cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological relevance of streamflow metrics: regional and national perspectives

AbstractProtecting the health of streams and rivers requires identifying ecologically significant attributes of the natural flow regime. Streamflow regimes are routinely quantified using a plethora of hydrologic metrics (HMs), most of which have unknown relevance to biological communities. At regional and national scales, we evaluated which of 509 commonly used HMs were associated with biological indicators of fish and invertebrate community integrity. We quantified alteration of each HM by using statistical models to predict site-specific natural baseline values for each of 728 sites across the USA where streamflow monitoring data were available concurrent with assessments of invertebrate or fish community integrity. We then ranked HMs according to their individual association with biological integrity based on random forest models that included HMs and other relevant covariates, such as land cover and stream chemistry. HMs were generally the most important predictors of biological integrity relative to ...
The Oratory of Robert Dole

This chapter examines Bob Dole’s reliance on personal faith, the ‘American Dream’, and belief that the best days of America are ahead. In 1996, he reflected that ‘my life is proof that America is a land without limits. And with my feet on the ground and my heart filled with hope, I put my faith in you and in the God who loves us all. For I am convinced that America’s best days are yet to come’. This was Dole’s nomination acceptance speech delivered on 15 August 1996, at the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. Republican Presidential nominee Bob Dole and his running mate, Jack Kemp, would eventually lose the campaign to President Bill Clinton, with Clinton and Dole earning 379 and 159 Electoral College votes, respectively.
Can we build the cyborg future we all deserve

Knowing who we represent in HCI helps us understand what is at stake. Intersectionality can help us do better.
Synaptic organization of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus

A half century after Ray Guillery's classic descriptions of cell types, axon types, and synaptic architecture of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus, the functional organization of this nucleus, as well as all other thalamic nuclei, is still of enormous interest. This review will focus on two classic papers written by Ray Guillery: 'A study of Golgi preparations from the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the adult cat', and 'The organization of synaptic interconnections in the laminae of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat', as well as the studies that most directly followed from the insights these landmark manuscripts provided. It is hoped that this review will honor Ray Guillery by encouraging further investigations of the synaptic organization of the dorsal thalamus.
Approaches to large scale neural recording by chronic implants for mobile BCIs

The development of techniques for reading information from the brain to translate e.g. movement intentions to control of robotic hands and operating simple tablet-base communication devices by tetraplegic devices is an example of a contemporary BCI operating at a system level of neuro-technology innovation. At the same time, the BCI field could be viewed still at infancy, with both challenges and opportunities for development of considerably more advanced BCIs. For example, the physical cabling of neural sensors such as microelectrode arrays to external electronics is now witnessing a transition to wireless sensors thereby enabling higher degree of mobility of subjects.
A Multilinguistic Approach to Evaluating Student Spelling in Writing Samples

Purpose Spelling is a critical component of literacy and language arts that can negatively influence other aspects of written composition. This clinical focus article describes a spelling error cla...
Developments in X-Ray Technology and their Contribution to Structural Biology

I want to take a broad view of this subject and trace some of the strands of technical development in X-ray diffraction which led, over a long period of time, to the present widespread use of synchrotron radiation. I will emphasize the earlier days when relatively few people were working in the field, and I will focus on the way that the technical developments actually took place, rather than on their contributions to structural biology since many of the present community may be unfamiliar with these early origins.
Changes in airway characteristics after transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty compared to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).

Transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty is postulated to enlarge the retropalatal airway compared to uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for treatment of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Surgical success in treating OSAS has been associated with increasing size and decreasing collapsibility of the retropalatal airway to prevent airway obstruction. To compare transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty compared to UPPP upper airway characteristics were measured following each procedure in seven patients using a quantitative endoscopic technique. Following transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty, maximal retropalatal airway size increased 2210% from 61.5 to 135.0 mm 2 (p < 0.001), and retropalatal closing pressure decreased 9.2 cm H 2 O from 5 to -4.2 cm/H 2 O (p < 0.001) compared to UPPP Results demonstrate that transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty significantly increases retropalatal size and decreases retropalatal collapsibility compared to UPPP Since these characteristics contribute to increased stability, transpalatal advancement pharyngoplasty may improve traditional UPPP Studies of airway mechanics may assist in improving surgical treatment of OSAS.
Electromagnetic Compatibility Analysis Using Embedded Domain Decomposition Method

A finite element based embedded domain decomposition method (DDM) is introduced herein for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) analysis. In the method, we decompose a computational domain into a background subdomain and several embedded subdomains. Information exchange between the subdomains are addressed in their shared regions, including four ingredients: field continuity, material difference, perfect electrical conductor (PEC), and port. The proposed method allows for completely nonconformal sub domains, thus offering great flexibility for the modeling and design in EMC and signal integrity applications.
Evaluation of plan quality and treatment efficiency for single‐isocenter/two‐lesion lung stereotactic body radiation therapy

