation. When chlorpromazine is added after activation, there is an inhibition of further superoxide production. These effects are seen with digitonin, phorbol myristate acetate, and opsonized zymosan stimulated guinea pig and human granulocytes. Other phenothiazines (1–20 muM) and tetracaine (0.1–1.0 muM) produce similar effects. Lidocaine (1–10 mM) inhibits superoxide production but has no effect on the rate of activation. The effect of chlorpromazine on the rate of activation is reversible, but its effect on extent of activation is unaffected by extensive washing. Incubation of granulocytes with chlorpromazine results in decreased activation of the plasma membrane superoxide generating NADPH oxidase. Chlorpromazine also competes with NADPH for the membrane oxidase. These data and previously published results provide the basis of a model for the activation of the superoxide generating system.
Energy-Adaptive Signal Processing Under Renewable Energy

This paper presents an energy-adaptive performance management technique for the design of embedded signal processing systems powered by renewable energy sources. By jointly considering the non-deterministic characteristics of renewable energy and the unique relationship between signal processing performance and the required energy consumption, a progressive performance tuning approach is developed to dynamically determine an acceptable signal processing performance in accordance with the changing energy level at runtime. Several practical issues such as energy prediction errors and battery capacity are investigated, and their impacts on the proposed technique are evaluated. The proposed technique is applied to a DCT-based image sensing system. Simulation results demonstrate that by adaptively tuning signal processing kernels with renewable energy, significant improvements in time coverage and energy efficiency can be achieved in the presence of unstable harvested energy.
Abstract 307: Endothelial mPGES-1 Mediates Thiazolidinedione-Induced Adipose-Specific Capillary Hyperpermeability and Fluid Retention

Thiazolidinedione-induced fluid retention results from two prominent mechanisms: increased distal tubular fluid reabsorption and adipose-specific increases in capillary permeability; the later mechanism requires activation of endothelial but not smooth muscle PPARγ as demonstrated by using conditional knockout mice (Yang et al. 63rd High Blood Pressure Research Conference. #063, 2009). The present study examined the role of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) in TZD-induced capillary hyperperbeability in the adipose tissues. Following rosiglitazone (RGZ) treatment, remarkable COX-2 and mPGES-1 inductions were detected at day 1 and peaked at day 2 (COX-2:104-fold for mRNA and 98-fold for protein; mPGES-1: 2.5-fold for mRNA and 30-fold for protein) in parallel with a 64-fold increase in PGE2 production in apidydimal fat depot (AFD) but not in other tissues tested, and declined at day 14. Body weight gain (BWG) in response to RGZ in WT mice were 1.62 g on day 14. In contrast, the BWG in mPGES-1 KO mice was completely blocked on day 7 and was reduced by 60% on day 14. RGZ-treated WT mice exhibited a 60% increase in water content in the AFD, which was significantly attenuated in the KO mice. In parallel, the capillary perbeability in the adipose tissue, as assessed by Evans blue leakage assay, exhibited a 60% increase in WT mice after RGZ treatment. As compared with WT controls, the adipose capillary permeability in the KO mice was 60% less at baseline and 100% less after RGZ treatment. RGZ-induced fluid retention was further tested in mice lacking mPGES-1 in endothelium or smooth muscle generated respectively by crossing mPGES-1 floxed mice with Tie-2-Cre or SM22-Cre mice (termed EC KO or SM KO). In EC KO mice, TZD-induced capillary hyperpermeability in adipose tissue was completely abolished, associated with a 50% reduction of the BWG and complete blockade of PGE2 stimulation in the ADF, a phenotype analogous to that of endothelial PPARγ KO mice. In contrast, neither water content nor capillary permeability in the skeletal muscle was affected by RGZ treatment. Taken together, this study has defined endothelial mPGES-1 as a key mediator of TZD-induced adipose-specific capillary hyperperbeability and fluid retention.
Multiphoton dissociation and ionization of organometallics: the correlation between molecular structure and a metal atom product

