cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural and NMR properties of niobium dichalcogenides intercalated with post transition metals

The intercalation phase of the transition-metal dichalcogenide Nb${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$, intercalated with Ga, In, Tl, Sn, and Pb, as well as Nb${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$, intercalated with In, have been prepared and studied by a variety of techniques. For most intercalates, single-intercalation-phase samples of the formula ${M}_{\frac{2}{3}}\mathrm{Nb}{X}_{2}$ were obtained, where $M$ is the intercalate and $X$ a chalcogen. The changes in the lattice parameters occurring upon intercalation have been determined from x-ray powder patterns. No superconducting transition was observed in any of the intercalated samples above 1.5 K. The microscopic properties were studied from 1.5 to 4.2 K using nuclear-magnetic-resonance (NMR) techniques, with the prime emphasis on the determination of the electric field gradients (EFG) at the Nb sites. For each intercalated sample the EFG was reduced by (35-60)% from that found in Nb${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ and Nb${\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$. For the ${\mathrm{Tl}}_{\frac{2}{3}}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ sample, the Nb line shape was fit by a single EFG while for all other intercalates at least two EFGs were needed to fit the Nb line shape, indicating two sites with inequivalent NMR properties. This change in the EFG at the Nb sites upon intercalation is attributed to charge transfer from the intercalated atoms into the conduction band of the layered compound. Knight-shift and spin-lattice relaxation-time measurements on the intercalate resonance indicate conduction-band behavior at the intercalate site but with a low density of states at the Fermi energy. The Sn M\"ossbauer line shape was studied in ${\mathrm{Sn}}_{\frac{2}{3}}\mathrm{Nb}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$. Only a single resonance was observed indicating a lack of any large quadrupole splitting as opposed to the two-line spectrum which has been observed for Sn in ${\mathrm{Sn}}_{1}$Ta${\mathrm{S}}_{2}$.
In vitro function of indium-111 oxine-labeled human monocytes

Abstract Mononuclear phagocytes (monocytes and macrophages) are widely disttibuted throughout the body. Indium-111 ( 111 In) oxine has been a useful radioactive label in studies of in vivo cellular kinetics and distribution. In preparation for in vivo monocyte investigations in humans, this study was designed to determine the effects of labeling human blood monocytes with 111 In on their function in vitro. The monocytes labeled with an efficiency of 57.9 ± 14.2% (range of 47–95%). The 111 In eluted from the cells at a rate of 0.25%/h over 48 h in vitro. The labeled monocytes had a slight, but statistically significant, reduction in their ability to phagocytize or mediate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of antibody- coated sheep erythrocytes. The labeled cells were not different than control monocytes with respect to viability (trypan blue exclusion and lactate dehydrogenase release), adherence to plastic, hydrogen peroxide production, chemotaxis to N -formyl methionylleucylphenylalanine, and antibody-dependent lysis of the tumor cells U937 and HeLa. 111 In-labeled human monocytes should be useful for in vivo studies of mononuclear phagocyte kinetics and distribution in normal and diseased subjects.
Antimicrobial management strategies for Gram-positive bacterial resistance in the intensive care unit.

This article summarizes the current situation with Gram-positive infections, including the two primary consequences-failure to cure and resistance-relevant to the intensive care unit. The past few years have seen Enterococcus faecium resistance to vancomycin increase from 10% of strains to approaching 60% of strains in some centers. Failure is now so frequent that vancomycin can no longer be safely used. This has lead to use of two new antibiotics, quinupristin/dalfopristin (Synercid), first marketed in the United States in September 1999, and linezolid (Zyvox), which reached the U.S. market in May 2000. Both of these agents are being used to treat culture-proven vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. The calculated areas under the inhibitory curve (AUIC) values of vancomycin, even when its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) is 4.0 microg/mL, show almost all vancomycin-resistant E. faecium have AUICs <125. This explains failure, as well as the further selection of this bacteria into subpopulations with progressively higher MICs. Less well defined, but potentially an even greater problem, is the poor efficacy of vancomycin against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus. Here, there is evidence of clinical failure in lower respiratory tract infection patients, but in most cases the MIC values of the organism have not risen to the point where AUICs are <125. However, the minimum bactericidal concentration of this organism may be considerably higher than its MIC, and in other cases there may be a high inoculum effect or a protein-binding effect to explain the failure of vancomycin to kill multiresistant S. aureus. Besides the increasing use of the new agents, strategies to manage these two increasingly resistant Gram-positive infections include cephalosporin restriction, switch and streamlining when cultures come back from the lab, combination regimens, and cycling in selected intensive care units.
Behavior of delaminated plastic IC packages subjected to encapsulation cooling, moisture absorption, and wave soldering