Purpose/objectives To evaluate the plan quality and treatment delivery efficiency of single-isocenter/two-lesions volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Materials/methods Eight consecutive patients with two peripherally located early stage nonsmall-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) lung lesions underwent single-isocenter highly conformal noncoplanar VMAT SBRT treatment in our institution. A single-isocenter was placed between the two lesions. Doses were 54 or 50 Gy in 3 and 5 fractions respectively. Patients were treated every other day. Plans were calculated in Eclipse with AcurosXB algorithm and normalized to at least 95% of the planning target volume (PTV) receiving 100% of the prescribed dose. For comparison, two-isocenter plans (isocenter placed centrally in each target) were retrospectively created. Conformity indices (CIs), heterogeneity index (HI), gradient index (GI), gradient distance (GD), and D2cm were calculated. The normal lung V5, V10, V20, mean lung dose (MLD) and other organs at risk (OARs) doses were evaluated. Total number of monitor units (MUs), beam-on time, and patient-specific quality assurance (QA) results were recorded. Results The mean isocenter to tumor distance was 6.7 ± 2.3 cm. The mean combined PTV was 44.0 ± 23.4 cc. There was no clinically significant difference in CI, HI, GD, GI, D2cm , and V20 including most of the OARs between single-isocenter and two-isocenter lung SBRT plans, evaluated per RTOG guidelines. However, for single-isocenter plans as the distance between the lesions increased, the V5, V10, and MLD increased, marginally. The total number of MUs and beam-on time was reduced by a factor of 1.5 for a single-isocenter plan compared to a two-isocenter plan. The single-isocenter/two-lesions VMAT lung SBRT QA plans demonstrated an accurate dose delivery of 98.1 ± 3.2% for clinical gamma passing rate of 3%/3 mm. Conclusion The SBRT treatment of two peripherally located lung lesions with a centrally placed single-isocenter was dosimetrically equivalent to two-isocenter plans. Faster treatment delivery for single-isocenter treatment can improve patient compliance and reduce the amount of intrafraction motion errors for well-suited patients.
Effects of sodium caseinate on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion in horses.

Eight cecally cannulated Quarter Horses were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square experiment conducted in four 14-d periods to determine effects of sodium caseinate (casein) on hindgut fermentation and fiber digestion. During each period, horses were assigned to one of four treatments consisting of control (water; CON), 0.125 g casein/kg BW (LOW), 0.25 g casein/kg BW (MED), or 0.5 g casein/kg BW (HI). Casein was solubilized in 800 mL water and dosed directly into the cecum at 0700 and 1900 hours using a metal dosing syringe. Smooth Bromegrass hay (CP 8.50%), water, and salt were provided ad libitum. New hay was fed at 0700 and 1900 hours, and orts were recorded at 1900 daily. During the final 3 d of each period, cecal digesta were collected every 6 h, pH was measured, and samples were frozen for subsequent analyses of VFA and NH3 concentrations. Feed intake during the final 4 d of each period was recorded. Feces were collected during the 3-d sampling period, pooled, subsampled, and frozen. Fecal samples were analyzed for pH and used to determine digestibilities of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF. Statistical analyses were performed via the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS 9.4. Linear and quadratic effects of sodium caseinate on pH, VFA concentrations, and apparent digestibility were assessed by SAS. Digestibilities of DM, OM, ADF, and NDF were unaffected by treatment (P > 0.40). Horses dosed with CON and MED treatments had greater cecal pH than those fed LOW or HI treatments (P 0.10), but VFA changed over time with the greatest concentrations observed 6 h after treatments were administered and introduction of new hay (P < 0.01). Treatment did not affect DMI (P ≥ 0.17). In this experiment, cecal infusions of sodium caseinate had minimal to no effect on fermentation parameters or fiber degradation in the horse. A type II error may have occurred due to small population size or the medium quality hay fed to these horses provided sufficient N for microbial fermentation.
The Effect of Prevailing Wage Law Repeals and Enactments on Injuries and Disabilities in the Construction Industry

State prevailing wage law repeals have been shown to lower wages and benefits—including benefits providing safety training and associated with worker retention in construction. This study tests whe...
Waveguide-Invariant-Based Ranging and Receiver Localization Using Tonal Sources of Opportunity