I measured one-color multiphoton dissociation/ ionization (MPD/MPI) spectra for a series of arene chromium tricarbonyls (ACTs). These experiments are part of a program determine whether unimolecular bond selective photochemistry is feasible using isolated gas-phase organometallic molecules. In my operational definition, bond selective chemistry must involve means of activating a molecule so that when dissociation occurs, the weakest bond does not break first. I believe that if it is possible to induce unimolecular photo-dissociation on selected excited electronic potential surfaces, it will be possible to remove selectively different ligands from a metal atom, regardless of their relative bonding energies. If excitation can be thought of as initially localized, for bond selective chemistry to occur, the dissociation must occur on a time scale competitive with the radiationless transitions associated with intramolecular energy redistribution (IER). I focus on the relative time scales of these two processes compared with that of multiphoton absorption in isolated organometallic molecules.
Singhat Lee's Finest Hour

A lowly gate-keeper at a Vietnamese shopping gallery barely makes it from month to month. Having lost his lover in the Tet Offensive, Singhat Lee has little initiative. However, one “fateful” night Singhat enjoys the opportunity to be heroic to some extent. But, with little consequence, even Singhat’s intrepid act proves to matter very little in the grand scheme of war and conflict. This short story by author James Redwood illuminates the marginality of human life during the hostile times of war.
Oedema of the Limbs with Signs of Venous Involvement in Oncological Patients: Diagnostic and Prognostic Value

To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic meaning of the characteristics of the limbs oedema in oncological patients with suspected local relapse, compared with investigational data.
Lambert-Eaton Syndrome in Children

Investigators from Boston Children's Hospital; the Lahey Clinic, Burlington, MA; and Ohio State University, report 3 children presenting between ages 9 and 10 years with proximal lower extremity weakness with areflexia and low-amplitude compound muscle action potentials, and diagnosed with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.
Tattooing to "Toughen up": Tattoo experience and secretory immunoglobulin A.

Objectives A costly signaling model suggests tattooing inoculates the immune system to heightened vigilance against stressors associated with soft tissue damage. We sought to investigate this “inoculation hypothesis” of tattooing as a costly honest signal of fitness. We hypothesized that the immune system habituates to the tattooing stressor in repeatedly tattooed individuals and that immune response to the stress of the tattooing process would correlate with lifetime tattoo experience. Methods Participants were 24 women and 5 men (aged 18–47). We measured immune function using secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) and cortisol (sCORT) in saliva collected before and after tattoo sessions. We measured tattoo experience as a sum of number of tattoos, lifetime hours tattooed, years since first tattoo, percent of body covered, and number of tattoo sessions. We predicted an inverse relationship between SIgA and sCORT and less SIgA immunosuppression among those with more tattoo experience. We used hierarchical multiple regression to test for a main effect of tattoo experience on post-tattoo SIgA, controlling for pretest SIgA, tattoo session duration, body mass, and the interaction between tattoo experience and test session duration. Results The regression model was significant (P = 0.006) with a large effect size (r2 = 0.711) and significant and positive main (P = 0.03) and interaction effects (P = 0.014). Conclusions Our data suggest that the body habituates over time to the tattooing stressor. It is possible that individuals with healthy immune systems heal faster, making them more likely to get multiple tattoos. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 28:603–609, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of cavern and well stability at the West Hackberry SPR site using a full-dome model.

