cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Advanced Quantum Condensed Matter Physics: One-Body, Many-Body, and Topological Perspectives

Condensed matter physics has fast become the largest discipline within physics. Based on an established course, this comprehensive textbook covers one-body, many-body and topological perspectives. It is the first textbook that presents a comprehensive coverage of topological aspects of condensed matter as a distinct yet integrated component. It covers topological fundamentals and their connection to physics, introduces Berry phase and Chern numbers, describes general topological features of band structures and delineates its classification. Applications as manifest in the quantum Hall effect, topological insulators and Weyl semimetal are presented. Modern topics of current interest are explored in-depth, helping students prepare for cutting-edge research. These include one-electron band theory, path integrals and coherent states functional integrals as well as Green and Matsubara functions, spontaneous symmetry breaking, superfluidity and superconductivity. Multiple chapters covering quantum magnetism are also included. With end-of-chapter exercises throughout, it is ideal for graduate students studying advanced condensed matter physics.
The Effect of Cerebral Palsy Disease Severity, Socioeconomic Status, and Educational Background on Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening Reoperation Rates.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a neuro-developmental disorder. Spastic CP is the most common type of CP and is characterized by contractures of the extremities. Selective Percutaneous Myofascial Lengthening (SPML) is a minimally invasive procedure practiced by a handful of physicians in the US, and it decreases contractures and increases the range of motion in individuals with spastic CP. This study wanted to examine if there was an association between CP severity, socioeconomic status, and reoperation rates. This study used electronic medical records (EMR) to include 626 patients with spastic CP who had surgeries between January 2006 and December 2012. The zip codes from the EMR were used to determine the inflation-adjusted mean income and educational qualification (a high school education or higher) of the community via the US Census Bureau. Disease severity before the initial surgery was determined by using the functional mobility scale in the EMR to compute the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level. Then the data was graphed and averages were taken for the reoperation versus the no-reoperation populations, and Student's t-tests were run to determine statistical significance. The data showed that communities with higher education and income tended to reoperate more often. The higher number of reoperations in affluent communities could mean that either more affluent communities are better educated and know the benefits of bringing their children back for reoperation or that they require further education about physical therapy after the initial surgery to decrease the incidence of reoperation. This retrospective study is a level 2 study looking at the socioeconomic and educational backgrounds and disease severity and their association with reoperation rates.
Presence of Antibodies Against Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a in Alaska Before and After the Emergence of Invasive Infections.

BACKGROUND Haemophilus influenzae bacteria can cause asymptomatic carriage and invasive disease. Haemophilus influenzae serotype a (Hia) is an emerging cause of invasive disease in Alaska, with greatest burden occurring among rural Alaska Native (AN) children. The first case of invasive Hia (iHia) in Alaska was reported in 2002; however, it is unclear how long the pathogen has been in Alaska. METHODS We quantified immunoglobulin G antibodies against Hia (anti-Hia) in 839 banked serum samples from Alaska residents, comparing antibody concentrations in samples drawn in the decades before (1980s and 1990s) and after (2000s) the emergence of iHia. We also assessed serum antibody concentration by age group, region of residence, and race. RESULTS The anti-Hia was >0.1 µg/mL in 88.1% (348 of 395) and 91.0% (404 of 444) of samples from the decades prior and after the emergence of Hia, respectively (P = .17). No significant differences in antibody levels were detected between people from rural and urban regions (1.55 vs 2.08 µg/mL, P = .91 for age ≥5) or between AN and non-AN people (2.50 vs 2.60 µg/mL, P = .26). CONCLUSIONS Our results are consistent with widespread Hia exposure in Alaska predating the first iHia case. No difference in Hia antibody prevalence was detected between populations with differing levels of invasive disease.
Clinician-ordered peripheral blood smears have low reimbursement and variable clinical value: a three-institution study, with suggestions for operational efficiency

Peripheral blood smears are performed to evaluate a variety of hematologic and non-hematologic disorders. At the authors’ institutions, clinician requests for pathologist-performed blood smear reviews have increased in recent years. Blood smears may contribute significantly to pathologists’ workloads, yet their clinical value is variable, and professional reimbursement rates are low. This study aimed to identify clinical scenarios in which smear review is likely to provide value beyond automated laboratory testing. Blood smear review practices at three institutions were examined, and the indications for and interpretations of clinician-initiated smears were reviewed to determine the percentage of smears with potential added clinical value. A smear review was classified as having added clinical value if the pathologist’s interpretation included a morphologic abnormality that had the potential to impact patient management, and that could not be diagnosed by automated complete blood count with white blood cell differential or automated iron studies alone. Among 515 consecutive clinician-requested smears performed during the study timeframes, 23% yielded interpretations with potential added clinical value. When sorted by indication, 25, 19, and 13% of smear reviews requested for white blood cell abnormalities, red blood cell abnormalities, and platelet abnormalities, respectively, had findings with potential added clinical value. The proportion of smears with potential clinical value differed significantly across these three categories (p = 0.0375). Smear review ordering practices across three institutions resulted in a minority of smears with potential added clinical value. The likelihood of value varied according to the indication for which the smear was requested. Given this, efforts to improve the utilization and efficiency of smear review are worthwhile. Solutions are discussed, including engaging laboratory staff, educating clinicians, and modifying technology systems.
Evaluation of Curtailment Associated with PV System Design Considerations

