cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PROMPT GAMMA RAYS FROM RADIATIVE CAPTURE OF THERMAL NEUTRONS BY ELEMENTS FROM HYDROGEN THROUGH ZINC

Abstract The energies and intensities of prompt gamma rays produced by the radiative capture of thermal neutrons have been compiled and evaluated for elements with atomic numbers Z=1–30. These elements are important for many applications, including well logging, planetary remote sensing, and other analytic and diagnostic applications. Experimental data for 70 isotopes from 1H to 68Zn were compiled and evaluated. Published thermal-capture cross sections were used to convert the isotopic gamma-ray intensities to elemental intensities. The evaluated energies and absolute intensities of these capture gamma rays are presented by element and a subset is sorted by gamma-ray energy. The literature has been covered to August 2000.
Serum influences the expression of Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum-sensing genes and QS-controlled virulence genes during early and late stages of growth

In response to diverse environmental stimuli at different infection sites, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a serious nosocomial pathogen, coordinates the production of different virulence factors through a complicated network of the hierarchical quorum-sensing (QS) systems including the las, rhl, and the 2-alkyl-4-quinolone-related QS systems. We recently showed that at early stages of growth serum alters the expression of numerous P. aeruginosa genes. In this study, we utilized transcriptional analysis and enzyme assays to examine the effect of serum on the QS and QS-controlled virulence factors during early and late phases of growth of the P. aeruginosa strain PAO1. At early phase, serum repressed the transcription of lasI, rhlI, and pqsA but not lasR or rhlR. However, at late phase, serum enhanced the expression of all QS genes. Serum produced a similar effect on the synthesis of the autoinducers 3OC12-HSL, C4-HSL, and HHQ/PQS. Additionally, serum repressed the expression of several QS-controlled genes in the early phase, but enhanced them in the late phase. Furthermore, serum influenced the expression of different QS-positive (vqsR, gacA, and vfr) as well as QS-negative (rpoN, qscR, mvaT, and rsmA) regulatory genes at either early or late phases of growth. However, with the exception of PAOΔvfr, we detected comparable levels of lasI/lasR expression in PAO1 and PAO1 mutants defective in these regulatory genes. At late stationary phase, serum failed to enhance lasI/lasR expression in PAOΔvfr. These results suggest that depending on the phase of growth, serum differentially influenced the expression of P. aeruginosa QS and QS-controlled virulence genes. In late phase, serum enhanced the expression of las genes through vfr.
The Effect of Competitive Bidding on Engagement Planning and Pricing

This paper investigates how clients' choices regarding whether or not to engage in competitive bidding affect a bidding firm's decisions about planned engagement effort and pricing. Specifically, we investigate whether competitive bidding is associated with higher planned engagement effort and lower fees relative to noncompetitive bidding, and whether competitive bidding is associated with increased sensitivity of effort and fees to cost drivers and the components of service production. There is little available evidence regarding the effects of competitive versus noncompetitive bidding in the current market, and none that focuses on both quality and pricing effects associated with competitive bidding across a broad array of clients. We address these issues using data from a sample of one firm's evaluations of prospective clients, made during 1997-98. During that period, about half of the firm's bids were competitive and half were noncompetitive, providing a unique opportunity to study how the bidding environment affects engagement planning and pricing. Our findings reveal that competitive bidding is associated with higher planned engagement effort and lower fees. In addition, we find that in competitive bidding situations there are stronger associations between cost drivers and planned engagement effort, and between the components of service production and fees.
Channel capacity of Moore automata

This paper describes an algorithmic procedure for calculating the channel capacity of any Moore automaton or of an arbitrarily connected network of such automata. The procedure yields, in addition to C , a source of input symbols so matched to the automaton that the full capacity is utilized.
Photodehydrocyclizations of stilbene-like compounds VIII: Synthesis of hexaheliceno[3,4-c]hexahelicene

The synthesis of a new double helicene, hexaheliceno[3,4-c]hexahelicene, has been described. Of two possible diastereomers only one has been obtained. Presumably the product has the racemic configuration but this assignment is not yet definite.
Modular Distributed Models of Structural Dynamics

