cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SEASONAL MOVEMENTS AND HOME-RANGE USE BY FEMALE PRONGHORNS IN SAGEBRUSH-STEPPE COMMUNITIES OF WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA

Knowledge of seasonal movements by pronghorns (Antilocapra americana) within the easternmost extension of sagebrush-steppe communities is limited. Current hypotheses regarding movement patterns suggest that pronghorns initiate seasonal movements in response to severe winter weather, snowfall patterns, spatial and temporal variation in forage abundance, and availability of water. From January 2002 to August 2005, we monitored movements of 76 adult (� 1.5 years) female pronghorns on 2 study areas (Harding and Fall River counties) in western South Dakota. We collected 8,750 visual locations, calculated 204 home ranges, and documented 17 seasonal movements. Eighty-four percent (n ¼ 55) of pronghorns were nonmigratory and 10% (n ¼ 6) were conditional migrators. Mean distance between summer and winter range was 23.1 km (SE ¼ 2.8 km, n ¼ 13). Five adult pronghorns (8%) dispersed a mean distance of 37.6 km (SE ¼ 12.4 km); of which 1 female moved a straight-line distance of 75.0 km. Winter and summer home-range size varied (P , 0.0001) between study sites. Mean 95% adaptive kernel winter and summer home-range size of pronghorns was 55.5 and 19.7 km 2 , respectively, in Harding County and 127.2 and 65.9 km 2 , respectively, in Fall River County. Nonmigratory behavior exhibited by pronghorns was likely associated with minimal snow cover and moderate temperatures during winter 2002–2004. Variation in size of adult seasonal home ranges between sites was likely associated with differences in forage distribution and availability between regions.
Rigid PVC/(layered silicate) nanocomposites produced through a novel melt-blending approach†

On the basis of the fusion behavior of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), the influence of compounding route on the properties of PVC/(layered silicate) nanocomposites was studied. Four different compounding addition sequences were examined during the melt compounding of PVC with montmorillonite (MMT) clay, including (a) a direct dry mixing of PVC and nanoclay, (b) an addition of nanoclay at compaction, (c) an addition of nanoclay at the onset of fusion, and (d) an addition of nanoclay at equilibrium torque. Both unmodified sodium montmorillonite (Na+-MMT) and organically modified montmorillonite (Org.-MMT) clays were used, and the effect of the addition sequence of the clay during compounding on its dispersion in the matrix was evaluated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron miscroscopy. The surface color change, dynamic mechanical analysis, and flexural and tensile properties of PVC/clay nanocomposites were also studied. The experimental results indicated that both the extent of property improvement and the dispersion of nanoparticles in PVC/(layered silicate) nanocomposites are strongly influenced by the degree of gelation achieved in PVC compounds during processing. The addition of nanoclay to PVC must be accomplished at the onset of fusion, when PVC particles are reduced in size, in order to produce nanocomposites with better nanodispersion and enhanced mechanical properties. Overall, rigid PVC nanocomposites with unmodified clay (Na+-MMT) were more thermally stable and exhibited better mechanical properties than their counterparts with organically modified clay (Org.-MMT). J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers
Treatment with a monoclonal antibody against methamphetamine and amphetamine reduces maternal and fetal rat brain concentrations in late pregnancy.

We hypothesized that treatment of pregnant rat dams with a dual reactive monoclonal antibody (mAb4G9) against (+)-methamphetamine [METH; equilibrium dissociation rate constant (KD) = 16 nM] and (+)-amphetamine (AMP; KD = 102 nM) could confer maternal and fetal protection from brain accumulation of both drugs of abuse. To test this hypothesis, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (on gestational day 21) received a 1 mg/kg i.v. METH dose, followed 30 minutes later by vehicle or mAb4G9 treatment. The mAb4G9 dose was 0.56 mole-equivalent in binding sites to the METH body burden. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed baseline METH and AMP elimination half-lives were congruent in dams and fetuses, but the METH volume of distribution in dams was nearly double the fetal values. The METH and AMP area under the serum concentration-versus-time curves from 40 minutes to 5 hours after mAb4G9 treatment increased >7000% and 2000%, respectively, in dams. Fetal METH serum did not change, but AMP decreased 23%. The increased METH and AMP concentrations in maternal serum resulted from significant increases in mAb4G9 binding. Protein binding changed from ∼15% to > 90% for METH and AMP. Fetal serum protein binding appeared to gradually increase, but the absolute fraction bound was trivial compared with the dams. mAb4G9 treatment significantly reduced METH and AMP brain values by 66% and 45% in dams and 44% and 46% in fetuses (P
Modeling Sustainable Earnings and P/E Ratios with Financial Statement Analysis