Distributed photovoltaic (PV) systems equipped with advanced inverters can control real and reactive power output based on grid and atmospheric conditions. The Volt-Var control method allows inverters to regulate local grid voltages by producing or consuming reactive power. Based on their power ratings, the inverters may need to curtail real power to meet the reactive power requirements, which decreases their total energy production. To evaluate the expected curtailment associated with Volt-Var control, yearlong quasi-static time-series (QSTS) simulations were conducted on a realistic distribution feeder under a variety of PV system design considerations. Overall, this paper found that the amount of curtailed energy is low (< 0.55%) compared to the total PV energy production in a year but is affected by several PV system design considerations.
α1A-Adrenergic receptor polymorphism and vascular response

Objective The α1A-adrenergic receptor is highly expressed in human vasculature including resistance arteries and veins, and its stimulation is primarily responsible for adrenergically mediated smooth muscle contraction. Variability in sensitivity to phenylephrine, an α1A adrenergic agonist, has a large genetic component. We examined the hypothesis that a common polymorphism of α1A-adrenergic receptor (Arg347Cys) affects in vivo response. Methods We measured vascular sensitivity to phenylephrine using the dorsal hand vein linear variable differential transformer technique and determined α1A-adrenergic receptor genotype in 74 healthy, nonsmoking adults (28 Arg/Arg, 30 Arg/Cys, and 16 Cys/Cys). Results Sensitivity to phenylephrine, expressed as the dose of phenylephrine resulting in 50% venoconstriction (Phe50), was not significantly different in subjects with the 3 α1A adrenergic receptor genotypes: Phe50 geometric mean (95% confidence interval) was 513 ng/min (287–9–8 ng/min) for Arg/Arg, 431 ng/min (274–680 ng/min) for Arg/Cys, and 471 ng/min (197–1124 ng/min) for Cys/Cys (P = .90). Conclusion We conclude that the Arg347Cys receptor polymorphism does not alter agonist-mediated venoconstriction in vivo. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, 539–545; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.02.006
OFDM Receiver with Clustered Channel Adaptation

This chapter presents an orthogonal frequency‐division multiplexing (OFDM) receiver leveraging the measurements from both the current and past blocks. This allows the system to reduce the number of pilots while maintaining robust operation over fast‐varying channels. The chapter illustrates channel dynamics, notably different variations across multipath clusters. It presents a cluster‐based channel variation model to parameterize the channel variation from block to block. The chapter describes the design of an adaptive OFDM receiver, developing key receiver modules incorporating channel adaptation. It contains performance results of the block‐to‐block adaptive receiver using data sets collected in two field experiments, MACE10 and SPACE08.
Assessing the Suitability of a Standard Design Method for Modeling Software Architectures

Software architecture descriptions are high-level models of software systems. Most existing special-purpose architectural notations have a great deal of expressive power but are not well integrated with common development methods. Conversely, mainstream development methods are accessible to developers, but lack the semantics needed for extensive analysis. In our previous work, we described an approach to combining the advantages of these two ways of modeling architectures. While this approach suggested a practical strategy for bringing architectural modeling into wider use, it introduced specialized extensions to a standard modeling notation, which could also hamper wide adoption of the approach. This paper attempts to assess the suitability of a standard design method “as is” for modeling software architectures.
More than a cool illusion? Functional significance of self-motion illusion (circular vection) for perspective switches

Self-motion can facilitate perspective switches and "automatic spatial updating" and help reduce disorientation in applications like virtual reality (VR). However, providing physical motion through moving-base motion simulators or free-space walking areas comes with high cost and technical complexity. This study provides first evidence that merely experiencing an embodied illusion of self-motion ("circular vection") can provide similar behavioral benefits as actual self-motion: Blindfolded participants were asked to imagine facing new perspectives in a well-learned room, and point to previously learned objects. Merely imagining perspective switches while stationary yielded worst performance. When perceiving illusory self-rotation to the novel perspective, however, performance improved significantly and yielded performance similar to actual rotation. Circular vection was induced by combining rotating sound fields ("auditory vection") and biomechanical vection from stepping along a carrousel-like rotating floor platter. In sum, illusory self-motion indeed facilitated perspective switches and thus spatial orientation, similar to actual self-motion, thus providing first compelling evidence of the functional significance and behavioral relevance of vection. This could ultimately enable us to complement the prevailing introspective vection measures with behavioral indicators, and guide the design for more affordable yet effective VR simulators that intelligently employ multi-modal self-motion illusions to reduce the need for costly physical observer motion.
HOW IS THE RATE OF CLIMATIC-NICHE EVOLUTION RELATED TO CLIMATIC-NICHE BREADTH?