This report presents computational analyses that simulate the structural response of caverns at the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) West Hackberry site. The cavern field comprises 22 caverns. Five caverns (6, 7, 8, 9, 11) were acquired from industry and have unusual shapes and a history dating back to 1946. The other 17 caverns (101-117) were leached according to SPR standards in the mid-1980s and have tall cylindrical shapes. The history of the caverns and their shapes are simulated in a three-dimensional geomechanics model of the site that predicts deformations, strains, and stresses. Future leaching scenarios corresponding to oil drawdowns using fresh water are also simulated by increasing the volume of the caverns. Cavern pressures are varied in the model to capture operational practices in the field. The results of the finite element model are interpreted to provide information on the current and future status of subsidence, well integrity, and cavern stability. The most significant results in this report are relevant to Cavern 6. The cavern is shaped like a bowl with a large ceiling span and is in close proximity to Cavern 9. The analyses predict tensile stresses at the edge of the ceiling during repressurization of Cavern 6 followingmore » workover conditions. During a workover the cavern is at low pressure to service a well. The wellhead pressures are atmospheric. When the workover is complete, the cavern is repressurized. The resulting elastic stresses are sufficient to cause tension around the edge of the large ceiling span. With time, these stresses relax to a compressive state because of salt creep. However, the potential for salt fracture and propagation exists, particularly towards Cavern 9. With only 200 feet of salt between the caverns, the operational consequences must be examined if the two caverns become connected. A critical time may be during a workover of Cavern 9 in part because of the operational vulnerabilities, but also because dilatant damage is predicted under the ledge that forms the lower lobe in the cavern. The remaining caverns have no significant issues regarding cavern stability and may be safely enlarged during subsequent oil drawdowns. Predicted well strains and subsidence are significant and consequently future remedial actions may be necessary. These predicted well strains certainly suggest appropriate monitoring through a well-logging program. Subsidence is currently being monitored.« less
A New Supply Mode for Goods and Material of Univeristy

The article analyed the defect of traditional supply mode. According to virtual organization, JIT management mode and suply chain, it studied the basic mode and action principle of the virtual supply center. It provides a new way of thinking for supply of goods and materials of university.
Joint Statistical Design of X̄ and R Control Charts

We describe a FORTRAN program that will enable users to determine the control limit parameters and sample size of an X and R chart designed jointly under a statistical criterion. This criterion can be stated in terms of Average Run Length, Type I and Type II error probabilities, or average times to signal for up to 10 specified shifts in the process distribution.
Manifestation of classical phase in a single spontaneously emitted photon

We note a manifestation of the classical phase of a traveling wave in a multimode quantized field. We study spontaneous emission, scattering, and re-absorption by two-level atoms in a one-dimensional optical cavity, and observe classical phase information in the complex quantum amplitude for re-absorption of the scattered field.
Best Kept Secrets: How Optimal Distinctiveness Influences Identification Behavior

Consumer-company identification (C-C ID), the perception of oneness by a customer with a company, is a form of customer response that leads to the strongest forms of loyalty (Bhattacharya and Sen 2003). However, since identification is based on complex motivations relating to the self-concept (Ashmore, Deaux, and McLaughlin-Volpe 2004), the influence of C-C ID on consumer behavior may not be as straight forward as initially speculated. Optimal distinctiveness is one such motivation that has a counter intuitive influence on identification and word-of-mouth behavior (WOM).
Advances in understanding itching and scratching: a new era of targeted treatments

Chronic itch is a significant health burden with few effective treatments. As such, itch researchers seek to understand the mechanisms behind itch and to find potential targets for treatment. The field of itch research is dynamic, and many advances have been made so far this decade. In particular, major steps forward include the identification of new peripheral and central itch mediators and modulators, the discovery of greater roles for immune cells and glia in itch transmission, and a focus on the brain processing of itching and scratching. Finally, several new therapeutic interventions for itch have shown success in clinical trials.
Novel Si sensors and readout for the compact high resolving power electromagnetic calorimeter

Calorimetry is the most important single tool for electron, photon, and neutral pion measurements and still drives overall detector dimensions and cost. We report here on a development of a new Si detector with “integrated” readout which helps to keep calorimeter dimensions and cost under control simultaneously enhancing the multi-photon resolving power and implementing energy flow measurement capability in Si based calorimeter. The prototype electromagnetic Si-W calorimeter with high resolving power (FOCal) was recently built and tested 1 with funding provided by PHENIX and is now being upgraded to combine precision position measurements with energy flow measuring functionality (StriPad and MiniPad-structured sensors in every sampling layer). New sensors are made in p+/n/n+ configuration with segmented side being the p+. All devices are read by the 128 channels SVX4 strip readout chip developed at FNAL. Depending on the sensor layout the 128 readout channels are either (1) shared between 16 pixelated pads (15×15 mm2 each) overlapping with 112 pixelated strips (∼0.54×62mm2 each), or connected to (2) 128 strips (∼0.47×62mm2 each) or (3) 128 minipads (∼1.8×15mm2 each) implemented on a 62×62mm2 silicon substrate. The sensors are laminated with readout cards which carry one or two (dual gain readout) SVX4 chips to form pluggable micromodules. Thus built micromodules take only 2 mm of longitudinal space in detector leading to dramatic improvement in detector compactness (small Moliere radius). Novel sensors supported by low power, high density fully digital readout allows to upgrade silicon based calorimeter for energy flow measurements at essentially no extra cost.
Adaptive interference and clutter rejection processing for bistatic MIMO radar

