cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Foodplant effects on colour morphs of Eumorpha fasciata caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae)

Abstract Caterpillars of the hawkmothEumorpha fasciataare highly polymorphic for colour, with green, pink, and pink-and-yellow forms in the second through fourth instars, and green and multicoloured forms in the fifth instar. Four years of field censuses on four foodplant species determined that all morphs were found on all plant species; morph frequencies were homogeneous on each plant species over time; and morph frequencies differed consistently among plant species. When larvae were reared from eggs on three of the hostplant species in the laboratory, differences in morph frequencies paralleled the census results. Thus foodplant quality is one factor affecting larval colour inE. fasciata. A literature survey reveals that foodplant effects on larval colouration may be widespread in the family Sphingidae, but most reports are anecdotal rather than experimental. The implications of this mechanism of colour determination are discussed.
A study on the impact of control on PV curve associated with doubly fed induction generators

The Power/Voltage characteristics (PV curve) of a Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) is not as well understood as those of synchronous generators. This is becoming a serious concern because of the fast growth of large-scale wind generation, which uses the DFIG technology. A PV curve describes the relation between injected active (real) power and voltage at a receiving bus, taking into consideration the dynamics of generator(s). A PV curve is often used for the characterization of the stable operating region for both generator and transmission systems. Although possessing some characteristics of a synchronous generator, by nature a DFIG is an induction machine, which means it has more complicated active and reactive power dynamics due to the coupling between its electrical and mechanical systems, and between the double feedings of its active and reactive powers from both its stator and rotor circuits. This paper presents the results of a study on the impact of rotor voltage control on the PV curve of a DFIG. Voltage dynamics, power angle dynamics, and the dynamics of the electro-mechanical system are modeled as a third-order nonlinear differential equation. A PV curve controller is also proposed, which uses an exact nonlinear cancellation strategy, as opposed to the commonly used “linear approximation” that is less accurate. This controller is used to study the impact of rotor voltage control on a PV curve. It is found that the unstable operating region of the PV curve, which exhibits bifurcation, can be circumvented through appropriate and timely regulation of the rotor voltage of the DFIG. This finding suggests that an advanced control technology not only provides an improved stable operating region for wind generation, it also enables effective real-time control during emergency.
Response of Broiler Strains Differing in Body Fat to inadequate Methionine: Live Performance and Processing Yields

Abstract Ross × Arbor Acres (RxAA) and Steggles x Arbor Acres (SxAA) chicks were given all nutrients as advocated by NRC (1984) except for methionine. Corn and soybean meal were the sole CP sources, and both strains were compared when feeds were adequate and deficient in methionine (0 to 3 wk, .65 vs .42% with 24.2% CP and 3.20 kcal AME/g; 3 to 6 wk, .54 vs .46% with 20.7% CP and 3.21 kcal AME; and 6 to 8 wk, .35 vs .30% with 17.8% CP and 3.19 kcal AME, respectively). Cystine exceeded NRC (1984) recommendation with all feeds. Live weights of RxAA broilers were heavier throughout the experiment, but SxAA had the advantage in feed conversion. Adverse effects of low methionine on weight gain were apparent only during the first 6 wk, and SxAA responded to the deficiency more than RxAA from 0 to 3 wk. The SxAA birds had less abdominal fat when processed at both 6 and 8 wk than RxAA. Low methionine increased fat proportions at 6 wk but not at 8 wk. Percentage chilled carcass yield without abdominal fat was similar for each strain and decreased as a result of low methionine at both ages. Low methionine also reduced proportions of skinless boneless breast meat but only at 6 wk and particularly in SxAA birds. The increased ability of RxAA birds to deposit fat enabled additional feed intake, in turn, minimizing repercussion of inadequate methionine.
A new approach to point pattern matching

An approach to planar point pattern matching is presented in which the point sets are first transformed to the canonical forms, under affine transformation, and then two canonical forms are compared directly. A method for transforming a set of n points to a canonical form in O(n) time and an average O(n) time algorithm for finding a matching between canonical forms of two point sets are proposed. >
Hydrosalpinx in a Woman With a Partial Hysterectomy

Hydrosalpinx is a condition where the fallopian tube becomes obstructed and fills with fluid. Bilateral hydrosalpinx is most commonly associated with a pelvic infection. However, there may also be ...
Planning for control

The problems that lie at the boundary of planning and control are studied from an artificial intelligence (AI) planning perspective. An attempt is made to extend the tools of traditional AI planning to handle more complex domains. The capabilities of current plan generation and execution systems are outlined. A sample planning and control problem is defined and then used to show where traditional AI planning fails. The failure of traditional planning is used to motivate a discussion on aspects of a new approach to the relationship between plan generation and plan execution. >
WSN05-6: An Energy-Efficient Low-Latency MAC Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