The rate of climatic-niche evolution is important to many research areas in ecology, evolution, and conservation biology, including responses of species to global climate change, spread of invasive species, speciation, biogeography, and patterns of species richness. Previous studies have implied that clades with higher rates of climatic-niche evolution among species should have species with narrower niche breadths, but there is also evidence suggesting the opposite pattern. However, the relationships between rate and breadth have not been explicitly analyzed. Here, we examine the relationships between the rate of climatic-niche evolution and climatic-niche breadth using phylogenetic and climatic data for 250 species in the salamander family Plethodontidae, a group showingconsiderablevariationinbothratesofclimatic-nicheevolutionandclimatic-nichebreadths.Contrarytosomeexpectations, we find no general relationship between climatic-niche breadth and the rate of climatic-niche evolution. Climatic-niche breadths for some ecologically important climatic variables considered separately (temperature seasonality and annual precipitation) do show significant relationships with the rate of climatic-niche evolution, but rates are faster in clades in which species have broader (not narrower) niche breadths. In summary, our results show that narrower niche breadths are not necessarily associated with faster rates of niche evolution.
Improved preparation of small biological samples for mercury analysis using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Abstract Concentrations ofmercury in biological samples collected for environmental studies are often less than 0.1 μg/g Low mercury concentrations and small organ sizes in many wildlife species (∼ 0.1 g) increase the difficulty of mercury determination at environmentally relevant concentrations. We have developed a digestion technique to extract mercury from small (0.1 g). biological samples at these relevant concentrations. Mean recoveries ± standard error) from validation trials ofmercury fortified tissue samples using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy for analysis ranged from 102±43% (2. 5 μg/L n=15) to 108±1 4% (25 μg/L n=15). Recoveries of inorganic mercury were 99 ± 5 (n= 19) for quality assurance samples analyzed during environmental evaluations conducted during a 24 month period. This technique can be used to determine total mercury concentrations of 60 ng Hg/g sample. Samples can be analyzed in standard laboratories in a short time. at minimal cost. The technique is versatile and can be used to determine mercury concentrations in several different matrices, limiting the time and expense of method development and validation.
Psychology of the Scientist: XXXII. God at the Synapse: Research Activities of Clinical, Experimental, and Physiological Psychologists

Compared to experimental and to physiological psychologists (n = 482), clinical psychologists' research productivity is quite limited. Factors of age, membership status in APA, and academic affiliation are highly related to clinicians' but not to experimental or physiological psychologists' productivity.
Probabilistic Analysis of Driving Cycle-Based Highway Vehicle Emission Factors

A probabilistic methodology for quantifying intervehicle variability and fleet average uncertainty in highway vehicle emission factors is developed. The methodology features the use of empirical distributions of emissions measurement data to characterize variability and the use of bootstrap simulation to characterize uncertainty. For the base emission rate as a function of mileage accumulation under standard conditions, a regression-based approach was employed in which the residual error terms were included in the probabilistic analysis. Probabilistic correction factors for different driving cycles, ambient temperature, and fuel Reid vapor pressure (RVP) were developed without interpolation or extrapolation of available data. The method was demonstrated for tailpipe carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and nitrogen oxides emissions for a selected light-duty gasoline vehicle technology. Intervehicle variability in emissions was found to span typically 2 or 3 orders of magnitude. The uncertainty in the fleet avera...
Report of a case of sphenoid fissure syndrome studied by orbital venography.

The sphenoid fissure syndrome arising from inflammation surrounding the cavern­ ous sinus or the superior orbital fissure is a condition with many synonyms: painful ophthalmoplegia,1'2 orbital apex syndrome,3 su­ perior orbital fissure syndrome,4 TolosaH u n t syndrome,2 or superior orbital fissuritis.5 The etiology of the inflammatory pro­ cess has not been determined. The purpose of this paper is to describe a case of sphe­ noid fissure syndrome in which occlusion of the superior ophthalmic vein was demon­ strated by orbital venography.
External genital morphology of the ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta): Females are naturally “masculinized”

