cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A method for accelerated trait conversion in plant breeding

Backcrossing is often used in cultivar development to transfer one or a few genes to desired genetic backgrounds. The duration necessary to complete such 'trait conversions' is largely dependent upon generation times. Constitutive overexpression of the Arabidopsis thaliana gene FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) induces early-flowering in many plants. Here, we used tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) as a model system to propose and examine aspects of a modified backcross procedure where transgenic FT overexpression is used to reduce generation time and accelerate gene transfer. In this method, the breeder would select for an FT transgene insertion and the trait(s) of interest at each backcross generation except the last. In the final generation, selection would be conducted for the trait(s) of interest, but against FT, to generate the backcross-derived trait conversion. We demonstrate here that constitutive FT overexpression functions to dramatically reduce days-to-flower similarly in diverse tobacco genetic backgrounds. FT-containing plants flowered in an average of 39 days, in comparison with 87-138 days for non-FT plants. Two FT transgene insertions were found to segregate independently of several disease resistance genes often the focus of backcrossing in tobacco. In addition, no undesirable epigenetic effects on flowering time were observed once FT was segregated away. The proposed system would reduce the time required to complete a trait conversion in tobacco by nearly one-half. These features suggest the possible value of this modified backcrossing system for tobacco or other crop species where long generation times or photoperiod sensitivity may impede timely trait conversion.
Complexation of Cu(II)M(II) (M=Cd, Co, Ni, Zn) heterodinuclear compounds of an octacoordinate hexaazamacrocyclic ligand

Abstract In this paper the investigation of the formation of HDTHCu heterodinuclear complexes of Zn(II), Cd(II),Co(II) and Ni(II) and HDTHCo heterodinuclear complexes with Ni(II) and Pb(II) in aqueous solution by control of the stoichiometry of metal ions and HDTH as well as p[H] of the solution (HDTH is a dinucleating 28-membered hexaazadiphenol macrocyclic ligand 3,7,11,19,23,27-hexaaza-33,34-dihydroxy-15,31-dimethyl-tricyclo-tetratriaconta-1(32),13,15,17(34),29(33),30-hexaene). The pH potentiometric method has been utilized successfully to determine formation constants while in turn determine the distribution of species present in the solution as a function of p[H]. Spectrophotometry was used to investigate the formation process of the heterodinuclear complexes. The X-ray crystal structures of two homodinuclear complexes of Cu(II) and Zn(II) are also reported. These results show that the two moieties of the ligand react with Cu(II) ions separately, functioning like two independent binding groups. These studies suggested that the Cu(II) complexes of the macrocyclic ligand can form the basis for discrete and stable heterodinuclear complexes and can be used to investigate the complexation in solution by taking Cu(II) as one moiety of the heterodinuclear complex.
Initiated chemical vapor deposition of alternating copolymers of styrene and maleic anhydride.

Initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) of alternating copolymer thin films has been achieved for the first time. Copolymerization is desirable for maleic anhydride (Ma) since this monomer does not homopolymerize to an appreciable extent. At conditions where the observed deposition rates for styrene (S) and Ma homopolymers were only 0 and 5.5 nm/min, respectively, combining the two monomers resulted in a much higher deposition rate of 75.4 nm/min. iCVD processes utilize low energy (<30 W) to generate peroxy radicals from initiator molecules while avoiding degradation of functional groups in the monomers. Indeed, full retention of the anhydride functionality from the Ma monomer and avoidance of undesirable side reactions was observed in iCVD of poly(styrene-alt-maleic anhydride) (PSMa) copolymer films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) conclusively demonstrate that all of the copolymer films contain 50% styrene and 50% Ma ...
Gastric fluid measurement by blind aspiration in paediatric patients: a gastroscopic evaluation.

Methods: This is a prospective study of 17 patients aged six months to I I yr who underwent elective upper endoscopy at a paediatric teaching hospital. Gastric contents were aspirated blindly with a syringe and a 16 or 18F multi-orificed orogastnc tube, and the volume of gastric contents removed in the supine and decubitus positions was measured. Residual gastric fluid was aspirated using an endoscope. Data from 611 infants and children enrolled in previously published studies utilizing the same blind aspiration technique were pooled and a gastric fluid volume frequency distribution was created. Results: Blind aspiration removed 97 +_ 896 of the total gastric fluid volume. In 661 children presenting for elective surgery, the gastric fluid volume was 0.40 _ 0.45 ml'kg -~. Median volume was 0.27 ml'kg -~ , with the 95%ile at 1.25 ml-kg-' and an upper limit of 4. I ml'kg -~. Conclusion: Blind aspiration of gastric contents accurately estimates gastric fluid volume for paediatric patients fasted for surgery. Population estimates for gastric fluid volume in otherwise healthy fasted paediatric patients are shown.
The late Pleistocene of Death Valley: A climatic reconstruction based on macrofossil data

