cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mercury contamination of the fish community of a semi‐arid and arid river system: Spatial variation and the influence of environmental gradients

Mercury (Hg) contamination of aquatic ecosystems is a global environmental problem. Data are abundant on Hg contamination and factors that affect its bioaccumulation in lake communities, but comparatively little information on riverine ecosystems exists. The present study examines fish Hg concentrations of the Lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte drainage, Texas, USA and several of its major tributaries in order to assess whether spatial variation occurs in fish Hg concentrations in the drainage and if patterns of Hg contamination of fish are related to gradients in environmental factors thought to affect Hg concentrations in fish communities. Fish, invertebrates, sediments, and water quality parameters were sampled at 12 sites along the lower Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte drainage multiple times over a one-year period. Spatial variation was significant in fish Hg concentrations when fish were grouped by literature-defined trophic guilds or as stable isotope-defined trophic levels, with highest concentrations found in the Big Bend region of the drainage. Mercury in fish in most trophic guilds and trophic levels were positively related to environmental factors thought to affect Hg in fish, including water column dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and sediment Hg concentrations. It is likely that fish Hg concentrations in the Big Bend region are relatively high because this section of the river has abundant geologic Hg sources and environmental conditions which may make it sensitive to Hg inputs (i.e., high DOC, variable water levels). Results from the present study indicate that Hg contamination of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo del Norte has substantial implications for management and protection of native small-bodied obligate riverine fish, many of which are imperiled. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:1762-1772. # 2010 SETAC
Icehouse–greenhouse variations in marine denitrification

Long-term secular variation in the isotopic composition of seawater fixed nitrogen (N) is poorly known. Here, we document variation in the N-isotopic composition of marine sediments (δ 15 N sed ) since 660 Ma (million years ago) in order to understand major changes in the marine N cycle through time and their relationship to first-order climate variation. During the Phanerozoic, greenhouse climate modes were characterized by low δ 15 N sed (∼−2 to +2‰) and icehouse climate modes by high δ 15 N sed (∼+4 to +8‰). Shifts toward higher δ 15 N sed occurred rapidly during the early stages of icehouse modes, prior to the development of major continental glaciation, suggesting a potentially important role for the marine N cycle in long-term climate change. Reservoir box modeling of the marine N cycle demonstrates that secular variation in δ 15 N sed was likely due to changes in the dominant locus of denitrification, with a shift in favor of sedimentary denitrification during greenhouse modes owing to higher eustatic (global sea-level) elevations and greater on-shelf burial of organic matter, and a shift in favor of water-column denitrification during icehouse modes owing to lower eustatic elevations, enhanced organic carbon sinking fluxes, and expanded oceanic oxygen-minimum zones. The results of this study provide new insights into operation of the marine N cycle, its relationship to the global carbon cycle, and its potential role in modulating climate change at multimillion-year timescales.
A 1.3 mu m directional coupler polarization splitter by ion exchange

A glass waveguide polarization splitter for operation in the 1.3 mu m wavelength region is reported. The device, which has a symmetric directional coupler configuration, exploits the stress-induced birefringence in K/sup +/-Na/sup +/, ion-exchanged waveguides, giving rise to an adequate difference in the coupling lengths for the two polarizations. Starting from the measured potassium concentration (refractive index) profile of the structure and utilizing a combination of the multilayer stack theory and the effective-index method, the normal mode propagation constants and mode field profiles are calculated to determine the polarization splitting length and the extinction ratio, and the results are compared with the experimental data. It is shown that in a given coupler, the splitting occurs at several wavelengths in the 1.0-1.45 mu m range. A 25 mm-long coupler, fabricated by thermal diffusion of K/sup +/ ions in BK7 glass, exhibits an extinction ratio of 18.2 dB at 1.32 mu m, in excellent agreement with the simulation results. >
Routing in ad-hoc networks with MIMO links

Smart antennas include a broad variety of antenna technologies ranging from the simple switched beams to the sophisticated digital adaptive arrays. While beam-forming antennas are good candidates for use in strong line of sight (LOS) environments, it is the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology that is best suited for multipath environments. In fact, the MIMO links exploit the multipath induced rich scattering to provide high spectral efficiencies. The focus of this work is to identify the various characteristics and tradeoffs of MIMO links that can be leveraged by routing layer protocols in rich multipath environments to improve their performance. To this end, we propose a routing protocol called MIR for ad-hoc networks with MIMO links, that leverages the various characteristics of MIMO links in its mechanisms to improve the network performance. We show the effectiveness of the proposed protocol by evaluating its performance through ns2 simulations for a variety of network conditions.
A holon approach to agroecology 1