Acoustic emissions from cargo ships transiting coastal waterways, measured by a single hydrophone, can be exploited to estimate both the time-varying source–receiver range and receiver location. In this paper, two parameter-search-based maximum-likelihood estimators are presented: one for $\beta$ , the waveguide invariant parameter, and one for source range. $\beta$ characterizes the interference structure inherent to ducted acoustic propagation and is central to the spectral analysis involved in the range estimation. The source ranging method extends prior work by the authors and focuses on the strong narrowband tonals that typically dominate the acoustic spectra of cargo ships. Source ranging results are presented using real data from the SWellEx-96 experiment and are shown to be in close agreement with simulation results obtained using the KRAKEN normal mode program. A technique for estimating the position of a receiver, which can be stationary or moving, is also proposed. The localization technique requires knowledge of the source track, hydrophone data, and an initial estimate of the receiver's position. An application to autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) navigation is included in which the waveguide-invariant-based range estimates are used to mitigate the position estimation error due to drift in inertial measurement units on submerged AUVs. A specific scenario is examined, using SWellEx-96 data, in which an initial position error of 3 km is reduced to under 1 km using the proposed technique.
Comment: Penalized Spline of Propensity Methods for Treatment Comparison

We congratulate Zhou, Elliott, and Little (ZEL) for writing a really interesting article on a regression-based doubly robust (DR) approach for causal inference with time dependent confounders. Doub...
Development and data path integration test of the global Feature EXtractor for the ATLAS Level-1 calorimeter trigger system Phase-I upgrade

Abstract The global Feature Extractor (gFEX) is a component of the Phase-I upgrade of the Level-1 Calorimeter (L1Calo) trigger system for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The gFEX is used to identify patterns of energy associated with the hadronic decays of high momentum Higgs, W and Z bosons, top quarks, and exotic particles in real time at the 40 MHz LHC bunch crossing rate. Three prototypes were implemented and tested from 2014 to 2017. With the lessons learned from the prototypes, the final gFEX production board has been implemented at the end of 2017. The gFEX receives up to 300 fiber optical links from the calorimeter and transmits trigger data on 96 links to the ATLAS Level-1 Topological [1] (L1Topo) trigger at a rate of up to 12.8 Gb/s. There are also 24 electrical links on board for communication between two FPGAs running at speeds of up to 25.6 Gb/s. The hardware functionality and performance of the production board have been evaluated. A data path integration test between the Liquid Argon Digital Processing Blade (LDPB) [2] and the Front End LInk eXchange (FELIX) [3] was performed successfully at CERN in 2018.
Coerced and forced sexual initiation and its association with negative health outcomes among youth: Results from the Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia Violence Against Children Surveys.

Abstract Introduction Coerced and forced sexual initiation (FSI) can have detrimental effects on children and youth. Understanding health outcomes that are associated with experiences of FSI is important for developing appropriate strategies for prevention and treatment of FSI and its consequences. Methods The Violence Against Children Surveys were conducted in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia in 2014 and 2015. We examined the prevalence of FSI and its consequences (sexual high-risk behaviors, violence experiences, mental health outcomes, and sexually transmitted infections (STI)) associated with FSI among youth aged 13–24 years in three countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Results Over one in ten youth aged 13–24 years who had ever had sex experienced FSI in Nigeria, Uganda, and Zambia. In multivariable logistic regression, FSI was significantly associated with infrequent condom use (OR = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1–2.1), recent experiences of sexual violence (OR = 1.6, 95%CI: 1.1–2.3), physical violence (OR = 2.2, 95%CI: 1.6–3.0), and emotional violence (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3–2.9), moderate/serious mental distress (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1–2.0), hurting oneself (OR = 2.0, 95%CI: 1.3–3.1), and thoughts of suicide (OR = 1.5, 95%CI: 1.1–2.3), after controlling for demographic characteristics. FSI was not statistically associated with engaging in transactional sex, having multiple sex partners, or having a STI. Conclusion FSI is associated with infrequent condom use, recent experiences of violence and mental health outcomes among youth in sub-Saharan Africa, which may increase the risk for HIV and other consequences. Developing strategies for prevention is important for reducing the prevalence of FSI and its effects on children and youth.
An examination of the effect of recent phishing encounters on phishing susceptibility

Abstract This paper examines online users' perceived susceptibility to phishing attacks. We posit that an individual's phishing susceptibility may be shaped by recent phishing encounters and, more importantly, that the effect of new experience on susceptibility will be heterogeneous among users. To facilitate our investigation, we focus on both the process and outcome of phishing detection. Survey data from college students confirms that one's susceptibility is affected by detection process difficulty and detection outcome failures in the recent phishing encounter. Results also reveal the importance of personal attributes, such as past success in phishing detection and phishing desensitization, in regulating the effects of a recent phishing encounter. Finally, results show the relationship between detection process difficulty and outcome failures, in addition to confirming antecedents to the two detection components. Our research generates new knowledge that contributes to the phishing literature and it also sheds new insights that inform practitioners, although the use of college students limits the generalizability of the current findings.
Chapter 5 – Thermodynamic Properties of Materials in Externally Applied Fields

