cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Who ‘Tweets’ Where and When, and How Does it Help Understand Crime Rates at Places? Measuring the Presence of Tourists and Commuters in Ambient Populations

Test the reliability of geotagged Twitter data for estimating block-level population metrics across place types. Evaluate whether the proportion of Twitter users on a block at a given time who are local residents, inter-metro commuters, or tourists is correlated with incidences of public violence and private conflict for four different time periods: weekday days, weekday nights, weekend days, and weekend nights. DBSCAN* machine learning technique is used to estimate the home clusters of 54,249 Twitter users who sent at least one geotagged tweet in Boston. Public violence and private conflict are measured using geocoded 911 dispatches. ANOVA models are used to evaluate how the presence of our three groups of interests varies across three types of block-level land usage. Hierarchical linear regression models are used to evaluate whether the proportion of commuters and tourists at census tract- and block-levels are predictive of crime events across the four time periods of interest. We find evidence that Twitter data has limited reliability across residential blocks due to data sparseness. For non-residential blocks, we find that commuter and tourist presence at the block-level are positively associated with both public violence and private conflict, but that these effects are not stable across time periods. Commuters and tourists only effect violence during weekday days, and the effects of commuters and tourists on private conflict are only statistically significant during weekday days and weekend days. Consistent with routine activities and crime pattern theories, the influx of outsiders in a given location impacts the likelihood of crime occurring there. While we find that data from Twitter users can be valuable for measuring block-level ambient populations, it appears this is not true for residential blocks. Future research may further consider how the characteristics of Twitter users may inform spatial patterns in crime.
Three Plays by Aristophanes: Staging Women

These three plays by the great comic playwright Aristophanes (c. 446-386 BCE), the well-known Lysistrata, and the less familiar Women at the Thesmophoria and Assemblywomen, are the earliest surviving portrayals of contemporary women in the European literary tradition. These plays provide a unique glimpse of women not only in their familiar domestic roles but also in relation to household and city, religion and government, war and peace, theater and festival, and, of course, to men. This freshly revised edition presents, for the first time in a single volume, all three plays in faithful modern translations that preserve intact Aristophanes’ blunt and often obscene language, sparkling satire, political provocation, and beguiling fantasy. Alongside the translations are ample introductions and notes covering the politically engaged genre of Aristophanic comedy in general and issues of sex and gender in particular, which have been fully updated since the first edition in light of recent scholarship. An appendix contains fragments of lost plays of Aristophanes that also featured women, and an up-to-date bibliography provides guidance for further exploration. In addition to their timeless humor and biting satire, the plays are unique and invaluable documents in the history of western sexuality and gender, and they offer strikingly prescient speculations about the social and political future of the female sex.
A multi-touch finger gesture based low-fatigue VR travel framework

In this poster, we present a low-fatigue VR travel framework which provides smooth transition between three types of travel metaphors, walking, Segway and surfboard, with one multi-touch device. Our thought is that by mapping non-dominate-hand gestures to lower body motion, users can travel in a low-fatiguing and intuitive way while working on other VR tasks like picking up objects or moving virtual widgets with their dominant hand.
In my opinion... good intentions don't count.

While simple guest surveys can be poorly constructed with little negative consequences, often surveys are used in making important policy decisions. Researchers and policy makers must carefully construct their research instruments in order to avoid biases which may result in muddled or incorrect responses. The authors review the process of creating, administering, and analyzing surveys with an eye toward reducing survey bias to a minimum. Reliable results require a rigorous and careful approach when creating and using instruments.
Epidemiology of organic solvents and connective tissue disease

Case reports suggest that solvents are associated with various connective tissue diseases (systemic sclerosis, scleroderma, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosis, and rheumatoid arthritis), particularly systemic sclerosis. A small number of epidemiological studies have shown statistically significant but weak associations between solvent exposure, systemic sclerosis, and undifferentiated connective tissue disease. However, the interpretation of these positive findings is tempered by a lack of replication, an inability to specify which solvents convey risk, and an absence of increasing risk with increasing exposure. Existing studies, on aggregate, do not show conclusively that solvents (either as a group of chemicals or individual chemicals) are causally associated with any connective tissue disease. Further investigations should be carried out to replicate the positive existing findings and to specify the solvents and circumstances of exposure that carry risk.
Anthocyanins Are Detected in Human Plasma after Oral Administration of an Elderberry Extract