Considering the low traffic load and limited resources in wireless sensor network (WSN), this paper presents a power, latency and throughput efficient medium access control (MAC) protocol especially suitable for collaborative applications in wireless sensor networks. The proposed protocol, referred to as hybrid MAC (HMAC), combines energy efficiency features of the existing contention-based and TDMA-based MAC protocols and adopts a short frame structure compared to S-MAC to expedite packet delivery. It maintains per-node fairness by allowing more than one neighbors of a node to transmit data to the node in one frame, which further improves the network performance. The proposed protocol has been implemented in NS-2 and our simulation results show that HMAC improves energy consumption by factor of 8 compared to S-MAC. Similarly, on the average, per hop latency is reduced by a factor of 5-13, and throughput is improved by 39%.
Modulation of the mitogenic response of lymphocytes from young and aged individuals by prostaglandins and indomethacin

Abstract The effect of indomethacin (IND) on the mitogenic responses of human peripheral blood lymphocytes was dependent upon the dose of mitogen employed; in contrast, the effect of prostaglandins (PGs) was independent of the mitogen dose. When a single concentration of mitogen was used to study the effect of IND on blastogenesis, extremely variable results were observed, even among a healthy population group. This variability within the group was reduced to a minimum when mitogen dose-response studies were performed with and without IND and maximal blastogenic responses were compared. Employing such acriterion, no age-related differences were noted on addition of IND. Kinetic experiments revealed that significant quantities of PGs must be present very early during the culture period to influence the lectin-induced mitogenesis. These findings, together with recently published data from other laboratories, lead us to conclude that endogenously synthesized PGs may not be able to influence the lectin-induced mitogenic process. The effect of IND observed at submitogenic doses of lectins may be due to other pharmacological actions such as its effect on cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases.
Alpha2-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein inhibits insulin-stimulated Elk-1 phosphorylation, but not glucose transport, in rat adipose cells.

α2-Heremans Schmid glycoprotein (α2-HSG) is a member of the fetuin family of serum proteins whose biological functions are not completely understood. There is a consensus thatα 2-HSG plays a role in the regulation of tissue mineralization. However, one aspect of α2-HSG function that remains controversial is its ability to inhibit the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase and the biological actions of insulin. Interestingly, some studies suggest that α2-HSG differentially inhibits mitogenic, but not metabolic, actions of insulin. However, these previous studies were not carried out in bona fide insulin target cells. Therefore, in the present study we investigate the effects of α2-HSG in the physiologically relevant rat adipose cell. We studied insulin-stimulated translocation of the insulin-responsive glucose transporter GLUT4 in transfected rat adipose cells overexpressing humanα 2-HSG. In addition, we measured insulin-stimulated glucose transport in adipose cells cultured with conditioned medium from the tran...
Results of Baha® implantation using a small horizontal incision

Abstract Purpose Techniques for Baha® implantation continue to evolve. The Weber technique, utilizing a 1.5 cm horizontal incision for Baha® implantation is evaluated. Methods Retrospective review of patients undergoing Baha® implantation by a single surgeon over three years. Results 33 Baha®s implanted in 30 patients. Fourteen used an Inverted J (IJ) incision with an anteriorly-based skin-flap, 13 with the Weber technique (W). Five were not included as other techniques were used. Demographics and weeks to activation (14.58 vs 13.4, p = 0.12) were similar. There were no differences in the number of patients with minor complications (5 vs 2, p = 0.22) or number of minor complications (20 vs 4, p = 0.09). One patient in the IJ Group required operative revision for overgrowth. There were no infections in the IJ Group, and one requiring oral antibiotics in the W Group. Follow-up was longer in the IJ Group (41 vs 13 weeks, p = 0.016), no complications occurred after 14 weeks post-op. Mean operative times were similar (43 vs 39 min, p = 0.59). There were no cases of skin flap necrosis in either group. Conclusion A small incision for Baha® implantation proved as effective, without increased complications as a skin-flap based technique.
Analyzing cut marks : lessons from artiodactyl remains in the northwestern United States

Analyses and interpretations of the human behavioral significance of frequencies of cut-marked mammal bones have been ongoing for at least 50 years. Many of these studies focus on determining the so-called ‘‘butchering pattern.’’ Few analysts comment on the tremendous range of variation in frequencies and anatomical distributions of cut marks across multiple assemblages of remains of a taxon. Such variation is evident even when faunal remains are associated with technologically, temporally, and environmentally similar cultures. This kind of variation is illustrated with frequencies of cut marked bone specimens comprising major limb joints of two artiodactyl genera from two sites in the northwestern United States. Three hypotheses are tested. The first and second hypotheses (one per genus) predict that the frequencies of cut-marked remains of a taxon from one site will match those frequencies evident on the remains of the same taxon at the other site. Both hypotheses are falsified. The third hypothesis is that remains of the larger taxon at each site will display more cut marks than the remains of the smaller taxon at each site. This hypothesis is statistically falsified at one site but not the other. Refutation of the hypotheses suggests that well-founded interpretations of frequencies of cut-marked remains may require unique kinds of contextual data. 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Target-point combination of MR images.

