cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eutrophication model for Lake Washington (USA) Part II-model calibration and system dynamics analysis

We developed a complex eutrophication model to simulate the current chemical and biological properties of Lake Washington (USA). The model reproduces the key epilimnetic and hypolimnetic temporal patterns of the system and results in a good fit between simulated and observed monthly values. The relative error of model estimates was below 20% for most of the water quality parameters (phytoplankton, phosphate, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen). Discrepancies between simulated and observed ammonium levels were mainly due to the explicitly modeled egestion of excess nitrogen during zooplankton feeding. This indicates that the relation between secondary production and nutrient recycling has significant effects on the fractionation of the major elements (C, N and P) and regulates their distribution between the particulate/dissolved and inorganic/organic pools. The model was forced by 1962 nutrient loadings, when the lake received large quantities of treated wastewater treatment effluent, and accurately predicted the phytoplankton community responses (phytoplankton biomass and cyanobacteria dominance) and the nitrogen and phosphorus annual cycles for these conditions. We used Monte Carlo simulations to reproduce the meteorological forcing (air temperature, solar radiation, precipitation and subsequent river inflows) that in large part regulates phytoplankton interannual variability for the last 25 years in the lake. We found three seasonal components (modes of variability). The first component (January, May, November, December) is associated with the conditions that determine the abundance of the herbivorous cladocerans; the second component (June–September) coincides with the summer-stratified period, and the third component (February–April) is associated with the initiation and peak of the spring bloom. Finally, an illustrative application of two scenarios of nutrient loading increase at 25% of the 1962 levels indicated that both phytoplankton and cyanobacteria growth are likely to be stimulated. The three seasonal components still characterize phytoplankton dynamics, but changes in the relationships between summer phytoplankton/cyanobacteria biomass and total phosphorus/phosphate concentrations indicate the likelihood of structural shifts towards relaxation of the present phosphorus-limiting conditions and promotion of cyanobacteria dominance. Integration of the present eutrophication model with a hydrodynamic model with enhanced vertical resolution will allow more realistic predictions. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Why clams have the shape they have: an experimental analysis of burrowing

The prosogyrous shape and flattened lunule of a typical clam shell form a blunt anterior, the function of which is related to the forward-and-back rocking motion of the shell in burrowing. Analysis of movies has revealed that each rocking motion of a morphologically typical clam, Mercenaria mercenaria (Linne), involves purely rotational movement, with no translational component. The clam is able to burrow by "walking" its way downward only because the axis of backward rotation lies to the anterior of the axis of forward rotation. Ex- periments with burrowing robots show that the blunt anterior serves to shift the axis of back- ward rotation anteriorly, thus aiding in downward progress. The prosogyrous condition and the rotational mechanism of burrowing are fundamental adaptations of burrowing clams?and were apparently present in the ancestral bivalves of the Cambrian.
Parameter Estimation Theory for Respiratory Physiology

The Belgian painter, Rene Magritte, painted “The Betrayal of Images” in 1929, in which a realistic painting of a pipe is over the statement “This is not a pipe”. His very graphic point is that the image of a pipe is not reality. In direct analogy, it must be remembered that the mathematical equations describing a physiological process are not reality, either. An equation such as PV = RT is only an approximation to nature, and does not hold for shock waves, very high pressures, very low pressures, etc. If we were to measure the pressure-volume relationship of a gas at a constant temperature, the measurements could be made only to a certain accuracy. The point is that PV = RT is a useful approximation for many purposes for adequately describing the behavior of a gas, and as such is robust. However, choice of this model PV = RT depends on the purpose for which the model is to be used.
Seismic Attribute Illumination of Woodford Shale Faults And Fractures, Arkoma Basin, OK

The Woodford Shale formation of western and southern Oklahoma is hydrocarbon-rich shale that has served as the source rock for many Oklahoma oil and gas plays over the past century. Today, the Woodford Shale is an unconventional resource play similar in age and depositional environment to the prolific Barnett Shale to the south. Like the Barnett, the Woodford Shale contains a large amount of healed natural fractures, has very low permeability, and is amenable to production through hydraulic fracturing. Unlike the Barnett, the Woodford shale can also produce significant amounts of oil as well as gas. The characterization of natural fracture intensity and orientation has a direct impact on horizontal well orientation and completion strategies.
Effects of Alcohol Injection in Rat Sciatic Nerve as a Model for Morton’s Neuroma Treatment

Background Previous studies have shown that the injection of dehydrated alcohol has been successful for the treatment of Morton's neuroma in the foot. In this study, we determined the cellular effect of injection of alcohol into and around the sciatic nerve of rats, and measured the extent of cell necrosis and/or any associated histologic or inflammatory changes.
Semi‐Crystalline Polar Polyethylene: Ester‐Functionalized Linear Polyolefins Enabled by a Functional‐Group‐Tolerant, Cationic Nickel Catalyst

