cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GTI: Learning to Generalize across Long-Horizon Tasks from Human Demonstrations

Imitation learning is an effective and safe technique to train robot policies in the real world because it does not depend on an expensive random exploration process. However, due to the lack of exploration, learning policies that generalize beyond the demonstrated behaviors is still an open challenge. We present a novel imitation learning framework to enable robots to 1) learn complex real world manipulation tasks efficiently from a small number of human demonstrations, and 2) synthesize new behaviors not contained in the collected demonstrations. Our key insight is that multi-task domains often present a latent structure, where demonstrated trajectories for different tasks intersect at common regions of the state space. We present Generalization Through Imitation (GTI), a two-stage offline imitation learning algorithm that exploits this intersecting structure to train goal-directed policies that generalize to unseen start and goal state combinations. In the first stage of GTI, we train a stochastic policy that leverages trajectory intersections to have the capacity to compose behaviors from different demonstration trajectories together. In the second stage of GTI, we collect a small set of rollouts from the unconditioned stochastic policy of the first stage, and train a goal-directed agent to generalize to novel start and goal configurations. We validate GTI in both simulated domains and a challenging long-horizon robotic manipulation domain in the real world. Additional results and videos are available at this https URL .
Transportation construction administration

New bridge systems are needed that will allow components to be fabricated off-site and transported to the bridge site for quick assembly with minimal disruption to the traveling public. Depending on the specific site conditions, the use of prefabricated bridge systems can minimize traffic disruption, improve work zone safety, reduce the impact on the environment, improve constructability, increase quality, and lower life-cycle costs. This technology is applicable and needed for both the rehabilitation of existing bridges and the construction of new bridges. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has recently developed a program to promote accelerated construction through the use of precast bridge elements. This paper will present the construction process, construction schedule, and laboratory testing for one of the first applications of an accelerated bridge project utilizing precast components in the state of Iowa. Through the FHWA Innovative Bridge Research and Construction program, a bridge in Boone County, Iowa was constructed using several different precast, high-performance concrete elements. Researchers from Iowa State University (ISU) performed laboratory testing on the precast components that were used in the Boone County bridge. Field instrumentation and testing was used to verify the post-tensioning operation and to verify several of the construction methods. The laboratory portion of this investigation was funded by the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) and the Iowa Highway Research Board. Also, a comparison of
Abstract 13941: The Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Von Willebrand Disease; A Potential Therapeutic Target

Introduction: Von Willebrand factor (vWF) plays an important role in the coagulation process at the site of vascular injury. It is unclear whether vWF deficiency is protective against cardiovascula...
Contact Holdups and Their Impact for Overlay Delay Tolerant Networks

The standard approach to bundle routing in delay-tolerant networks with predictable contacts uses a graph traversal algorithm to search for paths where the graph’s nodes represent the presumed and non-expired contact opportunities and the edges the waiting time for the next contact to occur. However, unforeseen systemic issues may introduce random contact holdups, i.e., the start time of certain contacts may be delayed, which may lead to lower performance than anticipated. An analysis of random contact holdups and their impact on the probabilistic optimal routing of bundles over parallel, non-overlapping substrate paths are provided. The study brings new insight into the consequences of unforeseen divergences between the planned contacts and their realization, which may help to improve the design of future DTN protocols.
Analyzing Teleoperation Interface Usage of Robots in Therapy for Children with Autism

Therapist-operated robots can play a uniquely impactful role in helping children with autism practice and acquire social skills. While extensive research within Human-Robot Interaction has focused on teleoperation interfaces for robots in general, little work has been done on teleoperation interface design for robots in the context of therapy for children with autism. Moreover, while clinical research has shown the positive impact robots can have on children with autism, much of that research has been performed in a controlled environment, with little understanding of the way these robots are used in practice. We analyze archival data of therapists teleoperating robots as part of their regular therapy sessions, to (1) determine common themes and difficulties in therapists’ use of teleoperation interfaces, and (2) provide design recommendations to improve therapists’ overall experience. We believe that following these recommendations will help maximize the effectiveness of therapy for children with autism when using Socially Assistive Robotics and the scale at which robots can be deployed in this domain.
The long-term transport and radiative impacts of the 2017 British Columbia pyrocumulonimbus smoke aerosols in the stratosphere

