cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of density, sex ratio, and refractory period on spawning of the mud crab Rhithropanopeus harrisii in the laboratory

Adult mud crabs, Rhithropanopeus harrisii, were held in the laboratory for 14 months at densities of 20 or 40 crabs per 0.5 m2 and at female: male ratios of 2:1, 4:1, and 6:1. Females spawned for 9 months during the calendar year and entered a refractory period from November through January. Field populations in North Carolina spawn for only 5 months of the year. Spawning increased with increasing crab density and female: male ratio. Ovigers were most abundant in habitats containing 40 crabs at a 6:1 sex ratio (8.3 ovigers per week), and were least abundant in habitats containing 20 crabs at a 2:1 ratio (2.8 per week). However, the highest proportion of crabs spawned in habitats containing 20 crabs at a 6:1 sex ratio. Neither density nor sex ratio affected female mortality. Crabs at the lowest sex ratio (2:1) and highest density (40 crabs) produced larvae that survived poorly (45% survival to first crab stage). However, larval viability was good at all other densities and sex ratios. Maintaining crabs at high densities and female: male sex ratios in the laboratory, even during a portion of the nonbreeding season, augmented egg production. These methods can facilitate studies of reproduction and development of R. harrisii.
The Probability that Neighbors Remain Neighbors after Random Rearrangements

(1980). The Probability that Neighbors Remain Neighbors after Random Rearrangements. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 87, No. 2, pp. 122-124.
The Investigation of Energy Loss in Conformal Contact Mechanics of Carpal-Radial Components in Wrist Arthroplasty

The contact mechanics of Wrist prosthetic implant is considered in which the surface roughness of the implant is included. Total wrist replacements are developed to perform wrist function as near normal as possible. The main goal of wrist replacement surgery is to relieve patients from painful arthritis and to maintain function in the wrist and hand. The gradual wearing away of the cartilage covering on bones can lead to the most common form of arthritis, usually osteoarthritis. Wear is a very important issue in wrist implant. Metal debris caused by excessive wear in wrist implant can lead to toxicity and patient discomfort. Since implant wear can be the result of contact between surfaces of Carpal and Radial components, so the investigation of the effect of roughness between wrist components and establishing a model for interaction of surface roughness is very important. There are several different designs of wrist implant. Most of them have two components that are made of metal. A high quality plastic called polyethylene is used as a space between the two components. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of roughness between interaction of these metal and polyethylene in wrist implants. This paper develops a contact model to treat the interaction of Carpal - Radial Components. The contact model describes the interaction of implant rough surfaces including both elastic and plastic deformations. In the model, surfaces are investigated as macroscopically conforming semi-Cylinder containing micron-scale roughness. The derived equations relate contact force on the implant and the minimum mean surface separation of the rough surfaces. Based on the distribution of asperity heights, the force is expressed using statistical integral function of asperity heights over the possible region of interaction of the roughness of the implant surfaces. Closed-form approximate equation relating contact force and minimum separation is used to obtain energy loss per cycle in a load-unload sequence applied to the implant.© 2014 ASME
Influence of solvent on ion aggregation and transport in PY15TFSI ionic liquid-aprotic solvent mixtures.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using a many-body polarizable APPLE&P force field have been performed on mixtures of the N-methyl-N-pentylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (PY15TFSI) ionic liquid (IL) with three molecular solvents: propylene carbonate (PC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), and acetonitrile (AN). The MD simulations predict density, viscosity, and ionic conductivity values that agree well with the experimental results. In the solvent-rich regime, the ionic conductivity of the PY15TFSI–AN mixtures was found to be significantly higher than the conductivity of the corresponding −PC and −DMC mixtures, despite the similar viscosity values obtained from both the MD simulations and experiments for the −DMC and −AN mixtures. The significantly lower conductivity of the PY15TFSI–DMC mixtures, as compared to those for PY15TFSI–AN, in the solvent-rich regime was attributed to the more extensive ion aggregation observed for the −DMC mixtures. The PY15TFSI–DMC mixtures present an interesting ...
Linguistic Relativity and Colour Terminology

In the recent anthropological-linguistic literature attention has been given to the study of basic colour terminology across languages and cultures in an effort to learn if different cultures see the world in different ways, and if language contributes to the way in which we see the world. One of the most influential of these studies (Berlin and Kay, 1969) suggests that there is a hierarchy of basic colour terminologies across cultures, that, for example, if a culture has two basic colour terms, they will be the terms for black and white, if three, black, white, and red, and so on up to eleven such terms. Furthermore, they suggest that there is a correlation between the number of basic colour terms in a particular language, which is a cultural product, and the level of technological achievement in that culture. Thus Walbiri, an aboriginal Australian language has just two, while English has all eleven. We find the following facts, however, which contradict their analysis of the colour terminology situation...
Analysis of Two Redox Couples in a Series: An Expanded Experiment To Introduce Undergraduate Students to Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Simulations

