cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vegetation community responses to different establishment regimes in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations in southern MS, USA.

Abstract Management treatments involving multiple herbicide applications are standard procedure on most industrial pine plantation sites in the southern USA, raising concerns about biodiversity impairment. Management decisions impact not only plant communities but also the habitat potential they create for wildlife. We tested the effects of five intensities of stand establishment treatments on vegetation communities in loblolly pine plantations (n = 4) to age 5 in the Middle Coastal Plain (MCP) of Mississippi. Measurements were species richness, diversity, coverage, and community composition. Treatments were combinations of mechanical site preparation (MSP), chemical site preparation (CSP), and herbaceous weed control (HWC) both banded or broadcast for 1 or 2 years using the same herbicide mixtures. Tree richness and diversity were reduced by increasing treatment intensity; tree coverage, which included crop and non-crop trees, was less in moderate-intensity treatments. Vine richness and coverage were less in more intensive treatments, but 2 diversity indices differed on whether vine diversity was likewise affected. Richness and coverage of forbs and graminoids was lessened by broadcast HWC, with effects mostly limited to the year of application. Plant communities differed in all 5 years, with CSP acting as the primary factor for years 2–5. Early seral communities were favored by CSP, but broadcast HWC suppressed resulting herbaceous plants. Though CSP may somewhat reduce stand-level plant diversity, it may increase overall biodiversity within plantation-dominated landscapes by creating early succession plant communities that enhance wildlife habitat.
Effect of Lubricant Degradation on Contact Fatigue

It is well known that contact fatigue is affected by contact pressure, frictional stress, residual stress, initial distribution of material flaws, and so on. The behavior of contact pressure and, primarily, the frictional stress is determined by the viscous properties of the lubricant used. It is also recognized that lubricants degrade while passing through lubricated contacts. Degradation of lubricants causes viscosity loss that, in turn, reduces the frictional stress and raises contact fatigue life. The objective of this study was to find out the extent to which lubricant degradation may change contact fatigue life of elastic surfaces completely separated by lubricant. The analysis was performed numerically based on the models of contact fatigue and lubricant degradation recently developed by the author. The results showed that contact fatigue life of solids completely separated by lubricants with the same ambient viscosity may vary significantly due to the specific way lubricants are formulated. In par...
Take two democracies and call me in the morning: A prescription for peace?

Many have argued that the spread of democracy will lead to a more peaceful international environment; however, the empirical record on this point is mixed. It appears that democracies fight as often as do other types of states, but they seldom, if ever, fight one another. Two main arguments have been offered as explanations for these empirical findings. The political culture argument contends that the interaction of state leaders’ culturally determined expectations regarding appropriate methods of conflict resolution determines whether or not international disputes escalate to war. The political structure argument emphasizes the effects of constraints inherent in certain institutional arrangements upon each leader's (independent) decisions to escalate. These arguments have significantly different implications for the likelihood of peace in a world populated by democracies. In this paper, critical tests are conducted in an effort to determine which of these competing arguments is best supported empirically...
Psychosocial Correlates of Unprotected Sex Without Disclosure of HIV-Positivity among African-American, Latino, and White Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women

African-American, Latino, and White men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) may be a bridge of HIV transmission from men to women. Very little research has directly compared culturally specific correlates of the likelihood of unprotected sex among MSMW. The present study examined psychosocial correlates of unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status with male and female partners among 50 African American, 50 Latino, and 50 White HIV-positive MSMW recruited from AIDS service organizations in Los Angeles County. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine relationships of race/ethnicity and psychosocial variables (e.g., condom attitudes, self-efficacy for HIV disclosure, sexual identification) to unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status, for male and female partners separately. For female partners, different effects emerged by race/ethnicity. Among African-Americans, less exclusively homosexual identification and low self-efficacy for disclosure of HIV status to female partners were associated with unprotected sex without disclosure; among Latinos, less exclusively homosexual identification and negative attitudes about condoms were significant. Participants who were more exclusively homosexually identified, who held less positive condom attitudes, and who had low self-efficacy for disclosure to female partners were more likely to have unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status to male partners. Culturally tailored community-level interventions may help to raise awareness about HIV and bisexuality, and decrease HIV and sexual orientation stigma, thereby increasing African-American and Latino MSMW’s comfort in communicating with their female partners about sexuality, HIV and condoms. Addressing norms for condom use and disclosure between male partners is recommended, especially for homosexually identified MSMW.
Acquisition d’information dans un modèle intertemporel en temps continu