Approaches to engineering design and manufacturing such as integrated design and manufacture and just in time fabrication depend on interaction with and among component supply companies that most often use very diverse technologies. Modular Distributed Modeling (MDM) is a distributed, component-based, agent methodology that is realized following a strong black box approach to modeling. An individual Design Agent (DA) is a virtual product capable of encapsulating both descriptive and model based information about the product it represents. Hierarchically recursive agents for sub-systems and/or components are linked via a communications network to form larger integrated model systems. A two dimensional bridge system structural model is used as an example to illustrate the distributed assembly of structural models from components registered as DA’s on a communications network. Modular Distributed Modeling of system dynamics performs dynamic analysis. This paper presents the methodology required to assemble dynamic structural deflection models provided by internet agents representing structural components. The methodology discussed assembles these component models into the structural dynamic model of an assembly. Using MDM method, models of complex assemblies can be built and distributed while hiding the topology and characteristics of their structural subassemblies. The automated, modular, assembly of structural dynamics models will be derived for discrete, multi-degree-of-freedom structural connections. Discrete connections are important to the assembly of components such as truss and shaft structures where the relationship between component displacements involve discrete, matching, degrees of freedom on components to be assembled. Specific examples of discrete assembly of truss bridge component models will be presented. Specific examples for distributed assembly of component models will be presented. Internet connection permitting, real-time, automated assembly of models and deflection analysis will be performed.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Effect of Fungicides on Natural and Synthetic Rubber

Abstract During the recent war a great part of the military operations were conducted in warm, humid, tropical regions, ideal for the growth of fungi. The protection of the cotton cloth used in rubber-coated fabrics thus became a major problem of the armed forces. Because the area was of minor importance in the world consumer market, comparatively little work had been done on this problem by the research laboratories of private industry. A tropical testing chamber which simulated tropical conditions was built at Fort Belvoir to study the problems of fungus growth and effective countermeasures. The problem was complicated by the possibility that the fungicide which had a protective effect on the cloth might have had a destructive effect on the rubber coating. Tests on pentachlorophenol and 2,2′-methylene-bis (4-chlorophenol) by two industrial concerns had indicated that these two fungicides had no adverse effect on either natural rubber or GR-S when used in small concentrations. Tests by another industrial...
Collaborative depression care: history, evolution and ways to enhance dissemination and sustainability.

Abstract Objective To describe the history and evolution of the collaborative depression care model and new research aimed at enhancing dissemination. Method Four keynote speakers from the 2009 NIMH Annual Mental Health Services Meeting collaborated in this article in order to describe the history and evolution of collaborative depression care, adaptation of collaborative care to new populations and medical settings, and optimal ways to enhance dissemination of this model. Results Extensive evidence across 37 randomized trials has shown the effectiveness of collaborative care vs. usual primary care in enhancing quality of depression care and in improving depressive outcomes for up to 2 to 5 years. Collaborative care is currently being disseminated in large health care organizations such as the Veterans Administration and Kaiser Permanente, as well as in fee-for-services systems and federally funded clinic systems of care in multiple states. New adaptations of collaborative care are being tested in pediatric and ob-gyn populations as well as in populations of patients with multiple comorbid medical illnesses. New NIMH-funded research is also testing community-based participatory research approaches to collaborative care to attempt to decrease disparities of care in underserved minority populations. Conclusion Collaborative depression care has extensive research supporting the effectiveness of this model. New research and demonstration projects have focused on adapting this model to new populations and medical settings and on studying ways to optimally disseminate this approach to care, including developing financial models to incentivize dissemination and partnerships with community populations to enhance sustainability and to decrease disparities in quality of mental health care.
A highly crosslinked, transparent polyacrylamide gel with improved mechanical stability for use in isoelectric focusing and isotachophoresis

Polyacrylamide gels highly (10–50%) crosslinked with N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (BIS) provide large pore sizes but are mechanically labile. By substituting N,N′-diallyltartardiamide (DATD) for BIS, mechanical stability and firm adherence to glass walls is conferred to these gels, with only a minor decrease in pore size compared to highly BIS-crosslinked gels. The highly DATD-crosslinked gels have the further advantage of being transparent. It appears that highly DATD-crosslinked gels combining large pore size with mechanical stability are superior to presently used gel types in isoelectric focusing on polyacrylamide gel and isotachophoresis on polyacrylamide gel.
An industrial case study for X-canceling MISR

An X-tolerant multiple-input signature register (MISR) compaction methodology that compacts output streams containing unknown (X) values was described in [Touba 07]. Unlike conventional approaches, it does not use X-masking logic at the input of the MISR. Instead it uses symbolic simulation to express each bit of the MISR signature as a linear equation in terms of the X's. Linearly dependent combinations of the signature bits are identified with Gaussian elimination and XORed together to cancel out all X values and yield deterministic values. This new X-canceling approach was applied to some industrial designs under the constraints imposed by an industrial test environment. Practical issues for implementing X-canceling are discussed, and a new architecture for implementing X-canceling based on using a shadow register with multiple selective XORs is presented. Experimental results are shown for industrial designs comparing the performance of X-canceling with X-compact.
Pisa Syndrome Without Neuroleptic Exposure in a Patient With Dementia of the Alzheimer Type