In this work an innovative beamforming approach is presented to effectively eliminate wireless interference and clutters using bistatic multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radar antenna arrays. It is demonstrated via simulations that both mainlobe and sidelobe interferences can be successfully removed without affecting target detection.
Plumbing agricultural landscapes for water quality improvement: Coexistence of intensive agriculture and good water quality

iv CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION 5 Introduction 5 Thesis Organization 7 Literature Review 7 Objectives 16 References 16 CHAPTER 2. RELATIVE EFFECTS OF WATERSHED COMPOSITION AND CONFIGURATION: USING SPATIALLY EXPLICIT DATA TO MODEL LAKE WATER QUALITY IN AGRICULTURAL WATERSHEDS 27 Abstract 27 Introduction 28 Materials and Methods 31 Study Area 31 Water quality data 32 Geospatial data acquisition 33 Verification and manipulation of geospatial data 34 Whole landscape and class metrics 34 Geospatial Analysis 35 Statistical Analyses 37 Results and Discussion 38 Water Quality 38 Land use patterns in the studied watersheds 38 Whole watershed composition and configuration 39 Conclusions 44 References 45 CHAPTER 3. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 74 APPENDIX A. LIST OF LAKES 76 APPENDIX B. STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE FOR DERIVING RUNOFF COEFFICIENTS FOR LAND COVER, SLOPE AND SOIL HYDROLOGIC GROUP EFFECT USING ARCGIS 82 APPENDIX C. ILLUSTRATION 92 APPENDIX D. WATERSHED DELINEATION EXAMPLE 97 APPENDIX F. THE RATIONAL METHOD FORMULA 100 APPENDIX G. DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY LAKES ACCORDING TO IOWA LAND FORM REGIONS 101 APPENDIX H. DEPENDENT VARIABLES 102
A mouse ocular explant model that enables the study of living optic nerve head events after acute and chronic intraocular pressure elevation: Focusing on retinal ganglion cell axons and mitochondria.

We developed an explant model of the mouse eye and optic nerve that facilitates the study of retinal ganglion cell axons and mitochondria in the living optic nerve head (ONH) in an ex vivo environment. Two transgenic mouse strains were used, one expressing yellow fluorescent protein in selected axons and a second strain expressing cyan fluorescent protein in all mitochondria. We viewed an explanted mouse eye and optic nerve by laser scanning microscopy at and behind the ONH, the site of glaucoma injury. Explants from previously untreated mice were studied with the intraocular pressure (IOP) set artificially at normal or elevated levels for several hours. Explants were also studied from eyes that had undergone chronic IOP elevation from 14 h to 6 weeks prior to ex vivo study. Image analysis in static images and video of individual mitochondria or axonal structure determined effects of acute and chronic IOP elevation. At normal IOP, fluorescent axonal structure was stable for up to 3 h under ex vivo conditions. After chronic IOP elevation, axonal integrity index values indicated fragmentation of axon structure in the ONH. In mice with fluorescent mitochondria, the normal density decreased with distance behind the ONH by 45% (p = 0.002, t-test). Density increased with prior chronic IOP elevation to 21,300 ± 4176 mitochondria/mm2 compared to control 16,110 ± 3159 mitochondria/mm2 (p = 0.025, t-test), but did not increase significantly after 4 h, acute IOP elevation (1.5% decrease in density, p = 0.83, t-test). Mean normal mitochondrial length of 2.3 ± 1.4 μm became 13% smaller after 4 h of IOP elevation ex vivo compared to baseline (p = 0.015, t-test, N-10). Normal mitochondrial speed of movement was significantly slower in the anterograde direction (towards the brain) than retrograde, but there were more mitochondria in motion and traveling longer lengths in anterograde direction. The percent of mitochondria in motion decreased by >50% with acute IOP increase to 30 mm Hg after 60 min. A new ocular explant model implemented with eyes from transgenic mice with fluorescent cellular components provided real time measurement of the early events in experimental glaucoma and quantitative outcomes for neuroprotection therapy experiments.
Unusual Prenatal Genomic Results Provide Proof-of-Principle of the Liquid Biopsy for Cancer Screening