A method is described for combining multiple magnetic resonance images of the same anatomic slice to produce a single image which incorporates the favorable contrast features of each of the original images. The target-point method is a general method that includes linear combination as a subset and is designed to deal with the clinical need to maximize the contrast-to-noise ratio between several pairs of tissues simultaneously. Although it is intrinsically a nonlinear method, noise propagates approximately uniformly into the combined image. In examples of brain images the target-point method produced images with higher mutual contrast than the first principal component weighted sum image. © 1991 Academic Press. Inc.
Fabrication and performance of separately-biasable antiparallel-pair "T-anode" mixer diodes employing a compact multiple-layer integrated bias circuit at 210 GHz

A 210 GHz waveguide subharmonically-pumped mixer with integrated antiparallel-pair planar "T-anode" Schottky diodes and a novel compact multiple-layer bias circuit has successfully fabricated and measured. The anodes are defined by electron-beam lithography using technology similar to that employed for T-gate transistors. A compact multiple-layer filter structure provides individual biasing capability for each diode, which reduces the required local oscillator power for subharmonic mixing. Unbiased, a DSB mixer noise temperature of 1420 K was achieved with 6.4 mW of required LO power. Using separate diode bias to reduce the required LO power to 3.2 mW, the noise temperature increased slightly to 1640 K. This is the lowest noise temperature reported for a separately biased mixer at this frequency.
Effect of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on microtubule location and surface structure in murine mast cells.

“Uncouplers” of oxidative phosphorylation (sodium azide, DNP, and oligomycin) alter the location of microtubules within murine mast cells. Both cytoplasmic microtubuless, perpendicular to the plasma membrane within cell surface folds, and intranuclear microtubules wereobserved. In addition, one or more dense plaque-like structures adjacent the plasma membrane in mast cells appeared following incubation in the antimetabolities. Intranuclear microtubules and cytoplasmic microtubules within the cell surface ridges disappeared in azide-treated mast cells that were reincubated or “recovered” in PBS. However, both these structures remained in oligomycin- and DNP-treated murine mast cells following reincubation.
Managing Supply Uncertainty with an Information Market

We propose a market-based information aggregation mechanism to manage the supply side uncertainty in the supply chain. In our analytical model, a simple supply chain consists of a group of retailers who order a homogeneous product from two suppliers. The two suppliers differ in their ability to fulfill orders – one always delivers orders and the other fulfills orders probabilistically. We model the supply chain decisions as a Stackelberg game where the supplier who has uncertain reliability decides a wholesale price before the retailers who independently receive signals about the supplier’s reliability determine their sourcing strategies. We then propose an information market to trade binary contracts with payoffs contingent on the supplier’s true reliability. Using a simple uniform demand distribution, we demonstrate that the market-based information aggregation mechanism improves the overall supply chain efficiency.
Development and Characterization of a Liposome Preparation by a pH‐Gradient Method

A pH gradient across liposome bilayers was established in order to load a model drug (orciprenaline sulphate) into liposome vesicles. This method of liposome loading resulted in yields as high as 80-85% encapsulation. An eight-step process was designed to scale-up the process and was evaluated. In this process a diafiltration technique was successfully used to remove the excess orciprenaline sulphate present in the external medium. Finally, drug-loaded liposomes were lyophilized using lactose as an internal and external liposomal cryoprotectant. Five-month stability data for the liposomes is reported. An HPLC technique was used to determine the drug concentration and a laser light-scattering technique was employed to determine the liposome vesicle size and polydispersity factor. Liposomes prepared by the pH-gradient method showed high encapsulation efficiency. Upon storage at 2-8 degrees C the vesicle size increased and encapsulation efficiency decreased with time. These phenomena are attributed to gradual fusion of liposomes and loss of drug to the extra-liposomal media.
Learning ability and methylphenidate (Ritalin) plasma concentration in hyperkinetic children. A preliminary investigation.

Abstract The present study was undertaken to determine whether a relationship exists between methylphenidate (Ritalin(®)) concentration in blood and learning performance in hyperkinetic children. Blood samples were obtained and paired-associate learning performance was evaluated in 5 boys during a predrug baseline and at 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 hours following their clinically effective dose. A regression analysis yielded a significant negative slope relating plasma concentration and learning errors, suggesting that methylphenidate blood level may significantly influence the academic performance of children being treated with this psychostimulant.
Evaluation of an expert system on lymph node pathology.