Anthocyanins are a group of natural antioxidants (1)(2)(3)(4) widely distributed in fruits and vegetables. Anthocyanins have two absorbance peaks, at 270–280 nm and 510–540 nm, respectively. The intake of anthocyanins in humans has been estimated to be 180–215 mg/day in the US (5), which is much higher than the intake (23 mg/day) of other flavonoids, including quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, apigenin, and luteolin (6). Various biological and pharmacological activities of anthocyanins have been reported using crude fruit extracts, which are rich in anthocyanins (7). However, the absorption of dietary anthocyanins has never been shown clearly in humans, although one substance with an absorbance spectrum similar to those of the anthocyanins was reported in the plasma of nonsupplemented human subjects (8), and anthocyanin-like compounds have been found in human urine (9). We report here direct evidence of the absorption of anthocyanins in humans, which was obtained by combining an octadecylsilane (ODS) solid-phase extraction procedure for plasma sample preparation and an HPLC system with diode array for anthocyanin separation and detection. One male subject (one of the authors), 35 years of age, consumed 25 g of elderberry extract containing 1.5 g of total anthocyanins after fasting overnight. The elderberry extract is commercially available as a nutritional supplement for humans. Its main constituents are anthocyanins, mainly cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-sambubioside; other polyphenols were very limited (10). Blood samples were obtained before and 30 and 60 min after anthocyanin consumption. The EDTA blood samples were centrifuged at 500 g for 10 min at 4 °C, and the plasma was quickly removed. A …
Object oriented imaging analysis design and interface implemented in Java

Using a simple object oriented design and interface, a framework for an image analysis system has been implemented using the Java language. The goal is to design an image analysis framework which has the capability of simple extensibility. This is achieved through the object oriented capability of Java. Besides being a OO language, it allows for easy extensions onto Web-ware applications and integration to commercial data base back ends. The design and first implementation of this framework is presented along with a simple manual registration procedure to demonstrate its capability.
5-Fluorocytosine in the Treatment of Experimental Candidiasis in Immunosuppressed Mice

A model infection with Candida albicans was established in mice. The animals were pretreated for 1 week with azathioprine, given dexamethasone, and then infected intravenously with Candida . Mortality for the group given Candida infection alone was 20%, 38% when azathioprine was added, and 50% when dexamethasone and azathioprine were given with infection. The titers of Candida in most mice were 10 6 per gram of kidney. The rest of the mice were killed at 30 days. At this time, 16% had no evidence of Candida in the kidneys, but 40% of the mice had titers of 10 6 or more. Mice treated with 5-fluorocytosine had a mortality of less than 4% in 30 days. Five percent of the treated mice killed at 30 days had titers of Candida of 10 6 . Therefore, 5-fluorocytosine increases survival in the presence of continued therapy with azathioprine with or without pretreatment with dexamethasone. The survival is associated with decreased titers of Candida in the kidneys.
Creating environments for innovation: Designing and implementing advanced experimental network research testbeds based on the Global Lambda Integrated Facility and the StarLight Exchange

Large scale national and international experimental research environments are required to advance communication services and supporting network architecture, technology, and infrastructure. Theories and concepts are often explored using simulation and modeling techniques within labs or on small scale testbeds. However, while such testbeds are valuable resources for the research process, these facilities alone cannot provide an appropriate approximation of the real world conditions required to explore ideas at scale. Very large scale global, experimental network research capabilities are required to deeply investigate innovative concepts. For many years, network testbeds were created to address fairly specific, well defined, limited research goals, and they were implemented for fairly short periods. Recently, taking advantage of a number of macro information technology trends, such as virtualization and programmable resources, several network research communities have been developing innovative types of network research environments. Instead of designing traditional network testbeds, research communities are designing large scale, highly flexible distributed platforms that can be used to create many different types of testbeds. Also, rather than creating short term testbeds for limited research objectives, these new environments are being designed as long term persistent resources to support many types of experimental research. This paper describes the motivations for this trend, provides several examples of large scale distributed network research environments based on the Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF) and the StarLight Exchange Facility, including the Global Environment for Network Innovation (GENI), and indicates emerging future trends for these types of environments.
The Curious Case of School Prayer: Political Entrepreneurship and the Resilience of Legal Institutions

School prayer represents a curiosity of Reagan era politics. Reagan and the social conservative movement secured numerous successes in accommodating religious practice and faith in the public sphere. Yet, when it came to restoring voluntary school prayer, conservatives never succeeded in securing the judicial victory that they sought despite conditions that seemingly favored change. Herein, we attempt to reconcile Reagan era successes with Reagan era failures by exploring Reagan's entrepreneurial activity to affect both the demand (i.e., judges) and supply (i.e., litigants) side of legal change. Identifying Reagan's entrepreneurial activities in his attempt to alter national social policy reveals the resilience of legal institutions to presidential and partisan regimes. Reagan's efforts to change national school prayer policy gained some measure of legislative success by securing the Equal Access Act but it failed to garner a change in school prayer jurisprudence. We conclude by noting that the difficulty of influencing both the demand and supply side of legal change in a timely manner and its implication for reconstructing policy through the courts.
Missing factors in teaching cryptography algorithms for information security tracks