A case of Pisa syndrome in a 60-year-old man with dementia, probably of the Alzheimer type, who had never been exposed to any psychotropic medication is described. He also had some extrapyramidal features and myoclonus. Treatment with amantadine was slightly beneficial. We believe that this report is the first of its kind.
Elastic stable intramedullary nail fixation for severely displaced fractures of the neck of the radius in children

Several techniques are available for the treatment of displaced fractures of the neck of the radius in children. We report our experience in 14 children treated by indirect reduction and fixation using an elastic stable intramedullary nail. The patients were followed up for a mean of 28 months. One developed asymptomatic avascular necrosis. The rest had excellent results. One had a neuropraxia of the posterior interosseous nerve, which recovered within six weeks. We advocate elastic stable intramedullary nailing for the closed reduction and fixation of these fractures in children.
Masked Expression of Life-History Traits in a Highly Variable Environment

Differing life-history strategies may act as a constraint on reproductive expression that ultimately limits the ability of individual species to respond to changes in the magnitude or frequency of environmental variation, and potentially underlies the variation often inherent in phenotypic and evolved responses to anthropogenic change. Alternatively, if there are environmental cues that predict reproductive potential, differential expression of life-history strategies may represent differences in the adaptive capacity to optimize current reproductive value given variation in environmental conditions. We compared several aspects of walleye Sander vitreus spawning ecology at two reservoirs that differ in environmental variability (i.e., annual water-level fluctuation) to identify the capacity of phenotypic expression and the corresponding association with age. Despite significant differences in female body and liver masses between reservoirs that differ in environmental variability, we found no difference in reproductive investment measured by egg size and fecundity. Walleye in a highly variable environment appear to exhibit reproductive traits more typical of a short-lived life-history strategy, which may be resultant from the interaction of environmental and anthropogenic pressures. This finding emphasizes the need to identify the degree to which life-history expression represents physiological constraints versus ecological optimization, particularly as anthropogenic change continues to alter environmental conditions.
Unplanned revisits and readmissions after ambulatory sinonasal surgery

Objectives/Hypothesis Determine rates and reasons for revisits after adult ambulatory sinonasal surgery. Study Design Cross-sectional analysis of multi-state ambulatory surgery and hospital databases. Methods Ambulatory adult sinonasal procedures were extracted from the State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for New York, Florida, Iowa, and California for 2010. Cases were linked to the State Emergency Department Databases and the State Inpatient Databases for visit encounters occurring 0 to 14 days after the procedure. The number of revisits (including readmissions) was determined as well as the reason for revisit. The overall rate of and intervention rate for postprocedural bleeding were determined. Results A total of 35,678 ambulatory sinonasal cases were extracted (mean age, 47.5 years). Overall, 5.0% of patients had a revisit after surgery (18.9% revisited the ambulatory surgery center, 67.0% the emergency department, and 14.1% to inpatient admission). The primary diagnoses at the first revisit were bleeding (23.0%), acute pain (3.7%), and fever/dehydration (3.8%). Overall, 0.8% of patients incurred a second revisit. Among all cases, 1.2% and 0.3% presented with a bleeding diagnosis at a first and second revisit, respectively. Among revisits, 1.0% and 17.9% underwent a procedure to control bleeding at the first and second revisits, respectively. Three deaths were noted for an overall 14-day mortality rate of 0.0084%. Conclusion There is a nonnegligible revisit rate after ambulatory sinonasal surgery. The most common reasons for revisit include bleeding, but also acute pain and fever/dehydration. These particular complications should be targeted for prevention to reduce postoperative revisit rates. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:1983–1987, 2014
Bubble-based acoustic radiation force elasticity imaging

Acoustic radiation force is applied to bubbles generated by laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) to study viscoelastic properties of the surrounding medium. In this investigation, femtosecond laser pulses are focused in the volume of gelatin phantoms of different concentrations to form bubbles. A two-element confocal ultrasonic transducer generates acoustic radiation force on individual bubbles while monitoring their displacement within a viscoelastic medium. Tone burst pushes of varying duration have been applied by the outer element at 1.5 MHz. The inner element receives pulse-echo recordings at 7.44 MHz before, during, and after the excitation bursts, arid cross-correlation processing is performed offline to monitor bubble position. Maximum bubble displacements are inversely related to the Young's moduli for different gel phantoms, with a maximum bubble displacement of over 200 /spl mu/m in a gel phantom with a Young's modulus of 1.7 kPa. Bubble displacements scale with the applied acoustic radiation force and displacements can be normalized to correct for differences in bubble size. Exponential time constants for bubble displacement curves are independent of bubble radius and follow a decreasing trend with the Young's modulus of the surrounding medium. These results demonstrate the potential for bubble-based acoustic radiation force methods to measure tissue viscoelastic properties.
Topic Models and Metadata for Visualizing Text Corpora

