cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The economic benefit of localised, short-term, wildfire-potential information

Wildfire-potential information products are designed to support decisions for prefire staging of movable wildfire suppression resources across geographic locations. We quantify the economic value of these information products by defining their value as the difference between two cases of expected fire-suppression expenditures: one in which daily information about spatial variation in wildfire-potential is used to move fire suppression resources throughout the season, and the other case in which daily information is not used and fire-suppression resources are staged in their home locations all season. We demonstrate the method by constructing a hypothetical wildland management unit calibrated to represent a region typical in the US West. The method uses estimated suppression costs and probabilities of significant fire, as provided by an information service, to estimate expected suppression costs. We analyse differences in expected suppression costs for a range of risk scenarios. Economic savings occur for the majority of risk scenarios. This approach can be used to evaluate investments in wildfire-potential information services, and for assessing the value of investing in new resources.
Polyacrylamide and biopolymer effects on flocculation, aggregate stability, and water seepage in a silt loam

Researcher’s seek a more renewable and natural alternative for water soluble anionic polyacrylamide (PAM), a highly-effective, petroleum-derived polymer used in agriculture to control erosion and reduce water seepage from unlined irrigation structures. This study evaluated two anionic polymers: a bacteria-produced polysaccharide (biopolymer) with 10-20 Mg/mol molecular weight (MW) and 30% charge density, and a PAM (12-15 Mg/mol MW, 30% charge density) to compare their ability to flocculate soil colloids, stabilize soil aggregates, and influence effective hydraulic conductivity (seepage loss). The biopolymer most effectively flocculated the colloids at a concentration of 1 mg/L, but was still 30% less effective than PAM at 1 mg/L and 50% less effective than 10 mg/L PAM treatments. The aggregate stability test included the polymers listed above as well as lower-MW representatives of each type (MW = 0.2 to 0.5 Mg/mol). Overall, both polymers increased the stability of 1- to 2-mm-diam., silt loam aggregates, though PAM was 1.35x more effective than the biopolymer, 88.7% vs. 65.5%. These results suggested that the biopolymer’s bulkier molecular conformation limited the extension and flexibility of the molecule in solution, compared to PAM. After 140 hr, the biopolymer reduced seepage loss rates 21%, while PAM increased loss rates 1.6-fold, compared to controls. These data suggest that the biopolymer would be less effective than PAM for reducing water erosion owing to its lesser flocculation and aggregate-stabilizing potential. However, the biopolymer could be a more desirable alternative to PAM for controlling seepage from unlined irrigation canals and reservoirs; it (i) can be used effectively at lower concentrations, (ii) is considered more environmentally friendly, and (iii) is produced from a renewable resource.
Velocity estimation for seismic data exhibiting focusing-effect AVO

Transmission anomalies sometimes create AVO effects by focusing the reflected seismic wavefields, which impedes AVO analysis. The AVO anomalies caused by focusing are distinguishable by surface consistent patterns. We analyze the previous efforts to define, describe and eliminate spurious AVO anomalies. We also propose using wave equation migration velocity analysis to build an accurate velocity model. The transmission-related AVO can then be eliminated by downward continuation through this velocity model.
Score Reliability and Validity of the Student Risk Screening Scale: A Psychometrically Sound, Feasible Tool for Use in Urban Middle Schools

In this article, the authors examine the psychometric properties of the Student Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) for use in urban middle schools. Results of Studies 1 and 2 suggest strong internal consistency and test—retest stability. Study 1 supports the predictive validity of the SRSS, with students at low risk being able to be differentiated from moderate- to high-risk status on behavioral and academic measures. Study 2 also supports predictive validity up to 2 years following initial SRSS status, with students in the low-risk group having significantly fewer out-of-school suspensions, fewer unexcused absences, and higher grade point averages than students in the moderate- and high-risk groups. In addition, results of Study 1 support the feasibility of the SRSS, with increased use over time serving as a behavioral marker for social validity. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.
The Real Effect of Foreign Banks

Although foreign banks can act as catalysts for financial and economic development their role remains controversial because they might simply displace local lenders thereby tightening firms' overall access to credit. To settle this issue we study their effect on real economic activity in a large cross-section of developing and advanced countries whose industrial sectors differ in their external financing needs. We find that foreign banks alleviate the consequences of financial constraints and increase real growth. The greater their presence the less does external financial dependence impede firm performance. Foreign banks also mitigate the adverse consequences of banking crises on growth but do not significantly affect economic activity in advanced countries with well-functioning financial markets. Our results provide strong evidence that foreign entry alleviates financial constraints without hurting economic growth prospects, especially in developing countries whose companies often lack access to alternative sources of finance.
Development of a Peptide Inhibitor of Hyaluronan-Mediated Leukocyte Trafficking