This paper examines the missing factors in cryptography algorithms curriculum designed to teach Information security (information assurance) to students. Normally, there are four different aspects to organizing a cryptography curriculum for a curriculum developer, drawing from the work inspiration of their background, their field of study, and their target degree. Indeed, a cryptography course can be taught in four different departments: Computer Science, Mathematics, computer engineers and Information Security. The differences of the curriculum between these four fields are not very clear, however. In this article, we present our view on curriculum development and teaching aspects for these four different fields, where cryptography could be presented in a way to serve the knowledge flow and knowledge support for the students in their track.
Imaging of morbid obesity procedures and their complications

Surgery for morbid obesity has become commonplace in the United States. Any radiologist who reads abdominal films, body CT, or does gastrointestinal fluoroscopy should be familiar with the surgical procedures and their imaging. Included in this update will be discussions of the vertical banded gastroplasty, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.
SU-FF-T-211: Influence of Anatomical and Physical Aspects of Treatment Planning On Prostate and H&N IMRT Plan QA Results

Purpose: To study the influence of combinations of Linear Accelerators and treatment planning‐systems, anatomical site and PTV volumes on MUs, and the magnitude and direction of deviation of prostate and H&N IMRT plan QA dose from plan‐dose. Method and Materials:IMRT plans were generated using Pinnacle3 or Eclipse treatment planning‐systems for treatment with Elekta or Varian Linacs, respectively. There were 29 H&N plans for Varian, and 59 and 33 prostate plans for Varian and Elekta, respectively. Dose at a point in the MED‐TEC phantom was measured with MT‐ERI‐A12 ion chamber. QA results were calculated as percentage deviation between measured and calculated doses in the phantom. A deviation of ±5% was acceptable. The magnitude and direction of deviation of QA results vs. PTV volumes, treatment site, Linac and planning system combinations were studied. PTV volumes vs. MUs was also analyzed. Linear regression analysis was used to study the relationship between paired variables. Results: The direction and magnitude of QA result deviation was Linac dependent. For Elekta prostate cases, QA measured dose deviated to negative direction (−2.49±0.93, −0.5 to −5%). For Varian cases, QA measured dose for prostate (1.67±0.91, −0.1 to 4.9%) and H&N cases (3.58±1.80, 0.2–6.4%) deviated to positive side. These results suggest that the delivered dose could vary between Linacs and might result in under‐ or over‐dosing. Prostate QA result deviation was independent of PTV volumes (P>0.1), but MUs increased with increase in PTV volumes (P<0.001). For H&N cases, MUs and the deviation between measured and planed‐dose increased with increase in PTV volumes (84–691 cm3, P<0.001). Conclusions: This type of analysis would help to evaluate the influence of Linac and/or planning systems, anatomical site and PTV volumes on the magnitude and direction of deviation between planned and delivered dose and to develop correction strategies to minimize radiation delivery variations.
Response of single leukemic cells to peptidase inhibitor therapy across time and dose using a microfluidic device

Single-cell methodologies are revealing cellular heterogeneity in numerous biological processes and pathologies. For example, cancer cells are characterized by substantial heterogeneity in basal signaling and in response to perturbations, such as drug treatment. In this work, we examined the response of 678 individual U937 (human acute myeloid leukemia) cells to an aminopeptidase-inhibiting chemotherapeutic drug (Tosedostat) over the course of 95 days. Using a fluorescent reporter peptide and a microfluidic device, we quantified the rate of reporter degradation as a function of dose. While the single-cell measurements reflected ensemble results, they added a layer of detail by revealing unique degradation patterns and outliers within the larger population. Regression modeling of the data allowed us to quantitatively explore the relationships between reporter loading, incubation time, and drug dose on peptidase activity in individual cells. Incubation time was negatively correlated with the number of peptide fragment peaks observed, while peak area (which was proportional to reporter loading) was positively correlated with both the number of fragment peaks observed and the degradation rate. Notably, a statistically significant change in the number of peaks observed was identified as dose increased from 2 to 4 μM. Similarly, a significant difference in degradation rate as a function of reporter loading was observed for doses ≥2 μM compared to the 1 μM dose. These results suggest that additional enzymes may become inhibited at doses >1 μM and >2 μM, demonstrating the utility of single-cell data to yield novel biological hypotheses.
Public intermediate inputs, property values, and allocative efficiency

Abstract This letter shows that when public goods are intermediate inputs as well as final consumption goods, stationary of aggregate property value under a marginal change in public spending implies satisfaction of a generalized Samuelson efficiency condition. This result shows that the empirical test for efficiency of Brueckner (1982) remains valid when public goods enter firm production functions.
Is skin perfusion pressure a useful screening tool for peripheral arterial disease in patients on hemodialysis

Is skin perfusion pressure a useful screening tool for peripheral arterial disease in patients on hemodialysis?
HIGH PREVALENCE OF INFLIXIMAB RELATED LUPUS LIKE SYNDROME IN IRISH IBD COHORT- REAL LIFE PREVALANCE OR RANDOM CLUSTER?