Plastic IC packaging subjected to moisture is vulnerable to delamination and cracking during the solder reflow process. Modeling the response of the delaminated plastic package is an essential step to fundamentally understand failure mechanisms and mechanics involved in the cooling, moisture absorption, and solder reflow process. A nonlinear finite element model was developed for predicting the deformation, stress, and fracture behavior of delaminated plastic packages induced by mechanical and hygro-thermal loads. The model consists of a sequentially coupled hygro-thermo-mechanical analysis considering moisture absorption, evaporation and interface contact and fracture analysis. A Lagrange Multiplier method was utilized to model the delamination interface condition. A general contact model was adopted which can handle complex contact conditions, such as arbitrary slippage and discontinuous curvature. A thermal contact was utilized to model the contact along delamination surfaces. Mixed mode fracture modes were elaborated. The model was verified by comparing existing analytical results with the predictions in the case of pulsed heating of the IC chip. Packaging responses and failure mechanisms due to encapsulation cooling, moisture absorption and evaporation, wave soldering, and interfacial moisture pressure loading are investigated, with consideration of temperature-dependent material properties change around the glass transition temperature for both die attach and molding compound. Packaging deformation and stress, crack tip driving force, doming of the delamination, and delamination growth stability as a function of time are discussed. >
Predicting Family Health in Families of Young Adults with Severe Mental Illness

A greater understanding of the factors that predict family health in the families of young adults with severe and persistent mental illness is essential given the complex and challenging nature of ...
The effect of strain rate and temperature on the tensile properties of NiAl

Tensile testing of cast and extruded binary NiAl was performed from 300 to 900 K at strain rates of 1.4 × 10−4 to 1.4 × 10−1 × s−1. The brittle-to-ductile transition temperature (BDTT) was dependent on strain rate, with a three order of magnitude increase in strain rate resulting in approximately a 200 K increase in transition temperature. Regardless of strain rate, at temperatures just above the BDTT the fracture strength increased significantly and the fracture morphology changed from mostly intergranular to predominantly transgranular. It was also determined that the mechanism responsible for the brittle-to-ductile transition in NiAl had an apparent activation energy of approximately 118 kJ/mol. These results support the argument that the mechanism for the brittle-to-ductile transition in NiAl is associated with the onset of a thermally activated deformation process. This process is probably dislocation climb controlled by short circuit diffusion.
Implicitly-supervised learning in spoken language interfaces: an application to the confidence annotation problem

In this paper we propose the use of a novel learning paradigm in spoken language interfaces – implicitly-supervised learning. The central idea is to extract a supervision signal online, directly from the user, from certain patterns that occur naturally in the conversation. The approach eliminates the need for developer supervision and facilitates online learning and adaptation. As a first step towards better understanding its properties, advantages and limitations, we have applied the proposed approach to the problem of confidence annotation. Experimental results indicate that we can attain performance similar to that of a fully supervised model, without any manual labeling. In effect, the system learns from its own experiences with the users. *
The effect of oceanographic variability and interspecific competition on juvenile pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) and capelin (Mallotus villosus) distributions on the Gulf of Alaska shelf

Abstract Results from this study suggest that small-scale variability in the Alaska Coastal Current (ACC) and competition between juvenile pollock and capelin are potential mechanisms affecting the distribution and abundance of fishes in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). Fish distributions in Barnabus Trough, off the east coast of Kodiak Island, were assessed using acoustic data collected with a calibrated echosounder during August–September 2002 and 2004. Trawl hauls were conducted to determine the species composition of the fish making up the acoustic backscatter. Oceanographic data were collected from moorings, conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) probes, trawl-mounted microbathythermographs (MBT) and expendable bathythermographs (XBT). National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) reanalysis data were used to assess area winds, and information on regional transport was derived from current meters deployed on moorings north and south of Kodiak Island. The distribution of water-mass properties and fish during 2002 showed variability at the temporal scale of weeks. Juvenile pollock (age-1 and age-2) were initially most abundant in warm, low-salinity water on the inner shelf, whereas capelin were distributed primarily on the outer shelf in cool, high-salinity waters. During a 2-week period juvenile pollock distribution expanded with the offshore expansion of warm, low-salinity water, and capelin abundance in outer-shelf waters decreased. We hypothesize that wind-driven pulsing of the ACC resulted in increased transport of warm, low-salinity water through the study area. In 2004, warm, low-salinity water characterized the inner shelf and cool, high-salinity water was found on the outer shelf. However, the distribution of water-mass properties did not show the weekly scale variability observed in 2002. Area winds were consistently toward the southwest during 2004, such that we would not expect to see the wind-driven pulsing of ACC water that occurred in 2002. Age-1 and age-2 pollock were not observed in Barnabus Trough in 2004. Instead, the midwater acoustic backscatter was composed of capelin mixed with age-0 pollock, and these capelin were not restricted to the outer-shelf waters, but were found primarily in warm, low-salinity inner-shelf waters that had been previously occupied exclusively by age-1 and age-2 pollock. We suggest that this is consistent with inner-shelf waters being preferred foraging habitat for juvenile pollock and capelin. Further study of the mechanisms linking climate change with variability in the ACC is needed, as are studies of the potential for competition between juvenile pollock and capelin.
Types and type inference in a visual programming language