A best-selling book, entitled, “What to Expect When You're Expecting,” has provided reassuring information to several generations of pregnant women (1). Filled with advice on topics such as nutrition and morning sickness, it lacks a chapter on being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. Why would it even have such a chapter? Pregnant women represent the epitome of good health and the promise of new life. No one expects to be diagnosed with cancer while pregnant. Yet, as Dharajiya and colleagues demonstrate in this issue of Clinical Chemistry (2), incidental detection of maternal neoplasia is possible while performing prenatal whole genome DNA sequencing to screen for fetal chromosomal aneuploidies. Not only is it possible, it is not uncommon. It is also creating new ethical and clinical dilemmas. These investigators described 55 maternal plasma samples sequenced over a 3-year period in a large-scale clinical laboratory that had altered genome profiles and were suspicious for maternal neoplasm. Of these, 43 of 55 (78.1%) had certain clinical follow-up information available. Forty of 43 had confirmed maternal neoplasms; half were due to uterine leiomyomas and half were due to a variety of malignant tumors. Of these, 7 of 20 were already diagnosed, but 13 women who were expecting information about their fetus instead received the worrisome news that their plasma DNA profile put them at risk for cancer. Starting in 2011, analysis of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in the blood of pregnant women began to be offered clinically as a prenatal screen for trisomies 13, 18, and 21 (3). Owing to its superior sensitivity and positive predictive values compared to serum biochemistry and ultrasound markers, the cfDNA test became rapidly incorporated into prenatal clinical care. By 2013, however, reports began to appear that described examples of false-positive test results (4). Experts questioned the methodologies used …
Zulu: a transnational history of a New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe

This article examines the transnational ties, both real and imagined, between New Orleans and South Africa through the lens of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club, an African American Mardi Gras ...
Head movements are correlated with other measures of visual attention at smaller spatial scales

Overt visual attention is traditionally studied by recording eye movements under head-fixed viewing conditions. However, during natural visual exploration, both head and eye movements can be used to redirect gaze to new points of interest. In order to better understand the role of head movements in this process, we recorded head movements while subjects explored a set of complex images from five different categories in a virtual reality environment. We found image-category specific differences in head movements, as quantified by the number and duration of head “fixations” (periods of maintained head orientation) as well as the amplitude of head movements. We compared head fixations with several other behavioral measures of attentional selection and with a computational model of bottom-up saliency, using the same set of complex scenes in all experiments. Results show significant positive correlation between head fixations and all other measures of attentional deployment, suggesting that head movements are a readily measurable indicator of overt selective attention at a spatial scale exceeding that of eye movements.
Effects of Speech Rate on Personality Attributions and Competency Evaluations

ABSTRACT With the development of Fourier analysis and related speech synthesis techniques, it is possible to isolate experimentally the effects of one vocal paralinguistic feature at a time. So far, speech rate is the single dimension that has been found to have the most reliable and clear cut effects. The early studies found a monotonically increasing relationship between rate and evaluations of the speaker on competence-related adjectives (with higher competence being attributed to higher speaking rates) and an inverted U relationship between rate and evaluations of the speaker on benevolence-related adjectives (with middle ranges of rate receiving the highest ratings). There have been substantial methodological improvements in later studies with the development of experimental paradigms to assess the effects of rate manipulations on natural spontaneous speech, but the early findings remain essentially unchanged. New work is beginning using more sophisticated methods of analysing and synthesising temporal patterns rather than just increasing and decreasing rate.
Reduction of riparian arthropod abundance and diversity as a consequence of giant reed (Arundo donax) invasion