Cyclic voltammetry (CV) is a popular technique for the determination of electrochemical mechanisms because it can provide useful information on a redox couple. Computer simulations of CV data are sometimes used to study complex redox systems with interrelated processes. The following communication outlines an expanded version of an experiment developed to introduce undergraduate students to CV and electrochemical simulations. A new solvent/electrolyte system of dimethylformamide with 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate increases analyte solubility, improves sample conductivity, and extends the electrochemical domain as compared to the original experiment. Simulation parameters determined by wave clipping the first redox couple of a series are used to simulate a more complex two-redox system of the same compound. Experiments designed to teach CV and electrochemical simulations to undergraduate students rarely use wave clipping as a technique to simplify experimental data for the analysis of a more...
41 Role of Flexible Endoscopy in the Practice of Bariatric Surgery

Flexible endoscopy is an increasingly valuable tool in managing bariatric surgery patients. Endoscopy is useful in the preoperative evaluation of patients—to identify upper gastrointestinal pathology, to determine anatomy, and to plan for revisional procedures. Intraoperatively, endoscopy is typically used to test for leaks at anastomoses and staple lines. In postsurgical patients, upper gastrointestinal symptoms can be evaluated and treated using flexible endoscopy. Common complications after bariatric surgery include marginal ulcers, strictures, bleeding, leaks/fistulas, band slippage or erosion, and weight regain. Endoscopy after certain bariatric procedures (e.g., gastric bypass) can be challenging due to the altered anatomy, but successful visualization, diagnosis, and treatment have been described. Furthermore, access to the biliopancreatic system after a gastric bypass can be achieved with specialized endoscopes and advanced maneuvers. Interventional applications for the treatment of postoperative complications consist of cautery or clipping for hemostasis, dilation for strictures, and stent placement for leaks and fistulas. The development of new endoscopic devices has broadened the applicability of endoscopy, and although largely investigational, includes volume reduction techniques, space-occupying devices, and malabsorptive devices.
Inert Gas Enhanced Laser-Assisted Purification of Platinum Electron-Beam-Induced Deposits.

Electron-beam-induced deposition patterns, with composition of PtC5, were purified using a pulsed laser-induced purification reaction to erode the amorphous carbon matrix and form pure platinum deposits. Enhanced mobility of residual H2O molecules via a localized injection of inert Ar–H2 (4%) is attributed to be the reactive gas species for purification of the deposits. Surface purification of deposits was realized at laser exposure times as low as 0.1 s. The ex situ purification reaction in the deposit interior was shown to be rate-limited by reactive gas diffusion into the deposit, and deposit contraction associated with the purification process caused some loss of shape retention. To circumvent the intrinsic flaws of the ex situ anneal process, in situ deposition and purification techniques were explored that resemble a direct write atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. First, we explored a laser-assisted electron-beam-induced deposition (LAEBID) process augmented with reactive gas that resulted in a 75% carbon reduction compared to standard EBID. Lastly, a sequential deposition plus purification process was also developed and resulted in deposition of pure platinum deposits with high fidelity and shape retention.
Association of Elevated Plasma Endothelin-1 Levels With Pulmonary Hypertension, Mortality, and Heart Failure in African American Individuals: The Jackson Heart Study.

Importance Despite pathophysiological links between endothelin-1 and pulmonary vascular remodeling, to our knowledge, the association between plasma endothelin-1 levels and pulmonary hypertension has not been studied in the general population. Also, whether endothelin-1 can predict future heart failure and mortality, outcomes that are associated with pulmonary hypertension, in a population cohort is unclear. Objective To determine whether elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels are associated with pulmonary hypertension, mortality, and heart failure. Design, Setting, and Participants Data from the Jackson Heart Study, a longitudinal, prospective observational cohort study of heart disease in African American individuals from Jackson, Mississippi, were analyzed. The community population sample was limited to participants with detectable tricuspid regurgitation on echocardiography. The study participants included self-identified African American individuals with plasma endothelin-1 levels and tricuspid regurgitation on echocardiogram (n = 3223) at the time of first examination (2000-2004). The analysis of the data began on April 14, 2014, and was completed on February 23, 2016. Exposure Log-transformed plasma endothelin-1 level. Main Outcomes and Measures Cross-sectional analysis: presence of pulmonary hypertension (defined as an elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure >40 mm Hg on echocardiogram). Longitudinal outcomes were all-cause mortality (median follow-up, 7.75 years) and heart failure admissions (median follow-up, 5.32 years). Results Of the 3223 participants enrolled in the study, 1051 were men (32.6%). Mean (SD) endothelin-1 levels were 1.36 (0.64) pg/mL; 217 of 3223 cohort members (6.7%) had pulmonary hypertension. After adjusting for potential confounders, log-transformed endothelin-1 levels were associated with increased odds of pulmonary hypertension (adjusted odds ratio per log increment in endothelin-1, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.16-2.37). Log-transformed endothelin-1 levels were associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio per log increment in endothelin-1, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.27-2.25; median follow-up, 7.75 years) and heart failure (adjusted hazard ratio per log increment in endothelin-1, 1.57, 95% CI, 1.05-2.37; median follow-up, 5.32 years) in the study cohort. Phenotyping by pulmonary hypertension and endothelin-1 level showed mortality decreasing in order from subgroup with pulmonary hypertension and high endothelin-1 (high endothelin-1: ≥1.7 pg/mL; upper quartile); pulmonary hypertension and low endothelin-1 2 = 77.16; P Conclusions and Relevance Elevated plasma endothelin-1 levels, especially associated with an elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure on echocardiogram, may identify an at-risk population that could be evaluated for targeted prevention and management strategies in future studies.
Bayesian method for the analysis of diffraction patterns using BLAND