A dibenzobarrelene-bridged, α-diimine NiII catalyst (rac-3) was synthesized and shown to have exceptional behavior for the polymerization of ethylene. The catalyst afforded high molecular weight polyethylenes with narrow dispersities and degrees of branching much lower than those made by related α-diimine nickel catalysts. Catalyst rac-3 demonstrated living behavior at room temperature, produced linear polyethylene (Tm=135 °C) at −20 °C, and, most importantly, was able to copolymerize ethylene with the biorenewable polar monomer methyl 10-undecenoate to yield highly linear ester-functionalized polyethylene.
Steam blowpipe for the HRSG of 400 MW-class co-axis gas-steam combined cycle unit

The experiences, problems and corresponding solutions for the self-supplying steam blowing on HRSG of the first introduced 400MW-class co-axis gas-steam combined cycle unit were presented. Based on the features of relative independence for HP, IP, LP cycles, the parallel purging method was used in this pipe blowing. As a result, the waste heat was fully utilized, the purging time was greatly shortened and the natural gas has been saved greatly. The result shows better economic and social benefits during the whole steam purging process.
Using Matched Case-Case Study to Explore the Influence of Tuberculosis Relapsed on Social Support State

Objective:To study the state of social support state of tuberculosis relapsed,for providing a scientific basis to promote their health.Method:The 1:3 matched case-case study was used to explore the influence from different dimensionality of social support.Results:Subjective support and the degree of the support were higher in relapse group than contrast group.Those factors associated with tuberculosis relapsed found by multivariate conditional logistic regression analysis were subjective support,and the degree of the support.Conclusion:Favorable social support state can prevent the relapsing of tuberculosis.So improving social support is a good approach to decrease the relapsing of tuberculosis.
Knowledge of Transgender on Right to Education and Privileges, In Tirupattur, Vllore (Dist)

Objectives of the Study : To determine the level of knowledge of transgender on right to education and Privileges. Methodology of the Study : A structured pre designed and pre tested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. Along with this qualitative research was conducted throw case study. This data was collected in the month of March, 2015.Out of the 32 population of transgender residing in Tirupattur eleven transgenders were selected throw simple random sampling. The respondents were youth who belonged to the age group of 15-30 years. The data was analysed using SPSS. Results of the Study: They have knowledge about the fundamental rights for education and not aware of the state government policies regarding education. Conclusion: This study revealslimited knowledge on state government policies and privileges among the respondents,it's the role of the government and the community to bring awareness among this group of people on their rights. Government and NGO’s can work together to rehabilitation the transgender involved in prostitution and provide education to the interested people.
The Carcinoid Syndrome: Neuroendocrine and Chemical Considerations

The carcinoid syndrome is characterized by a complex of neuroendocrine and chemical abnormalities whose cause is not known. Carcinoids vary in their tendency to produce the carcinoid syndrome, although ileal tumors and those that have metastasized are more frequently associated with manifestations of the syndrome. The unifying concept of a neural crest origin for these and related neoplasms provides a basis for understanding the hormonal and chemical features of this disease. The extent of the various hormonal changes is only now becoming apparent and will undoubtedly expand as investigation continues in this area.
Short-Term High-Fat Diet (HFD) Induced Anxiety-Like Behaviors and Cognitive Impairment Are Improved with Treatment by Glyburide.

Obesity-associated comorbidities such as cognitive impairment and anxiety are an increasing public health burden that has gained prevalence in children. To better understand the impact of childhood obesity on brain function, mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) from weaning for 1, 3 or 6 wks. When compared to low-fat diet (LFD)-fed mice (LFD-mice), HFD-fed mice (HFD-mice) had impaired novel object recognition (NOR) after 1 wk. After 3 wks, HFD-mice had impaired NOR and object location recognition (OLR). Additionally, these mice displayed anxiety-like behavior by measure of both the open-field and elevated zero maze testing. At 6 wks, HFD-mice were comparable to LFD-mice in NOR, open-field and elevated zero maze performance but remained impaired during OLR testing. Glyburide, a second generation sulfonylurea for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, was chosen as a countermeasure based on previous data showing its potential as an anxiolytic. Interestingly, a single dose of glyburide corrected deficiencies in NOR and mitigated anxiety-like behaviors in mice fed HFD-diet for 3-wks. Taken together these results indicate that a HFD negatively impacts a subset of hippocampal-independent behaviors relatively rapidly, but that such behaviors normalize with age. In contrast, impairment of hippocampal-sensitive memory takes longer to develop but persists. Since single-dose glyburide restores brain function in 3-wk-old HFD-mice, drugs that block ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels may be of clinical relevance in the treatment of obesity-associated childhood cognitive and psychopathologies.
Theory of Reflectance and Emittance Spectroscopy: Single-particle scattering: irregular particles

