cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHENOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS IN DIAPAUSE TERMINATION BY CECROPIA FROM DIFFERENT LATITUDES

Populations of Hyalophora cecropia (L.) that originated at five different latitudes in Illinois all emerged bimodally as adults. These geographical strains differed in the emergence dates of both their early and late emerging groups although they were all exposed to the same environmental conditions outdoors at Urbana. The emergence dates became progressively earlier with strains originating either to the north or the south of Urbana. We suggest that this is so because the suitable growing season for cecropia is cut short by cold to the north and by the onset of hot summer weather to the south. Intraspecific hybrids between latitudinal strains do not necessarily have intermediate emergence dates. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG PHANOLOGISCHE ANPASSUNGEN BEI DER DIAPAUSEBEENDIGUNG VON CECROPIA AUS VERSCHIEDENEN BREITENGRADEN Cecropiapopulationen, welche aus funf verschiedenen Breiten in Illinois stammten, hatten alle eine zweigipflige Falterschlupfkurve. Die Herkunfte aus verschiedenen Breiten unterschieden sich im Schlupfzeitpunkt der fruhen und der spaten Schlupfgruppen, obwohl sie in Urbana gleichen Umweltbedingungen ausgesetzt waren. Dies zeigt, dass in diesen Herkunften genetisch fixierte quantitative Unterschiede in der zur Beendigung der Diapause notwendigen Menge an Umweltstimulation bestehen. Das Schlupfdatum war zunehmend fruher bei Herkunften, welche entweder nordlich oder sudlich von Urbana herstammten. Dies konnte darin begrundet sein, dass die gunstige Entwicklungszeit fur Cecropia im Norden durch kaltes Wetter und im Suden durch den Beginn des heissen Sommerwetters unterbrochen wird. Intraspezifische Hybriden zwischen Herkunften aus verschiedenen Breiten haben nicht notwendigerweise intermediare Schlupfzeiten, wie dies in der Literatur vorausgesagt wird.
In defense of the downtrodden: Usury laws?

Few practices have been so universally condemned as usury. Through the ages it has been attacked by poets, philosophers, prophets, legislators, and priests of all nations. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel included usury in a list of crimes (including rape and murder, robbery and worshipping idols) that would receive the punishment of God -'He has done all these abominable things: he shall surely die; and his blood shall be upon himself.' Cato reports that it was less disgraceful to have your father be considered a thief than a usurer.2 Dante, reflecting similar attitudes, consigns usurers to the lowest edge of the seventh circle of hell (deeper even than murderers, but still above the blasphemers).3 These invectives4 arise from the belief that it is the poor unfortunate fellow, the downtrodden individual, or the unknowledgeable and gullible person that is striken with the burden of usury. The result of these condemnations has, throughout history, been the imposition of some type of law secular and/or nonsecular on the charging of interest. The U.S. has been no different. In 1978, forty-eight states and the District of Columbia had statutory limits on interest rates. And, even though several states lifted usury limits in 1980, most of these repeals had sunset provision reestablishing ceilings in three to five years. Those states that had difficulty lifting their usury limits5 found refuge in the federal government through the Depository Institutions and Monetary Control Act of 1980; one component of this act lifted usury ceilings in all states, unless the state explicitly opted out. Interestingly, the arguments in the 1979-80 state legislatures over removal of usury laws altered the condemnations of usurers only slightly. It was feared that if usury laws were repealed 'low-income consumers sometimes desperate for money and unsophisticated about financial con-
Response of Alnus fruticosa to inoculation with Valsa melanodiscus in roadside and forested environments

Abstract Valsa melanodiscus (anamorph Cytospora umbrina) has been associated with disease-related mortality of a riparian shrub, thinleaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia), across Alaska. The disease is characterized by diffuse, longitudinal stem cankers. Similar disease symptoms have also been observed on Siberian alder (Alnus fruticosa) in upland and alpine habitats. However, canker-related mortality on A. fruticosa appears to be much lower than on A. tenuifolia. We conducted a field inoculation study in upland, mixed stands to test whether the same pathogen species causing mortality in A. tenuifolia can incite disease on A. fruticosa. Because A. fruticosa can be subjected to water stress along roadsides, we also compared disease predisposition and susceptibility in roadside versus forested habitats. In July 2008, we inoculated A. fruticosa by wounding the stem and placing a colonized agar plug over the exposed inner bark and sapwood. After one year, V. melanodiscus was cultured from 91.5% of the inoculated stem...
CSF Neurotransmitter Studies: An Infant With Ascorbic Acid-Responsive Tyrosinemia

• A female newborn infant with Marfanlike habitus experienced lethargy and hypothermia associated with tyrosinemia that was not corrected by the administration of ascorbic acid at 50 mg/day but that subsequently responded to ascorbic acid at 500 mg/day. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis for neurotransmitter metabolites showed elevated concentrations of homovanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid when the child was symptomatic and normal concentrations after successful ascorbic acid therapy. These observations suggest that a high level of tyrosine in serum can affect the metabolism in the brain of dopamine and serotonin. ( Am J Dis Child 134:492-494, 1980)
Use of cognitive interview techniques in the development of nutrition surveys and interactive nutrition messages for low-income populations