Effectively exploring and analyzing large text corpora requires visualizations that provide a high level summary. Past work has relied on faceted browsing of document metadata or on natural language processing of document text. In this paper, we present a new web-based tool that integrates topics learned from an unsupervised topic model in a faceted browsing experience. The user can manage topics, filter documents by topic and summarize views with metadata and topic graphs. We report a user study of the usefulness of topics in our tool.
Reducing traffic traces using a polynomial approximation for traffic classification

Piecewise polynomials have been used to visually link and classify network traffic. The advantage of using piecewise polynomials to approximate traffic is that significantly less storage space is required when compared to traditional packet captures. However, when representing discrete data with continuous approximations, error is introduced. We analyze this error through the creation and examination of polynomials for client, server, and bidirectional traffic, where each polynomial represents a single TCP connection. An application of the piecewise polynomial technique is traffic classification. In this initial work, we use traffic attributes of packet length and arrival time to represent Instant Messaging, Video, and Basic Web Page traffic. We then examine the error introduced by using polynomials to represent each of these traffic types. The initial results also show that this technique can reduce standard packet trace sizes by up to four orders of magnitude. An understanding of the error involved and the amount of memory saved by using this technique is a necessary step toward an automated process for traffic classification that utilizes piecewise polynomial approximations.
Towards fault-tolerant software architectures

"Software engineering has produced no effective methods to eradicate latent software faults. " This sentence is, of course, a stereotype, but it is as true as a stereotype can get. And yet, it begs some questions. If it is not possible to construct a large software system without residual faults, is it at least possible to construct it to degrade gracefully if and when a latent fault is encountered? This paper presents the approach adopted on CAATS (Canadian Automated Air Traffic System), and argues that OO design and certain architectural properties are the enabling elements towards a true fault-tolerant software architecture.
POP/FED: progressive query optimization for federated queries in DB2

Federated queries are regular relational queries accessing data on one or more remote relational or non-relational data sources, possibly combining them with tables stored in the federated DBMS server. Their execution is typically divided between the federated server and the remote data sources. Outdated and incomplete statistics have a bigger impact on federated DBMS than on regular DBMS, as maintenance of federated statistics is unequally more complicated and expensive than the maintenance of the local statistics; consequently bad performance commonly occurs for federated queries due to the selection of a suboptimal query plan. To solve this problem we propose a progressive optimization technique for federated queries called POP/FED by extending the state of the art for progressive reoptimization for local source queries, POP [4]. POP/FED uses (a) an opportunistic, but risk controlled reoptimization technique for federated DBMS, (b) a technique for multiple reoptimizations during federated query processing with a strategy to discover redundant and eliminate partial results, and (c) a mechanism to eagerly procure statistics in a federated environment. In this demonstration we showcase POP/FED implemented in a prototype version of WebSphere Information Integrator for DB2 using the TPC-H benchmark database and its workload. For selected queries of the workload we show unique features including multi-round reoptimizations using both a new graphical reoptimization progress monitor POPMonitor and the DB2 graphical plan explain tool.
Notch1 Deficiency Results in Decreased Inflammation during Wound Healing and Regulates Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 and Inflammatory Cytokine Expression in Macrophages

We investigated whether Notch signaling plays a role in regulating macrophage responses to inflammation. In a wound healing assay, macrophage recruitment was decreased in Notch1+/− mice, and the wounds were characterized by decreased TNF-α expression. As wound healing progressed, Notch1+/− wounds had increased vascularization and collagen deposition compared with wild-type wounds. In mice with myeloid-specific Notch1 deletion, wounds had decreased macrophage recruitment as well as decreased TNF-α expression, indicating the specific role of Notch1 in the inflammatory response in these cells. In vitro, we found that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) was upregulated in macrophages in response to LPS/IFN-γ and that this upregulation depended on Notch signaling. Furthermore, macrophages from Notch1+/− mice had decreased expression of VEGFR-1 compared with macrophages from wild-type mice, whereas VEGFR-1 expression in Notch4−/− macrophages was normal. Inhibition of Notch signaling decreased induction of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12, CXCL10, MCP-1, monokine induced by IFN-γ, and TNF-α in macrophages in response to LPS/IFN-γ. Additionally, macrophages from Notch1+/− mice demonstrated decreased induction of IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α in response to stimulation compared with wild-type mice. Thus, both pharmacological inhibition of Notch and genetic analysis demonstrate that Notch1 regulates VEGFR-1 and cytokine expression in macrophages. We have also established that Notch1 is important for the inflammatory response during wound healing in mice.
Toward More Creative and Innovative Group Idea Generation: A Cognitive‐Social‐Motivational Perspective of Brainstorming