Abstract Wood rat ( Neotoma ) macrofossil deposits from Death Valley, California (northern Mohave Dessert), dating from the Wisconsinan glacial epoch provide a basis for reconstruction of the glacial-age climate at low elevations of the area. Elevational depression of the woodland zone (1200–1500 m relative to today), presence of a woodland/semidesert ecotone at approximately 450 m, and species composition of the low-elevation semidesert, which included a Yucca species ( Yucca whipplei ), chaparral yucca) now locally extinct, point toward a Pleistocene climate which was less arid and more equable than today. Precipitation is estimated to have been three to four times the present values and summers 8–14°C cooler. The increase in precipitation is inferred to be part of a generally wetter regional in the northern Mohave Desert and the central Great Basin during the last glacial. Presence of warm-desert species at 10,200 yr B.P. indicates that climatic conditions similar to those of the present were established at the lower elevations by this time.
Continuity and Discontinuity in Vocational Development Theory

The main purpose of this paper is to point out that theories of vocational development that are derived from research should be based on relatively heterogeneous samples if they are to apply to males in general. The theories should, in addition, use the same pool of constructs in dealing with continuity and discontinuity of vocational development. An outline of such a theory is presented and one aspect of it investigated. The results suggest that such an approach may have validity. It is demonstrated that there is a positive relationship between stability of vocational field preferences and continuity of vocational development Supporting evidence was found for the validity of Roe's classification of vocational fields in a circular array.
Funding for Agricultural Economics: Discussion

for the work they did in compiling the data for their paper and for supplying us with their analysis and recommendations. I will comment on several points relative to both data and recommendations. Their data seem to show an increasing share of the public sector research dollar going to agricultural economics research in the last decade. This may be true. It may be, however, a function of the CRIS system and how research projects are coded. They retrieved their data on Field of Science 2630 (economics). I found earlier that a very high proportion of the 2630 research in some southern states is in other
Spatial Audio Feedback for Hand Gestures in Games

We use game prototypes to investigate different audio feedback designs for hand gestures for encouraging immersion. Replacing explicit audio instructions for hand positions and movements with responsive audio feedback, suggestive of interaction methods by using environmental story-related audio cues, leads to measurably higher immersion. We present the design of responsive audio feedback for hand gestures in the context of such a game. The spatial organization of diegetic environmental feedback before, during, and after gesture input is supported by a structured approach towards the design of audio cues.
Fuzzy Old World: A Response to Markusen

P ECK J. (2003) Fuzzy old world: a response to Markusen , Reg. Studies 37 , 729-740. Critical regional studies and economic geography have both taken "qualitative turns' over the past 15 years. The paper takes issue with the claim that this methodological shift has entailed declining standards of evidence, a proclivity for "fuzzy' theorizing, and a drift into policy irrelevance, making instead a positive argument for the further deepening of intensive, case-study approaches. This need not occur at the expense of quantitative research, because there is not a zero-sum competition in research methods. There should be continuing methodological pluralism, and intensive methods have a legitimate and important role to play. In this spirit, an argument is made for extending case-study methodologies in critical regional studies. The field needs more, not less, of this kind of work. There is no reason to believe that it will be any less rigorous or relevant as a result. P ECK J. (2003) Drole-confus: une reponse a M...
COP-Mediated Vesicle Transport

Transport of lipid and protein within the early secretory pathway is mediated by small transport vesicles that act as molecular taxis, shuttling cargoes between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus and within the Golgi. These vesicles are sculpted from donor organelles by distinct sets of cytoplasmic coat proteins that deform the lipid bilayer into a highly curved structure while selecting specific cargo proteins for efficient delivery to the acceptor organelle. The COPII coat generates vesicles from the ER membrane that transport newly synthesized proteins to the Golgi, whereas the COPI coat creates vesicles that mediate both retrograde Golgi-to-ER and intra-Golgi trafficking. These distinct cytoplasmic coats represent the minimal machinery required for vesicle formation and share some common mechanisms to drive intracellular protein transport. This chapter highlights the molecular details of COPII- and COPI-mediated vesicular traffic.
Automated Synthesis of Bi-stable Compliant Relays

This paper presents a methodology and an automation tool to synthesize MEMS relays based on an optimization method that searches for the best topologies for the desired bistable equilibrium characteristics. The systems generated are composed of interconnected compliant beams. The design methodology involves separate modules on representation, generation, evaluation and guidance. The algorithm is implemented in MATLAB by using a genetic algorithm (GA) as the search technique and finite element method (using ANSYS) for analysis. Results obtained for case studies on bi-stable systems show that a variety of topologies are created to meet the design goals.
Analyzing Hogwild Parallel Gaussian Gibbs Sampling