Hyaluronan (HA), a high molecular weight glycosaminoglycan, is expressed abundantly in the extracellular matrix and on cell surfaces. Although HA is known to bind many adhesion molecules, little information has been available with respect to its direct physiological role. In this study, we developed a novel 12-mer (GAHWQFNALTVR) peptide inhibitor of HA, termed “Pep-1,” by using phage display technology. Pep-1 showed specific binding to soluble, immobilized, and cell-associated forms of HA, and it inhibited leukocyte adhesion to HA substrates almost completely. Systemic, local, or topical administration of Pep-1 inhibited the expression of contact hypersensitivity responses in mice by blocking skin-directed homing of inflammatory leukocytes. Pep-1 also inhibited the sensitization phase by blocking hapten-triggered migration of Langerhans cells from the epidermis. These observations document that HA plays an essential role in “two-way” trafficking of leukocytes to and from an inflamed tissue, and thus provide technical and conceptual bases for testing the potential efficacy of HA inhibitors (e.g., Pep-1) for inflammatory disorders.
Beak Trimming Effects on Behavior Patterns, Fearfulness, Feathering, and Mortality Among Three Stocks of White Leghorn Pullets in Cages or Floor Pens

Abstract White Leghorn pullets of the Y1, Y2, and North Central Randombred (NCR) experimental stocks were used. Half of the birds of each stock had half of the upper and less of the lower mandible removed at 4 wk of age by making a V-shaped cut as viewed from the side (BT), whereas the other half retained their beaks intact (IN). Pullets were moved from growing pens to a layer house at 18 wk of age. Seventy-two cages and 30 floor pens were filled with 6 and 20 birds per unit, respectively. Pullets within a cage or floor pen were all of the same genetic stock and beak treatment. All measurements were performed within 10 wk after housing, except for mortality in cages. When kept in cages, genetic stocks did not show behavioral differences. However, in floor pens, stock differences were detected in feeding, crouching, and nonaggressive pecking. When kept in cages, the stocks also differed in 24-wk body weight, weight gain from 18 to 24 wk, and certain measures of fearfulness in both cages and pens, and in feather condition at 21 and 22 wk. Mortality from cannibalism and hen-days survival of caged IN pullets differed among genetic stocks. Mortality from cannibalism was absent among pullets kept in experimental floor pens. In cages, BT pullets were less active, gained less weight, and had lower incidence of cannibalism than IN pullets. Also, BT pullets were less nervous and had better feather condition than IN pullets. However, trimming beaks to prevent cannibalism was less effective in NCR pullets than in Y1 or Y2 pullets. In floor pens, BT pullets showed less activity and reduced feeding frequency and less fearfulness as indicated by duration of induced tonic immobility. Agonistic behaviors were not different between BT and IN pullets. From these results, beak trimming could be interpreted as having either stressful or stress-alleviating effects, depending on the criteria used. However, proper beak trimming appears beneficial when cannibalistic pecking is likely to be a problem. The relative benefits of beak trimming vary among genetic stocks.
Identification of a Murine Testis Complementary DNA Encoding a Homolog to Human A-Kinase Anchoring Protein-Associated Sperm Protein

Using differential display reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) we have cloned a cDNA that encodes a putative peptide with homology to a recently reported A-kinase anchoring protein-associated protein (ASP) in human sperm. The mouse cDNA was 864 bases in length and encoded for a putative protein of 230 amino acids that had 90% amino acid similarity with the human ASP. The N terminal amino acid sequence had 65% similarity to the rat, mouse, and human protein kinase A regulatory type II sequences. Expression of the gene encoding this ASP was specific to testicular germ cells. Northern blot analysis of testis RNA from 5-, 15-, 25-, and 40-day-old mice showed expression of the ASP gene, but similar analyses of busulfan-treated germ cell-deficient mice failed to detect its expression. In addition, Northern blot analysis did not detect expression of the ASP mRNA in cultured Sertoli cells or cultured interstitial cells. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses did not detect the ASP mRNA in mouse spleen, brain, liver, lung, heart, kidney, skeletal muscle, ovary, or Sertoli cells. In situ hybridization analysis localized the ASP mRNA to the germ cell compartment of the seminiferous tubules in the testis.
Proteostasis and aging

Accumulation of intracellular damage is an almost universal hallmark of aging. An improved understanding of the systems that contribute to cellular protein quality control has shed light on the reasons for the increased vulnerability of the proteome to stress in aging cells. Maintenance of protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, is attained through precisely coordinated systems that rapidly correct unwanted proteomic changes. Here we focus on recent developments that highlight the multidimensional nature of the proteostasis networks, which allow for coordinated protein homeostasis intracellularly, in between cells and even across organs, as well as on how they affect common age-associated diseases when they malfunction in aging.
Anonymous social media - Understanding the content and context of Yik Yak