Systems thinking contributes to envisioning agricultural sustainability. However, it faces two dilemmas, recently highlighted by complexity theory: the problems of boundary and change. We propose that interpreting Koestler’s holon as an intentional entity embedded in an ecology of contexts provides an ontological construct which addresses both of these issues. The holon is in some ways a whole and in other ways a part, and to see it simultaneously as both we suggest an epistemological tool that we term flickering. In our interpretation a holon is bounded by its intentionality to persist, and the imperative to do so in multiple, incommensurable, and ever-evolving contexts motivates – indeed, makes both possible and inevitable – change. Farms are compelling examples of holons, as their humans plan and act to maintain them as a source of livelihood, necessarily in contexts as diverse and shifting as climate, life histories, trade rules, subsidies, personal spirituality and public perceptions of agricultural practices.
Facilitating Agile Software Development with Lean Architecture in the DCI Paradigm

Both agile software development and lean architecture have been studied in the software engineering field. Combining these two approaches has also been investigated. However, the existing research and practices only present the principles but fail to develop a framework of the software development for practitioners to follow. In this paper, a framework about how naive agile practices could be fulfilled by introducing "lean" practices under the DCI (Data-Context-Interaction) paradigm is proposed. Lean practice is an end-user-focused and value-centric system design. In the proposed framework, lean architecture is complementary to agile principles and disciplines and supports agile development. This paper is exploring the possibilities of how agile methods can restore its lost insights and possibly be reinforced by lean thinking. Meanwhile, it is also examined what lean can do "beyond" agile. A new lean approach to building domain architecture comes from Data-Context-Interaction (DCI) paradigm which facilitates to represent the domain architecture intuitively. DCI approach allows us to successfully decouple between domain and business-logic features and provides an approach for lean practitioners to design system architecture much closer to the real-world domain. It is claimed that the investment into lean and agile methodologies go hand in hand from organizational to technical aspects by tying up with lean concepts as the backbone for agile methods. How lean makes it right and how agile makes it fast with the DCI paradigm will be demonstrated with an example. The main contribution to the software development will be presented.
The System Iron Oxide‐TiO2‐SiO2 in Air

Phase relations at liquidus temperatures in the system iron oxide-TiO2-SiO2 have been determined in air. The equilibrium existence of the crystalline phases magnetite (ss), hematite (ss), pseudobrookite(ss), rutile(ss), and silica (tridy-mite or cristobalite) has been established. Three isobaric eutectic points are formed by the intersections of quaternary liquidus univariant lines of the system Fe-Ti-Si-O and the 0.21 atmosphere isobaric surface. The liquid misci-bility gaps present in the bounding “binary” systems iron oxide-Si02 and TiO2-SiO2 extend across the composition triangle representing the “ternary” system iron oxide-TiO2-SiO2. Liquidus temperatures decrease within the two-liquid region from approximately l<57Qa C. in the system iron oxide-SiO2 and 1780°C. in the system Ti(VSiO2 to 1540°C. at the cristobalite-rutile(ss) boundary curve which bisects the two-liquid region. Paths of equilibrium crystallization of representative mixtures are discussed with reference to a simplified projection into the plane FeOFe2O3-TiO2-SiO2 as well as in terms of the tetrahedron representing the system FeO-Fe2O3-TiO2-SiO2.
Inhibitory Effects of Porcine Follicular Fluid on Monkey Serum FSH Levels and Follicular Maturation

To examine the role of FSH during follicular maturation in monkeys, serum FSH was suppressed during cycles on Days 1-4 Lp. by administration of charcoal-treated porcine follicular fluid (PFFI, crude inhibin-F). Following PFFI treatment, the putative dominant follicle was examined on Days 10-14. Granulosa cells were recovered from this follicle and cultured. Treatment of four monkeys with PFFI led to decreased size of the dominant follicle and a decrease in the number of granulosa cells recovered from the follicle. Serum FSH, but not LH, levels were decreased 50-80% in three of four monkeys. Pig serum (control) had no discernible effects. The actions of charcoal-treated PFFI were examined further in long-term castrate female cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys. With a single injection of 0.5, 1.0, 5, 10, 15, or 100 ml of PFF PFFI administration at time 0, there was a dose-dependent decrease in FSH, with no significant alteration in serum LH. With the lowest dose (5.0 ml), there was a 25% decrease (P<0.05) in serum FSH after 42 h. Both 30 and 100 ml doses produced a near maximal decrease (70-80%) in serum FSH. This observation may indicate that there are two “pools” of FSH, one of which is not suppressible by PFFI, or that there is a single pool which is not completely suppressible by this experimental approach. Additional experiments were performed in monkeys to examine the effect of PFFI administered during the spontaneous midcycle and exogenous estrogen-induced FSH/LH surges. PFFI was injected in two to four daily doses of 4 ml each during the anticipated time of the midcycle gonadotropin surges. These 4-day PFFI treatments led to postponement of the LH/FSH surges in two monkeys and the abolishment of the anticipated LH/FSH surges in two additional monkeys. These four PFFI-treated monkeys failed to ovulate in the treated cycle, but did ovulate during the next menstrual cycle. Administration of porcine serum at midcycle did not alter the midcycle LH/FSH surge. Administration of a daily 10 ml dose of PFFI over a 4 day period inhibited the estrogeninduced (estradiol benzoate) rise of LH and FSH in a total of five intact adult female cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys during the early follicular phase. In a final experiment, s.c. administration of 2 ml PFFI, but not pig serum, to both male and female infant (12-17 month) rhesus monkeys led to a selective decline in serum FSH.
Comparison of Population Growth Rate and Within-Plant Distribution Between Aphis gossypii and Myzus persicae (Homoptera: Aphididae) Reared on Potted Chrysanthemums

