cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Horizontal distribution of planktonic diatoms in Green Bay, mid-July 19701

A synoptic survey of Green Bay was undertaken in mid-July 1970 to dcterminc the horizontal distribution of major species of planktonic diatoms. Principal component analysts of R-correlation and covariance matrices, and four methods of factor analysis described a general bipolar axis which grouped MeZosiru grunulata, Stephanodiscus spp., Cyclotella meneghiniana, and Stephanodiscus niagarae at one pole and Fragilaria crotonensis, Asterionella formosa, Tabellaria flocculosa, and Cyclotella comta at the opposite pole. Cluster analysis of diatoms defined one major group, which predominated in the extreme southern part of the bay, as certain centric species plus the araphid I;rugiZuriu capucina. Two other groups, consisting primarily of other araphids and species of the genus Cyclotellq characterized the rest of the bay. Cluster analysis of 68 stations, based on distribution of diatoms, divided the bay into three major areas: extreme southern Green northern and western Green Bay. Bay, southern and eastern Green Bay, and Green Bay is the largest embayment in Lake Michigan and is located in the northwestern portion of its basin. The bay is 90 km long and has an average width of 37 km. It has a volume of 62 km”, a total area of 4,116 km2, and a mean depth of 16 m. It is deepest near Washington Island and shallowest in its extreme southern end where the Fox River, its major tributary, drains into it. The two major sources of pollution in the watershed are the pulp and paper industry and effluent from waste trcatmcnt plants of several large communities in the Fox River Valley where storm and sanitary sewers are combined (Wisconsin Dep. Nat. Resour. unpublished). The watershed of northern Green Bay drains primarily small communities, farmland, and mixed pine and hardwood forests. We undertook a synoptic survey of Green Bay to determine the horizontal distribution of planktonic diatoms as they might reflect regional or environmental differences and used various multivariate methods in the
Goldreich's One-Way Function Candidate and Myopic Backtracking Algorithms

Goldreich (ECCC 2000) proposed a candidate one-way function construction which is parameterized by the choice of a small predicate (over d = O (1) variables) and of a bipartite expanding graph of right-degree d . The function is computed by labeling the n vertices on the left with the bits of the input, labeling each of the n vertices on the right with the value of the predicate applied to the neighbors, and outputting the n -bit string of labels of the vertices on the right. Inverting Goldreich's one-way function is equivalent to finding solutions to a certain constraint satisfaction problem (which easily reduces to SAT) having a "planted solution," and so the use of SAT solvers constitutes a natural class of attacks. We perform an experimental analysis using MiniSat, which is one of the best publicly available algorithms for SAT. Our experiment shows that the running time required to invert the function grows exponentially with the length of the input, and that such an attack becomes infeasible already with small input length (a few hundred bits). Motivated by these encouraging experiments, we initiate a rigorous study of the limitations of back-tracking based SAT solvers as attacks against Goldreich's function. Results by Alekhnovich, Hirsch and Itsykson imply that Goldreich's function is secure against "myopic" backtracking algorithms (an interesting subclass) if the 3-ary parity predicate P (x 1 ,x 2 ,x 3 ) = x 1 *** x 2 *** x 3 is used. One must, however, use non-linear predicates in the construction, which otherwise succumbs to a trivial attack via Gaussian elimination. We generalized the work of Alekhnovich et al. to handle a more general class of predicates, and we present a lower bound for the construction that uses the predicate P d (x 1 ,...,x d ) : = x 1 *** x 2 *** *** *** x d *** 2 *** (x d *** 1 *** x d ) and a random graph.
Discrete utterance speech recognition without time alignment

Computer speech recognition is a discipline that has been viewed from two diametrically opposed perspectives. One perspective perceives recognition as a purely mathematical process; the other perceives it as an extensive linguistical "knowledge" base. Because each perspective has its own set of limitations, neither approach has been able to achieve a viable machine realization of human auditory capabilities. Mathematical approaches do not perform fine phonetic distinctions well; linguistical approaches are not suitably machine oriented. We, therefore, propose in this paper a hybrid approach, suited both for machine implementation and for perceiving subtle differences in phonetic structure.
ESCHERICHIA COLI TRANSLATION INITIATION FACTOR 3 DISCRIMINATES THE INITIATION CODON IN VIVO

