cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Artificial Intelligence: A New Synthesis

Intelligent agents are employed as the central characters in this new introductory text. Beginning with elementary reactive agents, Nilsson gradually increases their cognitive horsepower to illustrate the most important and lasting ideas in AI. Neural networks, genetic programming, computer vision, heuristic search, knowledge representation and reasoning, Bayes networks, planning, and language understanding are each revealed through the growing capabilities of these agents. The book provides a refreshing and motivating new synthesis of the field by one of AI's master expositors and leading researchers. Artificial Intelligence: A New Synthesis takes the reader on a complete tour of this intriguing new world of AI. * An evolutionary approach provides a unifying theme * Thorough coverage of important AI ideas, old and new * Frequent use of examples and illustrative diagrams * Extensive coverage of machine learning methods throughout the text * Citations to over 500 references * Comprehensive index Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Stimulus-Response Agents 3 Neural Networks 4 Machine Evolution 5 State Machines 6 Robot Vision 7 Agents that Plan 8 Uninformed Search 9 Heuristic Search 10 Planning, Acting, and Learning 11 Alternative Search Formulations and Applications 12 Adversarial Search 13 The Propositional Calculus 14 Resolution in The Propositional Calculus 15 The Predicate Calculus 16 Resolution in the Predicate Calculus 17 Knowledge-Based Systems 18 Representing Commonsense Knowledge 19 Reasoning with Uncertain Information 20 Learning and Acting with Bayes Nets 21 The Situation Calculus 22 Planning 23 Multiple Agents 24 Communication Among Agents 25 Agent Architectures
LEARNING ABILITY FOR TWO SPATIAL ORIENTATION SYSTEMS IN ELDERLY NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

Disorientation and confusion have been identified as significant problems for older persons newly admitted to nursing homes and other institutions. The purpose of this study was to determine which of two orientating systems might be best for helping older people become accustomed to a strange environment. Middle‐aged and elderly residents of a nursing home were dichotomized by performance on three memory tests and then were given two paired‐associate learning tasks. In one task colors and a place in the nursing home were to be associated; in the other symbols and a place in the nursing home were to be associated. The results indicated that the symbol‐place paired‐associate task was learned more rapidly than the color‐place task by both high and low memory ability groups, and that the lower memory ability group showed slower learning of the color‐place task compared to the higher memory ability group. In addition, learning was slower on both tasks when the color‐place task was the first presented. These re...
Rate-Harmonized Scheduling for Saving Energy

Energy consumption continues to be a major concern in multiple application domains including power-hungry data centers, portable and wearable devices, mobile communication devices and wireless sensor networks. While energy-constrained, many such applications must meet timing and QoS constraints for sensing, actuation or multimedia data processing. Many modern power-aware processors and microcontrollers have built-in support for active, idle and sleep operating modes. In sleep mode, substantially more energy savings can be obtained but it requires a significant amount of time to switch into and out of that mode. Hence, a significant amount of energy is lost due to idle gaps between executing tasks that are shorter than the required time for the processor to enter the sleep mode. We present a technique called rate-harmonized scheduling that naturally clusters task execution such that processor idle times are lumped together. We next introduce the energy-saving rate-harmonized scheduler which guarantees that every idle duration on the processor can be used to put the processor into sleep mode. This property can be used to even eliminate the idle power mode in processors but nevertheless it is predictable, analyzable, and saves more energy. We finally evaluate the practical benefits of rate-harmonized scheduling implemented in the nano-RK real-time operating system [1] for wireless sensor networks.
Histone Acetylation and Deacetylation Identification of Acetylation and Methylation Sites of HeLa Histone H4 by Mass Spectrometry

The acetylation isoforms of histone H4 from butyrate-treated HeLa cells were separated by C(4) reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography and by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Histone H4 bands were excised and digested in-gel with the endoprotease trypsin. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to characterize the level of acetylation, and nanoelectrospray tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the acetylated peptides was used to determine the exact sites of acetylation. Although there are 15 acetylation sites possible, only four acetylated peptide sequences were actually observed. The tetra-acetylated form is modified at lysines 5, 8, 12, and 16, the tri-acetylated form is modified at lysines 8, 12, and 16, and the di-acetylated form is modified at lysines 12 and 16. The only significant amount of the mono-acetylated form was found at position 16. These results are consistent with the hypothesis of a "zip" model whereby acetylation of histone H4 proceeds in the direction of from Lys-16 to Lys-5, and deacetylation proceeds in the reverse direction. Histone acetylation and deacetylation are coordinated processes leading to a non-random distribution of isoforms. Our results also revealed that lysine 20 is di-methylated in all modified isoforms, as well as the non-acetylated isoform of H4.
Effect of immersion in seawater on egg survival in the lizard Anolis sagrei