Yik Yak, an anonymous social media application has garnered a pervasive following and secured millions in investment funding. The application has been a consistent topic of discussion on U.S. college campuses and in the media, often described in very negative terms. This study sought to gain an empirical understanding of the nature of communication on the application. Across three days, 4001 anonymous posts from 42 different US college campuses were collected and analyzed using emergent inductive content analysis. Overall, the content associated with each post varied widely, with a large percentage of posts (45.1%, n?=?1802) focused upon campus life and announcements or proclamations. Also frequent were posts that included profanity or vulgarities (13.5%, n?=?544), posts that asked apparently rhetorical questions (10.1%, n?=?405) and posts related to dating, sex and sexuality (9.2%, n?=?366). Many of the posts were arguably inflammatory, but few contained individualized personal information. A large proportion of posts reflected domains of perceived normative behaviors on college campuses, such as alcohol, drug use and sexuality. Importantly, posts analyzed were highly context specific, limiting the research team's ability to fully understand or appreciate the impact of a post. Finally, even in light of the highly contextual nature of the posts, based on our limited analysis, the authors of this manuscript conclude that Yik Yak, while a tool with the potential for abuse and misuse, does not represent a significant threat to young adults. Mixed methods were used to analyze 4001 Yik Yak posts from 42 college campuses.A large percentage of posts focused on context specific aspects of campus life.Profanity and vulgarity were frequent in posts, as well as sexual references.Many posts reflected domains of perceived normative behaviors on college campuses.The potential for abusive postings may be mediated by online community policies.
The Winchester Accord: the Confederacy and the humane treatment of captive medical officers.

Civil war prisoners of war fared badly. But there was one extraordinary wartime development that promoted the humane treatment of captive enemy soldiers. Beginning in June 1862, Union and Confederate authorities regarded medical officers as non-combatants. Largely attributable to the initiative of Hunter Holmes McGuire, Stonewall Jackson's medical director, this principle, set down at Winchester, Virginia, eased the horrors of the Civil War battlefield by allowing medical personnel to continue their lifesaving work unmolested. Language: en
Databases, Core: Sociology

This article will begin with a brief version of the ‘imagine if surveys and related tools had been available for the past century’ thought experiment which the author used in the ICPSR Bulletin article. The organization of the rest of the essay is as follows. Sociologists draw on four main types on shared data sets: (a) census data and related microdemographic data files such as the CPS; (b) repeated cross-sectional omnibus surveys such as the GSS; (c) macro level ‘social indicator data sets such as the Statistical Abstract of the US’ and (d) life course longitudinal surveys such as the NLS (non-US examples of each of the above are included). The following section describes each of these data types in more detail, and gives examples both from the USA and a number of other counties. Relatively little attention is paid to the last category because many examples are given in the Juster's entry on microeconomic databases. The following section describes a number of issues regarding the use and development of shared data bases including the following: (a) comparability and replication; (b) access and ease of use including documentation and meta data issues; (c) a brief guide to archives and other means of finding out about data; (d) privacy and human subject concerns and a brief discussion of the problems and promises of public use data sets vs. controlled access, (e) a discussion of the trade off between opportunistic data collection such as surveys done in the aftermath of the Soviet break up and systematic replication. The article is concluded with a very brief discussion of what might happen in the future. A discussion of a diagram, which shows that there are four things that one needs to use core data sets; the data, documentation for the data, software to analyze the data and a CPU powerful enough to analyze the data is included. In an Internet world, none of these things need necessarily be on the investigator's desktop. All that is needed is a comparatively simple machine to give Internet access. Given the bandwidth, everything else can be available remotely, and each component can, in principle be at a different site. Once one realizes this, it is clear that many tasks can be centralized.
Certain Properties of the Virus of Equine Encephalomyelitis

The virus was readily recovered after passage through the ordinary filters?the Berkefeld N and W, the finest Mandler and the Seitz, respectively. The material used in filtration was the supernatant fluid obtained after centrifugation for ten minutes at 2,400 revolutions per minute of a 20 per cent suspension of brain tissue from experimentally infected animals (guinea-pigs, rabbits, monkeys or horses). When given intracerebrally, the filtrates were pathogenic, not only for small laboratory animals (guinea-pigs and rabbits), but for horses as well. Attempts to recover the virus from the filtrates of field material taken from horses post mortem were usually unsuccessful, however, probably because the virus had disappeared from the portions of the brain tested or because of the masking effect of invading bacteria post mortem. In a recent report by Krueger, Howitt and Zeilor,2 it was shown that, by passage through acetic collodion gel ultrafilters of known porosity, this virus proved relatively large, measuring about 500 millimicrons. Its measurements, therefore, are more comparable to those given by Krueger and Schultz 3 for the virus of poliomyelitis (300 millimicrons) than to those recently reported by Elford and Galloway 4 for the virus of Borna disease (from 85 to 125 millimicrons). Dilutions of the filtrates, obtained by passage through Seitz disks, were made on six different occasions, in order to determine the highest
Factors affecting survival of patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma

A total of 307 patients with adenocarcinoma of the endometrium were studied to determine factors significantly affecting the 5year survival. This tumor represented 7.7 per cent of all female malignancies and 31 per cent of all gynecologic malignancies in the New York Medical College Tumor Registry. The relative 5year survival rate was 68 per cent. Survival was inversely proportional to increasing age; it was increased in premenopausal patients but lower in those patients who were in their first postmenopausal year. Forty-two per cent of the patients were nulliparous. There was no correlation of survival to parity. Patients with endometrial involvement only had a 5year survival of 95 per cent and survival decreased with further myometrial and pelvic involvement. Spread to the cervix offered a decidedly poor prognosis. Stage I lesions should be subclassified according to histologic grading. The preferred method of therapy is primarily surgical. Preoperative radium is reserved only for those lesions exhibiting such poor prognostic criteria as an anaplastic histologic appearance or cervical involvement.
The Attack on Labour Accelerates the Economic Decline

During the Golden Age, social conditions on the whole were relatively harmonious, with the obvious exception of violence against blacks. In the North, racial tensions largely reflected the collision between demobilized troops and black workers who had taken industrial jobs. In the South, whites felt threatened by the inevitable dislocations that the imminent destruction of their rural, patriarchal society would cause.
Critical Functions of the Lysosome in Cancer Biology

Lysosomes (or lytic bodies) were so named because they contain high levels of hydrolytic enzymes. Lysosome function and dysfunction have been found to play important roles in human disease, including cancer; however, the ways in which lysosomes contribute to tumorigenesis and cancer progression are still being uncovered. Beyond serving as a cellular recycling center, recent evidence suggests that the lysosome is involved in energy homeostasis, generating building blocks for cell growth, mitogenic signaling, priming tissues for angiogenesis and metastasis formation, and activating transcriptional programs. This review examines emerging knowledge of how lysosomal processes contribute to the hallmarks of cancer and highlights vulnerabilities that might be exploited for cancer therapy.
Evaluation of site-specific tactics using bifenazate and Neoseiulus californicus for management of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) in strawberries

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of site-specific tactics for management of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, a major pest of greenhouse and field-grown strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). Two site-specific (spot) treatments, the miticide bifenazate (Acramite®) and the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor, were compared with whole-plot treatments of bifenazate or N. californicus to determine whether T. urticae could be effectively managed in field-grown strawberry using only site-specific tactics. Additionally, the cost of site-specific tactics was compared with whole-plot treatments to determine the economic value of using site-specific management tactics for T. urticae in strawberries. In the greenhouse, all treatments equivalently reduced the number of T. urticae below control. In the field during the 2011–2012 season, more T. urticae eggs and motiles were in the whole-plot treatments of both N. californicus and bifenazate in the mid-season and late season, respectively, compared with the spot treatments. With the exception of site-specific N. californicus during the 2011–2012 field season, there were no differences in marketable yields between plots with site-specific treatments and whole-plot management. An economic analysis demonstrated a significant cost savings (75.3 %) with site-specific treatments of N. californicus compared with whole-plot application of N. californicus. Similarly, a 24.7 % reduction in cost was achieved in using site-specific bifenazate compared with whole-plot application of bifenazate. The findings indicate that site-specific treatments with N. californicus and bifenazate are competitive alternatives to whole-field application for T. urticae management in strawberries.
Exertive modulation of speech and articulatory phasing

Abstract An articulatory study was conducted to investigate whether fluctuations in exertive mechanisms (attention, effort, motivation, arousal, etc.) have a global effect on articulatory control systems. Participants in the experiment produced an articulatory pattern 400 times, attempting to do so as consistently as possible. Evidence for global exertive modulation was obtained in the form of widespread correlations between variables associated with biomechanically independent systems such as phonation, linguo-labial coordination, and head movement/posture. Analyses of movement timing autocorrelation showed evidence for random walk-like dynamics on short timescales and equilibrium dynamics on long timescales, along with evidence for low- and high-exertion states of production. An extension of the coupled oscillators model of articulatory coordination is presented to account for these phenomena.
Comparisons of the tropospheric specific humidity from GPS radio occultations with ERA-Interim, NASA MERRA, and AIRS data