Sampling inference methods are computationally difficult to scale for many models in part because global dependencies can reduce opportunities for parallel computation. Without strict conditional independence structure among variables, standard Gibbs sampling theory requires sample updates to be performed sequentially, even if dependence between most variables is not strong. Empirical work has shown that some models can be sampled effectively by going "Hogwild" and simply running Gibbs updates in parallel with only periodic global communication, but the successes and limitations of such a strategy are not well understood. As a step towards such an understanding, we study the Hogwild Gibbs sampling strategy in the context of Gaussian distributions. We develop a framework which provides convergence conditions and error bounds along with simple proofs and connections to methods in numerical linear algebra. In particular, we show that if the Gaussian precision matrix is generalized diagonally dominant, then any Hogwild Gibbs sampler, with any update schedule or allocation of variables to processors, yields a stable sampling process with the correct sample mean.
Periodicity of pheromone release from female white peach scale

The sex pheromone of the female white peach scale, Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Targioni-Tozzetti), is released by newly-mature females to correspond with the daily eclosion rhythm of males. As with male eclosion, pheromone release commences relative to the onset of light and is suppressed by increasing temperature. Once pheromone release begins it is maintained until the initiation of the scotophase. Pheromone release does not occur during the scotophase. When sexually mature females remain unmated for 5 days, the release of pheromone begins earlier in the day than it does with newly mature females.
Comparison of three next-generation sequencing platforms for metagenomic sequencing and identification of pathogens in blood

Background The introduction of benchtop sequencers has made adoption of whole genome sequencing possible for a broader community of researchers than ever before. Concurrently, metagenomic sequencing (MGS) is rapidly emerging as a tool for interrogating complex samples that defy conventional analyses. In addition, next-generation sequencers are increasingly being used in clinical or related settings, for instance to track outbreaks. However, information regarding the analytical sensitivity or limit of detection (LoD) of benchtop sequencers is currently lacking. Furthermore, the specificity of sequence information at or near the LoD is unknown.
Clustered Multi-Task Learning Via Alternating Structure Optimization

Multi-task learning (MTL) learns multiple related tasks simultaneously to improve generalization performance. Alternating structure optimization (ASO) is a popular MTL method that learns a shared low-dimensional predictive structure on hypothesis spaces from multiple related tasks. It has been applied successfully in many real world applications. As an alternative MTL approach, clustered multi-task learning (CMTL) assumes that multiple tasks follow a clustered structure, i.e., tasks are partitioned into a set of groups where tasks in the same group are similar to each other, and that such a clustered structure is unknown a priori. The objectives in ASO and CMTL differ in how multiple tasks are related. Interestingly, we show in this paper the equivalence relationship between ASO and CMTL, providing significant new insights into ASO and CMTL as well as their inherent relationship. The CMTL formulation is non-convex, and we adopt a convex relaxation to the CMTL formulation. We further establish the equivalence relationship between the proposed convex relaxation of CMTL and an existing convex relaxation of ASO, and show that the proposed convex CMTL formulation is significantly more efficient especially for high-dimensional data. In addition, we present three algorithms for solving the convex CMTL formulation. We report experimental results on benchmark datasets to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithms.
Life cycle happiness and its sources: Intersections of psychology, economics, and demography

Abstract In the United States happiness rises slightly, on average, from ages 18 to midlife, and declines slowly thereafter. This pattern for the total population is the net result of disparate trends in the satisfaction people get from various life domains: their financial situation, family life, health, and work. The slight rise in happiness through midlife is due chiefly to growing satisfaction with one’s family life and work, which together more than offset decreasing satisfaction with health. Beyond midlife, happiness edges downward as a continuing decline in satisfaction with health is joined by diminishing satisfaction with one’s family situation and work; these negative trends are offset considerably, however, by a sizeable upturn in later life in people’s satisfaction with their financial situation. These findings come from an analysis of the United States General Social Surveys, using the demographer’s synthetic panel technique. They support neither the mainstream economics view that well-being depends only on one’s objective conditions nor the psychologists’ strong setpoint model in which adaptation to such conditions is rapid and complete. They are consistent with a “bottom up” model in which happiness is the net outcome of both objective and subjective factors in various life domains.
Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT): Diagnosis, Treatment, and Nursing Implications in the Radiology Setting

