cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The plant metabolite, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone, stimulates an increase in secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and size of reproductive organs in Microtus pinetorum.

The plant metabolite, 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA), occurring in leaf tissue of rapidly growing monocots, cues reproduction in some mammals. In the pine vole, Micro tus pinetorum, peripubertal females respond to this nonestrogenic compound with a 40% increase in serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). In addition, 6-MBOA significantly increases the weight of the ovary and uterus in both peripubertal and mature voles. This study is the first to offer evidence that 6-MBOA interacts with the pituitary to stimulate reproduction in voles.
Radar image reconstruction based on neural net models

A novel method for microwave diversity radar imaging based on neural net models was developed. It is based on reconstructing a function f( theta , x, y), called the range-profile, which is a one-dimensional (1-D) Fourier transform of a single p-space line (i.e. of a single frequency-response measurement made at a given aspect angle theta ) weighted by mod p mod , where p is the frequency variable. The issue is how to reconstruct f( theta , x, y) as accurately as possible from the incomplete frequency-domain data. The method utilizes the available frequency-response information and makes no assumption about unavailable frequency components, rather than assuming that they are zero as in conventional techniques. The algorithm developed has been successfully tested by simulation and experiments. Results are presented for an experiment involving two metallic cylinders. >
Operating system framed in case of mistaken identity: measuring the success of web-based spoofing attacks on OS password-entry dialogs

When asking users to enter credentials, today's desktop operating systems often use windows that provide scant evidence that a trusted path has been established; evidence that would allow a user to know that a request is genuine and that the password will not be read by untrusted principals. We measure the efficacy of web-based attacks that spoof these operating system credential-entry windows to steal users' device-login passwords. We recruited 504 users of Amazon's Mechanical Turk to evaluate a series of games on third-party websites. The third such website indicated that it needed to install software from the publisher that provided the participants' operating system: Microsoft's Silverlight for Windows Vista/7 users and Apple's QuickTime for Mac OS users. The website then displayed a spoofed replica of a window the participant's client operating system would use to request a user's device credentials. In our most effective attacks, over 20% of participants entered passwords that they later admitted were the genuine credentials used to login to their devices. Even among those who declined to enter their credentials, many participants were oblivious to the spoofing attack. Participants were more likely to confirm that they were worried about the consequences of installing software from a legitimate source than to report that they thought the credential-entry window might have appeared as a result of an attempt to steal their password.
Some robust finite-time sliding reachability conditions and application to nonlinear observer

In sliding mode control and estimation, an effective way of enhancing its disturbance rejection property while reducing chatter and improving transient and steady state performances is to search for appropriate sliding reachability conditions (reaching laws). This paper presents two new continuous reachability conditions with finite reaching time. Compared with other alternatives, both analysis and simulation show that they are stronger in disturbance rejection, faster in response, prominently low in overshoot, better steady state performance and chatter-free. Their performances are tested further by applying them to second order observers. Stability analysis and simulation of those observers are also provided.
Operationalizing Gang Membership

Abstract Although an extensive amount of research in the last decade has focused on juvenile gangs and the consequences of gang involvement, there has been considerable debate in the literature concerning both the conceptualization and the operationalization of the term gang membership. This research examines the extent to which the operationalization of gang membership impacts prevalence rates of both gang membership and delinquent involvement and whether this varies by gender. The findings suggest that the type of operationalization utilized by the researcher does impact both the prevalence rates of gang membership and delinquent involvement. Further, this impact varies by gender. An unrestricted definition of gang membership compared to more restrictive definitions yields conflicting findings with regard to the impact of gender on gang membership. Whereas the unrestricted measure of gang membership yielded significant gender differences, the more restrictive measure of organized gang membership produce...
Petrology and geochemistry of the 1991 and 1998-1999 lava flows from Volcán de Colima, México: implications for the end of the current eruptive cycle