Abstract Background: Pathfinder is an Expert System that assists pathologists in making accurate diagnoses in the domain of lymph-node pathology. Pathfinder provides a differential diagnosis based on the initial histological feature(s) observed by the pathologist, and suggests to the user additional histological features for observation that are likely to narrow the differential diagnosis. Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of pathologists with and without the Pathfinder. Methods: Thirty H&E stained slides from 30 lymph node biopsy specimens on which a Consensus diagnosis was made by two experts were reviewed by 19 pathologists to evaluate Pathfinder. After a period of training, 10 pathologists using Pathfinder (Interactive Computer Method) and 9 pathologists using the Routine Method (diagnosis without computer) determined a differential diagnosis for 15 slides (Test 1). Pathologists were then crossed over, trained, and evaluated the remaining 15 slides (Test 2). For each test, the proportion of "correct" diagnoses was compared between methods. In addition, the information integration attributes (making logical diagnosis given a set of specific histologic features) of Pathfinder and pathologists were compared. Finally, feature identification and quantification skills of pathologists were determined and correlated with the percent correct diagnosis. Results: The diagnostic accuracy using Pathfinder was greater than that using the Routine Method (40% v 32%, P = .02). Diagnostic accuracy for the group of pathologists who made diagnosis using the Routine Method in Test 1 increased when they made diagnosis using Pathfinder in Test 2 (27% to 44%, P P P
Constrained texture synthesis for image post processing

A novel constrained texture synthesis approach is proposed to enhance the visual quality of a degraded image by reconstructing its high frequency texture content. In low-bit-rate image and video compression and communication systems, high frequency transformed coefficients are often lost due to aggressive quantization or un-even error protection schemes. However, with the block-based encoding and transmission methods, the amount of high frequency texture loss is uneven between adjacent blocks. As such, it is possible to exploit this texture-level correlation between adjacent image blocks to reconstruct the lost texture. This is accomplished by applying a state of art patch-based quilting texture synthesis algorithm in this paper.
Managing Population Diversity Through the Use of Weighted Objectives and Modified Dominance: An Example from Data Mining

The most successful multi-objective metaheuristics, such as NSGA II and SPEA 2, usually apply a form of elitism in the search. However, there are multi-objective problems where this approach leads to a major loss of population diversity early in the search. In earlier work, the authors applied a multi-objective metaheuristic to the problem of rule induction for predictive classification, minimizing rule complexity and misclassification costs. While high quality results were obtained, this problem was found to suffer from such a loss of diversity. This paper describes the use of both linear combinations of objectives and modified dominance relations to control population diversity, producing higher quality results in shorter run times
The Complete Plastid Genome Sequence of Angiopteris evecta (G. Forst.) Hoffm. (Marattiaceae)

ABSTRACT We have sequenced the complete plastid genome of the fern Angiopteris evecta. This taxon belongs to a major lineage (marattioid ferns) that, in most recent phylogenetic analyses, emerges near the base of the monilophytes. We used fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate organelles, rolling circle amplification (RCA) to amplify the plastid genome, followed by shotgun sequencing to 8X depth coverage, and then we assembled these reads to obtain the plastid genome sequence. The circular genome map has 153,901 bp, containing inverted repeats of 21,053 bp each, a large single-copy region of 89,709 bp, and a small single-copy region of 22,086 bp. Gene order is similar to that of Psilotum. Several unique characters are observed in the Angiopteris plastid genome, such as repeat structure in a pseudogene. We make structural comparisons to Psilotum and Adiantum plastid genomes. However, the overall structural similarity to Psilotum indicates either wholesale conservation of genome organization,...
Hypobaric hypoxia reduces GLUT2 transporter content in rat jejunum more than in ileum.

To define some of the specific cellular effects of chronic hypoxia on the small intestine, we measured the concentration of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) at two sites, the jejunum and ileum. Wister rats were subjected to 21-day normoxia (n=6) or to continuous 21-day hypobaric hypoxia approximately 0.5 ATM (n=5). Western blot analysis was performed and the abundance of GLUT2 protein was quantified as relative densitometric units and normalized to actin. GLUT2 content was similar in the jejunum and ileum under normoxic (jejunum = 0.65±0.13 mean±SD; ileum = 0.56±0.22 OD; mean difference 0.09, p=0.09) and hypoxic conditions (jejunum=0.56±0.14 OD mean±SD; ileum = 0.58±0.16; mean difference −0.01, p =0.42). GLUT2 decreased by 14% of the mean normoxic jejunal levels whereas ileal GLUT2 was slightly increased. A maximum decline in weight of 15% occurred at day 4 followed by a blunted rate of weight gain for rats in the hypoxic group. Thus, sustained exposure to hypobaric hypoxia reduced the availability of GLUT2 for glucose transport in the jejunum. Regulating small intestinal content of glucose transporters may be an important mechanism for tissue adaptation to chronic hypoxia. This finding provides initial insight into hypoxic tolerance of the gut to chronic hypobaric hypoxic exposure.
Positivity of energy in n-dimensional Lorentzian spaces

The spinor approach of Witten and Nester is used to show that in ann-dimensional Lorentzian spaceVn, the conserved total energy-momentum vectorPα is nonspace-like. It is shown thatPα may be expressed in terms of an integral of an antisymmetric tensorEαβ over ann − 2-dimensional subspace at space-like infinity inVn.Eαβ is expressed in terms of a spinor field inVn and its covariant derivatives. This tensor is a generalization of that used in the discussion of five-dimensional Lorentzian spaces.
Strategies for Online Academic Research SOAR: Digital Literacy for Middle School Students