Cet article examine la demande d’information et la valeur de l’information dans un modele intertemporel en temps continu. Le modele etudie est un modele a information incomplete ou la technologie d’information est controlee par l’investisseur moyennant un cout. Le mecanisme bayesien continu de revision des croyances produit, pour cette structure, une distribution posterieure gaussienne a tout point du temps. Le controle de la technologie d’information est equivalent au controle de l’estimateur de la position de la variable d’etat (esperance conditionnelle) ainsi que de la precision de cet estimateur (variance conditionnelle). La demande d’information, dans notre modele, se compose de deux termes, qui resultent du conflit entre deux objets d’apprentissage. Sous l’hypothese d’une offre de precision stochastique et inelastique, le prix d’equilibre de l’information est derive et sa structure analysee.
A tsunami warning system using an ionospheric technique

Earthquakes generate Rayleigh waves which travel along the surface of the earth about 20 times faster than the potentially destructive tsunami (if one is also generated) and reach distant points several hours before the tsunami. The Rayleigh wave excites an upward-propagating acoustic wave which, because of the exponential decrease in air density with height, increases to a large amplitude at ionospheric heights and produces ionization density changes in the ionosphere proportional to the amplitude and form of the wave. HF radio signals reflected from the ionosphere are Doppler-shifted by these motions and can be processed to produce a record which is a faithful reproduction of the Rayleigh wave. By analyzing the ionospheric record and tracing the Rayleigh wave back to the earthquake's epicenter, the characteristics of the earthquake can be determined. This information can then be used to deduce the probability that the earthquake generated a tsunami Instrumentation for a tsunami warning system based on this method is simple and inexpensive.
Toward a Theory of Social Justice for Public Administration

Three principles of Catholic social theory suggest three principles of justice for assigning basic duties in administrative praxis. They can be derived from the fundamental moral principles of public administration and the fundamental moral principles of capitalism as expounded by Adam Smith and elaborated by subsequent theorists: First, each person participating in an administrative practice, including those affected by it, has an equal duty to seek the widest efficacious distribution of benefits and burdens that is reasonable under the circumstances (distributism). Second, no administrative function or problem may be performed or solved in a manner that disempowers either the individuals or the group accorded goods or services (subsidiarity). Finally, all administrative functions or problems must be addressed in such a manner as to develop and maintain trust and confidence among administrative agencies and the people they serve (solidarity). These principles express justice as a composite of three ideas...
Characterization of the catalytic activity of U2 and U6 snRNAs.

Removal of introns from pre-messenger RNAs in eukaryotes is carried out by the spliceosome, an assembly of a large number of proteins and five small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs). We showed previously that an in vitro transcribed and assembled base-paired complex of U2 and U6 snRNA segments catalyzes a reaction that resembles the first step of splicing. Upon incubation with a short RNA oligonucleotide containing the consensus sequence of the pre-mRNA branch site, the U2/U6 complex catalyzed a reaction between the 2 OH of a bulged adenosine and a phosphate in the catalytically important AGC triad of U6, leading to the formation of an X-shaped product, RNA X, apparently linked by an unusual phosphotriester bond. Here we characterize this splicing-related reaction further, showing that RNA X formation is an equilibrium reaction, and that the low yield of the reaction likely reflects an unfavorable equilibrium coefficient. Consistent with a phosphotriester linkage, RNA X is highly alkali-sensitive, but only mildly acid-sensitive. We also show that mutations in the AGC sequence of U6 can have significant effects on RNA X formation, further extending the similarities between splicing and RNA X formation. We also demonstrate that pseudouridylation of U2 enhances RNA X formation, and that U6 snRNA purified from nuclear extracts is capable of forming RNA X. Our data suggest that the ability to form RNA X might be an intrinsic property of spliceosomal snRNAs.
Family Connections: When the Personal Parent-Professional Partnership Is in Your Own Head

As an early childhood professional, I spent the first 17 years of my career as an advocate for children and their families. I was fortunate to teach in a public school district where inclusion of c...
Kant on detective fiction

“And where are you going next?” he asked him over his shoulder. “Birmingham,” answered the actor, puffing a cigarette. “Didn’t I tell you I was a Futurist? I really do believe in those things if I believe in anything. Change, bustle and new things every morning. I am going to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Huddersfield, Glasgow, Chicago— in short, to enlightened, energetic, civilized society!” “In short,” said Muscari, “to the real Paradise of Thieves.” G.K. Chesterton, “The Paradise of Thieves,” In The Wisdom of Father Brown (Harmondsworth, England, 1970), p. 41
Negotiated Selves in the Holocaust

This article concentrates on one facet of the Holocaust; it does not address the complex historical background of the most woeful occurrence in modern, Western experience. While the documentation of the facts of the Holocaust is of the utmost concern, given the necessity to warn through the example of genocidal precedent, the purpose here is to explore, primarily through testimony, some of the psychic processes involved in the Holocaust-more precisely, in the context of the death camps. Moving beyond narrow psychohistorical frameworks, recent new paradigms for the explanation of social behavior can be applied to a fuller awareness of the multiple meanings of the Holocaust. Narrowing the gap between ourselves as occupants of Western culture and the participants in the Holocaust must diminish our reluctance to include Nazi genocide in the full realm of cultural repertoires. While the causation of the Holocaust may be "supercharged" and "overdetermined" (Sontag 1969:130), we must explore the social and psychic arenas in which genocide takes place if we are to take seriously our ethical task as social scientists (Lewin 1992). To imagine the "discrete and hermetic" world of the Holocaust
A bone biopsy procedure for neonatal pigs.