Introduction The scattering of electromagnetic radiation by perfect, uniform, spherical particles was described in Chapter 5. However, such particles are rarely found in nature. Most pulverized materials, including planetary regoliths, volcanic ash, laboratory samples, and industrial substances, have particles that are irregular in shape, have rough surfaces, and are not uniform in either structure or composition. Even the liquid droplets in clouds are not perfectly spherical, and they contain inclusions of submicroscopic particles around which the liquid has condensed, so that they are not perfectly uniform. At the present state of our computational and analytical capabilities it is possible to find exact solutions of scattering by such particles only by the expenditure of considerable computer time and memory (to say nothing of the effort of writing detailed programs), so that approximate models remain extremely useful. The objective of any model of single-particle scattering is to relate the microscopic properties of the particle (its structure and complex refractive index) to the macroscopic properties (the scattering and extinction efficiencies and the phase function) that, in principle, can be measured by an appropriate scattering experiment. This chapter describes a variety of models that have been proposed to describe the scattering of light by irregular particles. This is not an exhaustive survey; rather, it is a commentary on those models that are most often encountered in remote-sensing applications or that offer some particular insight into the problem. The organization of this chapter is as follows. First, the quantities defined in Chapter 5 for spherical particles are extended to particles that are nonspherical in shape.
Anion Channels of Mitochondria.

Mitochondria are the “power house” of a cell continuously generating ATP to ensure its proper functioning. The constant production of ATP via oxidative phosphorylation demands a large electrochemical force that drives protons across the highly selective and low-permeable mitochondrial inner membrane. Besides the conventional role of generating ATP, mitochondria also play an active role in calcium signaling, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), stress responses, and regulation of cell-death pathways. Deficiencies in these functions result in several pathological disorders like aging, cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. A plethora of ion channels and transporters are present in the mitochondrial inner and outer membranes which work in concert to preserve the ionic equilibrium of a cell for the maintenance of cell integrity, in physiological as well as pathophysiological conditions. For, e.g., mitochondrial cation channels KATP and BKCa play a significant role in cardioprotection from ischemia–reperfusion injury. In addition to the cation channels, mitochondrial anion channels are equally essential, as they aid in maintaining electro-neutrality by regulating the cell volume and pH. This chapter focusses on the information on molecular identity, structure, function, and physiological relevance of mitochondrial chloride channels such as voltage dependent anion channels (VDACs), uncharacterized mitochondrial inner membrane anion channels (IMACs), chloride intracellular channels (CLIC) and the aspects of forthcoming chloride channels.
Wireless data acquisition and logging in shallow water environments

Collecting environmental data in shallow water areas can be a challenging task. Difficulties include covering large territories and the presence of inaccessible areas due to a variety of reasons such as a soft bottom or contamination. There is also a high chance of disturbing the test area while placing the sensors. This paper describes the design and development of a remotely-operated system that transmits data wirelessly to a computer on shore in real-time. The paper also presents and discusses test results and addresses future plans.
Media Literacy Training Reduces Perception of Bias

Researchers found those exposed to a media literacy presentation were less likely to perceive a story on a controversial issue to be biased.
Engineering of bacterial phytochromes for in vivo imaging (Conference Presentation)

Genetically encoded probes with absorbance and fluorescence spectra within a near-infrared tissue transparency window are preferable for deep-tissue imaging. On the basis of bacterial phytochromes we engineered several types of near-infrared absorbing probes for photoacoustic tomography and fluorescent probes for purely optical imaging. They can be used as protein and cell labels and as building blocks for biosensors. The probes enabled imaging of tumors and metastases, protein-protein interactions, RNA visualization, detection of apoptosis, cellular metabolites, signaling pathways and cell proliferation. The developed probes allow non-invasive visualization of biological processes across scales, from super-resolution microscopy to tissue and whole-body animal imaging.
BMI is a poor predictor of adiposity in young overweight and obese children.

The body mass index (BMI) is a simple and widely utilized screening tool for obesity in children and adults. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate if BMI could predict total fat mass (TFM) and percent body fat (%FAT) in a sample of overweight and obese children. In this observational study, body composition was measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 663 male and female overweight and obese children at baseline within a multidisciplinary, pediatric fitness clinic at an academic medical center. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were conducted to evaluate whether BMI z-score (BMIz) predicts TFM or %FAT. The BMIz, sex and age of subjects were identified as significant predictors for both TFM and %FAT. In subjects younger than 9 years, the BMIz was a weak to moderate predictor for both TFM (R2 = 0.03 for males and 0.26 for females) and %FAT (R2 = 0.22 for males and 0.38 for females). For subjects between 9 and 18 years, the BMIz was a strong predictor for TFM (R2 between 0.57 and 0.73) while BMIz remained only moderately predictive for %FAT (R2 between 0.22 and 0.42). These findings advance the understanding of the utility and limitations of BMI in children and adolescents. In youth (9-18y), BMIz is a strong predictor for TFM, but a weaker predictor of relative body fat (%FAT). In children younger than 9y, BMIz is only a weak to moderate predictor for both TFM and %FAT. This study cautions the use of BMIz as a predictor of %FAT in children younger than 9 years.
Hospital Variation in Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Incidence, Treatment Modalities, Resource Use, and Costs Across Pediatric Hospitals in the United States, 2013 to 2016