This paper yields a summary score that informs about the sustainability (or persistence) of earnings and about the trailing P/E ratio. The score is delivered from a model that identifies unsustainable earnings from the financial statements by exploiting accounting relations that require that unsustainable earnings leave a trail in the accounts. The paper also builds a P/E model that recognizes that investors buy future earnings, so should pay less for current earnings if those earnings cannot be sustained in the future. In out-of-sample prediction tests, the analysis reliably identifies unsustainable earnings, and also explains cross-sectional differences in P/E ratios. The paper also finds that stock returns are predictable when traded P/E ratios differ from those indicated by our P/E model.
Broken People, Deep Scars, Fractured Communities, Fear and Distrust: Affinity Fraud and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Recently, the number of affinity fraud schemes perpetrated on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has risen with Utah having one of the highest rates of affinity fraud in the United States. Affinity fraud poses significant harm to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Church should take a more active role in educating its membership. This article hopes to break new ground by examining the unique social and legal problems of affinity fraud against members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and provide recommendations for Church leaders to combat this problem. Typically, responses to affinity fraud have been legislative, passive education, or active education. I argue that, although a legislative response or passive education response may deter some would be fraudsters, a stronger response — and what I assert as necessary — would be an active education response by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that included increased discussion, training, and educational materials in an effort to better warn and teach members of the Church regarding the dangers of affinity fraud.
The Biggest NFL Losers - Some Nonresident Athlete State Income Tax Calculations

The authors defend a duty day approach to apportioning the income of nonresident National Football League players. They say that the duty day approach recognizes the role of practice in creating the taxable service.
Neuro-Hormonal Control of Gastric Acid Secretion: The Role of Histamine

The role of histamine as a physiological stimulant of gastric acid secretion has been a subject of controversy and discussion since Popielski (1920) first observed that injection of histamine causes copious gastric acid secretion. This observation initiated studies on the possible involvement of histamine in gastric secretory mechanisms. It has been suggested that the increased blood level of histamine, released from various depots in the body, could stimulate HCl secretion. Although this view was not supported experimentally, the finding of Gavin, McHenry and Wilson (1933) that histamine is abundant in the parietal cell region of the gastric mucosa, prompted Babkin (1938) and Macintosh (1938) to propose that histamine released locally from gastric mucosal stores could stimulate parietal cells to secrete HCl. Emmelin and Kahlson (1944) presented evidence of a functional link between gastrin and mucosal histamine, in that the action of gastrin results in the appearance of histamine in the gastric juice of dogs and cats. Kahlson, Rowengren, Svahn and Turnberg (1964) reported experimental results from rats supporting the view that histamine is a physiological mediator of gastric acid secretion. The rat stomach shows a high level of histidine decarboxylase activity which catalyses the formation of histamine from histidine. This enzyme activity increases in response to gastrin, vagal stimulation and feeding, and there is a concurrent decrease in the amount of bound histamine within the mucosa. Based on these findings Kahlson et al., (1964) hypothesized that gastrin, acetylcholine and feeding release mucosal histamine which stimulates the parietal cells? the depletion of histamine stores then triggers a feedback increase in histidine decarboxylase activity resulting in the formation of new histamine.
Investigation of Critical States and Failure in True Triaxial Tests of Clays

A detailed investigation of the true triaxial drained and undrained response of clays has been performed. This paper summarizes the main findings of this investigation, with emphasis placed on ascertaining the existence of critical states and on the variation of the failure state of the clay with principal stress difference.
You Can’t Have That! A Study of Reactance Effects & Children’s Consumer Behavior

Experience has often taught parents that children’s desires for products are heightened when they are told “You can’t have that!” The psychological literature has identified this phenomenon as “rea...
One Gun a Month Laws: Do They Reduce Murder Rates?

A number of states have passed laws to limit gun sales to one gun a month in an attempt to reduce unlawful gun trafficking. Some states have subsequently repealed such laws. Do these laws reduce murder rates? This paper examines evidence that changes in murder rates associated with these laws are more plausibly explained by reductions in other measurable symptoms of social disorder.
Social Influences on Interest

Where does enduring individual interest come from? One answer is, through social experience that derives from a need for belongingness. Because of this need, students seek social links that influence the development of individual interest. This may occur through experiences with parents, friends, passionate affinity groups, competition, public performance, and culture. School is a social experience that can influence interest development. School-prompted interest and transformative experience should be goals of schooling, yet research suggests that they occur at a lower-than-optimal rate. Research on interest could expand its methods to include techniques such as social network analysis, cell phone data collection, and day reconstruction. Research should attend to the fact that the manifestation of interest is more dynamic and complex than sometimes represented, and real-time experience and remembered experience can be quite different.
Interpersonal and Knowledge Coordination