Neonatal pigs were used to develop a surgical biopsy procedure to remove bone tissue from the ilium of small animals, with potential application for infants and small children. While the neonatal pig was under general anaesthesia, a scalpel was used to make a punch incision down to the ilium. Then a Craig Biopsy Trephine was used to remove a core sample of the bone. The samples ranged from 5 to 15 mm in length and 2 to 3 mm in diameter, with an average dry weight of 34·4 mg. The samples were adequate for mineral (calcium and zinc) analysis in our laboratory and may be equally suitable for histological or biochemical analyses. Surgical trauma was minimal, which permitted each pig to be biopsied every 7 days for 5 weeks without adverse consequences.
Feulgen Cytophotometry of Pine Nuclei; Effects of Fixation, Role of Formaline

The effects of 5 fixatives: FAA, Carnoy's, Craf III, formalin and glutaraldehyde were analyzed for use in quantitative Feulgen cytophotometry of pine embryo tissues. Craf III and glutaraldehyde had serious deficiencies because they depressed the absorption peak, severely interfered with DNA extraction and in the case of glutaraldehyde there was considerable cytoplasmic dye-binding. Neutral 10% formalin gave good tissue fixation but did not permit the degree of enzymatic or acid extraction of DNA as did Carnoy's solution. Haupt's adhesive, with the usual 4% formalin as a hardener, at temperatures of 45-56 C completely prevented the enzymatic extraction of nuclear DNA by DNase and also greatly increased the resistance of the DNA to mineral acid hydrolysis. Denaturation of DNA by formalin appeared to be responsible for these results. Absorption was linearly related to both section thickness and DNA concentration per nucleus.
Belowground competition from overstory trees influences Douglas-fir sapling morphology in thinned stands

We evaluated effects of belowground competition on morphology of naturally established coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) saplings in 60- to 80-year-old thinned Douglas-fir stands in southwestern Washington. We separately quantified belowground competition from overstory and understory sources using trenching and understory removal. In this light-limited environment of 26 ± 16% (std. dev.) full sunlight, 2-year exclusion of tree root competition by trenching increased sapling stem biomass by 18%, total aboveground biomass by 21%, number of interwhorl buds by 68%, total foliar biomass by 33%, and foliar biomass on branch components over 4 years old by 143%. Belowground competition did not influence shoot:root ratio or foliar efficiency (i.e., stem growth per unit foliage biomass). Sapling needle size, specific leaf area, and internodal distance also were not affected by belowground competition; these variables were apparently a function of the low-light environment. The principal source of belowground competition was roots of overstory trees; effects of belowground competition from understory vegetation were minor. Thus, under a partial overstory, morphology of Douglas-fir regeneration was influenced by both belowground and aboveground competition from overstory trees. In this environment, understory vegetation control would not likely influence belowground competition to an extent that would affect sapling morphology.
Design of a digital PID regulator based on look-up tables for control of high-frequency DC-DC converters

This paper describes design of a digital PID regulator based on look-up tables for high frequency DC-DC switching converters. The use of the took-up tables instead of multipliers enables a small. low-power implementation and operation at high switching frequencies. Design guidelines are given for the resolution and size of entries in the look-up tables. A design example and experimental results are presented for a digital controller IC used to control a 1 MHz, 2.7 V, 3 W buck converter.
On the cross-terms in spectrograms

The authors show that the spectrogram does, in general, have cross-terms. Depending on the signal structure and the window used, the cross-terms may sometimes be reduced or completely eliminated. If the cross-terms are located far from the origin in the ambiguity domain, they can be easily eliminated. If, however, the cross-terms are located near the origin, it is very difficult to reduce the cross-terms. To explore the mechanism of the cross-terms in the spectrogram, the ambiguity domain interpretation is adopted. Some experimental results are provided to illustrate this mechanism. >
Comparison of Histories: The Contribution of Henry Maine