BACKGROUND: The national incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased with the opioid epidemic in the United States. The impact of pharmacologic treatment on hospital use is not well established. We examined the recent population of neonates with NAS admitted to pediatric hospitals, hospital variation in pharmacologic treatment, and the effect of treatment on resource use during neonatal hospitalization, including length of stay (LOS), readmission, and cost-of-living adjusted hospital costs. METHODS: We included inpatients discharged between January 2013 and March 2016 from hospitals in the Pediatric Health Information System. We compared neonates with NAS to those without on demographic, socioeconomic, clinical characteristics and hospital resource use. We also compared neonates with NAS on these characteristics by pharmacologic treatment. RESULTS: This analysis included 136 762 neonatal encounters from 23 hospitals. Of these, 2% had a diagnosis of NAS. Compared with other neonates, neonates with NAS had a longer LOS (18.7 vs 2.9 days; P = .004). Average costs per admission were 10 times higher for neonates with NAS ($37 584 vs $3536; P = .003). Of neonates with NAS, 70% were treated pharmacologically with wide variation in hospital rates of pharmacotherapy (range: 13%–90%). Pharmacologically-treated neonates with NAS experienced a longer LOS (22.0 vs 10.9 days; P = .004) than other neonates with NAS. Total costs for pharmacologically-treated neonates with NAS were over 2 times higher ($44 720 vs $20 708; P = .002) than neonates with NAS treated without pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Neonates with NAS, particularly those treated pharmacologically, have lengthier, more expensive hospital stays. Significant variation in pharmacologic treatment reflects opportunities for practice standardization and substantial reductions in resource use.
Comparing Acceleration and Change of Direction Ability Between Backpedal and Cross-over Run Techniques for Use in American Football.

In American football, defensive backs guard receivers using either cross-over (CO) run or backpedal (BP) techniques, but the efficacy of these techniques is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare linear acceleration (LA) and change of direction (CoD) ability when using CO and BP. Collegiate football defensive backs participated in LA (n = 13) and CoD (n = 7) testing. During LA, subjects performed CO, BP, and forward sprints with split times taken between 0-3 and 3-5 yd and ground reaction forces recorded 0 and 3 yd from the start. During CoD testing, subjects performed the CO or BP for 3 yd and then were given a cue to sprint to a gate 5 yd away in 1 of 4 directions (downfield, midfield, sideline, or upfield). In LA, CO was faster than BP between 0-3 yd ([DELTA] -0.20 +/- 0.02 seconds, p = 0.000) and 3-5 yd ([DELTA] -0.12 +/- 0.02 seconds, p = 0.000). At the start of the movement, CO demonstrated greater propulsive forces (p = 0.017). However, 3 yd from the start, CO demonstrated greater propulsive forces and reduced braking forces (p = 0.000 & 0.003). In CoD, CO was faster than BP when running in the downfield ([DELTA] 0.21 +/- 0.05 seconds, p = 0.044) and lateral directions ([DELTA] 0.21 +/- 0.08 seconds, p = 0.035), but similar in the upfield direction ([DELTA] 0.01 +/- 0.08, p = 0.986). Our results indicate that CO is superior to BP in LA, CoD ability, and movement efficiency and support the use of CO for defensive backs.
The Bladder Cooling Test

It is well recognized that people, especially those with detrusor overactivity, will note an increase in urinary urgency and frequency when exposed to cold. Studies in felines have demonstrated specific cold receptors in the bladder which when stimulated with low volumes of an iced solution will trigger an immediate bladder emptying reflex. This reflex occurs at bladder volumes and pressure thresholds well below those of tension receptors in the bladder suggesting an afferent limb different from that associated with the micturition reflex and detrusor overactivity. Bors originally described the classical ice water test in 1956 to distinguish between parasympathetic upper motor neuron lesions and lower motor neuron lesions. Instillation of 100 ml of sterile ice water through an 18F catheter led to rapid expulsion of the catheter and/or fluid within 10 s in patients with suprasacral lesions but was negative in those with sacral or peripheral lesions.
The Queer Emcee

Addressing the taboo topic of gays and lesbians in hip hop, Oware explores the turn from a defiantly homophobic to a conditional acceptance of queer rappers through case studies. Chart-topping artists such as lesbian rapper Young M.A and Nicki Minaj provide opportunities for an in-depth exploration of the history and contemporary experiences of LGBTQ emcees in rap. These artists openly discuss same-sex desire in their music, a move that dares to confront homophobia in hip hop. However, Oware contends that the provisional tolerance of lesbians remains predicated on lyrics that promote straight male erotic fantasy—women who rhyme about sexual congress with other women receive endorsement. Queer and gay males who rap about sexual relations with other men remain marginalized.
MP68-17 ENZALUTAMIDE-INDUCED ANTIANDROGEN-RESISTANCE VIA A UNIQUE TRANS-SPLICING MECHANISM TO INDUCE A NOVEL ANDROGEN RECEPTOR MUTANT ARV33