Abstract. Interactions of meteorology with wildfires in British Columbia, Canada, during August 2017 led to three major pyrocumulonimbus (pyroCb) events that resulted in the injection of large amounts of smoke aerosols and other combustion products at the local upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). These plumes of UTLS smoke with elevated values of aerosol extinction and backscatter compared to the background state were readily tracked by multiple satellite-based instruments as they spread across the Northern Hemisphere (NH). The plumes were observed in the lower stratosphere for about 8–10 months following the fire injections, with a stratospheric aerosol e -folding time of about 5 months. To investigate the radiative impacts of these events on the Earth system, we performed a number of simulations with the Goddard Earth Observing System (GEOS) atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM). Observations from multiple remote-sensing instruments were used to calibrate the injection parameters (location, amount, composition and heights) and optical properties of the smoke aerosols in the model. The resulting simulations of three-dimensional smoke transport were evaluated for a year from the day of injections using daily observations from OMPS-LP (Ozone Mapping Profiler Suite Limb Profiler). The model-simulated rate of ascent, hemispheric spread and residence time (or e -folding time) of the smoke aerosols in the stratosphere are in close agreement with OMPS-LP observations. We found that both aerosol self-lofting and the large-scale atmospheric motion play important roles in lifting the smoke plumes from near the tropopause altitudes ( ∼ 12 km) to about 22–23 km into the atmosphere. Further, our estimations of the radiative impacts of the pyroCb-emitted smoke aerosols showed that the smoke caused an additional warming of the atmosphere by about 0.6–1 W/m 2 (zonal mean) that persisted for about 2–3 months after the injections in regions north of 40 ∘ N. The surface experienced a comparable magnitude of cooling. The atmospheric warming is mainly located in the stratosphere, coincident with the location of the smoke plumes, leading to an increase in zonal mean shortwave (SW) heating rates of 0.02–0.04 K/d during September 2017.
The Health Impact of Evictions.

A slip of paper posted on a door can signal the beginning of a destructive process for children’s health. Each year, more than 2.3 million households receive eviction notices.1 Despite fair housing laws which ban discrimination against children and families, households with children are more likely to be evicted than childless households, even when controlling for family income and rent owed.2 The proportion of children in a neighborhood is a stronger predictor of eviction rates than neighborhood-level poverty, racial makeup, or proportion of single parent households.2 Nearly 1 in 7 children will experience eviction before their 15th birthday, including 1 in 4 children living in poverty.3 Eviction, like mass incarceration, police violence, or environmental contamination, disproportionately affects families of color and exacerbates health inequities. Because of generations of systemic racism, Black and Latinx households are more likely to be evicted than white households, with women of color especially impacted.4 Close to 20% of Black children will be evicted during childhood, compared with 11% of white children.3 The economic disruption of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has compounded this long-standing eviction crisis. In spring 2021, 1 in 5 renters with children was behind on rent, compared with 1 in 10 childless households.5 The pandemic has reinforced disparities in evictions, with households of color more than twice as likely as white households to fall behind on rent.5 Emergency aid has been slow to reach families and a patchwork of state and federal eviction moratoria are soon … Address correspondence to Dana Goplerud, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore MD 21287, dgopler1{at}jhmi.edu, 410-955-4201
A study of closed-loop supply chain models with governmental incentives and fees

A rich mixture of government incentives and fees to encourage the collection of used products and the subsequent remanufacturing has been increasingly utilized both domestically and internationally. In this paper, toward a fuller understanding of such government participation in closed-loop supply chains (CLSC’s), we construct and analyze a series of game-theoretic CLSC models with remanufacturing. Specifically, we investigate a basic decentralized CLSC model, two government participation models of linear incentives and fees as well as of central coordination via alternative financial instruments, and a revenue-sharing contract model without the government participation. We also analyze the impact of competition among manufacturers in our results. A key differentiating feature in our government participation models is the incorporation of the revenue neutrality requirement from a government’s perspective whose financial sources for such incentives must eventually reconcile with the financial sinks for such fees. By comparing and contrasting the equilibrium solutions and the economic consequences of these models, managerial insights and economic implications relevant to academics and practitioners including decision and policy makers are obtained. For example, we show how the government participation can induce an entry or prevent an exit of a CLSC when one or more members are unprofitable.
An Analysis of Partially Clairvoyant Scheduling

Real-time scheduling problems confront two issues not addressed by traditional scheduling models, viz., parameter variability and the existence of complex relationships constraining the executions of jobs. Accordingly, modeling becomes crucial in the specification of scheduling problems in such systems. In this paper, we analyze scheduling algorithms in Partially Clairvoyant Real-time scheduling systems and present a new dual-based algorithm for the feasibility problem in the case of strict relative constraints. We also study the problem of online dispatching in Partially Clairvoyant systems and show that the complexity of dispatching is logarithmically related to the complexity of the schedulability problem.
Legacy of 9/11: Continuing the Humanization of Humanitarian Law

In 2000 Theodor Meron published his landmark essay entitled The Humanization of Humanitarian Law. Meron demonstrated that there is a gradual convergence in protections between human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL) developing, which is fueled by a common commitment to human dignity. He explained that the shifting nature of conflicts away from traditional international armed conflict to non-international armed conflict “necessitated both new norms and reinterpretation of existing norms”. “Calamitous events and atrocities” during these contemporary conflicts pushes the new rules towards human rights principles, he explained. The 9/11 attacks provided evidence for Meron’s thesis.
Spinning New Tales from Traditional Texts: Donna Jo Napoli and the Rewriting of Fairy Tale.