The mid-nineteenth-century renaissance of interest in historical and comparative social and cultural studies issued in a rich variety of work ranging through religion, law, myth, language, kinship, art, politics—indeed, the whole sweep of human institutions. We see it as an intellectual movement given unity by a common resolve to bring time and space dimensions to humanistic inquiry, to replace analysis of abstract categories with explication of specified conditions of human affairs as outcomes of processes operating through time. Revolutionary zeal that encouraged an immediate reconstruction of society based on deduction from reasoned, timeless principle was countered with a view that the setting of human group life is always a going concern, shaped variously by temporal forces, and understandable only in its concrete forms. From this perspective the Austinian search for legal forms and the dry calculations of Benthamite utilitarianism had painted a false picture that did not get at the real stuff of social life.
A methane-based time scale for Vostok ice

Abstract Tuning the Vostok methane signal to mid-July 30°N insolation yields a new ice-core gas time scale. This exercise has two rationales: (1) evidence supporting Kutzbach's theory that low-latitude summer insolation in the northern hemisphere controls the strength of tropical monsoons, and (2) interhemispheric CH 4 gradients showing that the main control of orbital-scale CH 4 variations is tropical (monsoonal) sources. The immediate basis for tuning CH 4 to mid-July insolation is the coincident timing of the most recent (pre-anthropogenic) CH 4 maximum at 11,000–10,500 calendar years ago and the most recent July 30°N insolation maximum (all ages in this paper are in calendar years unless specified as 14 C years). The resulting CH 4 gas time scale diverges by as much as 15,000 years from the GT4 gas time scale (Petit et al., Nature 399 (1999) 429) prior to 250,000 years ago, but it matches fairly closely a time scale derived by tuning ice-core δ 18 O atm to a lagged insolation signal (Shackleton, Science 289 (2000) 1897). Most offsets between the CH 4 and δ 18 O atm time scales can be explained by assuming that tropical monsoons and ice sheets alternate in controlling the phase of the δ 18 O atm signal. The CH 4 time scale provides an estimate of the timing of the Vostok CO 2 signal against SPECMAP marine δ 18 O, often used as an index of global ice volume. On the CH 4 time scale, all CO 2 responses are highly coherent with SPECMAP δ 18 O at the orbital periods. CO 2 leads δ 18 O by 5000 years at 100,000 years (eccentricity), but the two signals are nearly in-phase at 41,000 years (obliquity) and 23,000 years (precession). The actual phasing between CO 2 and ice volume is difficult to infer because of likely SST overprints on the SPECMAP δ 18 O signal. CO 2 could lead, or be in phase with, ice volume, but is unlikely to lag behind the ice response.
Child-adult differences in second-language phonological learning: the role of cross-language similarity.

This study evaluated whether age effects on second language (L2) speech learning derive from changes in how the native language (L1) and L2 sound systems interact. According to the “interaction hypothesis” (IH), the older the L2 learner, the less likely the learner is able to establish new vowel categories needed for accurate L2 vowel production and perception because, with age, L1 vowel categories become more likely to perceptually encompass neighboring L2 vowels. These IH predictions were evaluated in two experiments involving 64 native Korean- and English-speaking children and adults. Experiment 1 determined, as predicted, that the Korean children were less likely than the Korean adults to perceive L2 vowels as instances of a single L1 vowel category. Experiment 2 showed that the Korean children surpassed the Korean adults in production of certain vowels but equaled them in vowel perception. These findings, which partially support the IH, are discussed in relation to L2 speech learning.
Prevalence and correlates of children's diagnosed eye and vision conditions.

Purpose Little is known about the distribution of eye and vision conditions among children and about possible disparities in the distribution of these conditions. The purpose of this report is to describe the prevalence of diagnosed eye and vision conditions among children younger than 18 years in the United States. Design Repeated population-based cross-sectional study. Participants Forty-eight thousand three hundred four members of randomly selected households in the U.S. who were younger than 18 years in the years 1996 through 2001 were analyzed. Methods The prevalence of children with diagnosed eye and vision conditions was estimated using self-reported information from the nationally representative Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys (MEPS) for 1996 through 2001. Descriptive statistics are presented, and the associations between the likelihood of diagnosed eye and vision conditions and child and family characteristics were assessed using logistic regression analyses adjusted for the complex survey design of MEPS. Main Outcome Measures Prevalence of diagnosed eye and vision conditions and measures of the association between diagnosed eye and vision conditions and child and family characteristics. Results On average, approximately 6.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.4%–7.2%) of children Conclusions This article presents a method for using MEPS to identify children younger than 18 years with eye and vision conditions. Although this method does not identify all children with eye and vision conditions, it does identify children with diagnosed eye and vision conditions. Results provide some evidence that underprivileged children may be underdiagnosed, undertreated, or both, placing them at risk for future problems.
Introduction to Viral Vectors and Other Delivery Methods for Gene Therapy of the Nervous System