Publisher Summary This chapter considers the thermodynamic properties of materials subjected to several external fields such as gravitational, centrifugal, surface, radiation, electric, and magnetic. The analysis gives rise to several new effects that are of intrinsic interest. It also provides new insights on the systematic of thermodynamic analysis. The material is used to characterize the thermodynamics of transitions from the normal to the superconducting state.
Multiplicative valve to control many cylinders

This paper presents a multiplicative valve design that allows mn hydraulic cylinders to be controlled by m+n actuators. For example, 100 cylinders could be controlled using a multiplicative valve block with 20 actuators. That can be thought of as having 20 valves controlling 100 ports. This is accomplished by using a row-column structure. Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) and Semi-Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (SNMF) have been shown to enable simultaneous control when using a row-column structure. However, the SVD and SNMF methods require the input to each system in the row-column structure to be a product of the row and column inputs. The multiplicative valve design presented in this paper can physically realize this row-column multiplication. It uses two actuators to vary each orifice area. We give an experimental result for a 2 × 2 grid of uni-directional valves that validates the multiplicative relationship. We extend the design to bi-directional valves for use with either the SNMF or SVD methods. A simulation demonstrates the use of the bi-directional valve to control 9 hydraulic cylinders in a 3 × 3 grid using the SNMF method.
Quantitative residual properties of Γ-limit groups

Let Γ be a fixed hyperbolic group. The Γ-limit groups of Sela are exactly the finitely generated, fully residually Γ groups. We introduce a new invariant of Γ-limit groups called Γ-discriminating complexity. We further show that the Γ-discriminating complexity of any Γ-limit group is asymptotically dominated by a polynomial.
“Whatever happened to our great gay imaginations?”: The invention of safe sex and the visceral imagination

This essay develops a theory of the visceral imagination by analyzing the first safe sex manual written in the age of AIDS—How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach. At the time of the manual’s ...
Platelet-Rich Product Supplementation in Rotator Cuff Repair Reduces Retear Rates and Improves Clinical Outcomes: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the clinical and imaging outcomes of all 4 types of platelet-rich therapies (pure platelet-rich plasma [P-PRP], leukocyte and platelet-rich plasma, pure platelet-rich fibrin, and leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin) in rotator cuff repairs. Methods A systematic literature search was performed to identify rotator cuff tears comparing any of the 4 types of platelet-rich products (PRP) to a control in rotator cuff repair. Data extracted from the studies included retear rates diagnosed with imaging studies, as well as outcome scores such as Constant, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Simple Shoulder Test (SST), and visual analog scale (VAS). Meta-analyses compared postoperative outcome scores and retear rates between the control and study groups. Results Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. When pooling data from all studies, retear rate for the treatment group was 19.3%, compared to 25.4% for the control group (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, P = .0037). When stratified based on PRP type, only P-PRP resulted in a significant reduction in retear rate (OR 0.26, P = .0005). Overall, treatment with PRP significantly improved Constant scores when compared to controls (mean difference [MD] 2.41, P =.0027), as well as VAS scores (MD −0.12, P = .0014), and SST scores (MD 0.41, P = .0126). There was no significant difference in ASES scores (MD 0.37, P = .7762) or UCLA scores (MD 0.76, P =0.2447) between treatment and controls when pooling data from all studies. Conclusions This analysis demonstrates significant reductions in retear rates when rotator cuff repair is augmented with PRP. P-PRP appears to be the most effective formulation, resulting in significantly improved retear rates and clinical outcome scores when compared with controls.
Oxalate decarboxylase uses electron hole hopping for catalysis.

The hexameric low-pH stress response enzyme oxalate decarboxylase catalyzes the decarboxylation of the oxalate mono-anion in the soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis. A single protein subunit contains two Mn-binding cupin domains, and catalysis depends on Mn(III) at the N-terminal site. The present study suggests a mechanistic function for the C-terminal Mn as an electron hole donor for the N-terminal Mn. The resulting spatial separation of the radical intermediates directs the chemistry toward decarboxylation of the substrate. A π-stacked tryptophan pair (W96/W274) links two neighboring protein subunits together, thus reducing the Mn-to-Mn distance from 25.9 A (intrasubunit) to 21.5 A (intersubunit). Here, we used theoretical analysis of electron hole-hopping paths through redox-active sites in the enzyme combined with site-directed mutagenesis and X-ray crystallography to demonstrate that this tryptophan pair supports effective electron hole hopping between the C-terminal Mn of one subunit and the N-terminal Mn of the other subunit through two short hops of ∼8.5 A. Replacement of W96, W274, or both with phenylalanine led to a large reduction in catalytic efficiency, whereas replacement with tyrosine led to recovery of most of this activity. W96F and W96Y mutants share the wildtype tertiary structure. Two additional hole-hopping networks were identified leading from the Mn ions to the protein surface, potentially protecting the enzyme from high Mn oxidation states during turnover. Our findings strongly suggest that multistep hole-hopping transport between the two Mn ions is required for enzymatic function, adding to the growing examples of proteins that employ aromatic residues as hopping stations.
Saturation Problems in Convex Geometric Hypergraphs

