cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An ultrastructural study of canine mesothelioma

Abstract The clinico-pathological, histochemical and ultrastructural features of a well-differentiated pleural mesothelioma of the epithelial type in a 5-year-old female Labrador Retriever are described and discussed.
Oliver St. John and the Legal Language of Revolution in England: 1640–1642

(1989). Oliver St. John and the Legal Language of Revolution in England: 1640‐1642. The Historian: Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 263-282.
Evaluation of new Tc-99m-labeled Arg-X-Asp-conjugated α-melanocyte stimulating hormone peptides for melanoma imaging.

The purpose of this study was to examine the melanoma targeting and imaging properties of two new 99mTc-labeled Arg-X-Asp-conjugated α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) peptides. RTD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH {c[Asp-Arg-Thr-Asp-DTyr]-Lys-Cys-Cys-Glu-His-DPhe-Arg-Trp-Cys-Arg-Pro-Val-NH2} and RVD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH peptides were synthesized, and their melanocortin-1 (MC1) receptor binding affinities were determined in B16/F1 melanoma cells. The biodistribution and melanoma imaging properties of 99mTc-RTD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH and 99mTc-RVD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH were determined in B16/F1 melanoma-bearing C57 mice. The IC50 values of RTD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH and RVD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH were 0.7 ± 0.07 and 1.0 ± 0.3 nM in B16/F1 melanoma cells. Both 99mTc-RTD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH and 99mTc-RVD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH displayed high melanoma uptake. 99mTc-RTD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH exhibited the highest tumor uptake of 18.77 ± 5.13% ID/g at 2 h postinjection, whereas 99mTc-RVD-Lys-(Arg11)CCMSH reached the highest tumor uptake of 19.63 ± 4.68% ID/g at...
Young children's motor skill performance: Relationships with activity types and parent perception of athletic competence

Abstract Objectives The aims were to examine the relationship between children's motor skill levels and types of physical activities performed during preschool attendance, and to examine the relationship between motor skill performance and parent perception of athletic competence. Design Cross-sectional. Methods Participants were 264, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-old children from 22 preschools. Locomotor and object control skills were assessed with a standardized motor skill protocol. Direct observation (OSRAC-P) was used to record activity types: walk, run, jump/skip, dance, and throw. Parents rated their child's athletic competence. Children were categorized into tertiles for locomotor and object control scores. Mixed models were used to test for differences across motor skill tertiles for each aim. Models controlled for sex, age, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and parent education, with preschool as a random variable. Results Children in the highest locomotor tertile engaged in more dancing than children in the lowest tertile (p = 0.04). Children in the highest object control tertile engaged in throwing more frequently than children in lower tertiles (p Conclusions These findings point to the need for policy and practice research to help parents and child care professionals provide opportunities for young children to learn and practice motor skills.
Experiment and Theory of the Classically Chaotic Motion of the Driven Bound Electron

The externally driven bound electron is a quantized nonlinear system, with the nonlinearity arising from the Coulomb binding force. Laboratory experiments that probe the near classical behavior of this system involve highly excited hydrogen atoms exposed to microwave fields of ionizing strength. Ionization of atoms of initial principal quantum number n0 between 30 and 90 and microwave frequencies between 6 and 18 GHz requires the absorption of the energy of some number kI of microwave photons that is the order of 100. At ionizing field strengths there is rapid stimulated photon absorption and emission underlying the time evolution of the mean value of the atom’s quantum number. The total number K of photon interactions during the microwave exposure time can be 10,000. As the quantities n0, kI, and K are all much larger than unity, it is reasonable to ask as to what extent the behavior of the system is classical.
A Revolution of Scale in Overseas Trade: British Firms in the Chesapeake Trade, 1675–1775

In seventeenth-century England the relatively open trades to America attracted ventures by hundreds of small merchants and shopkeepers. This ease of entry was checked after 1685 by very high customs duties on tobacco and intense regulation. Between 1685 and 1775 the number of firms in that trade was radically reduced and the size of the average firm increased ten to thirtyfold. Comparable if less extreme trends can be detected in the sugar, slave, and Levant trades. Insurance enabled large firms to use shipping more efficiently. The increased availability of credit also benefited larger and more secure firms.
Rotating disk electrode voltammetric measurements of serotonin transporter kinetics in synaptosomes