Abstract. We construct a 9-year data record (2007–2015) of the tropospheric specific humidity using Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPS RO) observations from the Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) mission. This record covers the ± 40 ∘ latitude belt and includes estimates of the zonally averaged monthly mean specific humidity from 700 up to 400 hPa. It includes three major climate zones: (a) the deep tropics ( ± 15 ∘ ), (b) the trade winds belts ( ± 15–30 ∘ ), and (c) the subtropics ( ± 30–40 ∘ ). We find that the RO observations agree very well with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis Interim (ERA-Interim), the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA), and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) by capturing similar magnitudes and patterns of variability in the monthly zonal mean specific humidity and interannual anomaly over annual and interannual timescales. The JPL and UCAR specific humidity climatologies differ by less than 15 % (depending on location and pressure level), primarily due to differences in the retrieved refractivity. In the middle-to-upper troposphere, in all climate zones, JPL is the wettest of all data sets, AIRS is the driest of all data sets, and UCAR, ERA-Interim, and MERRA are in very good agreement, lying between the JPL and AIRS climatologies. In the lower-to-middle troposphere, we present a complex behavior of discrepancies, and we speculate that this might be due to convection and entrainment. Conclusively, the RO observations could potentially be used as a climate variable, but more thorough analysis is required to assess the structural uncertainty between centers and its origin.
International food group-based diet quality and risk of coronary heart disease in men and women.

Background Standard diet quality assessment tools, which measure micronutrient sufficiency and food consumption related to disease and applicable to different populations, are needed to track progress in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals related to hunger, food security, and nutrition. Diet quality scores have been constructed for high- and low-income countries, but none are simple to administer or applicable internationally. Objective We prospectively examined the association between the Food Group Index (FGI), the Minimal Diet Diversity Score for Women (MDDW), and a new Prime Diet Quality Score (PDQS), and the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in 3 US cohorts. Design In total, 75,045 women (baseline age 43-63 y), 43,966 men (aged 40-75 y), and 93,131 younger women (aged 27-44 y) without a history of cardiovascular disease were followed up to 28 y. Diet was assessed multiple times using food frequency questionnaires and the 3 diet quality scores were computed for each individual. The association with IHD was modeled with Cox proportional hazard models, controlling for potential confounders. Results During follow-up, we ascertained 2908 incident IHD cases in the Nurses' Health Study, 3722 in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and 505 in the Nurses' Health Study II. The FGI was not associated with total IHD in any cohort. The PDQS was significantly associated with IHD in all 3 cohorts separately and the pooled RR for each SD increase was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.91). This was significantly different than the pooled RR of 0.93 for MDDW (95% CI: 0.90, 0.96) and the RR of 0.98 for the FGI (95% CI: 0.95, 1.01). The association did not appear to differ by age. Conclusion We found that the PDQS with the most detailed differentiation of healthy and unhealthy foods was associated with a lower risk of IHD in a high-income country. On the other hand, diet quality scores that do not account for unhealthy foods had a limited association with IHD.
A Generalizable, Data-Driven Approach to Predict Daily Risk of Clostridium difficile Infection at Two Large Academic Health Centers

OBJECTIVE An estimated 293,300 healthcare-associated cases of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) occur annually in the United States. To date, research has focused on developing risk prediction models for CDI that work well across institutions. However, this one-size-fits-all approach ignores important hospital-specific factors. We focus on a generalizable method for building facility-specific models. We demonstrate the applicability of the approach using electronic health records (EHR) from the University of Michigan Hospitals (UM) and the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). METHODS We utilized EHR data from 191,014 adult admissions to UM and 65,718 adult admissions to MGH. We extracted patient demographics, admission details, patient history, and daily hospitalization details, resulting in 4,836 features from patients at UM and 1,837 from patients at MGH. We used L2 regularized logistic regression to learn the models, and we measured the discriminative performance of the models on held-out data from each hospital. RESULTS Using the UM and MGH test data, the models achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values of 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.84) and 0.75 ( 95% CI, 0.73-0.78), respectively. Some predictive factors were shared between the 2 models, but many of the top predictive factors differed between facilities. CONCLUSION A data-driven approach to building models for estimating daily patient risk for CDI was used to build institution-specific models at 2 large hospitals with different patient populations and EHR systems. In contrast to traditional approaches that focus on developing models that apply across hospitals, our generalizable approach yields risk-stratification models tailored to an institution. These hospital-specific models allow for earlier and more accurate identification of high-risk patients and better targeting of infection prevention strategies. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:425-433.
Transforming loop chains via macro dataflow graphs