A convex geometric hypergraph (abbreviated cgh) consists of a collection of subsets of a strictly convex set of points in the plane. Extremal problems for cgh's have been extensively studied in the literature, and in this paper we consider their corresponding saturation problems. We asymptotically determine the saturation number of two geometrically disjoint $r$-tuples. Further, amongst the eight nonisomorphic $3$-uniform cgh's on two edges, we determine the saturation number for seven of these up to order of magnitude and the eighth up to a log factor.
Ion Gradients and Movements in Excitable Tissues

When certain tissues, such as nerve and muscle, are perturbed in specific ways they change their properties in a characteristic manner. They are “excitable tissues,” and when stimulated they respond. A nerve trunk stimulated electrically may cause the innervated muscle to shorten: something has traveled from the point of stimulation to and then along the muscle, inducing contraction.
The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft

SAGE Research MethodsThe SAGE research collection for learning J. (2012) ​The Sage Handbook of Interview Research : The Complexity of the Craft. 162-176. Beitin, Ben K. “Interview and Sampling: How Many and Whom.” The Sage Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft. 2nd ed. The interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. The SAGE Handbook of Interview Research: The Complexity of the Craft, SAGE, Thousand.
Intercompartmental Signal Transduction during Sporulation in Bacillus subtilis

This chapter talks about the two cells that comprise the sporangium during spore formation in Bacillus subtilis. Spore formation in B. subtilis has served as an important model for cell-cell signaling in bacteria. The conversation between the forespore and mother cell provides insight into how and why cells communicate and highlights the diversity of ways in which organisms transduce information across their membranes. It is clear that there are three signal transduction pathways between the mother cell and forespore that ensure that gene expression in one compartment is linked to gene expression in the other throughout the sporulation process. The first signal transduction pathway between the forespore and mother cell has as input σF activity in the forespore and as output the activation of σE in the mother cell. Dissection of the molecular mechanisms of R-mediated GA activation and GA-mediated pro-σE processing promises to reveal general principles of how information can be transduced across a lipid bilayer. The second signal transduction pathway, the activation of σG in the forespore under the control of σE in the mother cell, has been the most refractory to genetic and molecular dissection. The third and final signal transduction pathway, the activation of σK in the mother cell under the control of σG in the forespore, is the most well understood of the three. All three of these signaling pathways have served as powerful models for studying cell-cell signaling in bacteria.
The Bonobo and the Behaviorist: Frans de Waal’s Bottom-Up Morality

This review considers Frans de Waal’s The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search for Humanism Among the Primates (2013) from a behavior-analytic perspective. In his book, de Waal asserts evolution as the predominant level of selection for moral behavior, denies the possibility of a prescriptive science of morality, and misrepresents the science of behavior analysis. We expand upon de Waal’s analysis and incorporate operant and cultural levels of selection of moral behavior. We also address the distinction between facts and values and describe behavior-analytic interpretations of belief. In addition, we briefly discuss the possibility of developing a behavior-analytic science of moral behavior.
Vacuum Operation for Overloaded Anaerobic Treatment Systems

Overloaded anaerobic treatment systems are characterized by high concentrations of volatile fatty acids and molecular hydrogen and poor conversion of primary substrates to methane. Previous experiments with fixed–film reactors indicated that operation with reduced headspace pressures enhanced anaerobic treatment. For these studies, four suspended culture, anaerobic reactors were operated with headspace pressures maintained between 0.5 and 1.0 atm and a solids retention time of 15 days. For lightly loaded systems (0.4 g SCOD/g VSS-day) vacuum operation provided minor treatment improvements. For shock organic loads, vacuum operation proved to be more stable and to support quicker recovery from upset conditions. Based on these studies and a companion set of bioassay tests, it was concluded that: (a) a loading rate of about 1.0 g SCOD/g VSS-day represents a practical loading limit for successful anaerobic treatment, (b) a headspace pressure of approximately 0.75 atm appears to be an optimum operating pressure for anaerobic systems and (c) simple modification to existing systems may provide relief for organically overloaded systems.
Religion, International Human Rights And Women’s Health: Synthesizing Principles And Politics