The uses of types and type inference in visual languages are explored. First, we discuss how the goals of a type system must differ from visual languages from those of a type system for textual languages. We then present a type system developed under these goals for the visual language Forms/3. Within the context of this system, issues of particular importance in visual languages are examined, including maintaining the user's conceptual model, the avoidance of language restrictions solely to support a type system, and how the visual process of programming can provide additional information to the type system. >
Dehydroepiandrosterone Restores Hepatocellular Function and Prevents Liver Damage in Estrogen-Deficient Females Following Trauma and Hemorrhage

Introduction. Recent studies have shown that administration of the sex steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in males following trauma-hemorrhagic shock has salutary effects on the depressed cardiovascular and immunological functions under those conditions. Since the effects of sex steroids are gender specific, we examined whether administration of DHEA has any beneficial effects on hepatocellular function in female rats with low estrogen levels following trauma–hemorrhage. Methods. Ovariectomy was performed in female Sprague-Dawley rats 14 days prior to the experiments. The animals then underwent a 5-cm midline laparotomy and were subjected to hemorrhagic shock (40 mm Hg for 90 min). This was followed by fluid resuscitation (Ringer's lactate over 60 min) and administration of DHEA (30 mg/kg BW) or vehicle subcutaneously at the end of resuscitation. At 24 h after resuscitation hepatocellular function, i.e., clearance of indocyanine green (ICG), and hepatocyte damage (serum alanine aminotransferase) were measured. Plasma levels of DHEA and 17β-estradiol were also assayed. Results. Vehicle-treated rats had significantly reduced hepatocellular function, increased ALT activity, and decreased levels of 17β-estradiol following trauma–hemorrhage compared to sham-operated animals (P < 0.05, ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test). In animals receiving DHEA following trauma–hemorrhage, hepatocellular function and ALT activity were similar to those of shams. However, administration of DHEA did not influence the plasma levels of 17β-estradiol. Conclusions. Administration of DHEA following trauma–hemorrhage restored hepatocellular function and reduced hepatic damage that was observed in ovariectomized female rats under such conditions. This salutary effect of DHEA did not appear to be due to elevated levels of plasma 17β-estradiol. We therefore propose that DHEA should be considered a novel, safe, and useful adjunct in the treatment of trauma-induced hepatocellular dysfunction in ovariectomized and postmenopausal females.
Exchange of sea ice between the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

[1] First estimates of sea ice exchange between the Arctic Ocean and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) are obtained using six years (1997–2002) of RADARSAT ice motion. Over the period, the mean annual flux of sea ice area from the Amundsen Gulf (AG), M'Clure Strait (MS), and Queen Elizabeth Islands (QEI) are −85 ± 26 × 103, −20 ± 24 × 103, and 8 ± 6 × 103 km2. Positive/negative sign indicates Arctic outflow/inflow. Overall, net sea ice area is exported from the CAA; rough estimates suggest a mean annual volume flux of ∼102 km3 into the Canada Basin. Ice types are largely seasonal near the AG flux gate, mixed seasonal and multiyear at the MS gate, and primarily multiyear at the QEI gates. Sea ice at the QEI flux gates remains land fast for most of the year. Cross-strait gradient in sea level pressure explains more than 50% of the variance in the area flux at these passages. The role of ice exchange during the anomalous decrease in multiyear ice coverage in the Sverdrup Basin during September 1998 is examined.
Integrated provenance data for access control in group-centric collaboration

In a provenance-aware environment, as data objects are created and used, the transaction information is captured as provenance data. Provenance-based access control utilizes the captured provenance information to control access to the underlying data. In a group-centric collaboration environment, data objects are shared and modified by multiple organizations/systems while the relevant provenance data are captured and stored in the local systems. While captured provenance data are readily available for access control within the local system, provenance-based access control in a group-centric collaboration environment requires integrated use of provenance data from other collaborating systems for effective access control. However, some provenance information maintained by a system may be too sensitive to be directly viewed or used by other systems. In this paper, we demonstrate and discuss the issue relating the incorporation of an access control model in the context of group-centric secure collaboration environment. We also discuss two potential solution approaches and their significance in building the foundation for further research.
Ferroelastic Toughening in Bismuth Vanadate

Bismuth vanadate has been used as a model system to examine toughening by stress-induced domain motion in a ferroelastic material. Fracture toughnesses in the ferroelastic and paraelastic states have been compared. Toughening and R-curve behavior have been observed in the ferroelastic state. Single crystals of BiVO_4 show domain nucleation and propagation under compressive loading and domain generation during fracture. The increase in toughening in the ferroelastic state can be explained by a combination of crack deflection and domain wall motion, the latter contributing to R-curve behavior.
Twenty Questions game performance on medical school entrance predicts clinical performance.