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is described as a multisystem vascular dysplasia characterized by multiple arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). It is an autosomal-dominant disorder caused by a mutation of at least 1 or 2 genes. AVMs that are void of intervening capillaries result in direct connections between arteries and veins. Small AVMs, or telangiectases that appear close to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes often rupture and bleed after slight trauma to the affected area. AVMs can be superficial to the more severe cases of GI bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage, and major pulmonary shunting. Shunting of air, thrombi, and bacteria through pulmonary AVMs may cause transient ischemic attack, embolic stroke, or cerebral abscess. HHT occurs in all ethnic and geographic areas, and the overall incidence of HHT in North America is estimated to be about one in five thousand people. The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center is one of eight centers in North America that has been designated as an HHT "Center for Excellence" by the HHT Foundation International. The Division of Medical Genetics at Penn works closely with diagnostic radiology, CT and MRI scanning, neuroradiology, neurology, pulmonary medicine, and, when appropriate, coordinates embolization procedures with the interventional radiology department. Patients with HHT receive comprehensive care for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of their disease at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. This presentation included information on the disease physiology as well as modes of definitive diagnosis via clinical presentation, diagnostic radiology, and genetic testing. The University of Pennsylvania Medical Center is one of two centers in the United States that performs genetic testing for mutations in either the endoglin or ALK 1 genes. Case study presentations include angiography films of pulmonary embolizations and patient interviews and specifically center around nursing implications and special care that these patients need from all healthcare professionals.
Position-adaptive direction finding of electromagnetic sources using wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are being used in a variety of ways — from reconnaissance and detection in military to biomedical applications and a wide variety of commercial endeavors. We introduce a position-adaptive direction finding method using mobile sensor networks and present recent experimental results in localization of a non-cooperative sensor node using static and mobile sensor networks. Electromagnetic (EM) direction finding is a technique in which a group or a swarm of Micro-Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) cooperate their sensing missions, adapt their position in real-time autonomously, and localize an unknown, hidden EM source based on optimal detection algorithms. The MAVs are equipped with IRIS wireless sensor nodes that serve as the sensing agents by providing mobility to the otherwise stationary nodes. In order to localize the transmitter, we use the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) data to approximate distance from the transmitter to the revolving receivers. We provide an algorithm for on-line estimation of the Path Loss Exponent (PLE) estimation that is used in modeling the distance based on received signal strength (RSS) measurements. The emitter position estimation is calculated based on surrounding sensors RSS values using Least-Square Estimation (LSE).
FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION POLICY: GOING THE DISTANCE--THE CHALLENGE OF MOVING HIGHWAY FREIGHT FROM ORIGIN TO DESTINATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Coordinated transportation system planning, investment and management is essential for freight to move efficiently in the future. This paper identifies significant issues and opportunities confronting the U.S. highway system authorities in developing an efficient and effective intermodal transportation system. Identification of deficiencies and implementations of strategies to improve the highway component of the system are essential to avoid gridlock as the number of vehicles using the system continues to grow. This article identifies some significant freight generators and the many initiatives underway to address the highway side of freight transport. The paper focuses on the increasing demand for capacity resulting from domestic and international commerce in a global economy. A national best practices inventory is suggested to assist agencies and policy makers in transportation planning.
Targeted immunotherapy of cancer: development of antibody‐induced cellular immunity

Although immunotherapy of cancer encompasses a large variety of distinct protocols, virtually all therapeutic strategies require the enabling/training of the immune system to distinguish tumour tissue from healthy tissue. In the case of antibody-based therapies, specificity obviously arises from the selectivity of the antibodies for tumour antigens, and tumour cell death derives from either direct cytotoxicity of the antibody or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. However, even when both of the above killing mechanisms are simultaneously active, we suggest that antibody-based immunotherapies may fall far short of their full potential. In this editorial, we first summarize the mechanisms by which current antibody-based therapies mediate cancer cell removal, and then propose two strategies by which this class of immunotherapies might be further improved. These suggested improvements involve the decoration of tumour cell surfaces with foreign haptens against which an endogenous humoral immune response can be mounted and the recruitment of the cellular arm of the immune system in an antibody-dependent process.
Combined modality therapy of esthesioneuroblastoma

ObjectiveEsthesioneuroblastoma (ENB) is a rare tumor of the olfactory epithelium. The objective of this study was to evaluate treatment modalities including surgery, IMRT, and chemotherapy and patient outcomes.Patients and MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 21 patients. Therapy included craniofacial resection (CFR), radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods.ResultsThe median follow-up period was 47 months. Surgery was performed in 90.4% of cases; radiotherapy was performed adjuvantly in 15 (72.7%) patients. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were administered to 7 (33.3%) patients. Eight (38.3%) patients had local recurrence. The 5-year crude overall survival was 71.4% and actuarial 5-year overall survival was 58% with confidence interval (CI, 25 and 81, respectively). The 5-year crude disease-free survival rate was 59% and the 5-year actuarial disease-free survival rate was 62% (CI, 28 and 83, respectively).ConclusionMultidisciplinary therapy of ENB shoul...
Adsorbed Concentration vs. Lab‐Reported Concentration in Soil

The current practice of how concentration of contaminants in soil is measured allows room for the reported value to be confused with adsorbed concentration. This note clarifies the distinction between lab-reported concentration and adsorbed concentration in soils. The paper shows that for highly adsorbed substances, the distinction virtually vanishes. However, for poorly adsorbed substances, this distinction can be significant.
Accuracy analysis of the ephemerides of the Galilean satellites