For many people at the turn of the millennium, human rights have become the new language of faith resonate with great meaning and profound value. However, like all traditional religions, human rights embody great complexity. Neither coherent nor consistent, human rights cannot overcome the fallibility of its human creators. When we attempt to use rights as absolute values - Dworkin's trump cards against infringement - we find ourselves confronting the contradictions inherent in equally valued rights when they come in conflict. As noted by many authors, nowhere is this conflict more pronounced than the conflict between women's rights and the rights of freedom of conscience/religion present in many international human rights instruments. Lest this be thought a problem of Western privilege, where women can afford the luxury of seeking political parity with men, in this paper I will confront human rights conflicts that have a direct impact on women's health. This will include both reproductive health concerns and female circumcision/female genital mutilation. In attempting to address these conflicts, I will begin by analyzing the nature of human rights to health and the particular rights of women to health - with the problems created by their separation from non-gendered rights. Next, I will begin my principled argument by arguing against both an absolutist understanding of rights, and a "strict equality" standard of interpretation that seeks to recognize a hierarchy of rights. Such an approach fails as a matter of law, as a matter of philosophy (under the foundationalist challenge), and in the face of history. Instead, I argue that while a principled interpretation of rights can provide some guidance, its utility is limited. Instead, it is imperative to consider rights within their political context. Human rights do not stand outside politics, but instead reflect aspects of that politics. Ultimately, the goal of any rights analysis is not to determine which rights take precedence, but how to find a synthesis respectful of each.
Explicit Risk Management in Agile Processes

This paper explores the implicit nature of risk management in agile processes. It discusses why current techniques for managing risks in agile processes are not sufficient and how the processes can benefit from more explicit techniques. This is supported by the authors’ experience with an industry project that was managed using Scrum. Initially, risks in the project were managed implicitly as is typical with agile processes, but more explicit techniques were adopted as the project progressed. The paper will discuss these techniques, mechanisms for incorporating them into agile processes, and lessons learned.
Extension of the Cox Proportional Hazards Model for Time-Dependent Variables

We begin by defining a time-dependent variable and providing some examples of such a variable. We also state the general formula for a Cox model that is extended to allow time dependent variables, followed by a discussion of the characteristics of this model, including a description of the hazard ratio.
The effect of cognitive challenge on delay discounting

Recent findings suggest that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region consistently associated with impulse control, is vulnerable to transient suppression of its activity and attendant functions by excessive stress and/or cognitive demand. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we show that a capacity-exceeding cognitive challenge induced decreased DLPFC activity and correlated increases in the preference for immediately available rewards. Consistent with growing evidence of a link between working memory capacity and delay discounting, the effect was inversely proportional to baseline performance on a working memory task. Subjects who performed well on the working memory task had unchanged, or even decreased, delay discounting rates, suggesting that working memory ability may protect cognitive control from cognitive challenge.
Relation of bone mineral density and content to mineral content and density of the fat-free mass.

Differences in the mineral fraction of the fat-free mass (MFFM) and in the density of the FFM (DFFM) are often inferred from measures of bone mineral content (BMC) or bone mineral density (BMD). We...
Efficacy and safety of single injection peribulbar block performed by anesthesiologists prior to cataract surgery

Abstract Study Objectives: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of single inferior injection peribulbar block administered by anesthesiologists prior to cataract surgery. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Freestanding surgery center (teaching). Patients: 1,074 consecutive patients who were treated over a two-year period. Interventions: Single inferior injection peribulbar block and one inferior peribulbar supplement when indicated. Measurements and Main Results: The efficacy of a single inferior injection peribulbar block was 74%; 96% with one inferior peribulbar injection supplement. There were no ocular or systemic complications. Conclusion: Single inferior injection peribulbar block is safe and effective when administered by anesthesiologists.
SEASONAL OCCURRENCE AND ABUNDANCE OF BRACHYURAN LARVAE IN A COASTAL EMBAYMENT OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

ABSTRACT Little information is available on the larval ecology of brachyuran crabs on the western coast of North America. Horizontal plankton tows were conducted biweekly over a 14-month period at 4 stations in Elkhorn Slough, California, and at 1 station 1 km offshore and adjacent to the slough. The brachyuran larvae of 5 families represented by 12 taxa were identified to the lowest possible taxon. Larvae of Pinnixa franciscana, Hemigrapsus oregonensis, Cancer gracilis, Pinnixaweymouthi, and Pachygrapsus crassipes occurred most frequently. Larvae were most abundant at all sites in early spring and late winter. One exception was the larvae of P. crassipes which had a peak abundance in late summer and early fall. Larvae of P. franciscana and P. weymouthi generally remained within Elkhorn Slough, whereas larvae of H. oregonensis and P. crassipes appeared to be transported offshore. The numerous first stage zoeae of P. Fanciscana. H. oregonensis, and P. crassipes collected in the upper Elkhorn Slough suggest that adult females use this habitat as a spawning ground.
Efficient optimization of a class of relational expressions

The design of several database query languages has been influenced by Codd's relational algebra. This paper discusses the difficulty of optimizing queries based on the relational algebra operations select, project, and join. A matrix, called a tableau, is proposed as a useful device for representing the value of a query, and optimization of queries is couched in terms of finding a minimal tableau equivalent to a given one. Functional dependencies can be used to imply additional equivalences among tableaux. Although the optimization problem is NP-complete, a polynomial time algorithm exists to optimize tableaux that correspond to an important subclass of queries.
Amphetamine-induced rotation in normal cats