The extravagance and diversity of external genitalia have been well characterized in male primates; however, much less is known about sex differences or variation in female form. Our study represents a departure from traditional investigations of primate reproductive anatomy because we 1) focus on external rather than internal genitalia, 2) measure both male and female structures, and 3) examine a strepsirrhine rather than an anthropoid primate. The subjects for morphological study were 21 reproductively intact, adult ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), including 10 females and 11 males, two of which (one per sex) subsequently died of natural causes and also served as specimens for gross anatomical dissection. Male external genitalia presented a typical masculine configuration, with a complex distal penile morphology. In contrast, females were unusual among mammals, presenting an enlarged, pendulous external clitoris, tunneled by the urethra. Females had a shorter anogenital distance and a larger urethral meatus than did males, but organ diameter and circumference showed no sex differences. Dissection confirmed these characterizations. Noteworthy in the male were the presence of a "levator penis" muscle and discontinuity in the corpus spongiosum along the penile shaft; noteworthy in the female were an elongated clitoral shaft and glans clitoridis. The female urethra, while incorporated within the clitoral body, was not surrounded by erectile tissue, as we detected no corpus spongiosum. The os clitoridis was 43% the length and 24% the height of the os penis. On the basis of these first detailed descriptions of strepsirrhine external genitalia (for either sex), we characterize those of the female ring-tailed lemur as moderately "masculinized." Our results highlight certain morphological similarities and differences between ring-tailed lemurs and the most male-like of female mammals, the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta), and call attention to a potential hormonal mechanism of "masculinization" in female lemur development.
ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY SYSTEM ASSOCIATED WITH NON-A, NON-B HEPATITIS DETECTED BY INDIRECT IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE

Ten chimpanzees were infected with non-A, non-B hepatitis by inoculation of patient serum or serum from a chimpanzee previously inoculated with patient serum. Convalescent serum from one of them reacted, in indirect immunofluorescent tests, with some of the hepatocyte nuclei in sections of autologous liver biopsy specimens and specimens from eight of the other chimpanzees. Serum from a convalescent patient reacted in the same way. These positive sera did not react with liver sections from uninfected chimpanzees. No reaction with positive liver sections was given by serum from chimpanzees which were uninfected or had antibodies to hepatitis A or B antigens. These control results suggest that the antigen-antibody system detected has specificity for non-A, non-B hepatitis.
Functional Recovery Following an End to Side Neurorrhaphy of the Accessory Nerve to the Suprascapular Nerve: Case Report

The use of end-to-side neurrorhaphy remains a controversial topic in peripheral nerve surgery. The authors report the long-term functional outcome following a modified end-to-side motor reinnervation using the spinal accessory to innervate the suprascapular nerve following a C5 to C6 avulsion injury. Additionally, functional outcomes of an end-to-end neurotization of the triceps branch to the axillary nerve and double fascicular transfer of the ulnar and medial nerve to the biceps and brachialis are presented. Excellent functional recoveries are found in respect to shoulder abduction and flexion and elbow flexion.
Analysis of static voltage balance of series connected self-power emitter turn-off thyristors

Self-power emitter turn-off thyristor (SPETO) is a high power switching device which could provide power for its gate driver during operation. Self-power function is a major benefit, whereas it brings an issue of large power loss on parallel resistors when two or more SPETOs are in series connection and static voltage balance between them is expected. In this paper, the root reason causing large power loss on parallel resistors is analyzed; a solution that could greatly reduce the power loss is proposed and verified by experimental results.
The stability of PRISM estimates

Abstract The stability of the PRISM parameters against changes in time periods is studied, for a better understanding of the problems likely to emerge when meter readings are missing or when only bimonthly data are available. Consecutive monthly readings spanning intervals from 7 to 24 months, and one-year data sets with gaps, are examined. The results indicate that 12 monthly readings are optimal for the most reliable PRISM results. The NAC index is far less sensitive to missing or insufficient data than are the individual parameters, whose stability is affected by the seasons included or omitted in the estimation period. Results from less than ten consecutive readings, or from less than nine readings spanning a full year but with large gaps, should be scrutinized carefully. Reliable savings estimates are available from bimonthly data, as long as missing readings are not prevalent.
Lab Course Goals: Science or Writing?—Response

We agree with Goggin that students in introductory lab courses “should be learning science,” but we disagree on what this means in practice. We believe that lecture courses offer undergraduates adequate opportunity to show whether they can get the right answer. Labs, on the other hand, offer an
Microcalorimetric measurement of reaction enthalpies in solutions of uranium and neptunium compounds