This paper describes an approach to performance optimization using modified macro dataflow graphs, which contain nodes representing the loops and data involved in the stencil computation. The targeted applications include existing scientific applications that contain a series of stencil computations that share data, i.e. loop chains. The performance of stencil applications can be improved by modifying the execution schedules. However, modern architectures are increasingly constrained by the memory subsystem bandwidth. To fully realize the benefits of the schedule changes for improved locality, temporary storage allocation must also be minimized. We present a macro dataflow graph variant that includes dataset nodes, a cost model that quantifies the memory interactions required by a given graph, a set of transformations that can be performed on the graphs such as fusion and tiling, and an approach for generating code to implement the transformed graph. We include a performance comparison with Halide and PolyMage implementations of the benchmark. Our fastest variant outperforms the auto-tuned variants produced by both frameworks.
Herbivory and Trophic Interactions

Herbivory is a neglected topic in the analysis of terrestrial global productivity, and the concept of trophic levels has been a subject of continuing controversy, although there is evidence of a developing synthesis. Instead of being treated as an integral control of primary production, herbivory and trophic relations are more often considered an adjunct process grafted by evolution onto a base of plant growth and yield, customarily considered a suppressant of plant processes and fitness. Current approaches to estimating global values of primary production, and other ecological processes, are invariably based on the biome concept. But in application, the fundamental biome concept has been based wholly on vegetation types in terrestrial habitats, and operationally, biome is vegetation. Herbivores and the trophic web that they support are not merely a parasitic component supported by an abiotic-controlled level of primary productivity independent of their activities. Instead, many feedbacks from higher trophic levels to plants can reduce or increase primary productivity. Projecting terrestrial global productivity accurately into the future will require the incorporation of these feedbacks, but that task does not appear to be insurmountable. If properly incorporated into remote-sensing theory, these phenomena will considerably increase the accuracy of remotely sensed estimates of terrestrial global productivity. Recognition is required of the many complex and powerful biotic feedbacks that operate in the biosphere through the trophic web.
The Semantics of the Affective Lexicon

Emotions are psychological states, but not all psychological states are emotional; for example, neither a state of exhaustion nor a state of confusion is an emotion. Emotions are sometimes expressed facially, but not all facial expressions indicate emotions; neither a grimace of pain nor a frown of puzzlement is an emotional expression. Emotions also involve feelings, but not all feelings indicate emotions; neither hunger pangs nor a feeling of certainty is an emotional feeling. Most people would readily agree to these assertions. They involve more or less clear cases. The question posed in this paper is whether we can establish, on the basis of such clear cases, a set of criteria that will also differentiate emotions from nonemotions in less clear cases.
Family Prevention Programs

A variety of approaches and labels currently exist with regard to the development and implementation of prevention efforts targeting families with adolescents. This chapter first covers a number of principles that are thought to characterize effective family-focused prevention efforts. Next, the present chapter goes on to review those prevention efforts that have received empirical attention over the past 15 years, with special emphasis given to those initiatives that require the participation of two generations of family members in shared program activities. Programs are described in according to their main objectives, their theoretical orientation is discussed, and the empirical evidence that has been generated through implementation and evaluation efforts is covered as well. Finally, a number of web-based resources are offered in order to assist readers in finding continuously updated information on these and other family-based prevention programs.
Echo Energy and Time Base

The concept of echo-location, that is the transmission of acoustic or electromagnetic energy and the subsequent reception of energy reflected from physical objects or scatterers, is primarily motivated by (1.) the desire to detect their presence, and (2.) to estimate associated parameters such as size, range, speed, and bearing. Secondary objectives which relate to these may involve identification, discrimination, and tracking of specific scattering objects in the presence of competing backscatter sources and noise.
Adverse Events Following Posterior Lumbar Fusion: A Comparison of Spine Surgeons Perceptions and Reported Data for Rates and Risk Factors.

ABSTRACT Background: Postoperative complications and risks factors for adverse events play an important role in both decision making and patient expectation setting. The present study serves to contrast surgeons9 perceived and reported rates of postoperative adverse events following posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) and to assess the accuracy of predicting the impact of patient factors on such outcomes. Methods: A survey investigating perceived rates of adverse events and the impact of patient risk factors on them following PLF for degenerative conditions was distributed to spine surgeons at the Lumbar Spine Research Society (LSRS) 2016 annual meeting. For comparison, the corresponding rates and patient risk factors were assessed in patients undergoing elective PLF from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) data years 2011–2014. Results: From the survey, there were 53 responses (response rate of 79%) from attending physicians at LSRS. From NSQIP, there were 16,589 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Adverse event rates estimated by the surgeons at LSRS were close to those determined by NSQIP data (no greater than 2.81% different). The largest differences were for deep vein thrombosis (overestimation of 2.81%, P Conclusions: The current study noted that surgeon estimates were relatively close to national numbers for estimating the adverse events and impact of patient factors on such outcomes after PLF for degenerative conditions. The estimates are roughly appropriate with a bias toward overestimation for planning and expectation setting.
Dissecting Perceptions: Exploring the Determinants of Health‐Care Reform Preferences*