Context This study is based on the premise that the game of ‘Twenty Questions’ (TQ) tests the knowledge people acquire through their lives and how well they organise and store it so that they can effectively retrieve, combine and use it to address new life challenges. Therefore, performance on TQ may predict how effectively medical school applicants will organise and store knowledge they acquire during medical training to support their work as doctors. Objectives This study was designed to determine whether TQ game performance on medical school entrance predicts performance on a clinical performance examination near graduation. Methods This prospective, longitudinal, observational study involved each medical student in one class playing a game of TQ on a non-medical topic during the first week of medical school. Near graduation, these students completed a 14-case clinical performance examination. Performance on the TQ task was compared with performance on the clinical performance examination. Results The 24 students who exhibited a logical approach to the TQ task performed better on all senior clinical performance examination measures than did the 26 students who exhibited a random approach. Approach to the task was a better predictor of senior examination diagnosis justification performance than was the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) Biological Science Test score and accounts for a substantial amount of score variation not attributable to a co-relationship with MCAT Biological Science Test performance. Conclusions Approach to the TQ task appears to be one reasonable indicator of how students process and store knowledge acquired in their everyday lives and may be a useful predictor of how they will process the knowledge acquired during medical training. The TQ task can be fitted into one slot of a mini medical interview.
LARGE MANUFACTURING CORPORATIONS AS SUPPLIERS OF FUNDS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT SECURITIES MARKET

THIS ARTICLE REVIEWS the behavior of the government securities holdings of large manufacturing corporations' in their relationship to other transactions in the unusual post-World War II period. During this period there have been phases of expansion in business activity interrupted by the recessions of 1949 and 1953-54, as well as some involuntary growth of inventories and stockpiling of steel in the early part of 1956. Since then the economy may be said to have undergone a sidewise movement, leading to another recession. Some general statements will be made about the distinguishable types of changes in government security holdings that emerge from that portion of the period for which data are available.2 In the period from December 31, 1946, through 1955, the large manufacturing corporations were net suppliers of $6.3 billion of funds to the United States government securities market. Although these corporations withdrew funds from the government securities market in 1952 and 1954, they were net suppliers during the other years of the period.8 Moreover, in many years these corporations, largely through their purchases of government securities, have been significant net suppliers of funds to the whole range of financial markets (including the money, credit, and capital markets). In 1955, for example, the two hundred large manufacturing corporations represented in the Federal Reserve Board's tabulation of sources and uses of corporate funds released $2.5 billion through the purchases of government securities and reduced their short-term bank borrow-
A monolithic linear Hall effect integrated circuit

A low cost magnetic field sensor designed to provide an output voltage proportional to an applied magnetic field is described. Static or dynamic magnetic fields can be sensed. Excellent temperature stability ann supply rejection specifications are demonstrated. The device also exhibits excellent rejection of mechanical stress. These characteristics make the TL173 attractive for application in automotive or industrial environments for position or movement detection, rotary motion detection, etc.
Diagnostic utility of p501s (prostein) in comparison to prostate specific antigen (PSA) for the detection of metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Background Immunohistochemical detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) is widely used to identify metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma. However, PSA may not be expressed in some poorly differentiated prostatic carcinomas and its immunoreactivity has been found in some non-prostatic tissues. P501s (prostein) is a prostate-specific marker that is expressed in the cytoplasm of benign and malignant prostatic glandular cells. It has not been detected in any other normal or malignant tissues. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of P501s in metastatic prostatic adenocarcinoma and compare its expression with PSA.
Toll-like Receptor Status in Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: A Translational Perspective

Context: The prevalence of both obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing at alarming rates globally. Both predispose to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, and certain cancers. Understanding the mechanisms contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk in obesity and MetS is of utmost importance. Evidence Acquisition: For this review, we performed a detailed literature search on PubMed of all publications related to Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and obesity and MetS for the last 20 years. Evidence Synthesis: The TLRs are well-characterized immune receptors that enhance inflammation. The recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns and endogenous (host-derived) ligands released by various cell types triggers activation and expression of TLRs. TLRs, especially TLR2 and TLR4, induce insulin resistance, which is pivotal in the pathogenesis of obesity and MetS. Both obesity and MetS are characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation, possibly trigge...
Effect of Pregnancy on Adverse Outcomes After General Surgery

