cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear response of silicon photonic crystal microresonators excited via an integrated waveguide and fiber taper

A technique is demonstrated which efficiently transfers light between a tapered standard single-mode optical fiber and a high-Q, ultra-small mode volume, silicon photonic crystal resonant cavity. Cavity mode quality factors of 4.7×104 are measured, and a total fiber-to-cavity coupling efficiency of 44% is demonstrated. Using this efficient cavity input and output channel, the steady-state nonlinear absorption and dispersion of the photonic crystal cavity is studied. Optical bistability is observed for fiber input powers as low as 250 µW, corresponding to a dropped power of 100 µW and 3 fJ of stored cavity energy. A high-density effective free-carrier lifetime for these silicon photonic crystal resonators of ~ 0.5 ns is also estimated from power dependent loss and dispersion measurements.
SEASONAL AND INTERANNUAL VARIATIONS IN PLANKTONIC FORAMINIFERAL FLUX AND ASSEMBLAGE COMPOSITION IN THE CARIACO BASIN, VENEZUELA

A three-year sediment trap experiment to study the production and flux of planktonic foraminifera was conducted in the Cariaco Basin, Venezuela, between January, 1997, and December, 1999. The results allow direct comparison between planktonic foraminiferal flux and assemblage composition, and the climatology and hydrography of the region on seasonal and interannual time scales. The Cariaco Basin is located on the northern continental shelf of Venezuela in a region characterized by intense upwelling due to the seasonal migration of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and associated variations in tradewind intensity. Hydrographic observations indicate that coastal upwelling occurs during the late winter-spring at which time sea surface temperatures are lowest (~22°C) and primary productivity is high. Immediately following maximum primary production the total flux of planktonic foraminifera increases from less than 100 shells m −2 day −1 to 4000–8000 shells m −2 day −1 . Approximately half of the total annual flux is produced during this period (February–May). Nine species, or varieties, of planktonic foraminifera constitute >85% of the assemblages: Orbulina universa, Globigerinoides ruber (pink and white varieties), Globigerina bulloides, Globigerina quinqueloba, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Globorotalia crassaformis, Globorotalia menardii, and Globigerinita glutinata. These species are present year-round; however, their flux and contribution to the population vary seasonally and interannually. The peak annual flux of all nine species occurs during spring upwelling. However, Globigerina bulloides is dominant during this period, with values reaching ~4000 shells m − 2 d − 1 , or 50 to 75% of the total flux during upwelling. Sea surface temperatures were estimated for both sediment trap and core-top assemblages using the Modern Analog Technique (MAT) and compared with conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) data to evaluate the accuracy of this method for reconstructing paleotemperatures in Cariaco Basin. The assemblage temperature estimates are within ~1–3°C of the measured temperatures.
The Hermeneutical Significance of Chapter Divisions in Ancient Gospel Manuscripts

The study commences with the five major ways of dividing the gospels in Christian history, after which the focus falls on the hermeneutical significance of the Old Greek Divisions. The most defining characteristic of the Divisions is their tendency to demarcate chapters on the basis of the miracles and parables of Jesus. In lieu of miracles or parables, major units of Jesus' teaching also determine Old Greek Divisions. The Synoptic passion narratives, and particularly Matthew's, display the greatest precision and organization among the Divisions. Titles of divisions aided in locating specific passages, identified corresponding material in the gospels by the same title, and when read or memorized in sequence offered an overview of the gospel narratives.
Polarization sensing with resonant cavity enhanced photodetectors

We describe a new method of sensing the linear polarization of light using resonant cavity enhanced (RCE) photodetectors. The RCE detectors are constructed by integrating a thin absorption region into an asymmetric Fabry-Perot cavity. The top reflector is formed by the semiconductor air interface while the bottom mirror is a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). Quantum efficiency of these RCE devices can be controlled by tuning the cavity length by recessing the top surface of the detector for off-normal incidence of light the reflectivity of the semiconductor-air interface can be significantly different for TE(s) and TM(p) polarizations. A pair of monolithically integrated RCE photodetectors with cavity lengths tuned for resonance and antiresonance provide a large contrast in response to TE and TM polarizations. An alternative polarization sensor can be formed by vertically integrating a conventional and a RCE photodetector. We show that a large contrast in the TE/TM responsivities of the vertical cavity polarization detectors (VCPD) can be achieved, thus combining detection and polarization sensing in a single mesa semiconductor device. These devices alleviate the problems associated with the bulkiness and critical alignment constraints of the conventional sensors based on polarizing filters or splitters and have potential for fabrication of monolithic smart pixels and imaging arrays.
Feeding by the Whitebacked Planthopper, Sogatella furcifera, within susceptible and resistant rice varieties