Population growth rates and within-plant distributions of Aphis gossypii Glover and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) were studied on potted chrysanthemums, Dendranthema Grandiflora Tzvelev. Three groups of plants were studied: plants infested with A. gossypii , plants infested with M. persicae , and plants infested with both species. Both species exhibited similar population growth rates ( rm = 0.16-0.17) for the first 16 dafter plants were inoculated with 20 aphids per plant (40 aphids per plant in the mixed species treatment). A. gossypii continued to increase at this same rate until termination of the experiment (day 28); however, after day 16, M. persicae reached the carrying capacity of the chrysanthemum plants (≈200 aphids per plant on young plants with an average of 19 leaves per plant) and began to decline in both the single and mixed species treatments. This decline was probably due, at least in part, to emigration of M. persicae . In both the single and mixed species populations, A. gossypii individuals remained on the leaves where they were initially placed or moved to lower leaves on the plant, whereas M. persicae remained on the upper leaves where they were initially placed and moved upward as the plants grew. These findings are discussed with respect to intra- and interspecific competition, host plant suitability, and pest management of these aphids on chrysanthemums.
Improving Teacher Education through Inquiry-Based Learning

Preservice educators face daunting challenges throughout their professional development, but no challenge is greater than that of contextualizing their instruction within multicultural environments. Addressing the increasing diversity and ever-changing cultures within student populations is often skimmed over within teacher education curriculums; yet, its importance to the success of preservice teachers cannot be understated. Investigators developed two specific projects which led teacher candidates to innovate and promote inquiry-based learning within their elementary learners. These practical, real-world applications took teacher candidates through the process of effective instruction: assessment, modeling, scaffolding, and evaluation.
Endometrioma with calcification simulating a dermoid on sonography.

Several investigators have explored the sonographic diagnostic criteria of endometriomas. Endometriomas have characteristic findings on sonography. Diffuse dispersion of low-level echoes within a cystic mass is thought to be the most useful diagnostic feature. Mais et all documented sensitivity of 88% and specificity of 90% in differentiating endometriomas from other ovarian masses with endovaginal sonography. Patel et al 2 identified diffuse low-level internal echoes in 95% of endometriomas and 19% of nonendometriomas. The presence of multilocularity or hyperechoic wall foci further increased the possibility of a given mass being an endometrioma. 2 They postulated that these two findings would have the highest diagnostic value in distinguishing endometriomas from other adnexal masses. This report presents an unusual case in which a large cystic adnexal mass showed a fluid-fluid level and a large, discrete calcification. A sonographic diagnosis of a dermoid was made; however, it proved to be an endometrioma on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which was later confirmed with laparoscopic removal and a pathologic report.
Association of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 6 With Exocrine Gland Dysfunction in Patients With Sjögren’s Syndrome and in Mice

Objective Primary Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is characterized by autoimmune activation and loss of function in secretory epithelia. The present study was undertaken to investigate and characterize changes in the epithelia associated with the loss of gland function in primary SS. Methods To identify changes in epithelial gene expression, custom microarrays were probed with complementary RNA (cRNA) isolated from minor salivary glands (MSGs) of female patients with primary SS who had low focus scores and low salivary flow rates, and the results were compared with those obtained using cRNA from the MSGs of sex-matched healthy volunteers. The effect of bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP-6) on salivary gland function was tested using adeno-associated virus–mediated gene transfer to the salivary glands of C57BL/6 mice. Results A significant increase in expression of BMP-6 was observed in RNA isolated from SS patients compared with healthy volunteers. Overexpression of BMP-6 locally in the salivary or lacrimal glands of mice resulted in the loss of fluid secretion as well as changes in the connective tissue of the salivary gland. Assessment of the fluid movement in either isolated acinar cells from mice overexpressing BMP-6 or a human salivary gland cell line cultured with BMP-6 revealed a loss in volume regulation in these cells. Lymphocytic infiltration in the submandibular gland of BMP-6 vector–treated mice was increased. No significant changes in the production of proinflammatory cytokines or autoantibodies associated with SS (anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB) were found after BMP-6 overexpression. Conclusion In addition to identifying BMP-6 expression in association with xerostomia and xerophthalmia in primary SS, the present results suggest that BMP-6–induced salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction in primary SS is independent of the autoantibodies and immune activation associated with the disease.
Semantic Web Services Monitoring: An OWL-S Based Approach