Abstract Point-counted modes, representative mineral analyses, and whole-rock major- and trace-element compositions determined by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) are presented for 11 samples of the hornblende–andesite block-lava flows erupted from Volcan de Colima in 1991 and 1998–1999. New ICP-MS trace-element data are also presented for 37 andesites erupted between 1869 and 1982, described in previous publications. These data are used to evaluate mineralogical and whole-rock compositional changes during two well-defined historical eruption cycles: 1818–1913 and 1913–present. The eruptive cycles of Volcan de Colima are dominated by andesitic lavas with ∼61 wt% SiO2, but terminate with major explosive eruptions, as occurred in 1818 and 1913, involving relatively mafic andesites with ∼58% SiO2. Following eruptions of andesitic block-lava flows with ∼61% SiO2 in 1961–1962 and 1975–1976, a trend toward lower SiO2 contents began in 1976 and peaked in 1981, probably as a small volume of deeper, more mafic magma ascended into the shallower andesitic reservoir beneath the volcano. Since then, however, andesitic lavas have become progressively richer in SiO2 through the 1991 and 1998–1999 eruptions. Andesites erupted between 1961 and 1999 show many subtle but important differences compared to those erupted between 1869 and 1913. Based on rocks of similar SiO2 content, the 1961–1999 andesites are richer in modal plagioclase and in the elements Y, Nb, Tb, Ho, Er, Yb, and Ta, and they are poorer in modal hornblende and in the elements Ba and Sr. All of these observations are consistent with the interpretation that the magmas of 1961–1999 had significantly lower water contents compared to those erupted in 1869–1913, which diminished the role of hornblende crystallization and enhanced the role of plagioclase crystallization. The relatively lower magmatic water contents for the 1961–1999 andesites imply that the explosive eruption anticipated to terminate the current eruptive cycle will be less powerful than the 1913 eruption. Of equal importance to this question, however, is the role of magmatic degassing. The relatively higher viscosities of andesitic magmas with ∼61% SiO2 likely lead to relatively slow ascent rates and more thorough degassing prior to arrival of the magma at the summit crater and its eruption as block lava. In contrast, the lower viscosities of more mafic andesitic magmas with ∼58% SiO2 result in faster ascent and greater retention of volatiles, so that they erupt explosively upon reaching the summit crater.
A Cross-Layer (Layer 2 + 3) Handoff Management Protocol for Next-Generation Wireless Systems

Next-generation wireless systems (NGWS) integrate different wireless networks, each of which is optimized for some specific services and coverage area to provide ubiquitous communications to the mobile users. It is an important and challenging issue to support seamless handoff management in this integrated architecture. The existing handoff management protocols are not sufficient to guarantee handoff support that is transparent to the applications in NGWS. In this work, a cross-layer (layer 2 + 3) handoff management protocol, CHMP, is developed to support seamless intra and intersystem handoff management in NGWS. Cross-layer handoff management protocol uses mobile's speed and handoff signaling delay information to enhance the handoff performance of mobile IP that is proposed to support mobility management in wireless IP networks. First, the handoff performance of mobile IP is analyzed with respect to its sensitivity to the link layer (layer 2) and network layer (layer 3) parameters. Then, a cross-layer handoff management architecture is developed using the insights learnt from the analysis. Based on this architecture, the detailed design of CHMP is carried out. Finally, extensive simulation experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of CHMP. The theoretical analysis and simulation results show that CHMP significantly enhances the performance of both intra and intersystem handoffs
A little to a lot or a lot to a little: is NTCP always minimized in multiport therapy?

Abstract Purpose: We address the question of whether or not, for the same average (or integral) dose, a smaller uniform dose to an entire normal tissue structure always results in a lower normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) than does a proportionally larger dose to a partial volume of the same structure. Methods and Materials: A recent compilation of NTCP data and two theoretical formulations of the dependence of NTCP on dose and partial volume irradiated—the Lyman probit equation and the binomial model—are used to examine this question. Both models fit equally well available NTCP data. Results: Empirical data indicate that for lung, kidney, and possibly liver (but not for esophagus, brain, or heart), given a fixed tumor dose and fixed integral dose, NTCP can be minimized by irradiating a partial volume fraction rather than the entire normal organ. The binomial model supports this interpretation, whereas the probit model predicts that for all organs uniform irradiation of the whole organ always results in the lowest possible NTCP. Conclusions: In contrast to what is commonly believed, this study suggests that for at least two normal tissues, namely lung and kidney, there may be situations where “a lot to a little” (i.e., fewer treatment ports) will result in higher tumor control probability and better treatment plan than “a little to a lot” (i.e., multifield treatment). This finding, which is independent of the binomial or probit models used here, depends only on the accuracy of the empirical NTCP data. It is also interesting to note that: a) lung and kidney are commonly classified as parallel tissues, while the others have more of a serial architecture; and b) the choice of the NTCP model can have a profound impact on treatment planning decisions.
Implications of Adolescents' Perceptions and Values for Planning and Design:

Adults are responsible for selecting and creating the environments where their children and youth live, but it is not clear if these places contain the qualities that young people value. In this study, high school students from three communities were surveyed regarding their perceptions of where they live to determine whether indicators identified by previous research as qualities that youth value are present in those communities and perceived to be important. Although the results suggest the indicators are important to the adolescents, their communities lack a majority of them and this has contributed to low satisfaction ratings. Recommendations for better integrating adolescents into public participation processes are discussed along with implications for planning and design.
Small microstrip patch antennas

The focus of this presentation is to illustrate some size reduction techniques for microstrip patch antennas that have been conducted at RIT. Two types of slotted patch antennas and two types of optimization techniques have been described. In one case, slots with a predetermined shape and number have been optimized for size and placement using a genetic algorithm to achieve size reduction. In the second case, a predefined number and of slots placed along the patch edges are optimized for their lengths using particle swarm for size reduction. In both cases 70% size reduction has been achieved‥ In another method Complimentary Split Ring Resonators (CSRR are placed in the ground plane of the patch antenna creating a “left-handed” effect that results in a negative permittivity where a 50% size reduction has been achieved. Experimental validation has been done for two of the antennas and is under progress for the one with slots along the edges.
An Interactional Model of the Call for Survey Participation Actions and Reactions in the Survey Recruitment Call