RESUME Prise de nourriture par Sogatella furcifera sur des varietes de riz sensibles ou resistantes Des determinations des taux d'ingestion et des sites de prise de nourriture par Sogatella furcifera, faites indirectement par des estimations du pH. du contenu en acides amines libres et de la quantite de miellat excrete par cet Homoptere sur une variete sensible (TN1) et une variete resistante (IR2035-117-3) de riz. Oriza sativa L., suggerent que le taux d'ingestion de seve est 267 fois plus eleve sur la variete TN1, bien que le site principal de la prise de nourriture sur les 2 varietes semble se situer au niveau de la seve elaboree des tubes cribles du liber (phloeme). Ces resultats sont compares a ceux publies anterieurement sur la cicadelle du riz. Nephotettix virescens, dont le taux d'ingestion est semblable sur des varietes de riz sensibles ou resistantes, mais dont les sites de prise de nourriture sont differents. Cette cicadelle se nourrirait principalement de la seve elaboree du phloeme chez la variete TN1, tandis qu'elle absorberait surtout de la seve brute provenant des vaisseaux du bois (xyleme) chez des varietes de riz resistantes aux attaques de ce depredateur.
ARE SPECIAL EDUCATORS PREPARED TO MEET THE SEX EDUCATION NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS? A PROGRESS REPORT:

Teachers of students with special needs need to be prepared adequately to teach their students sex education. For years, this has been acknowledged to be an important area of the curriculum, and there have been concerns about whether teachers are being prepared for this area of instruction. This study surveyed the directors/chairpersons of special education teacher preparation programs regarding the amount and type of coursework on sex education that their students received during their special education teacher preparation and compared the responses to responses to the same survey from 1980. Results indicate that students still were not receiving adequate preparation in the area of sex education, and stress the need for faculty involved with special education teacher preparation to address ways to include sex education coursework in their curriculum for teachers in training.
Morphological characteristics of the vomeronasal organ of the newborn Asian elephant (Elephas maximus).

The 6-week-old Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) has a well-documented precocious flehmen response to pheromones, suggesting that the pheromone-detecting vomeronasal organ (VNO) is functional very early in the life of this species. To further document this, the VNOs of two newborn elephants were examined in situ and analyzed by light microscopy (LM) to ascertain their structural maturity at birth. A tubular, cartilage-encased VNO was located along the anterior base of each side of the nasal septum. Its rostral end was connected to a duct to the roof of the mouth; the caudal end was attached to a well-defined vomeronasal nerve projecting toward the brain. LM revealed distinctive differences in the mucosae bordering the horseshoe-shaped lumen: a concave, sensory mucosa, and a convex, nonsensory mucosa. Small groups of receptor neurons were observed among ciliated columnar cells in the sensory epithelium. Numerous unmyelinated nerve bundles and blood vessels filled the underlying lamina propria (LP) and a small section of the vomeronasal nerve was conspicuous at one edge. The nonsensory mucosa manifested a thinner epithelium that principally consisted of ciliated columnar cells, some of which showed a granular cytoplasm, and a conspicuous row of basal cells. The LP was replete with acinar glands and ducts that opened into the lumen. This study shows that the VNO of the newborn elephant has reached an advanced stage of structural maturity, closely resembling that of the adult. Its composition supports the view that flehmen at 6 weeks delivers pheromones to a functional VNO.
Effects of experimentally altered glutathione levels on life span, metabolic rate, superoxide dismutase, catalase and inorganic peroxides in the adult housefly, Musca domestica.

Abstract 1. Effects of varied levels of glutathione, an intracellular redox buffer, were examined in the adult male housefly in order to study the inter-relationship between enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidant defenses. 2. An increase of over 100% in the concentrations of glutathione was induced by the administration of 3 mM l -2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (LOC), which increases the intracellular level of cysteine. A decrease in glutathione concentration of up to 85% was achieved by the administration of l -buthionine-SR-sulfoximine (BUS), which irreversibly inhibits glutamylcysteine synthetase. 3. Life spans of houseflies were shortened by a decrease in the glutathione concentration, but were not prolonged by augmentation of glutathione. 4. Metabolic rate and Superoxide dismutase activity were independent of glutathione concentration. 5. H 2 O 2 was increased by both experimental regimes, whereas catalase activity was decreased by BUS. 6. Results suggest that catalase activity is influenced by glutathione concentration.
Establishing the cost-effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion in stable angina: a decision-analytic model