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men in western countries. Therefore, dissection of the underlying mechanisms and developi...
The Effects of Virtual Reality Training on Function in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis to examine whether virtual reality (VR) training is effective for lower limb function as well as upper limb and overall function in chronic stroke patients. Methods. Three databases, OVID, PubMed, and EMBASE, were used to collect articles. The search terms used were “cerebrovascular accident (CVA),” “stroke”, and “virtual reality”. Consequently, twenty-one studies were selected in the second screening of meta-analyses. The PEDro scale was used to assess the quality of the selected studies. Results. The total effect size for VR rehabilitation programs was 0.440. The effect size for upper limb function was 0.431, for lower limb function it was 0.424, and for overall function it was 0.545. The effects of VR programs on specific outcomes were most effective for improving muscle tension, followed by muscle strength, activities of daily living (ADL), joint range of motion, gait, balance, and kinematics. Conclusion. The VR training was effective in improving the function in chronic stroke patients, corresponding to a moderate effect size. Moreover, VR training showed a similar effect for improving lower limb function as it did for upper limb function.
Originalism's Promise: A Natural Law Account of the American Constitution

The foundation of the American legal system and democratic culture is its longstanding written Constitution. However, a contentious debate now exists between originalists, who employ the Constitution's original meaning, and Nonoriginalists, who argue for a living constitution interpretation. The first natural law justification for an originalist interpretation of the American Constitution, Originalism's Promise presents an innovative foundation for originalism and a novel description of its character. The book provides a deep, rich, and practical explanation of originalism, including the most-detailed originalist theory of precedent in the literature. Of interest to judges, scholars, and lawyers, it will help all Americans better understand their own Constitution and shows why their reverence for it, its Framers, and its legal system, is supported by sound reasons. Originalism's Promise is a powerful contribution to the most important theory in constitutional interpretation.
Photosynthetic activity and onion growth response to compost and Epsom salt

Resource capture and utilization for plant growth and development are largely dependent on plant nutrition. A combination of compost and Epsom salt (MgSO4·7H2O) can enhance plant productivity throu...
A Potential Association Between Retinal Changes, Subjective Memory Impairment, and Anxiety in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease: A 27-Month Pilot Study.

Introduction: The utility of subjective memory impairment (SMI) as a risk marker for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (AD) remains unclear; however, recent studies have identified a correlation between retinal biomarkers and onset of preclinical disease. This study examines the relationship between retinal biomarkers that have been associated with cerebral amyloid, an early hallmark of AD, and SMI scores in patients at risk for developing AD. Methods: 49 cognitively-normal subjects were followed over 27 months and evaluated using a combination of neuropsychological, psychological, and retinal imaging instruments. Subjective memory testing was conducted using the Memory Assessment Clinic Questionnaire (MACQ) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS). Multivariate linear analysis was conducted using STATA software. Results: Positive correlations were found between retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) volume and scores obtained from the MAC-Q at 27 months (MAC-Q_27), the DASS questionnaire for anxiety at 27 months (DASS-A_27), and the change in DASS-A over 27 months (dDASSA). There was also a significant positive correlation between these variables and the change in RNFL thickness over 27 months (dRNFL). MACQ_27, DASSA_27, and dDASS-A accounted for 35.7% of RFNL variance at 27 months and 21.5% of dRFNL variance. Discussion: These findings suggest that worse subjective memory complaints and anxiety scores may be associated with one of the most commonly used structural anatomical retinal markers of early disease burden in AD. If so, these results lend support to SMI as a valid risk marker for later cognitive decline.
Offshore transport of particulate organic carbon in the California Current System by mesoscale eddies

The California Current System is characterized by upwelling and rich mesoscale eddy activity. Cyclonic eddies generally pinch off from meanders in the California Current, potentially trapping upwelled water along the coast and transporting it offshore. Here, we use satellite-derived measurements of particulate organic carbon (POC) as a tracer of coastal water to show that cyclones located offshore that were generated near the coast contain higher carbon concentrations in their interior than cyclones of the same amplitude generated offshore. This indicates that eddies are in fact trapping and transporting coastal water offshore, resulting in an offshore POC enrichment of 20.9 ± 11 Gg year−1. This POC enrichment due to the coastally-generated eddies extends for 1000 km from shore. This analysis provides large-scale observational-based evidence that eddies play a quantitatively important role in the offshore transport of coastal water, substantially widening the area influenced by highly productive upwelled waters in the California Current System. The California Current System is characterized by wind-driven upwelling and by rich mesoscale eddy activity, resulting in a highly productive ecosystem. Here the authors show that offshore cyclonic eddies which were generated near the coast contain higher carbon concentrations in their interior than eddies of the same amplitude generated locally offshore.
Integrating Regional Frameworks and Local Variability for Riverine Bioassessment