Rietveld refinement of X-ray and neutron diffraction patterns is routinely used to solve crystal and magnetic structures of organic and inorganic materials over many length scales. Despite its success over the past few decades, conventional Rietveld analysis suffers from tedious iterative methodologies, and the unfortunate consequence of many least-squares algorithms discovering local minima that are not the most accurate solutions. Bayesian methods which allow the explicit encoding of a priori knowledge pose an attractive alternative to this approach by enhancing the ability to determine the correlations between parameters and to provide a more robust method for model selection. Global approaches also avoid the divergences and local minima often encountered by practitioners of the traditional Rietveld technique. The goal of this work is to demonstrate the effectiveness of an automated Bayesian algorithm for Rietveld refinement of neutron diffraction patterns in the solution of crystallographic and magnetic structures. A new software package, BLAND (Bayesian library for analyzing neutron diffraction data), based on the Markov–Chain Monte Carlo minimization routine, is presented. The benefits of such an approach are demonstrated through several examples and compared with traditional refinement techniques.
Effect of Fare Policies on Dwell Time: Case Study for the Pittsburgh Region

Bus fares may be collected when passengers board or immediately before they alight. Little work has been done to quantify the impacts of entry fare and exit fare policies on passenger stop delay, namely the dwell time. The Port Authority of Allegheny County (PAAC), Pennsylvania, is one of few mass transit systems to currently employ both entry fare and exit fare policies. PAAC’s alternating fare policy offers an ideal natural experiment for investigating the effect of fare collection policy on dwell time. PAAC automated passenger counter and automatic vehicle location data were analyzed to estimate dwell time under no fare collection and entry fare and exit fare policies. The study found that the choice of fare policy can significantly affect the dwell time associated with fare payment but also that the effect of fare policy varies with route characteristics. The findings suggest that a transit system that seeks to minimize the contribution of fare payment to total trip dwell time may be most effective by...
Abstract 1802: Apoptosis pathway-focused gene expression profiling of a novel VEGFR2 inhibitor

Sprouting of the new blood vessel (angiogenesis) is fundamental to tumor growth, invasion, and metastatic dissemination. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), an endothelial cell-specific mitogen, promotes cell survival via opposing apoptosis. On the other hand, antagonizing VEGF pathway suppresses endothelial cell overgrowth and promotes apoptotic signals leading to the regression of the existing vasculature and prevents neovascularization of the tumors. In this respect, a new chemical entity, code named as F16, that was developed in our institute can effectively stop VEGF-driven angiogenesis by selectively blocking VEGFR2 and the downstream signals. Our previous studies have revealed that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) undergo apoptosis in response to F16 treatment. However, in the present study, our main focus was on investigating the status of the signal mediators of the apoptotic pathway after treating the HUVECs with F16. This was expected to outline the intracellular sequence of events involved in triggering apoptosis following F16 treatment. For this purpose, we analyzed apoptosis pathway-focused gene expression in HUVECs using the human apoptosis RT2 profiler which contains 84 key genes involved in regulation of programmed cell death. Our experimental results clearly identified up-regulated pro-apoptotic genes in response to F16 treatment which include tumor necrosis factor -8 and -10A (TNF-8 and TNF-10A), tumor necrosis factor superfamily member 9 (TNFRSF9), FAS cell surface receptor (FAS), FAS ligand (FASLG), lymphotoxin alpha (LTA), caspase 5 (CASP5), and cytochrome c (CYCS). Moreover, a few anti-apoptotic genes were also up-regulated which include B-cell lymphoma 2 related protein A1 (BCL2A1), caspase 14 (CASP14), Bcl2 associated athanogene 3 (BAG3), and interleukin 10 (IL-10). However, anti-apoptotic genes such as Bcl-2, Bcl-2 like 10 (BCL2L10), baculoviral IAP repeat containing -3 and -6 (BIRC-3, and BIRC-6), CASP8 and FADD like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR), and insulin like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) were found to be significantly downregulated. Interestingly, no changes were found in the expression of genes related to DNA damage and repair pathways such as TP53, ABL1, CIDEA, and CIDEB. This indicates that F16 may not provoke DNA damage-induced apoptosis instead, it stimulates the intrinsic or the extrinsic pathway. In conclusion, the diverse gene expressions impacting apoptosis related factors shows that F16 can induce apoptosis via potentiation of TNF- and FAS- signaling. (This research was supported by the generous funds provided by the Royal Dames of Cancer Research Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, Florida) Citation Format: Mohammad Algahtani, Khalid Alhazzani, Thiagarajan Venkatesan, Appu Rathinavelu. Apoptosis pathway-focused gene expression profiling of a novel VEGFR2 inhibitor [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 1802. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-1802
Lexicographic Orderings of Modes and Morphisms