This article demonstrates how Donna Jo Napoli changes generic conventions and reworks discursive formations in order to retell traditional tales. Discussed are the narrative strategies she uses in telling her stories, her representation of male and female characters in regard to gender and gendered relationships, and the way she renegotiates ideologies and value systems encoded in the traditional tales. It is suggested that these three areas are useful in defining and discussing feminist fairy tales for youth.
Survey of chemical compounds tested in vitro against rumen protozoa for possible control of bloat.

Over 170 chemical agents were screened for antiprotozoal action in bovine ruminal fluid. Compounds were tested at 0.1 and 0.05% concentrations. Tested compounds included inorganic compounds, antibiotics, biocides, neuromuscular agents, arsenicals, plant and animal hormones, antimalarials, surface-active agents, anthelmintics, and many others. The most active compounds were cupric sulfate, nickel sulfate, nitrofurazone, hydrogen peroxide, dodecyl sodium sulfate, pelargonic acid, iodoacetic acid, 1-diethylaminoethylamino-4-methylthiaxanthrone, sodium arsanilate, sodium arsenate, bismuth glycolyl arsanilate, 1-β-hydroxyethyl-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole, and p-nitroaniline. Copper ion was not particularly effective against entodinia; nickel ion had no effect on holotrichs. Hydrogen peroxide and iodoacetic acid were effective at a concentration of 0.005%. Anionic surface-active agents were very effective, especially long-chain sulfates and phosphates. These antiprotozoal agents warrant further in vivo studies for possible use in treating or curing bloat in ruminants.
Characteristics of autoregressive spectral estimation in range-Doppler imaging

The characteristics of autoregressive spectral estimation (ARSE) in range-Doppler imaging are studied with respect to three ARSE algorithms. These are the forward-backward linear prediction (FBLP) algorithm, the Burg algorithm, and the modified forward-backward linear prediction (MFBLP) algorithm. The mathematical interpretations of these algorithms are addressed, and simulation results demonstrating these characteristics for the radar images constructed are presented. >
26 United States of America (Unfair Competition Survey)

This book chapter is a survey of United States unfair competition law. In the international context, the scope and organization of unfair competition varies across countries. For example, in many jurisdictions, especially civil law jurisdictions, unfair competition excludes trademarks, includes consumer protection, and typically flows from general principles that are often prescribed by treaty. This chapter shows that United States unfair competition law does not easily fit the paradigm of a comprehensive area of law. Largely due to the dual sovereignty of state and federal law, United States unfair competition and consumer protection laws are found in disparate and seemingly unconnected sources of law. Moreover, United States law is less influenced by treaties because of the presumption, in United States law, that treaties are not self-executing but require implementing legislation. As a result, the law of unfair competition and consumer protection in the United States is a patchwork of laws that are enforced through a variety of administrative and judicial actions.
Cotton City: Urban Development in Antebellum Mobile . By Harriet E. Amos. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1985, paperback edition, 2001. Pp. xviii, 311. $24.95.

The release of the first paperback edition of Cotton City 16 years after its initial publication provides an opportunity to reflect on Harriet Amos's approach to explaining antebellum Mobile's growth. At least eight reviews, including those in major historical journals, appeared following publication; thus, this review will not repeat their general coverage. In brief, Amos argued Mobile's dependence on the cotton trade tied it to external centers of capital in New York, London, and Liverpool; and northern, and to a lesser extent English, business people who moved to Mobile to participate directly or indirectly in the cotton trade became city leaders. This link to the cotton trade pervaded much of urban life Amos details in discussing immigration, labor, city government, social services, railroad development, and the secession crisis.
Impact of gastrectomy procedural complexity on surgical outcomes and hospital comparisons