In this paper we describe mechanisms for execution monitoring of semantic Web services, based on OWL-S. The use of semantic descriptions and ontologies is a valuable extension to current SOA conceptualizations. The described mechanisms are implemented as extensions of the OWL-S virtual machine that we have previously developed. The OWL-S virtual machine is a component that controls the interactions between a client and the Web service it uses. The presented extensions are a result of practical requirements that arose in the course of involvement with two projects that utilize OWL-S based semantic Web services. In particular, we present an event-based model for monitoring and logging interactions. The interaction trace allows a human or software agent to analyze, replay or debug the execution. Additionally, we describe proposed extensions to current specification in OWL-S for reporting and handling of errors. Finally, we describe extensions to the OWL-S virtual machine based on introspection to enable dynamic interactions with process mediators.
Oral Immunization of Mice against Candidiasis

Oral immunization with live Candida albicans evoked antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses in gnotobiotic C.B-17 and BALB/c mice. No deaths or systemic candidiasis of endogenous origin were evident in these C. albicans-colonized (pure culture) mice. Histologic examination showed minimal to no infection of the stomach, esophagus, or tongue by C. albicans. Not only were orally immunized mice more resistant to systemic candidiasis (intravenous challenge) than were germfree (nonimmunized) controls, but immunity could be transferred to susceptible mice with immune spleen cells. Oral immunization elicited a Th1-type response in spleen cells and a Th2 response in Peyer's patch lymphocytes. The alimentary tracts of these orally immunized mice remained chronically colonized with C. albicans in spite of the presence of both antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses to C. albicans.
A comparison of the stress transfer characteristics of a dental implant with a rigid or a resilient internal element

It has been suggested that there is a unique set of problems associated with joining an implant and a natural tooth with a fixed partial denture. The manufacturer of the IMZ implant system claims that this procedure can be accomplished successfully because of the planned stress-distributing characteristics of their resin internal (intramobile) element. This study compared the difference in the stress patterns generated in photoelastic plastic by an IMZ implant with a resilient or a rigid internal element. Under a standardized cantilever load, the stress patterns were photographed in the field of a circular polariscope. The total stress areas were calculated and a statistical comparison performed. The static load conditions of the model demonstrated no statistical difference between the area of stress pattern generated by an IMZ implant with or without a resilient internal element. Moreover, a single load produced the same deflection of the cantilever beam regardless of which element was interposed.
Carpal tunnel syndrome with normal nerve conduction studies

The utility of electrodiagnostic testing in the evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been questioned. We studied patients who met the clinical criteria for CTS and compared patients who had normal nerve conduction studies (NCS) with patients who had abnormal NCS. We found that 25% of the CTS patients without confounding neurologic disorders had normal NCS with median palmar nerve stimulation. Patients with abnormal NCS were older and heavier and had more clinical features of CTS. NCS results could not be predicted accurately from clinical features by use of logistic regression models. This was especially true in clinically borderline cases. NCS did not predict the outcome of conservative management. We concluded that NCS provide independent information in the evaluation of suspected CTS, especially when fewer clinical criteria are present, but that NCS are not helpful in predicting the outcome of nonsurgical management.
Managerial Assessment of Organizational Components

The need for the development of criterion measures of organizational components’ effectiveness is discussed. Managers at different organizational levels ranked twenty possible criterion measures ac...
Mean-field theory of fluid adsorption in a porous glass

A realistic and computationally efficient method to model fluid adsorption in disordered mesoporous glasses is described. Local mean-field theory of a lattice model of adsorption is combined with the representations of the disordered matrix configurations generated by Gaussian random fields. The experimental structure factor and porosity of the glass serve as input. The method allows for an efficient route to perform disorder averages for large systems. The adsorption and hysteresis behaviors obtained agree closely with those observed experimentally.
Optical control of a rhodopsin-based switch

A preliminary result supports the feasibility of using visible light to modulate the membrane potential of a cell. Human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293) were transfected with vertebrate rhodopsin and a gradient inward rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel. Whole cell patch clamp recordings of HEK293 cells exposed to 9-cis retinal showed that illumination increases the potassium current compared with recordings obtained in the dark. When combined with a rapid scanning device, this approach has the potential to control the activity of many neurons.
Big Data Recommendations for Industrial–Organizational Psychology

The world is awash in data. Data is being created and stored at ever-increasing rates through a variety of new methods and technologies. Data is accumulating in all sorts of accessible places. Much of that data is of great interest to industrial–organizational (I-O) psychologists, often in ways never anticipated by those who develop technologies and processes that generate and store that data. I-O psychologists also generate data in the course of research and practice in ways that, especially if joined with data originating from other sources, create giant datasets. This abundance of data—variables, measurements, observations, facts—can be used to inform a vast number of issues in research and practice. This is the new “big data” world, and beyond opportunities, this new world also presents challenges and potential hazards.
First Step Towards the Co-Design of Planing Craft and Active Control Systems