Importance The literature regarding the occurrence of adverse outcomes following nonobstetric surgery in pregnant compared with nonpregnant women has conflicting findings. Those differing conclusions may be the result of inadequate adjustment for differences between pregnant and nonpregnant women. It remains unclear whether pregnancy is a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality of the woman after general surgery. Objective To compare the risk of postoperative complications in pregnant vs nonpregnant women undergoing similar general surgical procedures. Design, Setting, and Participants In this retrospective cohort study, data were obtained from the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participant user file from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011. Propensity-matched females based on 63 preoperative characteristics were matched 1:1 with nonpregnant women undergoing the same operations by general surgeons. Operations performed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2011, were analyzed for postoperative adverse events occurring within 30 days of surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures Rates of 30-day postoperative mortality, overall morbidity, and 21 individual postoperative complications were compared. Results The unmatched cohorts included 2764 pregnant women (50.5% underwent emergency surgery) and 516 705 nonpregnant women (13.2% underwent emergency surgery) undergoing general surgery. After propensity matching, there were no meaningful differences in all 63 preoperative characteristics between 2539 pregnant and 2539 nonpregnant patients (all standardized differences, P = .82), and the rate of overall morbidity was also not significantly different between pregnant vs nonpregnant patients (6.6% vs 7.4%; P = .30). Conclusions and Relevance There was no significant difference in overall morbidity or 30-day mortality rates in pregnant and nonpregnant propensity-matched women undergoing similar general surgical operations. General surgery appears to be as safe for pregnant women as it is for nonpregnant women.
The Secondary Consequences of Conducting Polls in Political Science Classes: A Quasi-Experimental Test.

local community are altered by their participation as interviewers in a public opinion poll. Our results suggest that students do not benefit from this type of experience and lead us to question the use of some forms of experiential learning. We end with a call for more systematic research demonstrating the proposed benefits of experiential learning. Experiential learning is widely used in political science and other disciplines (Kendall et al. 1996). Teachers who use experiential learning in their instruction rarely doubt its efficacy and often recommend its use (see, e.g., Chesney and Feinstein 1993; McBride 1994; Seitz 1994). Students are believed to benefit in
Un intento neo-regalista en el siglo XX: los proyectos de concordato entre Chile y la Santa Sede en 1928

La separacion entre la Iglesia y el Estado de Chile llevada adelante por la Constitucion de 1925 fue ocasion para que se hablara de un posible concordato entre Chile y la Santa Sede, siendo el gobierno chileno el que pretendio llevar a la practica esa idea proponiendo textos concretos de concordato. En ellos, sin embargo, pretendio recuperar, por la via de un pacto con la Santa Sede, viejas practicas regalistas que con la separacion entre la Iglesia y el Estado habian quedado derogadas pero que se resistia perder. En este articulo, a partir de materiales recientemente conocidos en el Archivo Secreto Vaticano, se estudian las clausulas que en los proyectos redactados en 1928 son expresion del neo regalismo del gobierno chileno.
Estimates of Elk Summer Range Nutritional Carrying Capacity Constrained by Probabilities of Habitat Selection

We used habitat-selection data from a reintroduced population of elk (Cervus elaphus) in northeastern Nevada, USA, to develop a resource-selection function to adjust nutritional carrying capacity estimates. Constrained estimates provide population levels that minimize overuse of key foraging communities. We estimated economic nutritional carrying capacity (INCC) for 236-kg lactating cow elk in autumn 1999 and 2000 to reflect expected animal performance under maintenance (2,550 kcal/kg DM) and good (2,750 kcal/kg DM) levels of standing digestible energy. We used our resource-selection function to redistribute INCC densities (RSFD) for aspen (Populus tremuloides), conifer, curl-leaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)–herb, and snowbrush ceanothus (Ceanothus velutinus) cover types across the summer range and then adjusted original INCC estimates according to these RSFD when expected densities exceeded original INCC estimates. Maintenance performance INCC estimates were 2,533 cow elk (95% CI: 1,327–3,739) in 1999 and 1,655 (95% CI: 886–2,424) in 2000. Good performance INCC estimates were 2,264 cow elk (95% CI: 1,150–3,378) in 1999 and 1,100 (95% CI: 384–1,816) in 2000. The best habitat model provided evidence that forage availability and distance to water influenced habitat selection. Adjustments in INCC for 1999 and 2000 and at both performance levels corresponded to decreases of 18–35% in original INCC estimates. Decreases were attributed to more cow elk predicted by RSFD to be in aspen, conifer, and sagebrush–herb cover types than predicted by INCC. Each year, RSFD predicted that fewer elk would use mahogany and snowbrush cover types than original INCC models. The adjusted carrying capacity estimates provided population levels that should avoid appreciable alteration of aspen, conifer, and sagebrush–herb communities while ensuring nutritious resources during lean periods. Our paper provides a critical refinement for nutritional carrying capacity models through incorporating prediction of animal selection of nutritional resources.
Pitfalls reconstructing the last common ancestor of chimpanzees and humans.