Amphetamine elicited dose-related rotation (circling behavior) in 9 naive cats; all cats also rotated, at lower rates, during non-drug sessions. The direction of rotation was consistent for each cat, with 6 cats rotating to the right and 3 to the left. The results extend the generality of previous findings involving rodents and suggest that an endogenous asymmetry in striatal dopamine activity may be a common characteristic of many animal species.
Multivariate Repeated-Measurement or Growth Curve Models with Multivariate Random-Effects Covariance Structure

Abstract The analysis of multiple-response, repeated-measurement or growth curve models with a multivariate random-effects covariance structure for individuals is considered. Results on estimation, hypothesis testing, and simultaneous confidence bounds for the parameters of the generalized linear model of Potthoff and Roy (1964) are derived for the multiple-response repeated-measurements model under the multivariate random-effects covariance structure. Two numerical examples are presented to illustrate these techniques.
A scalable data analysis platform for metagenomics

With the advent of high-throughput DNA sequencing technology, the analysis and management of the increasing amount of biological sequence data has become a bottleneck for scientific progress. For example, MG-RAST, a metagenome annotation system serving a large scientific community worldwide, has experienced a sustained, exponential growth in data submissions for several years; and this trend is expected to continue. To address the computational challenges posed by this workload, we developed a new data analysis platform, including a data management system (Shock) for biological sequence data and a workflow management system (AWE) supporting scalable, fault-tolerant task and resource management. Shock and AWE can be used to build a scalable and reproducible data analysis infrastructure for upper-level biological data analysis services.
Characterization of fatty acid synthase in cell lines derived from experimental mammary tumors

The lipogenic enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) is elevated in various human primary cancers and certain human cancer cell lines. FAS overexpression in human neoplasia has clinical relevance because of its association with tumor aggression and potential chemotherapeutic intervention. Here, we surveyed FAS in cell lines established from normal murine mammary epithelium (NMuMG) and from mammary tumors induced by either rodent polyoma (Py) virus or murine mammary tumor virus (MMTV). Western blotting revealed greater content of FAS in Py-transformed A1-1 and T1 than NMuMG or MMTV-transformed Mm5MT, RIIIMT and MMT060562. These data suggest that signaling events mediated by Py transformation may increase cellular amounts of FAS. Although FAS content was elevated to similar levels in A1-1 and T1, specific activities were significantly different as enzyme activity in T1 was 3-fold higher than A1-1. Likewise, FAS activity in NMuMG was about 0.5-fold higher than the MMTV-transformed lines, even though enzyme content was similar. Immunoprecipitation studies employing anti-phosphoamino acid antibodies followed by immunoblot analysis with anti-FAS antisera (and vice versa) were used to characterize the constitutive phosphorylation state of the enzyme. Phosphoserine and phosphothreonine residues were detected in the more active FAS from T1 and NMuMG, but not in the less active FAS from Mm5MT or A1-1. Discovery of phosphorylated FAS suggests that the enzyme may have more immediate control over lipogenesis than previously thought. High-dose (10−4 M) dexamethasone induced FAS content and activity in NMuMG and MMTV-transformed lines but not Py-transformed cells. Lower concentrations (10−8, 10−6 M) of dexamethasone also activated FAS but without concomitant elevation of its protein content, which was consistent with a phosphorylated form of FAS. Finally, cell lines were treated with the FAS inhibitor cerulenin: almost all breast cancer lines were growth inhibited at significantly lower amounts of drug than normal cell lineages, suggesting that FAS plays a greater role in viability of tumor cells than normal cells. Pretreatment with palmitate (a primary end-product of FAS) prior to cerulenin rescued A1-1 cells only slightly from growth inhibition, whereas pretreatment with oleate (a monounsaturated fatty acid synthesized from palmitate) synergized cerulenin's cytotoxic effects.
Scanning tunneling microscopy of sulfide surfaces

A fundamental understanding of reactions that occur at mineral surfaces, many of which have bearing on important environmental issues, requires knowledge of atomic surface structures. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is a new technique which can be used to image atomic surface structures in real space. We briefly review STM theory and interpret STM images of galena (PbS) and pyrite (FeS{sub 2}) surfaces by comparing the bias-voltage dependence of the images to the electronic structures of the materials. This approach amounts to a form of tunneling spectroscopy which may ultimately be used to identify individual atoms on mineral surfaces. STM imaging was accomplished on fresh fracture surfaces as well as on surfaces that had been exposed to air for long periods of time. For galena, the Pb and S sites are distinguishable, and the S sites appear to be imaged preferentially. A galena surface which had been oxidized in air for several months was imaged, suggesting either that oxidation products are very thin, occur in local patches on the surface, or are both non-conductive and not coherently bound to the galena surface. Iron appears to be imaged preferentially on fresh fracture surfaces of pyrite. Atomic positions on a pyrite growth surfacemore » were not those expected for a termination of the bulk pyrite structure; it is likely that a surface oxidation product was imaged.« less
The relationships among disturbance, substratum size and periphyton community structure