Regional frameworks enable bioassessment methods to detect anthropogenic effects on ecosystems amid natural variability. Conventional approaches to regionalization have used coarse geographical frameworks to separate sites similar in their ecological (ecoregion) or faunal (basin) characteristics. Expectations for individual streams are then adjusted for within-region variability in local environmental characteristics. Integrating regional frameworks and local variability may improve the sensitivity and performance of bioassessments. In this study, we used a biologically-informed stream classification to develop an integrated regional framework for bioassessment considering the effects of ecoregion, basin, and local environmental variables on wadeable stream fish communities of South Carolina, USA. Our integrated framework was compared against conventional regional frameworks indexing ecoregions or basins alone. Frameworks were evaluated by their ability to (1) efficiently partition community variation and (2) allow for the detection of anthropogenic effects on fish communities. We found an integrated framework better described natural variability in stream fish communities. In addition, we found highly regional relationships between fish metrics and anthropogenic disturbance among frameworks, suggesting appropriate bioassessment metrics will differ across regions in our study area. Differences in community response to disturbance among frameworks emphasize the importance of testing metrics for their hypothesized sensitivity before using them in bioassessment. This study ultimately supports the integration of regional frameworks across spatial scales to classify streams for bioassessment, and provides an analytical framework from which to evaluate biotic variation and metric utility in the context of bioassessment.
Factors Influential in the Selection of Radiology Residents in the Post-Step 1 World: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Abstract Objectives Reporting of United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 results will transition from a numerical score to a pass or fail result. We sought an objective analysis to determine changes in the relative importance of resident application attributes when numerical Step 1 results are replaced. Methods A discrete choice experiment was designed to model radiology resident selection and determine the relative weights of various application factors when paired with a numerical or pass or fail Step 1 result. Faculty involved in resident selection at 14 US radiology programs chose between hypothetical pairs of applicant profiles between August and November 2020. A conditional logistic regression model assessed the relative weights of the attributes, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Results There were 212 participants. When a numerical Step 1 score was provided, the most influential attributes were medical school (OR: 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.07-2.67), Black or Hispanic race or ethnicity (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.79-2.38), and Step 1 score (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.69-1.95). When Step 1 was reported as pass, the applicant’s medical school grew in influence (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 2.42-3.18), and there was a significant increase in influence of Step 2 scores (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.23-1.40 versus OR 1.57, 95% CI: 1.46-1.69). There was little change in the relative influence of race or ethnicity, gender, class rank, or clerkship honors. Discussion When Step 1 reporting transitions to pass or fail, medical school prestige gains outsized influence and Step 2 scores partly fill the gap left by Step 1 examination as a single metric of decisive importance in application decisions.
How Milton Friedman Exploited White Supremacy to Privatize Education

This paper traces the origins of today’s campaigns for school vouchers and other modes of public funding for private education to efforts by Milton Friedman beginning in 1955. It reveals that the endgame of the “school choice” enterprise for libertarians was not then—and is not now--to enhance education for all children; it was a strategy, ultimately, to offload the full cost of schooling onto parents as part of a larger quest to privatize public services and resources. Based on extensive original archival research, this paper shows how Friedman’s case for vouchers to promote “educational freedom” buttressed the case of Southern advocates of the policy of massive resistance to Brown v. Board of Education. His approach—supported by many other Mont Pelerin Society members and leading libertarians of the day --taught white supremacists a more sophisticated, and for more than a decade, court-proof way to preserve Jim Crow. All they had to do was cease overt focus on race and instead deploy a neoliberal language of personal liberty, government failure and the need for market competition in the provision of public education.
Another Arabesque: Syrian-Lebanese Ethnicity in Neoliberal Brazil

Introduction: The Politics of Privilege Part I: Imagining Political-Economy 1: Pariahs to Partners in the Export Nation 2: Eth(n)ics and Transparent State Reform Part II: Remodeling the Nationalist Order 3: Turcos in the Market Model of Racial Democracy 4: Mixing Christians, Cloning Muslims Part III: Marketing Ethnic Culture 5: Ethnic Re-Appropriation in the Country Club Circuit 6: Air Turbulence in Homeland Tourism Conclusion: In Secure Futures: Arabness, Neoliberalism, and Brazil
A physically based universal functional to characterize the mechanism of fatigue crack growth in materials