Abstract The formation of complexes of uranyl and neptunyl (VI) ions with carbonate and hydrogen carbonate has been studied by titration microcalorimetry. The measurements were carried out with a computer-controlled microcalorimeter which is described in detail. Sample volumes are typically in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 ccm, containing about 0.05 millimole of the ionic species to be studied. The small volume renders the calorimeter useful for the measurement of uncommon and strongly radioactive substances. Enthalpies of reaction were obtained for the formation of the dicarbonato and the tricarbonato uranyl ions in a sulfate medium of ionic strength 1.6. The enthalpies are ΔH 2 = −39.6 ± 1 kJ/mol and ΔH 3 = −57.5 ± 1.5 kJ/mol , for the dicarbonato- and the tricarbonato-uranyl ions, respectively. The titration data for the neptunyl (VI) — carbonate system yield a value of ΔH Np −50 ± 2 kJ/mol for the tricarbonato-neptunyl ion when interpreted in analogy to the uranyl system.
The Impact of Daily Extra Credit Quizzes on Exam Performance

This study examined whether offering daily extra credit quizzes predicted exam performance in an advanced psychology course (n =36). Results revealed that extra credit performance was a strong predictor of exam performance, above and beyond gender, college grade point average, and ACT scores. In addition, results suggested that nearly half of the students reported their primary motivation for completing extra credit was to earn extra points toward their grade. This research has important pedagogical implications in highlighting the use of daily extra credit quizzes as a practice that facilitates learning and directly affects exam performance.
Bipartite geminivirus host adaptation determined cooperatively by coding and noncoding sequences of the genome.

Bipartite geminiviruses are small, plant-infecting viruses with genomes composed of circular, single-stranded DNA molecules, designated A and B. Although they are closely related genetically, individual bipartite geminiviruses frequently exhibit host-specific adaptation. Two such viruses are bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) and tomato golden mosaic virus (TGMV), which are well adapted to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and Nicotiana benthamiana, respectively. In previous studies, partial host adaptation was conferred on BGMV-based or TGMV-based hybrid viruses by separately exchanging open reading frames (ORFs) on DNA A or DNA B. Here we analyzed hybrid viruses in which all of the ORFs on both DNAs were exchanged except for AL1, which encodes a protein with strictly virus-specific activity. These hybrid viruses exhibited partial transfer of host-adapted phenotypes. In contrast, exchange of noncoding regions (NCRs) upstream from the AR1 and BR1 ORFs did not confer any host-specific gain of function on hybrid viruses. However, when the exchangeable ORFs and NCRs from TGMV were combined in a single BGMV-based hybrid virus, complete transfer of TGMV-like adaptation to N. benthamiana was achieved. Interestingly, the reciprocal TGMV-based hybrid virus displayed only partial gain of function in bean. This may be, in part, the result of defective virus-specific interactions between TGMV and BGMV sequences present in the hybrid, although a potential role in adaptation to bean for additional regions of the BGMV genome cannot be ruled out.
Supervisory control of differentially flat systems based on abstraction

The limiting factor in most implementations of safety enforcing controllers is the model's complexity, and a common work-around includes the abstraction of the physical model, based on differential equations, to a finite symbolic model. We exploit the specific structure of a class of systems (the differentially flat systems) to perform the abstraction. The objective is to construct a supervisor enforcing a set of safety rules, while imposing as little constraints as possible on the system's functionality. An example - a collision avoidance algorithm for a fleet of vehicles converging to an intersection - is presented. Our approach improves on previous results by providing a deterministic symbolic model irrespective of the stability properties of a system, and by addressing explicitly the problem of enforcing safety.
Security swipe cards and scanners are a potential reservoir for hospital-acquired infection.

INTRODUCTIONHospital-acquired infections complicate 10% of hospital admissions resulting in increased morbidity, mortality and cost to hospitals. Most hospitals issue doctors with plastic swipe cards that function as electronic keys to access clinical areas. The card is handled many times a day, often before direct patient contact. The aim of this study was to determine if swipe cards harbour potentially harmful bacteria. SUBJECTS AND METHODSOn a single day, doctors working in the surgical directorate completed a questionnaire to determine their pattern of swipe card use. Cards were inoculated onto agar plates and incubated for 48 h under standard laboratory conditions, following which the number of colony forming units (CFUs) cultured from each card was determined. Representative colonies were sampled and sub-cultured for staphlococcal, enterococcal, coliform and pseudomonad species. Isolated bacterial pathogens were tested for antimicrobial sensitivity. Swipe-card scanners were swabbed for microbiologic...
Low background, pulsatile, in vitro flow circuit for modeling coronary implant thrombosis.