This paper reports on research investigating the ways in which speech and gesture function in dyadic interactions when one partner is deceiving the other. In conversation, interlocutors collaborate to establish mutually acceptable referring expressions, which represent entities in a model of the discourse (Clark & Wilkes-Gibbs, 1986). However, under deceptive conditions, speakers must manage multiple discourse models (truth & lie content, and, crucially, what information is part of shared knowledge). Furthermore, addressees play a key role in the construction of the deceptive discourse (Interpersonal Deception Theory, Buller and Burgoon, 1996): whether or not the deceiver can continue (thus succeeding in her deception) depends on the addressee's willingness to assert acceptance. In addition, addressees' influence the lie itself by suggesting referent descriptions. Cassell, Gill and Tepper (2007) find a strong relationship between the verbal and non-verbal behaviors (i.e., nods) that index interpersonal rapport as well as signal knowledge alignment during truthful conversations. This paper extends the study of social and linguistic coordination by delving into deceptive exchanges that stretch interpersonal connectedness as well as increase the demands of discourse management. In the experiment, participants, who were friends of long standing, selected one member of the dyad as storyteller. The storyteller watched a cartoon separately from the listener. Prior to rejoining the listener and describing the cartoon, storytellers were given four false details to substitute for previously viewed cartoon content. During the narration, listeners unknowingly contributed to the deception by correcting problems with antecedent reference, using gesture to sort out spatial relations, and by requesting necessary contextual details omitted by the mentally-taxed deceivers. Interpersonal behaviors (e.g., nods) wax and wane with veracity suggesting both a social and discursive use. Gestural mimicry, which surprisingly increases during deception, provides the best evidence of coordination between speakers concerning both the dyadic sense of rapport as well as a shared mental representation. Thus, deception appears to strain and strengthen the interdependence between speakers indicating a complicated relationship between knowledge and interpersonal coordination.
Molecular aspects of tack

Abstract In this paper, we examined strength development at a polymer-polymer interface in terms of the dynamics and statics of random-coil chains. Interdiffusion of chain segments across the inter...
In Situ FTIR Investigation of the Kinetics of Silica Polycondensation in Surfactant Templated, Mesostructured Thin Films

A detailed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study of the kinetics of polycondensation of surfactant-templated mesostructured silica thin films was carried out with the goal of understanding how to manipulate the synthesis and processing of these films to achieve a desired architecture. The evolution of silica condensation was followed both during the sol preparation process and in situ for a time period on the order of minutes to hours after initial film deposition. The kinetics were measured in the presence of three commonly used classes of surfactant templates: P123 [poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) triblock copolymer), Brij-56 (poly(ethylene oxide] [n ∼ 10] hexadecyl ether), and CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide). The induction period for polycondensation (an initial period during which the rate of change of silanol content is slow) was different in each case, with P123 giving the longest induction time followed by Brij-56 and finally CTAB. Humidity was f...
Extending the Framework

This chapter begins by reviewing the code for the game from the previous chapter. Your main focus will be streamlining your code from the previous chapter by refactoring common elements into new classes that can be reused as needed. This will also make it easier to introduce more-advanced features, such as new methods for processing user input. Then you will see how your new classes can be used as a basis for additional game projects. Finally, you will improve your custom extensions of the Actor class by adding improved collision detection and response, managing multiple animations, and implementing physics-based movement.
The Neural Correlates of Humor Creativity.

Unlike passive humor appreciation, the neural correlates of real-time humor creation have been unexplored. As a case study for creativity, humor generation uniquely affords a reliable assessment of a creative product’s quality with a clear and relatively rapid beginning and end, rendering it amenable to neuroimaging that has the potential for reflecting individual differences in expertise. Professional and amateur “improv” comedians and controls viewed New Yorker cartoon drawings while being scanned. For each drawing, they were instructed to generate either a humorous or a mundane caption. Greater comedic experience was associated with decreased activation in the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), but increased activation in temporal association regions (TMP). Less experienced comedians manifested greater activation of mPFC, reflecting their deliberate search through TMP association space. Professionals, by contrast, tend to reap the fruits of their spontaneous associations with reduced reliance on top-down guided search.
Differential morphological responses of chironomid larvae to severe heavy metal exposure (Diptera: Chironomidae)

Larval midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals in a stream flowing through an area of defunct lead and zinc mines exhibited differential morphological deformation. Larvae in the subfamily Orthocladiinae had signifi cantly more frequent and severe deformities than larvae in the subfamily Tanypodinae (paired sample f-tests, P < 0.01). The frequency of antennal deformities in the Orthocladiinae was significantly different between sites {P < 0.05, Kruskal-Wallis Median Test) and generally in creased with the concentration of heavy metals in the sediment.
Shot-noise-dominant regime for ellipsoidal nanoparticles in a linearly polarized beam

Results on the heating and the parametric feedback cooling of an optically trapped anisotropic nanoparticle in the laser-shot-noise-dominant regime are presented. The related dynamical parameters, such as the oscillating frequency and shot noise heating rate, depend on the shape of the trapped particle. For an ellipsoidal particle, the ratio of the axis lengths and the overall size controls the shot noise heating rate relative to the frequency. For a particle with smaller ellipticity or bigger size, the relative heating rate for rotation tends to be smaller than that for translation indicating a better rotational cooling. For one feedback scheme, we also present results on the lowest occupation number that can be achieved as a function of the heating rate and the amount of classical uncertainty in the position measurement.
The drive to generate multiple forms of oncogenic cyclin D1 transcripts in mantle cell lymphoma