Objective There is significant research regarding health‐care preferences in other nations and racial preference for health‐care providers. However, minimal research examines health‐care reform preferences in the United States. Therefore, this study aims to fill this void by demonstrating how a subterranean agenda, or attitudes toward race that manifest themselves into policy, at least partially drove public opinion regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Methods Drawing from a nationally representative sample in the 2012 Blair Center–Clinton School Poll, this study examines how various “subterranean” elements in addition to economic, demographic, sociological, ideological, regional, and conditional factors shaped attitudes toward the ACA. Results Testing multiple hypotheses, we found that a subterranean agenda shaped preferences for ACA along with various other factors, such as presidential approval, individuals' perception regarding the role of the federal government, ideology, feeling toward blacks, feeling toward the Tea Party, and a conditional effect between a person's financial status and feeling toward blacks. Conclusion Preference for ACA is complex and driven by a multitude of factors. Future studies should explore the dynamics of public opinion over time and other state‐level and temporally driven factors that may increase or decrease the probability of individuals supporting health‐care reform.
Nightwood as a way of life: queer aesthetics, capital, and sociality

ABSTRACTThis essay takes up the question of sociality in Djuna Barnes’s Nightwood. While the issue appears throughout the history of Barnes scholarship, a recurrent theme persists: Nightwood lacks ...
Using Informal Learning Environments to Encourage More Diverse Engineers

Neurodiversity in engineering can be supported by encouraging all college capable students to consider engineering as a major. Many students who learn differently may not see themselves attending college and if they do see themselves in college they may not consider studying engineering. This past summer Aurora University in partnership with Landmark College held a summer residential program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder to experience college including living away from home, academic work and afternoon activities both academic and recreational. Many of the afternoon activities explored engineering. These included robotics, code breaking, running a NASA mission to Mars and observing the night sky with telescopes at Yerkes observatory. The instructors and the parent evaluations can both attest to the growth of the students during the program. This paper will discuss the structure of the activities, the response of the students to these activities and the overall response of the parents to the program. It will conclude with a reflection on how as a community we might increase our diversity by including more learning styles in our programs.
Increased risk for T cell autoreactivity to ß-cell antigens in the mice expressing the Avy obesity-associated gene.

There has been considerable debate as to whether obesity can act as an accelerator of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We assessed this possibility using transgenic mice (MIP-TF mice) whose s-cells express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Infecting these mice with EGFP-expressing murine herpes virus-68 (MHV68-EGFP) caused occasional transient elevation in their blood glucose, peri-insulitis, and Th1 responses to EGFP which did not spread to other s-cell antigens. We hypothesized that obesity-related systemic inflammation and s-cell stress could exacerbate the MHV68-EGFP-induced s-cell autoreactivity. We crossed MIP-TF mice with Avy mice which develop obesity and provide models of metabolic disease alongside early stage T2D. Unlike their MIP-TF littermates, MHV68-EGFP-infected Avy/MIP-TF mice developed moderate intra-insulitis and transient hyperglycemia. MHV68-EGFP infection induced a more pronounced intra-insulitis in older, more obese, Avy/MIP-TF mice. Moreover, in MHV68-EGFP-infected Avy/MIP-TF mice, Th1 reactivity spread from EGFP to other s-cell antigens. Thus, the spreading of autoreactivity among s-cell antigens corresponded with the transition from peri-insulitis to intra-insulitis and occurred in obese Avy/MIP-TF mice but not lean MIP-TF mice. These observations are consistent with the notion that obesity-associated systemic inflammation and s-cell stress lowers the threshold necessary for T cell autoreactivity to spread from EGFP to other s-cell autoantigens.
What Is a Clinical Ethicist

Let me address the “editorial” aspect of this editorial right away: I wholly agree with the principle that lies behind Mark Kuczewski’s admirable article. I take that principle to be that when clin...
Nanostructures for enhancing the SERS signal of a graphene monolayer in water and visible light absorption in a graphene monolayer

We numerically design and experimentally test a SERS-active substrate for enhancing the SERS signal of a monolayer of graphene in water. The monolayer is placed on top of an array of silver-covered nanoholes in a polymer and is covered with water. Here we report a large enhancement of up to 200000 in the SERS signal of the graphene monolayer on the patterned plasmonic nanostructure for a 532 nm excitation laser wavelength. Our numerical calculations of both the excitation field and the emission rate enhancements support the experimental results. We also propose a highly compact structure for near total light absorption in a monolayer of graphene in the visible. The structure consists of a grating slab covered with the graphene monolayer. The grating slab is separated from a metallic back reflector by a dielectric spacer. The proposed structure could find applications in the design of efficient nanoscale visible-light photodetectors and modulators.
Is it worth it? Determining the health benefits of sleeve gastrectomy in patients with a body mass index <35 kg/m2