The use of gene therapy in neuroscience research has become common place in many laboratories across the world. However, contrary to common belief, the practical application of viral or non-viral gene therapy is not as straightforward as it may seem. All too often investigators see their experiments fail due to low-quality third-party vectors or due to a lack of knowledge regarding the proper use of these tools. For example, researchers often find themselves performing experiments using the wrong methodology (e.g., using the wrong type of vector or mishandling the vector to the point where the efficacy is significantly reduced) resulting in experiments that potentially fail to accurately answer a hypothesis, or the generation of irreproducible data. Thus, it is important for investigators that seek to utilize gene therapy approaches to gain a basic understanding of how to apply this technology. This includes understanding how to appropriately design and execute an experiment, understanding various delivery vehicles (e.g., what virus to use), delivery methods (e.g., systemic versus intracranial injections), what expression system to use, and the time course involved with a particular expression system. This chapter is intended to present an overview of this fundamental knowledge, providing the researcher with a decision tree upon which to build their gene therapy experiment.
Molecular alignment and Rashba splitting in organometal halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 absorbers

Organometal halide perovskite CH3NH3PbI3 solar cells have witnessed unprecedented progress in power conversion efficiency, reaching more than 20 % within 5 years. Despite this rapid progress, there remain open questions about the basic properties of these materials, such as the role of the polar molecule CH3NH3 (methylammonium), and the possible existence of ferroelectric ordering, and its role in device operation. Using first-principles density-functional theory, we investigated the effect of molecular alignment on the electronic structure. We find that the molecular alignment significantly modifies the near-gap states indirectly through the induced structural distortion of the (PbI6)4− octahedron. The reduction in symmetry due to this distortion, combined with strong spin-orbit coupling of Pb, leads to a Rashba-like splitting of valence and conduction bands. This in turn leads to reduction of the degeneracy of the valence and conduction bands. These results imply that the electrical and optical properties are highly sensitive to ordering of the CH3NH3 dipole orientation.
Interactive multiresolution hair modeling and editing

Human hair modeling is a difficult task. This paper presents a constructive hair modeling system with which users can sculpt a wide variety of hairstyles. Our Multiresolution Hair Modeling (MHM) system is based on the observed tendency of adjacent hair strands to form clusters at multiple scales due to static attraction. In our system, initial hair designs are quickly created with a small set of hair clusters. Refinements at finer levels are achieved by subdividing these initial hair clusters. Users can edit an evolving model at any level of detail, down to a single hair strand. High level editing tools support curling, scaling, and copy/paste, enabling users to rapidly create widely varying hairstyles. Editing ease and model realism are enhanced by efficient hair rendering, shading, antialiasing, and shadowing algorithms.
An Exploration of Statistical Issues in Forensic Science Related to Document Examination

Donald Doud was a forensic document examiner (FDE) who gained fame through exposing fraud and forgery as an expert witness in courtroom trials. The opening chapter of his memoir Witness to Forgery ...
Nonplasmonic Hot-Electron Photocurrents from Mn-Doped Quantum Dots in Photoelectrochemical Cells.

We report the measurement of the hot-electron current in a photoelectrochemical cell constructed from a glass/ITO/Al2 O3 (ITO=indium tin oxide) electrode coated with Mn-doped quantum dots, where hot electrons with a large excess kinetic energy were produced through upconversion of the excitons into hot electron hole pairs under photoexcitation at 3 eV. In our recent study (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 5549), we demonstrated the generation of hot electrons in Mn-doped II-VI semiconductor quantum dots and their usefulness in photocatalytic H2 production reaction, taking advantage of the more efficient charge transfer of hot electrons compared with band-edge electrons. Here, we show that hot electrons produced in Mn-doped CdS/ZnS quantum dots possess sufficient kinetic energy to overcome the energy barrier from a 5.4-7.5 nm thick Al2 O3 layer producing a hot-electron current in photoelectrochemical cell. This work demonstrates the possibility of harvesting hot electrons not only at the interface of the doped quantum dot surface, but also far away from it, thus taking advantage of the capability of hot electrons for long-range electron transfer across a thick energy barrier.
Studies in Arthropod Hibernation.

The extensive studies of Shelford (1913) on the distribution of the animals of the Chicago region were carried on during the warmer months of the year. The distribution of the same animals under the changed ecological conditions of winter has never before been reported. Herewith are presented some of the results of a study of the hibernation situation among the arthropods of the region.[*][1] These are presented as a contribution to our knowledge of winter ecology. New life history and locality data will also be found in the material here presented. [1]: #fn-1
QUANTITATIVE VARIATION OF PROGENY FROM CHASMOGAMOUS AND CLEISTOGAMOUS FLOWERS IN THE GRASS DANTHONIA SPICATA.