This paper takes a novel approach to the design of planing craft with active control systems (ACS) by co-designing the longitudinal center of gravity (lcg) and ACS, and compares its performance with a vessel where the lcg and ACS are designed sequentially (traditional approach). The vessels investigated are prismatic in shape. The ACS are modeled as forces on the vessel. The ACS controller is a Linear Quadratic Regulator designed using a reduced order model of the vessel. In the design, only the calm water drag is optimized. The simulated co-designed vessel had 10% lower calm water and mean seaway drag than the sequentially designed vessel. However, the co-designed vessel’s seakeeping was poorer — vertical acceleration doses 25% higher. Results indicate that the traditional sequential design approach does not fully exploit the synergy between a planing craft and its ACS; as a first step, the stability constraints should be relaxed in the design exploration.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Outgassing and plasma development in the early phase of dielectric surface flashover in vacuum

Surface flashover along dielectric interfaces is the limiting factor in high voltage systems and in particle accelerator technology. The processes leading to flashover are far from being fully understood. With a high sensitivity laser beam deflection method, gradients of gas and plasma densities above the surface are measured, and correlated to high resolution current, x-ray, and luminosity signals, with a temporal resolution of better than 6 ns. Experimental results show a pre flashover phase with linearly rising current accompanied by x-ray emission during which no plasma is observed, followed by an exponential current rise associated with the build-up of a plasma channel several micrometers above the surface. Estimates of the electron drift velocity and the current density in the plasma channel point to gaseous ionization processes responsible for the plasma build-up. The results are consistent with the saturated secondary electron emission avalanche model, with electron induced outgassing as the main process causing surface flashover.
Patterned arrays of lateral heterojunctions within monolayer two-dimensional semiconductors.

The formation of semiconductor heterojunctions and their high-density integration are foundations of modern electronics and optoelectronics. To enable two-dimensional crystalline semiconductors as building blocks in next-generation electronics, developing methods to deterministically form lateral heterojunctions is crucial. Here we demonstrate an approach for the formation of lithographically patterned arrays of lateral semiconducting heterojunctions within a single two-dimensional crystal. Electron beam lithography is used to pattern MoSe2 monolayer crystals with SiO2, and the exposed locations are selectively and totally converted to MoS2 using pulsed laser vaporization of sulfur to form MoSe2/MoS2 heterojunctions in predefined patterns. The junctions and conversion process are studied by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopy, atomically resolved scanning transmission electron microscopy and device characterization. This demonstration of lateral heterojunction arrays within a monolayer crystal is an essential step for the integration of two-dimensional semiconductor building blocks with different electronic and optoelectronic properties for high-density, ultrathin devices. Lateral heterojunctions between two-dimensional semiconductor crystals are essential building blocks for electronic devices. Here, the authors utilize electron-beam lithography and selective conversion to simultaneously fabricate arrays of molybdenum diselenide–molybdenum disulfide heterojunctions.
Micron and nanostructured rubber toughened epoxy: A direct comparison of mechanical, thermomechanical and fracture properties

Abstract Phase separating rubbers are a well-documented toughening additive to epoxies. However, their effectiveness begins to plateau as the loading approaches 10 phr. To better understand this phenomenon, we directly compared the mechanical, thermomechanical, fracture properties and toughening mechanisms of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA)/m-phenylenediamine (mPDA) system (Tg = 154 °C) toughened with carboxyl-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile (CTBN) and the triblock copolymer poly(styrene)-block-poly(butadiene)-block-poly(methylmethacrylate) (SBM), respectively. The SBM formed a nanostructured thermoset and thus was a more efficient toughening agent than CTBN, which forms micron scale, rubbery inclusions in the epoxy. At 10 phr SBM, the fracture toughness (MPa*m1/2) was increased by 220%, while the 10 phr CTBN modified epoxy containing 18 and 26% acrylonitrile showed 60 and 80% increases, respectively. Unlike the CTBN modified epoxy, SBM increased the fracture toughness with increasing concentration. Fracture surface analysis of the SBM modified epoxy via scanning electron microscopy identified the toughening mechanism as cavitation of ∼100 nm spherical micelles, void growth of the epoxy and concomitant matrix shear yielding. While both the CTBN and SBM modified epoxy exhibit similar toughening mechanisms, the nanoscopic SBM particles had an interparticle distance one order of magnitude smaller than that of the CTBN modified epoxy. Thus, a finer dispersion of nanoscopic, spherical micelles resulted in massive plastic deformation of the epoxy upon activation of cavitation, void growth and matrix shear yielding toughening mechanisms. Finally, dynamic mechanical analysis indicated that SBM did not decrease epoxy Tg, while the Tg of CTBN modified epoxy decreased with both increasing concentration and acrylonitrile content.
Determination of Free and Conjugated Forms of Bisphenol A in Human Urine and Serum by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Exposure of humans to bisphenol A (BPA), a widely used industrial chemical, is well-known. In humans and animals, conjugation of BPA molecule with glucuronide or sulfate is considered as a mechanism for detoxification. Nevertheless, very few studies have directly measured free, conjugated (e.g., glucuronidated), and substituted (e.g., chlorinated) forms of BPA in human specimens. In this study, free, conjugated (BPA glucuronide or BPAG and BPA disulfate or BPADS), and substituted (chlorinated BPA; mono- [BPAMC], di-[BPADC], and trichloride [BPATrC]) forms of BPA were determined in human urine and serum samples, using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) techniques. The instrumental calibration for each of the target compounds ranged from 0.01 to 100 ng/mL and showed excellent linearity (r > 0.99). The limits of quantification (LOQs) were 0.01 ng/mL for free BPA and 0.05 ng/mL for the conjugated and substituted BPA. Respective recoveries of the six targ...
Debris Flows in Small Mountain Stream Channels of Colorado and Their Hydrologic Implications