Background Most risk adjustment approaches adjust for patient comorbidities and the primary procedure. However, procedures done at the same time as the index case may increase operative risk and merit inclusion in adjustment models for fair hospital comparisons. Our objectives were to evaluate the impact of surgical complexity on postoperative outcomes and hospital comparisons in gastric cancer surgery. Methods Patients who underwent gastric resection for cancer were identified from a large clinical dataset. Procedure complexity was characterized using secondary procedure CPT codes and work relative value units (RVUs). Regression models were developed to evaluate the association between complexity variables and outcomes. The impact of complexity adjustment on model performance and hospital comparisons was examined. Results Among 3,467 patients who underwent gastrectomy for adenocarcinoma, 2,171 operations were distal and 1,296 total. A secondary procedure was reported for 33% of distal gastrectomies and 59% of total gastrectomies. Six of 10 secondary procedures were associated with adverse outcomes. For example, patients who underwent a synchronous bowel resection had a higher risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.14; 95% CI, 1.07–4.29) and reoperation (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.26–3.47). Model performance was slightly better for nearly all outcomes with complexity adjustment (mortality c-statistics: standard model, 0.853; secondary procedure model, 0.858; RVU model, 0.855). Hospital ranking did not change substantially after complexity adjustment. Conclusion Surgical complexity variables are associated with adverse outcomes in gastrectomy, but complexity adjustment does not affect hospital rankings appreciably.
Evaluating endoscopic and endoscopic-assisted access to the infratemporal fossa: a novel method for assessment and comparison of approaches.

Objectives/Hypothesis Endoscopic infratemporal fossa (ITF) surgery is a growing clinical interest. This study presents a method of analyzing approach access and visualization, identifies relevant anatomy in an endoscopic approach to the ITF, and compares endoscopic medial maxillectomy (MMA) and endoscopic-assisted sublabial transmaxillary (SLT) approaches to the ITF as a model for this paradigm. Study Design Human cadaver anatomic study. Methods Five human cadaver heads (10 ITF dissections) were used. An SLT and MMA were performed on each side. For endoscopic dissections of the ITF, 0° and 30° endoscopes were used. Key landmarks were the posterior maxillary sinus wall, temporomandibular joint, pterygoid plates, foramen spinosum, and foramen ovale. Open dissection was used to confirm ITF landmarks. A novel measurement method using angles of approach and visualization was used to compare approaches. Results Visualization and mobility in SLT and MMA were significantly different. The lateral extent and greatest average depth for dissection was 7.9 cm in MMA and 6.1 cm for SLT. The average angle of mobility in approach was 36.3° for MMA and 57.9° for SLT. Average visualization was 40.2° for MMA and 126.5° for SLT. Despite these differences, both surgical approaches allowed access and visualization to all targeted landmarks. Conclusions This evaluation paradigm provides useful data in evaluating an endoscopic or endoscopic-assisted approach to the ITF. Using this paradigm, the SLT and MMA were analyzed. Each provided adequate access to the ITF, but visualization and maneuverability were better in SLT. Laryngoscope, 2013
The effect of rainstorm movement on urban drainage network runoff hydrographs

This article explores the relations between network properties and the effect from moving rainstorms in terms of the peak response and time to centroid of hydrographs. A simple conceptual rectangular catchment is introduced with different configurations of drainage network simulated by the Gibbs stochastic model. The efficiency of the urban pipe networks varies widely compared with natural river networks; hence, the Gibbs model can be an appropriate approach to represent the network properties in urban drainage system. Simple cases of rainstorms moving with upstream and downstream directions and different speeds are considered to investigate the effect of rainstorm movement on urban drainage network runoff hydrographs. The results indicate that the effect of the direction and speed of the rainstorm movement varies significantly depending on the network properties. The relationship between storm speed and direction and the change in the peak runoff is dependent on the network configuration and network efficiency. In contrast to previous studies, this study indicates that the speed and direction of the rainfall movement that produces the maximum peak discharge changes depending on the network configuration. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapidly evolving software and the OVERSEE environment

During its lifetime, a software system will sometimes need to “rapidly evolve,” that is, undergo a quick set of changes. Making the changes rapidly is difficult, especially if one's software development policies are rigorous; the need for test reports, signatures, etc., seems to create interminable delays. In this paper, we argue that much of the problem stems not from such policies, but from a lack of consideration to information flow in software environments. We present a configuration management environment called OVERSEE, and discuss how it helps solve the problems of information flow.
Information contained in sediment-size analyses

Traditional measures of sediment size (mean, sorting, skewness, etc.) contain less information than the original weightpercent histogram from which they are computed. For purposes such as mapping, summary statistics are necessary, but little is known of the relative efficiency of traditional measures. By multivariate methods, the relative efficiency of sediment-size descriptors may be analyzed and sediment distribution patterns may be investigated, utilizing the histogram directly. The statistic most efficient for classification of sediments is one which is least variable within a sediment type and most variable between types. The statistic most useful from a practical standpoint is one that strikes a balance between ease of measurement and any resulting loss in efficiency. Principal components analysis of sediment-size data from Barataria Bay, Louisiana, suggests that the first principal component is as efficient as any traditional statistic, and can be approximated with no loss in efficiency by the sand percent in samples. Analyses of variance show that the sand percent is the most efficient as well as the most useful statistic for characterizing Barataria sediments. Only one sieve separation is necessary to obtain essentially the same information as obtained from more laborious traditional analytical techniques.
Eigenmode analysis of compressional waves in the magnetosphere