The ability to conduct research is essential for meeting Common Core State Standards, for success in post-secondary education, and for access to many 21st-century careers. Although today's students increasingly turn to the Internet for information, they are often unprepared to engage effectively in academic research online. This article describes work at the University of Oregon's Center for Advanced Technology in Education in developing and testing nine Strategies for Online Academic Research SOAR designed for middle school students, with specific attention to the needs of students with learning disabilities. Included is information about the SOAR Student Toolkit, a multimedia website with step-by-step instructional modules for learning the nine strategies, as well as results from an evaluation in Connecticut. Results indicate that using the SOAR Student Toolkit improves online research performance for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade general education students and students with learning disabilities. Implications for future research are discussed.
Modeling of Isometric Strength and Lifting Capacity

Two categories of prediction models have been developed. Category one models predict isometric shoulder strength, leg strength, arm strength, back strength, and composite strength of male and female industrial workers based upon operator characteristics (age, sex, and anthropometric variables). Category two models predict lifting capacity of male and female industrial workers by utilizing their individual and anthropometric characteristics. The lifting capacity models can be used to predict the amount of weight an individual can lift for different height ranges at various frequencies of lift. A high multiple partial correlation coefficient (r≥. 0.95) was obtained when lifting capacity models were used to predict the amount of weight an individual can handle by using his predicted isometric strengths (from category one models) and personal characteristics (age, sex, and anthropometric variables).
Does volume catheter parallel conductance vary during a cardiac cycle

Absolute left ventricular volume measurement by the conductance (volume) catheter requires subtraction of the conductance contribution from structures extrinsic to the cavity blood pool. Previously, this parallel conductance volume (Vp) has been assumed constant throughout the cardiac cycle, and the technique described for its estimation in situ yields a single value. We present a new method for parallel conductance determination that yields multiple estimates during systole, enabling an assessment of Vp variability [Vp(t)]. For isolated blood-perfused ejecting canine left ventricles with empty (vented) right ventricles, Vp(t) displayed virtually no variation throughout systole. For in situ hearts, despite the presence of other cardiac chambers, Vp(t) also displayed little variation, with no statistically significant deviation from its mean value throughout systole. Volume signal simulations found the new technique to be less sensitive to signal noise and thus more robust than the one previously published. The isolated and in situ heart data indicate that for the left ventricle, the parallel conductance is relatively constant throughout normal ejection.
Visualizing temperature forecast uncertainty for a non-expert web audience

Motiviation - The goal of the studies reported here was to determine the optimal way to present web-based uncertainty forecasts for temperature. Research Approach - We focused on the 80% predictive interval, bounded by the temperatures at the 90th and the 10th percentiles of the probability distribution for temperature. Findings/Design - We found that non-expert users can understand novel forecast uncertainty information presented in a web-based format and they were able to put the information to good use, improving the quality of their decisions over those with the deterministic forecast alone. Research Limitation/Implications -Presentation format affected the ease and accuracy with which this information was extracted. Originality/Value - To date there has been very little empirical testing on the value of uncertainty visualizations. Take away message - Our research shows that non-experts can understand the benefit for forecasts with uncertainty and some presentation formats facilitate these.
Early Infant Nutrition: Breast Feeding

Functional and practical understanding of infant feeding can best be achieved by appreciating its dyadic nature—that is, as a nutritional, psychological, and biological interaction between mother and offspring, both in pregnancy and lactation, with each affecting the other, and, at the same time, by considering the early stages of the young human organism according to the biological classification of Bostock (1962)—that is, the fetus, the exterogestate fetus (up to 6–9 months postnatally), and the transitional (9 months to 2–3 years) (Jelliffe, 1967) rather than by the statistical calendar catagories of “infant” and “preschool child.”
History and the teaching of chemistry. A tribute to Thomas Lowry's textbook “Historical Introduction to Chemistry”

Through Thomas Lowry’s book written in 1915, Historical Introduction to Chemistry, this paper shows how chemistry can be taught from its own history.
Fasting, Circadian Rhythms, and Time-Restricted Feeding in Healthy Lifespan

Most animals alternate periods of feeding with periods of fasting often coinciding with sleep. Upon >24 hr of fasting, humans, rodents, and other mammals enter alternative metabolic phases, which rely less on glucose and more on ketone body-like carbon sources. Both intermittent and periodic fasting result in benefits ranging from the prevention to the enhanced treatment of diseases. Similarly, time-restricted feeding (TRF), in which food consumption is restricted to certain hours of the day, allows the daily fasting period to last >12 hr, thus imparting pleiotropic benefits. Understanding the mechanistic link between nutrients and the fasting benefits is leading to the identification of fasting-mimicking diets (FMDs) that achieve changes similar to those caused by fasting. Given the pleiotropic and sustained benefits of TRF and FMDs, both basic science and translational research are warranted to develop fasting-associated interventions into feasible, effective, and inexpensive treatments with the potential to improve healthspan.
Linewidth Reduction of Semiconductor Diode Lasers