The morphological nature of the last common ancestor (LCA) of chimpanzees/bonobos and humans is a fascinating topic in human evolution. Available evidence suggests that both lineages share a LCA that lived in Africa ∼8–6 Myr. However, the hominoid fossil record of this time period is inadequate, prompting the use of novel methodological approaches to reconstruct the anatomy of this key ancestor. In a recent example, Young et al. (1) claim that “fossil hominin shoulders support an African ape-like last common ancestor of humans and chimpanzees.” Although I applaud these authors for implementing novel comparative methods to paleoanthropology, fundamental aspects of the experimental design were disregarded, leading to biased conclusions. Herein I provide constructive criticisms on that study, also addressing recurrent pitfalls in the field, to help redirect future research on human paleobiology.
Natural Frequencies of Circular Arches

A study of the free vibrations of elastic circular arches is presented, demonstrating the application of a particular direct-iterative eigen-solution method. The model consists of a sequence of straight beam finite elements connecting nodal points lying on the circular elastic axis of the arch. The effect of rotatory inertia is included, but transverse shear deformations are neglected in the analysis. The use of a finite element model facilitates determination of energy distribution in each mode, and permits quantitative analysis of the nature of the frequency spectrum for circular arches of various slenderness ratios. Results also include tables of natural frequencies for circular arches.
Dislocation Walls in Finite Media: The Case of an Infinite Slab

The dislocation microstructure observed in solids exhibits cellular patterns. The interiors of these cells are depleted of dislocations while the walls contain dense bundles including the geometrically necessary dislocations leading to misorientations of the crystal lattice on either side. This clustering is the result of short-range interactions which favor the formation of dislocation dipoles or multipoles and tilt and twist boundaries. While this short-range ordering of dislocations is readily understood, the long-range pattern formation is still being studied. We examine finite tilt boundaries in an infinite medium, a model grain, and a free slab to investigate the conditions for long-range stress interactions. We find that finite tilt walls in a larger medium generally possess a long-range stress field because the local bending at the tilt wall is constrained by the surrounding material.
Optical studies of Poly[p-(2,5-didodecylphenylene)ethynylene] in Thin Films

Unlike many other conjugated polymers popular for use in LEDs, poly[ p -(2,5-didodecylphenylene)ethynylene] (DPPE), shows less interchain interaction between polymer chains after annealing to an ordered film. Evidence of this decreased interchain interaction can be seen in the emission spectra of pristine and annealed films. Thin films of pristine DPPE show a broad featureless green emission, characteristic of an excimer-like state, whereas annealed films blue-shift and become structured, resembling dilute solution emission. DPPE packs into ordered domains after annealing, shown by birefringence, polarization anisotropy NSOM, and x-ray crystallography data. The lack of chromophore interaction in the ordered domains can be explained through a brick-wall-type packing motif, where the polymer backbone is insulated by the side chains of offset neighboring polymers. Electroluminescence spectra of pristine and annealed LEDs are nearly identical, both having green emission, unlike their different photoluminescence spectra. This is evidence that light emission in LEDs comes only from excimer sites within the film, which would indicate a decreased performance for the annealed devices compared to pristine devices. Preliminary data of pristine and annealed LEDs supports this theory, with most pristine devices having a slightly higher electroluminescence intensity compared to annealed devices.
Analysis of Legionella pneumophila pollution in central air- conditioning system of hotels in Dongguan from 2009 to 2011

Objective To investigate the contamination status and serotype distribution of L. pneumophila in central air-conditioning system of hotels in Dongguan,and provide scientific grounds for the prevention and control of air infectious diseases. Methods From 2009 to 2011,samples of cooling tower water and condensate water of central air-conditioning system in some hotels were selected to detect L. pneumophila. The detection results were analyzed. Results The positive rate of L. pneumophila was 35. 11%( 33 /94) in 9 hotels. A total of 61 L. pneumophila strains were isolated from 146 samples of cooling tower water and condensate water,the positive rate was 41. 78%. LP1 type accounted for 40. 98%( 25 /61),and LP2 ～ 14 type accounted for 59. 02%( 36 /61). Conclusion L. pneumophila contamination existed in central air-conditioning system of hotels in Dongguan,which had potential harm to the public health. Sanitation monitoring and comprehensive prevention measures should be strengthened to guarantee the public heath safety.
Evaluation of sagittal multiplanar reconstruction oblique images with high-resolution computed tomography in diagnosis of large vestibular aqueduct

Objectiive To evaluate the role of multiplanar reconstruction(MPR) oblique images in diagnosis of a large vestibular aqueduct (LVA), and to find a best scan plane for its visualization. Methods High- resolution CT (HRCT) scanning was performed in 83 patients (166 ears) with sensorineural hearing loss and the original data processed with MPR. The axial, coronal and oblique images generated with these techniques were independently reviewed for LVA by two radiologist and one ENT doctor, and the numbers of scan designators required for diagnosis of LVA were compared. Results Three doctors reached the diagnosis of LVA in 23, 20 and 21 ears based on axial scan, in 19, 18 and 20 ears on coronal scan and in 27, 27 and 27 ears on the MPR oblique images, respectively. Six and 9 CT scan designators on average were required for diagnosis of LVA respectively in the axial and coronal scan, whereas only 2 were required in the MPR oblique images. Conclusion MPR oblique images have a high sensitivity and specificity and require the least scan designators in diagnosis of LVA.
Invited paper: Context-aware schedulers: Realizing quality of service/experience trade-offs for heterogeneous traffic mixes