Known discrepancies between Sampson's Theory and observations of the Galilean satellites produce in plane errors of about 1200 km. Since the mean longitude is responsible for most of the discrepancy a simple time correction may be used to significantly reduce these errors. An analysis of the time corrections derived for Sampson's Theory, concludes that the dominant error in the mean longitudes results from Sampson's definition of time, which was determined by the observations which he used in constructing the theory. Imposition of the libration constraint results in changes to the time corrections which are less than the standard deviation of those quantities. The individual eclipse observational errors are shown to be proportional to the square root of the period. With improved star catalogs, the attainable accuracy of the ephemerides of the Galilean satellites is about 100 km from photographic plates versus about 200 km for eclipse observations.-
135Cs/137Cs isotopic composition of environmental samples across Europe: Environmental transport and source term emission applications

Abstract 135Cs/137Cs isotopic analyses represent an important tool for studying the fate and transport of radiocesium in the environment; in this work the 135Cs/137Cs isotopic composition in environmental samples taken from across Europe is reported. Surface soil and vegetation samples from western Russia, Ukraine, Austria, and Hungary show consistent aged thermal fission product 135Cs/137Cs isotope ratios of 0.58 ± 0.01 (age corrected to 1/1/15), with the exception of one sample of soil-moss from Hungary which shows an elevated 135Cs/137Cs ratio of 1.78 ± 0.12. With the exception of the outlier sample from Hungary, surface soil/vegetation data are in quantitative agreement with values previously reported for soils within the Chernobyl exclusion zone, suggesting that radiocesium at these locations is primarily composed of homogenous airborne deposition from Chernobyl. Seawater samples taken from the Irish Sea show 135Cs/137Cs isotope ratios of 1.22 ± 0.11 (age corrected to 1/1/15), suggesting aged thermal fission product Cs discharged from Sellafield. The differences in 135Cs/137Cs isotope ratios between Sellafield, Chernobyl, and global nuclear weapons testing fallout indicate that 135Cs/137Cs isotope ratios can be utilized to discriminate between and track radiocesium transport from different nuclear production source terms, including major emission sources in Europe.
Some Justifications for Violence in the Puritan Revolution

Whatever else it may be, the study of political revolution is the study, in a given case, of competing and incompatible assertions regarding the legitimation or justification of violence. This is true because: Since, as Weber put it, the state by definition possesses the legitimate monopoly of violence, and to propose radical changes in the character of a state, as happens in political revolutions, is to propose a radical alternative to the existing pattern of legitimating violence. In short, a revolution is, among other things, a contest over who may properly employ violence under what circumstances.
Cycleology--A Discipline Concomitant to Paleoecology: ABSTRACT

The subject of cycleology is the detection and study of cyclicity in geological and paleontological phenomena, whereas paleoecology is concerned with the establishment and interpretation of ancient facies, and of the evidences of ancient life entombed in them. Phase is the fundamental unit in cycleology, and recognition of a geological (or paleontological) cycle is based on the establishment of two or more successive orderly sequences of phases, be they lithological, paleontological, or a combination of both. Phase is analogous to paleoecological facies, but the two are not identical concepts. Part of a facies, or even all of it, may become a phase in a geological cycle. End_of_Article - Last_Page 339------------
Pitched and Yawed Circular Jets in Cross-Flow

Results from an experimental investigation of flow field generated by pitched and yawed jets discharging from a flat plate into a cross-flow are presented. The circular jet was pitched at α = 20° and 45° and yawed between β = 0° and 90° in increments of 15°. The measurements were performed with two X-wires providing all three components of velocity and turbulence intensity. These data were obtained at downstream locations of x = 3, 5, 10 and 20, where the distance x, normalized by the jet diameter, is measured from the center of the orifice. Data for all configurations were acquired at a momentum-flux ratio J = 8. Additionally, for selected angles and locations, surveys were conducted for J = 1.5, 4, and 20. As expected, the jet penetration is found to be higher at larger α. With increasing β the jet spreads more. The rate of reduction of peak streamwise vorticity, ωxmax , with the downstream distance is significantly lessened at higher β but is found to be practically independent of α. Thus, at the farthest measurement station x = 20, ωxmax is about five times larger for β = 75° compared to the levels at β = 0°. Streamwise velocity within the jet-vortex structure is found to depend on the parameter J. At J = 1.5 and 4, ‘wake-like’ velocity profiles are observed. In comparison, a ‘jet-like’ overshoot is present at higher J.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
A dynamic self-reconfigurable mobile robot navigation system