Abstract Altered serotonin (5-HT) signaling is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, obsessive–compulsive disorder, and autism. The 5-HT transporter (SERT) modulates 5-HT neurotransmission strength and duration. This is the first study using rotating disk electrode voltammetry (RDEV) to measure 5-HT clearance. SERT kinetics were measured in whole brain synaptosomes. Uptake kinetics of exogenous 5-HT were measured using glassy carbon electrodes rotated in 500 μL glass chambers containing synaptosomes from SERT-knockout (−/−), heterozygous (+/−), or wild-type (+/+) mice. RDEV detected 5-HT concentrations of 5 nM and higher. Initial velocities were kinetically resolved with K m and V max values of 99 ± 35 standard error of regression (SER) nM and 181 ± 11 SER fmol/(s × mg protein), respectively in wild-type synaptosomes. The method enables control over drug and chemical concentrations, facilitating interpretation of results. Results are compared in detail to other techniques used to measure SERT kinetics, including tritium labeled assays, chronoamperometry, and fast scan cyclic voltammetry. RDEV exhibits decreased 5-HT detection limits, decreased vulnerability to 5-HT oxidation products that reduce electrode sensitivity, and also overcomes diffusion limitations via forced convection by providing a continuous, kinetically resolved signal. Finally, RDEV distinguishes functional differences between genotypes, notably, between wild-type and heterozygous mice, an experimental problem with other experimental approaches.
Bayesian Nonparametric Reward Learning From Demonstration

Learning from demonstration provides an attractive solution to the problem of teaching autonomous systems how to perform complex tasks. Reward learning from demonstration is a promising method of inferring a rich and transferable representation of the demonstrator's intents, but current algorithms suffer from intractability and inefficiency in large domains due to the assumption that the demonstrator is maximizing a single reward function throughout the whole task. This paper takes a different perspective by assuming that the reward function behind an unsegmented demonstration is actually composed of several distinct subtasks chained together. Leveraging this assumption, a Bayesian nonparametric reward-learning framework is presented that infers multiple subgoals and reward functions within a single unsegmented demonstration. The new framework is developed for discrete state spaces and also general continuous demonstration domains using Gaussian process reward representations. The algorithm is shown to have both performance and computational advantages over existing inverse reinforcement learning methods. Experimental results are given in both cases, demonstrating the ability to learn challenging maneuvers from demonstration on a quadrotor and a remote-controlled car.
Rigorous techniques for synthesis of offset reflector antennas

Summary form only given. The author describes a geometric method that allows to prove, in a completely rigorous fashion, that under some natural restrictions the problem of synthesis of a reflector transforming a given energy pattern from a point source into a prespecified output energy pattern on a prespecified far-field aperture always has a solution. The uniqueness question has also been investigated. The existence proof is constructive and admits a numerical implementation. The numerical procedure produces an approximate solution built of a finite number of pieces of confocal paraboloids of revolution. The numerical solutions converge to the true solution when a certain parameter associated with the problem tends to zero. A modification of the method allows to solve the corresponding near-field problem.
A simple low rate turbo-like code design for spread spectrum systems

In this paper, we introduce a simple method to construct very low rate recursive systematic convolutional codes from a standard rate-1/2 convolutional code. These codes in turn are used in parallel concatenation to obtain very low rate turbo like codes. The resulting codes are rate compatible and require low complexity decoders. Simulations results show that an additional coding gain of 0.9 dB in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) channel and 2 dB in Rayleigh fading channel is possible compared to rate-1/3 turbo code. The low rate coding scheme increases the capacity by more than 25% when applied to multiple access environments such as code division multiple access (CDMA).
Nowhere to Hide: Finding Plagiarized Documents Based on Sentence Similarity

Plagiarism is a serious problem that infringes copyrighted documents/materials, which is an unethical practice and decreases the economic incentive received by authors (owners) of the original copies. Unfortunately, plagiarism is getting worse due to the increasing number of on-line publications on the Web, which facilitates locating and paraphrasing information. In solving this problem, we propose a novel plagiarism-detection method, called SimPaD, which (i) establishes the degree of resemblance between any two documents D1 and D2 based on their sentence-to-sentence similarity computed by using pre-defined word-correlation factors, and (ii) generates agraphical view of sentences that are similar (or the same) in D1 and D2. Experimental results verify that SimPaD is highly accurate in detecting (non-) plagiarized documents and outperforms existing plagiarism-detection approaches.
Programmed cell death in human ovary is a function of follicle and corpus luteum status.

Although extensive investigation on follicular apoptosis (programmed cell death) has been conducted in the infraprimate ovary, there is little information regarding apoptosis and its relationship to follicular status in the human. In this study, apoptosis was investigated in 116 human ovarian follicles (primordial to dominant) and 5 corpora lutea from a total of 27 premenopausal women. Follicles and corpora lutea were evaluated for the presence of DNA fragmentation, characteristic of apoptosis, by two methods: in situ hybridization using 3′ end-labeling of DNA with digoxigenin-labeled nucleotides and subsequent digoxigenin antibody and peroxidase staining, and/or biochemical analysis of low molecular weight DNA laddering. Follicle functional status was evaluated by determining follicle sizes and follicular fluid androgen/estrogen (A/E) ratios. No apoptosis was observed in 67 primordial, primary, or secondary follicles. Positive staining for DNA fragmentation was found in a few granulosa cells in 0.1- to 2...
The RF performance of long junction active devices using TlCaBaCuO step edge structures