Modern broadband wireless networks support application mixes, with different, possibly complex, application/user Quality of Service/Experience (QoS/QoE) metrics. The central problem underlying resource allocation for such systems is realizing QoS/QoE trade-offs given the dynamic loads and capacity variability they would typically see. The paper explores a framework for context-aware scheduling based on: (1) context-aware flow classification and management, and (2), complementary base station scheduler. Motivated by typical flow-size distributions for current traffic and characteristics of the associated delay optimal (Gittins index-based) schedulers we propose a novel flow and channel-aware scheduler which meets our design objectives. Using a combination of analysis and simulation we explore the achieved QoS/QoE trade-offs across a dynamic mix of traffic, in particular: 1) mobile web browsing and small file delays; 2) stored streaming video quality vs re-buffering; 3) throughput of larger file downloads. They suggest improved QoS/QoE tradeoffs vs traditional proportionally fair schedulers and are robust to the network load.
[Determination of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, trans, trans-muconic acid, and S-phenylmercapturic acid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry].

Objective To establish a method for simultaneously determining the urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG),trans,trans-muconic acid (tt-MA),and S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) in subjects exposed to benzene.Methods After being purified by a solid-phase extraction column,the urine samples were transferred to a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system,and the concentrations of 8-OHdG,tt-MA,and S-PMA were determined by external standard method.A C18 reversed-phase column was used as the chromatographic column,and methanol/acidic ammonium formate solution was used as the mobile phase for gradient elution.The mass spectrometer was operated in a multi-reaction monitoring mode.Results For tt-MA,the calibration curves were linear in the range of 10-1000 μg/L,and the recovery rates were over 90％ (relative standard deviation (RSD) ＜3％) at spiked levels of 50 μg/L and 500 μg/L.For S-PMA and 8-OHdG,the calibration curves were linear in the range of 1-100 μg/L,and the recovery rates were over 85％ (RSD ＜5％) at spiked levels of 5 μg/L and 50 μg/L.Conclusion This determination method meets the requirement of Biological materials-Methods of monitoring-Guide of development (WS/T 68-1996) and can be used for simultaneous determination of 8-OHdG,tt-MA,and S-PMA in urine. Key words: 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine; Trans,trans-muconic acid; S-phenylmercapturic acid; Chromatography; Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
Regulation of the Mutual Fund Industry

One of the primary objectives of the Investment Company Act of 1940 was to protect small investors in mutual funds against abuses by a fund’s adviser. Proponents of mutual fund regulation believed that, because of the inability of investors to replace a fund’s adviser with a new adviser should the adviser charge excessive fees or otherwise take advantage of a fund’s shareholders, the usual bargaining that is part of the competitive process is absent from the adviser-shareholder relationship. This sentiment is articulated in the following language of Senate: Since a typical fund is organized by its investment adviser which provides it with almost all management services and because its shares are bought by investors who rely on that service, a mutual fund cannot, as a practical matter, sever its relationship with the adviser. Therefore, the forces of arm–s length bargaining do not work in the mutual fund industry in the same manner as they do in other sectors of the American economy.20
Toward Sub-second Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a model organism widely used to study cell biological processes because of its easy genomic manipulation and its close relatedness to higher eukaryotes. For electron microscopy, the good freezing properties and the small size of yeast cells make it a nearly ideal specimen for the development of cryopreparation techniques. Here we report on the development of a method to correlate yeast cells by live-fluorescence and electron microscopy with the potential to achieve sub-second correlation times. This is possible by plunge-freezing of an optically transparent sample sandwich, so that the temporal resolution is only determined by the transfer speed from the fluorescence microscope to the freezing device. While direct correlation was not yet achieved, the system already offers the possibility to verify the state of the identical population of cells by fluorescence microscopy immediately before freezing and processing for transmission electron microscopy.
The Cost of Indigence Under Legal Recovery and Public Defender Systems

The research analyzes how legal institutions deal with the politics of economic hard times from the perspective of indigents who are constitutionally entitled to legal representation but constrained to pay the cost of appointed counsel. Legal cost recovery systems, also called recoupment or contribution, allow governments to recover public defender expenses in providing legal aid to indigents. U.S. Supreme Court precedent and federal/state practice generally reaffirm their constitutionality under the Sixth Amendment and enjoy widespread application; but prior research infers they incur a variety of financial, ethical, and human “costs” that span public administration, lawyer ethics, and comparative law. After outlining the different types of cost recovery systems and their constitutionality in the United States, the paper analyzes whether cost recovery systems incur detrimental costs and diminish access to justice, as suggested by prior studies, by examining case studies of their application in regards to the politics of state budgeting and the ambivalent demands of attorney ethics. The conclusion briefly examines whether right to counsel and its costs, as incurred in the U.S. context, are comparable to the demands placed on indigents pressing for the judicial enforcement of their social rights in criminal and/or civil adjudications in foreign jurisdictions.
HoneyBot: A Honeypot for Robotic Systems