Abstract The effectiveness of dietary surveys and educational messages is dependent in part on how well the target audience's information processing needs and abilities are addressed. Use of pilot testing is helpful; however, problems with wording and language are often not revealed. Cognitive interview techniques offer 1 approach to assist dietitians in understanding how audiences process information. With this method, respondents are led through a survey or message and asked to paraphrase items; discuss thoughts, feelings, and ideas that come to mind; and suggest alternative wording. As part of a US Department of Agriculture-funded nutrition education project, 23 cognitive interviews were conducted among technical community college students in North Carolina. Interview findings informed the development of tailored computer messages and survey questions. Better understanding of respondents' cognitive processes significantly improved the language and approach used in this intervention. Interview data indicated 4 problem areas: vague or ineffective instructions, confusing questions and response options, variable interpretation of terms, and misinterpretation of dietary recommendations. Interviews also provided insight into the meaning of diet-related stages of change. These findings concur with previous research suggesting that cognitive interview techniques are a valuable tool in the formative evaluation and development of nutrition surveys and materials. J Am Die Assoc. 2002; 102: 690-696 .
A note on horizontal resolution dependence for monsoon rainfall simulations

The motivation for this study came from recent results of an Atmospheric Model Inter-comparison Project (AMIP) coordinated by the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory at Livermore, California. That project included a review of seasonal monsoon simulations from 13 different atmospheric models over the world. Most of the models used a horizontal resolution of roughly 300 km. The seasonal monsoon simulations from these models varied significantly. The poor performance by these models stems in part from the use of the coarse resolution. The purpose of this note is to show that by using the same model physics and lower boundary conditions, such as snow/ice cover and sea surface temperatures, the use of the higher horizontal resolution does have a stronger positive impact on the skill of monthly rainfall when compared to a lower horizontal resolution. In this note we present the results of such a comparison between the horizontal resolutions of T42 and T170. These studies are carried out for the prescribed lower boundary specification of sea surface temperatures and snow/ice cover with the help of an Atmospheric General Circulation Model.
Simultaneous determination of hydromorphone, hydrocodone and their 6α- and 6β-hydroxy metabolites in urine using selected ion recording with methane chemical ionization

A selected ion recording using chemical ionization (methane) is described for the simultaneous measurement of hydrocodone, hydromorphone and their respective 6alpha- and 6beta-hydroxymetabolites in human urine. The samples were acid-hydrolyzed, extracted and derivatized by silylation. Only partial resolution of the components on 3% OV-17 was achieved but was sufficient for their determination. The [M+1]+ ions of the drugs and metabolites as well as the [M+29]+ ion of the internal standard were recorded. The assay was sensitive down to c. 0.01 microgram ml-1. The relative standard deviation of standards processed along with the samples ranged from 4.5-8.2%. Hydrocodone was found to be metabolized in man primarily by O-demethylation and 6-keto reduction. Hydromorphone was excreted mainly in the unchanged form (after acid-hydrolysis) with only minor amounts of the 6-hydroxymetabolites being detected. A lack of stereoselectivity in the metabolic reduction ofhydrocodone was observed.
Estimation of the torsional potential for perfluorodi-methyl ether from electron-diffraction data

Abstract A structural model is obtained for perfluorodimethyl ether, based on the assumption of an equilibrium geometry with the effects of internal rotation appearing in the observed vibrational amplitudes. By separation of frame vibrations obtained from a spectroscopie force field, explicit formulae for calculating the torsional contributions from single and double rotors indicate a three-fold barrier height of 6.0 ± 1.5 kcal mol −1 . With this barrier height, the observed torsional displacement away from the COC equilibrium plane is found to be a significant feature of the model.
pH-programmable self-assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles: hydrophobic interaction versus electrostatic repulsion.

We report a general strategy to conceptualize a new design for the pH-programmable self-assembly of plasmonic gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) tethered by random copolymers of poly(styrene-co-acrylic acid) (P(St-co-AA)). It is based on using pH as an external stimulus to reversibly change the surface charge of polymer tethers and to control the delicate balance of interparticle attractive and repulsive interactions. By incorporating –COOH moieties locally within PSt hydrophobic segments, the change in the ionization degree of –COOH moieties can dramatically disrupt the hydrophobic attraction within a close distance. pH acts as a key parameter to control the deprotonation of –COOH moieties and “programs” the assembled nanostructures of plasmonic nanoparticles in a stepwise manner. At a higher solution pH where –COOH groups of polymer tethers became highly deprotonated, electrostatic repulsion dominated the self-assembly and favored the formation of end-to-end, anisotropic assemblies, e.g. 1-D single-line chains. At a lower pH, the less deprotonated –COOH groups led to the decrease of electrostatic repulsion and the side-to-side aggregates, e.g. clusters and multi-line chains of AuNPs, became favorable. The pH-programmable self-assembly allowed us to engineer a “manual” program for a sequential self-assembly by changing the pH of the solution. We demonstrated that the two-step pH-programmable assembly could generate more sophisticated “multi-block” chains using two differently sized AuNPs. Our strategy offers a general means for the programmable design of plasmonic nanoparticles into the specific pre-ordained nanostructures that are potentially useful for the precise control over their plasmon coupling.
Expected hitting and cover times of random walks on some special graphs