Introduction Lupus like syndrome is a rarely reported adverse event for Anti TNF therapies (1) We noted a significant number of adverse events in particular drug induced SLE like syndrome (DILE) amongst our IBD patients receiving infliximab. Aims/Background The aim of this study was to quantify the real life prevalence of significant side effects and in particular lupus like syndrome to infliximab therapy. Method We reviewed retrospectively notes of all patients receiving infliximab therapy between Sep 2009 and Sep 2012 in GI unit. Results 327 no of infusions was given to 39 patients (16 Crohns /23 UC, M:F ratio 21:18) over study period. 24/37 (64.8%) patients stopped therapy in that period after a median of 4(1–12) infusions. 30.4% (7/23) patients stopped therapy in setting of clinical remission. 17.4% ( 4/23) patients stopped therapy because of treatment failure. (11/37 (29.7%) patients stopped treatment because of significant side effects. (3/37 8.1%) experienced acute infusion reaction, 1/37 (2.7%) MS. 5/37 (13.5%) patients manifested lupus like syndrome, 2/37 (5.4%) hilar adenopathy on CXR with strongly pos. ANA and antidsDNA. Older age at diagnosis (47 vs. 32) yrs. predicted increased risk of developing lupus like syndrome (p Conclusion We report a higher than previously reported prevalence of DILE with anti-TNF therapy in an Irish cohort of IBD patients. Future studies are required to determine if this represents a cluster or predicts a real life higher prevalence in Irish population.
Sensitivity to monetary reward is most severely compromised in recently abstaining cocaine addicted individuals: a cross-sectional ERP study.

Abstract Recent studies suggest that drug-addicted individuals have a dampened cortical response to non -drug rewards. However, it remains unclear whether recency of drug use impacts this impairment. Therefore, in this event-related potential study, recency of cocaine use was objectively determined by measuring cocaine in urine on study day. Thirty-five individuals with current cocaine use disorder [CUD: 21 testing positive (CUD+) and 14 testing negative (CUD−) for cocaine in urine] and 23 healthy controls completed a sustained attention task with graded monetary incentives (0¢, 1¢ and 45¢). Unlike in controls, in both CUD subgroups P300 amplitude was not modulated by the varying amounts of money and the CUD− showed the most severe impairment as documented by the lowest P300 amplitudes and task accuracy. Moreover, while recency of drug use was associated with better accuracy and higher P300 amplitudes, chronic drug use was associated with lower sensitivity to money. These results extend our previous findings of decreased sustained sensitivity to monetary reward in CUD+ to recently abstaining individuals, where level of impairment was most severe. Taken together, these results support the self-medication hypothesis, where CUD may be self-administering cocaine to avoid or compensate for underlying cognitive and emotional difficulties albeit with a long-term detrimental effect on sensitivity to non-drug reward.
Large-Scale Graph Visualization and Analytics

Novel approaches to network visualization and analytics use sophisticated metrics that enable rich interactive network views and node grouping and filtering. A survey of graph layout and simplification methods reveals considerable progress in these new directions. The first Web extra at http://youtu.be/ee8nr9LDHXw is a video segment showing dynamic graph layout results for visualizing evolving Internet connectivity. The global approach meets layout criteria--balanced quality and stability with nodes largely remaining stable, but clusters are compacted. The images are freeze frames of three time steps. The second Web extra at http://youtu.be/oWolTjZMGfo is a video segment showing dynamic graph layout results for visualizing evolving Internet connectivity. The incremental approach uses space efficiently. Motion is slow, smooth, and affine, and so is easy to follow, but quality degrades over time to ensure stable animation.
Finding short cycles in planar graphs using separators

Abstract There are many known O(n) time algorithms for detecting both a C3 or a C4 in a planar graph. We present O(n log n) time algorithms for detecting both a C5 or a C6 in a planar graph. The algorithm uses a planar separator that is a small simple cycle. The problem is open for longer cycles and is known to be NP-complete for general Ck.
Nonorthogonal analysis of variance using gradient methods

Abstract Because they require very little storage and can be computationally quite efficient, gradient algorithms are attractive methods for fitting large nonorthogonal analysis of variance (ANOVA) models. A coordinate-free approach is used to provide very simple definitions for a number of well-known gradient algorithms and insights into their similarities and differences. The key to finding a good algorithm is finding an algorithm metric that leads to easily computed gradients and that is as close as possible to the metric defined by the ANOVA problem. This leads to the proposal of a new class of algorithms based on a proportional subclass metric. Several new theoretical results on convergence are derived, and some empirical comparisons are made. A similar, but much briefer, treatment of analysis of covariance is given. On theoretical convergence of the methods it is shown, for example, that the Golub and Nash (1982) algorithm requires at most d + 1 iterations if all but d of the cells in the model have...
Parity violating two-pion-exchange nucleon-nucleon potential

Abstract The isovector part of the parity violating two-pion-exchange NN potential is constructed from the field theoretic amplitude. The parity violating NN coupling is described by the phenomenological Lagrangian g W ψ (τ × φ) 3 ψ , with gW = 3.2 × 10−8. The effect of p-wave ππ correlations is taken into account.
Multiphoton Magneto-Optical Resonance in PbTe and InSb