Previous research has proposed that the actions of sample members may provide encouraging, discouraging, or ambiguous interactional environments for interviewers soliciting participation in surveys. In our interactional model of the recruitment call that brings together the actions of interviewers and sample members, we examine features of actions that may contribute to an encouraging or discouraging environment in the opening moments of the call. Using audio recordings from the 2004 wave of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and an innovative design that controls for sample members' estimated propensity to participate in the survey, we analyze an extensive set of interviewers' and sample members' actions, the characteristics of those actions, and their sequential location in the interaction. We also analyze whether a sample member's subsequent actions (e.g., a question about the length of the interview or a "wh-type" question) constitute an encouraging, discouraging, or ambiguous environment within which the interviewer must produce her next action. Our case-control design allows us to analyze the consequences of actions for the outcome of the call.
Aerometric factors affecting the evolution of the Pasadena aerosol

This paper describes briefly the meteorological background and the aerometric measurements conducted during the 1969 Pasadena smog experiment. Observations of the winds, the air temperature, humidity, and incoming solar radiation at the experiment site, with support of U. S. Weather Bureau data, indicated that the weather during the study was generally quite regular and was consistent with the Southern California climatology. The winds were light and mainly from the southwest sector during the day, indicating that the polluted air observed in Pasadena would be a complicated mixture of material produced locally and entering the area from distant sources. The observations of such gases as CO, NO, NO_2, oxidant (mostly ozone), hydrocarbons, and SO_2 bore out this conjecture in that the hourly concentration patterns were somewhat variable from day to day. The diurnal averages of such data were more revealing in trends, however, showing typical changes of gases linked with the smog reactions observed during other similar studies. Of particular interest was the simultaneous peaking of SO_2 with ozone at midday. Accompanying the midday maximum of ozone was a maximum in the scattering coefficient b_(scat) as observed by an integrating nephelometer. The frequently observed visibility restrictions during periods of photochemical smog formation have been associated with changes occurring principally in the 0.1- to 1.0-μm diameter range of particles. Comparison between the diurnal average variations of the total number concentration of aerosols N the average surface area S and the volume fraction φ showed different behavior. While N increased throughout the daylight hours until late afternoon, φ displayed a peak at midday in a manner similar to the behavior of ozone. S showed a broad maximum through the daylight hours. Since S and φ are linked mainly with the fraction of suspended particles greater than 0.1-μm diameter, this portion of the particle size spectrum may have evolved by photochemically induced interaction with the suspending gases. Two possible mechanisms for the growth of the large particle fraction are inferred. The first involves heterogeneous nucleation of condensable vapors, and the second postulates a combination of particle coagulation and photochemical reactions of low molecular-weight hydrocarbons, nitrogen compounds, and sulfur dioxide on the surface of small particles.
Counseling Military Veterans: Advocating for Culturally Competent and Holistic Interventions

The large number of military personnel returning from combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with symptoms of mental illness has led to increased focus on specialized veteran mental health treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder. While this focus is both beneficial and warranted, it may lead to a myopic view of the experiences and needs of veterans. This article examines the responsibility of mental health professionals to balance the unique nature of veterans' experiences with their individual diversity rather than viewing them or their experiences through a strictly pathological lens. Failing to take a holistic approach to counseling each veteran may inadvertently stigmatize veterans as a group. The value of wellness counseling and the risks of over-pathologizing symptoms underscore the need to take a more diverse approach to counseling veterans and assist them with reintegration into their communities.
Activation of TLR-4 to produce tumour necrosis factor-α in neuropathic pain caused by paclitaxel

Background Neuropathic pain is a common complication of treatment with the anti-neoplastic drug paclitaxel. Animal studies suggest neuroinflammation and transient receptor potential channels TRPA1 and TRPV4 are involved in the pathogenesis of pain in this condition. However, how neuroinflammation and TRPA1 and TRPV4 are linked to cause pain in paclitaxel-treated animals is not known. Methods Paclitaxel-induced pain was modelled by IP injection of paclitaxel (16 mg/kg) once a week for 5 weeks. The role of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) in tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production and the effect of TNF-α on the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV4 were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. TNF-α signalling in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was blocked by expressing soluble TNF receptor I (TNFsR) from a herpes simplex virus (HSV)-based vector (vTNFsR). Results Paclitaxel treatment increased the expression and release of TNF-α in satellite glial cells and increased the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV4 in DRG neurons in animals. In vitro, paclitaxel enhanced the expression and release of TNF-α in enriched primary satellite glial cells, an effect that was blocked by an inhibitor of TLR-4. Direct application of TNF-α to primary DRG neurons in culture up-regulated the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV4. In vivo, vector-mediated TNFsR release from DRG neurons reduced paclitaxel-induced up-regulation of TRPA1 and TRPV4 expression and prevented paclitaxel-induced pain. Conclusion These results suggest that paclitaxel activation of TLR-4 to cause release of TNF-α from satellite glial cells increases the expression of TRPA1 and TRPV4 in DRG neurons to cause neuropathic pain.
Identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the multidrug resistance‐associated protein 4 (MRP4)

The multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 (MRP4, ABCC4) is an ATP-binding cassette efflux transporter involved in the transport of nucleoside analogues. Genetic heterogeneity in MRP4 could influence the expression or intrinsic activity of this transporter and consequently alter the disposition profile or the efficacy of certain antiviral agents. In order to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), PCR was performed on genomic DNA samples from 96 Caucasians and analyzed by direct sequencing. In order to maximize the likelihood of identifying SNPs most likely to result in loss of transporter function, six exonic regions in MRP4 encompassing the key membrane spanning domain (MSD) or the nucleotide-binding domains (NBD) were assessed. (See Table) Three non-synonymous SNPs were identified. Two of these SNPs, G912T and G2269A, predict major amino acid changes within MSD1 and MSD2, respectively. No SNPs were identified in exons 12 and 19. The functional relevance of MRP4 variants is currently being evaluated using OAT-1/MRP4 double transfected HeLa cells. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P93–P93; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.354 Table 1. MRP4 variant Amino acid change xon Domain Mutant allele frequency (%) * novel SNPs G912T K304N MSD1 9.4 G951A synonymous MSD1 37 G969A synonymous MSD1 35.9 G1035A* synonymous 8 MSD1 1 G1141A* synonymous 8 MSD1 0.5 A2230G* M7744V 3 MSD2 0.5 G2269A E757K 8 MSD2 1.6 G2844T synonymous NBD2 5.9 G3609A* synonymous 1.6
A new camerate crinoid from the Upper Ordovician of Indiana

A new species of dicyclic camerate crinoid, Pararchaeocrinus rugulosus, occurs in the upper Ordovician (Richmondian) rocks of southeastern Indiana. The assignment of the species to Pararchaeocrinus is tentative because the arrangement of the posterior interradial plates is unknown. The generic assignment is based upon the arrangement of plates in the normal interradii. P. rugulosus displays both advanced and primitive features and an unusual specialization in the suturing between the bases of the curiously flattened pinnules. The middle Richmondian occurrence of P. rugulosus marks it as the youngest species of the genus yet described.
Augmented standard model and the simplest scenario

The experimental discovery of the Higgs particle in 2012 by the ATLAS Collaboration and the CMS Collaboration at CERN ushers in a new era of particle physics. On the basis of these data, scalar quarks and scalar leptons are added to each generation of quarks and leptons. The resulting augmented standard model has fermion–boson symmetry for each of three generations, but only one Higgs doublet giving masses to all the elementary particles. A specific special case, the simplest scenario, is studied in detail. In this case, there are twenty six quadratic divergences, and all these divergences are cancelled provided that one single relation between the masses is satisfied. This mass relation contains a great deal of information, and in particular determines the masses of all the right-handed scalar quarks and scalar leptons, while gives relations for the masses of the left-handed ones. An alternative procedure is also given with a different starting point and less reliance on the experimental data. The result is of course the same.
The Definition of the Work Entity for Pieces of Recorded Sound

The traditional work-instance model differentiates between the intellectual content of a work and the semantic content of its material instantiations. Most scholarship on musical works has concentrated on classical music within the Western canon, and little attention has been paid to other genres of music. This article explores what would constitute an effective work-instance model applicable to sound recordings of non-classical music, examines the shortcomings of the standard work-instance model, and offers new perspectives on the idea of the musical work by integrating the views of philosophers and musicologists, suggesting an interdisciplinary approach to the knowledge organization of musical works.
Influence of Exercises, Emotional Stress, and Age on Static Neuromuscular Tremor Magnitude

Abstract Data were collected from 90 subjects to show the effect of graded bouts of different exercises on neuromuscular tremor magnitude. It was found that tremor magnitude varied directly with the strenuousness of exercise. Data were collected from 15 students before and after a written examination to show the effect of emotional stress on neuromuscular tremor magnitude. The stress precipitated by the examination significantly increased neuromuscular tremor magnitude. A comparison of neuromuscular tremor magnitude of young boys with that of elderly men showed that the men had a significantly greater neuromuscular tremor magnitude than the boys.
Effects of butyrate on the erythropoietin receptor of cell line IW201