Studies on the lizard, Anolis sagrei, revealed that after Hurricane Floyd devastated the Bahamas in 1999, some populations consisted only of hatchlings. Because the storm surge of the hurricane completely inundated these islands, apparently for up to 6 h, survival of anole eggs in salt water for such periods is implied. To test this hypothesis directly, we placed A. sagrei eggs in saltwater for 3 or 6 h with unimmersed eggs serving as the control. Hatching success and incubation time did not differ among the three treatments. These findings help explain the persistence of anole populations on small islands vulnerable to hurricanes.
Applicant Identity Congruence in Selection Decision Making: Implications for Alejandro and Consuela

A scenario study was conducted to determine the impact of identity congruence on selection decisions. Participants were provided identical resumes for either Alejandro or Consuela followed by information from reference checks. Hypotheses were developed to test the impact of finding out information that called into question the Latino/a identity of the applicants. Results were strongest for gender and, consistent with the study's hypotheses, participants favored Alejandro prior to the reference check information. The results also demonstrated the importance of conducting reference checks as the evaluations between the applicants were equalized once the additional information was provided.
Use of HCMM thermal data to improve accuracy of MSS land-surface classification mapping

Abstract The use of thermal data from the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission (HCMM) satellite for delineating urban heat islands, and to aid in separating general land-cover types, was investigated. Day-time thermal infrared HCM M data were digitally integrated with LANDSAT Multispectral Scanner (MSS) data utilizing three different techniques and the combined data sets were subjected to unsupervised classification. Results from a comprehensive accuracy assessment show that the classification done by the procedurally least-complex merging technique yielded the highest overall accuracy and was consistently best for all cover-type categories and USGS 7·5′ topographic quadrangles evaluated in the study. Thus, even relatively coarse resolution (500 m) thermal data show promise for improving general land-surface classification accuracies over a large and diverse metropolitan region with man-made and natural cover types.
Computer vision in a heterogeneous software and hardware environment

A well-developed modular, extensible vision system, based on a connectionist approach, is analyzed from a concurrent processing standpoint. This system can accurately reconstruct objects, using a set of locally derived features, from real, low-resolution range data. The approach is highly parallel in nature. An implementation of the system in a heterogeneous multiprocessing environment is examined. Improved algorithms for low-level feature extraction are employed, including multiwindow parameter extraction and a conflict-resolution strategy. This results in improved robustness, while a simple multiprocessor environment gives a substantial speedup. Tests with real data demonstrate a factor of 10 gain in performance from mapping tasks onto appropriate hardware and software and show the potential of model-driven search in such an implementation. >
Management of Rectal Injury During Robotic Radical Prostatectomy

Objectives To review the incidence and management of rectal injury in 4400 consecutive cases of robotic radical prostatectomy at a single institution. Material And Methods From September 2001 to September 2009, 4400 patients underwent robotic radical prostatectomy. We reviewed the intraoperative and postoperative data from patients with rectal injuries. Once recognized, the rectal injuries were closed in 2 layers. Clear liquids were started the day after surgery. Healing of the vesicourethral anastomosis was confirmed by cystography 5-14 days postoperatively. Results Rectal injuries were identified in 10 patients (0.2%). The mean patient age was 58.6 years (range 44-68), and the mean body mass index was 25.8 kg/m 2 (range 22-29). The mean prostate-specific antigen level was 7.1 ng/mL (range 0.9-14.8), and the mean prostate weight was 58.9 g (range 22-102). The clinical stage was T1c, T2a, and T2c in 7, 2, and 1 patient, respectively. The preoperative Gleason score was 6, 7, and 8 in 3, 3, and 4 patients, respectively. All rectal injuries were diagnosed and repaired intraoperatively. Of the 10 patients, 9 had an uneventful postoperative course. The average urethral catheterization time for these patients was 14 days (range 6-21). One patient had gross fecal spillage and developed a rectourethral fistula requiring a delayed diverting colostomy. No perioperative mortality occurred. Conclusions We found a low incidence of rectal injury during robotic radical prostatectomy. We have also demonstrated that rectal injuries can be managed primarily with meticulous closure with minimal morbidity.
Increased literacy of the best evidence base optimizes patient-clinician communication in convergent translational health care: Relevance for patient-centered modalities

Introduction: Dentistry in particular and biomedicine in general have undergone a fundamental transformation over the recent decades, which have been formalized by the Affordable Care Act, 2010. In brief, modern contemporary health care has evolved from procedure-driven and intervention-centered care based on research evidence to the administration and delivery of care that is patient-centered, effectiveness-focused, and that utilizes the best evidence base generated by systematic research synthesis (i.e., evidence-based). The present conceptualization of health care integrates translational research and translational effectiveness, and allows convergence of the multiple specialization fields of biomedicine (e.g., dentistry, internal medicine, and psychiatry) as well as the various medical traditions globally (i.e., Western, Ayurvedic, and Chinese medical traditions, etc.). The Hypothesis: Here, we propose the hypothesis that increased literacy of the best evidence base optimizes patient-clinician communication in the current convergent translational health care model including dental care. Evaluation of the Hypothesis: We discuss the salient points of this proposition, and outline the relevance of certain salient convergent patient-centered modalities of health care that intimately intertwine medicine and dentistry.
Exposing library holdings metadata in RDF using schema.org semantics