High intensity magnetic fields are used to observe multiphoton direct transitions in PbTe and InSb. These are resonant absorptions of high-intensity C${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ laser radiation by means of higher order transitions of the type proposed by Braunstein.
Stable and selective sulfur dioxide sensing elements operating at 800–900 centigrade

Sensing behavior of electrochemical transducers for the detection of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) is described. These elements operate at temperatures in the range 800–900 °C, and are constructed from oxide and precious metal electrodes on oxygenion conducting substrates. The responses to SO 2 at oxygen contents around 5% can be large, with 25 ppm SO 2 causing a 30–40% change in the sensing signal. This SO 2 response is shown to be little affected by oxides of nitrogen (NO x ), carbon monoxide, and propylene, present at the 100s of ppm level. Element stability is demonstrated over about 50 days of operation at temperature.
SDPLIB 1.2, a library of semidefinite programming test problems

SDPLIB is a collection of semidefinite programming (SDP) test problems. The problems are drawn from a variety of applications, including truss topology design, control systems engineering, and relaxations of combinatorial optimization problems. The current version of the library contains a total of 92 SDP problems encoded in a standard format. It is hoped that SDPLIB will stimulate the development of improved software for the solution of SDP problems.
Structure and development of the sieve-cell protoplast in leaf veins ofWelwitschia

Tissue of one-year-old leaves ofWelwitschia mirabilis was fixed in glutaraldehyde and postfixed in osmium tetroxide for electron microscopy. Mature sieve cells contain nuclei composed of peripherally-distributed chromatin material and an intact envelope with pores. During sieve-cell development many mitochondria become closely associated spatially with the nucleus. In addition to a nucleus and mitochondria, the mature, plasmalemma-lined sieve cell contains plastids and abundant smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which generally occurs in massive aggregates at the sieve areas. Dictyosomes and ribosomes are lacking and a tonoplast is not discernible in mature sieve cells. P-protein is not present at any stage of development.
The refined three-dimensional structure of an insect virus at 2.8 A resolution.

Abstract The structure of the black beetle nodavirus has been refined at 2·8 A resolution by alternate use of restrained least-squares atomic coordinate refinement and phase refinement by real space averaging with the 5-fold non crystallographic symmetry in the crystal. The coordinates were also refined by simulated annealing. The final R -factor for all data with 1/σ(1) >4 was 22·1%. A total of 7692 atoms were refined in one icosahedral asymmetric unit which included 273 oxygen atoms of ordered water molecules. Three identical gene products of 407 amino acids form one icosahedral asymmetric unit. Each is located in a structurally unique position, identified as A, B or C, consistent with a T =3 quasi equivalent lattice. Icosahedral pentamers are formed by A subunits while B and C subunits alternate about icosahedral 3-fold axes to form quasi hexamers. Five calcium ions are located within the icosahedral asymmetric unit and stabilize the quasi 3-fold related intersubunit contacts between A, B and C. The final model consists of coordinates for residues 56 to 379 of all three subunits and residues 20 to 31 from the C subunit only. Atom positions for the sugar phosphate backbone were modeled for ten nucleotides close to the icosahedral 2-fold axes. Symmetry equivalent polyribonucleotides form a helical duplex at each icosahedral 2-fold axis. The three subunits display an eight-stranded β-barrel fold, very similar to the subunit structures observed in most other icosahedral RNA viruses analyzed. Quasi equivalence is regulated by the ordered RNA and residues 20 to 31 in the C subunit to form a "flat inter subunit contact" at icosahedral 2-fold joints. The RNA and polypeptide are disordered at the quasi 2-fold joints and this results in a "bent inter subunit contact". Although similar quaternary structures were seen in T =3 plant viruses studied, RNA did not play a role as a molecular switch in those structures. The autocatalytic, post assembly, cleavage of the initial gene product at residue Asn363/Ala364 to form a stable and infectious particle is probably the result of an acid catalyzed main-chain hydrolysis in which Asp75 is the proton donor. The reaction is initiated by assembly which places Asp75 in a hydrophobic environment created by quaternary interactions which raises its p K to 5·6. The region in which the reaction occurs is formed by an internal helical bundle that has not been seen in other virus structures.
Application requirements of artificial muscles for swimming robots