The murine erythroleukemic cell line, IW201, normally expresses only low-affinity erythropoietin receptors. Exposure of these cells for 48 hours to sodium butyrate results in a change in receptor kd from about 600 pmol/L to 100 to 200 pmol/L. This change in affinity is accompanied by downregulation of both receptor number and receptor mRNA. Cells exposed to sodium butyrate for 2 hours show a similar change in kd but no change in receptor number. The butyrate effect on kd at 2 hours is abrogated by either cycloheximide or actinomycin D. These data indicate that an accessory protein induced by sodium butyrate is responsible for high-affinity binding of erythropoietin.
A New Emericellopsis from Wisconsin, With Notes on Other Species

encountered several times in soil samples taken from wet prairies in Iowa County, Walworth County, and Marquette County. In all, one hundred nine isolates were obtained. This organism, initially catalogued as "WSF 47," was eventually determined to be an undescribed fungus belonging to the genus Emericellopsis van Beyma. Although Emericellopsis was poorly known in mycological circles at the time that the above-mentioned isolations were made, it has since attained considerable prominence. The genus was erected by van Beyma (20) in 1940 for certain fungi that had been isolated from soil in Holland. In van Beyma's article the type species, E. terricola, was fully described; in addition, a variety "glabra" was very briefly characterized. Apparently the genus was not reencountered in nature until about a decade later, when Malan (13) obtained an isolate from vineyard soil in Italy. This latter investigator, presumably unaware of van Beyma's publication, erected the new genus Peyronellula for his fungus and named the species P. mirabilis. Stolk (19) in 1955 transferred Malan's organism to Emericellopsis and added a third species, E. minima, isolated from African soil. The article by Stolk helped greatly to acquaint mycologists with this interesting but hitherto obscure genus. A fourth species, found in Canada, was described by Cain (3) in 1956 as Saturnomyces huiicola, the type of still another new genus in the Eurotiaceae. The transfer to Emericellopsis was in this case accomplished by Gilman (9). In 1957 a fifth species, E. salmosynne,mta, was described by Grosklags and Swift (11), who had encountered it as the perfect stage of the well-known antiThis study was initiated with the aid of a grant from Lederle Laboratories
Applying Organizational Learning Research to Accountable Care Organizations

To accomplish the goal of improving quality of care while simultaneously reducing cost, Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) need to find new and better ways of providing health care to populations of patients. This requires implementing best practices and improving collaboration across the multiple entities involved in care delivery, including patients. In this article, we discuss seven lessons from the organizational learning literature that can help ACOs overcome the inherent challenges of learning how to work together in radically new ways. The lessons involve setting expectations, creating a supportive culture, and structuring the improvement efforts. For example, with regard to setting expectations, framing the changes as learning experiences rather than as implementation projects encourages the teams to utilize helpful activities, such as dry runs and pilot tests. It is also important to create an organizational culture where employees feel safe pointing out improvement opportunities and experimenting with new ways of working. With regard to structure, stable, cross-functional teams provide a powerful building block for effective improvement efforts. The article concludes by outlining opportunities for future research on organizational learning in ACOs.
An Experimental Spray Program for Integrated Control of Insects Affecting Sour Cherry

The effectiveness of an experimental spray program for integrated control of insects affecting sour cherries was investigated in Door County, Wisconsin. The sod of a Montmorency cherry orchard was treated with endrin in October 1960. In 1961 and 1962, one half of the orchard was treated with foliar sprays of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner plus dodine (fungicide) in the petal-fall and cover sprays. The second half received dodine only. A survey of leaf nests of the eye-spotted bud moth, Spilonota ocellana (Denis & Schiffermuller), in June of both years showed that the spring larvae were retarded in development and their mortality increased in the Bacillus plot with no apparent adverse effect on larval parasitization. Fruit surveys at harvest each year revealed no evidence of injury by the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst). Total fruit injury was 4% or less in both the check and treated plots, with external injury by lepidopterous larvae averaging less than 2%. A piercingsucking type injury by an unknown species accounted for 3% of the total fruit injury in both plots in 1962. Further experimental studies are suggested, using foliar sprays of B. thuringiensis in sour cherry orchards where endrin is used for rodent control.
A wideband NMOS balanced modulator/amplifier which uses 1μm transistors for linearity

A balanced modulator/amplifier which uses saturated short channel (1μm) NMOS transistors to achieve low distortion is described. Operated with a 5V power supply, the circuit has a gain of 10, 3dB bandwidth near 100MHz, and nonlinearity less than 0.5% for a differential output amplitude of 4V P-P.
Threshold Ionization and Spin–Orbit Coupling of Ceracyclopropene Formed by Ethylene Dehydrogenation