The semiconductor diode laser (SL) has a number of properties that make it a desirable light source for spectroscopy. Aside from the advantages in size, cost and complexity, the SL can operate over a broad spectral range and may be easily modulated at rates up to several gigahertz. Here we discuss the issue of the ultimate SL linewidth. Included are comments on the prospect of line narrowing through active frequency control, as well as heterodyne measurements between two independently operating external cavity (GaAl)As lasers.
Comments on the three papers by the FDA/CDER research team on the regulatory perspective of the missing data problem

This communication comments on the three papers by the FDA CDER research team on the regulatory perspective of the missing data problem. The focus is on two topics: causal estimand and sensitivity analysis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Late Pleistocene glaciation and deglaciation in the Crestone Peaks area, Colorado Sangre de Cristo Mountains, USA – chronology and paleoclimate

Abstract Cosmogenic 10Be surface-exposure dating and numerical glacier modeling are used to reconstruct glacial chronology and climate in the Colorado Sangre de Cristo Mountains during the local last glacial maximum (LLGM) and the subsequent deglaciation. Twenty-two surface-exposure ages on moraine boulders and polished-bedrock outcrops in the Willow Creek valley and ten in two adjacent valleys indicate that glaciers were at or near their maxima from ∼21 ka until 17–16 ka, and then retreated rapidly, nearly deglaciating the Willow Creek valley entirely by ∼14 ka. Coupled energy/mass-balance and flow modeling of two of the glaciers indicates that, if changing ice extent was driven only by temperature and insolation changes, temperature depressions of 5.0 and 5.1 °C from modern conditions, with an uncertainty of approximately + 1.5 / − 1.0 °C, would have sustained the glaciers in mass-balance equilibrium at their LLGM extents. Doubling or halving of modern precipitation during the LLGM would have been associated with 2.7–3.0 °C and 6.9–7.0 °C temperature depression respectively. Approximately half of the subsequent LLGM–to-modern climate change was accomplished by ∼14 ka. If the rapid main phase of deglaciation between about 16 ka and 14 ka was driven solely by temperature and insolation changes, it would have been associated with a temperature rise of about 2.5 °C, at a mean rate of approximately 1.1 °C/ky. This new chronology of the last glaciation is generally consistent with others developed recently in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The numerical modeling, however, suggests a lesser LLGM temperature depression from modern conditions than have most previous studies in Colorado.
Development of a 3D numerical model for quantifying fluid-driven interface debonding of an injector well

Abstract Interface debonding is considered as a major reason for loss of well integrity of a CO 2 injector. In this work, a 3D numerical model is developed for simulation of a fluid-driven debonding fracture using the coupled pore pressure cohesive zone method. The equations used in the method are described. The method is validated by numerically reproducing the results of an interface debonding experiment reported in the literature. The 3D model is used to quantify the propagation pressure and the geometry of the debonding fracture in a vertical well. The effects of several key factors in the development of debonding fractures are investigated. The results show that fracture propagation pressure is more sensitive to horizontal stress than to casing pressure. The presence of initial defects at the interface can significantly reduce the propagation pressure and the debonding fracture tends to develop vertically, rather than circumferentially at the interface. The results also demonstrate that the debonding growth is highly influenced by the cement stiffness, critical strength and toughness of the interface, illustrating the importance of appropriate cement design. The method proposed herein presents a useful step towards prediction of loss of well integrity due to interface debonding, and provides improved guidance for cement selection and injection optimization.
Nurturing the Nurturing Mother: A Method to Assess the Interdependence of Human and Planetary Health Through Community Well-Being

Current metrics of human well-being, such as those proposed by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment seek to measure the interconnections of the human-nature relationship. However, the interaction between human health and planetary health is typically depicted as one-sided, neglecting a synergistic relationship. The primary goal of sustainability is to maximize human well-being for present and future generations while remaining safely within ecological boundaries. To decide what type of livelihood is worth sustaining, we require a more complete understanding of community well-being and alternative ways of characterizing it. In this paper, I concentrate on health, an important aspect of community and subjective well-being, and describe its interdependence, where human health and planetary health are mutually reliant on one another in the age of the anthropocene. I overview shortcomings with current indicators of well-being, propose a conceptual framework to understand this interdependence of human and planetary health. Three salient concepts for integrating the interdependence of human and planetary health are sense of responsibility, internal sense of balance, and sense of interconnectedness. I provide evaluative methods to assess these qualities based on preliminary exploratory research with two communities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. I propose a method to operationalize this understanding of interdependent health, using community-based participatory research to elicit meaningful indicators from the bottom-up. Objective indicators and subjective interpretations of the human-nature relationship help further efforts toward evaluating the role of human agency in building sustainable and resilient communities.
Patterns of care and survival outcomes after treatment for uveal melanoma in the post-coms era (2004-2013): a surveillance, epidemiology, and end results analysis