Numerous studies have determined the effects of physical disturbance on periphyton, however, the substrata used have varied in size among studies. In this study we examined the influence of substratum size on the change in periphyton exposed to three levels of disturbance. Periphyton communities were established in a large greenhouse tank on square unglazed tiles that were either 2.5, 5, or 7.5 cm on a side. Following community development sets of tiles were randomly assigned to controlled disturbances removing 25%, 50%, or 75% of the community or an undisturbed control. Following disturbance, changes in periphyton density were associated with both disturbance treatment and tile size as was taxa richness. Experimental results and direct observation revealed that algal growth was most concentrated along the edge of the tile and progressively declined toward the center. Thus, substratum size influences colonization and pre-disturbance community structure, which then affects the extent of periphyton community change due to ifferent levels of disturbance.
College Students’ Decision-Making for Study Abroad – Anecdotes from a U.S. Hospitality and Tourism Internship Program in China

This study attempts to understand how the hospitality and tourism students in the United States make decisions for study abroad participation. Through the analysis of textual data from focus groups and in-depth interviews, this study has identified three sequential phases of a decision-making process by study abroad participants. The first phase is pre-evaluation, including initial awareness and information search. The second phase is decision-making that consists of pull and push motivational factors, influencers, and barriers. The third phase is post-participation, including the elements of program evaluation, impacts, and future behavior. The implications of this study’s findings are discussed in relation to the design, recruitment, administration, and curricula integration of study abroad programs.
(Min, max)-equivalence of posets and nonnegative Tits forms

We study the relationship between the (min, max)-equivalence of posets and properties of their quadratic Tits form related to nonnegative definiteness. In particular, we prove that the Tits form of a poset S is nonnegative definite if and only if the Tits form of any poset (min, max)-equivalent to S is weakly nonnegative.
An Optimal Combination Modulation Strategy for a Seven-level Cascade Multilevel Converter Based STATCOM

This paper proposes an optimal modulation strategy for a Static Synchronous Compensation (STATCOM) using a seven-level cascade multilevel converter without any filter. Cascade multilevel converters have been used in STATCOM application due to its ability to reduce harmonics and increase output power by increasing the level of output voltages for a given semiconductor device without device series connection. Challenges in high power application include relatively low switching frequency (few hundred hertz to 1 kHz) limited by the thermal handling capability of semiconductor switch, and the low harmonic requirement specified by IEEE 519 Standard. With carrier based PWM, the STATCOM can generate lower current harmonic distortions at the expense of working at higher switching frequency. If step modulation strategy is used, the inverter works with lower switching frequency, but the STATCOM injects higher current harmonic distortions to power system, which generally leads to usage of extra filters. The proposed optimal combination modulation strategy works with low switching frequency and has low current harmonic distortions. The simulation results show that it can satisfy the device thermal requirements and IEEE 519 harmonic requirements simultaneously.
Self-organization at finite temperatures of the devil's staircase in Pb/Si(111)

The ``devil's staircase'' (DS) is one of the outstanding phase diagrams in physics because it shows a high degree of self-organization driven by a repulsive long-range adatom interaction. An infinite number of phases are predicted to exist which are built hierarchically with simple combinatorial rules. It was found with diffraction and scanning tunneling microscopy that a DS exists in Pb/Si (111) in the range $1.2l\ensuremath{\theta}l1.33$ monolayers, surprisingly at $\ensuremath{\sim}120\mathrm{K},$ and with phases which extend spatially over macroscopic distances $(\ensuremath{\sim}0.5\mathrm{mm}).$ The extraordinary amount of atom rearrangement necessary for these phases to form indicates an unexpected degree of self-organization at low temperatures.
The decline of partisanship in the United States: A reexamination of the neutrality hypothesis

The “neutrality hypothesis” suggests that the erosion of partisan loyalties in the United States does not reflect a growing sense of alienation from the party system, or a loss of public confidence in political parties generally. Instead, we are told that many independents simply regard the parties as irrelevant in the search for solutions to our most important national problems. The following report challenges the assumption that such beliefs necessarily lead citizens to express neutral feelings toward either the Democrats or the Republicans, or toward both. Data from the CPS election studies show, first, that aggregate levels of neutrality are about the same today as they were 20 years ago and, second, that there is a relationship between nonpartisanship and negative views concerning the parties' capacity to serve as representative (or linkage) institutions in democratic politics. It is our contention that, to some degree, this relationship can help us to account for the weakening of partisan attachments since 1964. If we are correct, a restoration of the parties' mass base will be even more difficult to achieve than the neutrality hypothesis implies.