In many meetings and work sessions, group members exchange ideas in order to come up with novel, creative solutions for problems and to generate ideas for future innovations. This type of group idea generation or brainstorming process has been studied in detail, and we have discovered much about the cognitive and social processes that underlie group idea generation. It appears that the brainstorming performance of groups is often hindered by various social and cognitive influences, but under the appropriate conditions, group idea exchange can be quite effective. In this article, we summarize the present state of knowledge, point out some significant gaps in our knowledge, and suggest a cognitive-social-motivational perspective to integrate the major findings and to guide future research in the area of group creativity and group idea generation.
In situ aluminization of the MMT 6.5m primary mirror

On May 20, 2000 the MMT Conversion was dedicated. Space limitations on the summit of Mt. Hopkins, AZ and limited financial resources dictated in situ aluminization of the φ 6.5 m primary mirror. Some of the attendant challenges successfully addressed in the course of accomplishing that task are described. For example: a 22 metric ton, φ7 m vacuum head had to be lifted 25 m before being lowered through the horizon-pointing telescope truss (clearing by 16 mm), then secured to the mirror cell that serves as a vacuum baseplate; dirty mirror-support hardware integral to the cell required isolation of the process volume operating at 10 -6 mbar; extensive modeling of source geometry was needed to achieve uniformity goals at very short source-substrate distances; limited facility power capacity led to development of a self-contained, battery-powered PWM circuit that allowed simultaneous firing of 200 evaporation sources. Details of design and construction of the evaporation system are given along with techniques and results of the successful coating in November 2001.
Performance assessment of a shuffle-based ATM switch

Proposes a shuffle-based architecture and associated access and routing protocols for an ATM switch and presents simulation results on its performance. The switch is seen to possess certain inherent admission control features which are attractive in supporting variable rate services in an ATM environment. Comparisons are made with the tandem Banyan architecture. All-optical implementations are discussed. >
Superior Oblique Tucks for Apparent Inferior Oblique Overaction and V-pattern Strabismus Associated with Craniosynostosis

Introduction: Apparent inferior oblique overaction and apparent superior oblique underaction are common in strabismus associated with craniosynostosis, and in many cases are likely due to excyclotorsion of the globes, with the rectus muscles acting with oblique vectors. We present a patient with craniosynostosis who underwent bilateral superior oblique tucks to specifically address the excyclotorsion of the globes.Methods: A 16-year-old male with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome presented with apparent bilateral inferior oblique overaction and apparent bilateral superior oblique underaction. He had 30 prism diopter (PD) esotropia and 5 PD left hypertropia by simultaneous prism and cover test (SPCT) at distance and near fixation. Fundus exam revealed marked excyclotorsion of both globes. The superior oblique tendons were tucked 10 mm bilaterally, using a 6-0 mersilene suture and the medial rectus muscles were recessed 5.5 mm on an adjustable suture with a 10-mm inferior displacement. Surgical results were reviewed...
Impact of an Inpatient Anticoagulation Management Service on Clinical Outcomes

Background:Antithrombotic medications require careful management to avoid thrombotic or hemorrhagic complications. The benefits of specialized anticoagulation management services (AMS) in the outpatient setting are well established; less evidence of benefit in the hospital setting is available.Objective:To evaluate the clinical benefits of an inpatient AMS to cardiac surgery patients requiring warfarin anticoagulation therapy.Methods:After obtaining institutional review board approval, we conducted a retrospective, single-center, cohort study of consecutive cardiac surgery patients treated before (January 2003–May 2005) and after (June–December 2005) establishment of an inpatient AMS. Demographic and clinical characteristics as well as laboratory and clinical data were retrieved from institutional electronic databases and compared between the 2 patient cohorts. Comparisons between study groups were conducted using a χ2 or Fisher's Exact test for categorical variables and a Student's t-test for continuous ...
Development of clinical models for predicting erectile function after localized prostate cancer treatment.