Purpose The Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study (COMS) established modern treatment recommendations for uveal melanoma. We aim to evaluate patterns of care and survival outcomes in the time after COMS. Material and methods The retrospective study population includes 2,611 patients in the SEER database treated for uveal melanoma between 2004-2013. Patients stage were T1-4N0M0. Data analyzed included age, clinical stage, tumor size, race, and treatment. Treatments included enucleation (EN) and globe preserving therapy (GPT), which consisted of limited surgical resection or ablation (LSRA), external beam radiation (EBRT), or brachytherapy (BT). Patients treated with radiation may receive radiation therapy alone (RTA) or radiation therapy and supplemental laser therapy (RT+SLT). We evaluated disease specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) using log-rank statistics, and Cox univariate and multivariate analysis. Results The median follow-up was 44 months. Treatment strategy was EN in 538 (20.6%) patients, LSRA in 80 (3.1%), EBRT in 609 (23.3%), and BT in 1,384 (53.0%). 1,876 patients received RTA and 117 received RT+SLT. Enucleation was associated with inferior DSS and OS compared to GPT in multivariate analysis (MVA) (p < 0.01). Limited surgical resection or ablation and radiation had similar DSS and OS. Brachytherapy and EBRT had similar DSS and OS. Radiation therapy and supplemental laser therapy was associated with improved DSS compared to RTA in UVA (p = 0.03), but not MVA. The 5-year DSS for enucleation, RTA, and RT+SLT were 66.7%, 87.0%, and 94.7% (p < 0.01), respectively. Conclusions Globe preserving treatments such as limited surgery or radiation are commonly utilized alternatives to enucleation, and resulted in favorable survival outcomes. Additional research is required to compare the outcomes of the various globe preserving treatment strategies.
Vibrational heavy atom effect controls relaxation and spectral diffusion in triphenyl hydride complexes

Abstract A series of three triphenyl hydride compounds was investigated in a range of solvents by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), IR pump-probe, and two-dimensional IR (2D-IR) spectroscopies. The mass of the central atom of the three compounds was varied systematically down the group 14 elements of silicon, germanium, and tin. FTIR studies provided evidence that the solvent perturbs the three hydride modes in a similar manner, as indicated by identical solvatochromic and broadening trends. IR pump-probe measurements showed that the vibrational lifetime of the hydride stretch increased when the mass of the central atom increased. Density functional theory calculations asserted that the vibrational modes of the three compounds are nearly identical except for the hydride stretching and wagging modes. Interestingly, frequency-frequency correlation functions obtained from 2D-IR spectra indicated that an increasingly large central atom produces small, but measurable changes in the dynamics of the solvation shell surrounding each compound.
Aging in the 21st Century: Using Neuroscience to Assess Competency in Guardianships

Whether to remove a person’s decision making authority in a guardianship proceeding is one of society’s most weighty determinations. As much as we value individual autonomy, we will strip that autonomy when a person is deemed legally “incompetent.” This competency determination has traditionally relied, almost exclusively, on clinical assessments of cognitive and functional abilities, based mainly on observed behavior. But developments in neuroscience — and particularly the advent of physiological biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease — require us to think about a broader approach to competency determinations. Coupled with behavioral data, information from diagnostic biomarkers can add significant value to the competency determination. This article discusses the potential benefits and risks of use of this evidence in the competency determination, concluding that we need to anticipate its introduction into the equation, but with care to avoid overvaluing the evidence.
Quantum Kac– Algebras and Vertex Representations

We introduce an affinization of the quantum Kac–Moody algebra associated to a symmetric generalized Cartan matrix. Based on the affinization, we construct a representation of the quantum Kac–Moody algebra by vertex operators from bosonic fields. We also obtain a combinatorial indentity about Hall–Littlewood polynomials.
The Effect of Volume Fraction on γ’ (Ni3Si) Precipitate Coarsening In Ni-Si Alloys

During precipitate coarsening large particles grow at the expense of smaller ones such that the average particle size increases with increasing aging time. Lifshitz and Slyozov1, and Wagner2 published one of the earliest theories of diffusion-controlled coarsening, now known as the LSW theory, wherein the rate of solute transfer from the smaller to the larger particles is controlled by the rate of solute diffusion in the matrix. One of its predictions is the familiar asymptotic rate law 〈r〉3 ≈ kt, where 〈r〉 is the average particle radius and t is the aging time. The rate constant k is related to the material constants of the alloy system.
Batf3 -Dependent Genes Control Tumor Rejection Induced by Dendritic Cells Independently of Cross-Presentation.