Progeny from chasmogamous (CH) and cleistogamous (CL) flowers of the grass Danthonia spicata were raised in their native habitat and in the greenhouse in order to determine how genetic variation was distributed among families and between CH and CL progeny within families. Twelve quantitative characters were measured on clones from individuals known to have arisen from either CH or CL flowers on a particular plant. Significant genetic variation existed for all characters measured. Most genetic variation was between families and two morphologically similar groups of families were identified. Relatively little genetic variation was found within families (approximately 5% of the total phenotypic variance). In field-raised plants, variance component analysis suggested that CL progeny were genetically more similar to each other than were CH progeny from the same plant. Levene's test of the average deviation of CH and CL progenies from their group means was nonsignificant but suggested there was a trend (0.05 < P < 0.10) for CH progeny to be more variable than CL progeny in the field but less variable in the greenhouse. The amount and distribution of genetic variation in the study population indicates that selective differentials would be larger among families than within families.
Functional and visual improvement with prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem scleral lenses for irregular corneas.

Purpose:To evaluate the Doheny Eye Institute Experience with Prosthetic Replacement of the Ocular Surface Ecosystem (PROSE) scleral lenses for the management of irregular corneas with outcomes based on visual acuity (VA) and visual function.Methods:A retrospective chart review of 58 subjects (90 eye
Methyl Bromide Fumigation and Cold Storage as Treatments for California Stone Fruits and Pears Infested with the Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Caribbean fruit fly (CFF), Anastrepha suspense (Loew), infestations in California peaches, nectarines, and plums may be controlled by fumigation at 20 with a methyl bromide (MB) dosage of 48 g/m3 for 2 h. At 30, the insect can be destroyed in peaches with MB at 48 g/m3 for 1 h or 32 g/m3 for 1.5 h. The recommended MB fumigation at 30 for nectarines is 38.3 g/m3 and for plums is 20.4g/m3 for 2 h. Acold storage treatment effective against CFF in pears and peaches is 8.3 days at -0.56°C (31).
Tumor-Specific Immunity and the Otolaryngologist:

It has been known for many years that cell-mediated immune mechanisms are primarily responsible for rejection of normal tissue grafts in genetically dissimilar individuals, and it is now clear that immunity to cancer is mediated in the same way. Malignant tumors have cell surface antigens which are different from those of the tissues from which they arise, hence the term “tumor-specific antigens.” Largely responsible for this discovery was the development of syngeneic (genetically identical) host systems which have permitted assessment of tumor-specific immunity rather than the transplantation antigens of allograft immunity. Host-tumor surveillance is primarily lymphocyte mediated. The humoral immune mechanism is also involved, but the best documented action of humoral factors is interference with cell-mediated tumor destruction by “blocking.” Direct evidence for a host-tumor relationship has led to a resurgence of interest in immunologic therapy for cancer. Prospects for immunotherapy include nonspecific...
Rapid assessment method for sediment-related environments and disasters

The assessment of sediments quality and sediment-induced disasters is of significance to environmental protection and disaster prevention and control. Many methods have been developed for various environmental, ecological and risk assessment, but few of them could be used for simultaneous assessment for sediment-related environments and disasters in large areas. In consideration that both sediment environments and sediment disasters could have different behaviors, the most important issue for the rapid assessment is the determination of the concerned objectives. Two kinds of factors were used to reflect the causes and the results, respectively. The independent environmental variables jointly determine the characteristics of the dependent variables, giving the interpretation to the dynamic variation of sediment environments and sediment disasters. The effects of human activities could be well distinguished from the complex variation of the observed status. Another feature of the suggested assessment method is its rapidness that is inherited from the rapid biological assessment method for waters. The map-spot could be used in connection with the cause-result analysis in the process of rapid assessment, which is not only good for using GIS to manage the reference spots and groups of different spots in different areas with different temporal and spatial scales, but also good for coupling of different processes.
Clinical Decision Support Tool for Parental Tobacco Treatment in Hospitalized Children

Objectives: To create and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and usability of a clinical decision support (CDS) tool within the electronic health record (EHR) to help pediatricians provide smoking cessation counseling and treatment to parents of hospitalized children exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS). Methods: Mixed method study of first-year pediatric residents on one inpatient unit. Residents received training in smoking cessation counseling, nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) prescribing, and use of a CDS tool to aid in this process. The tool, which alerted when a patient was identified as exposed to SHS based on the history taken on admission or during a prior encounter, had the following capabilities: adding SHS exposure to the patient’s problem list; referral to Free Quitline through discharge instructions; and linking to a printable NRT prescription form. We measured feasibility by EHR utilization data. We measured acceptability and usability of the tool by administering questionnaires to residents. Results: From June-August 2015, the alert triggered for 106 patients, and the tool was used for 52 (49%) patients. 41 (39%) patients had SHS exposure added to the problem list, 34 (32%) parents were referred to the Quitline through discharge instructions, and 15 (14%) parents were prescribed NRT. 10 out of 15 (67%) eligible pediatricians used the tool. All clinicians surveyed (9 out of 10) found the tool acceptable and rated its usability good to excellent (average System Usability Scale score was 85 out of 100, 95% CI, 76–93). Conclusions: A non-interruptive CDS tool to help residents provide smoking cessation counseling in the hospital was feasible, acceptable, and usable. Future work will investigate impacts on patient outcomes.
Identification of fuel cycle simulator functionalities for analysis of transition to a new fuel cycle