A mobile robot navigation system must adapt to the highly dynamic environments and emergencies under the real-time constraints. Sometimes some sensors may not work well with new environments while others may need to swap in at runtime to continue the navigation. This paper presents an agent-based embedded system platform which can dynamically reconfigure the robot system on the fly by integrating FPGA hardware and high-performance microprocessors system. Several dynamic reconfiguration models are described to improve the system efficiency with low reconfiguration latency. The reconfiguration architecture specifically for vision system is also presented. This platform can be easily extended to other robot systems, such as server robots, space robots, and multi-robot systems
Bridging Theory with Practice: An Exploratory Study of Visualization Use and Design for Climate Model Comparison

Evaluation methodologies in visualization have mostly focused on how well the tools and techniques cater to the analytical needs of the user. While this is important in determining the effectiveness of the tools and advancing the state-of-the-art in visualization research, a key area that has mostly been overlooked is how well established visualization theories and principles are instantiated in practice. This is especially relevant when domain experts, and not visualization researchers, design visualizations for analysis of their data or for broader dissemination of scientific knowledge. There is very little research on exploring the synergistic capabilities of cross-domain collaboration between domain experts and visualization researchers. To fill this gap, in this paper we describe the results of an exploratory study of climate data visualizations conducted in tight collaboration with a pool of climate scientists. The study analyzes a large set of static climate data visualizations for identifying their shortcomings in terms of visualization design. The outcome of the study is a classification scheme that categorizes the design problems in the form of a descriptive taxonomy. The taxonomy is a first attempt for systematically categorizing the types, causes, and consequences of design problems in visualizations created by domain experts. We demonstrate the use of the taxonomy for a number of purposes, such as, improving the existing climate data visualizations, reflecting on the impact of the problems for enabling domain experts in designing better visualizations, and also learning about the gaps and opportunities for future visualization research. We demonstrate the applicability of our taxonomy through a number of examples and discuss the lessons learnt and implications of our findings.
The Elsewhere Condition and h -aspiré

The phonology of French continues to command widespread attention in the development of linguistic theory. The most recent, and most novel, contribution to the explicit description of sound patterns in this language is Anderson (1982), who demonstrates the central role played by syllabic structure in alternations obtaining between null and ‘e-instable’, or schwa. In expected contrast to the natural generative phonology approach advocated, for example, by Klausenburger (1978), Anderson advances the more orthodox generative position (cf. Schane, 1968; Dell, 1973) that characterizes such alternations as petit m. ‘pəti]/petite f. [pətit] ‘small’ in terms of the phonological deletion of basic word-final consonants (masculine forms) and final ‘protective’ schwas (feminine forms). This familiar, ‘abstract’ kind of account has been challenged most comprehensively by Tranel (1981), but it still represents the standard alternative within more or less traditional generative phonology, which, without further elaboration, Anderson and the comments that follow here share as a point of departure.
Efficient Utilization of Woody Biomass: A Cellulose-Particleboard-Synfuels Model

For efficient utilization of woody biomass, systems must be developed which effectively utilize all components of the woody stem. Since cellulose is probably the most important chemical derivable from wood, we have emphasized schemes which produce cellulose pulp, but also include complete by-product recovery and waste product utilization.
Estimating earthquake location and magnitude from seismic intensity data

Analysis of Modified Mercalli intensity (MMI) observations for a training set of 22 California earthquakes suggests a strategy for bounding the epicentral region and moment magnitude M from MMI observations only. We define an intensity magnitude M I that is calibrated to be equal in the mean to M . M I = mean ( M i ), where M i = (MMI i + 3.29 + 0.0206 * Δ i )/1.68 and Δ i is the epicentral distance (km) of observation MMI i . The epicentral region is bounded by contours of rms [ M I ] = rms ( M I − M i − rms ( M I − M i ), where rms is the root mean square, rms ( M I − M i ) is the minimum rms over a grid of assumed epicenters, and empirical site corrections and a distance weighting function are used. Empirical contour values for bounding the epicenter location and empirical bounds for M estimated from M I appropriate for different levels of confidence and different quantities of intensity observations are tabulated. The epicentral region bounds and M I obtained for an independent test set of western California earthquakes are consistent with the instrumental epicenters and moment magnitudes of these earthquakes. The analysis strategy is particularly appropriate for the evaluation of pre-1900 earthquakes for which the only available data are a sparse set of intensity observations.
Measuring Solid-Liquid Mixture in Closed Conduits

Much attention has come to the transportation of solids in a liquid in closed conduit. Measuring devices to measure the pertinent parameters of solid-liquid flow have been tried and used. Some of these metering devices are considered, mainly in application to dredging.
Checkpoint Regulation of Replication Forks at Sites of DNA Damage

Statement of methods: We have used single-molecule DNA combing to study how the checkpoint regulates individual origins and forks in response to DNA damage. Summary of results: The S-phase DNA dama...
Cortisone-Like Effect of Hematophorphyrin and Sunlight on Anaphylaxis in Mice.∗