We give general bounds (and in some cases exact values) for the expected hitting and cover times of the simple random walk on some special undirected connected graphs using symmetry and properties of electrical networks. In particular we give easy proofs for an N–1HN-1 lower bound and an N2 upper bound for the cover time of symmetric graphs and for the fact that the cover time of the unit cube is Φ(NlogN). We giver a counterexample to a conjecture of Freidland about a general bound for hitting times. Using the electric approach, we provide some genral upper and lower bounds for the expected cover times in terms of the diameter of the graph. These bounds are tight in many instances, particularly when the graph is a tree. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Relative concentrations of polyaromatic primary amines and azaarenes in mutagenically active nitrogen fractions from a coal liquid

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was used to separate components in the basic and tar fractions of solvent refined coal (SRC-I) process solvent (PS) to obtain materials suitable for biological and chemical analysis. Those fractions eluted from TLC plates which were mutagenically active in the Ames/Salmonella assay were analyzed by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GCMS) for polycyclic azaarenes, polyaromatic primary amines (PAA) and carbazoles. In all materials tested, a strong correlation was observed between the concentration of PAAs in a given TLC region and the mutagenicity of that region in the Ames assay system. Conversely, azaarenes having 2--4 fused rings and carbazoles were present in both mutagenic and non-mutagenic TLC eluates. No PAAs were detected in mutagenically inactive TLC eluates. In comparison to the mutagenic tar fractions, the PS basic fraction contained relatively larger concentrations of 2- and 3-ringed components such as aminonaphthalenes and aminoanthracenes or aminophenanthrenes. The tar fractions, which were essentially devoid of aminonaphthalenes, had a higher average molecular weight and contained relatively higher concentrations of aminopyrenes.
Emotional Victimization and Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors Among Adolescent African American Women

Previous research has demonstrated that a history of gender-based victimization is associated with higher rates of sexual risk-taking behaviors among adolescents. Victimization can occur in various forms. To date, no published studies have examined the relationship between the different forms of victimization and sexual risk-taking behaviors among African American adolescent women. This study explored the association between different forms of victimization and sexual risk behaviors using baseline data from participants (N = 715) with a mean age of 17.9 (SD = 1.7), who were enrolled in a larger intervention study. The results revealed that a history of any form of victimization was associated with some form of sexual risk behaviors.
Two new species of Psyttalia Walker (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae) reared from fruit-infesting tephritid (Diptera) hosts in Kenya

Two species of opiine Braconidae, reared from fruit-infesting Tephritidae in Kenya, are described. Psyttalia masneri, sp. n., was reared from fruits of Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl. (Liliaceae) infested with Taomyia marshalli Bezzi in western Kenya. Psyttalia masneri is the only opiine braconid known to attack members of the genus Taomyia. Unusual morphological features of P. masneri and its host are detailed. Psyttalia halidayi, sp. n., was reared from fruits of Lettowianthus stellatus Diels (Annonaceae) infested with Ceratitis rosa Karsch in coastal Kenya. Psyttalia halidayi is morphologically similar to several described species of Psyttalia that have previously been used in the biological control of tephritid pests. Unlike these other species, P. halidayi can attack and successfully develop on C. rosa, a serious pest of cultivated fruits. A list of valid species in Psyttalia is provided, along with comments on species groups and host records.
Production Characteristics of Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatusStocked at Two Densities in the Partitioned Aquaculture System

Abstract This study was conducted to determine if channel catfish could be cultured at an increased density in the Partitioned Aquaculture System (PAS) without significantly affecting performance. Channel catfish fingerlings (36.53±6.76 g; mean ±SD) were initially stocked into six 9.15 m3 sections at 3,461±317 fish per section, twice the designed carrying capacity, and fed twice daily to satiation. After 75 days, the density of three units was reduced by approximately 50% and all six units were fed for another 97 days. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in mean growth rate, feed conversion ratio, or production between fish grown at the low- and high-density treatments. Also, length variation (CV) and condition factors (K) were similar (P > 0.05) between fish grown at the low and high-density. Increasing density by twice the designed carrying capacity did not affect performance of channel catfish in the PAS.
Young Adults Largely Depend on Vision for Postural Control When Standing on a BOSU Ball but Not on Foam