We have developed an in vitro method for creating pulsatile flows to mimic coronary type flow patterns on a beat-to-beat basis. The flow is created by accelerating fluid loops about an axis, inducing relative wall motion. Using this technique, a variety of oscillating flow patterns can be generated and modulated. Such flow generation offers the potential to monitor sensitive, flow-dependent, biological parameters like thrombosis while minimizing background disturbances from pump action and circuit effects. We examined this potential by measuring the loop occlusion time for loops stented with stainless steel 7-9 NIR® stents and stentless control loops.
Bending of light in conformal Weyl gravity

We reexamine the bending of light issue associated with the metric of the static, spherically symmetric solution of Weyl gravity discovered by Mannheim and Kazanas (1989). To this end we employ the procedure used recently by Rindler and Ishak to obtain the bending angle of light by a centrally concentrated spherically symmetric matter distribution in a Schwarzschild-de Sitter background. In earlier studies the term {gamma}r in the metric led to the paradoxical result of a bending angle proportional to the photon impact parameter, when using the usual formalism appropriate to asymptotically flat space-times. However, employing the approach of light bending of Rindler and Ishak we show that the effects of this term are in fact insignificant, with the discrepancy between the two procedures attributed to the definition of the bending angle between the asymptotically flat and nonflat spaces.
Effects of vomeronasal system deafferentation on home range use in a natural population of eastern garter snakes, Thamnophis sirtalis

Abstract Abstract. Movements of 20 free-ranging garter snakes were monitored using radio-telemetry. The vomeronasal nerves were severed in nine of these, thereby preventing chemoreception via the vomeronasal system. The remaining 11 snakes received a sham procedure. Sham and avomic snakes moved with equivalent frequency. Furthermore, the proportion of movements that returned individuals to previously used sites were equal for snakes in the two conditions. In contrast, movements of avomic snakes were not as lengthy as those of snakes with functional vomeronasal systems. These data indicate that vomeronasal system chemoreception is not required for movement and orientation by garter snakes in their home ranges. While other sensory systems may compensate to a large extent for this loss of information, reduced movement distances indicate that such compensation is not complete.
Leaf surface specializations of birds and Arthropods in a Panamanian forest.

Most species of Panamanian lowland forest birds specialize on leaf undersurfaces when hunting foliage insects. The few species of leaf surface generalists and leaf upper surface specialists are omnivorous gleaners. We estimate that while over 90% of the avian understory insectivory is directed towards leaf undersurfaces, only 50% of canopy foliage insectivory is directed towards the undersides of leaves. In the low understory we found 70–80% of the arthropods on leaf undersides. The excess use of leaf-bottoms by understory birds may be a result of their greater visibility. It is hypothesized that less proficient insectivores are unable to take advantage of the greater effective density of underleaf insects because they can only efficiently attack the closest leaf surfaces; these closest surfaces will usually be the leaf tops from the branch on which the bird is perched. Alternatively, leaf-top specialists may have special foraging adaptations for overcoming the disadvantages of leaf-top foraging. These adaptations may involve attack behavior (Tachyphonus luctuosus) or searching behavior (Dacnis cayana). Dacnis often used leaf damage as a foraging cue; this may be the first report of a bird using leaf damage for searching for insects. The greater use of leaf upper surfaces by canopy birds may be influenced by four factors: greater seasonality of insects in the canopy favoring omnivores which may be less efficient insectivores; more insects on leaf tops; fewer planar leaf arrangements in canopy plants; or the greater visibility of leaf upper surfaces of the outer shell of foliage of massive trees. Based on the greater number of arthropods on leaf bottoms in the dry season, the higher abundance of smaller insects on leaf bottoms, as well as the greater proportion of insects on leaf tops at cooler higher elevations, we suggest that arthropods prefer leaf bottoms in tropical areas for physiological, not predator avoidance reasons.
Stirling numbers and a geometric ,structure from voting theory

Abstract In the spatial theory of voting, m candidates are each represented by a point in a p-dimensional Euclidean “attribute” space. The hyperplanes bisecting the line segments joining pairs of these points divide the space into regions, and each region corresponds to a definite ranking of the distances to the candidates. This paper discusses the combinatorics of such a structure and shows that the Stirling numbers have a geometrical significance.
NEW INTRODUCTION TO MULTIPLE TIME SERIES ANALYSIS , by Helmut Lütkepohl, Springer, 2005

Vector time series analysis has become a standard tool in macroeconometrics and in empirical finance since the early 1980s. Over the last two decades, Helmut Lutkepohl has published extensively on virtually all topics covered in this book, which puts him in an excellent position for writing an authoritative textbook on this subject.
Geography in Wonderland?: Comments on Leonard Guelke's “Intellectual Coherence”

(1990). Geography in Wonderland?: Comments on Leonard Guelke's “Intellectual Coherence”. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 211-214.
Surface characterization study of the chemical alteration of an air-exposed polycrystalline tin foil during H-atom exposures