Background In the setting of chronic stable angina, successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTO) has been shown to produce significant symptom improvement with some evidence for survival benefit. However, the economic basis for this procedure has not been established compared with optimal medical treatment (OMT) of chronic stable angina. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of CTO-PCI in chronic stable angina using a Markov model. Design The transition probabilities, utilities and costs related to CTO-PCI and OMT used to inform the model were derived from literature and our experience. Implications with respect to cost and quality of life were calculated. Sensitivity analyses were based on factors noted to influence model outcome. Results In the reference case, mean age 60 years, rate of successful CTO-PCI 67.9%, and mean transition probabilities, utilities and costs as defined by literature and clinical experience, the strategy of CTO-PCI incurred higher costs relative to OMT (US$31 512 vs US$27 805), but also accumulated greater quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) (2.38 vs 1.99), yielding a cost-effectiveness ratio of US$9505 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses showed the utility of OMT and utilities postsuccessful and postunsuccessful CTO-PCI to be the most influential drivers of outcome. Procedural success held limited influence over model outcome at particular utility threshold values. Conclusions On the basis of the supporting evidence, this decision-analytic model suggests that CTO-PCI is cost-effective in a patient population with severe symptoms. Quality-of-life metrics should be employed in future appropriateness criteria developed for CTO-PCI.
Treatment of CMV retinopathy in patients with AIDS.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, the most common intraocular infection in patients with AIDS, appears to be increasing in frequency as these patients live longer. Untreated, CMV retinitis progresses throughout the entire retina resulting in blindness. Ganciclovir and foscarnet, as intravenous formulations, are the only two drugs currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of CMV retinitis. In the Foscarnet-Ganciclovir Cytomegalovirus Retinitis Trial (FGCRT), both drugs were shown to be equally effective in controlling the retinitis. As these drugs have different toxic profiles, and different infusion times, the choice of initial therapy will depend on coexisting medical factors, concurrent medications and patient's lifestyle. Additionally, the FGCRT showed that ganciclovir was associated with a 50% greater mortality rate than with foscarnet. More recently, oral ganciclovir was recently approved for maintenance therapy.Local therapy for CMV retinitis has been used as intravitreal injections of either g...
Comparison of standard- and extended-length participation in cardiac rehabilitation on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids

Abstract Participation in a standard-length outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) for 3 months is known to result in positive changes in body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids in patients with coronary artery disease. However, there has been little attempt to compare patients who remain active in a formal CRP for an extended length of >1 year with patients who exit after a standard length of 3 months. Consequently, 50 patients underwent a series of tests including a maximal graded exercise treadmill test, assessment of body composition, and fasting blood lipid analysis, at entry to CRP and after a follow-up period that ranged from 1 to 5 years. All patients participated in a standard multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation program for 3 months. Twenty-five patients discontinued participation after 3 months and received no other contact from the program staff until follow-up, whereas 25 patients remained active in the program until follow-up. After statistically adjusting for baseline differences between the groups, significant differences were observed between the extended- and standardlength groups at follow-up for body weight (177 vs 183 lbs), percent fat (22% vs 24%), METS (10.5 vs 8.4), high-density lipoprotein level cholesterol (44 vs 39 mg/dl), total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein ratio (5.2 vs 6.1), and triglycerides (134 vs 204 mg/dl), respectively. No significant differences in the adjusted means were observed between the groups at followup for total cholesterol (209 vs 219 mg/dl) and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (136 vs 138 mg/dl). Data from this study demonstrate the efficacy of extended participation in CRP on body composition, functional capacity, and blood lipids. Greater efforts need to be directed at retaining patients in low-cost, center-based maintenance programs and at extending monitoring of patients exiting standard length CRPs.
Late mortality after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Abstract Background: Mortality within the first year after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) is usually due to infection or allograft failure. Late complications leading to death after OLTx have not been extensively evaluated. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of late mortality and to identify the most common causes and risk factors associated with late mortality after OLTx. Methods: A total of 479 OLTx were performed in 459 patients (320 males, 139 females; mean age 47 years, range 13 to 69) between September 1991 and April 2000. All patient deaths among liver transplant recipients who survived more than 1 year after transplantation (follow-up mean 3.4 years, median 3, range 1 to 8.6) were reviewed. Results: In all, 122 allografts (24%) were lost in 109 patients during the study period (24%). Seventy-five allografts were lost in 69 patients by 1 year (15%). Forty-seven allografts were lost in 40 patients who survived at least 1 year (9.6%). Actuarial survivals at 2 years, 5 years, and 9 years were 95%, 85%, and 80%, respectively (based on 100% survival at 1 year). The causes of the late mortality were malignancy (9 patients), disease recurrence (8), late infection (6), renal failure complications (5), cardiovascular complications (4), chronic rejection (3), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (2), medication noncompliance (1), and unknown (2). Conclusions: Malignancy and disease recurrence are the major causes of late mortality among adult OLTx recipients. Pharmacologic immunosuppression is associated with many of the causes of late mortality. Advances in immunosuppression with less toxicity may improve long-term survival after OLTx.
Using neural network process models to perform PECVD silicon dioxide recipe synthesis via genetic algorithms