Historically, robotics systems have not been built with an emphasis on security. Their main purpose has been to complete a specific objective, such as to deliver the correct dosage of a drug to a patient, perform a swarm algorithm, or safely and autonomously drive humans from point A to point B. As more and more robotic systems become remotely accessible through networks, such as the Internet, they are more vulnerable to various attackers than ever before. To investigate remote attacks on networked robotic systems we have leveraged HoneyPhy, a physics-aware honeypot framework, to create the HoneyBot. The HoneyBot is the first software hybrid interaction honeypot specifically designed for networked robotic systems. By simulating unsafe actions and physically performing safe actions on the HoneyBot we seek to fool attackers into believing their exploits are successful, while logging all the communication to be used for attacker attribution and threat model creation. In this paper, we present the HoneyBot and discuss our proof of concept implementation. Our HoneyBot prototype swaps between physical actuation and using prebuilt models of sensor behavior for simulation at runtime given user input commands.
Pharmacological manipulation of GABA activity in nucleus subpretectalis/interstitio-pretecto-subpretectalis (SP/IPS) impairs figure-ground discrimination in pigeons: Running head: SP/IPS in figure-ground segregation.

Abstract Figure-ground segregation is a fundamental visual ability that allows an organism to separate an object from its background. Our earlier research has shown that nucleus rotundus (Rt), a thalamic nucleus processing visual information in pigeons, together with its inhibitory complex, nucleus subpretectalis/interstitio-pretecto-subpretectalis (SP/IPS), are critically involved in figure-ground discrimination (Acerbo et al., 2012; Scully et al., 2014). Here, we further investigated the role of SP/IPS by conducting bilateral microinjections of GABAergic receptor antagonist and agonists (bicuculline and muscimol, respectively) and non-NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist (CNQX) after the pigeons mastered figure-ground discrimination task. We used two doses of each drug (bicuculline: 0.1 mM and 0.05 mM; muscimol: 4.4 mM and 8.8 mM; CNQX: 2.15 mM and 4.6 mM) in a within-subject design, and alternated drug injections with baseline (ACSF). The order of injections was randomized across birds to reduce potential carryover effects. We found that a low dose of bicuculline produced a decrement on figure trials but not on background trials, whereas a high dose impaired performance on background trials but not on figure trials. Muscimol produced an equivalent, dose-dependent impairment on both types of trials. Finally, CNQX had no consistent effect at either dose. Together, these results further confirm our earlier hypothesis that inhibitory projections from SP to Rt modulate figure-ground discrimination, and suggest that the Rt and the SP/IPS provide a plausible substrate that could perform figure-ground segregation in avian brain.
Review: Colosseo, Un'icona and Colosseo, Un'icona, edited by Rosella Rea, Serena Romano, and Riccardo Santangeli Valenzani

Colosseo. Un'icona . Colosseum, Rome, Italy. 3 August 2017 – 11 March 2018 (originally 7 January 2018) Rosella Rea, Serena Romano, and Riccardo Santangeli Valenzani (eds.). Colosseo . Milan: Electa, 2017. 406 pp. 39€ ISBN: 9788891813893 After the ticket and security lines at the Colosseum, a steep set of stairs leads to this exhibit, which is installed in an exterior corridor one level above the ground floor. Its entrance is marked by a bright yellow freestanding panel with a mirrored oval flanked by the words Colosseo. Un'icona . The mirror at first seems a nod to the narcissism of the modern tourist, but is perhaps also a reference to an idea articulated by the fifteenth-century German traveler, Nikolaus Muffel, who said that the Colosseum was “a mirror, in which they saw all the things in the world” (quoted in Enrico Parlato's catalogue essay [168]). The focus of the exhibit is this—ideas and images that have been projected onto, invented, and imagined about the Colosseum in the centuries between the close of the ancient gladiatorial games and the dawn of the selfie. The exhibit is divided into twelve sections, each with an introductory panel (all interpretative material is in Italian and English). It includes models, archaeological artefacts, paintings, drawings, and reproductions of images created over roughly the last millenium. Part one is titled “The Amphitheater of the Caesars,” but is dominated by the enormous model of the Colosseum completed by Carlo Lucangeli in 1812, which is divided into halves and installed in two facing vitrines. The model is an artefact of the intensity of attraction to the Colosseum as both a building and as a symbol of a glorious Roman past. The first objects are a small group of large fragments of the decoration of the Flavian ampitheater. An inscription commemorating a fifth-century C.E. restoration of the building—carved on the back of a Flavian-era one—serves as a jumping-off point for the post-antique history of the building. This inscription, together with a slab of stone seating carved with …