Abstract An air-exposed polycrystalline Sn foil surface has been examined before and after exposure to H atoms using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS). The foil initially contains large amounts of oxygen and carbon at the surface. C is present mostly as hydrocarbon contamination, and O is present as Sn hydroxide and surface water in addition to SnO, SnO 2 and transitional oxide (possibly Sn 3 O 4 ), which has an O content between SnO and SnO 2 . The C and O contents of the near-surface region are significantly reduced by exposure to the H-atom flux. The large hydroxyl group concentration is reduced through formation and desorption of water. A short 1-min exposure results in reduction of some of the SnO 2 or transitional oxide to SnO. Longer reduction periods result in the formation of a large amount of transitional oxide and some metallic Sn. ISS data indicate that the O and C contents of the outermost atomic layer initially increase upon exposure to H atoms due to a chemically induced driving force and then decrease. Migration of subsurface C and O becomes the rate-limiting step with regard to further removal of these species at room temperature.
Construction of modular forms

Modular forms arising from lattices are constructed and their transformation properties under the full modular group are obtained in explicit form suitable for calculation. The forms are obtained via specialization of the several variable theta function.
Some Statistical Methods in Assessing Linear Relational Agreement: An Empirical Comparative Study

Although multiple indices were introduced in the area of agreement measurements, the only documented index for linear relational agreement, which is for interval scale data, is the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Despite its meaningfulness, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient does not convey the practical information such as what proportion of observations is within a certain boundary of the target value. To address this need, based on the inverse regression, we proposed the adjusted mean squared deviation (AMSD), adjusted coverage probability (ACP), and adjusted total deviation index (ATDI) for the measurement of the relational agreement. They can serve as reasonable and practically meaningful measurements for relational agreement. Real life data are considered to illustrate the performance of the methods.
Pole-ward drift of North America

Thirty-one lines of evidence — structural, seismic, paleomagnetic, and others — are listed to show that North America has been migrating toward the Arctic Ocean area, since the end of Paleozoic time, at about two cm/yr. The North American plate has been pulling away from South America, during that time interval, at about one cm/yr; the Gulf of Mexico is the major tensional feature which has developed in Middle America as a result of that separation. Any eastward or westward drift that has been involved must have been either negligible or of such a nature that both Americas had essentially the same rate of displacement. The northern continent has been reshaped by its migration, becoming narrower (east-west) and longer (north-south). This reshaping has been accompanied by second-order grabens and other sag features in the eastern and western parts.
Analyzing multiparticle reactions. II. Exactly solvable production models

A relativistic Lippmann-Schwinger equation for production reactions is developed. To obtain such equations a relativistic generalization of the Schroedinger and Lippmann-Schwinger equations is given, which, when applied to a Fock space appropriate for particles of mass {ital m} and zero spin, describes production reactions. Separable potentials are used for the production channels, which then incorporate the correct inelasticity in the elastic channel. Exact solutions to the relativistic Lippmann-Schwinger equations are given for potentials that are separable on all subspaces of the full Fock space.
Comparison of coronary revascularization procedures in octogenarians: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Because octogenarian patients have not been adequately represented in randomized trials comparing CABG and PCI, the most appropriate method of revascularization for this group of patients has not been determined. In this paper the authors performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of 66 studies of coronary revascularization in patients aged over 80 years. Their data shows that revascularization can be performed in octogenarians with acceptable short-term and long-term outcomes. Furthermore, it is unclear whether octogenarians derive greater survival benefit from CABG or from PCI because preprocedural risk profiles differ between intervention types. Background Elderly patients are the fastest growing population in the US healthcare system and more patients aged 80 years and older require CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary revascularization than ever before. Because octogenarian patients have not been adequately represented in randomized trials comparing CABG and PCI, the most appropriate method of revascularization for this group of patients has not been determined. Methods We performed a systematic review and a meta-analysis of 66 studies of coronary revascularization in patients aged over 80 years. The primary endpoints included 30 day mortality and long-term survival. Subgroup analyses stratified by revascularization type (PCI versus CABG) were also performed. Results Pooled estimate of 30 day mortality was 6.3% (95% CI 5.3%–7.5%), and for survival at 1, 3 and 5 years, 86% (84%–88%), 78% (74%–81%) and 67% (61%–72%), respectively. A greater number of men (P <0.001) and patients with multivessel disease (P = 0.004) were treated with CABG than with PCI. Pooled estimates, based on type of revascularization, of 30 day mortality and 1 year survival were similar (7.3% [6.3%–8.2%] for CABG vs 5.4% [4.4%–6.4%] for PCI and 86% [83%–88%] for CABG vs 87% [84%–91%] for PCI, respectively). Conclusions Available data indicate that revascularization can be performed in octogenarians with acceptable short-term and long-term outcomes; most of the evidence is, however, low level. Furthermore, it is unclear whether octogenarians derive greater survival benefit from CABG or from PCI because preprocedural risk profiles differ between intervention types. Periprocedural and long-term outcomes are, however, equivalent, and randomized, controlled trials of high-risk octogenarians are needed.
Are screening scales for bipolar disorder good enough to be used in clinical practice