A field-aligned eigenode analysis of compressional Alfven instabilities has been performed for a two component anisotropic plasma in a dipole magnetic field. The eigenmode equations are derived from the gyrokinetic equations in the long wavelength (k rho < 1) and low frequency (..omega.. < ..omega../sub b/) limits, where rho is the hot particle gyroradius and ..omega../sub b/ is the hot particle bounce frequency. Two types of compressional instabilities are identified. One is the drift mirror mode which has an odd parity compressional magnetic component with respect to the magnetic equator. The other is the drift compressional mode with an even parity compressional magnetic component. For typical storm time plasma parameters neargeosynchronous orbit, the drift mirror mode is most unstable and the drift compressional mode is stable. The storm time compressional Pc 5 waves, observed by multiple satellites during November 14-15, 1979 (Takahashi et al., 1987), can be explained by the drift mirror instability.
Aflatoxin and glutathione in domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus)--II. Effects on hepatic blood flow.

Abstract 1. The effect of aflatoxin on plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), protein, and hepatic glutathione (GSH) and hepatic blood flow (perfusion), were determined in 3-week-old male chickens. 2. Daily aflatoxin gavage (2 mg/kg body wt, in corn oil) for 5 and 10 days elevated plasma AST and hepatic GSH, and depressed plasma protein and hepatic perfusion. Also, renal GSH was elevated after 10 days of aflatoxin treatment. 3. Birds given aflatoxin for 10 days followed by a 10-day recovery period exhibited tissue GSH, plasma AST and protein levels that were not different from control, but hepatic perfusion remained depressed.
Analysis and detection of malicious data exfiltration in web traffic

Data stealing botnets pose a great risk to the security of networks and the privacy of their users. Most of these botnets use the web as a medium for communication, making them difficult to detect given that web traffic constitutes about 70% of Internet traffic. In addition, they use obfuscation techniques, primarily encryption, to hide their communications and data exfiltration attempts making current botnet detection techniques that depend on content inspection ineffective. In this paper, we present an analysis of the data stealing behaviors of one of the most notorious data stealing botnets, Zeus. In addition, we propose a classification algorithm to identify malicious data stealing attempts within web traffic. Our classifier uses entropy and byte frequency distribution of HTTP POST request contents as features. Our evaluation of the classifier shows high accuracy and high efficiency making it applicable at network perimeter monitoring devices and web proxies.
Vertical Cavity Laser High Speed Dynamics and Modeling

Vertical cavity lasers have been demonstrated with low thresholds and high efficiency. Wafer level testing is possible and packaging is simpler with excellent coupling to optical fibers. Two dimensional arrays of these lasers offer a new set of applications for semiconductor lasers. The design and properties of vertical cavity lasers are significantly different from in-plane lasers and present difficult theoretical design and analysis problems. Three important examples will be discussed here: Coupling between waveguides and DBR reflectors, relaxation oscillation dynamics, and chirping of vertical cavity laser output.
Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables: Use of Interactive Videoconferencing and the World Wide Web for Teaching a Multidisciplinary Course

: An evaluation of interactive video conferencing and Web-assisted instruction to deliver a multidisciplinary course entitled Phytochemicals in Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Human Health was conducted during the spring semesters of 1999 and 2001. This course was taught by 20 instructors from 11 institutions to 49 students during spring 2001, which was an increase of 53% over spring 1999. Weekly 3-h lectures were delivered by the Trans-Texas Videoconference Network integrated with PowerPoint® or HTML slides available on the course Web site (http://phytochemicals.tamu.edu). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through formative and summative methods. Participants expressed their satisfaction with course format and the need for technical support for interactive videoconferencing.
A short-form of the Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker

Abstract The Personal Report of Confidence as a Speaker (PRCS) is a commonly used measure in treatment and research literature to assess people’s fear of public speaking. Despite its frequent usage, limited psychometric data has been published in the last 20 years. Our primary aim was to examine the item factor structure of the PRCS and to see if item elimination could result in a more psychometrically sound measure. We examined the reliability and validity of both the original and shorter variants. From our analyses, we offer a 12-item version that we believe will have both clinical and research utility.
Effect of ultrasonic instrumentation on the retention of simulated cast crowns