In a genetic selection designed to isolate Escherichia coli mutations that increase expression of the IS 10 transposase gene (tnp), we unexpectedly obtained viable mutants defective in translation initiation factor 3 (IF3). Several lines of evidence led us to conclude that transposase expression, per se, was not increased. Rather, these mutations appear to increase expression of the tnp'-'lacZ gene fusions used in this screen, by increasing translation initiation at downstream, atypical initiation codons. To test this hypothesis we undertook a systematic analysis of start codon requirements and measured the effects of IF3 mutations on initiation from various start codons. Beginning with an efficient translation initiation site, we varied the AUG start codon to all possible codons that differed from AUG by one nucleotide. These potential start codons fall into distinct classes with regard to translation efficiency in vivo: Class I codons (AUG, GUG, and UUG) support efficient translation; Class IIA codons (CUG, AUU, AUC, AUA, and ACG) support translation at levels only 1-3% that of AUG; and Class IIB codons (AGG and AAG) permit levels of translation too low for reliable quantification, importantly, the IF3 mutations had no effect on translation from Class I codons, but they increased translation from Class II codons 3-5-fold, and this same effect was seen in other gene contexts. Therefore, IF3 is generally able to discriminate between efficient and inefficient codons in vivo, consistent with earlier in vitro observations. We discuss these observations as they relate to IF3 autoregulation and the mechanism of IF3 function.
Sampling methods for the Nyström method

The Nystrom method is an efficient technique to generate low-rank matrix approximations and is used in several large-scale learning applications. A key aspect of this method is the procedure according to which columns are sampled from the original matrix. In this work, we explore the efficacy of a variety of fixed and adaptive sampling schemes. We also propose a family of ensemble-based sampling algorithms for the Nystrom method. We report results of extensive experiments that provide a detailed comparison of various fixed and adaptive sampling techniques, and demonstrate the performance improvement associated with the ensemble Nystrom method when used in conjunction with either fixed or adaptive sampling schemes. Corroborating these empirical findings, we present a theoretical analysis of the Nystrom method, providing novel error bounds guaranteeing a better convergence rate of the ensemble Nystrom method in comparison to the standard Nystrom method.
The Caenorhabditis elegans vulval morphogenesis gene sqv-4 encodes a UDP-glucose dehydrogenase that is temporally and spatially regulated

The development of the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva requires the involution of epithelial cells and provides a model for organ morphogenesis. Mutations in C. elegans sqv (squashed vulva) genes affect both vulval morphogenesis and embryonic development. We found that sqv-4 encodes a protein similar to UDP-glucose dehydrogenases and showed that the SQV-4 protein specifically catalyzes the conversion of UDP-glucose to UDP-glucuronic acid, which is essential for the biosynthesis of chondroitin and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. SQV-4 is expressed in the vulva and in oocytes, among many other cells, and SQV-4 levels are dramatically increased in a specific subset of vulval cells during vulval morphogenesis. We propose that the regulation of UDP-glucuronic acid production in a specific subset of vulval cells helps determine the shape of the vulva.
A comparison of missing data procedures for addressing selection bias in HIV sentinel surveillance data

Selection bias is common in clinic-based HIV surveillance. Clinics located in HIV hotspots are often the first to be chosen and monitored, while clinics in less prevalent areas are added to the surveillance system later on. Consequently, the estimated HIV prevalence based on clinic data is substantially distorted, with markedly higher HIV prevalence in the earlier periods and trends that reveal much more dramatic declines than actually occur. Using simulations, we compare and contrast the performance of the various approaches and models for handling selection bias in clinic-based HIV surveillance. In particular, we compare the application of complete-case analysis and multiple imputation (MI). Several models are considered for each of the approaches. We demonstrate the application of the methods through sentinel surveillance data collected between 2002 and 2008 from India. Simulations suggested that selection bias, if not handled properly, can lead to biased estimates of HIV prevalence trends and inaccurate evaluation of program impact. Complete-case analysis and MI differed considerably in their ability to handle selection bias. In scenarios where HIV prevalence remained constant over time (i.e. β = 0), the estimated derived from MI tended to be biased downward. Depending on the imputation model used, the estimated bias ranged from −1.883 to −0.048 in logit prevalence. Furthermore, as the level of selection bias intensified, the extent of bias also increased. In contrast, the estimates yielded by complete-case analysis were relatively unbiased and stable across the various scenarios. The estimated bias ranged from −0.002 to 0.002 in logit prevalence. Given that selection bias is common in clinic-based HIV surveillance, when analyzing data from such sources appropriate adjustment methods need to be applied. The results in this paper suggest that indiscriminant application of imputation models can lead to biased results.
Climatic variability, hydrologic anomaly, and methane emission can turn productive freshwater marshes into net carbon sources