The context of this paper is the theory of modes of non-degenerate well-formed scales (generalized diatonic or pentatonic scales), within the framework of algebraic combinatorics of words, specifically musical modes encoded as members of the monoid of words in \(A^{*}\) over a two-letter alphabet A, and the monoid of Sturmian morphisms that act on \(A^{*}\). The paper relates lexicographic orderings of words modes of (non-degenerate) well-formed scales (especially the canonical examples, the diatonic modes) and lexicographic orderings of the special Sturmian morphisms associated with the modes, to the musical scale and circle-of-fifths orderings. These lexicographic orderings are related to Zarlino’s 1571 re-ordering of Glarean’s 1547 listing of six authentic diatonic modes.
Relationships among physical activity, sleep duration, diet, and academic achievement in a sample of adolescents

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among physical activity, sleep duration, diet, and academic achievement in a sample of adolescents from the US state of Nevada. A two-stage cluster random sampling method was used to recruit Nevadan adolescents (N = 4625). The 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to students within public, private, and charter schools. Weighted multilevel generalized linear mixed effects models were employed to examine the relationships among physical activity, sleep duration, diet, and academic achievement. Additional analyses were run to examine the relationship between meeting multiple health behavior criteria with academic achievement. Data were collected in the US state of Nevada in 2015 and analyzed in the US state of Nevada in 2018. Adolescents who participated in at least of 60 min of physical activity per day had significantly higher odds of achieving mostly A's and B's (adjusted OR = 1.18; 95% C.I.: 1.02, 1.38; p = 0.029). Additionally, adolescents who consumed salad weekly (adjusted OR = 1.24; 95% C.I.: 1.06, 1.46; p = 0.007) and who consumed breakfast everyday (adjusted OR = 1.72; 95% C.I.: 1.48, 2.00; p < 0.001) had higher odds of achieving mostly A's and B's. Finally, adolescents who reported meeting 3 or more health behavior criteria had significantly higher odds of achieving mostly A's and B's compared to adolescents meeting only 0-2 health behaviors (adjusted OR = 1.66; 95% C.I.: 1.44, 1.92; p < 0.001). Self-reported physical activity, specific dietary behaviors, and meeting multiple health behavior criteria significantly related to academic achievement in adolescents.
Experimentally measuring a detectability index of a computational imaging system.

Computational imaging (CI) systems are an enabling technology for multifunctional cameras capable of performing a wide variety of imaging tasks. However, given the complexity of CI systems, it is often difficult to characterize their performance. In this research, a novel measurement technique is proposed and tested to evaluate the performance of complex non-shift invariant linear CI systems performing a detection task at the system level. The performance is characterized using detectability indexes such as an average Hotelling’s statistic (t2). The proposed measurement technique relies on a previously developed general CI system framework. The detectability predicts the upper-bounded signal-to-noise ratio of a linear algorithm through evaluation of a matched filter. The experimental results are compared with theoretical expected values through the Night Vision Integrated Performance Model (NV-IPM) and Monte Carlo simulations. We demonstrate the experimental results for a variety of target sizes, colors, and brightnesses on different colored flat backgrounds. Our results demonstrate how the detectability indexes can provide valuable insight into the final system performance. Finally, the measurement technique is used to compare the detection performance of two different cameras.
Chemical Composition and Cytotoxic Activity of the Leaf Essential Oil of Ocotea tonduzii from Monteverde, Costa Rica:

The leaf essential oil of Ocotea tonduzii from Monteverde, Costa Rica has been obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The principal constituents of O. tonduzii leaf oil were the monot...
Developing an opioid curriculum for medical students: A consensus report from a national symposium

In June 2018, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University hosted a national, multidisciplinary, interprofessional symposium on opioid curricula in undergraduate medical education. This article presents the consensus of an interprofessional group who attended a session focused on elements of an opioid curriculum, including key areas of content, teaching modalities, and learner assessment. This report also includes further directions and next steps for undergraduate medical education collaboration on opioid curricula.
Transforming Growth Factor Beta-Activated Kinase 1-Dependent Microglial and Macrophage Responses Aggravate Long-Term Outcomes After Ischemic Stroke.