The authors report the fabrication of long, step-edge junctions using TlCaBaCuO with associated control lines that demonstrate strong modulation of critical current, usable current gains, large power gains, and fairly large bandwidths. The devices are operational at up to 95 K and RF measurements have been made at 77 K at frequencies up to a probe-limited 10 GHz. These four terminal devices have output impedances of 2-20 Omega , small signal current gains greater than 2.5, available power gains of over 10 dB from 0.5 to 10 GHz, and minimum noise figures of less than 1 dB. >
A New Approach to the Use of Edge Extremities for Model-based Object Tracking

This paper presents a robust model-based visual tracking algorithm that can give accurate 3D pose of a rigid object. Our tracking algorithm uses an incremental pose update scheme in a prediction-verification framework. Extended Kalman filter is used to update the pose of a target incrementally to minimize the error between the expected map of the target model and the corresponding gradient edge in the image space. The main contributions of this paper include: 1) A novel approach to how we use the two extremities of straight-lines as features. By taking into account the measurement uncertainties associated with the locations of the extracted extremities of the straight-line, our approach can compare correctly two straight-lines of different lengths. 2) Our use of a test of mean criterion for initiating backtracking and our use of a variable threshold on the output of this criterion that makes nil-matching more effective. We have tested our tracking algorithm with image sequences containing highly cluttered backgrounds. The system successfully tracks objects even when they are highly occluded.
Recursive active contours for hierarchical segmentation of wetlands in high-resolution satellite imagery of Arctic landscapes

We present a semi-automated approach to recognize and hierarchically partition water-body regions of Arctic tundra landscape, such as streams, inundated drained thaw lake basins and ice wedge polygon ponds, in high resolution satellite imagery. The approach integrates the active contours without edges (ACWE) technique and shape-based recognition, and introduces a recursive mode of ACWE application. We build a successive coarse-to-fine hierarchy of image partitions corresponding to the low-gradient Arctic wetlands by recursively partitioning them at the coarser scale into constituent parts. The approach is evaluated using 0.6 m resolution WorldView-2 satellite image of Arctic tundra landscape. The water-body regions segmentation producer's accuracy is 97.7 %, and the user's accuracy is 92.9 %. Visual inspection of the classification and hierarchical partitioning of the segmented water-body regions has demonstrated their qualitatively accurate recognition and hierarchical partitioning.
Laser synthesis and spectroscopy of acetonitrile/silver nanoparticles

Abstract Silver nanoparticles with acetonitrile ligands are produced in a laser ablation flow reactor. Excimer laser ablation produces gas phase metal clusters which are thermalized with helium or argon collisions in the flowtube, and reactions with acetonitrile vapor coordinate this ligand to the particle surface. The gaseous mixture is captured in a cryogenic trap; warming produces a solution of excess ligand and coated particles. TEM images reveal particle sizes of 10–30 nm diameter. UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra are compared to those of standard silver nanoparticles with surfactant coatings. Deep-UV ligand absorption is strongly enhanced by nanoparticle adsorption.
Luminescence of extended and folded N,N'-diarylureas.

The relationship between molecular structure and luminescence of a series of secondary and tertiary N,N′-diarylureas (aryl = phenyl, 2-naphthyl, 2-anthryl, and pyren-1-yl) has been investigated at 77 K and at room temperature in the glass-forming solvent methyltetrahydrofuran. The secondary diarylureas possess planar extended structures, whereas the tertiary diarylureas possess folded structures in which the aryl groups are face-to-face. The secondary and tertiary diphenylureas display broad, weak fluorescence attributed to an n,π* singlet state at low temperature and are non-fluorescent at room temperature. The other secondary diarylureas are strongly fluorescent both at 77 K and at room temperature. Their fluorescence resembles that of the parent arene and is assigned to a lowest π,π* singlet state. The fluorescence of the other tertiary diarylureas is similar to that of the secondary diarylureas at 77 K, but is broad and red-shifted in fluid solution, as a consequence of intramolecular excimer formation. The properties of these novel intramolecular excimers are compared with those of 1,3-diarylalkanes and paracyclophanes.
Effect of the Calcium and Phosphorus Content of the Diet of Chickens on Egg Production and Hatchability

Abstract ALTHOUGH many phases of the calcium metabolism of the chicken have been studied, very little attention has been given to the effect of the calcium and phosphorus content of the diet of laying pullets and hens on the production and hatchability of eggs. The purpose of this paper is to present data on this phase of the calcium and phosphorus metabolism of the chicken. These data demonstrate the deleterious effect, hitherto unsuspected, of a high level of calcium intake of laying chickens on the ability of their eggs to hatch, and they suggest that in practical poultry husbandry it is very desirable to control the calcium intake of laying chickens. LITERATURE Wheeler (1919) made many inorganic analyses of the shells of eggs and of the carcasses of chickens and ducks that had received calcium, magnesium, and strontium from several sources as supplements to their diet. He found that the diets . . .
A System Verilog Rewriting System for RTL Abstraction with Pentium Case Study