Bipolar disorder is often underdiagnosed. Recommendations for improving the detection of bipolar disorder include the use of screening questionnaires. The most widely studied screening scale is the Mood Disorders Questionnaire (MDQ). Studies of the performance of the MDQ in heterogeneous samples of psychiatric outpatients presenting for treatment have raised concerns about the adequacy of the MDQ as a screening measure because of its relatively low sensitivity. The sensitivity of a scale is not an inherent property of the instrument but depends on the threshold used to identify positive cases. Prior studies used the scoring recommendations of the developers of the MDQ to examine its performance; none examined the performance of the scale across the range of cutoff scores to determine whether a lower threshold would be more appropriate for the purposes of screening. The goal of the present study was to examine the operating characteristics of the MDQ at all cutoff scores to determine the cutoff point that would be appropriate for the purpose of screening. Seven hundred fifty-two psychiatric outpatients were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, and completed the MDQ. When MDQ caseness was based only on symptom score without regard to level of impairment, the cutoff score associated with at least 90% sensitivity was 5. At this cutoff the specificity of the MDQ was 60.7%, and its positive predictive value was 22.1%. These findings indicate that when the cutoff to identify cases on the MDQ was set to achieve a desired level of sensitivity as a screening instrument most cases screening positive on the scale did not have bipolar disorder. Low positive predictive value does not support the use of the MDQ or any bipolar disorder screening scale in psychiatric clinical practice.
Pandora’s Briefcase: Unpacking the Retirement Migration Decision

This is an exploratory study of the decision process leading to retirement migration. It uses a unique national study of a sample (n = 255) of retirees who were aging in place in a city in the uppe...
A global climate model agent for high spatial and temporal resolution data

Fine cell granularity in modern climate models can produce terabytes of data in each snapshot, causing significant I/O overhead. To address this issue, a method of reducing the I/O latency of high-resolution climate models by identifying and selectively outputting regions of interest is presented. Working with a global cloud-resolving model and running with up to 10,240 processors on a Cray XE6, this method provides significant I/O bandwidth reduction depending on the frequency of writes and the size of the region of interest. The implementation challenges of determining global parameters in a strictly core-localized model and properly formatting output files that only contain subsections of the global grid are addressed, as well as the overall bandwidth impact and benefits of the method. The gains in I/O throughput provided by this method allow dual output rates for high-resolution climate models: a low-frequency global snapshot as well as a high-frequency regional snapshot when events of particular interest occur.
The zonal distribution of hydrogen in the Jovian atmosphere

The Lyman-alpha intensities measured by Voyagers 1 and 2 and by the IUE are used as the bases of deductions for the distribution of atomic hydrogen in the Jovian atmosphere, under the assumption that the sources of the dayside Lyman alpha include resonance scattering of solar Lyman alpha, resonance scattering of the interplanetary Lyman-alpha radiation, and direct excitation by charged particles. The daytime equation of radiative transfer is solved to determine the longitudinal distribution of freely scattering atomic hydrogen that would account for the observed flux. This solution indicates that if the hydrogen bulge is due to localized heating and a consequent increase in scale height, the perturbed region temperature must be about 100 K warmer than that in the normal region. The H distribution derived from the dayside solution is used with the nightside flux to estimate the longitude variation of particle precipitation on the nightside.
Accessible Reading Assessments for Students with Disabilities.

Assessments developed and field tested for the mainstream student population may not be accessible for students with disabilities (SWDs) as a result of the impact of extraneous variables, including cognitive features, such as depth of knowledge required, grammatical and lexical complexity, lexical density, and textual/visual features. This study investigates the impact of these features on the performance outcomes of SWDs in the United States. Live test items from two different states with large numbers of SWDs were evaluated for their level of depth of knowledge features, linguistic complexity, two types of lexical features, and textual and visual characteristics. Results suggest that textual features have the greatest impact on the performance of students with different types of disabilities.
Further development of pharmacy student-facilitated diabetes management clinics.

Objective. To further develop and evaluate a diabetes disease state management (DSM) program that provided direct patient care responsibilities to advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) students as members of healthcare teams. Design. Nine new clinics and 3 established sites that provide self-care management education to patients with diabetes were established and maintained in rural Colorado pharmacies and supported by students in APPE training for 48 weeks per year. Evaluation. The 12 clinics provided 120 APPE student placements in 2010-2011. Students’ perceptions of their experiences were positive. Patients who completed the student-supported diabetes self-management education program had improvements in blood glucose, blood pressure, and lipid values. Conclusions. Twelve diabetes DSM clinics provided direct patient care opportunities to APPE students working as part of healthcare teams while expanding healthcare resources in underserved communities in Colorado.