In the near future, we will find biomimetic undersea robots in the forefront of unmanned underwater applications due to their ability to operate in new, challenging, and highly dynamic environments such as rivers, surf, and turbulent pipe flow. In particular, fish-like vehicles (FLVs) have emerged as a viable technology for highly maneuverable, efficient and stealthy platforms. Attempts to produce fish-like motion using conventional mechanical means have proven difficult, however, resulting in complex and unreliable machines, especially when compared to the simplicity of a rotating propeller and conventional control surfaces. To take full advantage of fish-like propulsion, a new actuation strategy is needed, to which artificial muscles may be uniquely suited. Some artificial muscles are made of materials with relatively low specific gravity (compared to conventional mechanical systems), and so will be nearly neutrally buoyant in underwater applications. This is critical in FLV actuation, as correct longitudinal mass distribution is required to avoid stability problems. Additionally, some artificial muscle formulations require water, sometimes including an electrolyte, which is easily provided in underwater applications. Finally, for stealthy applications, artificial muscles may provide acoustically quiet actuation due to their suppleness and reduced number of interconnecting mechanical components. In this paper, we suggest artificial muscle-based actuation strategies for FLVs, based on experience with the Vorticity Control Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (VCUUV), an eight-foot long autonomous robotic tuna. Recently developed artificial muscles are surveyed and evaluated as to their suitability for fish-like propulsion. Requirements for force, power, and strain as well as implementation issues are discussed.
Comparative response of nestling European starlings and red-winged blackbirds to an oral administration of either dimethoate or chlorpyrifos.

Red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus; blackbird) and European starling (Sturnus vulgaris; starling) nestlings were dosed with either 2.0 mg/kg body mass chlorpyrifos, 50.0 mg/kg body mass dimethoate, or a propylene glycol carrier in situ. Four growth measurements (body mass, culmen, tarsus, wing) were recorded from nestlings to determine if these organophosphorus compounds caused perturbations in development at sublethal concentrations. Blackbird nestlings were more sensitive to chlorpyrifos than starling nestlings were more sensitive to dimethoate than blackbird nestlings. This was in contrast to reported adult LD50 values where the reverse was true. Blackbird nestlings were more tolerant of a substantially higher concentration of dimethoate than the adult LD50. The sensitivity of starling nestlings to dimethoate was similar to adults. In contrast, juveniles of both species were more sensitive to chlorpyrifos than adults. After the initial 24 hr, surviving nestlings dosed with either chemical recove...
Carbon dioxide enhances fragility of ice crystals

Ice caps and glaciers cover 7% of the Earth, greater than the land area of Europe and North America combined, and play an important role in global climate. The small-scale failure mechanisms of ice fracture, however, remain largely elusive. In particular, little understanding exists about how the presence and concentration of carbon dioxide molecules, a significant component in the atmosphere, affects the propensity of ice to fracture. Here we use atomic simulations with the first-principles based ReaxFF force field capable of describing the details of chemical reactions at the tip of a crack, applied to investigate the effects of the presence of carbon dioxide molecules on ice fracture. Our result shows that increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide molecules significantly decrease the fracture toughness of the ice crystal, making it more fragile. Using enhanced molecular sampling with metadynamics we reconstruct the free energy landscape in varied chemical microenvironments and find that carbon dioxide molecules affect the bonds between water molecules at the crack tip and decrease their strength by altering the dissociation energy of hydrogen bonds. In the context of glacier dynamics our findings may provide a novel viewpoint that could aid in understanding the breakdown and melting of glaciers, suggesting that the chemical composition of the atmosphere can be critical to mediate the large-scale motion of large volumes of ice.
Borrelia burgdorferi tissue morphologies and imaging methodologies

This manuscript offers an image presentation of diverse forms of Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes which are not spiral or corkscrew shaped. Explanations are offered to justify the legitimacy of tissue forms of Borrelia which may confuse the inexperienced microscopic examiner and which may lead to the misdiagnosis of non-spiral forms as artifacts. Images from the author’s personal collection of Borrelia burgdorferi images and a few select images of Borrelia burgdorferi from the peer-reviewed published literature are presented. A commentary justifying each of the image profiles and a survey of the imaging modalities utilized provides the reader with a frame of reference. Regularly spiraled Borrelia are rarely seen in solid tissues. A variety of straightened, undulating, and clipped-off profiles are demonstrated, and the structural basis for each image is explained. Tissue examination is a diagnostic tool and a quality control for judging the eradication or the persistence of borreliosis following attempts to eradicate the infection with antibiotic therapy. The presence or absence of chronic Lyme borreliosis may be objectively adjudicated by tissue examinations which demonstrate or which fail to show pathogenic microbes in patients who have received a full course of antibiotics.
SU-GG-T-428: Photon Beam Spectrum Characterization Using Scatter Radiation Analysis