Libraries have been busy transforming and publishing their data as linked open data by testing already existing semantics and developing new sets of semantics. So far, most of the efforts have focused on the bibliographic data, not the holdings and item related data that are unique to individual libraries and that help users access the information resources they need. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library experimented with a subset of its bibliographic records (5.4 million) describing print resources and associated holdings data to examine options and best practices so far identified for expressing library holdings data using schema.org semantics. The experimentation suggests that the mappings for holdings data recommended by the BibExtend Community Group are in some ways incomplete and that some proposed uses of schema.org types and properties to describe library holdings go beyond current schema.org definitions. Existing schema.org enumerations should be extended (e.g., regarding availability) to better describe library use cases, and some extensions to schema.org are needed to fully describe library holdings data and to maximize their utility. This paper highlights issues, suggests potential extensions identified during the transformation to schema.org semantics, and discusses options to make essential library holdings data fully visible as linked open data.
Probability Assessment Exercise Global

The exercise consists of two parts: (1) individual assessments, based on your private knowledge only and (2) group assessments, in which your team pools its knowledge and develops a consensus forecast. The 10 uncertain quantities whose continuous probability distributions are to be assessed are described in Exhibit 1. In the individual questionnaire (Exhibit 2), you are asked to assess five values for each of the 10 probability distributions that determine the indicated bins of probability.
Legibility Comparison of 7 by 7 and 7 by 9 CRT Character Dot Matrices

The System/23 Datamaster CRT was designed to use a 7 by 9 character matrix. German standards indicate that the 7 by 9 matrix is unacceptable for use in the office sector. To accommodate the German standards a smaller (7 by 7) character matrix was developed. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of character matrix size on the legibility of CRT Displays. Two types of etched surface CRTs (nonglare) were also tested. The results indicated that neither size of character set nor type of CRT was found to have a significant effect on legibility.
Modelling and Simulation Technologies for Large UHVDC Power Grid

Chinese power grid will be a super-huge,AC/DC parallel operation,high-voltage grid with more than 20 UHVDC systems.The modeling and simulation technologies for large power system will face serious challenges.The new development of this aspect for large power systems with ultra-high voltage AC/DC operation is discussed.The electro-magnetic transient/electromchanical transient hybrid simulation technologies developed by Power System Department of CEPRI are introduced,as well as the detailed DC control system models.These will bring great breakthrough for the simulation of Chinese future large power grid with ultra-high voltage AC/DC systems.
Multi-Agent Artificial Intelligence in Pursuit Strategies: Breaking through the Stalemate

We present an alternative form AI that avoids limited type of interaction, namely the AI agents acting independently of each other rather than working together as a team. To do so, we add the multi-agent functionality to the AI for a simple pursuit game. Initially the AI directs each agent independently to pursue the target player. These agents then suffer from collision and overlapping such that the player can evade the clustered agents without difficulty. Next we introduce our multi-agent AI that coordinates the efforts of the enemy agents so that they stay in formation and work together to corner the player. In so doing we wish to show that this greatly improves the quality of gameplay and the realism simulated by the AI. Further, this upholds the original intention of the AI as designed by the developers and avoids unrealistic “cheats” to circumvent the intended gameplay. While this research is centered in gaming, we also believe that it has further reaching applications in security, simulations, and robotics.
Metanephric transforming growth factor-beta 1 regulates nephrogenesis in vitro

Development of the metanephric kidney during embryogenesis is regulated by a number of polypeptide growth factors of renal origin. We have defined previously a role for insulin-like growth factors (IGF) I and II and for transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha. To delineate the effect of TGF-beta 1, on renal organogenesis, we cultured metanephroi surgically dissected from 13-day-old rat embryos in serum-free chemically defined media. TGF-beta 1 mRNA was present in kidneys from 13-day-old rat embryos, and positive immunostaining for TGF-beta 1 could be demonstrated in cultured metanephroi. However, TGF-beta bioactivity could not be detected in media obtained from the metanephroi. Addition of 10(-9) M TGF-beta 1 to cultures inhibited tubulogenesis, but had no effect on synthesis of IGF-I or -II. Addition of anti-TGF-beta 1 antibodies to cultures accelerated tubulogenesis within the metanephric blastema. These findings establish the potential for TGF-beta 1 production within the rat metanephros during development in vivo. It is possible that this peptide exerts a negative control on the process of tubulogenesis within metanephric blastema and in this manner acts to shape the architecture of mature kidney.
Functionalization of Single-walled Carbon Nanotubes with Thermo-reversible Block Copolymers and Characterization by Small-angle Neutron Scattering