Objectives To develop clinical prediction models estimating the probability of maintaining erections adequate for intercourse 2 years after prostate cancer treatment, based on pretreatment characteristics. Methods Study participants consisted of prostate cancer patients with localized disease and functional erections before undergoing surgery (n = 536) or radiation therapy (n = 240) at a single USA institution. Baseline patient- and treatment-related data were collected from a clinical database and through chart review. Erectile function at 2 years post-treatment was prospectively assessed through a self-administered single-item measure. Multivariate logistic regression using backward selection was used to derive clinical prediction models to predict erectile function at 2 years for surgery and radiation therapy patients; the models were internally validated using bootstrapping methods. Results The final prediction model for surgery patients included the predictor variables of age, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension and nerve-sparing procedures, whereas the model for radiation therapy patients included hypertension, risk category and radiation technique. The new models showed acceptable calibration and discrimination: c-statistic = 0.71 (95% confidence interval 0.68–0.76) for surgery and 0.66 (95% confidence interval 0.61–0.74) for radiation therapy models. Conclusions New clinical prediction models based on patient and treatment characteristics show promising accuracy in predicting erectile function at 2 years in patients treated with surgery and radiation for localized prostate cancer. More work is required to confirm and validate these models in different patient populations.
Extracting Rules From Neural Networks as Decision Diagrams

Rule extraction from neural networks (NNs) solves two fundamental problems: it gives insight into the logic behind the network and in many cases, it improves the network's ability to generalize the acquired knowledge. This paper presents a novel eclectic approach to rule extraction from NNs, named LOcal Rule Extraction (LORE), suited for multilayer perceptron networks with discrete (logical or categorical) inputs. The extracted rules mimic network behavior on the training set and relax this condition on the remaining input space. First, a multilayer perceptron network is trained under standard regime. It is then transformed into an equivalent form, returning the same numerical result as the original network, yet being able to produce rules generalizing the network output for cases similar to a given input. The partial rules extracted for every training set sample are then merged to form a decision diagram (DD) from which logic rules can be extracted. A rule format explicitly separating subsets of inputs for which an answer is known from those with an undetermined answer is presented. A special data structure, the decision diagram, allowing efficient partial rule merging is introduced. With regard to rules' complexity and generalization abilities, LORE gives results comparable to those reported previously. An algorithm transforming DDs into interpretable boolean expressions is described. Experimental running times of rule extraction are proportional to the network's training time.
On Works of the Imagination: A Critical Examination of Stephen Prothero's God Is Not One

Stephen Prothero's book aims to combat the perennialist philosophy, the claim that all religions share a common, essential core that is fundamentally good. Prothero asserts that this perspective is problematic because it is factually false, undercuts true religious and cultural diversity, and fails to diagnose the dynamics behind large-scale cultural phenomena. Yet in his attempt to discredit perennialism Prothero provides the reader a portrayal of religion that is perennialist in nature: he portrays religion as a "sacred" and "transcendent" essence; he asserts that unpopular religious phenomena are political rather than religious; and he locates unifying similarities across a wide variety of religious phenomena in a way that is methodologically problematic. This essay asserts that Prothero's failure to critically consider the political significance of the category of "difference" and the corresponding larger conversation on the politics of essentialism is to blame for his flawed methodological model.
Visual Long-Term Memory Stores High-Fidelity Representations of Observed Actions

The ability to remember others' actions is fundamental to social cognition, but the precision of action memories remains unknown. To probe the fidelity of the action representations stored in visual long-term memory, we asked observers to view a large number of computer-animated actions. Afterward, observers were shown pairs of actions and indicated which of the two actions they had seen for each pair. On some trials, the previously viewed action was paired with an action from a different action category, and on other trials, it was paired with an action from the same category. Accuracy on both types of trials was remarkably high (81% and 82%, respectively). Further, results from a second experiment showed that the action representations maintained in visual long-term memory can be nearly as precise as the action representations maintained in visual working memory. Together, these findings provide evidence for a mechanism in visual long-term memory that maintains high-fidelity representations of observed actions.
Luther Burbank: Honorary Member of the American Breeders' Association

acquired characteristics even after the discovery of Mendel’s paper in 1900 and throughout the rest of his life. At the opening meeting of the American Breeders’ Association (ABA) at St. Louis in 1903, Burbank was unanimously elected to honorary membership. In the early proceedings of the association, a number of articles by him appeared under the titles ‘‘Heredity,’’ ‘‘Right Attitude Toward Life,’’ ‘‘Another Mode of Species Forming,’’ and ‘‘Evolution and Variation with the Fundamental Significance of Sex.’’ So why was Burbank held in such high regard in the early days of genetics? What happened to his reputation in his later years? And whatever became of the theory of the inheritance of acquired characteristics?
Energy-aware feedback control for production scheduling and capacity control