What happens at the sensory level when a person is balancing on compliant surfaces? Compliant surfaces such as both-sides-up (BOSU) balls are often used as a form of "proprioceptive exercises." Clinical theories in neurorehabilitation suggest that compliant surfaces disrupt the somatosensory contribution to balance and increase reliance on vision and vestibular input. Understanding the sensory aspects of compliant surfaces' exercises would have important implications for balance training of athletes and of people with somatosensory deficits such as people with recurrent ankle sprains. We tested this clinical theory in a sample of 30 healthy young adults and 10 adults with a history of repeated ankle sprains while they were standing on a BOSU ball, memory foam, or floor. We measured participants' center of pressure response to dots projected on a screen, moving mediolaterally at one of the 3 frequencies (0.4, 0.48, and 0.56 Hz). We calculated magnitude of the postural response (gains) and participants' primary frequency (PF) of sway and compared it between surfaces per frequency. In both groups, gains were significantly higher on the BOSU compared with floor or foam (p < 0.001) with no significant difference between floor and foam. The PF difference was significant (p < 0.001) with a clear peak matching of the visual stimulation frequency only on the BOSU. During a single session of stance on compliant surfaces, visual dependence was a dominant factor on a challenging condition. When prescribing BOSU exercises to young adults as specific balance training, trainers should consider its effect on increased visual dependence with respect to that session's goals.
THE ALGAL GENUS TETRASTRUM

There appears to be a real need for a critical examination and evaluation of the species of many genera of the Chlorococcales. Species are too often described as new by workers who do not have access to the literature on this algal group. Such species are frequently found to be synonymous with previously described forms, particularly when a serious attempt is made to analyze the variations a species presents in the same and varying habitats. No attempt is made here to record variations in growth in pure cultures. The species of the genus are considered entirely from collections made in the field, many htundred observations having been made in the last few years. For the few species not found in our collections, we have had to depend upon descriptions from the literature. The genus Tetrastrunt was established by Chodat in I895 to include the species, Staurogenica heteracantha Nordstedt, to which he later added St. multiseta Schmidle. In I897 Schroeder established the genus Cohuiella for C. staurogeniaeformtis, which was in 1900 referred to Tetrastrumn (T. staurogeniaeformne) by Lemmermann. In the same year Schmidle placed Tetrastrum as a subgenus under Staurogenia with the following species: St. schroederi ( = Cohniella staurogeniaeforntis), St. miultiseta, St. mnultiseta var. punctata, St. apiculata, St. heteracantlha, St. alpipa. Brunnthaler in Pascher's "Siusswasserflora" (915) recognized Tetrastrum and included in it Crucigenia tetracantha G. S. West. Playfair (I9I6) added T. elegans; Printz (I927) referred Crucigenia truncata G. M. Smith to Tetrastrumt; and Griffiths (1927) described T. rocklandiensis. The genus has a wide geographical distribution. Some of the species are very common in certain habitats and singularly absent from others. The genus is particularly abundant, for example, in Buckeye Lake and Maumee River in Ohio, blut in over a hundred samples of plankton algae from Florida not a single specimen has been so far observed.
Numerical-linguistic knowledge discovery using granular neural networks

ABSTRACT In this paper, a granular-neural-network-based Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDDM) method based on granular computing, neural computing, fuzzy computing, linguistic computing and pattern recognition is presented. The major issues include (1) how to use neural networks to discover granular knowledge from numerical-linguisticdatabases, and (2) how to use discovered granular knowledge to predict missing data. A Granular Neural Network( GNN) is designed to deal with numerical-linguistic data fusion and granular knowledge discovery in numerical-linguistic databases. From a data granulation point of view, the GNN can process granular data in a database. Froma data fusion point of view, the GNN makes decisions based on different kinds of granular data. From a KDDMpoint of view, the GNN is able to learn internal granular relations between numerical-linguistic inputs and outputs,and predict new relations in a database.Keywords: Data mining, knowledge discovery, granular computing, neural networks, fuzzy logic, soft computing,
A complete history of everything

This paper discusses Lick Observatory's local solution for retaining a complete history of everything. Leveraging our existing deployment of a publish/subscribe communications model that is used to broadcast the state of all systems at Lick Observatory, a monitoring daemon runs on a dedicated server that subscribes to and records all published messages. Our success with this system is a testament to the power of simple, straightforward approaches to complex problems. The solution itself is written in Python, and the initial version required about a week of development time; the data are stored in PostgreSQL database tables using a distinctly simple schema. Over time, we addressed scaling issues as the data set grew, which involved reworking the PostgreSQL database schema on the back-end. We also duplicate the data in flat files to enable recovery or migration of the data from one server to another. This paper will cover both the initial design as well as the solutions to the subsequent deployment issues, the trade-offs that motivated those choices, and the integration of this history database with existing client applications.
Antioxidative activity of volatile extracts from Maillard model systems

Dichloromethane extracts obtained from Maillard model systems consisting of glucose and eight amino acids were examined for antioxidative activity. The extracts from all eight model systems inhibited hexanal oxidation by 100% at levels higher than 50 μg/ml over 40 days. The extracts from the model systems of glucose/asparagine, histidine, or tryptophan inhibited hexanal oxidation by 100% at the level of 10 μg/ml of extract over 40 days. Seven column chromatographic fractions from the extract of a glucose/asparagine model system inhibited hexanal oxidation by 100% at levels higher than 10 μg/ml over 40 days. The fraction eluted with ethyl acetate inhibited hexanal oxidation by 100% at the level of 2 μg/ml over 40 days. 2-Furanmethanol, which has antioxidative activity, was found at a level of 0.022 mg/ml. 2,3-Diydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (pyranone), which may abstract a hydroxyl radical, was found at a level of 7.28 mg/ml in this fraction.
Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Cytologic features of 18 cases

The cytologic features of 18 fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma from 17 patients were examined. The 12 males and 5 females had a median age of 45 years (range 17-75 years). Six were white, five Oriental, four Hispanic, and two black. All patients had mid- or upper-cervical lymphadenopathy (14 bilateral, 3 unilateral). Seven developed widespread metastasis (bone, 5; lung, 2; liver 1; adrenal, 1; soft tissue, 1). The FNAs were from cervical lymph nodes (15), liver (1), adrenal (1), and soft tissue (1). Most aspirates showed similar cytologic features. Tumor cells were present singly and in syncytial groups with overlapping moderately pleomorphic oval to spindle-shaped nuclei with thin, slightly irregular nuclear contours, moderately hyperchromatic chromatin, and usually one or two prominent nucleoli. The cytoplasm was scant and pale with ill-defined borders. Mitoses were frequent. Mature lymphocytes were common in the background of lymph node aspirates. Electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry confirmed the epithelial nature of the tumor in four cases. Although the cytologic features of metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) are characteristic, other poorly differentiated neoplasms need to be considered. Clinical and radiologic data are helpful in supporting the cytologic diagnosis.
Credit Risk Models

This paper reviews the literature on credit risk models. Topics included are structural and reduced form models, incomplete information, credit derivatives, and default contagion. It is argued that reduced form models and not structural models are appropriate for the pricing and hedging of credit-risky securities. Directions for future research are discussed.
The wavelet transform and time-varying tiling of the time-frequency plane

Time-varying filter banks and wavelets are studied, and a design procedure is presented. In the resulting analysis-synthesis structures, the analysis filters and the corresponding synthesis filters change with time. Equivalently, these structures can be considered as time-frequency transforms with a corresponding time-varying tiling of the time-frequency plane and with corresponding time-varying basis functions. This formulation is based on the time domain analysis of the time-varying analysis-synthesis structures. The design procedure can be used to design time-varying perfectly invertible transformations with a finite number of distinct analysis structures. >
Clubbing Masculinities and Crime: A Qualitative Study of Philadelphia Nightclub Scenes

The purpose of our article is to explore the relationship between masculinities and crime within the hip-hop (HH) and electronic dance music (EDM) nightclub scenes in Philadelphia. Given extant the...
Pricing, resource allocation and quality of service in multi-class networks with competitive market model

This study considers a multi-class network resource in a competitive market where each user endowed with an initial budget will purchase bandwidth from each class of the network resource to maximise its utility function. The authors use revenue as the utility function for the service provider, and enhance Kelly's utility function by including delay as the quality of service (QoS) parameter for users. A competitive equilibrium is reached when the total bandwidth is allocated, each user spends all its budget and the utility functions are independently and simultaneously maximised. The authors prove that such equilibriums always exist and, under fixed bandwidth supply for each class of service, the equilibrium is also unique. Furthermore, the authors discuss how to adjust the initial endowment of each user to meet his or her individual bandwidth constraint, either from constraint on the access network or the limitation of the user equipment. Under this bandwidth constraint condition, the proposed competitive equilibrium yields the price for each class of service, budget redistribution and bandwidth allocation among all users. The competitive market model presented provides a solution for pricing a multi-class network resource and allocating the resource that achieves both higher social utility and better individual satisfaction whereas maintaining the QoS of each class.
A common human SCN5A polymorphism modifies expression of an arrhythmia causing mutation

SCN5A encodes the α-subunit of the ion channel that carries Na current in human heart. From a human cardiac cDNA library we recloned SCN5A. The new clone hH1b differed from existing clones hH1 in f...
Response latency in simian learning set performance.

Abstract : Response latency was examined during learning set performance of eight highly sophisticated monkeys. Latency was relatively very long on Trial 1 of each problem and uniformly short during Trials 2 to 6. There was no difference in latency on Trial 2 following correct (response to A+) and incorrect (response to B-) Trial 1 responses. For the second block of problems, where performance was stable, the correlation coefficient between per cent correct responses and latency on Trials 2 to 6 for the eight Ss was 0.86. (Author)
Culture, Values, and Political Theory: A Reply to Professor Jaffa

" THE CASE AGAINST POLITICAL THEORY"' goes to the heart of J contemporary skepticism among students of politics by raising fundamental questions about the possibility or even the desirability of political theory. No recent statement by those who doubt that politics is or can be a science has been so straightforward in specifying a bill of particulars and so unflinching in its nihilism. The knotty problem of the role of values in political thought receives serious attention as well as the emotional commitments which run ahead of the observer and reappear in what he observes. Prof. Jaffa suspects that the mirror which we hold to political events reflects only ourselves and remarks upon the way in which the language of our questions determines the categories in which these questions are answerable. In addition, Prof. Jaffa takes up those large and philosophical topics of the nature and use of theoretical knowledge and the relation of political theory to reality around about which there is so much uncertainty. His misgivings are trenchant and serious, and because they have been marked out so pointedly, it is possible to consider them directly.
HISTORICAL RANGE OF VARIABILITY IN LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE: A SIMULATION STUDY IN OREGON, USA

2 Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA Abstract. We estimated the historical range of variability (HRV) of forest landscape structure under natural disturbance regimes at the scale of a physiographic province (Oregon Coast Range, 2 million ha) and evaluated the similarity to HRV of current and future landscapes under alternative management scenarios. We used a stochastic fire simulation model to simulate presettlement landscapes and quantified the HRV of landscape structure using multivariate analysis of landscape metrics. We examined two alternative policy sce- narios simulated by two spatially explicit simulation models: (1) current management pol- icies for 100 years into the future and (2) the wildfire scenario with no active management until it reached the HRV. The simulation results indicated that historical landscapes of the province were dynamic, composed of patches of various sizes and age classes ranging from 0 to .800 years including numerous, small, unburned forest islands. The current landscape was outside the HRV. The landscape did not return to the HRV in the 100 years under either scenario, largely because of lack of old-growth forests and the abundance of young forests. Under the current policy scenario, development of landscape structure was limited by the spatial arrangement of different ownerships and the highly contrasting management regimes among ownerships. As a result, the vegetation pattern after 100 years reflected the ownership pattern. Sur- prisingly, the wildfire scenario initially moved the landscape away from the HRV during the first 100 years, after which it moved toward the HRV, but it required many more centuries to reach it. Extensive forest management and human-caused fires in the 20th century have left legacies on the landscape that could take centuries to be obliterated by wildfire. Departure from the HRV can serve as an indicator of landscape conditions, but results depend on scale and quantification of landscape heterogeneity. The direct application of the concept of HRV to forest policy and management in large landscapes is often limited since not all ownerships may have ecological goals and future climate change is anticipated. Natural disturbance-based management at large scales would not show the projected effects on landscape structure within a typical policy time frame in highly managed landscapes.
Experience report: evolution of a web-integrated software development and verification environment

This paper summarizes our experiences over the last 4years in creating a web-integrated software development and verification environment. The environment has been used for both research experimentation and education. It has been used in undergraduate computer science courses to teach modular software development and analytical reasoning principles at multiple institutions. In the process, the environment has undergone many refinements to meet demands for improved functionality and to leverage rapidly changing underlying technology for the improvements. The environment is tailored to present formal specifications and alternative implementations of components, and enable correctness checking through a server-side verifying compiler. This paper presents a detailed account of the development and evolution of the environment-its functionality, user interface, and underlying technology-that we hope will serve as a model for others, especially as the benefits of online learning systems are becoming increasingly obvious. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Using Utility Information to Calibrate Customer Demand Management Behavior Models

In times of stress customers can help a utility by means of voluntary demand management programs if they are offered the right incentives. The incentives offered can be optimized if the utility can estimate the outage or substitution costs of its customers. This paper illustrates how existing utility data can be used to predict customer demand management behavior. More specifically, it shows how estimated customer cost functions can be calibrated to help in designing efficient demand management contracts.
Droop-free team-oriented control for AC distribution systems

Droop control is conventionally used for load sharing in AC distribution systems. Despite decentralized nature of the droop technique, it requires centralized secondary control to provide voltage and frequency regulation across the system. Distributed control, as an alternative to the centralized controller, offers improved reliability and scalability. Accordingly, a droopfree distributed framework is proposed that fine-tunes the voltage and frequency at each source to handle 1) Voltage regulation, 2) Reactive power sharing, 3) Frequency synchronization, and 4) Active power sharing. The controller includes three modules, namely, voltage regulator, reactive power regulator, and active power regulator. The voltage regulator boosts the voltage across the distribution system to satisfy the global voltage regulation. Proportional load sharing is adopted, where the total load is shared among sources in proportion to their rated powers. The active power regulator addresses frequency synchronization without using any frequency feedback/measurement, which improves the system dynamic. Simulation results are provided to verify the performance of the proposed control methodology.
Racial Variations In Antihypertensive Pharmacotherapy In Ambulatory Settings: Data From United States National Samples

PCV113 RaCial VaRiations in antihyPeRtensiVe PhaRmaCotheRaPy in ambulatoRy settings: Data FRom uniteD states national samPles Chettupalli K.1, Gu A.2, Wu W.K.3 1ST JOHNS UNIVERSITY, fresmeadows, NY, USA, 2ST JOHNS UNIVERSITY, NY, USA, 3St. John’s University, Jamaica, NY, USA Objectives: Very few studies systematically investigated the differences in antihypertensive pharmacotherapy in ambulatory care settings among different racial groups. The objectives of the study include: 1) To compare antihypertensive prescription patterns by patient race in US ambulatory settings; 2) To determine factors affecting the recipient of each class of anti-antihypertensive regimen specific to racial groups. MethOds: All patient-physician encounters with primary diagnosis indicating essential hypertension (ICD-9 codes “401.0”, “401.1” and “401.9”) and patient age 18 years and older from National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) for the years 2006-2010 were analyzed. Weighted univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to examine demographics and clinical characteristics in general and between the racial/ethnic groups. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to investigate the adjusted likelihood of receiving each class of antihypertensive regimens by different racial groups, controlling for potential confounders. Results: A total of 12,674 visits were identified. The unadjusted prescription rates by race (African Americans vs. Caucasians) were 23.1% vs. 20.3% (diuretics), 21.9% vs. 29.5% (BBs), 21.2% vs. 26.5% (ACEIs), 18.5% vs. 16.7% (CCBs), 14.5% vs. 14.8% (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers, ARBs), 6.6% vs. 5.9% (Antiadrenergic agents), and 47.2% vs. 45.2% (combination regimens). Weighted logistic regression analyses determined that African Americans were more likely to receive diuretics (OR= 1.396, P< .0001), Calcium Channel Blockers (BBs) (OR= 1.409, P< 0.0001), Anti-Adrenergic-agents (OR= 1.267, P= 0.0275), fixed-dose combinations (OR= 1.273, P= 0.0027), and multiple-pill-regimens (OR= 1.184, P= 0.0048) and less likely to receive ACEIs ( OR= 0.836, P= 0.0080), BBs (OR= 0.73, P< 0.0001) than Caucasians. Factors affecting the likelihood of receiving different classes of antihypertensive agents include patient age, gender, co-morbid conditions, insurance-status, and health education profile. cOnclusiOns: In US Ambulatory Care Settings, African American patients receive systematically different antihypertensive regimens than their Caucasian counterparts. Further studies are needed to disentangle the potential effects from health insurance and utilization patterns on the racial variations in antihypertensive pharmacotherapy.
Quality Assurance in Conformal Radiation Therapy

The delivery of conformal treatments, in which the high-dose region of the dose distribution closely conforms to the shape of the target volume in three dimensions, has been a long-standing goal of radiation therapy. In its broadest sense, conformal radiation therapy includes many conventional therapy techniques: external beam photon therapy using shaped beams, beam modifiers, and rotations to focus the radiation onto well-defined target volumes; stereotaxic radiosurgery; electron beam therapy using bolus and compensation; and many brachy-therapy procedures. Usually, however, conformal radiation therapy refers to external beam photon treatments using complex, technologically sophisticated arrangements of customized static beams or dynamic irradiations.
A biophysical model of the synergistic interaction of environmental agents

The authors have proposed a simple mathematical model of synergistic interaction of various environmental physical and chemical agents. The model suggests that synergism is expected to result from an additional lethal damage arising from the interaction of sub-lesions induced by both agents. The model allows quantitatine optimisation of the combined action of two harmful agents and predicts the maximum value of the synergistic effect and conditions under which it can be achieved. The prediction of the model have bees tested using published experimental data. It is concluded that synergistic interaction can take place between an existing background of ionizing radiation, natural UV-radiation, hyperthermia and chemical pollution and thereby strengthen their harmful influence on health quality.
Drug Screening in Cell Cultures

Although tissue culture cells have been used for the study of lipid metabolism for a number of years it is within the last five years that the tremendous potential of this experimental system has been fully realized. The data that have been generated from cell culture studies have greatly broadened our basic knowledge of lipid metabolism. It is now an appropriate time to consider the possibilities of cell culture systems as a tool for screening for drugs that affect lipid metabolism.
Studies on Acinetobacter baumannii involving multiple mechanisms of carbapenem resistance

Aims Characterize the genetic type and resistance mechanisms of 16 carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates recovered between January 2010 and March 2011 from US tertiary-care hospital. Methods and Results A modified Hodge test demonstrated the presence of carbapenemases, but meropenem and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) double-disc synergy tests and PCR for metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) genes were negative. The genes of ampC β-lactamase and efflux pump of adeABC and adeIJK were detected. The presence of oxacillinase (OXA)-like genes, blaOXA-51-like, blaOXA-23-like and blaOXA-40-like genes, and insertion sequence ISAba1 in promoter region of blaOXA-51-like and blaOXA-23-like genes were detected; and confirmed by RT-PCR analyses. The sequencing of blaOXA-51-like genes revealed two major alleles, blaOXA-66-like (blaOXA-82) and blaOXA-113 from 31·2 to 68·8% of isolates respectively. The blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-72 genes showed high expression and found co-harbouring blaOXA-51-like gene preceded by ISAba-1. All CRAB isolates revealed significant reduction in carO transcription, indicated downregulation of CarO porin system, a potentially independent mechanism of carbapenam resistance. Sequencing of carO gene from representative isolates showed no ISAba1 insertional inactivation. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed a clonal relationship. Conclusions CRAB exhibited diversity of mechanisms of carbapenem resistance, and clonal relationship. Significance and Impact of the Study Studies on distinct outbreaks of CRAB are alarming situation for clinicians.
Endovascular Treatment of Femoropopliteal Lesions: So Many Options, Little Consensus.