The non-indigenous perennial grass, Arundo donax, is an aggressive invader of riparian areas throughout California and many sub-tropical regions of the world, and is hypothesized to provide poorer quality habitat for native wildlife in riparian systems. We sampled aerial and ground-dwelling insects and other terrestrial arthropods associated with Arundo, native willow vegetation (Salix spp.), and mixtures of the two vegetation types during two seasons to determine how Arundo influences invertebrate composition in a low gradient stream in central California. The total number of organisms, total biomass and taxonomic richness of aerial invertebrates associated with native vegetation was approximately twice that associated with Arundo vegetation, while mixed vegetation supported intermediate arthropod levels. Shannon-Weaver (Weiner) diversity associated with native vegetation stands was also higher than that of Arundo vegetation. Ground-dwelling assemblages did not show differences as great as aerial assemblages which are more critical to foraging avian species. These results indicate that vegetation type is a significant factor reducing the abundance and diversity of invertebrates in this, and presumably in many other riparian ecosystems where this invasive species has become a dominant component. Arundo invasion changes the vegetation structure of riparian zones and in turn, may increasingly jeopardize its habitat value for birds and other wildlife whose diets are largely composed of insects found in native riparian vegetation.
Injection and Compression Moulding as Application Problems

In addition to Section 2.2 we extend now the mathematical modelling and numerical simulation of the injection and compression moulding process (cf. Applications 2.2, 2.3) using a generalized Hele—Shaw flow which includes non-isothermal and possible non-Newtonian effects. Beside this, we will mention some recent developments concerning the solution of the full three-dimensional non-Newtonian Navier—Stokes equations without the Hele—Shaw simplifications.
Demo Abstract: Real-Time Heterogeneous Edge Computing System for Social Sensing Applications

In this demo, we present a Social Sensing Edge Computing (SSEC) system that supports real-time task allocation on non-cooperative and heterogeneous edge devices. We evaluate the system on two real-time social sensing applications and demonstrate the energy savings as well as the Quality of Service (QoS) of the SSEC system. The demonstrated framework complements the traditional centralized social sensing solutions by providing a more scalable and responsive computation paradigm.
Divided Hopes: Physics Versus Metaphysics

The mechanical philosophy created serious problems for accounts of life, often viewed as somewhere between mind and matter. Bacon, Leibniz, and Kant all tried to clarify the mechanical position. They bridged or denied the Cartesian ontological divide, but erected epistemological barriers with very similar results. Bacon distinguished physics from metaphysics. Leibniz invoked physical nature and gracious monads. Kant suggested phenomenal and noumenal worlds. Multiple possibilities were explored in the search for a new conceptual foundation for biology. Idealists, influenced by Leibniz, Malebranche, and Hume critiqued empiricism, while iatromechanists began to find solely mechanical explanations of life. Together, they lay the foundations for a divided epistemology of natural science and the humanities.
Challenges in Modeling Electrochemical Reaction Energetics with Polarizable Continuum Models

A major challenge in the modeling of electrochemical phenomena is the accurate description of the interface between an electrolyte and a charged conductor. Polarizable continuum models (PCM) have b...
The Business of Sports: Off the Field, in the Office, on the News

When reviewing the title of The Business of Sports (3rd ed.), intuitively there was an expectation for a number of topics. These included, but were not limited to, sport industry analysis with a fo...
Enhancement-mode AlGaN channel high electron mobility transistor enabled by p-AlGaN gate

This work exhibits the ability to shift the threshold voltage of an Al0.45Ga0.55N/Al0.3Ga0.7N high electron mobility transistor through the implementation of a 100 nm thick p-Al0.3Ga0.7N gate. A maximum threshold voltage of +0.3 V was achieved with a 3 μm gate length. In addition to achieving enhancement-mode operation, this work also shows the capability to obtain high saturated drain current (>50 mA/mm), no gate hysteresis, high ION,MAX/IOFF,MIN ratio of >109, and exceptionally low gate leakage current of 10−6 mA/mm even under high forward bias of Vgs = 8 V.This work exhibits the ability to shift the threshold voltage of an Al0.45Ga0.55N/Al0.3Ga0.7N high electron mobility transistor through the implementation of a 100 nm thick p-Al0.3Ga0.7N gate. A maximum threshold voltage of +0.3 V was achieved with a 3 μm gate length. In addition to achieving enhancement-mode operation, this work also shows the capability to obtain high saturated drain current (>50 mA/mm), no gate hysteresis, high ION,MAX/IOFF,MIN ratio of >109, and exceptionally low gate leakage current of 10−6 mA/mm even under high forward bias of Vgs = 8 V.
Fast Calibration of Car-Following Models to Trajectory Data Using the Adjoint Method