Dynamic fuel cycle simulation tools are intended to model holistic transient nuclear fuel cycle scenarios. As with all simulation tools, fuel cycle simulators require verification through unit tests, benchmark cases, and integral tests. Model validation is a vital aspect as well. Although compara-tive studies have been performed, there is no comprehensive unit test and benchmark library for fuel cycle simulator tools. The objective of this paper is to identify the must test functionalities of a fuel cycle simulator tool within the context of specific problems of interest to the Fuel Cycle Options Campaign within the U.S. Department of Energy s Office of Nuclear Energy. The approach in this paper identifies the features needed to cover the range of promising fuel cycle options identified in the DOE-NE Fuel Cycle Evaluation and Screening (E&S) and categorizes these features to facilitate prioritization. Features were categorized as essential functions, integrating features, and exemplary capabilities. One objective of this paper is to propose a library of unit tests applicable to each of the essential functions. Another underlying motivation for this paper is to encourage an international dialog on the functionalities and standard test methods for fuel cycle simulator tools.
Compositional changes in thermophilous oak forests in Poland over time: do they correspond to European trends?

Questions Have compositional changes occurred in thermophilous oak forests in Poland during the past two decades? What kinds of drivers might be responsible for these changes? Are the thermophilous oak woods still rich in species or have they rather lost their diversity? Location Sudetes Mts., SW Poland. Methods The vegetation of thermophilous oak forests within four distinct areas was surveyed on 92 semi-permanent plots in the time periods from 1992 to 1994 and from 2010 to 2014. The overall pattern in vegetation changes, trends in species composition and site parameters, as well as the diversity of studied communities were analysed using ordination and permutation techniques. Results The species composition of thermophilous oak forests has changed significantly. We recorded a decrease in the share of oligotrophic light-demanding species, whereas mesotrophic light-demanding and nitrophilous species showed an upward trend. Regarding the fourth group of shade-tolerant species, their share varied depending on the site. The analysis of habitat parameters revealed that the studied oak forest communities generally shifted from communities of moderately oligotrophic and mesic character towards forests growing on nutrient-richer but drier habitats. Interestingly, the observed change in species composition was not accompanied by the loss of biodiversity that has generally been reported in other types of thermophilous forests in Europe. Conclusions Changes observed within thermophilous and previously coppiced oak forests of southwest Poland are going in a direction which has not been recognized so far in analogous communities. The transition of studied communities is probably a result of the cumulative influence of several drivers, the most crucial of which seem to be soil regeneration, after the period of intensive acidity caused by sulphur emission between 1960 and 2000, and decreasing moisture. The observed changes are independent of the type of forest management (or the lack thereof) within the study sites.
Structural Validity of the HBSC Bullying Measure: Self-Report Rating Scales of Youth Victimization and Perpetration Behavior.

Bullying involvement among youth has consistently been linked to potentially serious consequences for both perpetrators and victims. To help clarify the nature and scope of youth bullying involveme...
Efficacy of concurrent cetuximab (C225) versus 5-fluorouracil/carboplatin (5FU/CBDCA) or cisplatin (CDDP) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for locally advanced head and neck cancer (LAHNSCC).

5537 Background: We reported inferior outcomes for LAHNSCC patients (pts) that received concurrent C225 vs. high-dose CDDP with IMRT (IJROBP 2011; 81:915). Prior to FDA approval of C225 for LAHNSCC...
Beyond Yes or No: Understanding Undergraduate Students’ Responses as Bystanders to Sexual Assault Risk Situations:

The White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault recommends bystander engagement programming as part of campus sexual assault prevention efforts. Measuring students' bystander behavior, and thus, assessing the effectiveness of such programming, is a challenging endeavor due to the range of risk situations students may witness, as well as the nuances in potential barriers students may face in these situations. Currently, many studies include dichotomous measures of bystander behavior without gathering further information about students' opportunities to intervene, barriers to intervening, and intervention strategies. The current study sought to implement a more comprehensive approach to understanding the types of sexual assault risk situations students report to witness, as well as their response in those situations, reasons for not intervening, and any gender differences therein. In 2014, undergraduate students (n = 9,358) at a large, public university in the Northeast completed a web-based survey to assess bystander opportunities and responses for six different risk situations. Results show that prosocial bystander responses varied depending on the risk situation. Of those students with opportunities to intervene, noninterveners reported the situation was "none of their business" or that they were "unsure of what to do." Interveners reported to have either "confronted the situation directly" or "went and got assistance." We also observed significant gender differences in students' reported intervention opportunities and bystander responses. The findings of this study have several important implications for bystander engagement programming and future research.
Hydrothermal stamp on the oceans