SummaryForty-nine of 184 control horse serum-sensitized mice (27%) survived a shocking dose of horse serum. Three to 15 minutes exposure of sensitized mice to sunlight has no influence on survivorship in these mice. Low doses (0.6 - 2 mg) of hematoporphyrin significantly increased the lethal effects of anaphylaxis in 54 horse serum-sensitized mice since only 8% survived. A small dose of hematoporphyrin (2 mg) and 3-15 minutes exposure to sunlight decreased lethality of shocking doses of horse serum administered to sensitized mice. The protection afforded was directly related to the length of exposure. Twenty-four of 26 sensitized mice (92%) injected with 2 mg of hematoporphyrin and subsequently exposed for 15 minutes to direct sunlight survived a shocking dose of antigen. This is an effect similar to that exerted by cortisone and of the same order of magnitude.
A biophysical model examining the role of low-voltage-activated-potassium currents in shaping the responses of vestibular ganglion neurons

The vestibular nerve comprises two neuronal groups that are identified by differences in the regularity of their spontaneous discharge. The mechanisms driving this hallmark difference have long bee...
Framework of Comprehensive Defense Architecture for Power System Security and Stability

A framework of comprehensive defense architecture for power system security and stability is presented.From the general safety concept,the comprehensive defense architecture should include the power system security assurance system,i.e.active safety system,and power system stability control system,i.e.passive safety system.Power system security assurance system(active safety) refers to the measures to improve power system security and controllability.Power system stability control system(passive safety) refers to the measures to maintain power system security and stability during disturbances.The power system security assurance system(active safety) can be set to three-defense lines.The first defense line is a strong power grid structure,to lay a solid foundation for the power system security;the second defense line is the optimized automatic control system,to enhance the safe operation of power system;the third defense line is a safe operation planning to ensure that the power system operates at a safe level.Power system stability control system(passive safety) is the traditional three-defense lines for power system security and stability.The first defense line is rapid removal of faulty components,to prevent the failure to expand;the second defense line is the control measures to maintain power system stability;the third defense line is the measures to prevent widespread blackouts when power system loses stability.
Heat Generation in the Railroad Bearing Thermoplastic Elastomer Suspension Element

The main purpose of this ongoing study is to investigate the effect of heat generation within a railroad thermoplastic elastomer suspension element on the thermal behavior of the railroad bearing assembly. Specifically, the purpose of this project is to quantify the heat generated by cyclic loading of the elastomer suspension element as a function of load amplitude, loading frequency, and operating temperature. The contribution of the elastomer pad to the system energy balance is modeled using data from dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the specific materials in use for that part. DMA is a technique that is commonly used to characterize material properties as a function of temperature, time, frequency, stress, atmosphere or a combination of these parameters. DMA tests were run on samples of pad material prepared by three different processes: injection molded coupons, transfer molded coupons, and parts machined from an actual pad. The results provided a full characterization of the elastic deformation (Energy Storage) and viscous dissipation (Energy Dissipation) behavior of the material as a function of loading frequency, and temperature. These results show that the commonly used thermoplastic elastomer does generate heat under cyclic loading, though the frequency which produces peak heat output is outside the range of common loading frequency in rail service. These results can be combined with a stress analysis and service load measurements to estimate internally generated heat and, thus, enable a refined model for the evolution of bearing temperature during operation.Copyright © 2016 by ASME
Conducting research on the critically ill: an ethical perspective.

There are two primary concerns posed by research involving critically ill patients: whether such individuals are competent to give informed consent for participation and how and whether to proceed if they are not. This paper synthesizes the recent debate regarding the use of human research subjects who are critically ill, undertakes a conceptual analysis of informed consent and its application to such patients, and ultimately concludes that research on this vulnerable population may be ethical if specific measures are undertaken.
Keeping Up with the Times: How the Discipline of International Relations Responds to Benchmark Events

This article examines how the discipline of international relations (IR) engages with the policy process by investigating the discipline’s responsiveness to world events. To this end, the article deploys a mixed-methods approach using historical data of journal articles in twelve top IR journals covering 1980 to 2012 from the Teaching, Research, and International Policy (TRIP) Project as well as a series of interviews with scholars to show how four major world events, or benchmark events, influence the discipline of international relations. The paper finds that benchmark events do cause a shift in the subject areas in which IR scholars publish, as well as a shift in the popularity of theoretical approaches in which scholars ground their research. Benchmark events do not, however, cause a significant shift in where in the world IR scholars study. A series of elite interviews with IR professors is used to elaborate a causal mechanism for these correlations.
After the Incubator: Factors Impeding Land Access Along the Path from Farmworker to Proprietor