This paper presents a new tool for SystemVerilog RTL modifications with on-the-fly validation of local RTL changes. The tool, SV-rewrite, imports an initial version of SystemVerilog RTL and elaborates it into a hierarchical design description visualized as structural diagrams. From the design cockpit the user can select any set of visualized components, open a favorite text editor, modify then validate the new RTL description, and finally substitute this new rewritten RTL into the larger model to replace the originally selected components. This process of local validated rewrites can be repeated until the entire RTL is safely rewritten. We studied RTL abstraction using SV-rewrite to abstract the Pentium 80602 (P54CS) integer execution unit and register file. We have produced a significantly more readable RTL that is 2 to 3 times smaller than the original one. The abstracted RTL was validated by booting Linux on an FPGA-based emulation platform.
On the Pricing of Mandatory DCF Disclosures: Evidence from Oil and Gas Royalty Trusts

We identify a setting in which firms are required to disclose discounted cash flow (DCF) estimates relating to the value of their primary assets. ASC 932 (formerly SFAS No. 69) has mandated DCF disclosures for proved oil and gas reserves since 1982, and these reserves constitute the primary assets of oil and gas royalty trusts. For a hand-collected sample of oil and gas royalty trusts, we find that (i) the mandatory DCF disclosures are incrementally value relevant over historical cost accounting variables; (ii) investors misprice royalty trust units because they underweight the disclosed DCF estimates when forecasting future distributions; and (iii) media articles bringing attention to discrepancies between price and the disclosed DCF estimates are significant stock price catalysts. While our evidence indicates that mandatory DCF disclosures can be incrementally useful for security valuation, it also indicates that investors may overlook such information, potentially due to lack of attention and accounting expertise.
Barnebya, A new genus of Malpighiaceae from Brazil

The new genusBarnebya is described and illustrated and its systematic position in the Malpighiaceae is discussed, especially its similarity in some respects to the primitive subfamily Byrsonimoideae and in other respects to the Old World genusAcridocarpus. Two species are recognized,B. dispar comb. nov. andB. harleyi sp. nov.; these are described and illustrated and a key is provided for their distinction.
Does moderate iron deficiency protect against childhood illness? A test of the optimal iron hypothesis in Tanzania.

Objectives To test the hypothesis that moderate iron deficiency among children is associated with lower likelihood of infection. Materials and Methods We use data from a population representative cross sectional study of 1164 Tanzanian children aged 6–59 months from the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey. Respondents' iron levels were assessed through serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and anemia was assessed using hemoglobin. C-reactive protein (CRP) was used as a marker of infection. Results Nearly 25% of the children were categorized as normal (iron replete, non-anemic); 45% were IDE (low iron, non-anemic), 24% were classified as IDA (low iron, anemic), and 69 children (5.9%) were anemic but had no evidence of iron deficiency. IDE was not associated with a lower likelihood of elevated CRP compared to iron replete, non-anemic children; 45% of normal children had elevated CRP compared to 51% of IDE children (P = 0.10). IDA, by contrast, was associated with a higher likelihood of elevated CRP (68%, P < 0.001). These results were unchanged when child, maternal, and household controls were added to a logistic regression model. Discussion Our results do not support the optimal iron hypothesis as conventionally formulated. The fact that we did not find an effect where some other studies have may be due to differences in study design, sample (e.g., age), or the baseline pathogenic ecology. Alternatively, it may be more fruitful to investigate iron regulation as an allostatic system that responds to infections adaptively, rather than to expect an optimal pre-infection value. Am J Phys Anthropol 157:675–679, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coalescence of caudal vertebrae in the giant dinosaur Diplodocus

The coalescence, seen frequently in the caudal vertebrae of the giant dinosaur Dipiodocus longus, has been re-examined. A comparison with vertebral fusion in contemporary species suggests that the changes in the dinosaur were of traumatic rather than rheumatoid type. Esseva re-examinate le frequentemente vidite coalescentia de vertebras caudal del dinosauro gigante Diplodocus longus. Le comparation con fusion vertebral in species contemporanee suggere que le alterationes in le dinosauro esseva de henere traumatic plus tosto que rheumatoide.
Effect of total parenteral nutrition on marrow recovery during induction therapy for acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in childhood.

Ten well-nourished children with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) were randomly assigned to groups that received (a) total parenteral nutrition (TPN) throughout the period of induction therapy or (b) standard nutritional support. Body mass and skin hypersensitivity reactions were better maintained in experimental patients. Patients on TPN had higher total white blood counts, absolute granulocyte counts, and platelet counts than did control patients during the course. No difference was apparent in the frequency of febrile episodes, or other aspects of the patients' courses. This preliminary report suggests that intensive nutritional support may accelerate the recovery of normal marrow function during induction therapy for ANLL.
Regulation and Control of Solar Array Power - A Minimum Power Dissipation Approach