Abstract A unique relationship between the normalized remaining section size and the normalized remaining fatigue life has been discovered to exist during fatigue crack growth in a wide spectrum of materials. A crack growth functional that relates the two variables, and which is in excellent agreement with experimental data, is proposed. This functional suggests that all fatigue cracks propagate uniquely to sever the material cross-section and is promising as a new physical basis for characterizing fatigue crack growth mechanisms in materials.
Accurate spectral testing of analog-to-digital converters with frequency drift using phase correction and averaging

Frequency drift is an important issue and is difficult to be avoided in ADC testing. The power leakage caused by frequency drift in the ADC output spectrum cannot be removed by conventional methods. This paper proposes a new algorithm which can estimate the ADC specifications accurately when there is frequency drift. The output of the ADC is collected as Ks segments. Phase correction is applied to those segments to make the initial phase of each segment is zero. And those segments are averaged after phase correction to remove the frequency drift effect. Simulation results show that this algorithm can obtain the ADC specifications correctly when the input frequency drifts under 100ppm/second.
A new Bluetooth scatternet formation protocol

A Bluetooth ad hoc network can be formed by interconnecting piconets into scatternets. The constraints and properties of Bluetooth scatternets present special challenges in forming an ad hoc network efficiently. In this paper, we present and analyze a new randomized distributed protocol for Bluetooth scatternet formation. We prove that our protocol achieves O(log n) time complexity and O(n) message complexity. The scatternets formed by our protocol have the following properties: (1) any device is a member of at most two piconets, and (2) the number of piconets is close to be optimal. These properties can help prevent overloading of any single device and lead to low interference between piconets. We validate the theoretical results by simulations, which also show that the scatternets formed have O(log n) diameter. As an essential part of the scatternet formation protocol, we study the problem of device discovery: establishing multiple connections simultaneously with many Bluetooth devices. We investigate the collision rate and time requirement of the inquiry and page processes. Our simulation results indicate that the total number of packets sent is O(n) and that the maximum number of packets sent by any single device is O(log n).
Reflectarrays using active-loaded elements: Enhancing performance by power combining

Active-loaded antenna elements (i.e. radiating elements being connected to active devices with gain, e.g. Gunn diodes and amplifiers) can be used to design optimized reflectarrays with enhanced performance overcoming the undesirable illumination edge taper. It is shown that the reflecting surfaces formed by active-loaded periodic structures, can be used for power-combining and hence, improving the aperture efficiency of reflectarrays. Here, as a preliminary study, active-loaded unit-cells are modeled as passive structures being connected to negative-resistance loads and used to design active reflectarray surfaces. Active reflectarrays operating at the center frequency of 10 GHz are proposed and their radiation performance is studied using fullwave simulations for various active loading of the elements.
Environmental Education Through Narrative Films: Impact of Medicine Man on Attitudes Toward Forest Preservation

Narrative film is a multimodal, multisensual, and universal medium that has potential to reach and influence a wide range of people regarding environmental issues. The author conducted an experiment to explore the impact of film portrayals of deforestation among college students. One-hundred eighty-one undergraduate students were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: Experimental and Control Conditions. Students in the experimental condition watched the movie Medicine Man portraying the issue of deforestation, whereas those in the control condition watched an unrelated movie with a similar length. Participants in both conditions then completed a self-administered questionnaire that contained the measure of attitudes toward forest preservation. The results indicated that participants in the experimental condition became more favorable toward the preservation of forests (i.e., unfavorable toward deforestation) than did those in the control condition. Regression analysis also revealed that perceived re...
An intelligent predictive system for vehicle maneuvering

In today's world of urban traffic environment, there is an immediate requirement to impose safety measures to avoid fatal accidents. To ensure safe driving, vehicles can be made intelligent by equipping them with sensors. This means that multiple sensors can be incorporated on the vehicle. Such system can act as a warning strategy that guides the driver of the vehicle to make right decisions at times of emergencies. The work in this paper highlights the decision making process by the vehicle by throwing light on applying a new approach. The new feature added is the application of Bayesian inference method to predict the fore vehicle behavior and future states and then, using the data collected from multiple sensors, the best possible decision is made.
Religious Liberty v. Police Power: Jehovah's Witnesses

It is stressing the obvious to observe that the state must often resolve conflicts between certain of its constitutional powers and certain equally constitutional private rights. Such is the age-old controversy of liberty versus authority, familiar to every social scientist. Such is the contemporary controversy between “Bible-dizzy but patently sincere” zealots of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, more widely known as Jehovah's Witnesses, on the one hand, and the police power on the other. There is nothing novel about a quarrel between religion and the police power, as witness the Mormons; but a new twist is now given by the personalities of Jehovah's Witnesses and their unique ways of practicing their faith. Much of their attitude is reflected in their slogans, “Religion is a Racket,” “Religion is a Snare,” and “Millions Now Living Will Never Die.” With a fine neutrality, they consign to the leaping flames all existing religious beliefs other than their own, although they are especially antagonistic to Roman Catholicism. Followers of “Pastor” Charles Taze Russell and “Judge” Joseph Frederick Rutherford, they are serene in their belief that the second coming of Christ is due momentarily, that there is no time to build churches, and that the “witness work” must be carried on by the direct method of calling on people in their homes, distributing pamphlets and playing records on portable phonographs describing their publications and beliefs for the edification of whomsoever will listen.
Absolute and relative bioavailability of oral acetaminophen preparations