A Ce atom reaction with ethylene was carried out in a laser-vaporization metal cluster beam source. Ce(C2H2) formed by hydrogen elimination from ethylene was investigated by mass-analyzed threshold ionization (MATI) spectroscopy, isotopic substitutions, and relativistic quantum chemical computations. The theoretical calculations include a scalar relativistic correction, dynamic electron correlation, and spin–orbit coupling. The MATI spectrum exhibits two nearly identical band systems separated by 128 cm–1. The separation is not affected by deuteration. The two-band systems are attributed to spin–orbit splitting and the vibrational bands to the symmetric metal–ligand stretching and in-plane carbon–hydrogen bending excitations. The spin–orbit splitting arises from interactions of a pair of nearly degenerate triplets and a pair of nearly degenerate singlets. The organolanthanide complex is a metallacyclopropene in C2v symmetry. The low-energy valence electron configurations of the neutral and ion species are...
The “Black Messiah” and African Christologies: Pan-African Symbols of Liberation

The author will discuss the Pan-African implications of the black Messiah and African Christologies. He will attend to the recent history of African Christology, beginning with the historic, Pan-African text Des pretres noirs s’interrogent (DPN). Young’s focus in on the works Engelbert Mveng and Ka Manato(Ka Mana) argue the necessity for a variety of African diasporic Christological expressions as Pan-African symbols of liberation.
Noise from Isotropic Turbulence

Turbulence naturally returns to isotropy and often possesses locally isotropic regions. This paper presents a new method to predict noise from turbulence that has returned or is returning to isotro...
Lymphatic invasion and angiotropism in primary cutaneous melanoma

Access of melanoma cells to the cutaneous vasculature either via lymphatic invasion or angiotropism is a proposed mechanism for metastasis. Lymphatic invasion is believed to be a mechanism by which melanoma cells can disseminate to regional lymph nodes and to distant sites and may be predictive of adverse outcomes. Although it can be detected on hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sections, sensitivity is markedly improved by immunohistochemistry for lymphatic endothelial cells. Multiple studies have reported a significant association between the presence of lymphatic invasion and sentinel lymph node metastasis and survival. More recently, extravascular migratory metastasis has been suggested as another means by which melanoma cells can spread. Angiotropism, the histopathologic correlate of extravascular migratory metastasis, has also been associated with melanoma metastasis and disease recurrence. Although lymphatic invasion and angiotropism are not currently part of routine melanoma reporting, the detection of these attributes using ancillary immunohistochemical stains may be useful in therapeutic planning for patients with melanoma.
Predicting spillover risk to non-target plants pre-release: Bikasha collaris a potential biological control agent of Chinese tallowtree (Triadica sebifera)

Abstract Quarantine host range tests accurately predict direct risk of biological control agents to non-target species. However, a well-known direct effect of biological control of weeds releases is spillover damage to non-target species. Spillover damage may occur when the population of agents achieves outbreak densities, depletes the target weed, and some feeding occurs on non-target species. Similar to the assessment of direct risks to non-target species, we assessed the risk of spillover damage to non-target species pre-release. Quarantine experiments were conducted on the flea beetle Bikasha collaris (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) , a potential biological control agent of Chinese tallowtree, Triadica sebifera , a weed of wetlands, forests, and natural areas in the southeastern U.S.A. Recently emerged, naive B. collaris adults were fed leaves of T. sebifera (target species), three close relatives that are non-target species ( Ditrysinia fruticosa, Gymnanthes lucida, Hippomane mancinella ) , or water. Adult longevity, egg production, and leaf damage were greatest on the weed and near zero or zero on the non-target species and water control. A spillover event was simulated by transferring adults to non-target species or water after feeding on T. sebifera for 2 or 4 weeks and found similar longevity and egg production as those fed only non-target species or water. These results indicated pre-release that when adults that have fed on T. sebifera are forced to spillover onto the non-target species, there is no risk of damage and that B. collaris will only be able to sustain populations on the target weed.
Conversational Bootstrapping and Other Tricks of a Concierge Robot

We describe the effective use of online learning to enhance the conversational capabilities of a concierge robot that we have been developing over the last two years. The robot was designed to interact naturally with visitors and uses a speech recognition system in conjunction with a natural language classifier. The online learning component monitors interactions and collects explicit and implicit user feedback from a conversation and feeds it back to the classifier in the form of new class instances and adjusted threshold values for triggering the classes. In addition, it enables a trusted master to teach it new question-answer pairs via question-answer paraphrasing, and solicits help with maintaining question-answer-class relationships when needed, obviating the need for explicit programming. The system has been completely implemented and demonstrated using the SoftBank Robotics [34] humanoid robots Pepper and NAO, and the telepresence robot known as Double from Double Robotics [4].
Lectureless Medical Education: A New Model

An established medical sex education program at the University of Minnesota Medical School was revised to increase the “student as learner” concept of education. Specific knowledge skill and attitude objectives were clearly stated. The course and its evaluation were derived from these specific objectives. Positive student reaction to this lectureless course generated from written knowledge expectation, sex history taking sessions, audio-visual patient management problems and video-tape clinically oriented programs which could be viewed at a time convenient to the student. Students were encouraged to plan their own “free university” sessions with faculty assistance. The format lends itself to individualized instruction with clearly stated faculty expectations.
Neuroethology: What is it?