Two approaches to a full-shunt regulator for regulation and control of solar array output power are described in this paper. The first approach, Linear-Partial-Shunt regulation, reduces the power dissipated in the shunt regulator to less than one-half of the power dissipated in a full-shunt regulator. The second approach, Linear-Sequential-Partial-Shunt regulation, reduces the power dissipation to less than one-sixth of that dissipated in a full-shunt regulator. The approaches discussed in this paper are simple and cost-effective, and can be easily implemented in any size solar array power system.
Helping Children Left Behind: State Aid and the Pursuit of Educational Equality

Helping Children Left Behind: State Aid and the Pursuit of Educational Equality. Edited by John Yinger. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004. 145p. $40.00.The role of state courts in defining educational finances is the focus of this book that results from a 2001 conference in the Maxwell School of Citizenship at Syracuse University. The author explores the role of state appellate courts since the seminal case of Serrano v. Priest (1971) challenging the constitutionality of local property taxation to fund local schools. About one-half of subsequent state courts followed suit, but the other half did not.
P3GA: An Algorithm for Technology Characterization

It is important for engineers to understand the capabilities and limitations of the technologies they consider for use in their systems. However, communicating this information can be a challenge. Mathematical characterizations of technical capabilities are of interest as a means to reduce ambiguity in communication and to increase opportunities to utilize design automation methods. The parameterized Pareto frontier (PPF) was introduced in prior work as a mathematical basis for modeling technical capabilities. One advantage of PPFs is that, in many cases, engineers can model a system by composing frontiers of its components. This allows for rapid technology evaluation and design space exploration. However, finding the PPF can be difficult. The contribution of this article is a new algorithm for approximating the PPF, called predictive parameterized Pareto genetic algorithm (P3GA). The proposed algorithm uses concepts and methods from multi-objective genetic optimization and machine learning to generate a discrete approximation of the PPF. If needed, designers can generate a continuous approximation of the frontier by generalizing beyond these data. The algorithm is explained, its performance is analyzed on numerical test problems, and its use is demonstrated on an engineering example. The results of the investigation indicate that P3GA may be effective in practice. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4028101]
Physical and hormonal examination of Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon reproductive stage: a reference guide

Summary From May 2001 to June 2002 Wildhaber et al. (2005) conducted monthly sampling of Lower Missouri River shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) to develop methods for determination of sex and the reproductive stage of sturgeons in the field. Shovelnose sturgeon were collected from the Missouri River and ultrasonic and endoscopic imagery and blood and gonadal tissue samples were taken. The full set of data was used to develop monthly reproductive stage profiles for S. platorynchus that could be compared to data collected on pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus albus). This paper presents a comprehensive reference set of images, sex steroids, and vitellogenin (VTG, an egg protein precursor) data for assessing shovelnose sturgeon sex and reproductive stage. This reference set includes ultrasonic, endoscopic, histologic, and internal images of male and female gonads of shovelnose sturgeon at each reproductive stage along with complementary data on average 17-β estradiol, 11-ketotestosterone, VTG, gonadosomatic index, and polarization index.
What is adequate sampling of extraplacental membranes?: a randomized, prospective analysis.

Abstract Context.—It is the generally accepted practice to submit 1 or 2 membrane rolls when examining placentas. Objective.—To determine whether obtaining additional sections would increase diagno...
Harnessing Private Incentives in Public Education

The authors examine how personnel managers in the educational public sector might employ variants of privatization to achieve public goals. Privatization supporters see it as a magic bullet to impr...
Deep inelastic proton compton scattering in the rest frame quark-parton model

A rest frame parton model of a proton composed solely of three fractionally charged, point Dirac quarks is applied to deep inelastic proton Compton scattering. The results, using an input completely determined from deep inelastic lepton-proton scattering, are considerably smaller than those of the experiment of Caldwellet al. Our results are similar to the standard parton model prediction of Bjorken and Paschos, although our model includes a number of nonscaling and parton binding effects not included in the standard parton model.
Automatic prosodic tone choice classification with Brazil's intonation model

This paper examines the performance of automatically classifying five tone choices (i.e., falling, rising, rising-falling, falling-rising, and neutral) of Brazil's intonation model. We tested two machine learning classifiers (neural network and boosting ensemble) in two configurations (multi-class and pairwise coupling) and a rule-based classifier. Three sets of acoustic features built from the TILT and Bezier pitch contour models and a new four-point pitch contour model we introduced here were investigated. Tone choices are one of the key elements of Brazil's prosodic intonation model. We found the rule-based classifier, which was built on our four-point model, achieved better results than the others with an accuracy of 75.1 % and a Cohen's kappa coefficient of 0.73. This research proves that it is possible to classify tone choices with an accuracy reaching close to the percentage of agreement between two human analysts. The findings further concluded that our four-point model was better for classifying Brazil's tone choices than both of the TILT or Bezier models.
Trunk trauma in children.