Silicon oxide (SiO/sub 2/) films have extensive applications in integrated circuit fabrication technology, including passivation layers for integrated circuits, diffusion or photolithographic masks, and interlayer dielectrics for metal-insulator structures such as MOS transistors or multichip modules. The properties of SiO/sub 2/ films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) are determined by the nature and composition of the plasma, which is in turn controlled by the deposition variables involved in the PECVD process. The complex nature of particle dynamics within a plasma makes it very difficult to quantify the exact relationship between deposition conditions and critical output parameters reflecting film quality. In this study, the synthesis and optimization of process recipes using genetic algorithms is introduced. In order to characterize the PECVD of SiO/sub 2/ films deposited under varying conditions, a central composite designed experiment has been performed. Data from this experiment was then used to develop neural network based process models. A recipe synthesis procedure was then performed using the optimized neural network models to generate the necessary deposition conditions to obtain several novel film qualities, including zero stress, 100% uniformity, low permittivity, and minimal impurity concentration. This synthesis procedure utilized genetic algorithms, Powell's algorithm, the simplex method, and hybrid combinations thereof. Recipes predicted by these techniques were verified by experiment, and the performance of each synthesis method are compared. It was found that the genetic algorithm-based recipes generally produced films of superior quality. Deposition was carried out in a Plasma Therm 700 series PECVD system.
A fixpoint calculus for local and global program flows

We define a new fixpoint modal logic, the visibly pushdown μ-calculus (VP-μ), as an extension of the modal μ-calculus. The models of this logic are execution trees of structured programs where the procedure calls and returns are made visible. This new logic can express pushdown specifications on the model that its classical counterpart cannot, and is motivated by recent work on visibly pushdown languages [4]. We show that our logic naturally captures several interesting program specifications in program verification and dataflow analysis. This includes a variety of program specifications such as computing combinations of local and global program flows, pre/post conditions of procedures, security properties involving the context stack, and interprocedural dataflow analysis properties. The logic can capture flow-sensitive and inter-procedural analysis, and it has constructs that allow skipping procedure calls so that local flows in a procedure can also be tracked. The logic generalizes the semantics of the modal μ-calculus by considering summaries instead of nodes as first-class objects, with appropriate constructs for concatenating summaries, and naturally captures the way in which pushdown models are model-checked. The main result of the paper is that the model-checking problem for VP-μ is effectively solvable against pushdown models with no more effort than that required for weaker logics such as CTL. We also investigate the expressive power of the logic VP-μ: we show that it encompasses all properties expressed by a corresponding pushdown temporal logic on linear structures (caret [2]) as well as by the classical μ-calculus. This makes VP-μ the most expressive known program logic for which algorithmic software model checking is feasible. In fact, the decidability of most known program logics (μ-calculus, temporal logics LTL and CTL, caret, etc.) can be understood by their interpretation in the monadic second-order logic over trees. This is not true for the logic VP-μ, making it a new powerful tractable program logic.
Controlled energy dissipation in fibrous composites I. Controlled delamination

Delamination mechanisms in continuous fiber reinforced composites were investigated. The concept of controlled interlaminar bonding (CIB) is proposed as a guideline for preparing fiber-epoxy composite laminates with enhanced fracture toughness without significant degradation in strength properties. The interlaminar bonding was manipulated by several specialized techniques including insertion of delamination promotors and surface modification of laminae. Results indicated that the plane-strain fracture toughness of E-glass-epoxy laminates could be improved by inserting perforated interlaminar films of aluminum, paper, polyester and polyimide, and fabrics. Such interlayers were used to promote delamination which dissipate strain energy by blunting and diverting a propagating crack. The fracture resistance of a laminate was found to be dependent on the degree of delamination. The competition between the growth of delamination cracks and the propagation of a main crack is controlled by the relative magnitude of the interlaminar bonding strength and the lamina cohesive strength. The interlaminar bonding is controlled by the degree of interlayer perforation and the adhesion between interlayer and lamina. The loading direction was found to be very important in dictating the failure processes. Experimental results from several composite systems are presented and discussed along with post-failure analysis data.
Continuous wave peristaltic motion in a robot

We have developed several innovative designs for a new kind of robot that uses a continuous wave of peristalsis for locomotion, the same method that earthworms use, and report on the first completed prototypes. This form of locomotion is particularly effective in constrained spaces, and although the motion has been understood for some time, it has rarely been effectively or accurately implemented in a robotic platform. As an alternative to robots with long segments, we present a technique using a braided mesh exterior to produce smooth waves of motion along the body of a worm-like robot. We also present a new analytical model of this motion and compare predicted robot velocity to a 2D simulation and a working prototype. Because constant-velocity peristaltic waves form due to accelerating and decelerating segments, it has been often assumed that this motion requires strong anisotropic ground friction. However, our analysis shows that with smooth, constant velocity waves, the forces that cause accelerations within the body sum to zero. Instead, transition timing between aerial and ground phases plays a critical role in the amount of slippage, and the final robot speed. The concept is highly scalable, and we present methods of construction at two different scales.
Determination of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) Concentrations via Ion Chromatography and UV-Vis Spectrophotometry in Samples Collected from Nacogdoches Wastewater Treatment Plant, East Texas (USA)