We demonstrate a protocol for single-walled carbon nanotube functionalization using thermo-sensitive PEO-PPO-PEO triblock copolymers in an aqueous solution. In a carbon nanotube/PEO105-PPO70-PEO105 (poloxamer 407) aqueous solution, the amphiphilic poloxamer 407 adsorbs onto the carbon nanotube surfaces and self-assembles into continuous layers, driven by intermolecular interactions between constituent molecules. The addition of 5-methylsalicylic acid changes the self-assembled structure from spherical-micellar to a cylindrical morphology. The fabricated poloxamer 407/carbon nanotube hybrid particles exhibit thermo-responsive structural features so that the density and thickness of poloxamer 407 layers are also reversibly controllable by varying temperature. The detailed structural properties of the poloxamer 407/carbon nanotube particles in suspension can be characterized by small-angle neutron scattering experiments and model fit analyses. The distinct curve shapes of the scattering intensities depending on temperature control or addition of aromatic additives are well described by a modified core-shell cylinder model consisting of a carbon nanotube core cylinder, a hydrophobic shell, and a hydrated polymer layer. This method can provide a simple but efficient way for the fabrication and in-situ characterization of carbon nanotube-based nano particles with a structure-tunable encapsulation.
Differential sensitivity of neonatal rat astrocyte cultures to mercuric chloride (MC) and methylmercury (MeHg): Studies on K+ and amino acid transport and metallothionein (MT) induction

Differential Sensitivity of Neonatal Rat Astrocyte Cultures to Mercuric Chloride (MC) and Methylmercury (MeHg): Studies on K + and Amino Acid Transport, and Metallothionein (MT) Induction. Neurotoxicology 17(1): 107-116, 1996. Mercuric chloride (MC, Hg 2+ ) and methylmercury (MeHg, CH 3 Hg + ) significantly inhibited the initial rates of uptake of 86 Rb (a tracer for K + ), as well as the Na + -dependent uptake of [ 3 H]-L-glutamate. Both mercury species were also found to increase [ 3 H]-D-aspartate and 86 Rb release from cultured astrocytes. Astrocytes were more sensitive to the effects of MC with IC 50 's for glutamate and Rb uptake an order of magnitude lower than those noted for the organic species (MeHg). Increased potency, and irreversibility relative to MeHg, were also noted for MC induced astrocytic D-aspartate and Rb release. These observations support the hypothesis that the astrocyte plasma membrane is an important target for mercurials andspecifically that low concentrations of MC and MeHg inhibit the ability of astrocytes to maintain transmembrane ion gradients. The propensity of MC to interfere with astrocytic functions, relative to MeHg, was also corroborated by measurements on the inducibility of the astrocytic metalloprotein, metallothionein (MT). whilst a dose-dependent increase in MT protein synthesis occurred upon exposure to either MC or MeHg, MC was shown to be the more potent of the mercurials. The greater susceptibility of astrocytes to MC compared with MeHg lends support, at the cellular level, to the hypothesis that accumulation of inorganic mercury (MC) at an order of magnitude lower concentration than MeHg, may be equally neurotoxic.
From Détente to Alienation: Emergence of Bangladesh and New Alignments

From the Tashkent Conference in 1966 to the war with India in 1971 — a brief span of five years — Pakistan’s diplomacy had its finest hour. Bilateral relations with the Soviet Union improved remarkably, and the contacts with the old ally, the United States, overcame some of their hang-ups and became helpful. Indeed, relations with China continued to mature as China assiduously cultivated Pakistan in order to prevent her being sucked into the Soviet orbit. The Soviet Union was also favourably inclined towards Pakistan because of her deteriorating relations with China. The Soviets had hoped that in managing India-Pakistan relations, they would be able to minimize Chinese influence in Pakistan. In reality, they discovered during the brief span of five years that there was a substantial degree of complementarity of interests between China and Pakistan, just as they had a commonality of strategic concerns with India, focusing on China.
Arachnoid Cyst with Intracystic Hemorrhage in a Child: Need For Vigilance and Prompt Treatment (P6.324)

Intracranial arachnoid cysts (AC) constitute one percent of all intracranial lesions, most frequently identified in children and mostly located in the middle cranial fossa. They are typically asymptomatic benign non communicating collections of cerebrospinal fluid that occur in relation to the subarachnoid space. Up to 27 per cent cases may be complicated by subacute or chronic subdural hematoma (SDH) or intracranial hemorrhage with minor head trauma, reportedly up to 16 weeks post trauma. Neurological symptoms can be acute and non-localizing. Most common are severe headache and vomiting, or seizures; and can be more subtle such as cognitive, emotional and memory decline from compression of adjacent tissue causing temporal lobe hypoplasia. Treatment is evacuation of SDH, and cystectomy with communication between cyst and cerebral cistern has also been proposed. We report a case of a 7 year old boy admitted with acute bilateral arm paresthesia, in the setting of possible prior head and neck trauma during trampoline play. He frequented the Emergency Department twice in the preceding month with new onset headaches, emesis and neck pain. Physical examination was pain limited, and non-focal. CT C spine did not show signs of trauma. The following day, the patient developed diplopia and was sent for MRI brain which showed large anterior and middle cranial fossa AC with bleed causing significant mass effect and herniation. He was taken for urgent SDH evacuation with drain placement. Post-operatively he rapidly improved back to full baseline functionality. This case highlights the diagnostic difficulties of AC with intracystic hemorrhage, particularly in children with unusual and delayed presentation. It also indicates need for close follow up among patients with AC and minor head trauma. Disclosure: Dr. Naqvi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Katramados has nothing to disclose. Dr. Agarwal has nothing to disclose.
Anchors in a Globalizing World