Purpose: A method is described to characterize a linac bremsstrahlung spectrum. The method employs a combination of monoenergetic scatter simulations, polyenergetic scatter measurements, and matrix solutions. Method and Materials:Monte Carlo simulations were used to predict the ratio of primary to scatteredphotons for narrow mono‐energetic photon beams at 9 different locations, with 10 degree increments and 15 cm from a scattering material. Measurements were performed in the same geometry using the photon beams produced by linear accelerators. A linear matrix system, A×F=T, was developed to describe the scattering interactions and their relationship to the primary spectrum. Matrix “A” is the monoenergetic scatter kernel determined from the Monte Carlo simulations, “F” is the incident photon spectrum, and “T” represents the scatter distribution characterized by empirical measurement. Direct matrix inversion methods produce results that are not physically consistent due to errors inherent in the system. Tikhonov regularization methods were applied to address the effects of these errors and solve the system for physically consistent bremsstrahlung spectra. The technique was applied to two photon energy spectra ‐a helical tomotherapy accelerator operating at therapeutic energy and at imaging energy. Results: The resulting spectra were qualitatively and quantitatively similar to other published data and consistent with expected behavior such as maximum photon energy. Conclusion: The results of this research provide a method to empirically characterize the primary radiation energy spectrum produced by a linear accelerator.Key words: photon energy, spectrum, scatteranalysis, regularization, Tikhonov
A Single Molecular Beacon Probe Is Sufficient for the Analysis of Multiple Nucleic Acid Sequences

Molecular beacon (MB) probes are dual-labeled hairpin-shaped oligodeoxyribonucleotides that are extensively used for real-time detection of specific RNA/DNA analytes. In the MB probe, the loop fragment is complementary to the analyte: therefore, a unique probe is required for the analysis of each new analyte sequence. The conjugation of an oligonucleotide with two dyes and subsequent purification procedures add to the cost of MB probes, thus reducing their application in multiplex formats. Here we demonstrate how one MB probe can be used for the analysis of an arbitrary nucleic acid. The approach takes advantage of two oligonucleotide adaptor strands, each of which contains a fragment complementary to the analyte and a fragment complementary to an MB probe. The presence of the analyte leads to association of MB probe and the two DNA strands in quadripartite complex. The MB probe fluorescently reports the formation of this complex. In this design, the MB does not bind the analyte directly; therefore, the MB sequence is independent of the analyte. In this study one universal MB probe was used to genotype three human polymorphic sites. This approach promises to reduce the cost of multiplex real-time assays and improve the accuracy of single-nucleotide polymorphism genotyping.
Sea otters are recolonizing southern California in fits and starts

After near extinction as a result of the fur trade in the 1700s and 1800s, the southern sea otter slowly reoccupied the core of its range in central California. Range expansion beyond central California is seen as key to full recovery of otters, but the rate of expansion has been sporadic, raising concerns about habitat quality in southern California. To describe the range expansion of sea otters from central into southern California, we used skiff surveys, aerial surveys, and archival time-depth recorders from 2004 to 2013. These observations show that range expansion began when male otters swam southeast of Point Conception (Cojo Anchorage), perhaps to seek refuge from bad weather and to feed on unexploited resources. After several years of seasonal use by male groups, females began to use the area, leading to reproduction and a secondary increase in abundance. In contrast, a second male group that moved farther down the coast to Coal Oil Point stalled and retreated. Such range expansion and contraction can be explained by the social nature of sea otters, which acts to slow dispersal away from groups. Otter densities at Cojo Anchorage are now approaching equilibrium levels reported for central California. As in central California, otters rested in and near kelp forest habitat, but used deeper water for foraging. Together, these observations suggest habitat in the Santa Barbara Channel can still support sea otters, but range expansion of otters into southern California will be episodic due to social dynamics.
Time-Temperature-Transformation (TTT) Cure Diagrams: Relationship between Tg and the Temperature and Time of Cure for a Polyamic Acid/Polyimide System.

Abstract : Glass transition temperatures (Tg) were obtained versus isothermal temperature (Tcure) and time of cure for a polyamic acid/polyimide system. A time temperature-transformation (TTT) isothermal cure diagram was constructed to include the time to vitrification and iso-Tg curves. As for epoxies, the relationship between Tcure and the time to vitrification is S -shaped. Plots of Tg versus Tcure show that solvent evaporation and chemical reaction are controlled by vitrification. Keywords: Cure, Vitrification, Solvent evaporation, Polyimide, Polyamic acid.
Electro-optic waveguide based on hybrid sol–gel doped with organic chromophore

Abstract Electro-optic waveguides were fabricated from organic chromophore doped hybrid sol–gel through an all-wet process. The waveguide has good optical confinement at 1550 nm and shows stable electro-optic performance. The results indicate that the hybrid sol–gel is promising medium for the electro-optic devices and components with low cost, easy processing, and fabrication flexibility.
Duodenum as a immediate brake to gastric outflow: A videofluoroscopic and manometric assessment