Alternative polyadenylation is a rapidly emerging form of gene regulation, which in its simplest form, enables the generation of mRNA transcripts that code for the same protein but have 3′UTRs of different lengths and regulatory content. For oncogenes, shorter 3′UTRs would be preferred as a mechanism to evade miRNA regulation. The shortening of the 3′UTR of cyclin D1 in mantle cell lymphoma offers provocative insights into this process. Patient samples have revealed that 3′UTR shortening may occur due to mutations, or translocations that result in the generation of a chimeric 3′UTR. The truncated cyclin D1 3′UTRs resulting from alternative polyadenylation, use a premature canonical polyadenylation signal close to the stop codon that was generated either as a result of mutations or provided by another gene in the chimeric 3′UTR. The sequence of the polyadenylation signal in mantle cell lymphoma appears to be critical for 3′end formation of the cyclin D1 transcript. Shortening the 3′UTR allows cyclin D1 to potentially evade regulation by over 80 miRNAs that are predicted to bind to its full length 3′UTR.
Hemorrhage Rate After External Ventricular Drain Placement in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Time to Heparin Administration

The use of antiplatelet or anticoagulants has previously been shown to increase hemorrhagic complications of ventricular catheterization. Although heparin use 24 h after ventriculostomy appears safe, the safety of heparin immediately (within 4 h) after ventriculostomy is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of heparin immediately (within 4 h) after ventriculostomy in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients undergoing endovascular treatment. This is a retrospective cohort study of 46 patients with aneurysmal SAH secondary to aneurysm rupture who required ventriculostomy. Post-ventriculostomy imaging was carefully reviewed for tract hemorrhaging. Timing of heparinization was noted. Early heparinization was within 4 h after ventriculostomy, and intermediate heparinization was between 4 and 24 h after ventriculostomy. Overall, the tract hemorrhage rate was 26.1% for the study cohort—mostly grade I tract hemorrhages—consistent with the existing literature. The tract hemorrhage rate in the early (<4 h) heparin group was a remarkable 58.8%. The hemorrhages were also notably larger in the early (<4 h) heparin group. Although heparin appears to be safe after 4 h, immediate heparinization (within 4 h) after ventriculostomy significantly increases the odds of tract hemorrhage. Additional time should be afforded between ventriculostomy and heparinization to avoid potentially devastating external ventricular drain tract hemorrhage. It is advisable to wait a sufficient time (at least 4 h) after ventriculostomy before embarking on endovascular treatment of ruptured aneurysms.
Economic feasibility of residential behind-the-meter battery energy storage under energy time-of-use and demand charge rates

In this paper, the economic viability of using behind-the-meter battery energy storage (BMBES) for time-of-use (ToU) energy arbitrage and demand charge (DC) reduction is compared. The study focuses on residential applications where the BMBES is installed at end-users premises and used for daily cycling under ToU and DC plans for saving on monthly electricity bills. Under the current U.S. electricity prices, different case studies of using two BMBES systems are discussed. The two systems are analyzed with practical load profiles of a two-story American family house. A number of ToU and DC plans from different utility companies and with different pricing structures are applied. First, the mathematical formulation of the monthly savings in the electricity bill is presented to determine the different technical and economic factors that affect the savings. Then, the System Advisor Model (SAM) software tool, which provides a techno-economic model of battery storage systems, is used for hourly, monthly, and annual analysis. In each scenario, the economic performance of the BMBES systems in terms of the cash flow diagram, net present worth and payback period is presented and discussed. Based on the analysis results, a set of implications on the profitability of the ToU energy arbitrage and DC reduction schemes under current prices of energy storage and electricity rates are stated. Such implications can be beneficial to customers and practitioners for selecting and designing residential electric rates.
Lebesgue’s Measure

In this chapter we construct Lebesgue’s measure on ℝ N , and in the following chapter we will develop his method of integration. To avoid getting lost in the details, it will be important to keep in mind what it is we are attempting to do. For this reason, we begin with a brief summary of our goals.
Committee Representation and Medicare Reimbursements-An Examination of the Resource-Based Relative Value Scale.