First paragraph: In the slender volume Awakening Community Intelligence, journalist and long-time community supported agriculture (CSA) advocate Steven McFadden argues for the exponential expansion of CSAs. In the face of profound, disruptive challenges in the 21st century—climate change, resource depletion, geopolitical instability—McFadden believes CSAs have the potential to become "community cornerstones" that provide "key points of stability and orientation" (p. 20). In ten very short chapters, McFadden unfolds his vision of this potential and issues a call to action. A "cornerstone" is the central metaphor around which McFadden organizes his vision. Drawn from the craft of stone masonry, the cor-nerstone is "the base upon which other stones are set and the building takes its form" (p. 9). That base, as we look at CSA, is a specific plot of farmland with tangible connections to the natural cycles of life and to which shareholders and farmers freely tie their fates together in forms of reciprocity: the community of shareholders taking care of farmers while farmers take care of the land and nourish the community. These are the sturdy cornerstones. But McFadden's notion of community cornerstones is bigger and more dynamic than the world the stone mason metaphor conjures. It is the cosmic, scintillating image on the cover, he tells us, that captures his vision. With the help of digital networking, CSAs could become a "network of light-giving impulses"; they could serve as "a model for a dynamic, far-flung, and intelligent network of nodes" in which "community intelligence" and "land-based intelligence" is awakened (p. 10). Anchored and networked and intelligently sparking, CSAs, he thinks, can bridge the gap between the personal and the global, becoming worldwide nodes of "environmental and human health consciously woven into a network of associations" (p. 68)....
Sedentarization as Constrained Adaptation: Evidence from Pastoral Regions in Far Northwestern China

This paper examines the effect of a state-led sedentarization scheme on pastoralist adaptation in northern Xinjiang, China. Drawing on surveys and semi-structured interviews with 159 Kazak pastoral households, our results indicate that socio-environmental challenges made extensive herding more tenuous but less profitable. Consequently, certain pastoralists voluntarily adopted sedentarization under state facilitation, although this process was accompanied with declines in household income and asset holdings. Our findings suggest that pastoralists were subject to the combined effects of institutional push and socio-environmental risks, making sedentarization seemingly the only viable choice. We thus argue that pastoral sedentarization in northern Xinjiang represents a constrained adaptation strategy. Future policy should build on pastoralists’ motivation to sedentarize and seek their knowledge to facilitate adaptive development in the pastoral regions.
Characterizing deficiencies of path-based routing for wireless multi-hop networks

With the emergence of the Internet of Things, there is a renewed focus on multi-hop wireless networking to connect these systems of smart-devices. Many of the proposals to support this new networking paradigm continue to use the concept of routing: a path between users is formed via a series of point-to-point links. We believe that the characteristics of the wireless environment inherently make path-based routing unsuitable for wireless networking, and that new approaches need to be considered. In this paper, we examine the effectiveness of routing for reliably and efficiently delivering data in a wireless network. Specifically, we demonstrate that path-based routing (1) experiences high packet loss due to the inherently unreliable nature of control information, (2) is unable to ensure reliable message delivery in a lossy environment, and (3) incurs a high cost for route maintenance and repair. We compare path-based routing to newer “smart-flooding” protocols, and show that these alternative approaches provide better delivery at lower cost.
Does Vancomycin Powder Decrease Surgical Site Infections in Growing Spine Surgery?: A Preliminary Study.

Background:Vancomycin powder has been demonstrated to be safe in children, and yet there are no data on its use to reduce surgical site infections (SSIs) in surgery for early-onset scoliosis.Methods:We performed a retrospective study of our patients treated for early-onset scoliosis in the period of
Comparing the sleep quality between STEM student athletes and non-athletes: An exploratory study

This research studies the effect of physical activity on a STEM student's sleep quality through a comparison between STEM student athletes and non-athletes. A total population of sixty-three participants was surveyed and randomly sampled from the Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Strand of a private school for boys in the Philippines. The researchers gathered data using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Buysse et al., 1989) that assesses the sleep quality of an individual through several components that produce a score ranging from 0–21 with a score of five and below indicating good sleep quality. Athletes obtained a mean score of 7.42 while non-athletes showed a mean score of 7.91. Based on the limited data gathered, it was concluded that both STEM student athletes and non-athletes do not receive good sleep quality despite the physical activity engaged by athletes. Furthermore, using the statistical test: Z Test for two sample means, the researchers concluded that there was no significant difference in the sleep quality of student athletes and non-athletes. The study tends to suggest that changes to students' lifestyles need to be considered to obtain a satisfactory performance in school work. The researchers recommend that other factors affecting a person's sleep quality be considered.
Flexible approach to vibrational sum-frequency generation using shaped near-infrared light.