Freshwater marshes are well-known for their ecological functions in carbon sequestration, but complete carbon budgets that include both methane (CH4) and lateral carbon fluxes for these ecosystems are rarely available. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first full carbon balance for a freshwater marsh where vertical gaseous [carbon dioxide (CO2) and CH4] and lateral hydrologic fluxes (dissolved and particulate organic carbon) have been simultaneously measured for multiple years (2011–2013). Carbon accumulation in the sediments suggested that the marsh was a long-term carbon sink and accumulated ~96.9 � 10.3 (� 95% CI) g C m � 2 yr � 1 during the last ~50 years. However, abnormal climate conditions in the last 3 years turned the marsh to a source of carbon (42.7 � 23.4 g C m � 2 yr � 1 ). Gross ecosystem production and ecosystem respiration were the two largest fluxes in the annual carbon budget. Yet, these two fluxes compensated each other to a large extent and led to the marsh being a CO2 sink in 2011 (� 78.8 � 33.6 g C m � 2 yr � 1 ), near CO2-neutral in 2012 (29.7 � 37.2 g C m � 2 yr � 1 ), and a CO2 source in 2013 (92.9 � 28.0 g C m � 2 yr � 1 ). The CH4 emission was consistently high with a three-year average of 50.8 � 1.0 g Cm � 2 yr � 1 . Considerable hydrologic carbon flowed laterally both into and out of the marsh (108.3 � 5.4 and 86.2 � 10.5 g C m � 2 yr � 1 , respectively). In total, hydrologic carbon fluxes contributed ~23 � 13 g C m � 2 yr � 1 to the three-year carbon budget. Our findings highlight the importance of lateral hydrologic inflows/outflows in wetland carbon budgets, especially in those characterized by a flow-through hydrologic regime. In addition, different carbon fluxes responded unequally to climate variability/anomalies and, thus, the total carbon budgets may vary drastically among years.
Spatial and functional relationships among Pol V-associated loci, Pol IV-dependent siRNAs, and cytosine methylation in the Arabidopsis epigenome

Multisubunit RNA polymerases IV and V (Pols IV and V) mediate RNA-directed DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing of retrotransposons and heterochromatic repeats in plants. We identified genomic sites of Pol V occupancy in parallel with siRNA deep sequencing and methylcytosine mapping, comparing wild-type plants with mutants defective for Pol IV, Pol V, or both Pols IV and V. Approximately 60% of Pol V-associated regions encompass regions of 24-nucleotide (nt) siRNA complementarity and cytosine methylation, consistent with cytosine methylation being guided by base-pairing of Pol IV-dependent siRNAs with Pol V transcripts. However, 27% of Pol V peaks do not overlap sites of 24-nt siRNA biogenesis or cytosine methylation, indicating that Pol V alone does not specify sites of cytosine methylation. Surprisingly, the number of methylated CHH motifs, a hallmark of RNA-directed de novo methylation, is similar in wild-type plants and Pol IV or Pol V mutants. In the mutants, methylation is lost at 50%–60% of the CHH sites that are methylated in the wild type but is gained at new CHH positions, primarily in pericentromeric regions. These results indicate that Pol IV and Pol V are not required for cytosine methyltransferase activity but shape the epigenome by guiding CHH methylation to specific genomic sites.
Influence of Environment on Airborne Spore Concentrations and Severity of Asparagus Purple Spot

Environmental conditions, airborne concentrations of Pleospora herbarum ascospores and conidia, and purple spot disease severity on spears and fern were monitored for 3 years in two no-till asparagus fields in Michigan. Purple spot lesion development on spears was correlated with low temperature and vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall. Low vapor pressure deficit and high rainfall were also correlated with airborne ascospore concentrations at both sites. Lesion development on the fern was favored by longer periods of leaf wetness and low vapor pressure deficit and rainfall. Daily airborne conidia concentrations were positively correlated with average temperature and the number of hours of leaf wetness per day and negatively correlated with vapor pressure deficit. Airborne conidia concentrations displayed a diurnal periodicity with greater concentrations between 700 and 1300 h. The results of this study indicate that a model to predict purple spot on asparagus spears should include temperature, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall; a model for disease on the fern should include temperature, leaf wetness, vapor pressure deficit, and rainfall.
Cloudy forecast for weather satellite data.

![Figure][1] NPOESS Preparatory Project satellite (artist's rendition). CREDIT: NOAA IN SPACE COLLECTION In the News Focus story “Weather forecasts slowly clearing up” (9 November, p. [734][2]), R. Kerr nicely summarizes how the growing improvement in prediction is coming from a focus on “more computer power, the assimilation of radar observations, and more physically realistic models.” He emphasizes that better assimilation of satellite data is a key element of improved forecasting. Unfortunately, these potential improvements will have little effect on forecasts if the basic data set from the existing polar-orbiting weather satellite system is not available. In a report issued in June 2012 ([ 1 ][3]), the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that “data from this system is the predominant input to numerical weather prediction models” and warned that “there will likely be a gap in satellite data lasting 17 to 53 months” when the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project satellite ceases operations and NOAA's new satellite system (the Joint Polar Satellite System) launches. The report also notes that there are “potential satellite data gaps in DOD [Department of Defense] and European polar satellite programs which provide supplementary information to NOAA forecasts.” These gaps are a grave problem and would seriously degrade weather forecasts. Therefore, the agencies responsible for weather forecasting—NOAA, DOD, and NASA—should make filling the polar satellite data gaps the first priority in order to ensure that future forecasts are as good as possible. 1. [↵][4] U.S. GAO, “Polar-orbiting environmental satellites: Changing requirements, technical issues, and looming data gaps require focused attention,” GAO-12-604 (2012); [www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-604][5]. [1]: pending:yes [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.338.6108.734 [3]: #ref-1 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-604
Minority Members' Implicit Attitudes: Automatic Ingroup Bias As A Function Of Group Status