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Duodenal infusion of HCl or lipid delays gastric emptying. The aim of this study was to assess whether this delay was in part caused by mechanical activity of the duodenum. METHODS: Synchronized videofluoroscopy and manometry was used in 8 volunteers (5 men and 3 women) to examine contractile and flow patterns during duodenal infusion of 0.9% NaCl, HCl, 5% NaCl, bile, and sodium oleate, each mixed with 20% (wt/vol) barium sulfate. RESULTS: Within 15-30 seconds of infusion, HCl and 5% NaCl induced frequent large-amplitude contractions greater tha those induced by 0.9% NaCl. Initially, there was rapid dispersion of HCl followed by prolonged, tonic occlusion of the duodenum. The duodenal diameter decreased compared with that observed during 0.9% NaCl or oleate infusion. In contrast, after infusion of oleate or bile, duodenal diameter increased and there were fewer, smaller-amplitude, nonpropagating contractions with prolonged retention of solutions. Barium (20%; wt/vol) did not influence the motility index of any solution. CONCLUSIONS: HCl and 5% NaCl may restrict gastric outflow by inducing tonic occlusion of the duodenum, whereas bile and lipid may delay clearance by decreasing duodenal tone and contractility. Thus, the duodenum may serve as an immediate brake to gastric outflow either by delaying clearance or by offering rapid tonic resistance. (Gastroenterology 1996 Mar;110(3):740-7)
Multiple Vacuoles in Plant Cells

After one retires, it is a pleasant surprise to learn that one's prior publications are being mentioned in the current literature. In this regard, two articles in the December 2007 issue of Plant Physiology pay me the compliment of challenging some of our published work, and it is my honor to
Food safety knowledge and practices of consumers in the U.S.A.

Use of safe food handling practices in the home could reduce the number of foodborne illnesses. The objective of this project was to obtain baseline data on the safe food handling knowledge and practices of consumers to aid in the development of effective educational programmes. A food handling questionnaire was developed and completed by 426 Nebraskan respondents. Knowledge and practice questions were based on the most important contributory factors in reported foodborne illness outbreaks. Knowledge scores (correct responses) ranged from 2 to 29 with a mean of 20 ± 4. When compared with the knowledge score, the respondents' education level, where they lived and their sex were statistically significant. Almost all (96%) of the respondents stated that they practised safe food handling when persons were infected. Approximately half of the respondents indicated that they practised safe food handling when handling contaminated raw foods and using foods from unsafe sources. About 45% of the respondents inappropriately left foods at room temperature. One-third of the survey respondents improperly held hot foods. Cross-contamination was a concept understood by 75% of the respondents. Results indicate that food safety education should be targeted on specific groups who are less knowledgeable about safe food handling practices. Results also indicate that a number of respondents knew proper food handling concepts but did not put those concepts into practice. Therefore, increasing the adoption of safe food handling practices by consumers should become an important aspect for educators in food safety educational programmes.
Reaction of antimony pentafluoride with poly (carbon monofluoride)

Abstract Antimony pentafluoride has been shown to react with poly (carbon monofluoride) to form a compound containing fluorine species mobile above 4°C. The temperature dependence of the NMR spectrum and the thermal behavior of the compound resemble graphite/antimony pentafluoride intercalation compounds.
Serum and ascitic fluid levels of interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in patients with ovarian epithelial cancer

BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that multiple cytokines are secreted by ovarian epithelial cancer cells. Previous studies have shown that the cancer cell lines secrete macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha). Concomitantly, the serum levels of one of the growth factors (M-CSF) was found to be significantly elevated in patients with primary ovarian cancer and in second-look patients. The authors evaluated the serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with primary ovarian epithelial cancer. These levels were then compared with cytokine concentration found in normal peritoneal fluid. METHODS Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of cytokines in normal peritoneal fluid, ascites, and serum. RESULTS In serum, TNF-alpha and IL-6 were significantly increased in primary ovarian cancer patients when compared with control subjects (P < 0.0001 for both cytokines). TNF-alpha and IL-6 were also significantly higher than the levels found in second-look patients (P < 0.007 for TNF-alpha, and P = 0.0002 for IL-6). The levels of IL-1 alpha and beta were not elevated in ovarian cancer. TNF-alpha in the ascites was higher when compared with normal peritoneal fluid and was statistically significantly different when a cut-off point between 71-110 pg was selected (P < 0.005). The levels of IL-6 in ascites from patients with primary ovarian cancer also showed a marked increase (P < 0.0001) when compared with peritoneal fluid from control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Levels of IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were determined in normal peritoneal fluid, ovarian malignant ascites, normal serum, and serum from patients with ovarian cancer. This study showed that the patients with ovarian cancer have elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in serum and ascitic fluid. A larger study would help in evaluating the potential use of cytokines as tumor markers in ovarian cancer.
Merit and popular virtue in the political thought of James Madison, 1783–1788

Abstract This article examines James Madison's belief that successful republican governments require a system of elections which discourages electioneering (or the corruption of the public will) and facilitates the selection of men of “merit” as representatives. “Merit” refers to the blend of wisdom and virtue required for intelligent and just decision making. Madison also believed that no electoral device could insure the selection of merit unless the electorate possesses the intellectual capacity and sufficient virtue to recognize and utilize merit as its primary criterion in selecting representatives. The author suggests that Madison's vision of the “uncorrupt” election, on which his political theory is based, is tied to his desire to sustain the traditional or “hierarchical-deferential” structure of American society. The failure of the Constitution to prevent the emergence of electioneering is, in part, due to its being founded on the false assumption that American social structure would retain its traditional character.