We describe a new approach that expands the utility of vibrational sum-frequency generation (vSFG) spectroscopy using shaped near-infrared (NIR) laser pulses. We demonstrate that arbitrary pulse shapes can be specified to match experimental requirements without the need for changes to the optical alignment. In this way, narrowband NIR pulses as long as 5.75 ps are readily generated, with a spectral resolution of about 2.5 cm-1, an improvement of approximately a factor of 3 compared to a typical vSFG system. Moreover, the utility of having complete control over the NIR pulse characteristics is demonstrated through nonresonant background suppression from a metallic substrate by generating an etalon waveform in the pulse shaper. The flexibility afforded by switching between arbitrary NIR waveforms at the sample position with the same instrument geometry expands the type of samples that can be studied without extensive modifications to existing apparatuses or large investments in specialty optics.
Origins and patterns of spontaneous and drug-induced canine gastric myoelectrical dysrhythmia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics and orientation of gastric dysrhythmia using multichannel serosal recordings in dogs. Ten dogs chronically implanted with four to eight pairs of electrodes were studied. Gastric slow waves were recorded in four sessions: postsurgical and after atropine, vasopressin, and glucagon. A total of 554.7 min of bradygastria, 201 min of tachygastria and 22.3 min of arrhythmia were observed in the recordings. The majority of bradygastria (80.5 ± 9.4%) originated in the proximal stomach (P < 0.04, vs other locations) and propagated all the way to the distal antrum. In contrast, tachygastria mainly originated in the distal antrum (80.6 ± 8.8%) (P < 0.04, vs other locations) and propagated partially or all the way to the proximal stomach. Dysrhythmia appeared intermittently with normal gastric slow waves. In all recordings, normal slow waves were present 38.0 ± 5.3% of the time, while bradygastria, tachygastria, and arrhythmia were present 35.9 ± 5.3%, 23.0 ± 1.6%, and 2.4 ± 0.5% of the time, respectively. The prevalence of dysrhythmia was highest in the distal antrum (80.4%) (P < 0.01) and lowest in the proximal part of the stomach. In conclusion, tachygastria originates from an ectopic pacemaker in the distal antrum. It may completely or partially override the normal slow waves. Bradygastria is attributed to a decrease in the frequency of the normal pacemaker in the corpus. The prevalence of gastric dysrhythmia is different in different locations of the stomach and is highest in the distal antrum.
Marginal Cost Pricing and Efficient Provision of Public Recreation

Supply and demand functions for public campground recreation are derived, and subsequently equilibrated to estimate both the efficient price of campground use and the social costs of diverging from...
An Intellectual Autobiography

I was a feminist before I was a Marxist, and that has made all the difference. This came about through some combination of life experience and teaching high school literature and history. The life experience included an M.A. degree at Purdue in American Studies (1970–72), where I hung out around the budding feminist movement, as I had as an undergraduate at South Dakota State University (1966–70).
Molecular Biology of Estrogen Receptor Action

The steroid hormone 17β-estradiol (E2) is an important regulator of cell growth, differentiation, and physiological function of a diverse range of tissues. E2 exerts its biological effects on the target tissues through association with intracellular receptor proteins called estrogen receptors (ERs). Binding of E2 activates the receptor allowing it to interact with specific DNA sequences within the promoters of responsive genes and changes the gene expression profiles in target tissues. Identification of the ER laid the foundation for the discovery of an evolutionarily conserved family of receptors known as nuclear hormone receptors. Over the past 30 years, research on ER biology has contributed a tremendous amount of unexpected and unimaginable wealth of information to the field of gene regulation and cell signaling as a whole. It is now well appreciated that the mechanism of ER action is multifaceted, involving multiple levels of complex regulation affecting gene transcription. This chapter summarizes our overall understanding of the molecular mechanism of ER action, beginning with the classical findings to the recent developments that have exposed several exciting themes that continue to enhance our understanding of ER signaling.
Restoration of Insular Ecosystems: Control of Feral Goats on Aldabra Atoll, Republic of Seychelles

The control of feral goats (Capra hircus) was studied on Aldabra Atoll, Republic of Seychelles, from October 1993 to May 1994 and November 1994 to May 1995. A total of 832 goats was killed on Aldabra using the Judas goat technique and traditional hunting methods. Twenty-eight goats equipped with radio transmitters (Judas goats) were used to locate and kill other feral goats. The remnant goat populations on Ile Picard (n=13) and Ile Malabar (n=19) were eradicated during the first season. On Grande Terre, a total of 798 (374 M : 424 F) goats were killed. Mean group size was 3.2 with a range of 1–20. Judas goat hunting became increasingly important over time with 18.0% (n=85) of goats killed in the presence of Judas goats in the first season compared to 42.3% (n=126) of goats killed during the second season. The overall kill rate for the project was almost 2 times greater for Judas goat hunting (0.61 goats killed/h) than traditional hunting (0.32 goats killed/h). The home range size of each Judas goat and the number of goats killed in association with it was significantly related. Using the Leslie–Davis removal method of population estimation, 84 goats were estimated to remain on all of Grande Terre at the end of thebreak project.
Influence of uncertainties in burned area estimates on modeled wildland fire PM2.5 and ozone pollution in the contiguous U.S.

Abstract Wildland fires are a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), one of the most harmful ambient pollutants for human health globally. To represent the influence of wildland fire emissions on atmospheric composition, regional and global chemical transport models rely on emission inventories developed from estimates of burned area (i.e. fire size and location). While different methods of estimating annual burned area agree reasonably well in the western U.S. (within 20–30% for most years during 2002–2014), estimates for the southern U.S. can vary by more than a factor of five. These differences in burned area lead to significant variability in the spatial and temporal allocation of emissions across fire emission inventory platforms. In this work, we implement wildland fire emission estimates for 2011 from three different products - the USEPA National Emission Inventory (NEI), the Fire Inventory of NCAR (FINN), and the Global Fire Emission Database (GFED4s) - into the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to quantify and characterize differences in simulated PM and ozone concentrations across the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) due to the fire emission inventory used. The NEI is developed specifically for the U.S., while both FINN and GFED4s are available globally. We find that NEI emissions lead to the largest increases in modeled annual average PM2.5 (0.85 μg m−3) and April–September maximum daily 8-h ozone (0.28 ppb) nationally compared to a “no fire” baseline, followed by FINN (0.33 μg m−3 and 0.22 ppb) and GFED4s (0.12 μg m−3 and 0.17 ppb). Annual mean enhancements in wildland fire pollution are highest in the southern U.S. across all three inventories (over 4 μg m−3 and 2 ppb in some areas), but show considerable spatial variability within these regions. We also examine the representation of five individual fire events during 2011 and find that of the two global inventories, FINN reproduces more of the acute changes in pollutant concentrations modeled with NEI and shown in surface observations during each of the episodes investigated compared to GFED4s. Understanding the sensitivity of modeling fire-related PM2.5 and ozone in the U.S. to burned area estimation approaches will inform future efforts to assess the implications of present and future fire activity for air quality and human health at national and global scales.
Rectal cancer: Characteristics and survival rates of young versus old.

e14517 Background: Rectal cancer is detected at a later stage in young patients (YP) (< 50). There has been an increased incidence of rectal cancer in YP. The aim of our study is to compare charact...
Influenza in obese travellers: increased risk and complications, decreased vaccine effectiveness.

Background Obesity is a worldwide epidemic and was empirically shown to increase the risk of developing severe influenza virus infection. As international travel becomes more common and obesity is now prevalent even in low- and middle-income countries, travellers may have an increased risk of contracting influenza virus especially during peak influenza season. Methods An analysis of the literature, centred on publications from 2014-19, was performed, with an emphasis on human epidemiological data, human studies ex vivo and studies in mouse models of obesity. Our search efforts focused on influenza disease severity, pathogenesis, evolutionary dynamics and measures of infection control in the obese and overweight host. Results Obesity is associated with an increased risk of infection, as well as a greater chance for hospitalization and severe complications. Studies in mouse models of obesity have uncovered that obese hosts suffer increased viral spread, delayed viral clearance and heightened damage to the respiratory epithelium. Innate and adaptive immune responses are delayed, thus increasing morbidity and mortality. Further, infection control measures, including vaccination and antivirals, prove less effective in obese hosts. Finally, the obese microenvironment allows for increased duration and amount of viral shedding and potentially increases the chance for emergence of virulent minor variants in the viral population. Together, obese hosts are at high risk of influenza infection, as well as severe sequelae following infection. Conclusion Obese travellers should be aware of influenza activity in the regions visited, as well as take protective measures prior to travel. Vaccination is highly recommended for all travellers, but especially highly susceptible obese travellers.
Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Structure Changes in relation to Tropical Cyclone Outflow

Abstract : The overarching objective of this project is to identify impacts to tropical cyclone structure and intensity throughout the tropical cyclone lifetime. A common factor is the impact of mid- and upper-level environmental conditions that affects formation and intensification of a tropical cyclone. It is hypothesized that during the formation process, the environmental interaction has maximum impact on the vertical alignment of the fledgling circulation and as a mature tropical cyclone impacts on upper-level outflow control periods of intensification or decay. Observational data of the tropical cyclone-environment at upper levels are used in conjunction with numerical simulations to examine the spatial and temporal sensitivities that result in tropical cyclone intensification versus decay, and the mechanisms via which the environmental interaction influences the tropical cyclone primary swirling wind circulation at various stages of intensification.
Photophysics of single-molecule probes