Abstract We compared implicit and explicit ingroup bias across four minority groups who ranged in status from high (Jews and Asians) to medium (overweight people) to low (poor people). Minorities relatively high in status showed more implicit ingroup bias than minorities relatively low in status. In fact, overweight and poor people showed automatic preference for the dominant outgroup (i.e., own group devaluation). The relationship between ingroup bias and perceived status was reliably positive whether based on category membership (r = .54) or minority members' own perceptions of their status (r = .36), but only at the implicit level. By contrast, explicit attitudes were negligibly correlated with status differences. In addition, dominant group members showed stronger possession of implicit ingroup bias than did minorities, but particularly as their relative status increased. In concert, the findings support system justification theory (Jost & Banaji, 1994) by showing that minorities with the least status...
Physiology and biophysics of hemi-gap-junctional channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes

Gap junctional channels are intercellular channels that allow the passage of ions and other small molecules less than about 1 kD in size between neighbouring cells. They are composed of two oligomeric protein subunits called connexons or hemichannels which reside in the plasma membrane of closely opposed cells. Several recent studies suggest that unpaired connexons may be active on the non-junctional plasma membrane of cells. Here I present a short overview of the properties of connexon channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes.
Smooth Sailing?: Passengers' Assessment of Cruise Brand Equity

ABSTRACT This study proposes and tests the influence of the cruise ship brand equity model on behavioral intentions by utilizing the constructs of brand loyalty, image, awareness, message, and perceived quality. The study found overall that brand loyalty and perceived quality were most influential on the behavioral intentions of cruise passengers. Specifically, repeat purchase intentions, the likelihood of recommending the brand to others, and brand preference were found to be significant in the model. The finding is consistent with extant literature which credits brand loyalty with being the most influential variable on cruise passenger's behavioral intentions. Brand image was the most highly correlated construct with behavioral intentions and was found to lack discriminant validity although theory distinguishes the two as separate constructs. The results from this study may be useful to cruise line corporations, particularly in formulating successful marketing campaigns and in encouraging relationship b...
Laboratory evaluation of dimethoate repellence to honey bees

Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) were presented with a choice of air contaminated with dimethoate (Cygon® 400) or clean air in a Y-tube olfactometer. Air was contaminated by passage over treated filter papers. No avoidance of the insecticide was found at residues of 0.0056 mg ai/sq cm (corresponding to the recommended field rate on apples), or at 5, 10, or 15 times this amount. Bees were repelled by droplets of 10% Cygon and by benzaldehyde (a standard honey bee repellent) at two rates. Permethrin (Ambush® 2E, 0.011 and 0.0022 mg ai/sq cm) did not repel bees. In a spatial test, 100% mortality occurred when caged bees contacted dimethoate residues (1.486 to 0.046 mg ai/sq cm) on filterpaper rings surrounding feeder vials. Dimethoate residues of 0.012 and 0.006 mg ai/sq cm caused neither bee mortality nor a decrease in syrup consumption from treated feeders. Zusammenfassung Laboruntersuchungen zur Repellentwirkung von Dimethoat gegenuber Apis mellifera L. In einem Y-formigen Rohr-Olfaktometer wurden Honigbienen, Apis mellifera sowohl mit Dimethoat (Cygon® 400) kontaminierte als auch reine Luft angeboten. Die Luft wurde mit Dimethoat angereichert, indem man sie uber ein behandeltes Filterpapier stromen lies. Bei Ruckstanden von 0,0056 mg ai/cm2 (entsprechend der im Freiland bei Apfeln verwendeten Menge) oder bei 5-, 10- oder 15 facher Menge konnte keine Meidung der mit dem Insektizid angereicherten Luft festgestellt werden. Bei Tropfen 10%igen Cygons sowie Benzaldehyde (ein Standardrepellent gegenuber Honigbienen) in 2 Konzentrationen wurde eine Repellentwirkung nachgewiesen. Permethrin (Ambush® 2E; 0,011 und 0,0022 mg ai/cm2) wies keine Repellentwirkung gegenuber Bienen auf. In einem Kafigversuch trat 100%ige Mortalitat ein, wenn die eingekafigten Bienen uber mit Filterpapierringen versehene Futterungsflaschchen Kontakt mit Dimethoat-Ruckstanden (1,486 bis 0,046 mg ai/cm2) hatten. Dimethoat-Ruckstande von 0,012 und 0,006 mg ai/cm2 bewirkten jedoch bei den Bienen weder eine erhohte Mortalitat noch einen Ruckgang des Sirup-Verzehrs.
Questions on Clinical Issues

This chapter contains questions from across medical disciplines. The questions are designed to test the learner’s understanding of the concepts of professionalism and ethics in medicine as they apply to clinical situations. Correct answers are listed at the end of the section. The learner may refer back to the relevant chapter in Part I for the conceptual framework.
The STIM-Orai Pathway