Gaging-station records and onsite investigations indicate that debris flows in small mountain streams have been confused with waterfloods. Geomorphic, sedimentologic, and hydraulic evidence attributed to debris flows were found in five of seven areas studied, each with an area of less than 10 square kilometers (4 square miles) and an altitude greater than 2,300 meters, (7,500 feet) where floods resulting from intense rainfall had been reported. Evidence used to identify debris flows includes coarse, lobate, poorly sorted, unstratified, pebbly mudstone-like unconsolidated deposits with well-defined levees and terminal lobes, and the extent of ground-litter disruption below high-water marks. Debris-flow deposits are more poorly sorted than water-flood deposits. Although boulders as large as 1 meter (3.3 ft) in diameter were transported by these debris flows, small trees on debris fans were not severely scarred, and small willows had diverted the flows. Downstream, high-water marks and gaging-station records indicate that only a small percentage of the debris-flow discharge was water. The distinction between debris flows and waterfloods is important because: (1) Mitigating procedures for waterfloods, such as channelization and damming, may not be effective for debris flows; (2) peak discharge measurements made from evidence of debris flows lead to excessive estimates of floods for the Rocky Mountains; and (3) because of sparse rainfall data in mountain regions, indirect-discharge estimates have been used by some hydrologists and engineers to determine the amount of rainfall that occurred during a storm. This may lead to inaccurate estimates of rainfall and flood discharges that are used in the design of flood-control structures.
The Crisis of Genocide, Vol. 2: Annihilation: The European Rimlands 1939–1953. By Mark Levene. (Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. 535. $130.00.)

The appendix to this magisterial work is entitled “Major Incidents of Genocide and Sub‐Genocidal Violence: Rimlands and Near‐Regions, 1912–1953.” It lists forty‐two incidents of mass exterminatory ...
Earthquake recurrence models and historical seismicity in the Mexicali-Imperial Valley

Abstract We have examined the historical seismicity of the Mexicali-Imperial Valley. Since about 1850, the largest observed earthquake in the area has been the magnitude ( M w ) 7.1 December 1934 event. The magnitude distribution for large plate-boundary rupturing earthquakes ( M > 5.8) is not well fit by the Gutenberg-Richter type ( b value) model. Models which better fit the observed magnitude distribution are derived from a lognormal distribution of stress drops on faults of constant size and from an exponential distribution of rupture lengths, as might be expected from randomly distributed rupture-stopping asperities along the length of the fault. This may be among the best data in the world for testing earthquake recurrence models (e.g., time predictability, slip predictability) on a strike-slip fault, but the uncertainties are still too great to permit a unique interpretation.
Effects of Perspective Taking on Implicit Attitudes and Performance in Economic Games

Perspective taking, allows people to make inferences about another’s mental states and goals. For social robotics, perspective taking could facilitate social interactions. The current study investigated whether taking the spatial perspective of a robot resulted in reduced implicit biases, more generous behavior towards robotic agents in economic games, and higher explicit ratings of humanness. The results show that agent type had a significant effect on subjective ratings of humanness, explicit attitudes, and decision-making. Spatial perspective taking had a significant effect on implicit associations such that the strength of association with positive attributes towards humans and negative attributes towards robots were enhanced. The effect of perspective taking on HRI should be further studied, as implicit attitudes are often expressed as actions and judgments outside the performer’s awareness [1].
Phase Transitions: Critical Phenomena and First-Order Transitions

One of the most conspicuous properties of nature is the great diversity of size or length scales in the structure of the world. An ocean, for example, has currents that persist for thousands of kilometers and has tides of global extend; it also has waves that range in size from less than a centimeter to several meters; at much finer resolution, seawater must be regarded as an aggregate of molecules whose characteristic scale of length is roughly 10−8 cm. From the smallest structure to the largest is a span of some 17 orders of magnitude.
Distribution of cardiac output in the unstressed pregnant guinea pig