Background The Resource-Based Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) submits recommended reimbursement values for physician work (wRVUs) under Medicare Part B. The RUC includes rotating representatives from medical specialties. Objective To identify changes in physician reimbursements associated with RUC rotating seat representation. Data sources Relative Value Scale Update Committee members 1994-2013; Medicare Part B Relative Value Scale 1994-2013; Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary Master File 2007; Part B National Summary Data File 2000-2011. Study design I match service and procedure codes to specialties using 2007 Medicare billing data. Subsequently, I model wRVUs as a function of RUC rotating committee representation and level of code specialization. Principal findings An annual RUC rotating seat membership is associated with a statistically significant 3-5 percent increase in Medicare expenditures for codes billed to that specialty. For codes that are performed by a small number of physicians, the association between reimbursement and rotating subspecialty representation is positive, 0.177 (SE = 0.024). For codes that are performed by a large number of physicians, the association is negative, -0.183 (SE = 0.026). Conclusions Rotating representation on the RUC is correlated with overall reimbursement rates. The resulting differential changes may exacerbate existing reimbursement discrepancies between generalist and specialist practitioners.
Evaluations of an artificial intelligence instructor's voice: Social Identity Theory in human-robot interactions

Abstract This study employs the Computers are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm to extend the predictions of Social Identity Theory (SIT) to human-robot interaction (HRI) in the context of instructional communication. SIT posits that individuals gain a sense of personal worth from the groups with which they identify. Previous research has demonstrated that age group identification is meaningful to individuals’ self-concepts. Results demonstrated that higher age identified students rated the older A.I. voice instructor (representing an out-group member) higher for credibility and social presence and reported more motivation to learn than those students with low age identification. Implications are discussed for SIT and design features of computerized voices.
The Hospital in History, c. 3500 BCE–c. 500 CE

This chapter explores the history of the hospital, beginning with early man and ending with Late Antiquity, by providing a brief background as to how certain civilizations—the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Muslims, the Christians, and the Romans—dispensed early healthcare. Key to this chapter is the introduction of temples, the first pseudo hospital, where healing occurred through the supernatural powers of the gods, such as Imhotep and Apollo. “Temple incubation”—as it came to be known—set the stage for later hospital developments, while great medical advancements came with the works of Hippocrates, Galen, Avicenna, and Averroes. Finally, the chapter considers the important public role, or the lack thereof, that governments played in healthcare, as well as the introduction of Christianity .
The Maize Pan-Genome

The pan-genome of a species is comprised of genes/sequences that are present in all individuals in the species (core genome) and genes/sequences that are present in only a subset of individuals within the species (dispensable genome). In maize, the study of the pan-genome began in the 1940s through cytogenetic experiments and has seen an increased focus in research over the last decade largely driven by advances in genome sequencing technologies. It is estimated there are at least 1.5x as many genes in the pan-genome (greater than 60,000 genes) as there are in any individual’s genome (~40,000 genes), with even more variation outside the gene space being observed. This variation has been associated with phenotypic variation and is hypothesized to be an important contributor to the high levels of heterosis often observed in maize hybrids. Due to the high level of variation and the existing genetic and genomic resources, maize has become a model species for plant pan-genomics studies. This chapter will review the mechanisms that can create genome content variation, tools that are available to study the pan-genome, the history of maize pan-genome research ranging from the early cytogenetic studies to today’s genomics-based approaches, and the functional consequences of this variation.
Experimental replication shows knives manufactured from frozen human feces do not work

Abstract The ethnographic account of an Inuit man manufacturing a knife from his own frozen feces to butcher and disarticulate a dog has permeated both the academic literature and popular culture. To evaluate the validity of this claim, we tested the basis of that account via experimental archaeology. Our experiments assessed the functionality of knives made from human feces in controlled conditions that provided optimal conditions for success. However, they were not functional. While much research has shown foragers to be technologically resourceful, innovative, and savvy, we suggest that this ethnographic account should no longer be used to support that narrative.
Parents' Views on Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Sickle Cell Disease after Education in Clinic

Background: Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) used in conjunction with in-vitro fertilization can help parents of a child with sickle cell disease (SCD) have another child who will not have SCD and also be an HLA match. Parents' views on this reproductive option are not well known and little work has been done regarding educating parents about this option. This study sought to describe parents' opinions on PGT after a clinic-based educational intervention. Methods: A 5-page educational handbook was created on PGT for SCD. During certain clinic days, all parents of children with SCD were given this handbook in the waiting room and encouraged to read it and ask their provider questions during their clinic visit. After this visit, parents were then requested to complete a brief, anonymous survey via REDCap. Non-biological parents and other guardians were excluded. An IRB waiver of consent was granted as no personal health information was collected. Results: Between May and July 2019, 83 biologic parents of children with SCD were approached in the clinic and 67 (81%) of these parents completed the questionnaire. This group had a median age of 34 years and included 52 mothers and 15 fathers. While 53 (79%) indicated that they had previously heard of bone marrow transplant for SCD before today, only 16 (24%) answered that they had heard of PGT for SCD (p Conclusion: Most parents of children with SCD seen in the hematology clinic do not know about PGT, but when educated about this option, viewed this knowledge as important. Routine hematology clinic appointments in early childhood may be opportune times to educate patients about PGT. Cost may be a major barrier, but providers should discuss PGT with parents of children with SCD to help ensure access to this option. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION AND ITS ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS

ABSTRACT The NRC and its predecessors in the Atomic Energy Commission represent considerable experience in environmental standards setting. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, the 1970 Supreme Court decision on Federal pre-emption of radiation standards, the Calvert Cliffs decision of 1971, the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, and the Appendix I “as low as reasonably achievable” decision of 1975, to name a few of our landmarks, are representative of the scars and the achievements of being in a role of national leadership in radiation protection. The NRC, through a variety of legislative authorities, administrative regulations, regulatory guides, and national consensus standards regulates the commercial applications of nuclear energy. The purposes of regulation are the protection of the environment, public health and safety, and national security. To understand NRC's responsibilities relative to those of other Federal and state agencies concerned with environmental protection, we will briefly review the legislative authorities which underlie our regulatory program. Then we will examine the intent or the spirit of that program as embodied in our system of regulations, guides, and standards. Finally we will speak to what's happening today and what we see in the future for environmental standards.
Evidence and Challenges for Translation and Population Impact of the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Type 2 diabetes is common, burdensome, and preventable. Landmark trials such as the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) demonstrated that resource–intensive lifestyle support interventions resulting in modest weight loss via healthy diet changes and physical activity can lower the rate of diabetes development by 58%. We performed a review of efforts to translate and implement DPP-like programs throughout the USA to identify challenges and opportunities for improvement. For more than a decade, multiple stakeholders have worked to translate evidence-based principles of diabetes prevention to reach 84 million Americans with prediabetes. DPP-like programs have been delivered by over 1500 organizations, reaching almost 300,000 people, but this number represents less than 1% of the target population. Research has uncovered large gaps in efforts to diagnose, raise awareness, and provide access to DPP-like programs for adults with prediabetes, requiring further stakeholder engagement and coordination to resolve. Efforts to address prevailing gaps in diabetes prevention must address distinct and sometimes conflicting priorities and concerns of stakeholders. Our review recommends several areas of further research and action to improve type 2 diabetes prevention on a population scale.
A Team of Humanoid Game Commentators

We present our work on creating a team of two humanoid robot commentators for soccer games of teams of four AIBO robots. The two humanoids stand on the side lines of the field, autonomously observe the game, wirelessly listen to a "game computer controller," and coordinate their announcements with each other. Given the large degree of uncertainty and dynamics of the robot soccer games, we further introduce a "puppet master" system that allows humans to intervene in a sliding autonomy manner, prompting the robots to commentate on an event if undetected. The robots process then input from these three sources, namely own and shared vision, game controller, and occasional puppet master, to recognize events which they translate into a varied set of predefined announcements. We present the behavioral architecture, the vision-based event recognition, and the game-based adaptive criteria for the selection of comments. We exemplify our development with multiple illustrative cases corresponding to different game situations. In summary, our work contributes a team of two humanoids fully executing a challenging observation, modeling, coordination, and reporting task.
NF-κB Blockade by NEMO Binding Domain Peptide Ameliorates Inflammation and Neurobehavioral Sequelae After Cranial Radiation Therapy in Juvenile Mice

Purpose Cranial radiation therapy (CRT) is a common treatment for pediatric brain tumor patients. However, side effects include significant neurobehavioral dysfunction in survivors. This dysfunction may in part be caused by inflammation, including increased production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and its receptor TNFR1, which can activate the nuclear factor kappa light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). The TNFα blockade abrogates this inflammatory response, although it presents immunologic risks. Thus, modulation of pathway subsets may be preferable. Here, we test whether inhibition of NF-κB activation using an NF-κB essential modulator binding domain (NBD) peptide mitigates CRT-induced neuroinflammation and improves behavioral outcomes. Methods and Materials Male C57BL/6J 28-day old mice were randomized to saline (sham), 5 Gy whole-brain CRT, or CRT + NBD-peptide. Brain tissue was collected after 4 hours or 3 months for Western blot or immunohistochemistry. The cortex, corpus callosum (CC), and dentate gyrus were variably imaged for NF-κB-p65, IκBα, proliferation, apoptosis, necroptosis, TNFα, TNFR1, IBA-1, doublecortin, CD11c, and GFAP. Neurobehavioral changes were assessed by open field and elevated plus maze tests 3 months post-CRT. Results NF-κB expression increased in whole and nuclear fractions 4 hours after CRT and was abrogated by NBD treatment. Cell death increased and proliferation decreased after CRT, including within neuronal progenitors, with some loss mitigated by NBD. Increased levels of TNFα, IBA-1, and GFAP were found in the CC and cortex months after CRT and were limited by NBD. The anti-NF-κB peptide also improved neurobehavioral assessments, yielding improvements in anxiety and exploration. Conclusions Results suggest a role for NF-κB modulation by NBD peptide in the reduction of neuroinflammation and mitigation of behavioral complications after pediatric radiation therapy.
Brokaw Bonus Tracks: A Few Lesser-Known Tunes