This chapter focuses on the Orai proteins, Orai1-3 in humans and other mammals, and on the definitive evidence that Orai is the pore subunit of the CRAC channel. It starts by reviewing briefly the defining characteristics of the CRAC channel, then discusses the first studies that implicated Orai as part of the store-operated Ca2+ entry pathway and as the CRAC channel pore subunit, and finally examines some insights from cell biological and electrophysiological studies of recombinant Orai proteins.
Carborane Derived Local Anesthetics Show Isomer-Dependent Analgesia

Clinically there is a need for local anesthetics with a greater specificity of action and longer duration. We have synthesized a series of local anesthetic derivatives we call boronicaines in which the aromatic, phenyl ring of lidocaine was replaced with ortho-, meta-, dimethyl meta- and para-carborane clusters. The boronicaine derivatives were tested for their analgesic activity and compared to lidocaine using standard procedures in mice following a plantar injection. The compounds differed in their analgesic activity in the following order: ortho-carborane = dimethyl meta-carborane > para-carborane > lidocaine > meta-carborane derivative. Both <em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal...
Diet, Obesity, Diabetes, and Periodontitis: a Syndemic Approach to Management

A healthy diet is important to the maintenance of good general health. An imbalanced diet can increase risk for the development of obesity and insulin resistance which can eventually lead to the onset of diabetes. Nutrition, obesity, and diabetes are all known risk factors for periodontal diseases. Periodontitis in turn is a risk factor for the development of diabetes and can complicate the management of those who suffer from obesity and/or diabetes. The interplay of these three common chronic inflammatory diseases suggests that a syndemic approach to prevention and management would best address the shared risk for all of these diseases and help to break the cycle of pro-inflammatory events leading to chronic inflammation as assessed by elevations in C-reactive protein, driven by elevations in cytokines such as IL-6 and TNF-α as well as oxidative stress. These interactions may synergistically increase risk for cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death worldwide. Oral health care providers can play a major role, as members of an interdisciplinary team of healthcare providers, in addressing this syndemic.
Draft Genome Sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum Strain CV017

We announce the draft genome sequence for Chromobacterium violaceum strain CV017, used as a model and tool to understand acyl-homoserine lactone-dependent quorum sensing. The assembly consists of 4,774,638-bp contained in 211 scaffolds.
2-Amino-1,4-naphthoquinone, an oxidation product of 2-amino-1-naphthol.

SummaryThe carcinogenic metabolite, 2-amino-1-naphthol, of the bladder carcinogen 2-naphthylamine was air oxidized at pH 7.2 to produce many products separable by thin layer chromatography. The ether extract contained one major product which was identified as 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone.
The win ratio approach to analyzing composite outcomes: An application to the EVOLVE trial.

Abstract Background Unlike conventional time-to-event analysis of composite endpoints in clinical trials, the “win ratio” method allows for flexibility in prioritizing their components. Here, we compare the EVOLVE trial findings using the win ratio with those from time-to-event analysis. Methods Exposure : Randomization to cinacalcet or placebo. Outcome : The primary composite endpoint combining all-cause mortality and non-fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, heart failure, and peripheral vascular events. Analysis : In an unadjusted analysis, we paired each participant from the cinacalcet arm with every participant from the placebo arm within randomization strata. Pairs were classified as “winners” or “losers,” according to which participant died first during the shared follow-up time, or experienced the next ranked event first. We ranked non-fatal events in two ways: 1) all ranked evenly; and 2) prioritized by their effect on health-related quality of life. The win ratio equaled the total winners divided by total losers. Further analyses were conducted where the win ratio was stratified by, or adjusted for, age. Results The unadjusted win ratio for the primary composite endpoint was 1.09 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.21), a statistically non-significant result which supports the primary trial result — unadjusted hazard ratio 0.93 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.02). Age-stratified analyses showed a nominally significant benefit of cinacalcet (win ratio 1.14, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26). Ranking of non-fatal outcomes by their relative effects on quality of life did not materially alter the results. Conclusion The win ratio method corroborated the findings of EVOLVE based on conventional time-to-event analysis. EVOLVE ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00345839.
Improving synthetic aperture focusing technique for thick concrete specimens via frequency banding

A multitude of concrete-based structures are typically part of a light water reactor (LWR) plant to provide the foundation, support, shielding, and containment functions. This use has made its long-term performance crucial for the safe operation of commercial nuclear power plants (NPPs). Extending reactor life to 60 years and beyond will likely increase susceptibility and severity of known forms of degradation. While standard Synthetic Aperture Focusing Technique (SAFT) is adequate for many defects with shallow concrete cover, some defects located under deep concrete cover are not easily identified using the standard SAFT. For many defects, particularly defects under deep cover, the use of frequency banded SAFT improves the detectability over standard SAFT. In addition to the improved detectability, the frequency banded SAFT also provides improved scan depth resolution that can be important in determining the suitability of a particular structure to perform its designed safety function. Specially designed and fabricated test specimens can provide realistic flaws that are similar to actual flaws in terms of how they interact with a particular NDE technique. Because conditions in the laboratory are controlled, the number of unknown variables can be decreased, making it possible to focus on specific aspects, investigate them in detail, and gain further information on the capabilities and limitations of each method. To validate the advantages of frequency banded SAFT on thick concrete, a 2.134 m x 2.134 m x 1.016 m concrete test specimen with twenty deliberately embedded defects was fabricated. © (2016) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Trauma of the Colon, Rectum, and Anus