The effect of ultrasonic instrumentation on the retention of cemented cast restorations was studied. Forces required to dislodge castings from specimen assemblies subjected to ultrasonic vibrations did not differ significantly from those required to cause failure of noninstrumented specimens. The results indicate that clinical application of the ultrasonic device would not affect adversely the retention of properly cemented and well fitting cast restorations.
PPPS-2013: Magnetic field probe calibration at relevant field magnitude and frequency

Summary form only given. Magnetic field probes are invaluable diagnostics for pulsed inductive plasmoid devices where field magnitudes on the order of several kG are common.1 The most common method of calibrating magnetic field probes is to use a Helmholtz coil to generate a large region of uniform magnetic field.2,3 Difficulty driving large currents through an inductive load at high frequency typically results in field magnitudes of a few Gauss or less. The calibration factor is then necessarily assumed linear, even though the magnetic field of the primary experiment is several orders of magnitude larger than the field magnitudes used to calibrate the probe.2,4,5 Calibration factors of two differential configuration magnetic field probes are presented as functions of frequency and field magnitude. Calibration values are determined experimentally using a 7.74 cm radius Helmholtz coil in three separate configurations. A broadband frequency sweep is performed with a network analyzer for frequency domain measurements while a function generator provides time domain measurements. These methods produce calibration factors over a large frequency range (100 kHz-1 MHz) with field magnitudes less than one Gauss. Large field magnitudes are achieved with a pulsed-power setup using multiple capacitor banks charged from 13-25 kV producing magnetic fields of at least 0.1 kG up to 3.8 kG. Tests are conducted at five frequencies in the range of interest. The calibration factors are calculated and presented as a function of field magnitude and frequency.
High suspended solids as a factor in reproductive failure of a freshwater mussel

AbstractElevated suspended solids are a widespread stressor of aquatic ecosystems, but their effects on growth and reproduction in freshwater mussels are largely unknown. We fertilized experimental ponds to create a gradient in total suspended solids (TSS) and examined the effects of TSS on growth, nutritional status, reproduction, and clearance rate in Ligumia subrostrata. The number of females that became gravid declined sharply with increasing TSS, and no gravid females were found in the highest TSS treatments. The proportion of gravid females was not related to the TSS organic∶inorganic ratio. Fertilization was an all-or-nothing phenomenon. In all females that did become gravid, 98 to 99% of eggs were fertilized regardless of TSS, and total fecundity was unrelated to TSS. Clearance rates declined sharply as TSS increased but showed a threshold relationship in which clearance was uniformly low at TSS > ∼8 mg/L. Reproductive failure probably was not caused by poor body condition or nutritional status be...
Measuring Parts Per Billion of Volatile Materials in Milk

Abstract A simple analytical procedure employing steam distillation in micro-Kjeldahl apparatus and subsequent headspace gas sampling and gas chromatographic analysis of the distillate was effective in measuring volatile materials in milk in parts per billion. This method was demonstrated with the analysis of acetaldehyde, methyl sulfide, propanal, 2-pentanone, and 2-hexanone in milk. Relations were linear between chromatographic peak heights and concentration, and standard deviations were 10% of the mean or less in most cases for four series of replicate analyses.
Coexisting (1 × 3) and (1 × 1) structures in the O2 induced phase change of Ir(110)

The O2 induced phase change of Ir(110) from a (1 × 3) reconstructed surface to a (1 × 1) bulk-like structure has been investigated by time-of-flight scattering and recoiling spectrometry (TOF-SARS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). A pulsed 4 keV Ar+ beam was used in the backscattering (BS), forwardscattering (FS), and recoiling (R) modes. Monitoring specific peaks in the BS intensity I(BS) versus incident angle α scans by TOF-SARS provides a measure of the relative amounts of (1 × 3) and (1 × 1) domains on the surface as a function of O2 dose and surface annealing temperature. The amount of surface oxygen was monitored by means of the oxygen R intensity I(R) in the FS mode. The results show that the clean surface is dominated by (1 × 3) domains and that the O2 exposed surface is dominated by (1 × 1) domains, however both types of structural units coexist under all conditions studied. The fraction of the surface covered by either type of structure is estimated from the data. The LEED results are qualitatively consistent with the TOF-SARS data. The temperature studies reveal that there is an activation barrier for the phase change, even in the presence of excess oxygen.
New developments in binge eating disorder and the night eating syndrome.

NewYorkObesityResearchCenter,St.Luke’s-RooseveltHospitalCenter,Babcock-10A,DepartmentsofMedicineandPsychiatry,ColumbiaUniversityCollegeofPhysiciansandSurgeons,NewYork,NY10025,USATwo eating disorders found primarily among obeseindividuals, binge eating disorder (BED) and the nighteating syndrome (NES) are not as well known asanorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa. Both BED andNES were first described in the 1950s by Stunkard(1959) and Stunkard et al. (1955), but were largelyignored until a recent revival of interest. Attention waspaid first to BED, which became incorporated in theAppendix of the American Psychiatric Manual (DSM4; 1994), and then later to NES, which is stillconsidered a syndrome and not a disorder, untilfurther investigation.
HMO Participation in Medicare+Choice

In recent years, many health maintenance organizations (HMOs) have exited Medicare+Choice (M+C), the program that provides a managed-care option to Medicare. This paper answers the following questions: How does the equilibrium number of HMOs participating in county M+C markets vary with the capitation payment they are offered? How large a payment is required at the margin to ensure that various percentages of county markets have a M+C HMO, or to ensure that various percentages of Medicare beneficiaries have the choice of a M+C plan in their county of residence? The strategy for identifying the effect of government payment on HMO participation relies on a natural experiment; in 1997, Congress divorced M+C payments to HMOs from changes in underlying costs. The results in this paper suggest that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has consistently underestimated the payment necessary to support HMOs in rural, sparsely populated areas. We also find that it would require a large incremental payment to support HMOs in M+C for the final 10% of counties or final 10% of Medicare beneficiaries.
Measuring the accessibility and equity of public parks: a case study using GIS

Geographic information systems (GIS) can provide leisure service agencies with numerous opportunities to enhance the planning and management of their facilities. This paper demonstrates one such application, to the measurement of levels of accessibility and distributional equity offered by a system of public parks. The methods proposed are relatively simple; nevertheless, they do offer substantial improvements upon those previously utilized by leisure service providers. They facilitate identification of poorly served areas and populations, and suggest where new facilities might best be sited so as to maximize access and equity. These methods are illustrated by a case study of the park system in Bryan, Texas. Many other applications of GIS to leisure service provision are available, several of which are briefly discussed. Together, they could enable agencies to function more effectively and, ultimately, to provide better levels of service to the public.
A kernel-based spectral model for non-Gaussian spatio-temporal processes:

Spatio-temporal processes can often be written as hierarchical state-space processes. In situations with complicated dynamics such as wave propagation, it is difficult to parameterize state transit...
Endothelin mediates increased pulmonary vascular tone in patients with heart failure: demonstration by direct intrapulmonary infusion of sitaxsentan.

Background— In patients with chronic heart failure (HF), the pulmonary circulation is a major source of endothelin-1 (ET), and ET levels correlate with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR). The role of ET in causing pulmonary vasoconstriction in HF is not known, however, in part because of the confounding effects of ET receptor antagonists on systemic hemodynamics. Methods and Results— To directly test the hypothesis that ET causes pulmonary vasoconstriction in patients with HF, we infused the selective ET A receptor antagonist sitaxsentan at increasing rates (0.3125 to 10 mg/min) into a left lower-lobe segmental pulmonary artery in 8 patients with left ventricular (LV) systolic failure (LV ejection fraction, 24±4%) and 4 control subjects with normal LV function. Changes in local PVR distal to the infusion site were assessed by measuring the change in pulmonary blood flow velocity with a Doppler-tipped wire and the mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP). Total PVR at baseline was elevated in HF patients (177±23 dyne · s · cm −5 ) versus controls (89±21 dyne · s · cm −5 ; P P P Conclusion— Selective ET A receptor blockade caused local pulmonary vasodilation in patients with HF, but not in control subjects with normal LV function. These data indicate that ET contributes to the secondary pulmonary hypertension associated with HF.
Public engagement with nonprofit organizations on Facebook

Explicating Facebook's engagement features, this study explored whether organizational message strategies based on the four models of public relations have an impact on the different levels of public engagement. The study found that publics demonstrate high levels of engagement with organizational messages when two-way symmetrical communication is used, compared to public information or two-way asymmetrical models. The study also provided practical implications for nonprofit practitioners to engage with publics via social media.
Contexts in mathematical reasoning and computation

Abstract Contexts are sets of formulas used to manage the assumptions that arise in the course of a mathematical deduction or calculation. Although context-dependent reasoning is commonplace in informal mathematics, most contemporary symbolic computation systems do not utilize contexts in sophisticated ways. This paper describes some context-based techniques for symbolic computation, including techniques for reasoning about definedness, simplifying abstract algebraic expressions, and computing with theorems. All of these techniques are implemented in the IMPS Interactive Mathematical Proof System. The paper also proposes a general mathematics laboratory that combines the functionality of current symbolic computation systems with the facilities of a theorem proving system like IMPS.
Approximate solutions of cohomological equations associated with some Anosov flows