Reports on the research and work conducted by Paul Brokaw in the area of analog circuit technology and design.
Cannabidiol reduces lesion volume and restores vestibulomotor and cognitive function following moderately severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract Despite the high incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), there is no universal treatment to safely treat patients. Blunt brain injuries destroy primary neural tissue that results in impaired perfusion, excessive release of glutamate, inflammation, excitotoxicity, and progressive secondary neuronal cell death. We hypothesized that administration of cannabidiol (CBD) directly to a brain contusion site, will optimize delivery to the injured tissue which will reduce local neural excitation and inflammation to spare neural tissue and improve neurological outcome following TBI. CBD was infused into a gelfoam matrix forming an implant (CBDi), then applied over the dura at the contusion site as well as delivered systemically by injection (CBD.IP). Post-injury administration of CBDi+IP greatly reduced defecation scores, lesion volume, the loss of neurons in the ipsilateral hippocampus, the number of injured neurons of the contralateral hippocampus, and reversed TBI-induced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) upregulation which was superior to either CBD.IP or CBDi treatment alone. Vestibulomotor performance on the beam-balance test was restored by 12 days post-TBI and sustained through 28 days. CBDi+IP treated rats exhibited preinjury levels of spontaneous alternation on the spontaneous alternation T-maze. In the object recognition test, they had greater mobility and exploration of novel objects compared to contusion or implant alone consistent with reduced anxiety and restored cognitive function. These results suggest that dual therapy by targeting the site of injury internally with a CBD-infused medical carrier followed by systemic supplementation may offer a more effective countermeasure than systemic or implant treatment alone for the deleterious effects of penetrating head wounds.
Vitreoretinal Lymphoma: Optimizing Diagnostic Yield and Accuracy

Abstract Purpose : To determine whether the addition of adjunctive tests, including immunohistochemistry [IHC], cytokine analysis, flow cytometry, and IgH gene rearrangement testing, achieves improved diagnostic parameters compared to cytologic smears alone in the detection of vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL). To determine which of these tests or combination of tests provide the greatest diagnostic utility. Design : Retrospective review to assess diagnostic utility. Methods : Setting: Single university-affiliated tertiary care center. Participants: Data was analyzed from 237 vitreous biopsies at a single center between 1999-2017 in patients with suspected VRL. From 1999 to 2008-2009, cytologic smears (Pap and Diff-Quik) were the sole test performed (84 cases). The protocol initiated in 2008-2009 added the four additional diagnostic tests (153 cases). Main Outcomes and Measurements: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic accuracy, and diagnostic yield were calculated for each test. Parameters were calculated for tests individually, for all five combined, and all possible two-, three-, and four-test combinations. For cytologic smears, diagnostic parameters were calculated both before (“pre-protocol”) and after (“post-protocol”) the addition of adjunctive tests to our institution's protocol, as well as for the entire cohort. Results : Of the 237 vitreous biopsies in this study, 50 samples (21%) were from patients with confirmed CNS lymphoma and/or actively treated CNS, systemic, or intraocular lymphoma. Diagnostic yields (95% CI) were 90% (85-93%) for smears, 82% (72-89%) for IHC, 91% (85-96%) for cytokine analysis, 76% (67-84%) for IgH gene rearrangement, and 50% (40 to 60%) for flow cytometry. For smears, the sensitivity pre-protocol was 73% (39-94%), compared to 87% (69 to 96%) post-protocol. IgH gene rearrangement was the only test exhibiting low sensitivity (40%). The combination of smears, IHC, and cytokine analysis exhibited the highest diagnostic parameters, including a sensitivity of 92%, specificity 98%, and a 100% diagnostic yield. Conclusions : The combination of cytologic smears, immunohistochemistry, and cytokine analysis appears to be a reasonable and sufficient protocol for the diagnosis of suspected vitreoretinal lymphoma. IgH gene rearrangement and flow cytometry may be the most expendable tests from our protocol.
Ltspice Analysis of Double- Inductor Quadratic Boost Converter in Comparison with Quadratic Boost and Double Cascaded Boost Converter

A step up converter is a main component of a micro-grid system, is used to increase the system's voltage. The use of a standard boost converter in high gain applications is not a practical technique upper range of voltage cannot be created and the duty ratio of the switch has to be higher, resulting in significant losses as well as poor efficiency. Due to the switch's minimal off-time, the bigger duty cycle will decrease the converter's switching frequency. To address this issue, three boost converter topologies are employed: quadratic boost (QB), double-inductor quadratic boost (DIQB), and double cascaded boost (DCB) converter. A QB and DIQB are the two-stage boost converters with just one switch. Also, a double cascaded boost (DCB) converter is a new topology by connecting two standard boost converters in series. This paper proposes a comparison of voltage and the efficiency of the above topologies of boost converters.
Beyond magnons in Nd 2 ScNbO 7 : An Ising pyrochlore antiferromagnet with all-in–all-out order and random fields