The concentration of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), a toxic environmental pollutant and carcinogen, was determined in samples collected from Nacogdoches Wastewater Treatment Plant (NWWTP) using ion chromatography and UV-visible spectrophotometry (IC, UV-Vis). On reaction with 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC) Cr+6 forms a 1,5-diphenylcarbazide-Cr(VI) complex, which is then analyzed at 530nm and 540 nm, respectively. Via ion chromatography Cr(VI) concentrations were in the range of 0.00190±0.0020 and 0.0010±0.0006ppm at the influent and effluent, respectively. With the use of standard addition wastewater samples were spiked with a 0.5 ppm Cr(VI) standard of various amounts and subsequently analyzed with UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The spiked concentrations gave Cr(VI) concentrations in the range of 0.0090±0.0060 ppm and 0.0040±0.0061 ppm at the influent and influent wastewater, respectively. The determined Cr(VI) concentrations through the ion chromatography and UV-Vis spectrophotometry are below the maximum USEPA contaminant concentration of 0.1 ppm. From the analysis, the NWWTP efficiently removes Cr(VI) before discharge into the environment through La Nana Creek. The removal efficiency for Cr(VI) was determined to be ≥92.8% along the wastewater treatment stages from the influent (aeration stage) to the effluent stages prior to discharge into the La Nana Creek.
First Observation of YOY Paralichthys dentatus (Summer Flounder) in a Southern Maine Estuary

Abstract Herein we present evidence of the first observation of YOY Paralichthys dentatus (Summer Flounder) in the Saco River estuary, ME, in June of 2012. A possible explanation for the occurrence of YOY summer flounder in this region could be range expansion, which may have destructive effects on southern Maine estuary systems. As active predators, Summer Flounder have the potential to exploit locally abundant fishes, including Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Winter Flounder) and Ammodytes americanus (American Sand Lance).
Chemistry and Art in a Bag: An Easy-To-Implement Outreach Activity Making and Painting with a Copper-Based Pigment

An easy-to-implement outreach chemistry activity showing the synthesis, isolation, and use of a copper-based pigment, malachite, with three paint binders is described. This activity is adapted from a traditional chemistry laboratory experiment and can be performed in a sandwich bag using plastic utensils within a 15 min time frame. Student group size is kept at five students maximum, allowing interaction between a large number of students over the course of a 3 h outreach event. This Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) experiment combining chemistry with art has the advantage of demonstrating a chemical reaction by the observation of a precipitate and evolution of a gas, which most students find highly intriguing. Discussions about chemical reactions, physical and chemical changes observed, and the interplay of chemistry and art took place between the authors and the students, who were highly engaged.
Dynamic wavelength stabilization in a hybrid external Bragg reflecting grating waveguide laser

Dynamic stabilization of a high-power AlGaAs diode laser has been demonstrated. A CDH-LOC diode laser1 is butt-coupled2 to an external waveguide containing a Bragg reflecting grating.3 Anti-reflection coatings allow the laser operation to be dominated by the grating reflection in proper coupling conditions.4
On the Nonlinear Creep and Recovery of Open Cell Earplug Foams

The compressive creep and recovery of foam earplugs was studied at various applied stresses leading to different fi nal creep strains. Deformation was determined from digital videos of the earplugs via image processing software. Creep could not be modeled by a single exponential in time; creep approximated a power law in time. Nonlinear viscoelasticity was observed: creep compliance depends on stress level. Nevertheless, for strain as high as 24%, recovery follows creep. Recovery does not follow creep at 70% strain. Recovery proceeds to completion given enough time.
Urachal Carcinoma: The Case for Extended Partial Cystectomy

AbstractA total of 12 patients with urachal carcinoma was managed by extended partial cystectomy. Of these 12 patients 10 were free of disease at 1 to 13 years, including 8 beyond 2 years. No patient had a pelvic or bladder recurrence. Early diagnosis of a contained urachal tumor favored complete resection by wide surgical excision and a good prognosis.
Prostatic Involvement by Transitional Cell Carcinoma: Pathogenesis, Patterns and Prognosis

AbstractProstatic involvement by transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder includes a spectrum of histologic patterns. Ductal only or ductal and acinar involvement occurs with or without stromal invasion. Stromal invasion may exist without glandular involvement. Invasive prostatic patterns are most frequent in the setting of high stage invasive bladder tumors and 5-year survival rates for these patients are low. Non-invasive in situ prostatic patterns are usually associated with low stage bladder tumors and 5-year survival approaches that predicted from radical cystectomy for low stage bladder tumor alone. When an invasive pattern is associated with a low stage bladder tumor the 5-year survival rate is determined by the prostatic lesion and is low.Although the survival rate is severely jeopardized by stromal prostatic invasion the prognosis is not hopeless. Preoperative radiotherapy followed by cystoprostatourethrectomy can be expected to produce a 20 per cent 5-year survival rate.
Using Mail Surveys to Assess Perceptions of Law Enforcement Officers and Prosecuting Attorneys Regarding Parental Involvement Laws

Community sentiment is often measured by asking community members their opinions; however, individuals who enforce laws provide unique perspectives. This is especially true when laws are on the books but are not actively enforced. The current chapter details a mail survey study that examined the perspectives of prosecuting attorneys and police chiefs concerning parental involvement laws. Parental involvement laws hold parents legally accountable for the illegal behavior and status offenses of their children. Overall, prosecuting attorneys and police chiefs did not view these laws as effective yet tended to blame parents for juvenile delinquency and for difficulties in implementing parental involvement laws. Therefore, this legal professional sample did not have strong support for these laws, which may provide an explanation for why these laws are very common yet infrequently enforced. The chapter also addresses benefits and difficulties in assessing community sentiment with a limited mail survey to legal professionals.
From tribal spirituality to christianity : Olaudah equiano's AfroEnglish view of Christians in eighteenth-century western culture

L'A. presente la vie de l'Igbo Olaudah Equiano (1745-1797), d'abord en Afrique de l'ouest au Benin, puis comme esclave, devenu marin anglais, converti au methodisme, et finalement comme Americain libre, a partir de son autobiographie de 1789. L'A. analyse sa foi en un Dieu providentiel et son projet de persuader les chretiens d'abolir l'esclavage avec l'Abolitionist Movement anglais.
National parks in the eastern United States harbor important older forest structure compared with matrix forests

We analyzed land-cover and forest vegetation data from nearly 25,000 permanent plots distributed across 50 national parks in the eastern United States, along with the matrix around each park, to examine structural characteristics of park forests in relation to their surrounding landscape. Over 2000 of these plots are part of the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program (I&M), and the remaining 22,500+ plots are part of the US Forest Service (USFS) Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) Program. This is the first study to compare forest structure in protected lands with the surrounding forest matrix over such a large area of the United States and is only possible because of the 10+ years of data that are now publicly available from USFS-FIA and NPS I&M. Results of this study indicate that park forests, where logging is largely prohibited, preserve areas of regionally significant older forest habitat. Park forests consistently had greater proportions of late-successional forest, greater live tree basal area, greater densities of live and dead large trees, and considerably larger volume of coarse woody debris. Park forests also had lower tree growth and mortality rates than matrix forests, suggesting different forest dynamics between park and matrix forests. The divergent patterns we observed between matrix and park forests were similar to those reported in studies that compared managed and old-growth forests, although the differences in our study were less pronounced. With the majority of park forests in second growth, eastern parks may be a more realistic baseline to compare with the more intensively managed matrix forests. We recommend that park managers allow natural disturbance and the development of older structure to continue in park forests. In addition, long-term maintenance of regional biodiversity will likely require increases in older forest structure in the matrix. As the NPS moves into its next century of land preservation, we encourage managers to consider parks important components of a larger regional effort to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem processes in eastern US forests. The data collected by NPS I&M programs will continue to provide important information and guidance toward these regional conservation efforts.
Public Policy and Environmental Supports for Healthy Eating

The epidemic of obesity with its consequent comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, and Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still on a rising trend in the country and the world. CVD is still the main cause of death in the United States (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult/html) and in the world (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/) [4, 12]. The two main factors responsible for CVD are diet and exercise. An unhealthy high-calorie diet and lack of exercise have been considered the cause of obesity, which is a risk factor for CVD. For years, these two factors have been recognized and appropriately battled to revert the trend of obesity, CVD, and other chronic diseases. However, it seems that those current strategies are not sufficient to deter the epidemic. There is a need for more changes in the community and in the society, changes that support and enable people, adults and children, to perform the behaviors of eating healthy and exercising. Diet and exercise are still the culprits, but there is a need for policies and supporting activities in the community to counteract these chronic diseases that are killing Americans and humans everywhere.
Democracy in Moderation: Montesquieu, Tocqueville, and Sustainable Liberalism

Democracy in Moderation views constitutional liberal democracy as grounded in a principle of avoiding extremes and striking the right balance among its defining principles of liberty, equality, religion, and sustainable order, thus tempering tendencies toward sectarian excess. Such moderation originally informed liberal democracy, but now is neglected. Moderation can guide us intellectually and practically about domestic and foreign policy debates, but also serve the sustainability of the constitutional, liberal republic as a whole. Our recent theory thus doesn't help our practice, given our concerns about polarization and sectarianism in ideas, policy, and politics. A rediscovery of Montesquieu and his legacy in shaping America's complex political order, including influence on Washington's practical moderation and Tocqueville's philosophical moderation, addresses these enduring theoretical and practical problems. Moderation also offers a deeper theory of leadership or statesmanship, particularly regarding religion and politics, and of foreign policy and strategy rooted in liberal democracy's first principles.
Spatially controlled Fe and Si isotope variations: an alternative view on the formation of the Torres del Paine pluton

We present new Fe and Si isotope ratio data for the Torres del Paine igneous complex in southern Chile. The multi-composition pluton consists of an approximately 1 km vertical exposure of homogenous granite overlying a contemporaneous 250-m-thick mafic gabbro suite. This first-of-its-kind spatially dependent Fe and Si isotope investigation of a convergent margin-related pluton aims to understand the nature of granite and silicic igneous rock formation. Results collected by MC-ICP-MS show a trend of increasing δ56Fe and δ30Si with increasing silica content as well as a systematic increase in δ56Fe away from the mafic base of the pluton. The marginal Torres del Paine granites have heavier Fe isotope signatures (δ56Fe = +0.25 ± 0.02 2se) compared to granites found in the interior pluton (δ56Fe = +0.17 ± 0.02 2se). Cerro Toro country rock values are isotopically light in both Fe and Si isotopic systems (δ56Fe = +0.05 ± 0.02 ‰; δ30Si = −0.38 ± 0.07 ‰). The variations in the Fe and Si isotopic data cannot be accounted for by local assimilation of the wall rocks, in situ fractional crystallization, late-stage fluid exsolution or some combination of these processes. Instead, we conclude that thermal diffusion or source magma variation is the most likely process producing Fe isotope ratio variations in the Torres del Paine pluton.
Five Important Equations in Thermodynamics

The First Law of Thermodynamics evolved from the experimental demonstration that heat and mechanical work are interchangeable forms of energy. The First Law of Thermodynamics is a conservation law, which means that the energy in the universe can neither be created nor destroyed.
Bluetooth Low Energy in Dense IoT Environments

Bluetooth Low Energy was designed as a low-power alternative to classic Bluetooth. However, the use of BLE in dense Internet of Things deployments results in high collision rates and wasted energy. To alleviate some of this contention, we present opportunistic listening, an extension to BLE active mode targeting IoT deployments with large numbers of tags and small numbers of scanning devices. For dense deployments of passive advertising devices, we present the design of Smart LaBLEs (BLE-enabled, electronic, de-centralized hubs), which aggregate multiple advertisements across similar products in a retail environment.
Geodesic distance and compactness prior based salient region detection

In this paper, by using geodesic distance and compactness prior, we present some effective improvements concerning the two important aspects of diffusion-based methods: the construction of the diffusion matrix and seed vector. First, based on the geodesic distance, we construct a 2-layer knn graph. Compared with the most frequently used 2-layer neighborhood graph, our graph does not only effectively use the local spatial relationship, but also removes the dissimilar redundant nodes. Second, we use the background weighted contrast and compactness prior to obtain the seed vector, compared with the previously most used boundary prior, our approach can better distinguish the saliency seeds from the background seeds. Experimental results on public benchmark image sets show the superiority of our proposed salient region detection method.
Optimal Solubility of Diclofenac β-Cyclodextrin in Combination with Local Anaesthetics for Mesotherapy Applications

Because of low injection volume, the recently marketed injectable solution of diclofenac in complex with β-cyclodextrin (Akis®, IBSA Farmaceutici Italia) is an ideal candidate for mesotherapy applications. In this study, we investigated the solubility of Akis, 25 and 50 mg/kg, in combination with various local anaesthetics (lidocaine, mepivacaine, bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, and ropivacaine) at different concentrations in aqueous vehicles (normal saline, sterile water, or bicarbonate). Final injection mixtures were classified as limpid, turbid, or milky at visual analysis under standardized conditions. We found that (i) the use of sterile water for injections or normal saline as vehicles to dilute Akis in combination with whatever local anaesthetic normally results in milky solutions and therefore is not recommended; (ii) using bicarbonate, optimal solubility was obtained combining Akis with lidocaine, both 1 and 2%, or mepivacaine, both 1 and 2%, whereas solutions were turbid in combination with bupivacaine, levobupivacaine, or ropivacaine. Thus, we recommend that Akis is used in combination with lidocaine or mepivacaine in a bicarbonate vehicle.
Foundations of Nuclear Physics

With the establishment of a journal devoted to the subject, there can be no doubt that nuclear technology has come of age. On this occasion, it seems appropriate to review the history of nuclear physics and something of the way in which the science back of nuclear engineering started. So that it need never appear on these pages again, perhaps it is well to record, too, the inevitable pun that “nuclear” physics is really “unclear” physics.
Higher Inequality Increases the Gap in the Perceived Merit of the Rich and Poor

The rewards people receive are often taken as indirect evidence of their merit. We outline an argument that addresses how the magnitude of macrolevel income inequalities affects perceptions of the distribution of merit in a society. We propose that higher levels of economic inequality will lead to perceptions of greater differences in merit such that societies with higher inequality will be characterized by a larger “merit gap,” namely, larger differences in the perceived merit of the rich and poor. We test these arguments using an online experiment that manipulated the level of inequality (high vs. low) in an anonymized society. Participants perceived a larger merit gap in high versus low inequality societies. Our arguments and findings have implications for attitudes about inequality and redistributive policies.
Changes in the Pseudogymnoascus destructans transcriptome during White-nose Syndrome reveal possible mechanisms for both virulence and host resistance.

White-nose Syndrome (WNS) was first observed in 6 New York State sites during the winter of 2007–08, and has since spread to > 190 sites in 31 U.S. states and 5 Canadian provinces. WNS produces ove...
Mosaic genome evolution in a recent and rapid avian radiation

Recent genomic analyses of evolutionary radiations suggest that ancestral or standing genetic variation may facilitate rapid diversification, particularly in cases involving convergence in ecological traits. Likewise, lateral transfer of alleles via hybridization may also facilitate adaptive convergence, but little is known about the role of ancestral variation in examples of explosive diversification that primarily involve the evolution of species recognition traits. Here, we show that genomic regions distinguishing sympatric species in an extraordinary radiation of small finches called munias (genus Lonchura) have phylogenetic histories that are discordant with each other, with the overall pattern of autosomal differentiation among species, and with sex-linked and mitochondrial components of the genome. Genome-wide data for 11 species sampled in Australia and Papua New Guinea indicate substantial autosomal introgression between sympatric species, but also identify a limited number of divergent autosomal regions, several of which overlap known colour genes (ASIP, EDN3, IGSF11, KITLG, MC1R and SOX10). Phylogenetic analysis of these outlier regions shows that different munia species have acquired unique combinations of alleles across a relatively small set of phenotypically relevant genes. Our results demonstrate that the recombination of ancestral genetic variation across multiple loci may be an important mechanism for generating phenotypic novelty and diversity.
Early diagnosis of amblyopia

Amblyopia can be improved or eliminated more easily when treated early in life. Because amblyopia in older children is generally less responsive to treatment (Holmes et al., 2011), there is a premium on the early identification of amblyopia and its risk factors and the subsequent treatment thereof. Clinical preference is to institute treatment in children before 7 years of age when an optimal visual outcome is typically easier to obtain.
Standards and Protocols for Data Acquisition and Reporting for Studies of the Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

Objective evaluation of the performance of electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction has been complicated by a lack of standardized methods for measuring and reporting activity data. In this perspective, we advocate that standardizing these practices can aid in advancing research efforts toward the development of efficient and selective CO2 reduction electrocatalysts. Using information taken from experimental studies, we identify variables that influence the measured activity of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and propose procedures to account for these variables in order to improve the accuracy and reproducibility of reported data. We recommend that catalysts be measured under conditions which do not introduce artifacts from impurities, from either the electrolyte or counter electrode, and advocate the acquisition of data measured in the absence of mass transport effects. Furthermore, measured rates of electrochemical reactions should be normalized to both the geometric electrode area as well as the electrochemi...
The Posture of Services

Much of the inquiry into the responsibilities of an organization—whether from a religious perspective, for example, Christian Social Doctrine (CSR is commonly understood to include not only all forms of business organizations, e.g., partnerships, sole proprietorships, as well as corporations, but also not-for-profit organizations. In this chapter we will be using the terms corporation, firm, or business with the understanding that they may have a broader connotation), or from a secular perspective, the corporate social responsibility field—has been focused on the employees of the organization, to a lesser extent that inquiry focuses on the organization’s responsibilities for environmental issues, usually emphasizing sustainability. Yet an argument can be advanced that the central purpose of any business is to exchange something—goods, services, or ideas—with a group of “customers.” If so, then any comprehensive inquiry into the responsibilities of businesses must include a systematic look at those goods, services, and ideas and also on the processes and policies through which the company markets them. This, then, is the rationale for the title and substance of this chapter.
The Watson-Regge Method (Complex Angular Momentum)

The Watson method of transforming the multipole expansion of the electromagnetic amplitude into a contour integral was discussed in Sec. 3.8. Here we want to deal with its analog in the quantum-mechanical case.