Background and Purpose— Microglia/macrophages (Mi/MΦ) can profoundly influence stroke outcomes by acquiring functionally dominant phenotypes (proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory; deleterious or sa...
Inference on Selected Subgroups in Clinical Trials

When existing clinical trial data suggest a promising subgroup, we must address the question of how good the selected subgroup really is. The usual statistical inference applied to the selected sub...
Thermal Hall effect in the pseudogap phase of cuprates

The conjecture made recently by the group at Sherbrooke, that their observed anomalous thermal Hall effect in the pseudogap phase in the cuprates is due to phonons, is supported on the basis of an earlier result that the observed loop-current order in this phase must induce lattice distortions which are linear in the order parameter and an applied magnetic field. The lowered symmetry of the crystal depends on the direction of the field. A consequence is that the elastic constants change proportional to the field and are shown to induce axial thermal transport with the same symmetries as the Lorentz force enforces for the normal electronic Hall effect. Direct measurements of elastic constants in a magnetic field are suggested to verify the quantitative aspects of the results.
Shrinkage behavior of Portland and geopolymer cements at elevated temperature and pressure

Abstract Zonal isolation by cement barriers can be compromised in many different ways. Among the most important are shrinkage of cementing slurries and contamination of slurries with non-aqueous drilling fluids (NADF) during displacement. Class F fly ash (FA) based alkali-activated materials, referred to as geopolymers, have shown better compatibility with NADFs than ordinary Portland cement (OPC) slurries. This study questioned whether the geopolymer slurries also show enhanced performance with respect to shrinkage behavior compared to OPC slurries, especially at relevant downhole temperatures and pressures. A novel testing technique was developed to measure the autogenous shrinkage of OPC and geopolymer slurries subjected to temperatures and pressures ranging up to 80 °C (175 °F) and 13.8 MPa (2000 psi). The testing demonstrated that the total autogenous shrinkage increased for OPC slurries and decreased for geopolymer slurries with increase in testing temperature from 40 °C (104 °F) to 80 °C (175 °F). In addition, an increase in testing pressure from 1.38 MPa (200 psi) to 13.8 MPa (2000 psi) resulted in a significant increase in the autogenous shrinkage for OPC slurries when tested at 40 °C (104 °F). Furthermore, it was found that the addition of zinc- and aluminum-based expansive agents was effective in mitigating OPC shrinkage. A zinc-based expansive agent was particularly effective at shrinkage mitigation for geopolymers subjected to 80 °C (175 °F) and 13.8 MPa (2000 psi) confining pressure.
Effect of transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation on the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) response to stress: A randomized, sham controlled, double blind pilot study

Abstract Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide that plays a key role in the neurobiology of the stress response, and prior studies suggest that its function is dysregulated in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Transcutaneous cervical vagus nerve stimulation (tcVNS) acts through PACAP and other neurobiological systems to modulate stress responses and/or symptoms of PTSD. In this pilot study, we examined the effects of tcVNS on PACAP in a three day chronic stress laboratory paradigm involving serial traumatic and mental stress exposures in healthy individuals with a history of exposure to psychological trauma (n ​= ​18) and patients with PTSD (n ​= ​12). Methods A total of 30 subjects with a history of exposure to psychological trauma experience were recruited (12 with PTSD diagnosis) for a three-day randomized double-blinded study of tcVNS or sham stimulation. Subjects underwent a protocol that included both personalized trauma recall and non-personalized mental stressors (public speaking, mental arithmetic) paired to tcVNS or sham stimulation over three days. Blood was collected at baseline and multiple time points after exposure to stressors. Linear mixed-effects models were used to assess changes in PACAP over time (in response to stressors) and its relation to active tcVNS or sham stimulation. Results PACAP blood levels increased over the course of three days for both active tcVNS and sham groups. This increase was statistically-significant in the sham group at the end of the second (Cohen’s drm ​= ​0.35, p ​= ​0.04), and third days (drm ​= ​0.41, p ​= ​0.04), but not in the active tcVNS group (drm ​= ​0.21, drm ​= ​0.18, and p ​> ​0.20). Conclusion These pilot findings suggest tcVNS may attenuate this neurobiological stress-response. Larger studies are needed to investigate gender and interaction effects.
The woman on the windowsill: a tale of mystery in several parts: by Sylvia Sellers-García, New Haven: Yale University Press, 2020, 296 pp. (ISBN 9780300234282)

The woman on the windowsill opens with the discovery of a pair of severed breasts placed on the windowsill of a prominent resident of Guatemala City in 1800. The storyline follows a chronological f...
Continuous Authentication of Smartphone Users using Machine Learning