Farmworkers aiming to transition to independent proprietorship often benefit from beginning farmer incubator programs that offer agricultural training, subsidized farmland rents, and marketing and business assistance. Incubator initiatives often align with various efforts to stem the tide of shrinking U.S. farm numbers and enhance the viability of small-scale, environmentally and socially regenerative enterprises. Yet even as these promising initiatives provide former farmworkers with initial tools for success, structural barriers can impede beginning farmers' eventual transition to independent proprietorship. Land access is one well-known barrier to entry. Impediments to land access for beginning farmers are frequently framed purely in terms of available acreage and/or sufficient start-up capital. Sociocultural and relational factors mediating land access are less well understood. Our study addresses this gap, examining how sociocultural and relational constraints impede land access for former immigrant farmworkers aspiring to independent farming in California's Central Coast region. We employ qualitative methods, including 26 in-depth interviews, focus groups, and participant observation, to explore barriers to land access faced by aspiring small-scale organic farmers participating in an established regional organic farm incubator program. Our findings indicate that these beginning farmers are highly motivated, possess sophisticated farming skills, and wish to shape their livelihoods independently. However, their access to farmland is mediated by landowner and tenant farmer relationships, including lease arrangements, and sociocultural barriers, including ethnicity and/or cultural identity. In a context in which incubator initiatives are envisioned as means to facilitate new entry of former immigrant farmworkers into the agricultural sector, this case study analysis traces specific sociocultural contours associated with land access that impede successful proprietorship for beginning farmers. We conclude by suggesting potential strategies for addressing these barriers to entry in order to facilitate enhanced efficacy of incubator programs.
ICD-ON Registry for Perioperative Management of CIEDs: Most Require No Change.

BACKGROUND There is significant variability in the perioperative management of patients with cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs) undergoing procedures requiring electrosurgery. METHODS We performed a multicenter registry from February 2014 to August 2015 at three suburban Chicago hospitals. Patients with transvenous CIEDs undergoing procedures requiring electrosurgery were assigned to one of three groups: (1) reprogram, (2) magnet, or (3) no change. Subjects with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) or those pacemaker dependent having surgical procedures within 6 inches of their CIED were assigned to the reprogram group, whereby ICD therapies were programmed off with asynchronous pacing if pacemaker dependent. Subjects with ICDs ≥ 6 inches from their surgical site but above the iliac crest were assigned to the magnet group. All others were in the no change group. We evaluated electromagnetic interference (EMI) and postoperative device reset based on surgical location. RESULTS All patients (n = 331) had pectoral CIEDs with mean age 73 years, 65% male, ejection fraction 56% for pacemaker subjects, 35% for ICD subjects with 22% pacemaker dependent. Assignments were n = 52 (16%) reprogram group, n = 51 (15%) magnet group, and n = 228 (69%) no change. There was EMI in 45% of thoracic cases, 35% of head/neck, 15% of upper extremity, and 3% of abdominal cases above iliac crest. There was no EMI in procedures below the iliac crest. There were no inappropriate therapies or device reset. CONCLUSION Results of the ICD-ON protocol demonstrate safe and efficient management of patients with CIEDs based on electrosurgery location, with 69% requiring no reprogramming or magnet application.
TLR10 Is a B Cell Intrinsic Suppressor of Adaptive Immune Responses.

Toll-like receptors play a central role in the initiation of adaptive immune responses with several TLR agonists acting as known B cell mitogens. Despite thousands of publications on TLRs, the function of TLR10 remains unknown. We have found that Ab-mediated engagement of TLR10 on primary human B cells suppresses B cell proliferation, cytokine production, and signal transduction. When challenged with either a T independent or T dependent Ag, TLR10 transgenic mice exhibit diminished Ab responses. Adoptive transfer of splenic B cells into B cell–deficient mice revealed that the suppressive effects on Ag-specific humoral immune responses are entirely B cell intrinsic. Our results demonstrate that TLR10 has a functional role within the B cell lineage that is distinct from that of other TLR family members and may provide a potential therapeutic target for diseases characterized by dysregulated B cell activity.
Bidirectional cross-linguistic influence in late bilingualism: Evidence from the container-content relation

The container-content relation represents a set of nominal configurations unexplored in the acquisition literature. Whereas in English the switch from a noun-noun compound (water bottle) to a noun-prepositional phrase (bottle of water) is associated with a semantic shift from container to content, Spanish and Arabic adopt single canonical configurations for both conditions, noun-prepositional phrase and noun phrase, respectively. Importantly, Spanish, Arabic, and English display structural overlap in the content condition maintained by head-first isomorphic strings. In the container condition, they show structural dissimilarity; whereas English uses a head-final construction, Arabic and Spanish consistently use head-first constructions. Results from an elicited sentence-reordering task demonstrate that advanced late learners pattern native speakers when tested in Spanish but not when tested in English. Additionally, when tested in English, Arabic-speaking and Spanish-speaking learners overextend their L1 canonical configurations to both conditions. Furthermore, bilingual native speakers do not perform at ceiling, suggesting bidirectional cross-linguistic influence.