In this paper, we propose an energy-aware feedback control model for production scheduling and capacity control. Specifically, we integrate functions of production scheduling and capacity control, taking into account the costs of energy consumption and machine maintenance varied by production capacity, and the penalty cost imposed by just-in-time production requirements. Continuous control variables are used to adjust the system and the resulting dynamics are modelled. Computational experiments show that interrelated dynamics among these three performance factors are well explained by the proposed controllers, and considerably better energy performance, about 20.0–40.0% improvement, in an energy-aware production compared to a conventional strategy.
United States family planning providers' knowledge of and attitudes towards preexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention: a national survey

Abstract Objectives The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines HIV prevention as a core family planning service. The HIV community identified family planning visits as key encounters for women to access preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. No studies explore US family planning providers' knowledge of and attitudes towards PrEP. We conducted a national survey of clinicians to understand barriers and facilitators to PrEP implementation in family planning. Study design Family planning providers recruited via website postings, national meetings, and email completed an anonymous survey in 2015. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Among 604 respondents, 495 were eligible for analysis and 342 were potential PrEP prescribers (physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives or physicians assistants). Among potential prescribers, 38% correctly defined PrEP [95% confidence interval (CI): 32.5–42.8], 37% correctly stated the efficacy of PrEP (95% CI: 32.0–42.4), and 36% chose the correct HIV test after a recent exposure (95% CI: 30.6–40.8). Characteristics of those who answered knowledge questions correctly included age less than 35 years, practicing in the Northeast or West, routinely offering HIV testing, providing rectal sexually transmitted infection screening or having seen any PrEP guidelines. Even among providers in the Northeast and West, the proportion of respondents answering questions correctly was less than 50%. Thirty-six percent of respondents had seen any PrEP guidelines. Providers identified lack of training as the main barrier to PrEP implementation; 87% wanted PrEP education. Conclusions To offer comprehensive HIV prevention services, family planning providers urgently need training on PrEP and HIV testing. Implications US family planning providers have limited knowledge about HIV PrEP and HIV testing, and report lack of provider training as the main barrier to PrEP provision. Provider education is needed to ensure that family planning clients access comprehensive HIV prevention methods.
Climate, Environmental Health Vulnerability, and Physical Planning: A Review of the Forecasting Literature

Climate change is expected to alter human health in important ways, with significant regional variations. To understand these effects, I review the climate change health forecasting literature and ...
Noise, But Not Uncoupled Stability, Reduces Realism and Likeability of Bilateral Teleoperation

In bilateral teleoperation, user performance, user acceptance, and transparency are functions of the control laws that govern slave tracking and master force feedback. This study investigates the effects of teleoperator stability margin and quantization error noise on performance, likeability, and realism for a palpation task. With low noise, increased controller stiffness resulted in higher realism ratings—even when operating above the uncoupled stability limit, where the system would be unstable if the user removed his or her hand. Our results did not show any significant negative effects of stability margin on likeability or performance. In contrast, as noise increased, we observed that perceived realism and likeability of haptic feedback decreased significantly. However, noise did not impact task performance. This work aims to aid teleoperator system designers to select control parameters based on their impact on likeability, realism, and performance.
Physiological parameters of diapause and reproduction in the plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

Male and female plum curculios, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), reared for 12 wk after eclosion with a 16:8 (L:D) photoperiod (R), reared for 12 wk after eclosion with an 8:16 photoperiod (D), and a second laboratory generation reared for 2 wk with a 16:8 photoperiod (L) were assayed for CO2 production, feeding rates, live and dry weight, and supercooling. The average amount of CO2 produced by L individuals of either sex was 3-fold greater than D males or females and R males; R females were intermediate. R females had the highest daily average number of feeding punctures. Dry weights of D females were the highest and R females the lowest; weights of all males were equivalent. Live weights for females in all groups, and for the R group as a whole, were greater than those of males of the D and L groups. Supercooling temperatures were not significantly different for males or females of any class. Males apparently enter an obligate diapause, whereas females may remain reproductive for several months under long-day conditions. Following diapause, CO2 production increases sharply and peaks around the time of maximum egg production.
Is your research popular or not

I read with interest your article about a new way of measuring the popularity of different scientific fields (June p7). Devised by Michael Banks from the Max Planck Institute for Solid-State Physics in Stuttgart, it says that a topic with an "h-b index" of 10, say, has 10 papers published on it, each of which will have been cited 10 times. By dividing this value by the number of years that papers on that topic have appeared, Banks obtains a separate parameter, m, which indicates the topic's relative importance. This method makes carbon nanotubes the most popular field, with an mss of 12.85.
Tourist Plantation Owners and Slavery: A Complex Relationship