Current smartphone security techniques offer less reliability. As an instance, personal identification numbers can be easily guessed or hacked, fingerprint scan requires a hardware to operate, and face recognition can be affected by light, other people in the background, or different poses by the users. In addition, they are befitting for one-time security, therefore commonly used at the time of login to verify users. However, what if there’s a change of user while accessing the smartphone, and the phone is accessed by an intruder after login. To deal with this issue, continuous authentication is applied which regularly and unnoticeably will address the challenges of verifying users via behavioral features, such as keystroke, hand, and orientation activities. The goal of this research project is to design and implement a behavior-based security method and detect intrusion using machine learning. Hand-movement, grasp, and orientation are three behavioral features that can be effectively used to continuously authenticate users. In-built inertial sensors including accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, and orientation are used to unnoticeably represent sensitive micro-movements of hand and orientation pattern when a user accesses the smartphone screen. The researchers in this project investigated large datasets of different smartphone users with different interaction sessions. To detect the behavior of smartphone users, the research applies various supervised machine learning algorithms on the dataset of smartphone users. The experimentation results indicate that the presented approach is promising and can be effectually implemented for continuous authentication of smartphone users.
Contesting Human Rights Defenders at the United Nations Human Rights Council

Human rights defenders (HRD) are facing shrinking spaces. The United Nations Human Rights Council (Council) is one of these potentially shrinking spaces. At the Council, there exists significant co...
Surface tensions at elevated pressure depend strongly on bulk phase saturation

Abstract Hypothesis Understanding interfacial phenomena at elevated pressure is crucial to the design of a variety of processes, modeling important systems, and interpreting interfacial thermodynamics. While many previous studies have offered insight into these areas, current techniques have inherent drawbacks that limit equilibrium measurements. Experiments In this work, we adapt the ambient microtensiometer of Alvarez and co-workers into a high pressure microtensiometer (HPMT) capable of experimentally quantifying a wide range of interfacial phenomena at elevated pressures. Particularly, the HPMT uses a microscale spherical interface pinned to the tip of a capillary to directly measure surface tension via the Laplace equation. The stream of microscale bubbles used to pressurize the system ensures quick saturation of the bulk phases prior to conducting measurements. The HPMT is validated by measuring the surface tension of air–water as a function of pressure. We then measure the surface tension of CO2 vapor and water as a function of pressure, finding lower equilibrium surface tension values than originally reported in the literature. Findings This work both introduces further development of a useful experimental technique for probing interfacial phenomena at elevated pressures and demonstrates the importance of establishing bulk equilibrium to measure surface tension. The true equilibrium state of the CO2-water surface has a lower tension than previously reported. We hypothesize that this discrepancy is likely due to the long diffusion timescales required to ensure saturation of the bulk fluids using traditional tensiometry. Thus we argue that previously reported elevated pressure measurements were performed at non-equilibrium conditions, putting to rest a long standing discrepancy in the literature. Our measurements establish an equilibrium pressure isotherm for the pure CO2-water surface that will be essential in analyzing surfactant transport at elevated pressures.
Effects of climate change on hydrological and economic conditions of Bushkan plain farmers

Bushkan is one of the most important plains of Bushehr province which is considered as the agricultural pole of this province. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of climate change on the cropping patterns in different areas of Bushkan plain. Accordingly, in this study, the WEAP model and its agro-economic model, MABIA, have been used to study the hydrological status of the plain. Finally, using the positive mathematical programming (PMP), the effects of climate change on the cropping patterns in different areas of the Bushkan plain has been studied. The results show that by applying RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 scenarios, the water availability of different regions of Bushkan Plain during the 2018-2050 period is reduced by an average of 6 and 12 percent. By applying these changes to the positive mathematical programming, it was found that the total area under the cultivation of six areas is greatly reduced. According to this fallow agricultural lands is suggested as an appropriate solution to prevent long-term damage to agricultural production in the region.
The Rule of Detachment in Inductive Logic

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the the rule of detachment in inductive logic. A rule of detachment in general may be regarded as a permissive rule allowing the detachment of a conclusion from a particular set of premises. The premises, in induction, are usually regarded as simple observable facts; observations themselves; or statements or propositions based directly upon those observations. A rule of detachment is construed as a rule that permits the acceptance of a statement h representing a factual inductive conclusion, given that certain criteria are satisfied. These criteria include (1) a body of statements regarded as evidence, and satisfying some principle of acceptability, and also a condition of total evidence; (2) the probability of h, relative to this body of statements; and (3) the information content of h the simplicity and fruitfulness of h other factors not generally regarded as relevant by philosophers of science, such as political or moral utility.
Adaptive networking for tele-immersion