Infants and children have remarkable recuperative powers following traumatic injury. Although serious injuries are not common in childhood, the physician must always suspect the worst when there is a history of major trauma. Indications for diagnostic paracentesis, intravenous pyelography and exploratory operation are discussed, and illustrative cases are presented.
Forecasting location-based events with spatio-temporal storytelling

Storytelling, the act of connecting entities through relationships, provides an intuitive platform for exploratory analysis. This paper combines storytelling and Spatio-logical Inference (SLI) to generate rules of interaction among entities and measure how well they forecast a real-world event. The proposed algorithm first takes as input the probability of prior occurrences of events along with their spatial distances. It calculates their soft truths, i.e., the belief they have indeed been observed with certainty. Subsequently, the algorithm applies a relaxed form of logical conjunction and disjunction to compute a distance to satisfaction for each rule. The rules of lowest distances represent the best forecasts. Extensive experiments with social unrest in Afghanistan show that storytelling and SLI can outperform common probabilistic approaches by as much as 30% in terms of precision and 13% in terms of recall.
Growth and Survival of Tobacco Budworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae Fed Florida Beggarweed (Fabaceae) and Tobacco (Solanaceae)

Four age groups (newly hatched, 3-, 5-, and 7-day-old) of tobacco budworm larvae, Heliothis virescens (F.), were each fed three phenological stages of Florida beggarweed, Desmodium tortuosum (Swartz) de Candolle, two stages of tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum L., and pinto bean artificial diet. Larvae were placed onto intact plants inside screen cages or onto artificial diet in cups for both laboratory and field experiments. After 7 days, larvae were either counted and measured (1978) or counted and weighed (1979). Newly hatched larvae grew equally well on all stages of beggarweed and nonflowering tobacco. Older larvae (3-, 5-, or 7-day-old) generally survived better and gained more weight on tobacco than on beggarweed. Larvae fed tobacco only or beggarweed only produced pupae nearly the same size as diet-reared pupae (280 mg). Newly hatched larvae fed artificial diet survived between 1.9 and 7.2-fold better and gained 1.7 to 6.7-fold more weight in 7 days than did those fed tobacco or beggarweed. Older larvae also generally survived better and gained more weight on artificial diet than on the intact plants.
Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Spread in the Central Appalachians: Three Methods for Species Boundary Estimation

Estimation of the boundary of the geographic distribution of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), populations is important for monitoring and controlling the spread of this species in North America. In this study, gypsy moth population boundaries were estimated from male moths counts in pheromone–baited traps and from egg mass counts in a 5.18– million–ha area in northwestern Virginia and southeastern West Virginia.Population boundaries were estimated for 5 yr (1988–1992) and for different population density thresholds using the following 3 methods: (1) best classification(minimizing the number of grid cell misclassifications),(2) 1st occurrence method, and (3) logistic regression of log population counts versus distance perpendicular to population boundary.All 3 methods generated similar boundaries for male moth counts, and boundaries obtained with the first 2 methods were most correlated. The regression method failed to estimate boundaries of egg mass populations because of their irregular spatial distribution. However,the 2 other methods were successful and yielded similar results. The average gypsy moth spread rate estimated using male counts was 10.7–11.9 km/yr.The minimum spread rate was 3.8–4.9 km in 1991, and the maximum rate was 19.4–22.6 Km in 1989.
The Family Projapygidae and Anajapygidae (Diplura) in North America

The known world fauna of Projapygidae comprises 7 species in Projapyx and 19 in Symphylurinus ; of Anajapygidae, 5 species in Anajapyx. A distributional list of these is given, together with keys to the families and genera and to the species of Anajapyx. New species are: Anajapyx hermosus (California), A. amabilis (Vera Cruz), A. menkei (Vera Cruz and Oaxaca), and Symphylurinus stangei (Oaxaca). Modifications of certain structures in Symphylurinus species, and the evolutionary significance of some of them, are discussed.
Protectants for Stored Rough Rice: Gardona, Dichlorvos, and a Gardona-Dichlorvos Mixture2

Gardona® (2-chloro-1-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl)vinyl dimethyl phosphate), dichlorvos, and a Gardona:dichlorvos (2:1) mixture were evaluated as bulk treatments in small-bin tests for controlling or preventing stored-product-insect infestations in stored rough rice. Gardona at 15 and 20 ppm, dichlorvos at 7.5 and 10 ppm, and the combination at 20:10 ppm eliminated pretreatment infestations, greatly reduced reinfestation for 3, 1, and 9 months, respectively, and did not affect germination of the rice. Gardona was highly toxic to rice weevils, Sitohilus oryzae (L.), for 6 months, and to lesser grain borers, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and confused flour beetles, Tribolium confusum Jaequclin duVal, for 1 month. The 20: 10-ppm combination was highly toxic to rice weevils for 12 months, to lesser grain borers for I month, and to confused flour beetles for 3 months. Gardona residues in rough rice persisted longer at the higher dosage and when applied in combination with dichlorvos. Gardona residues after 180 days with the 20: 10-ppm combination were 5.5 ppm on rough rice, 7.6 ppm on rice bran, 13.8 ppm on rice hulls, and 0.18 ppm on milled rice. Dichlorvos residues dissipated rapidly on all milling fractions.
Microbial siderophore-based iron assimilation and therapeutic applications