Before a car-following model can be applied in practice, it must first be validated against real data in a process known as calibration. This paper discusses the formulation of calibration as an op...
Soluble Forms of the Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) in Periodontitis

The receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE) is critically involved in the pathobiology of chronic inflammatory diseases. Soluble forms of RAGE have been proposed as biomarkers of severity in inflammatory and metabolic conditions, and in monitoring therapeutic responses. The aim of the present study was to determine circulating levels of the soluble forms of RAGE in periodontitis and to evaluate the expression of cell-bound, full-length RAGE and its antagonist AGER1 locally, in gingival tissues. Periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy, sex- and age-matched controls (50 per group) were included. Serum levels of total soluble RAGE and cleaved RAGE (cRAGE) were significantly lower in periodontitis patients. Levels of the endogenous secretory esRAGE were similar in the two groups. cRAGE remained significantly lower in the periodontitis group following multiple adjustments, and had a statistically significant inverse correlation with body mass index and all periodontal parameters. In periodontitis patients, gene expression of full-length RAGE and of AGER1 were significantly higher in periodontitis-affected gingival tissues compared to healthy gingiva. Soluble forms of RAGE, particularly cRAGE, may serve as biomarkers for the presence and severity/extent of periodontitis, and may be implicated in its pathogenesis and its role as a systemic inflammatory stressor.
Perfectionism and Alcohol Use Outcomes In College Students: The Moderating Role of Alcohol Protective Behavioral Strategies

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the moderating role of alcohol protective behavioral strategy (PBS) types (stopping/limiting drinking – SLD; manner of drinking – MOD; serious har...
38 Phase II study of enzalutamide in androgen receptor positive (AR+) recurrent ovarian cancer: final results

Objectives This was a single institution, phase II, Simon 2-stage with safety lead-in study of the oral androgen-receptor antagonist, enzalutamide, in patients with recurrent AR+ ovarian cancer with measurable disease and 1–3 prior lines of chemotherapy. The primary objective was to determine the proportion of patients surviving progression free for 6 months (PFS6) and overall response rate by RECIST 1.1 Criteria; with 7/58 responses or PFS6 of 13 being considered a positive study. Methods Following consent, archival tissue was screened for AR+ by IHC with ≥5% considered positive. Enrolled patients were treated with enzalutamide 160mg po daily until progression of disease or treatment discontinuation. A cycle was 28 days. Adverse events were graded by CTCAE V 4.0. Results Between 11/2013–7/2018 160 patients were screened and 59 patients [45 high grade serous(HGS), 14 low grade serous(LGS)] consented to treatment on the study (1 patient was replaced; efficacy cohort=58, safety cohort=59). There was 1 confirmed and 1 unconfirmed partial response (PR), PFS6 was 22% (90% CI: 15.1–100%) with PFS6 for those with HGS 19.8% (90% CI: 12.7–100%) and for LGS 38.5% (21.7%-100%). Median PFS was 3.5 months. There were no toxicities >grade 3 related to study drug. Related grade 3 toxicities occurred in 6 patients [fatigue (1), rash (2), hypertension (1), anemia (1), and transaminase elevation (1)]. Conclusions The study met its primary endpoint, with 13 patients (22%) remaining progression free at 6 months, however the response rate was low. Enzalutamide was well tolerated and may offer a good treatment option in select patients.
Phentermine Use During First and Second Trimesters Associated with Fetal Stroke.

Phentermine is a sympathomimetic amine used for the short-term weight loss that has been associated with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in adults. The effects of this medication on a developing fetus are not well studied. We present the case of a woman who was taking phentermine during the first two trimesters of pregnancy and subsequently delivered a child with bilateral porencephalic cysts likely due to a prenatal stroke.