Abstract Background Criteria for undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is restricted among patients with a body mass index (BMI) Objectives To determine if low-BMI patients experience similar health benefits after SG compared with patients with a BMI ≥35 kg/m2. Setting Teaching and nonteaching hospitals in Michigan. Methods Patients with a BMI Results Low-BMI patients were more likely to be older (50.7 versus 45.4 yr, P Conclusions Despite being older and with higher rates of metabolic disease, low-BMI patients reported high-resolution rates for diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia (>50%) and were more likely to achieve a healthy weight after SG. Abolishing the BMI threshold for SG among patients with metabolic disease should be considered.
Dysphagia in Progressive Supranuclear Palsy.

Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is the most common Parkinson-Plus syndrome and is associated with early onset of dysphagia relative to Parkinson Disease. The current study contributes to the growing understanding of swallowing dysfunction in PSP by describing oropharyngeal swallowing characteristics in a large prospective cohort of participants with PSP employing a nationally standardized videofluoroscopy protocol and a disease severity scale developed expressly for PSP. Participants were 51 adults diagnosed with PSP. Each participant underwent a clinical interview and standardized videofluorographic assessment. Swallowing function was characterized with the Modified Barium Swallow Impairment Scale (MBSImP) and Penetration–Aspiration Scale (PAS). Variables of interest were participant-reported difficulties with liquids and/or solids; overall impression score for each of the 17 individual MBSImP components, as well as Oral Total Sum and Pharyngeal Total Sum; and PAS. Data were described with median interquartile range, counts, and proportions. Spearman’s rank correlations were calculated between MBSImP scores and participant-reported indices, FOIS, and PSP Rating Scale. Approximately two-thirds of participants reported difficulties with liquids, solids, or both, although fewer than 15% reported modifying consistencies. Videofluorographic findings included predominant oral phase impairments, including back and forth rocking motion of the tongue, delayed initiation of the pharyngeal swallow, and oral residue. Pharyngeal phase impairments were relatively infrequent and comparatively mild, with the exception of reduced tongue base retraction contributing to pharyngeal residue, and mildly disrupted laryngeal vestibule closure. Disease severity correlated significantly with oral (r = .0.42, p = .0.002) and pharyngeal (r = 0.41, p = .0.003) total sum scores as well as with the oral phase components of oral transport (r = .0.33, p = .0.02) and initiation of the pharyngeal swallow (r = .0.38, p = .0.007), and PAS for thin liquids (r = .0.44, p = .0.001). The PSP Rating Scale was not more strongly correlated with swallowing impairment than has been reported for other disease severity rating scales. Dysphagia is a common complaint of patients with PSP. The current findings corroborate and expand upon those reported in the literature, detailing relatively more frequent and more severe oral phase impairments and relatively spared hyolaryngeal excursion. Further research is needed to characterize the progression of dysphagia in PSP and to determine whether dysphagia varies in character or in rate of progression across variants of PSP.
The influence of gender on postoperative PROMIS physical function outcomes following minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion

Abstract Purpose Our aim is to examine the gender performance of Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS-PF) scores among patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar fusion (MIS TLIF). Methods A prospectively collected surgical dataset was retrospectively assessed for eligible patients from March 2015–June 2019. We included patients if they underwent primary MIS TLIF procedures on one or two vertebral levels. We collected baseline demographics, perioperative characteristics, and PROMIS-PF scores for each subject at pre and postoperative timepoints (e.g., 6-weeks, 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year). Chi-squared analyses were utilized to assess categorical variables and a Student’s t-tests analyzed continuous variables. A linear regression was used to analyze PROMIS-PF scores from baseline through all postoperative time points. Finally, we evaluated the PROMIS PF achievement of minimal clinically important difference (MCID) among gender. Results 192 patients were included: 77 were females and 115 were males. No significant differences were observed among gender subgroups for PROMIS-PF scores at pre- or postoperative evaluations. Compared to males, females experienced significantly greater postoperative improvement with PROMIS-PF scores at the 3-month assessments, though no significant gender differences were observed during later follow-up evaluations at 6-months or one year. Females were observed to have significant PROMIS-PF score improvement from their preoperative evaluation to each postoperative score. Males were assessed to have statistically significant postoperative (e.g., at 3-months, 6-months, and 1-year) PROMIS-PF score improvement from their preoperative PROMIS-PF scores. There were no significant differences among gender in achieving MCID at any postoperative time interval. Conclusion Among gender, we observed no statistically significant difference in PROMIS-PF scores during the pre- or postoperative evaluations. Additionally, with no difference in the rate of achieving PROMIS-PF MCID postoperatively, this study established that both genders should experience similar functional outcomes following MIS TLIF.