The first published arterial endovascular procedure was performed by Dr. Charles Dotter in 1964 in the superficial femoral artery [(1)][1]. Since then, the femoropopliteal segment has posed many challenges and opportunities for inventors, industry, physicians, and, most importantly, patients. The
Inherited Deficiency of Hypoxanthine-Guanine Phosphoribosyltransferase in X-Linked Uric Aciduria (the Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome and Its Variants)

The amount of general interest in the inherited human X-linked neurological disease described by Lesch and Nyhan in 1964192 in two brothers with choreoathetosis, spasticity, mental retardation, compulsive self-mutilation (Figs. 1 and 2), and a markedly excessive production of uric acid seems far greater than the clinical prevalence of the disease would warrant. However, the basis for this interest is not difficult to understand. Once the abnormal gene product was identified as a gross deficiency in activity of the enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT),301 detailed study of this “experiment of nature” yielded insight into the operation of many genetic, biological, biochemical, physiological, and pathological processes that could be obtained in no other way. As with other such inborn errors of metabolism, the perturbation created by the abnormal gene product provided precise information on the role of the gene products not only at the primary level of enzyme activity but also at secondary and tertiary levels of cellular function. Description of the substantial amount of progress that has been made in elucidating the biochemical mechanisms responsible for some of the disturbances of function comprises a portion of this review.
Interventricular membranous septal aneurysm: CT and MR manifestations

Advanced cardiac imaging is a valuable method to investigate cardiac malformations. The detection of the interventricular membranous septum has clinical significance due to thrombogenic and arrythmogenic predisposition, as well as a role in obstructing the pulmonary flow. This review describes six clinical presentations in which advanced cardiac imaging has been the tool for evaluation, with special emphasis in CT angiography and cardiac MRI sequences. Teaching Points • The interventricular membranous septum can predispose patients to thrombogenic and arrythmogenic events. • Subpulmonic stenosis relates to the protrusion of the aneurysm into the right ventricle • During surgery, ventricular pressures of the opened heart become balanced, making the aneurysm less evident.
Surgical Management of Rhinosinusitis in Children and Adolescents

Pediatric rhinosinusitis is very common. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in children, as in adults, is defined as 12 weeks or more of signs and symptoms of inflammation of the sinuses. First-line therapy for pediatric CRS should be medical, including management of any underlying conditions causing mucosal congestion leading to sinus ostium obstruction.
The Origins of Marian Devotion in Latin American Cultures in the United States

L'A. degage l'origine d'une vingtaine de devotions mariales americaines et des Caraibes. Il indique lorsque cela est possible le lieu et le statut de ces devotions telles qu'elles sont pratiquees par des groupes d'immigrants qui vivent maintenant aux Etats-Unis. Avec l'immigration sud-americaine, une grande variete de pratiques de la religion populaire sont presentes aux Etats-Unis. Au Mexique et dans d'autres cultures indigenes, les saints et Marie sont consideres comme les parents des individus et les veritables proprietaires de leurs terres. Les mariologies contemporaines sont donc construites sur des racines traditionnelles
Acute Warfarin Toxicity as Initial Manifestation of Metastatic Liver Disease

Near complete infiltration of the liver secondary to metastasis from the head and neck cancer is a rare occurrence. The prognosis of liver failure associated with malignant infiltration is extremely poor; the survival time of patients is extremely low. We present a case of acute warfarin toxicity as initial manifestation of metastatic liver disease. Our patient is a 64-year-old woman presenting with epigastric pain and discomfort, found to have unrecordable International Normalized Ratio. She rapidly deteriorated with acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, profound shock requiring high dose vasopressor infusion, severe coagulopathy, worsening liver enzymes with worsening of lactic acidosis and severe metabolic abnormalities, and refractory to aggressive supportive care and died in less than 48 hours. Autopsy revealed that >90% of the liver was replaced by tumor masses.
Adverse Effects and Drug Interactions Associated with Fluoxetine Therapy

Fluoxetine, an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, was released by the Food and Drug Administration in 1988 and was among the most prescribed drugs for that year. Although fluoxetine has been promoted as a safe antidepressant, a recent literature search revealed a number of case reports of adverse effects and drug interactions attributed to its use. This review familiarizes healthcare professionals with some of the currently known interactions and adverse effects and suggests ways of avoiding such events in clinical practice.
Towards A Theory of Perceived Firm-Specific Human Capital

Strategy research has drawn attention to firm-specific human capital as a source of sustained competitive advantage, at least in part because it may encumber employee mobility. However, it is also ...