The BATF3-dependent cDC1 lineage of conventional dendritic cells (cDC) is required for rejection of immunogenic sarcomas and for rejection of progressive sarcomas during checkpoint blockade therapy. One unique function of the cDC1 lineage is the efficient cross-presentation of tumor-derived neoantigens to CD8+ T cells, but it is not clear that this is the only unique function of cDC1 required for tumor rejection. We previously showed that BATF3 functions during cDC1 lineage commitment to maintain IRF8 expression in the specified cDC1 progenitor. However, since cDC1 progenitors do not develop into mature cDC1s in Batf3−/− mice, it is still unclear whether BATF3 has additional functions in mature cDC1 cells. A transgenic Irf8-Venus reporter allele increases IRF8 protein concentration sufficiently to allow autonomous cDC1 development in spleens of Batf3−/− mice. These restored Batf3−/− cDC1s are transcriptionally similar to control wild-type cDC1s but have reduced expression of a restricted set of cDC1-specific genes. Restored Batf3−/− cDC1s are able to cross-present cell-associated antigens both in vitro and in vivo. However, Batf3−/− cDC1 exhibit altered characteristics in vivo and are unable to mediate tumor rejection. These results show that BATF3, in addition to regulating Irf8 expression to stabilize cDC1 lineage commitment, also controls expression of a small set of genes required for cDC1-mediated tumor rejection. These BATF3-regulated genes may be useful targets in immunotherapies aimed at promoting tumor rejection.
Shaping the Campus Conversation on Student Learning and Experience: Activating the Results of Assessment in Action . Karen Brown, Debra Gilchrist, Sara Goek, Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe, Karen Malenfant, Chase Ollis, and Allison Payne, eds. Chicago: American Library Association, 2018. 288p. Paper, $70.00 (ISBN 978-0-8389-8994-4).

Assessment is not a new theory or concept. Moreover, libraries have been collecting data and conducting assessment in various forms for decades. We count materials and patrons, gauge learning outcomes and program accomplishments, assess usability and physical space. Library staff work diligently to find the best method of evaluating what we do to advocate for our profession and our institutions.
Differences in stress reactivity between zebrafish with alternative stress coping styles.

Animals experience stress in a variety of contexts and the behavioural and neuroendocrine responses to stress can vary among conspecifics. The responses across stressors often covary within an indi...
Computational methods for the ab initio identification of novel microRNA in plants: a systematic review.

Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role as post-transcriptional regulators in gene expression. Experimental determination of miRNA sequence and structure is both expensive and time consuming. The next-generation sequencing revolution, which facilitated the rapid accumulation of biological data has brought biology into the "big data" domain. As such, developing computational methods to predict miRNAs has become an active area of inter-disciplinary research. Objective The objective of this systematic review is to focus on the developments of ab initio plant miRNA identification methods over the last decade. Data sources Five databases were searched for relevant articles, according to a well-defined review protocol. Study selection The search results were further filtered using the selection criteria that only included studies on novel plant miRNA identification using machine learning. Data extraction Relevant data from each study were extracted in order to carry out an analysis on their methodologies and findings. Results Results depict that in the last decade, there were 20 articles published on novel miRNA identification methods in plants of which only 11 of them were primarily focused on plant microRNA identification. Our findings suggest a need for more stringent plant-focused miRNA identification studies. Conclusion Overall, the study accuracies are of a satisfactory level, although they may generate a considerable number of false negatives. In future, attention must be paid to the biological plausibility of computationally identified miRNAs to prevent further propagation of biologically questionable miRNA sequences.
Tribalism on Campus: Factions, iGen and the Threat to Free Speech

The American college campus is potentially the quintessential marketplace of ideas – the ideal locale for the free and open exchange of concepts and viewpoints, discussion and debate, and the disco...
COMPARISON OF INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND-DERIVED MINIMUM LUMEN AREA AND INSTANTANEOUS WAVE-FREE RATIO IN LEFT MAIN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

A minimum lumen area (MLA) ≥ 6 mm2 measured by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) has been proposed as a cut-off value to defer left main coronary artery disease (LMCA) revascularization. However, there is a lack of data evaluating correlation with the instant wave-free ratio (iFR). We conducted a
Adding NT-proBNP to the Revised Cardiac Risk Index improved prediction of CV events after noncardiac surgery.

Source Citation Duceppe E, Patel A, Chan MTV, et al. Preoperative N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide and cardiovascular events after noncardiac surgery: a cohort study. Ann Intern Med. 2020;...
China Opposing Nuclear Nonproliferation: A Rational Policy with an Ideological Mask:

Why did a would-be recognized nuclear state oppose nonproliferation for two decades, but then change its position in 1984? Based on extensive fieldwork in Beijing where the author conducted 20 inte...
Parental Experiences for Teenage Mothers Living in Poverty: Associations of Head Start:

This study utilizes Head Start Impact Study data to examine whether Head Start is associated with teenage mothers’ experiences. Among 3,576 participants, 579 mothers were identified as teenage moth...