Abstract Experiments at the single molecule level enable the direct measurement of molecular trajectories, allowing investigators to identify rare events and transient intermediates, and to quantify the dynamics of unsynchronized molecular processes. This chapter focuses on the critical role of fluorophore photophysics on both the design of single molecule experiments and the interpretation of the measured signals. The formation of non-emissive (dark) states is an unavoidable property of all fluorescent dyes that results in fluorescence blinking in a variety of timescales. Dark states also contribute to signal saturation, which greatly complicates the analysis of single molecule intensities in terms of accurate FRET efficiencies. The goal of this chapter is to bring attention to the considerations and control experiments that are important to avoid artifacts or misinterpretations of the data, while maximizing the accuracy of the kinetic and structural information obtained from the experiment. The chapter opens with an introductory summary of photophysical concepts and a discussion of how the events that follow photoexcitation ultimately contribute to the measured fluorescence signals. Although emphasis was placed on the interpretation of single-molecule FRET experiments, the concepts and information conveyed in this chapter will be of general interest to researchers working on any area of single molecule fluorescence and super-resolution microscopy. The final section of the chapter provides an overview of the properties of the most common families of fluorophores used in single-molecule research. Researchers are encouraged not to use this information as universal truths, but instead as starting points to plan additional experiments not only to rule out possible artifacts, but also to determine quantities that can be used to maximize the accuracy of the results derived from single-molecule signals.
Label-Free Super-Resolution Imaging with Hyperbolic Materials

Optical imaging systems based on hyperbolic materials, offer the potential to combine subwavelength resolution with the advantage of an inherently label-free approach. In this talk we review the recent developments in this field, in both direct imaging and structured illumination configurations.
Creating Chameleon-like Smart Actuators

Inspired by how chameleons change their skin color, Du and co-workers have developed a general biomimetic strategy for preparing smart photonic crystal actuators with the fast and reversible colorimetric response and programmable shape transformation.
Hyaluronidase reduced edema after experimental traumatic brain injury.

Cerebral edema and the subsequent increased intracranial pressure are associated with mortality and poor outcome following traumatic brain injury. Previous in vitro studies have shown that the Gibb...
Farmer Mental Models of Biological Pest Control: Associations With Adoption of Conservation Practices in Blueberry and Cherry Orchards

Conservation practices in agriculture—such as biological pest control, provision of pollinator habitat and cover cropping—may provide ecosystem services that are beneficial to both farmers and wildlife. Despite these benefits, however, their use is not yet widespread and the factors that may limit adoption is not well understood. In this study we tested potential associations between farmers’ beliefs about ecosystem services and their management practices using data collected from questionnaires and cognitive maps from 31 Michigan blueberry and cherry farmers describing their farming systems. We found that farmers who included key biological pest control concepts in their mental model representations reported the use of more conservation practices, and/or participation in conservation programs, than those who did not. In addition, the timing of management practices was a more central factor in the mental models of farmers who included both natural predators and beneficial insects than those omitting these factors. Finally, the farmers who included those two factors showed higher degrees of systems thinking based on mental model metric analysis. We suggest that outreach emphasizing the relationships between ecosystem services and the factors farmers view as most important may positively influence communication and potential of adoption of conservation practices and preventative pest management strategies.
Clot Degradation Under the Action of Histotripsy Bubble Activity and a Lytic Drug

Deep vein thrombosis is a major source of morbidity worldwide. For critical obstructions, catheter-directed thrombolytics are the frontline therapy to achieve vessel recanalization. Techniques that aid lytic therapy are under development to improve treatment efficacy and reduce procedure-related complications. Histotripsy is one such adjuvant under development that relies on focused ultrasound for in situ nucleation of bubble clouds. Prior studies have demonstrated synergistic effects for clot dissolution when histotripsy is combined with lytic therapy. The success of this combination approach is hypothesized to promote thrombolytic efficacy via two mechanisms: erythrocyte fractionation (hemolysis) and increased lytic activity (fibrinolysis). In this study, the contributions of hemolysis and fibrinolysis to clot degradation under histotripsy and a lytic were quantified with measurements of hemoglobin and D-dimer, respectively. A linear regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between hemoglobin, D-dimer, and the overall treatment efficacy (clot mass loss). A similar analysis was conducted to gauge the role of bubble activity, which was assessed with passive cavitation imaging, on hemolysis and fibrinolysis. Tabulation of these data demonstrated hemolysis and fibrinolysis contributed equally to clot mass loss. Furthermore, bubble cloud activity promoted the generation of hemoglobin and D-dimer in equal proportion. These studies indicate a multifactorial process for clot degradation under the action of histotripsy and a lytic therapy.