This paper examines owners of plantation heritage tourism sites as memorial entrepreneurs who control and negotiate the inclusion and specific treatment of the history of African enslavement. Interviews with owners of four South Louisiana plantations are used to document and analyse their complex relationship with the topic of slavery. Interviewed owners reveal varying understandings of tourist demand for the inclusion of slavery on tours and differences in their own personal desire to advertise and fully narrate enslaved heritage. Indeed, owners continue to propagate common myths surrounding the nature of slavery. Conceptualizing owners as memorial entrepreneurs has implications for understanding the interpretation and delivery of heritage tourism not only as a product but also a set of social values about the past.
Dissonance for understanding: Exploring a new theoretical lens for understanding teacher identity formation in borderlands of practice

Borderlands of practice are spaces where teachers are engaged in negotiating multiple conceptions of “best practices” within their daily teaching practice. Teachers at work in borderlands must actively negotiate varied conceptions, expectations, and assumptions about what is “best” for their students. These conceptions often challenge teacher professional knowledge and can result in a sense of dissonance about how to best meet the needs of students. Using a case study of one veteran teacher’s sense-making processes in her first year of teaching pre-Kindergarten, this article explores how a theoretical lens of dissonance might help researchers and teacher educators to better understand and support teacher identity formation in borderlands of practice.
“Blushes & Flushes”: Anna Karenina’s Shameful Physiology

Not unlike Dostoyevsky’s treatment of “paleness,” Tolstoy experiments with narrational blushing in a way untreated prior to Anna Karenina. Throughout the novel, Tolstoy’s characters either blush or flush at least 66 times, while paling only 5 times; that works out to a “blush-to-pale” ratio of 13:1. No mean feat. This disparity in anatomical color, however, seems to be more of a Tolstoyan preference/penchant (witnessed by his letters) rather than a particular trait specific to character, since of all the major characters in the novel, there isn’t one who does not, at one time or another, blush. The essay explores this rather remarkable Tolstoyan ability to have his characters (primarily female ones) blush and blush again which, similar to Dostoyevsky, raises the question: why?
Prevention of Status Epilepticus in Dravet Syndrome: Nationwide Survey in Japan

Child neurologists and epileptologists at various university centers in Japan were surveyed by questionnaire to identify the most effective strategies for management of and prophylaxis against status epilepticus (SE) in children with severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy (SMEI; Dravet syndrome), especially when associated with fever.
Characterization of the rabbit renal Na(+)-dicarboxylate cotransporter using antifusion protein antibodies

Polyclonal antibodies were prepared against the rabbit renal Na(+)-dicarboxylate cotransporter, NaDC-1. The antibodies were raised in chickens against a fusion protein consisting of a 60-amino acid...
Participatory Budgeting and Vertical Agriculture: A Thought Experiment in Food System Reform

While researchers have identified numerous problems with food systems, sustainable, just, and workable solutions remain scarce. Recent developments in the food justice literature, however, show which local food movements favor sustainability and justice as problem-solving measures. Yet, some of the ways that these approaches could work in concert are overlooked. Through focusing on how they are compatible, we can understand how such endeavors can improve the conditions for community control and reduce the detrimental effects of agribusiness. In this paper, the author proposes a participatory budgeting project that involves a relatively new process called “vertical agriculture” to alleviate some of the harm that current agricultural practices cause. In turn, we see how such a measure can improve the integrity of municipal governance and reshape the power structures that control food systems.
Mycoplasma infection of the middle ear in three cats.

Background Mycoplasma spp. are commensal organisms found in association with the mucus membranes of all mammalian species and are implicated in bacterial infections of many different locations. Mycoplasma spp. as a primary pathogen associated with otitis media in cats has not been reported. Objectives To describe three cats with Mycoplasma infection of the middle ear associated with various underlying disease processes. Animals Three client-owned cats. Methods Clinical examination, aerobic culture of the middle ear and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the skull. Results Mycoplasma spp. were grown on aerobic culture from the middle ear of three cats. In Case 1, concurrent neoplasia of the bulla was identified. Mycoplasma alone was cultured in Case 2 and Mycoplasma was grown in addition to Bordetella in Case 3. Case 1 was euthanized, Case 2 responded to Mycoplasma targeted therapy and Case 3 responded to Bordetella targeted therapy. Conclusions and clinical importance Mycoplasma infections of the middle ear may be clinically important and require targeted treatment in some cases.