The goal of neuroethology is to study the neural mechanisms of natural behavior. Stereotyped movements in animals led to the concept of central pattern generators, which are now known and well studied in many species. Control of movements by sensory feedback has also been shown in many systems and animals. Processing of biologically significant signals has also been an important subject in this field. Contrary to the idea of early ethologists who thought of mechanisms within the central nervous system, peripheral sensory cells and organs may be highly selective for biologically important stimuli. Neuroethological approaches have also revealed the nature of neural organizations in which successive stages of signal processing are carried out in some animal groups.
Joining III: Diffusion Bonding

Diffusion bonding is another process available to the designer for the joining of beryllium. With this process, joining of clean, closely fitting parts is obtained by the application of heat and pressure. The coalescence of the base metal is achieved through atomic transport and mechanical processes at the bonding interface. Diffusion bonding has also been identified in the literature as cold welding, solid state bonding, hot pressure bonding, deformation bonding, solid state pressure welding, gas pressure bonding, and other descriptive headings.(1–8)
Distribution of Exotic Plants along Roads in a Peninsular Nature Reserve

To examine the influence of roads on the spread of invasive exotic plants, we studied six species on a peninsular nature reserve. Three species were noxious invasives that we believed to be actively spreading; one of these (goatgrass, Aegilops triuncialis) was a major problem weed that recently invaded the reserve. The other three were ubiquitous and long-established exotics. Based on the idea that roads act as corridors for the spread of weeds, we predicted that the abundances of the three noxious invasives would decline along the roads from the base to the tip of the peninsula, while the abundances of three long-established species would not. However, the only species to show a base-to-tip decline in abundance along the peninsula was a long-established species (oat grass, Avena fatua), and a field experiment showed that habitat suitability could explain this pattern. We did find that the abundance of the invasive A. triuncialis declined with increasing distances from the edges of roads, suggesting that roads act as sources of weed propagules into adjacent grasslands. Our results add support to the idea that roads act as disturbances that promote invasive species, but not to the concept that roads act as corridors for the flow of invasive propagules into new landscapes.
The Interests of High School Students: With Reference to the Vocations they Select

(1933). The Interests of High School Students. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 4, No. 3, pp. 60-67.
Approximate coalition structure generation

Coalition formation is a fundamental problem in multi-agent systems. In characteristic function games (CFGs), each coalition C of agents is assigned a value indicating the joint utility those agents will receive if C is formed. CFGs are an important class of cooperative games; however, determining the optimal coalition structure, partitioning of the agents into a set of coalitions that maximizes the social welfare, currently requires O(3n) time for n agents. In light of the high computational complexity of the coalition structure generation problem, a natural approach is to relax the optimality requirement and attempt to find an approximate solution that is guaranteed to be close to optimal. Unfortunately, it has been shown that guaranteeing a solution within any factor of the optimal requires Ω(2n) time. Thus, the best that can be hoped for is to find an algorithm that returns solutions that are guaranteed to be as close to the optimal as possible, in as close to O(2n) time as possible. This paper contributes to the state-of-the-art by presenting an algorithm that achieves better quality guarantees with lower worst case running times than all currently existing algorithms. For example, our algorithm improves the previous best approximation ratio of ½ obtainable in O(√n2.83n) time to ⅔ and obtains a ½ approximation in O(√n2.59n). Our approach is also the first algorithm to guarantee a constant factor approximation ratio, ⅛, in the optimal time of O(2n). The previous best ratio obtainable in O(2n) was 2/n.
Faithful Tight-binding Models and Fragile Topology of Magic-angle Bilayer Graphene

The authors report on the construction of a faithful tight-binding model for twisted bilayer graphene, which led them to a precise characterization of its band topology.
Renin-Secreting Ovarian Adult Granulosa Cell Tumor in a Patient With New-Onset Hypertension and Hypokalemia

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe a case of a renin-secreting ovarian tumor, which is a rare cause of hyperreninemia leading to secondary hypertension and hypokalemia. Methods: We present the first case of a patient with a molecularly confirmed renin-secreting ovarian adult granulosa cell tumor. Results: A 31-year-old female presented with hypertension and amenorrhea. She was found to have spontaneous hypokalemia. Computed tomography scan showed a pelvic mass which was resected and found to be a renin-secreting ovarian adult granulosa cell tumor. The hypertension and hypokalemia resolved after the mass was resected. Conclusion: Renin-secreting ovarian adult granulosa cell tumors are rare causes of hyperreninemia leading to hypertension and hypokalemia. Abbreviations: GCT = granulosa cell tumor; RAAS = renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Longitudinal Analysis of Associations Between Reasons for Electronic Cigarette Use and Change in Smoking Status Among Adults in the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.