Many magnetic materials have quantum disordered magnetic ground states, but it is not always clear what drives them. Here, the authors study the pyrochlore magnet Nd${}_{2}$ScNbO${}_{7}$ using neutron diffraction, heat capacity, and neutron-sampled nuclear hyperfine excitations. The static magnetic moments inferred from these three techniques are inconsistent, pointing to some fraction of spins remaining dynamic to the lowest temperatures -- an observation confirmed by the anomalous low-energy density of states in the specific heat. Similar behavior is seen in Nd${}_{2}$Zr${}_{2}$O${}_{7}$. It could indicate either quantum spin-liquid behavior or local disorder-induced spin singlets.
Excellence, equity, and talent development: Time to retire the g-word:

This essay offers six reasons why the field of gifted education should retire the terms giftedness and gifted. Additionally, in the historical context of longstanding, severe, and pervasive racial ...
Saturation Transfer Spectroscopy: A Progress Report on Theoretical Advances and Selected Biomedical Applications

Anisotropic rotational diffusion is encountered in most studies on biological systems. Thus, in parallel with various biomedical applications, we have developed the theory for analyzing the ST-EPR response for a molecule undergoing general anisotropic diffusion in an arbitrary potential field.
British vacuum council annual address—1988

Abstract Some of the benefits and pitfalls of electron and photon stimulated desorption (ESD/PSD) processes at surfaces are described. The benefits include useful information about the local structure of surface molecules, provided by electron stimulated desorption ion angular distributions (ESDIAD), ESDIAD is an effective surface structural tool because the directions of ion desorption are determined by the orientation of the surface bonds ruptured by electron or photon bombardment. Other benefits of electron and photon-stimulated damage processes at surfaces include electron and photon beam lithography in microelectronics. The pitfalls of ESD/PSD include beam damage in surface analysis (by Auger electron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and high resolution transmission electron microscopy), the PSD of gases from vacuum walls in fusion reactors and synchrotron radiation sources, and inaccurate pressure readings due to ESD effects in ionization gauges.
COMMENTARY––The Public Interest Imperative in Corporate Sustainability Reporting Research

ABSTRACT: The United Nations, federal governments and their agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), shareholder activists, private sector standard setters, and academic researchers, as well as many others, are taking actions to improve corporations' accountability regarding the environmental and social impacts of their operations. These actions have helped propel a rapid increase in voluntary corporate sustainability reporting. Although the uptake in sustainability reporting has received a significant amount of support from relevant and respected organizations, academic and policy debates continue over whether voluntary corporate sustainability reports can monitor corporate activities effectively. While some researchers view these reports as signals of superior actions, others argue that they provide corporations with an opportunity to obfuscate their actual social and environmental performance through selective and incomplete disclosure strategies. The purpose of this commentary is to advocate f...
The Politics of Knowledge Production in the Geoweb

In April, 2011, a discussion emerged on the Public Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) listserve, raising pertinent issues around geospatial data production, data ownership, and the role of participation in emergent mapping technologies. The email that sparked the debate was announcing the launch of a new “slum mapping” project using Google Map Maker -a proprietary geographic database -and the email solicited participation from listserve members. This project’s goals were contested by community members from OpenStreetMap, a freely-available and editable web mapping platform, invoking the “slum mapping” project’s role in promoting corporate data ownership, disregarding individuals’ contributions, and enacting problematic power relations between mappers and those mapped. Many responded, however, in favor of Google Map Maker’s simple interface and relative openness, which purportedly attract wider participation for
Recovery of vascular function after exposure to a single bout of vibration

A model of vibration-induced dysfunction is used to determine the presence of residual effects of a single exposure to vibration on peripheral vascular function and residual effects, the number of days of rest needed for vascular function to recover after a single exposure. Rats were acclimated to the laboratory for 1 week prior to the beginning of the experiment. All data were expressed as a percent change from baseline and were analyzed using 2-way repeated measures ANOVAs. One day following exposure to vibration, vasoconstriction in response to UK-14304 is enhanced in vibrated arteries as compared to controls. The results also show that vascular responsiveness returns to control levels after a 7-day recovery period. Work rotation schedules that allow more than two days of recovery between subsequent bouts of vibration exposure may help reduce the risk of developing the vascular dysfunction that is characteristic of HAVS.
Towards area-wide control of Bactrocera invadens: prospects of the sterile insect technique and molecular entomology.

It is 10 years since the first detection of the invader fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens, in sub-Saharan Africa. The pest continues to hamper fruit production and create barriers to trade. Strategies currently employed to control B. invadens are insufficient, and more effective area-wide strategies are needed. The sterile insect technique and molecular entomology approaches have high potential and could help to bring about effective area-wide control of the pest if adopted and used as components of area-wide integrated pest management. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry