cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing and Predicting Who Wins Federal Tax Trial Decisions

In "Assessing and Predicting Who Wins Federal Tax Trial Decisions," Professor Daniel Schneider uses empirical research to examine the interplay between who wins in federal tax decisions and the social backgrounds of the judges who decided the cases. While tax scholarship engages in traditional legal reasoning about tax cases, it has not empirically analyzed who wins. This article uses statistics, especially logistic regressions, to engage in such an analysis, taking judges' backgrounds into account. Professor Schneider's database consists of decisions from both the Tax Court and the district courts sitting in the Southern District of New York, the Northern District of Illinois, and the Central District of California that were rendered between 1979 and 1998. He has assembled data about both the decisions - the court where the decision was made, the year of the decision, the primary Code section at issue, and who won the case - and the social backgrounds of the judges who rendered the decisions - each judge's gender, race (for the district court judges) educational background, political affiliation, prior professional experience, and length of the judge's tenure when he rendered the decision. Some of Professor Schneider's descriptive statistics include his observations that the taxpayer won more in the Tax Court than in the district courts, before judges who had gone to more elite colleges, before judges who had sat on the bench less time when rendering the decision, and before judges who had come from a prior professional experience primarily in private practice. All of the tested variables in judges' social backgrounds were correlated with who won, with strong associations between background and the taxpayer winning occurring when a judge was a woman, had a more elite education, had a prior primary work experience in private practice, or was appointed by a Democratic president.
Raman spectroscopy (RESpect) for anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) lesions from HIV-serodiscordant couples

Background Anal dysplasia is a potentially chronic disease that affects HIV-seropositive and-seronegative men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women. Novel approaches to AIN screening could improve healthcare through access to timely care and treatment since appropriate training and equipment are currently required for screening and follow-up. To pioneer new ideas, the foundation for new technology relies on collecting data to design new tools. Recently, Raman spectroscopy (RESpect), a laser-based technology, has identified unique anal tissue fingerprints. We assessed anal tissue for RESpect phenotypes for differences in HIV-serodiscordant couples. Methods HIV-serodiscordant couples were enrolled in a clinical study to assess anal biopsy specimens as per IRB guidelines. Anal tissue was flash-frozen and mounted onto aluminum reflective slides which were then subjected to RESpect point scans accumulations. RESpect information was processed using asymmetric least squares to baseline the data and subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). Results To date, data from 2 couples showed that PCA distinguishes between HIV+ and HIV- individuals of the couples. In HIV+ individuals, PCA also distinguishes AIN from normal tissue. Conclusions RESpect has shown to identify not only AIN amongst all individuals but also suggested there may be a unique HIV effect in the RESpect data from anal tissue. Further work on RESpect could provide groundbreaking information towards the design of a RESpect monitoring instrument to diagnose and follow patients for AIN. Supported in part by R21CA216830 and U54MD007584.
Short Warm-Side Temperature Distribution Tails Drive Hot Spots of Warm Temperature Extreme Increases under Near-Future Warming

AbstractRegions of shorter-than-Gaussian warm-side temperature anomaly distribution tails are shown to occur in spatially coherent patterns in global reanalysis. Under such conditions, future warmi...
Fertilization Affects Constitutive and Wound-Induced Chemical Defenses in Gerbera jamesonii

Abstract The total phenolic content and jasmonic acid (JA) content of foliage from gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii ‘Festival Salmon’) subjected to low and high fertilization rates were measured to deter...
Professional Communication Networks and Job Satisfaction in Primary Care Clinics.

PURPOSE Whereas communication among health care professionals plays an important role in providing the best quality of care for primary care patients, little evidence exists regarding how professional communication contributes to job satisfaction among health care providers, including physicians and clinical staff, in primary care clinics. This study evaluates the extent to which professional communication networks contribute to job satisfaction among health care professionals in primary care clinics. METHODS A total of 143 health care professionals, including physicians and clinical staff, at 5 US primary care clinics participated in a cross-sectional survey on their communication connections regarding patient care with other care team members and their job satisfaction. Social network analysis calculated core-periphery measures to identify individuals located in a dense cohesive core and in a sparse, loosely connected periphery in the communication network. Generalized linear mixed modeling related core-periphery position of clinic employees in the communication network to job satisfaction, after adjusting for job title, sex, number of years working at the clinic, and percent full-time employment. RESULTS Average job satisfaction was 5.8 on a scale of 1 to 7. Generalized linear mixed modeling showed that individuals who were in the core of the communication network had significantly greater job satisfaction than those who were on the periphery. Female physicians had lesser overall job satisfaction than other clinic employees. CONCLUSIONS Interventions targeting professional communication networks might improve health care employee job satisfaction at primary care clinics.
Liver Disease in Pregnancy: What's New

Liver disease in pregnancy may present as a disorder that is unique to pregnancy or as an acute or chronic liver disease occurring coincidentally in pregnancy. Hepatic diseases that are unique to pregnancy include hyperemesis gravidarum; preeclampsia/eclampsia; the syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets; intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; and acute fatty liver of pregnancy. Acute and chronic forms of primary hepatic disorders that are seen in pregnancy include viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis. Because of the need to consider both maternal and fetal health, there are special considerations for the implementation of diagnostic strategies and pharmacologic therapies for liver disease that occurs in pregnancy. An understanding of the pathogenesis and expression of liver diseases in pregnancy has been evolving, and various diagnostic and prognostic tools have been studied in order to determine noninvasive approaches to identifying and staging of such diseases. Investigations have also been underway to evaluate the safety and utility of existing and new therapeutic agents that previously were thought to not be compatible with pregnancy. This review will explore updates in the epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of various liver diseases seen in pregnancy.
Growth Rate of Staphylococcus Aureus in weak magnetic field.

A comparative study of the growth of S.aureus in different types of weak magnetic field shows that the growth of the bacteria is initially suppressed after inoculation in a new medium and then increased in the same pattern with or without magnetic field. However, the rate of growth and death of bacteria depend on the variation in the magnetic field for comparable strength. Magnetic field effect on the ionic motion plays a key role in the growth rate. It is shown that the concentration of bacteria reduces initially and then it starts increasing after some time. Multiplication and death of bacterial cells is related to its interaction with the nutrients which is managed by the magnetic field direction, strength and variation at room temperature.
Extreme Value Analysis of Geomagnetically Induced Currents Based on Historical Magnetic Field Data

Geomagnetically induced current (GIC) occurring in the transmission network due to geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) events may cause power system equipment damage and/or lead to large-scale power outages. The 1-in-100 year benchmark GMD scenario, considered to be a high impact low-frequency event, is intended for use in planning for GMD events. In this paper, we estimate the 95% confidence interval for the 100-year return level of GIC flows for the transmission network of Iowa, based on extreme value analysis (EVA) of historical GIC flows calculated using historical (1979–2017) geomagnetic field data. The EVA is performed by fitting the distribution of the extreme GIC data on the family of distributions that include Generalized Extreme Value and Generalized Pareto Distribution. We compare this 100-year return level of GIC with that obtained using the NERC benchmark definition.
Venipuncture-Induced Nerve Injury: A Review

(2005). Venipuncture-Induced Nerve Injury. Journal of Neuropathic Pain & Symptom Palliation: Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 109-114.
Sensitivity of urban flood simulations to stormwater infrastructure and soil infiltration

Abstract Flooding from intense rainfall is a major hazard in many urban areas. One of the major challenges in urban flood simulations is lack of data about the location and properties of stormwater infrastructure and land cover. In this paper, we investigate the sensitivity of urban flood simulations to inputs of stormwater infrastructure and soil characteristics. We use a 2D hydrodynamic model (MIKE URBAN) to simulate flood events on the University of Alabama (UA) campus in Tuscaloosa U.S.A. Infiltration rate, soil moisture, and soil texture were measured in the field. Soil texture was found to be homogeneous across campus (sandy loam) but with a high degree of spatial and temporal variation in infiltration rate and soil moisture. Comparison between different storm event return periods (10, 25, 50, and 100 years) shows that the same flooding hotspots are persistent but with considerable variation in water depth and flood extent. To investigate the sensitivity of the simulations to stormwater infrastructure, simulations without the stormwater infrastructure input were conducted. The results show that stormwater infrastructure decreases flooding volume of RP 10, 25, 50, and 100 by factors of 20, 14, 12, and 8, respectively. This shows that urban flood simulation is highly sensitive to the inclusion of stormwater infrastructure, though with decreasing relative impact for larger events. To investigate the sensitivity of the simulations to soil characteristics, four land-cover simulations (actual, uniform, entirely pervious, entirely impervious) were compared. The results show flood simulation predictions are sensitive to both the value and spatial explicitness of the soil input data. We discuss challenges in urban flood simulation and their potential solutions in the context of emerging frameworks for national and global hyper-resolution flood forecasting and analysis.
From landsmanshaften to vinkln : Mediating community among Yiddish speakers in America

Vinkln (“corners”) in America have spread since the 1970s as an organizational strategy by Yiddish-speaking, non-pietistic, East European Jewish immigrants, many of whom have a Holocaust experience. The vinkln provide a privatized, immersive experience for Yiddish language and culture as a way to offer community identity to Yiddish speakers within the wider Jewish community. They arose out of landsmanschaften, or “hometown associations,” in the early twentieth century, but the vinkln function to ritually reproduce culture rather than offer mutual aid based on old-country affiliation. Although secularized, the organized social structure and performed communication of the vinkln invoke rituals and roles of Jewish religious services from traditional community experience. They displace old-country affiliations with pronounced loyalties to Israel and America, although the location of Yiddish in performance is often centered in Poland. The vinkln mediate community by suggesting cultural reproduction even as the bonds of language and society among Yiddish speakers are weakening. Its symbols and associations are restricted to an elderly age cohort, and therefore not likely to perpetuate the very culture that its organizers purport to preserve. It is differentiated from other structures of Yiddish conservation and appreciation such as Internet networks and community center conversation groups.
12.3 Exploring PUF-Controlled PA Spectral Regrowth for Physical-Layer Identification of IoT Nodes

It is projected that 75 billion Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices will be deployed for applications such as wearable electronics and smart home by 2025. Securing IoT devices is one of the most significant barriers we need to overcome for large-scale IoT adoption. Conventional wireless security has been implemented solely using upper-layer cryptography [1]. Unfortunately, IoT nodes are often energy-constrained and may not have enough computational resources to implement advanced asymmetric cryptographic algorithms and public-key-infrastructures (PKI) [2]–[3]. To overcome this challenge, there has been growing interest in leveraging the physical impairments of the radios that are bonded to specific TX for secure identification [4] –[6], a.k.a. RF fingerprinting. If Bob (the RX) has sufficient sensitivity, it can identify Alice (the legitimate TX) and the malicious impersonator during demodulation based on their inherent radio signatures, similar to how we distinguish different people based on their unique voice signatures (Fig. 12.3.1). As the device-dependent radio impairments come from process variation, it is challenging for impersonators to forge in practice. In addition, unlike conventional identification approach that device IDs are inserted in preambles and checked only once a while, RF fingerprinting enables continuous identification at any moment during communication, leading to a tighter bond between the data packet and device.
Follicular Lymphoma Presenting as Intussusception in an Adult.

A 61-year-old male with no past medical history presented with intense abdominal pain for three days, associated with hematochezia, nausea, and non-bloody vomiting. CT scan of the abdomen showed distended small bowel, diffuse lymphadenopathy, and intussusception of the distal ileum into the cecum with obstruction. Ileocolic resection and histopathological staining confirmed the diagnosis of follicular lymphoma and appropriate treatment was initiated. Intussusception is a condition that involves the invagination of the proximal segment of a bowel tract into its contiguous distal segment as a result of enthusiastic or impaired peristalsis. Only 5% of the total intussusception cases are found in adults. Most cases in adults are caused by pathological lead points which can be benign or malignant. Lymphomas rarely present with intussusception and follicular lymphomas are even less common. To the best of our knowledge, there have only been a few such cases of follicular lymphomas with the initial presentation of intussusception. In this article, we present a rare case of follicular lymphoma presenting as intussusception. Considering lymphomas as a cause of intussusception in adults can decrease diagnostic delays and guide treatment.
Terrain-referenced navigation using a steerable-laser measurement sensor

The benefits of GNSS have created dependencies on navigation in modern day aviation systems. Many of these systems operate with no backup navigation source. This makes the capabilities supported by precise navigation vulnerable. This paper investigates a contemporary approach to terrain-referenced navigation (TRN), used to preserve an aircraft’s navigation solution during periods of GNSS denial. Traditionally, TRN has been accomplished using a single measurement sensor pointed nadir to an aircraft. Although shown to be effective, this approach limits the achievable navigation accuracy by restricting the measurable terrain gradients to those below an aircraft. This paper explores an alternative approach to TRN that maximizes navigation information through optimal steering of a gimbaled laser. A Cramer-Rao lower bound analysis as well as a high-fidelity simulation establishes the utility of optimal steering while employing TRN. This original approach to TRN shows the order of magnitude improvements in navigation performance over existing methods.
Estimation of crash type frequencies on individual collector roadway segments

Abstract Individual collision types have different underlying causes and thus the relationships between roadway/traffic characteristics and crash frequency are likely to differ across unique collision types. One way these different influences have been studied is by developing separate statistical models for each collision type. While this is the most straightforward approach, developing collision-specific models can be very tedious and can produce unreliable estimates for collision types that are less frequently observed. Moreover, ignoring correlations between different collision types may result in biased and inefficient parameter estimation. To overcome these limitations, researchers have adopted a multivariate approach that explicitly accounts for the correlation among individual collision types. As an alternative to multivariate approach, two-stage approaches have been proposed in which one model is estimated to predict total crash frequency and its prediction is combined with another model, used to predict the proportions of different collision types. More efficient one-stage joint models, in which both the frequency and proportion models are estimated simultaneously and predictions are provided more directly, have also been proposed for macro-level analysis. This study investigates the performance of this joint model paradigm in analyzing unique collision type frequencies on individual road segments. For this, a joint negative binomial-multinomial fractional split (NB-MFS) model is used. Moreover, this study also proposes the use of a multinomial logit (MNL) model to estimate the proportion of different collision types. As total crash frequency NB model and MNL model utilize different datasets, a two-stage estimation process is required, which leads to the two-stage NB-MNL model proposed here. The performance of proposed model is compared with that of collision-specific NB models, multivariate negative binomial (MVNB) model, and NB-MFS model in predicting crash frequency by collision type on two-way two-lane urban-suburban collector roadway segments in Pennsylvania. The goodness of fit statistics show that the NB-MNL model performs better than collision-specific NB models, MVNB model and joint NB-MFS model and is thus a promising approach in predicting crash frequency by collision type.
Assessing Bias in Smartphone Mobility Estimates in Low Income Countries

It has become common for governments and practitioners to measure mobility using data from smartphones, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet in countries where few people have smartphones, or use mobile internet, the movement of smartphones may not be a good indicator of the movement of the population. This paper develops a framework for approaching potential bias that can arise when measuring mobility with smartphones. Using mobile phone operator records in Uganda, we compare the mobility of smartphones and the basic and feature phones that are more common. Smartphones have different travel patterns, and decrease mobility substantially more in response to a COVID-19 lockdown. This suggests caution when interpreting smartphone mobility estimates in contexts with low adoption.
Anatomically Complete Supraclavicular Reoperation for Recurrent Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Clinical Characteristics, Operative Findings, and Long-term Outcomes:

Background:The clinical outcomes of reoperations for recurrent neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) remain undefined.Methods:From 2009 to 2019, 90 patients with recurrent NTOS underwent anato...
Mariner Mars 9 stereophotogrammetry

Discussion of the equipment and orbital specifications of the Mariner Mars 9 spacecraft - a Martian orbiter which was placed in orbit on Nov. 14, 1971, for an expected 50-year stay and has made possible a practically 100% photographic coverage of the planet's surface. The orbit has a nominal 12-hr period, a nominal periapsis of 1300 km, and a nominal apoapsis of 18,000 km. Many of the outstanding topographic features of the planet have been covered by the convergent stereopairs carried by the orbiter. Theoretical considerations are set forth concerning the necessary instrument orientation and rotation requirements to achieve such performance levels in this extraterrestrial application of photogrammetry. The photogrammetric method used in this mission is assessed as useful in the evaluation of outstanding Martian features such as the mammoth volcano of the Nix Olympica region.
Genetic Manipulation of Campylobacter jejuni

Molecular manipulation has been a limiting factor in C. jejuni research for many years. Recent advances in molecular techniques adapted for C. jejuni have furthered our understanding of the organism. This unit is dedicated to common molecular tools in bacterial research specifically tailored for C. jejuni. These include colony PCR, DNA isolation, and RNA isolation. The unit also reviews techniques for genetic manipulation, such as the use of plasmids, natural transformation, electroporation, conjugation, and transposition. In addition, a reporter system, the arylsulfatase assay, can be used to study gene expression.
Effect of treatment status on prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle in schizophrenia.

Rationale The acoustic startle response is inhibited when the startling stimulus is preceded by a weaker non-startling acoustic stimulus. This phenomenon, termed prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle (PPI), is impaired in schizophrenics compared to normal controls. To date, there is conflicting evidence regarding whether PPI impairments improve with antipsychotic treatment.
Chapter 5 – Anxious processes

Publisher Summary Negative affectivity and style of emotion regulation contribute to anxious processes that are described in this chapter as hypervigilance toward threat and supportive physiology, threat-related judgments about the self and the environment, and avoidance behaviors. These processes represent a threat-based style of responding, and they both define anxiety and, by generating distress, contribute to the risk for further anxiety. The pervasiveness with which anxious processes are manifested—or the overall level of anxiousness—is considered to be dependent on the strength of the predisposing vulnerability factors. The vulnerability factors of negative affectivity and a threat-based style of emotion regulation are presumed to heighten avoidant responding. In addition, avoidant coping is trainable, according to the extensive literature on avoidance learning, and the role of parental influences may be paramount in the development of an avoidant style of responding. Moreover, avoidance contributes to ongoing distress in the form of fearful expectations and further avoidance of phobic stimuli, and in the form of overall anxiousness. Several investigations link avoidant responding to occasional symptoms as critical to the transition to further and more pervasive distress, and the extensive experimental research on thought suppression demonstrates the negative impact, physiologically and emotionally, of such attempts.
Aid for agriculture and rural development: A changing landscape with new players and challenges

This paper analyses the way aid for agriculture and rural development in the global south has changed over time. It finds three key shifts. First, a change in funding priority that has seen aid commitments move to the social sectors. Second is a shift in priority within agriculture and rural development from the productive sector towards support for policy development and administrative capacity strengthening. Third is the emergence and rise in commitments from non-traditional bilateral donors, private sector foundations and venture capital finance. The paper argues that these `new´ actors, often working outside the Development Aid Committee and other global official development assistance frameworks, have introduced alternative aid channels that not only complement but also reshape aid relationships between the traditional donors and the global south. It suggests further research to understand the impact of these new ways of financing development.
Interactive cutaway illustrations of complex 3D models

We present a system for authoring and viewing interactive cutaway illustrations of complex 3D models using conventions of traditional scientific and technical illustration. Our approach is based on the two key ideas that 1) cuts should respect the geometry of the parts being cut, and 2) cutaway illustrations should support interactive exploration. In our approach, an author instruments a 3D model with auxiliary parameters, which we call "rigging," that define how cutaways of that structure are formed. We provide an authoring interface that automates most of the rigging process. We also provide a viewing interface that allows viewers to explore rigged models using high-level interactions. In particular, the viewer can just select a set of target structures, and the system will automatically generate a cutaway illustration that exposes those parts. We have tested our system on a variety of CAD and anatomical models, and our results demonstrate that our approach can be used to create and view effective interactive cutaway illustrations for a variety of complex objects with little user effort.
Moored Observations of Western Boundary Current variability and thermohaline circulation at 26.5°N in the subtropical north Atlantic

Abstract A 5.8-year time series of moored current meter observations is used with hydrographic section data, CME model results, and gridded wind fields over the North Atlantic to describe the mean structure and variability of circulation and volume transports east of Abaco, Bahamas, at 26.5°N. A mean Antilles Current, with 5 Sv of northward transport, is confined against the Bahamas boundary in the upper 800 m and combines with approximately 19 Sv of Florida Current transport to balance the Sverdrup interior circulation, and does not contribute to interhemispheric exchange. The mean transport of the deep western boundary current (DWBC) off the Bahamas is approximately 40 Sv, of which 13 Sv compensates the upper branch of the thermohaline circulation, requiring a 27 Sv deep recirculation. Robust annual and semiannual cycles of meridional are found in both moored observations and model results with remarkable agreement in amplitude (±13 Sv) and phase. Maximum northward transports occur in winter and summer,...
Emission-wavelength-dependent decay of the fluorescent probe N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine.

Abstract We have measured the fluorescence decay of N- phenyl -1- naphthylamine using the phase-modulation method, in several solvent systems and egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles. The decay is monoexponential in pure solvents (both polar and non-polar) of low viscosity. In polar viscous solvents or in non-polar solvents containing an added polar solute, the decay is heterogeneous and emission wavelength dependent. In such cases, dielectric relaxation and/or excited-state complexing give rise to a shift of the emission spectrum on the nanosecond time scale. Emission-wavelength-dependent decay was also observed when N- phenyl -1- naphthylamine was bound to egg phosphatidylcholine vesicles. From these results as well as the position of the emission spectral maximum, we conclude that N- phenyl -1- naphthylamine probes the ester-carbonyl region of the phospholipid acyl chains, where it undergoes an excited-state reaction. This result contradicts the often made assumption that N- phenyl -1- naphthylamine probes the deeper hydrocarbon region of the bilayer.
Continued studies on the formalin method for liver glycogen.

Abstract The TCA extraction of liver glycogen gives higher yields of glycogen with greater purity than the formalin method and is better for quantitative determinations. The formalin method yields a product with nearly twice the sedimentation constants (Svedberg units). The formalin method is unsatisfactory for preparation of glycogen from oysters but it could be useful for investigators faced with the problem of recovering samples of glycogen for further structural studies after tissues (from glycogenosis patients) which have been stored in formalin; the glycogen does not degradate during storage.
Analysis of tracking control designs for a delay differential equation model used in the study of nanoparticle dosing strategies

In earlier work [1], an LQR tracking control of a delay differential equation model was used in the analysis of nanoparticle dosing strategies for cancer therapy. In this work, comparisons are made between the LQR-controlled system, but with modified dose, and two other controlled systems. One system investigated uses Dirac delta functions to achieve a discrete dosing strategy. The other system under consideration uses a PID tracking control because it is a common controller employed in the engineering, industrial, and lab settings. These different methods of tracking to a specific therapeutic target, though all effective, produce different results with different control efforts required. In this work, all of these methods with their respective results are analyzed and discussed.
Computer science and the mathematics genealogy project

From the book of Genesis to the TCS genealogy of Ian Parberry [1] folks have been inquisitive about their roots. In academic disciplines --- such as computer science, mathematics, statistics, etc. --- people are frequently interested in their academic heritage.
Winter Wheat and Red Clover Intercrop Response to Tillage and Compost Amendment

Frost-seeding red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) into winter cereals is an effi cient establishment method, although performance under contrasting soil management practices remains unclear. Wheat and intercropped red clover productivity were evaluated in intensive tillage (IT), moderate tillage (MT), and no tillage (NT) with and without compost amendment in a corn (Zea mays L.)– soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and red clover rotation between 2005 and 2010. Wheat yields were not affected by tillage system and averaged 3.80 Mg ha−1 but were 10% higher in compost amended soil compared to no compost. Red clover plant density and dry matter (DM) at cereal grain harvest averaged 127 plants m−2 and 32 g m−2 and were not affected by tillage or amendment treatments. Maximum wheat canopy light interception was attained in late May to early June and ranged from 84 to 91% and typically exceeded 77% light interception for at least 22 d. Red clover root DM increased on average 378% between wheat harvest and 40 d after harvest compared with a 64% average increase in red clover root length. Red clover shoot:root averaged 8.5 at wheat harvest compared with 11.2 40 d after wheat harvest. Producers using this wheat and red clover intercrop should expect no difference in wheat yield or red clover productivity when using IT, MT, or NT. B.C. Blaser, Dep. of Agricultural Sciences, Room 114G Agriculture and Natural Sciences Bldg., West Texas AM J.W. Singer, USDA-ARS National Lab. for Agriculture and the Environment, 2110 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010; L.R. Gibson, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, IA 50131. Mention of trade names or commercial products is solely for the purpose of providing specifi c information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Received 16 May 2011. *Corresponding author (wondayen88@yahoo.com). Abbreviations: DM, dry matter; IPAR, intercepted photosynthetically active radiation; IT, intensive tillage; LAI, leaf area index; MT, moderate tillage; NT, no tillage; PAR, photosynthetically active radiation. Published in Crop Sci. 52:320–326 (2012). doi: 10.2135/cropsci2011.05.0268 Published online 13 Oct. 2011. © Crop Science Society of America | 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Permission for printing and for reprinting the material contained herein has been obtained by the publisher.
Downright Sexy: Verticality, Implicit Power, and Perceived Physical Attractiveness

Grounded theory proposes that abstract concepts (e.g., power) are represented by perceptions of vertical space (e.g., up is powerful; down is powerless). We used this theory to examine predictions made by evolutionary psychologists who suggest that desirable males are those who have status and resources (i.e., powerful) while desirable females are those who are youthful and faithful (i.e., powerless). Using vertical position as an implicit cue for power, we found that male participants rated pictures of females as more attractive when their images were presented near the bottom of a computer screen, whereas female participants rated pictures of males as more attractive when their images were presented near the top of a computer screen. Our results support the evolutionary theory of attraction and reveal the social-judgment consequences of grounded theories of cognition.
Economie et Humanisme's Search for a Human Economic System

THE OUTLINE of a human economic system to be presented is the work of a small group of Frenchmen who call themselves Economie et Humanisme. This group forms but one of the numerous centers of research and action whose ambition is to work for the advancement of civilization. By subtitling itself, centre d'etude des complexes sociaux, Economie et Humanisme wants to indicate that its point of departure is observation carried out not only by research scientists but at the same time by militants engaged in practical problems. The year 1941 marks the formal organization of Economie et Humanisme and in the following year its Manifeste stated the fundamental orientation of the group to be resolutely personalist and communitarian.1 It should be noted that the idea of community does not imply the suppression of private property but only signifies that the person is indirectly subordinated to the common good which is promoted by the conscious effort of free men.2 Economie et Humanisme is "personalist" because of its "active respect of the person." This means "not only that one does not harm another person, but that also one facilitates his continuous acquisition of human value by means of institutions and structures which respect all the authentic needs of men."3
Liver Regeneration in Rats with Retrorsine-Induced Hepatocellular Injury Proceeds through a Novel Cellular Response

The adult rodent liver contains at least two recognized populations of cells with stem-like properties that contribute to liver repair/regeneration under different pathophysiological circumstances: (i) unipotential committed progenitor cells (differentiated hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells) and (ii) multipotential nonparenchymal progenitor cells (oval cells). In retrorsine-induced hepatocellular injury the capacity of fully differentiated rat hepatocytes to replicate is severely impaired and massive proliferation of oval cells does not occur. Nevertheless, retrorsine-exposed rats can replace their entire liver mass after 2/3 surgical partial hepatectomy through the emergence and expansion of a population of small hepatocyte-like progenitor cells that expresses phenotypic characteristics of fetal hepatoblasts, oval cells, and fully differentiated hepatocytes, but differ distinctly from each type of cell. The activation, proliferation, and complete regeneration of normal liver structure from small hepatocyte-like progenitor cells have not been recognized in other models of liver injury characterized by impaired hepatocyte replication. We suggest that the selective emergence and expansion of small hepatocyte-like progenitor cells observed in the retrorsine model reflect a novel mechanism of complete liver regeneration in the adult rat. Furthermore, we suggest that these cells may represent a novel progenitor cell population that (i) responds to liver deficit when the replication capacity of differentiated hepatocytes is impaired, (ii) expresses an extensive proliferative capacity, (iii) can give rise to large numbers of progeny hepatocytes, and (iv) can restore tissue mass.
Nitrogen dioxide exposure in vivo and human alveolar macrophage inactivation of influenza virus in vitro.

Epidemiologic studies have reported an increased incidence of respiratory infections and illness in association with elevated indoor levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Animal exposure studies have found that brief exposures to peak levels of NO2 produce greater morbidity than continuous lower level exposure. In order to examine the effect of NO2 inhalation on human alveolar macrophages, normal volunteers were exposed sequentially to air or NO2, by double-blind randomization, in an environmental chamber. Two exposure protocols with comparable concentration x time products were used: (a) continuous 0.60 ppm NO2 (n = 9), and (b) background 0.05 ppm NO2 with three 15-min peaks of 2.0 ppm (n = 15). Inhalation of NO2 caused no significant changes in pulmonary function or airway reactivity in either exposure protocol. Alveolar macrophages obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage 3 1/2 hr after exposure to continuous 0.60 ppm NO2 tended to inactivate influenza virus in vitro less effectively than cells collected after air exposure (1.96 vs 1.25 log10 plaque-forming units on Day 2 of incubation, P less than 0.07). Four of nine subjects accounted for the observed impairment in virus inactivation; cells from these four subjects demonstrated an increase in interleukin-1 (IL-1) production after NO2 vs air, whereas themore » five remaining subjects decreased IL-1 production after NO2. In contrast, intermittent peak exposure did not alter the rate of viral inactivation or IL-1 production. This methodology has the potential to identify pollutant effects on mechanisms of respiratory defense in humans.« less
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer: analysis of clinical outcomes from a 13-year institutional experience.

Objective To examine clinical outcomes in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation for locally advanced rectal adenocarcinoma. Background Data Preoperative radiation therapy, either alone or in combination with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy, has proven both safe and effective in the treatment of rectal cancer. However, data are lacking regarding which subgroups of patients benefit from the therapy in terms of decreased local recurrence and increased survival rates. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed on 141 consecutive patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiation (5-fluorouracil ± cisplatin and 4,500-5,040 cGy) for biopsy-proven locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the rectum. Surgery was performed 4 to 8 weeks after completion of chemoradiation. Standard statistical methods were used to analyze recurrence and survival. Results Median follow-up was 27 months, and mean age was 59 years (range 28-81). Mean tumor distance from the anal verge was 6 cm (range 1-15). Of those staged before surgery with endorectal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging, 57% of stage II patients and 82% of stage III patients were downstaged. The chemotherapeutic regimens were well tolerated, and resections were performed on 140 patients. The percentage of sphincter-sparing procedures increased from 20% before 1996 to 76% after 1996. On pathologic analysis, 24% of specimens were T0. However, postoperative pathologic T stage had no effect on either recurrence or survival. Positive lymph node status predicted increased local recurrence and decreased survival. Conclusions Neoadjuvant chemoradiation is safe, effective, and well tolerated. Postoperative lymph node status is the only independent predictor of recurrence and survival.
Flame propagation of mixtures of air with binary liquid fuel mixtures

Abstract The laminar flame speeds of mixtures of air with 80% n -dodecane + 20% methylcyclohexane and 80% n -dodecane + 20% toluene, on a per volume basis, were determined in the counterflow configuration over a wide range of equivalence ratio, at atmospheric pressure and 403 K unburned mixture temperature. The choice of the fuel blends was dictated by their anticipated compositions in jet fuels surrogates. Phenomenological analysis shows that the laminar flame speeds of binary fuels mixtures can be estimated using the laminar flame speeds and adiabatic flame temperatures of the neat components. The propagation rates of various binary fuels blends were computed using detailed descriptions of chemical kinetics and molecular transport and were found to be in good agreement with the estimations. Although the fuel initial consumption pathways and the resulting intermediates and radicals may be different for each neat component, the propagation of flames of binary fuels is mostly sensitive to the flame temperature through its influence on the main branching reaction H + O 2 → OH + O. Thus, kinetic couplings resulting from the presence of two different fuels, appear to have minor effect on flame propagation.
The role of scent marking in Lemur catta agonistic behavior

Certain forms of marking behavior in Lemur catta have been considered to be aggressive in nature but had not been analyzed specifically in this respect. This study examines the relationship between the occurrence of all forms of marking behavior displayed by a captive group of lemurs and their physical and nonphysical aggressive interactions. All forms of marking behavior, especially males' tail mark and tail wave displays, were found to correlate with aggressive behavior including female-instigated agonism. In comparison, allogrooming, a behavior thought not to have an agonistic component, was not significantly correlated with any marking nor agonistic category. The data suggest that in intersexual interactions male marking behavior is an aggressive but nonphysical substitute for physical aggression toward females who have generally been regarded as dominant to males in this species.
One-Port Retroperitoneoscopic Assisted Pyeloplasty

Purpose Laparoscopic pyeloplasty remains a challenging procedure in children. One-Port-Retroperitoneoscopic-Assisted-Pyeloplasty (OPRAP) is proposed as minimally invasive approach with the advantages of open and laparoscopic procedures. Aim: to verify safety and effectiveness of OPRAP, compared to open dismembered pyeloplasty (ODP). Material and Methods From January 2008 to June 2009, children aged 6 months-5 years with ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction were offered OPRAP. As control group, age-matched patients who underwent ODP during 2007 year were enrolled. The UPJ was isolated retroperitoneoscopically, through a single operative trocar, and exteriorized. Pyeloplasty was performed in an open fashion, with double-J stenting. Operative time, surgical complications, hospital stay, Ultrasound and nuclear scan results at 6-month follow-up were compared. Post-operative pain was evaluated by FLACC scale. The Chi-square and Student t-test were adopted for statistical analysis, considering p Results 28 children, mean age 18 months, were treated by OPRAP (17 males, 18 left sided). As control group, 25 patients, mean age 19 months (11 males, 10 left kidney). Mean operative time was 95 mins (70-130 mins) in OPRAP and 72 mins (58-102 mins) in ODP (p Conclusions OPRAP represents a safe and effective minimally invasive technique to treat hydronephrosis and could be the treatment of choice in young children. It does not require the laparoscopic suturing skills, and summarizes the advantages of open and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
Plastic buckling of thin hemispherical shell subjected to concentrated load at the apex

Abstract This study presents the analytical, numerical, and experimental results of thin hemispherical metal shells into the plastic buckling range illustrating the importance of geometry changes on the buckling load. The hemispherical shell is rigidly supported around the base circumference against horizontal and vertical translation and the load is vertically applied by a rigid cylindrical boss at the apex. Kinematics stages of initial buckling and subsequent propagation of plastic deformation for rigid-perfectly plastic shells are formulated on the basis of Drucker–Shield's limited interaction yield condition. The effect of the radius of the boss, used to apply the loading, on the initial and subsequent collapse load is studied. In the numerical model, the material is assumed to be isotropic and linear elastic perfectly plastic without strain hardening obeying the Tresca or Von Mises yield criterion. Both axisymmmetric and 3D models are implemented in the numerical work to verify the presence of non-symmetric deformation modes in the case of thin shells. In the end, the results of the analytical solution are compared and verified with the numerical results using ABAQUS software and experimental findings. Good agreement is observed between the load–deflection curves obtained using three different approaches. A secondary bifurcation point is detected in thin shells in which the deformation degenerates from symmetric to non-symmetric behavior. The bifurcation point depends on the ( R / t 0 ) ratio and the material parameters.
Effects of Chronic Furosemide Treatment and Age on Cell Division in the Adult Gerbil Inner Ear

Atrophy of the stria vascularis and spiral ligament and an associated decrease in the endocochlear potential (EP) are significant factors in age-related hearing loss (presbyacusis). To model this EP decrease, furosemide was delivered into the round-window niche of young adult gerbils by osmotic pump for seven days, chronically reducing the EP by 30–40 mV. Compound action potential (CAP) thresholds were correspondingly reduced by 30–40 dB SPL at high frequencies. Two weeks after withdrawal of furosemide, the treated ears showed an EP recovery of up to 20–30 mV along with a similar recovery of CAP thresholds. The influence of cell division on furosemide-induced and age-related decline of the EP was examined using a mitotic tracer, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Cell proliferation was examined in three groups: young control, furosemide-treated, and aged cochleas. Sections immunostained for BrdU were bleached with H2O2 to eliminate ambiguities with melanin pigment in the inner ear. Cell types positively labeled for BrdU in all three groups included Schwann cells in Rosenthal's canal; glial cells in the osseous spiral lamina; fibrocytes in the limbus, sacculus, and spiral ligament (SL); epithelial cells in Reissner's and round-window membranes; intermediate cells in the stria vascularis; and vascular endothelial cells. Quantitative analysis showed that the mean number of BrdU-positive (BrdU+) intermediate cells in the stria did not differ significantly among the three groups. In contrast, there was a significant increase of BrdU + fibrocytes in the SL of furosemide-treated animals as compared to the young control group. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in labeled fibrocytes in the aged versus the young ears, particularly among the type II and type IV subtypes. The results suggest that the increased fibrocyte turnover in the SL after furosemide treatment may be related to the recovery of EP and CAP thresholds, supporting the hypothesis that fibrocyte proliferation may be essential for maintaining the EP and cochlear function in normal and damaged cochleas. Moreover, the decreased turnover of SL fibrocytes with age may be a contributing factor underlying the lateral wall pathology and consequent EP loss that often accompanies presbyacusis.