The management of colonic trauma has evolved considerably over the past century and a half. The initial futility of abdominal surgery during the American Civil War gave way to mandatory colostomy in World War II. Recent well-done trials have now demonstrated the safety of primary repair in most patients, although care must still be used in damage-control situations. Extraperitoneal rectal trauma is typically managed by proximal diversion; the utility of routine distal washout and presacral drainage has recently been called into question. Anal trauma lends itself to delayed reconstruction in many cases.
Guided Explorations of the Mechanics of Solids and Structures: Constructing Simple Analytical Models

When trying to understand a complex system, it is quite useful to have available some simple models – not as solutions per se but as organizational principles for seeing through the voluminous numbers produced by the FE codes. This chapter is concerned with the construction of simple analytical models; it gathers together many of the simple models used throughout the previous chapters and tries to illustrate the approach to constructing these. Although the models are approximate, by basing them on sound mechanics principles, they are more likely to capture the essential features of a problem and thus have a wider range of application. The models discussed are shown in Figure 7.1. The term “model” is widely used in many different contexts, but here we mean a representation of a physical system that may be used to predict the behavior of the system in some desired respect. The actual physical system for which the predictions are to be made is called the prototype . There are two broad classes of models: physical models and mathematical models. The physical model resembles the prototype in appearance but is usually of a different size, may involve different materials, and frequently operates under loads, temperatures, and so on, that differ from those of the prototype. The mathematical model consists of one or more equations (and, more likely nowadays, a numerical FE model) that describe the behavior of the system of interest.
Controlling the stereoselectivity of glycosylation via solvent effects

This review covers a special topic in carbohydrate chemistry — solvent effects on the stereoselectivity of glycosylation reactions. Obtaining highly stereoselective glycosidic linkages is one of th...
Playing Games Across the Superintelligence Divide

Humans may one day create superintelligence, artificially intelligent machines that surpass mankind's intellect. Would these artificial intelligences choose to play games with us, and if so, which games? We believe this question is relevant for the ethics of general AI, the current widespread integration of AI systems into daily life, and for game AI research. We present a catalog of scenarios, some good for humanity and some bad, in which various kinds of play might take place between humans and intelligent machines. We assume a superintelligence, because of its greater cognitive ability, would stand in a similar relation to us as an adult does to a child, an expert to a novice, or a human to an animal. We define friendly games, learning games, observational games, and domination games, and proceed to consider games adults play with children, experts play with novices, and humans play with animals. Reasoning by analogy, we imagine corresponding games that superintelligences might choose to play with us, finding that domination games would pose a significant risk to humanity.
A DEM-based approach for large-scale floodplain mapping in ungauged watersheds

Abstract Binary threshold classifiers are a simple form of supervised classification methods that can be used in floodplain mapping. In these methods, a given watershed is examined as a grid of cells with a particular morphologic value. A reference map is a grid of cells labeled as flood and non-flood from hydraulic modeling or remote sensing observations. By using the reference map, a threshold on morphologic feature is determined to label the unknown cells as flood and non-flood (binary classification). The main limitation of these methods is the threshold transferability assumption in which a homogenous geomorphological and hydrological behavior is assumed for the entire region and the same threshold derived from the reference map (training area) is used for other locations (ungauged watersheds) inside the study area. In order to overcome this limitation and consider the threshold variability inside a large region, regression modeling is used in this paper to predict the threshold by relating it to the watershed characteristics. Application of this approach for North Carolina shows that the threshold is related to main stream slope, average watershed elevation, and average watershed slope. By using the Fitness (F) and Correct (C) criteria of C > 0.9 and F > 0.6, results show the threshold prediction and the corresponding floodplain for 100-year design flow are comparable to that from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) in the region. However, the floodplains from the proposed model are underpredicted and overpredicted in the flat (average watershed slope 20%). Overall, the proposed approach provides an alternative way of mapping floodplain in data-scarce regions.
Automated Programmable Preparation of Carbonate-Bicarbonate Eluents for Ion Chromatography with Pressurized Carbon Dioxide