The Livshitz theorem reported in 1971 asserts that any C1 function having zero integrals over all periodic orbits of a topologically transitive Anosov flow is a derivative of another C1 function in the direction of the flow. Similar results for functions of higher differentiability have also appeared since. In this paper we prove a ‘finite version’ of the Livshitz theorem for a certain class of Anosov flows on 3-dimensional manifolds which include geodesic flows on negatively curved surfaces as a special case.
Social Support Networks of Single Young Mothers

This study explored the nature of social support networks of young, unmarried mothers. Interviews were conducted with 18 young, female African American residents at an agency for homeless, unmarried mothers in a Midwest city. Quantitative results indicated the mean number of people in the participants’ networks was 19; analysis found a moderately strong correlation between the size of the support network and perceived level of support. Themes that emerged from coding the transcribed, qualitative interviews included the tension between needing support and wanting independence, the motivation generated for young mothers through relationship with their own children, the mixed nature of support from the young mothers’ families, the affect of presence or absence of support from the child’s father, the role of the young mother’s own mother in her support system, the lack of supportive relationships among young mothers in the program, and impressions the young mothers had of formal agency services. The authors discuss implications for case management and agencies working with teen mothers.
Sustainability of plant-based diets: back to the future

Plant-based diets in comparison to diets rich in animal products are more sustainable because they use many fewer natural resources and are less taxing on the environment. Given the global population explosion and increase in wealth, there is an increased demand for foods of animal origin. Environmental data are rapidly accumulating on the unsustainability of current worldwide food consumption practices that are high in meat and dairy products. Natural nonrenewable resources are becoming scarce, and environmental degradation is rapidly increasing. At the current trends of food consumption and environmental changes, food security and food sustainability are on a collision course. Changing course (to avoid the collision) will require extreme downward shifts in meat and dairy consumption by large segments of the world's population. Other approaches such as food waste reduction and precision agriculture and/or other technological advances have to be simultaneously pursued; however, they are insufficient to make the global food system sustainable. For millennia, meatless diets have been advocated on the basis of values, and large segments of the world population have thrived on plant-based diets. "Going back" to plant-based diets worldwide seems to be a reasonable alternative for a sustainable future. Policies in favor of the global adoption of plant-based diets will simultaneously optimize the food supply, health, environmental, and social justice outcomes for the world's population. Implementing such nutrition policy is perhaps one of the most rational and moral paths for a sustainable future of the human race and other living creatures of the biosphere that we share.
An electron microscopy investigation of the structure of porous silicon by oxide replication

The morphology of porous silicon is studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by making an oxide replica of the pore structure. Highly branched n-type porous silicon samples were prepared and a replica was formed by oxidation of the pores followed by selective removal of the silicon substrate to expose the oxide pores. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy images confirmed many previously held assumptions about porous silicon formation, including the fractal structure and crystallographic propagation; they also provided a clearer understanding of the details of pore formation. The replica procedure also provides a platform for a more facile and comprehensive analysis of the porous silicon morphology.
Recent advances in methodology and concepts for characterizing inhalation pharmacokinetic parameters in animals and man.

(1982). Recent Advances in Methodology and Concepts for Characterizing Inhalation Pharmacokinetic Parameters in Animals and Man. Drug Metabolism Reviews: Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 799-826.
Social and demographic dimensions of sex selection technologies: review and analysis of the research literature.

Using the Thomson Reuters Web of Science, we analytically reviewed existing research from the past 30 years on the social and demographic dimensions of sex selection technologies. Through content analysis and bibliometric analysis, we investigated publications in four categories: description, attitudes, demographics, and policy. Our results leave little doubt that individual choices and, in some instances, public policies have the potential to bring about significant social and demographic changes on local, national, and international levels. More research is warranted on the causal variables that underlie the individual and policy decisions that are associated with sex selection technologies. [Supplementary material is available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Biodemography and Social Biology for the following free supplemental resource(s): Sex Selection References for all references reviewed in both the content analysis and the bibliometric analysis not otherwise listed in the ...
Application of an Art Algorithm in an Experimental Study of Ultrasonic Diffraction Tomography

This paper describes results obtained using a recently developed Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (ART) for diffraction tomography on experimental data obtained from an ultrasound scanner built by Norwave Development A.S. of Oslo, Norway. The test objects (phantoms) employed in the study are low contrast cylindrical rods made out of agar with dimensions comparable to the wavelength of the incident wavefield. The reconstructions obtained from the ART algorithm are compared to the ones obtained from the filtered backpropagation algorithm. It is determined that the ART algorithm out performs the filtered backpropagation algorithm for cases where data from only a small number of tomographic experiments are available.
Another View on the Foundations of Statistics

(1962). Another View on the Foundations of Statistics. The American Statistician: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 17-21.