The composition of the oceans is altered by hydrothermal circulation. These chemical factories sustain microbial life, which in turn alters the chemistry of the fluids that enter the ocean. A decade of research details this complex interchange.
Perspective on FTY720, an Immunosuppressant

FTY720 {fingolimod hydrochloride, 2-amino-2-[2-(4-octylphenyl)ethyl]propane-1,3-diol hydrochloride}, a novel immunosuppressant, was discovered by chemical modification based on the structure activity relationships of ISP-I (myriocin), a metabolite of the fungus Isaria­ sinclairii. This short perspective provides insights to the various strategies available in the literature for the synthesis of FTY720 and its analogues. 1 Introduction 2 Classification of Immunosuppressive Drugs 3 The Rise of FTY720 4 Different Synthetic Strategies for FTY720 5 Analogues of FTY720 6 Binding Studies of FTY720 7 Mode of Action 8 Conclusion
California: Water Security from Infrastructure, Institutions, and the Global Economy

California’s water system has immense seasonal, annual, and geographic variability in hydrology and water demands and tremendous historical growth in population and dynamism in economic structure. Although California’s situation would normally make it highly vulnerable to water shortages and floods, California has adapted effectively. An extensive set of semi-autonomous local, regional, and statewide water management institutions supports extensive and diverse water management infrastructure and operations. These diverse facilities and institutions are coordinated by an extensive web of regulations, water rights, contracts, and incentives, despite continuing challenges. The resulting institutional and physical system has always suffered from the semi-aridity and variability of California’s climate, and is continuously challenged by long-term growth in population and shifts in economic structure and social objectives. However, the political decentralisation of the system has brought steady local innovation, with larger episodic regional and statewide innovations accompanying the additional attention and focus brought by extreme events. The high variability of California’s climate also provides frequent political motivation for large- and small-scale innovations in water management. The result is a form of far-sighted incrementalism, driven by continuing problems and providing an unusual degree of water security for most of the state, though not all.
Acoustically Measured Distribution and Abundance of Atlantic Menhaden ( Brevoortia tyrannus ) in a Shallow Estuary in Long Island, NY

Atlantic menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus) is an euryhaline forage fish abundant along the eastern coast of the USA that seasonally migrates between the open ocean and shallow water estuaries. These fish are known for forming large, dense schools and are important prey for piscivorous fish, seabirds. Following several large fish kills in the late spring of 2015 in the western Peconic Estuary in Long Island, New York, we conducted multiple surveys during the spring, summer, and fall using scientific echosounders to quantify menhaden abundance in this region. Acoustic backscatter data were used to estimate numeric abundance and biomass of menhaden for the western Peconic Estuary. We found that the 2015 fish kills represented between 7 and 18% of the total local population (~ 2.4 million) that were present at the time. Significant changes in target strength distributions during the study suggest that the size classes of menhaden present in the estuary change as fish grow or migrate in and out of the estuary. This study demonstrates that vertical beam active acoustics is a viable method for quantifying forage fish in a very shallow (< 4 m depth) estuary.
Weighing the Evidence: What Is Revealed by 100+ Meta-Analyses and Systematic Reviews of Religion/Spirituality and Health?

This chapter reviews the more than 100 meta-analyses and systematic reviews of relations between religion/spirituality (R/S) and health that have been published in refereed journals, a far larger number than is generally recognized. The 118 published reviews identified by 2017 were categorized as quantitative meta-analyses (n = 33), qualitative meta-syntheses (n = 7), meta-analyses of case studies (n = 1), or simple systematic reviews (n = 77). They addressed a wide range of substantive topics relevant to every major public health subfield, and incorporated a mean of 33.5 studies per review. Collectively authored by more than 200 distinct individuals, the reviews were published in 83 different journals, 20 in the category of public health. Multiple reviews were published by 14 journals, a majority possessing impact factors above 2.0. Reviewing empirical studies of R/S-health is clearly a very broad-based enterprise not limited to a few individuals or journals. Collectively, the reviews greatly strengthen the case, based on Hill’s criteria, that R/S exerts a causative influence on health. The case for causal influence may now be compelling, and in most cases R/S involvement is associated with better health, although negative associations also exist. Further investigation is warranted to explore the possibility that R/S is a “fundamental cause” of health that maintains an association even when intervening mediating pathways change. This possibility is consistent with the dynamic understandings of R/S presented elsewhere in this volume.