We introduce a novel carbonate–bicarbonate eluent generation system in which CO2 is introduced using programmable CO2 pressures across a membrane into a flowing solution of electrodialytically generated high purity KOH. Many different gradient types are possible, including situations where gradients are run both on the [KOH] and the CO2 pressure. The system is more versatile than current electrodialytic carbonate eluent generators and can easily generate significantly higher eluent concentrations (at least to 40 mM carbonate), paving the way for future higher capacity columns. Demonstrably purer carbonate–bicarbonate eluent systems are possible compared to manually prepared carbonate–bicarbonate eluents and with considerable savings in time. Performance in different modes is examined. The dissolved CO2 is removed by a carbon dioxide removal device prior to detection. Best case noise levels are within a factor of 2–3 of best case suppressed hydroxide eluent operation. The eluent system allows particular la...
Trump, Twitter, and the Russians: The Growing Obsolescence of Federal Campaign Finance Law

Since the 1970s, federal campaign finance law has been built on four pillars. The first is contribution limits on donations to candidate campaigns and political party committees. The contribution limits are designed to reduce the role of money in politics by preventing large donors from corrupting elected officials. The second is the ban on foreign contributions to American political campaigns. The prohibition is intended to prevent foreign influence on American elections and to ensure that candidates rely exclusively on American sources of support for getting their campaign messages out to voters. The third is the mandatory public disclosure of the identities of campaign contributors. Disclosure laws are intended to enable voters to evaluate the sources of a candidate’s support and to guard against corruption. The fourth pillar is the Federal Election Commission, which is charged with enforcing the law in an effective and bipartisan manner. The 2016 presidential campaign made it starkly apparent that all four pillars of federal campaign finance law have become woefully outdated in the age of the internet, social media, and non-stop fundraising. First, contribution limits have not only failed to reduce the role of money in politics but have instead severely distorted our political system. Second, the federal ban on foreign contributions failed to prevent a massive level of foreign intervention in the 2016 presidential election. Third, FECA’s requirement that all contributions to political committees be reported and publicly disclosed no longer keeps the public adequately informed. Fourth, FECA’s foundational presumption that the FEC would enforce the law in a bipartisan and vigorous fashion has collapsed amid finger-pointing, personal acrimony, and profound ideological divisions among the commissioners. A vestige of the post-Watergate reforms of the 1970s, FECA no longer adequately regulates the campaign finance world of 21st century American politics. The time has come for a sweeping reform and restructuring of the law. This article proposes 4 major reforms to modernize federal campaign finance law: the elimination of FECA’s contribution limits, the closing of the dark and gray money loopholes, the clarification and expansion of federal regulation of foreign government influence on American elections, and the fundamental restructuring of the FEC. By adopting those reforms, FECA will finally be brought out of the 1970s and into the age of the internet, iPhones, Twitter, and Facebook.
Engineering girls gone wild: developing an engineering identity in digital zoo

In the Digital Zoo epistemic game, middle school girls work as engineers to design virtual, ambulatory creatures. The activities of the game were based on an ethnographic study of an undergraduate engineering design course. As a result of gameplay, the girls demonstrated an increase in thinking of themselves as engineers. Moreover, both the girls and undergraduates linked their engineering identity development to meeting with -- and getting feedback from -- external clients and experts.
Editorial Comment Atrial Fibrillation after Atrial Flutter Ablation

Typical atrial flutter is caused by a re-entrant circuit confined to the right atrium (RA). It involves the “atrial flutter isthmus” which is a protected narrow isthmus of conduction, bounded on one side by the inferior vena cava, the eustachian ridge and the coronary sinus ostium and by the tricuspid valve annulus on the other. Clinically atrial flutter is frequently associated with atrial fibrillation and the mechanism for this association has yet to be elucidated. Several types of atrial flutter exist. Typical atrial flutter, or counterclockwise atrial flutter is characterized by negative “sawtooth” flutter waves in leads II, III and aVF on the electrocardiogram. In this form of flutter the impulse is conducted counterclockwise up the atrial septum, with epicardial breakthrough superiorly in the right atrium where it then travels down the free wall of the RA to re-enter the atrial septum. Reverse typical atrial flutter, with positive “sawtooth” flutter waves in leads II, III and aVF on an electrocardiogram, is characterized by impulse conduction opposite to that in typical atrial flutter, in the clockwise direction. In incisional atrial flutter, after repair of congenital heart defects, the re-entrant circuit involves areas of block caused by the incision and interestingly often involves the atrial flutter isthmus as well. A left atrial flutter exists but has not been well characterized, and involves a circuit around one or more of the pulmonary veins or the mitral valve annulus [1,2]. Standard treatment for atrial flutter with antiarrhythmics has changed over time. As compared to class IA agents, class I and class III agents have been shown to be more effective and safer in supression of atrial flutter. Despite the availability of these pharmacologic agents, it is difficult to suppress atrial flutter completely with pharmacotherapy even when multiple agents are used and antiarrhythmics are no longer the treatment of choice for typical atrial flutter. Prospective studies comparing catheter ablation and anti-arrhythmic therapy have shown catheter ablation to be associated with a lower recurrence rate of atrial flutter and fibrillation, a lower rehospitalization rate and improved sense of well being [3‐5]. Thus radiofrequency catheter ablation at the ‘atrial flutter isthmus’ is now considered the treatment of choice, with successful ablation occurring in >90% of patients. Successful ablation of atrial flutter is confirmed by the presence of bidirectional conduction block in the flutter isthmus. Recurrence of atrial arrhythmias following successful ablation of atrial flutter is related to ei
Chapter 16 – Alcohol Determination Using Automated Analyzers: Limitations and Pitfalls