Tele-Immersive applications possess an unusually broad range of networking requirements. As high-speed and Quality of Service-enabled networks emerge, it will becoming more difficult for developers of Tele-Immersion applications, and networked applications in general, to take advantage of these enhanced services. This paper proposes an adaptive networking framework to ultimately allow applications to optimize their network utilization in pace with advances in networking services. In working toward this goal, this paper will present a number of networking techniques for improving performance in tele-immersive applications and examines whether the Differentiated Services mechanism for network Quality of Service is suitable for Tele-Immersion.
A Grounded Theory Approach to the Study of Open Source Software Development Process

Open source software is becoming increasingly important and popular. However, the process of open source software development (OSSD) is far less understood when compared to the prevalent final products of the process. The unique characteristics of OSSD imply that the traditional software development process can not be readily applied to OSSD. In addition, research on OSSD process is scanty at best and there are no comprehensive propositions on standardizing OSSD processes. In this research, we propose an in-depth grounded theory approach to understand open source software development process. We analyze the archives of an OSSD project’s mailing lists and we will also conduct online interviews with OSSD practitioners. The preliminary finding of this research is a Phase-Role-Skill-Responsibility (PRSR) OSSD process model. The proposed model consists of three OSSD process phases -Launch Stage, Before the First Release, and Between Releases. These three phases address the characteristics of the OSSD process as well as the identified factors that influence the OSSD process. In the PRSR model, different roles/actors are required to have different skills and responsibilities corresponding to each of the three OSSD phases. This research contributes to the software development literature as well as to open source practice with the development of a comprehensive software development process model that depicts OSSD process.
DHEA metabolism to the neurosteroid androsterone: a possible mechanism of DHEA's antidepressant action.

Alterations in neurosteroid secretion have been implicated in the efficacy of antidepressants. In a previous study, the adrenal androgen DHEA, a precursor of the neurosteroid androsterone, produced antidepressant and libido-enhancing effects in patients with midlife depression. To investigate the mechanisms underlying DHEA’s behavioral effects in this same patient group, we examined plasma levels of four additional neurosteroids implicated in the regulation of affective behavior. Blood samples were assayed for neurosteroids in men (n = 13) and women (n = 10) with midlife depression who previously participated in a crossover study in which DHEA and placebo were administered for 6 weeks each. Depression severity was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Plasma levels of androsterone (ADT), allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and pregnenolone were measured by GC-MS at baseline and week 6 of each treatment phase. Data were analyzed with repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA-R) and Bonferroni t tests. ADT levels (but not allopregnanolone, pregnanolone, and pregnenolone) increased after DHEA but not after placebo (F 2,42 = 3.3, p < 0.05). Post-DHEA ADT levels were higher in women than men [t 63 = 2.9, p < 0.05]. However, in both men and women who met criteria for clinical response on the CES-D, baseline ADT levels significantly increased post-DHEA, and the magnitude of the ADT increase post-DHEA treatment was similar in men and women. Consequently, it was the non-responders who accounted for the sex difference in post-DHEA plasma ADT levels, a difference that was driven by values in two women (the only female non-responders). The small sample size notwithstanding, these data emphasize the potential behavioral relevance of ADT in humans, which may include contribution to the antidepressant effects of DHEA.
Public Health, Emergency Response, and Medical Preparedness II: Medical Countermeasures Dispensing and Large‐Scale Disaster Relief Efforts

A catastrophic health event, such as a terrorist attack with a biological agent, a naturally occurring pandemic, or a calamitous meteorological or geological event, could cause tens or hundreds of thousands of casualties, weaken the economy, damage public morale and confidence, create panic and civil unrest, and threaten national security. It is therefore critical to establish a strategic vision that will enable a level of public health and medical preparedness sufficient to address a range of possible disasters. Planning for a catastrophe involving a disease outbreak or mass casualties is an ongoing challenge for first responders and emergency managers. They must make critical decisions on treatment distribution points, staffing levels, impacted populations, and potential impact in a compressed window of time when seconds could mean life or death. Some of the key areas of public health and medical preparedness include medical surge, population protection, communication infrastructure, and emergency evacuation. This article highlights our own experience on projects with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various public health jurisdictions in emergency response and medical preparedness for mass dispensing for disease prevention and treatment, and large-scale disaster relief efforts. Keywords: public health; emergency response; disaster medicine; medical preparedness; homeland security; terrorist attack; medical countermeasures dispensing; disaster relief; mode of dispensing; point of dispensing; facility location; layout design; resource allocation; supply chain and management; risk communication and public information; media exposure; pandemic; anthrax; flu
Discovering Union Films and Its Archives

This article begins by providing a narrative account of the (re)discovery of Union Films, the leading producer of left-wing documentaries in the United States in the immediate post-World War II era. Because of the Red Scare and blacklist, the organization has gone unmentioned in histories of documentary and radical filmmaking. The Orphan Film Movement has provided a cultural formation that has enabled this reclamation to unfold, providing a synergy between scholars, archives and labs. The question is then raised: where does the Union Films Project go from here?
Including uncertainty in the unit hydrograph method

Abstract The unit hydrograph method is reformulated into a stochastic integral equation for use in preparing probabilistic distributions of design criterion variable values (e.g., pipe size, basin volume, peak flow rate, etc.). By discretizing the ensemble of possible transfer functions (e.g., unit hydrographs) and weighting the resulting finite set of realizations, the stochastic integral equation can be more simply utilized in practical engineering problems. In this paper, a weighted set of mass curves are prepared for use in the Los Angeles, California, region. The weighted mass curves reflect the probabilistic weighting of the corresponding distribution of transfer functions used to convolute with effective rainfall (i.e., rainfall less losses) to produce runoff estimates.
Neuroelectric assessment of nutrient intake.