Cardiac output (CO) and organ flows were measured in five nonpregnant and 14 pregnant unstressed guinea pigs between the thirty-ninth and sixty-fifth postconceptional day by means of radionuclide-labeled microspheres. Blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output in nonpregnant animals were 60 torr, 234 bpm, and 248 ml/min, respectively. These parameters did not change significantly during pregnancy. The uterine fraction of cardiac output increased to approximately 18% at term and there was an equivalent decrease in the CO fractions to the carcass and skin. Blood flow per gram of wet weight increased during pregnancy by approximately 140% and 70% for the thyroid and gastrointestinal tract, respectively, but did not change significantly for the heart, brain, kidneys, and adrenals. In pregnant animals near term the weight of the heart, kidneys, intestines, and lungs was approximately 25% lower than that observed in nonpregnant guinea pigs.
Newspaper-Based Creative Writing as a Teaching Tool

Newspaper articles have been long been used in writing instruction, but this use has traditionally been limited to foreign-language or lower-level courses. We describe a newspaper-based writing assignment which is appropriate for upper-level college students in a variety of disciplines. This assignment, which uses newspaper articles as an inspiration for understanding lecture and textbook concepts, is particularly useful in economics due to a need for in-depth writing assignments involving high level analysis of economic problems. Excerpts from student writing are included to demonstrate the skills developed through this work.
Rational Intuitions and the Irrelevance of Experimental Philosophy

Philosophical intuition. .. is e piste mo logically useless, since it can be calibrated only when it is not needed. Once we are in a position to identify artifacts and errors in intuition, philosophy no longer has any use for it. Moreover, the most plausible account of the origins of philosophical intuitions is that they derive from tacit theories that are very likely to be inaccurate. There is a sense, then, in which philosophical intuitions can always be “explained away”: when a dispute arises, I can always, with some plausibility, suppose your intuitions are the artifacts of bad tacit theory. This is a game everyone can play, and I think we should all play it. We should, that is, dismiss philosophical intuitions as epistemologically valueless.
Graphene under a few-cycle circularly polarized optical field: ultrafast interferometry and Berry phase manifestation

We propose an attosecond strong optical field interferometry in graphene which reveals the chirality of graphene without employing a magnetic field. A circularly polarized optical pulse with strong amplitude and femtosecond time scale causes the electron to circle in the reciprocal space through which it accumulates the dynamic phase along the closed trajectory as well as the nontrivial geometric phase known as Berry’s phase. The resulting interference fringes carry rich information about the electronic spectra and interband dynamics in graphene near the Dirac points. Our findings hold promises for the attosecond control and measurement of electron dynamics in condensed matters as well as understanding the topological nature of the two-dimensional Dirac materials.
On the Distributions of the Times between Events in a Stationary Stream of Events

MANY authors-particularly in the physical and engineering sciences-have considered the problem of obtaining the distribution of the time between successive axiscrossings by a stochastic process. This interest dates back to the pioneering work of S. 0. Rice (1945), who developed a series expression and used a very simple approximation for the case of axis-crossings by a stationary normal process. More generally, one may consider the distribution of the time between an axiscrossing and the nth subsequent axis-crossing, or between, say, an upcrossing of the axis and the nth subsequent downcrossing. Problems of this type have been discussed by Longuet-Higgins (1962), with particular reference to the normal case. In particular he obtains series expressions which are variants and generalizations of that given by Rice (1945, equation 3.4-11). For example, Longuet-Higgins calculates (by somewhat heuristic methods) a series for the probability density for the time between an "arbitrary" upcrossing of zero to the (r+ l)st subsequent upcrossing. (A precise definition of what is meant by such a density is usually not given in the relevant literature. This difficulty, and one method of overcoming it, will be discussed in Section 2.) The series just referred to may be written in the form
Stereoscopic acuity and observation distance

Because of ihe contradictory evidence as to whether stereoscopic acuity varies with observation distance, this study was undertaken to investigate the problem, with the utmost care being taken to maintain constant experimental conditions and to eliminate empirical clues to depth perception. By means of a haploscopic apparatus, which allowed careful control of all parameters, the stereoscopic acuity of three subjects with full accommodation was determined, in prolonged experiments for seven observation distances from 6 M. to 40 cm. Standard psychophysical methods were used. The results indicated, that stereoscopic acuity remains essentially constant, at least for observation distances beyond 50 cm. For one subject there was no change in stereoscopic acuity in distances from 6 M. to 40 cm. Two subjects showed essentially no change from 6 M. to 50 cm., but they did show a small decrease at the test distance of 40 cm. It teas found also that controlling pupil size toas unnecessary with a constant level of adapting luminance of about 50 millilamberts. A problem not satisfactorily resolved is concerned with whether stereoscopic acuity changes with a change in viewing distance of the test details. This problem probably is related in one way or another to whether visual acuity changes with observation distance. Somewhat contradictory evidence has been reported in the literature, although Sloan, 1 in her review of the literature in 1951, was of the opinion that under adequately controlled conditions visual acuity was practically independent of fixation distance for distances beyond 2 M., whereas for distances less than 1 M. she believed that the evidence
Freeze-out Condition from Lattice QCD and the Role of Additional Strange Hadrons