The term alcohol usually refers specifically to ethanol, which is the most frequently encountered toxic substance in both clinical and forensic settings due to its widespread availability. Ethanol analysis is often requested in life-threatening emergency settings, but it is also requested for monitoring patients enrolled in alcohol and other drug treatment programs and when evaluating patient suitability for organ transplant. Forensic applications include determination of cause of death and whether a person is legally impaired in a given situation. Laboratories need rapid and reliable methods for detection and quantitation of ethanol in biological fluids, usually serum and urine. The convenience of having ethanol testing on an automated chemistry analyzer necessarily constrains specificity, and interferences unfortunately do occur, some of which can have significant clinical and legal implications. Laboratory personnel and those served by the laboratory need to have a clear understanding of the limitations of these tests and have protocols in place for determining which results might be suspect and how to deal with them.
A message from the new Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer

I am truly honored to have been selected as the new Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer . I am also very proud to be working in tandem with an outstanding team of Associate Editors and members of the Editorial Board. The latter have been selected as a balanced global
The role of public clinics in preventable hospitalizations among vulnerable populations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the availability of public ambulatory clinics affects preventable hospitalization (PH) rates of low-income and elderly populations. DATA SOURCES: PH rates were calculated using elderly and low-income discharges from 1995-97 Virginia hospital discharge data. Other data sources include the 1990 Census, the 1998 Area Resource File, the 1996 American Hospital Association Survey, the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Primary Care Association, and the Bureau of Primary Health Care. STUDY DESIGN: Multiple linear regression was used to evaluate the relationship between ambulatory clinic availability and PH rates, controlling for population and other provider characteristics in a cross-section of zip code clusters. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS: Clusters with populations of at least 2,000 were assembled from zip codes in each county in the state of Virginia. Overlapping medical market service areas were constructed around the population centroid of each cluster. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Populations in medically underserved areas (MUAs) served by a Federally Qualified Health Center had significantly lower PH rates than did other MUA populations. The presence of a free clinic had a marginally significant association with lower PH rates. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of public ambulatory clinics is associated with better access to primary care among low-income and elderly populations.
The Palestine Nakba: Decolonising History, Narrating the Subaltern and Reclaiming Memory

For the past thirty years, Palestinian historian Nur Masalha has been at the forefront of scholars writing about the Nakba, the catastrophe that befell indigenous Palestinians with the creation of ...
On the connection between the decays π 0 →2γ and π + →e + +υ+γ

A result discovered byVaks andIoffe is newly derived using reduction technique and G-invariance only. It has some consequences concerning the decaysπ 0→2γ andπ +→e++υ+γ and various coupling constants of theϱ and ω particle.
Application of Laser Deprocessing Technique in Physical Failure Analysis on Memory Bit-counting

With continuous technology scaling of semiconductor devices, conventional physical failure analysis (PFA) techniques becomes more and more challenging with the increased number of transistors and layer stacks. This paper presents a new memory bit-counting method in PFA by employing laser deprocessing technique (LDT). This LDT assisted new method is more cost-effective and efficient in the PFA on memory bit-counting in terms of shortening the total FA cycle time and lowering the requirements for the experimental equipment, which leads to the increase of PFA throughput in memory devices especially for high technology nodes.
The effect of Tegaderm™ versus EyeGard® on eyelid erythema during general anesthesia: a randomized-controlled trial

Application of adhesive tape to the eyelids during general anesthesia decreases the risk of corneal abrasion but may increase the risk of eyelid injury. The aim of this study was to determine if there is a difference in eyelid erythema when covering the eyelid with either Tegaderm™ or an EyeGard®. We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, split-face study of patients undergoing general anesthesia at an urban tertiary care academic medical centre. Each patient was randomized to having one eyelid covered with Tegaderm and the other with EyeGard. Photographs were taken prior to extubation and evaluated by three dermatologists. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative eyelid erythema. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of corneal abrasion and patient satisfaction. A total of 151 patients were included in our final analysis. Erythema was present on 117 (77%) eyelids covered with Tegaderm and 105 (70%) eyelids covered with EyeGard (% difference, 8; 95% confidence interval, 2 to 14; P = 0.03). No corneal abrasions were reported. The median [interquartile range] patient satisfaction score with eyelid condition was similar with Tegaderm vs EyeGard (5 [5–5] vs 5 [5–5], respectively; P = 0.84). We found a small increase in postoperative eyelid erythema when using Tegaderm compared with EyeGard. While EyeGard could decrease the risk of eyelid erythema, this should be balanced against other potential benefits of Tegaderm such as protection from fluids leaking onto the cornea. www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03549429); registered 8 June, 2018.