Eighteen healthy volunteers received single 650-mg doses of acetaminophen by 5-min intravenous infusion, in tablet form by mouth in the fasting state, and in elixir form orally in the fasting state in a three-way crossover study. An additional eight subjects received two 325-mg tablets from two commercial vendors in a randomized crossover fashion. Concentrations of acetaminophen in multiple plasma samples collected during the 12-hr period after each dose were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Following a lag time averaging 3-4 min, absorption of oral acetaminophen was first order, with apparent absorption half-life values averaging 8.4 (elixir) and 11.4 (tablet) min. The mean time-to-peak concentration was significantly longer after tablet (0.75 hr) than after elixir (0.48 hr) administration. Peak plasma concentrations and elimination half-lives were similar following both preparations. Absolute systemic availability of the elixir (87%) was significantly greater than for the tablets (79%). Two commercially available tablet formulations did not differ significantly in peak plasma concentrations, time-to-peak, or total area under the plasma concentration curve and therefore were judged to be bioequivalent.
Synthesis and Metabolic Clearance of 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D as Determinants of Serum Concentrations: A Comparison of Two Methods

We evaluated endogenous renal 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-OH)2D) synthesis by compartmental analysis of the plasma disappearance of injected [3H]l,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in 11 subjects with serum 1,25-(OH)2D concentrations varying from 9–154 pM (normal, 89 ± 25 pM). Estimated renal synthesis ranged from 2–180 pmol/kg • day. Serum 1,25-(OH)2D concentrations in these subjects best fit a log function of renal synthesis: serum 1,25-(OH)2D, pM = −13 † 74 log renal 1,25-(OH)2D production, picomoles per kg/day (r =0.91). We also evaluated serum 1,25-(OH)2D concentrations in 6 healthy subjects who had been given 0.6, 1.2, or 1.8 nmol calcitriol every 6 h during a period 6–12 days after hormone administration was begun. Steady serum 1,25-(OH)2D concentrations 2, 4, and 6 h after the last calcitriol dose were achieved in proportion to log dose: serum 1,25-(OH)2D, pM = −12 † 103 log 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 dose, picomoles per kg/day (r = 0.94). Estimated 1,25-(OH)2D production ratesusing these two methods and ass...
Satisfaction with care among low-income female outpatients

Patient satisfaction correlates with important health behaviors and outcomes. Little is known about satisfaction in disadvantaged populations of different racial/ethnic backgrounds. The current study evaluated demographic and psychological correlates of patient satisfaction among a low-income, multiethnic sample of female outpatients attending cervical cancer screening. Participants included 338 African American, Latina, and white women ages 18 - 49 years attending University of Texas Medical Branch Regional Maternal & Child Health Clinics. Data were obtained via self-report and chart review. Patient satisfaction was assessed using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ). Total PSQ scores reflected two distinct underlying subscales (satisfaction and dissatisfaction), which differed from the original factor structure of the PSQ. Satisfaction was predicted by patient beliefs that their health is self-determined, beliefs that doctors control their health, self-esteem, and education. Dissatisfaction was predicted by patient beliefs that good health is a matter of chance/luck, self-esteem, social desirability, and income. Higher self-esteem, education, and beliefs that health is controlled by oneself or doctors correlated with higher satisfaction with care in the clinic setting. Understanding the influence of patient characteristics on perceptions of care is important for physicians to foster relationships with patients that increase feelings of satisfaction, decrease dissatisfaction, and ultimately, improve health outcomes.
Factors Affecting Worksite Mode Choice: Findings from Portland, Oregon

Transportation demand management (TDM) programs at employer worksites have been used with varying success across the United States since the 1970s. The overall purpose of these programs is for employers to encourage their employees to commute in modes other than a single-occupancy vehicle. Although employee commute options mandates have disappeared from many localities, the need to manage the demand for travel has not. Understanding what influences work trip mode choices can help transportation and planning agencies implement more effective TDM programs. Data from large worksites in the Portland, Oregon, region were used to evaluate how employer TDM programs, worksite characteristics, and location influence commute mode choice. Many factors contribute to the success of programs at different worksites. Success was measured in the percentage of commute trips made by transit and by walking and bicycling. Regression models showed that although subsidizing transit cost is effective, the choice of commute is also influenced by land use and transit access. Nonfinancial incentives, which can include flex time and a guaranteed ride home program, can also have a significant positive effect.
Detection of roll transitions in thermal convection

On decrit une methode de determination de la transition des rouleaux de convection pour des experiences avec des gaz dans des recipients rectangulaires