Introduction Electronic cigarette (ECIG) use and changes in cigarette smoking status may be influenced by self-reported reasons for using ECIGs. Methods We analyzed adult current and former cigarette smokers who were also current or former ECIG users at wave 1 (n = 3044) using wave 1 and wave 2 Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study data (2013-2015). Prevalence of reporting 13 reasons for ECIG use at wave 1 was examined and weighted logistic regressions were conducted predicting smoking status changes from wave 1 to wave 2. Results Reasons for ECIG use ranged from 18.1% (people in the media or public figures use them) to 82.5% (they might be less harmful to people around me than cigarettes). From wave 1 to wave 2, 27.2% of former smokers (n = 249) became current smokers and 11.6% of current smokers (n = 246) became former smokers. Among wave 1 former smokers, using ECIGs because of the availability of flavors (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.39-0.85) or because they don't smell (AOR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.42-0.97) was associated with lower odds of relapse to smoking, but using ECIGs because using them helps people quit smoking (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.01-2.38) was associated with greater odds of relapse. Among wave 1 current smokers, using ECIGs because they can be used where smoking is not allowed (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.38-0.85) was associated with reduced odds of quitting cigarettes. Conclusions Some reasons for ECIG use are associated with changes in self-reported smoking status. Researchers should examine ECIG user characteristics when assessing associations between ECIG use and smoking status transitions. Implications Given that certain reasons for ECIG use, such as using ECIGs in locations are where smoking is not allowed, may inhibit smoking reduction, policies may be developed to prevent ECIG use in locations where smoking is banned. In addition, because certain reasons for ECIG use may aid in relapse prevention, such as availability of desired flavors, efforts should be made to identify ECIG device characteristics that are appealing to smokers but not youth or nontobacco users. These results provide support for future research on reasons for ECIG use to inform regulatory policies.
Factors associated with motorcycle traffic crash fatalities among active duty U.S. Army personnel.

AbstractObjective: Research on factors associated with motorcycle fatalities among active duty U.S. Army personnel is limited. This analysis describes motorcycle crash–related injuries from 1995 through 2014 and assesses the effect of alcohol use and helmet use on the risk of fatal injury among active duty U.S. Army motorcycle operators involved in a traffic crash, controlling for other factors shown to be potentially associated with fatality in this population.Methods: Demographics, crash information, and injury data were obtained from safety reports maintained in the Army Safety Management Information System. Traffic crashes were defined as crashes occurring on a paved public or private roadway or parking area, including those on a U.S. Army installation. Analysis was limited to motorcycle operators. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) from a multivariable analysis estimated the effect of alcohol use and helmet use on the risk of a fatal injury given a crash occurred, controlling fo...
Overwintering Anuran Niche Preferences in a Series of Interconnected Ponds in Northwestern Florida

This study identified variations in pond bank gradients and associated plant assemblages to better understand niche preferences of 3 species of overwintering anurans—Acris gryllus (Southern Cricket Frog), Lithobates grylio (Pig Frog), and Lithobates sphenocephalus (Southern Leopard Frog)—in northwest Florida (Escambia County). We selected 7 regions of 4 interconnected ponds in a coastal pine flatwoods wetland. We conducted visual and auditory surveys once every week for 10 weeks from 17 January to 24 March 2017. We categorized survey areas along pond shorelines by the plant assemblage composition and species richness, pond bank steepness, and sunlight exposure. We looked for correlations between each species and specific niche characteristics. None of the anuran species studied showed a preference for the amount of sunlight or the slope of the pond bank. However, plant species richness was positively correlated with Southern Cricket Frogs and negatively correlated with Pig Frogs; thus, there was a very strong negative correlation between Pig Frogs and Southern Cricket Frogs. Southern Cricket Frogs, the smallest frog species in this study, prefers high plant species richness, possibly for increased cover from predators, and avoids potential predators like Pig Frogs. Pig Frogs prefer lower species richness, relying on open water for escape. The Southern Leopard Frog showed no vegetation preferences, possibly because the species is more adaptable and has a variety of predator evasion methods. Wetland plant assemblages are an accurate reflection of life-history habits of anurans, particularly predator evasion tactics.
The Atlas of Mars: Mapping its Geography and Geology

Planetary scientist and educator Ken Coles has teamed up with Ken Tanaka from the United States Geological Survey's Astrogeology team, and Phil Christensen, Principal Investigator of the Mars Odyssey orbiter's THEMIS science team, to produce this all-purpose reference atlas, The Atlas of Mars. Each of the thirty standard charts includes: a full-page color topographic map at 1:10,000,000 scale, a THEMIS daytime infrared map at the same scale with features labeled, a simplified geologic map of the corresponding area, and a section describing prominent features of interest. The Atlas is rounded out with extensive material on Mars' global characteristics, regional geography and geology, a glossary of terms, and an indexed gazetteer of up-to-date Martian feature names and nomenclature. This is an essential guide for a broad readership of academics, students, amateur astronomers, and space enthusiasts, replacing the NASA atlas from the 1970s.