Siderophores are structurally diverse, complex natural products that bind metals with extraordinary specificity and affinity. The acquisition of iron is critical for the survival and virulence of many pathogenic microbes and diverse strategies have evolved to synthesize, import and utilize iron. There has been a substantial increase of known siderophore scaffolds isolated and characterized in the past decade and the corresponding biosynthetic gene clusters have provided insight into the varied pathways involved in siderophore biosynthesis, delivery and utilization. Additionally, therapeutic applications of siderophores and related compounds are actively being developed. The study of biosynthetic pathways to natural siderophores augments the understanding of the complex mechanisms of bacterial iron acquisition, and enables a complimentary approach to address virulence through the interruption of siderophore biosynthesis or utilization by targeting the key enzymes to the siderophore pathways.
Hard Labor: The Pregnant Body at Work:

The last forty years have seen the development of greater labor force attachments by both pregnant and postpartum women. These developing attachments have forced courts and legislatures to reimagin...
Does our legal minimum drinking age modulate risk of first heavy drinking episode soon after drinking onset? Epidemiological evidence for the United States, 2006–2014

Background. State-level ‘age 21’ drinking laws conform generally with the United States National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (US), and are thought to protect young people from adverse drinking experiences such as heavy episodic drinking (HED, sometimes called ‘binge drinking’). We shed light on this hypothesis while estimating the age-specific risk of transitioning from 1st full drink to 1st HED among 12-to-23-year-old newly incident drinkers, with challenge to a “gender gap” hypothesis and male excess described in HED prevalence reports. Methods. The study population consisted of non-institutionalized civilians in the United States, with nine independently drawn nationally representative samples of more than 40,000 12-to-23-year-olds (2006–2014). Standardized audio computer-assisted self-interviews identified 43,000 newly incident drinkers (all with 1st HED evaluated within 12 months of drinking onset). Estimated age-specific HED risk soon after first full drink is evaluated for males and females. Results. Among 12-to-23-year-old newly incident drinkers, an estimated 20–30% of females and 35–45% of males experienced their 1st HED within 12 months after drinking onset. Before mid-adolescence, there is no male excess in such HED risk. Those who postponed drinking to age 21 are not spared (27% for ‘postponer’ females; 95% CI [24–30]; 42% for ‘postponer’ males; 95% CI [38–45]). An estimated 10–18% females and 10–28% males experienced their 1st HED in the same month of their 1st drink; peak HED risk estimates are 18% for ‘postponer’ females (95% CI [15–21]) and 28% for ‘postponer’ males (95% CI [24–31]). Conclusions. In the US, one in three young new drinkers transition into HED within 12 months after first drink. Those who postpone the 1st full drink until age 21 are not protected. Furthermore, ‘postponers’ have substantial risk for very rapid transition to HED. A male excess in this transition to HED is not observed until after age 14.
Russians in the Horn

Russian strategic interest in the Horn of Africa has much deeper roots than that of the United States, which is entirely a post-World War II development. Until then, as Chapter 2 has demonstrated, American interest was exclusively commercial, humanitarian and scientific. Russian curiosity about Ethiopia was aroused as early as the seventeenth century by the appeal of an exotic, distant land inhabited by Orthodox Christians who might help the tsars further their imperial interests. Tsar Alexis (1645–76) toyed with the idea of an alliance with the Ethiopians “to arouse a new enemy against Turkey.” Nothing came of this aspiration. Peter the Great’s desire to develop links with Ethiopia, inspired in part by his general of Ethiopian origin, Hannibal, bought as a slave in Constantinople, also failed to materialize.1
Telepresence-enabled remote fieldwork: undergraduate research in the deep sea

ABSTRACTDeep-sea research is rarely available to undergraduate students. However, as telepresence technology becomes more available, doors may open for more undergraduates to pursue research that includes remote fieldwork. This descriptive case study is an initial investigation into whether such technology might provide a feasible opportunity for undergraduate students to conduct ocean science research remotely, and if so, whether students can move from being spectators to beingactive agents. Specifically, we inquire into the learning of seven students who conducted fieldwork via telepresence, which enabled them to participate in a cruise that used remotely operated vehicles to explore an active underwater volcano and mud volcano cold seeps. This study examines whether the students engaged in authentic research and whether telepresence provided a reasonable experience of fieldwork at sea. Interviews and observation notes suggest that these undergraduates were able to undertake all aspects of research. Stu...
Variation in periphyton biomass and species composition in Lake Okeechobee, Florida (USA) : Distribution of algal guilds along environmental gradients