This contribution focuses on the determination of freeze-out conditions heavy-ion collisions through comparisons between lattice QCD calculations and experimental measurements. First, we discuss how the freeze-out condition can be determined by comparing lattice QCD calculated and experimentally measured electric charge fluctuations. Next, we present thermodynamic signatures of additional, yet unobserved strange hadrons and discuss their influence on the freeze-out temperature.
Statistical Representation of Wind Power Ramps Using a Generalized Gaussian Mixture Model

Wind power ramps are significantly impacting the power balance of the system operations. Understanding the statistical characteristics of ramping features would help power system operators better manage these extreme events. Toward this end, this paper develops an analytical generalized Gaussian mixture model (GGMM) to fit the probability distributions of different ramping features. The nonlinear least-squares method with the trust-region algorithm is adopted to optimize the tunable parameters of mixture components. The optimal number of mixture components is adaptively solved by minimizing the Euclidean distance between the GGMM and the actual histogram distribution. The probability distribution of ramping features is generally truncated due to the ramp definition with a specific threshold. Thus, a sign function is utilized to truncate the GGMM distribution. Then, the cumulative distribution function of the GGMM is analytically derived and utilized to design a random number generator for ramping features. Numerical simulations on publicly available wind power data show that the parametric GGMM can accurately characterize the irregular and multimodal distributions of ramping features.
A Critical Analysis of Dyslexia Legislation in Three States

After a multitude of studies across more than a century, researchers have failed to consistently identify characteristics or patterns that distinguish dyslexia from other decoding challenges. Many ...
« Du reste il nous apprend peu de choses intéressantes » : des (in)fortunes littéraires de Gabriel Sagard

Temoin privilegie des debuts de la vie coloniale en Nouvelle-France, Gabriel Sagard est surtout connu pour Le Grand Voyage du pays des Hurons (1632), recit de son long sejour chez les Hurons de l’actuelle baie Georgienne. Or, malgre leurs qualites indeniables, ses ouvrages furent juges trop naifs par l’historien jesuite Charlevoix, dont les observations nuisirent, du moins pour un temps, a leur fortune litteraire. Apres une presentation de quelques usages des oeuvres de Sagard jusqu’a la fin du XVIIIe siecle, cet article etudie leur reception ambivalente dans une selection d’histoires litteraires du Canada francais et du Quebec depuis le XIXe siecle.
A Unifying Synthesis Approach to the C18-, C19-, and C20-Diterpenoid Alkaloids

The secondary metabolites that comprise the diterpenoid alkaloids are categorized into C18, C19, and C20 families depending on the number of contiguous carbon atoms that constitute their central framework. Herein, we detail our efforts to prepare these molecules by chemical synthesis, including a photochemical approach, and ultimately a bioinspired strategy that has resulted in the development of a unifying synthesis of one C18 (weisaconitine D), one C19 (liljestrandinine), and three C20 (cochlearenine, paniculamine, and N-ethyl-1α-hydroxy-17-veratroyldictyzine) natural products from a common intermediate.
Semantics all the way down: the Semantic Web and open science in big earth data

AbstractSemantic technologies have emerged as a prominent research area within Big Earth Data. These technologies have provided significant benefits for data discovery and integration. Yet, the formality of the Semantic Web, in languages such as the Web Ontology Language (OWL), does not always integrate well with the numerical, statistical, and geometric methods of the geosciences. Two prominent challenges in this area are how to semantically model individual measurements and what to do when geoscience needs are not addressed by languages such as OWL. This has led to a fragmented Big Earth Data community with either no solution or incompatible semantic solutions. We use an oceanographic example to highlight the limitations and challenges surrounding the semantic encoding of observations and the use of semantics during analysis. We then present potential solutions to each challenge showing that a full end-to-end application of semantic technologies is not only feasible, but beneficial to Big Earth Data.
Why Didn't the Common Law Follow the Flag?

This Article considers a puzzle about how different kinds of law came to be distributed around the world. The legal systems of some European colonies largely reflected the laws of the colonizer. Other colonies exhibited a greater degree of legal pluralism, in which the state administered a mix of different legal systems. Conventional explanations for this variation look to the extent of European settlement: where colonizers settled in large numbers, they chose to bring their own laws; otherwise, they preferred to retain preexisting ones. This Article challenges that assumption by offering a new account of how and why the British Empire selectively transplanted English law to the colonies it acquired during the eighteenth century. The extent to which each colony received English law depended on a political decision about what kind of colony policymakers wanted to create. Eighteenth-century observers agreed that English law could turn any territory into an anglicized, commercial colony on the model of Britain's North American settlements. Preserving preexisting laws, in contrast, would produce colonial economies that enriched the empire as a whole but kept local subjects poor and politically disadvantaged. By controlling how much English law each colony received, British officials hoped to shape its economic, political, and cultural trajectory. This historical account revises not only our understanding of how the common law spread but also prevailing ideas about law's place in development policy today.