Abstract Electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and auditory event-related brain potentials (ERPs) were assessed in two groups (n=12 each) of subjects. The `food-nutrient' group had fasted from the night before and consumed a 500 cal nutrient drink; the `control' group consumed breakfast but did not consume any nutrients during the recordings. All subjects were assessed every 15 min for six trial blocks at the same time of day, with the fast/nutrient group measured initially before and after consuming the nutrient drink. No effects of the nutrient drink were obtained on the post-stimulus EEG spectral power or mean frequency measures. However, the fast/nutrient group demonstrated less δ, θ, and α-1 power than the no-fast/control group. Increases in spectral power were generally observed across trial blocks especially for the α and β bands, and are consistent with increases in arousal level. P300 amplitude was unaffected by the nutrient consumption, but target stimulus N100 amplitude was smaller for the food-nutrient compared to the control group. Taken together, the results suggest that nutrient consumption does not directly affect EEG or cognitive ERP measures.
Estratégia como prática e aprendizagem na interação dos sujeitos recicladores: resultados da incubadora de empreendimentos solidários, do Centro Universitário La Salle, Canoas, RS

Este artigo pretende analisar as estrategias como praticas e a aprendizagem dos sujeitos em interacao no âmbito da Incubadora de Empreendimentos Solidarios, do Centro Universitario La Salle (Uni-lasalle), Canoas, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), juntamente aos sete empreendimentos incubados. A analise so-cioambiental critica sobre os processos de atuacao consiste no ponto de partida; os empreendimentos incubados, por sua vez, atuam na area da reciclagem de residuos pos-consumo, localizados nos municipios de Canoas, Esteio e Nova Santa Rita, no RS. O metodo de investigacao adotado e um estudo multicasos, de cunho qualitativo, enquanto o corpus de dados e composto por 15 entrevistas semiestruturadas reali-zadas com os catadores participantes dos empreendimentos incubados, por observacoes participantes e por dois grupos focais. Para a analise e o tratamento dos dados coletados, o metodo adotado e a analise de conteudo. Os resultados indicam que: i) a atuacao da Incubadora e avaliada como sendo propulsora de politicas publicas por meio dos processos democraticos de participacao; ii) a construcao dos processos de aprendizagem foi realizada por meio da educacao popular; iii) ha necessidade de ampliacao da acao da Incubadora para alem dos empreendimentos incubados, na busca de redes de cooperacao para o fortale-cimento da cadeia produtiva da reciclagem, intentando o beneficiamento dos residuos e a comercializacao conjunta, por exemplo. DOI: 10.5902/1983465915903
Acute coronary syndromes: Bypassing the emergency department to treat STEMI

In a study conducted in selected US hospitals, bypassing the emergency department with direct transport to the cardiac catheterization laboratory resulted in a reduced time to reperfusion for patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. However, this strategy was used infrequently—mostly during working hours—and varied significantly between hospitals.
Remembering and Forgetting a Contentious Past : Voices From the Italo-Yugoslav Frontier

By exploring the role of cultural associations, different forms of political participation, and mass media on opposite sides of the old Italo-Yugoslav boundary, this article links opposing interpretations of the past to differences in state institutions and reconfigured social groups. Striking differences in how narrators remember episodes of past violence over time point to contentious processes of state formation after wars and to the impact of institutionalized commemorative practices on individual memory.
Topographic and Atmospheric Influences on Precipitation Variability over a Mountainous Watershed

Abstract Using rotated principal component analysis (PCA), unique, orthogonal spatial patterns of daily and monthlyprecipitation on a well-instrumented, mountainous watershed in Idaho are examined for their relationship totopography, geographic location, and atmospheric variability. Precipitation pattern and homogeneous precipitationregion differences between daily and monthly timescales and between winter and summer Seasons were identifiedusing the rotated PCA procedure. In general, monthly data produced regional boundaries more closely alignedwith topography, reflecting the integration of many storm events on monthly timescales. Spatial fields, derivedfrom mapping rotated component loadings at 46 precipitation stations on a 234-kmz watershed, were found tobe highly correlated with topography and geographic location. The eight-year time series of the components forspecific watershed regions were found to be moderately related to linear combinations of meteorological variablesderived from a single radioso...