Many environmental factors (disturbance, resources, grazing pressure) collectively interact to influence periphyton abundance and species composition, particularly in large lakes where environmental gradients are commonplace. We assessed the link between variation in key environmental factors and changes in periphyton biomass and taxonomic composition in Lake Okeechobee, Florida, USA. Epiphyton and epipelon were collected quarterly from plant grab samples (10 sites) and sediment cores (15 sites) at fixed locations during 1994-95 (n = 98) in the lake. Samples were analyzed microscopically to estimate periphyton biomass and species composition, and physical and chemical conditions at each site were measured. Periphyton biovolume was high throughout the year (range epiphyton: 0.05-175 mm 3 /g and epipelon: 0.03-16 mm 3 /cm 2 ) and was dominated by diatoms and cyanobacteria (30-50% on average), with chlorophytes being subdominant (4-20%). Although epipelic cyanobacteria were more abundant during the wet season (June-October), limited seasonal variation was observed for other groups, and this was attributed to the relatively constant climate characteristic of this subtropical geographic region. Both epiphyton and epipelon biovolume were greatest in protected inner marsh sites, while epipelon was also abundant in the pelagic zone where a meroplankton assemblage was dominant. Functional groups of species (guilds) were formed according to their adaptive response to changing resources and disturbance. In turn, algal guilds in Lake Okeechobee (flocculent, metaphyton, adnate, meroplankton mats) reflected local nitrogen and phosphorus inputs as mediated by strong lake-wide gradients in light penetration and physical disturbance.
A Comparison of Mobile and Fixed Device Access on User Engagement Associated With Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Online Nutrition Education.

Background: Online health education has expanded its reach due to cost-effective implementation and demonstrated effectiveness. However, a limitation exists with the evaluation of online health education implementations and how the impact of the system is attenuated by the extent to which a user engages with it. Moreover, the current online health education research does not consider how this engagement has been affected by the transition from fixed to mobile user access over the last decade. Objective: This paper focuses on comparing the impact mobile versus fixed devices have on user engagement key performance indicators (KPI) associated with the wichealth website (.org), an Internet-based parent-child feeding intervention offered to clients associated with the US Department of Agriculture’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Methods: Data were collected from 612,201 nutrition education lessons completed by 305,735 unique WIC participants in 21 states over a 1-year period. Data consisted of system-collected measures, profile items, and items from an exit survey administered at the conclusion of each lesson. User engagement was defined based on 3 KPIs associated with usage of the wichealth website: number of link views, link view time, and progression in stage of readiness to change. Independent samples t tests were used to compare KPIs between fixed only and mobile only device users and paired samples t tests were used to compare KPIs within users who completed at least one lesson each on both a fixed and mobile device. A logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds of KPI performance thresholds in the independent samples study group given access device type while controlling for confounding of user characteristics associated with these KPIs. Results: Analysis of 8 user characteristics (lessons completed, race, ethnicity, language, state of residence, pregnancy status, beginning stage of change, and preferred nutrition education method) were significantly (P<.001) related to various KPI differences between mobile and fixed device access. Non-mobile users were significantly (P<.001) more likely to engage based on all 3 KPIs, even after logistic regression control for the potential confounding related to the strongly associated user characteristics identified. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the idea that online health education developers need to seriously consider access device when creating programs. Online health education developers need to take extra effort to truly understand access patterns of populations being served, and whether or not access device will influence user engagement performance indicators. [JMIR Res Protoc 2016;5(4):e216]
Exploring the synergistic economic benefit of enhancing neighbourhood bikeability and public transit accessibility based on real estate sale transactions

Planners and policy makers are increasingly promoting biking and public transit as viable means of transportation. The integration of bicycling and transit has been acknowledged as a strategy to in...
Critical visceral methods and methodologies: Debate title: Better than text? Critical reflections on the practices of visceral methodologies in human geography

Abstract Researchers interested in visceral or bodily methods and methodologies should be prepared to fully engage with the politics of research as well as the social and political context of their studies. Longer-term, intentional, applied, and collaborative projects may be particularly relevant. Finally, visceral methods could be particularly apt for advancing biosocial science and inquiries into body-environment relations.
Practice Patterns and Perceptions of Chest Health Care Providers on Electronic Cigarette Use: An In-Depth Discussion and Report of Survey Results.

Introduction: The emergence of electronic cigarettes (ECs) has become a growing phenomenon that has sharply split opinion among the public health community, physicians, and lawmakers.Aims: We sought to determine chest physician perceptions regarding ECs.Methods: We conducted a web-based survey of 18,000 American College of Chest Physician (CHEST) members to determine health care provider experiences with EC users and to characterise provider perceptions regarding ECs.Results/Findings: There were 994 respondents. Eighty-eight per cent reported that patients had asked their opinion of ECs, and 31% reported EC use among at least 10% of their patients. More disagreed than agreed (41% vs. 21%) that patients could improve their health by switching from tobacco smoking to daily EC use. Respondents were split on whether ECs promote tobacco cessation (32% agree vs. 33% disagree).Conclusions: Current perceptions of ECs are variable among providers. More than 1/3 of respondents felt that EC's could be used for smoking cessation for smokers who failed prior quit attempts with approved therapies. However, many respondents were not convinced that ECs will reduce harms from tobacco use. There is an urgent need to generate additional high quality scientific data regarding ECs to inform chest physicians, health professionals, and the general public.