cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coleomegilla maculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is a Species Complex

Abstract Coleomegilla maculata De Geer is an abundant, widely distributed, New World polyphagous lady beetle. High levels of variation at 14 polymorphic allozyme loci were used to examine breeding structure of populations from New England, Iowa, south Texas, and Honduras. Analysis of variance of gene frequencies and F-statistics showed high levels of gene flow within each region and between the Texan and northern United States populations, but negligible rates of gene flow between these and the Honduran populations. Thus, gene flow was largely unrestricted in North American C. maculata. Honduras populations were highly differentiated genetically from the North American populations and shared with North American beetles only 41 of 70 alleles at 14 allozyme loci. Nei’s genetic distances within Honduran, Texas, and Iowa–New England samples did not differ significantly from zero, but the intergroup distances were large. Reciprocal crosses within and between Texas and Iowan populations were fertile, but recipr...
“Strategic Mind Set” and the Assessment of Information in Serious Games

More often than not economists have been concerned with games of imperfect as against perfect information and solution properties as against strategic properties and skill characteristics. The game in these connections tends to be the simplest abstract model of the process at interest rather than an actual game of intrinsic interest to mature individuals. There is no disputing the fact that the standard orientation has led and will continue to lead to important theoretical understandings. Nevertheless, there are a number of instances in which concern with the detailed properties of an established game may be productive of insights, and accordingly we will consider the potential theoretical content of games of “skill” such as chess, Go, bridge, and poker as behavioral and institutional models.
3.0Tesla magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) for comprehensive renal evaluation of living renal donors: pilot study with computerized tomography angiography (CTA) comparison.

Abstract Purpose Most living related donor (LRD) kidneys are harvested laparoscopically. Renal vascular anatomy helps determine donor suitability for laparoscopic nephrectomy. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the current gold standard for preoperative imaging; magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) offers advantages including lack of ionizing radiation and lower incidence of contrast reactions. We evaluated 3.0 T MRA for assessing renal anatomy of LRDs. Materials and methods Thirty consecutive LRDs underwent CTA followed by 3.0 T MRA. Data points included number and branching of vessels, incidental findings, and urothelial opacification. Studies were individually evaluated by three readers blinded to patient data. Studies were reevaluated in consensus with discrepancies revealed, and final consensus results were labeled “truth”. Results Compared with consensus “truth”, both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging were highly accurate for assessment of arterial and venous anatomy, although CT was superior for detection of late venous confluence as well as detection of renal stones. Both modalities were comparable in opacification of lower ureters and bladder; MRA underperformed CTA for opacification of upper urinary tracts. Conclusions 3.0 T MRA enabled excellent detection of comprehensive renal anatomy compared to CTA in LRDs.
Unravelling the human genome-phenome relationship using phenome-wide association studies

Advances in genotyping technology have, over the past decade, enabled the focused search for common genetic variation associated with human diseases and traits. With the recently increased availability of detailed phenotypic data from electronic health records and epidemiological studies, the impact of one or more genetic variants on the phenome is starting to be characterized both in clinical and population-based settings using phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS). These studies reveal a number of challenges that will need to be overcome to unlock the full potential of PheWAS for the characterization of the complex human genome-phenome relationship.
Impact of Pharmacotherapy on Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Cognitive impairment is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), adversely impacting many spheres of daily functioning. Yet the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for cognitive impairment in MS is unclear. Clinicians and patients alike would benefit from formal guidelines regarding effective management of cognitive symptoms. We reviewed the background on the measurement, pathophysiology and risk factors for cognitive dysfunction in MS, and then examined the published clinical trials of pharmacotherapy, including both disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and symptom-management therapies (SMTs). Our review of DMTs revealed only a single well-designed, randomized, controlled trial where intramuscular interferon (IFN)-β1a, administered once weekly, was compared with placebo. The results showed significant benefits in terms of cognitive processing speed and memory. Less convincing but promising data have shown the potential benefits of IFN-β1b and natalizumab. The literature on SMTs is replete with placebo-controlled, single-centre studies, with a failure to replicate initially promising results. The results for SMTs such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and psychostimulants are mixed. Some encouraging data show promise but not to a threshold of indication for standard clinical use. Numerous methodological factors hamper research in this area. Acknowledging the lack of firm conclusions, we argue that all DMTs are likely to benefit cognition and that, if otherwise safe, SMTs with some empirical support may be attempted at the discretion of the treating clinician. We offer some guidance on the assessment and monitoring of cognitive function to inform off-license treatment of cognitive impairment in MS patients.
X-ray-Induced Energy Transfer between Nanomaterials under X-ray Irradiation

A nanoscale probe of calcium phosphate enclosed liposomes filled with sulforhodamine B (SRB) aqueous solution was synthesized, and the degradation of SRB in the probes was used to measure the enhanced energy deposition within the nanoscale probes after mixing them with PEGylated gold nanoparticles under X-ray irradiation. The enhancement was measured as a function of the gold nanoparticle concentration, and the results showed a surprising jump at 0.46 nM of gold nanoparticles with a steep slope of 42-fold per one weight percentage (wp–1) of gold in water superimposed on a gentle 1-fold wp–1 slope. Theoretical simulations revealed that the jump was caused by the previously proposed type 2 physical enhancement (T2PE) exerted from a single 90 nm gold nanoparticle on a contacting nanoscale probe, and the gentler slope by type 1 physical enhancement (T1PE) was caused by the rest of the gold nanoparticles hundreds of nanometers or farther away. The jump is equivalent to a 2-fold absolute enhancement for each na...
Defining a Landscape-Scale Monitoring Tier for the North American Carbon Program

Better knowledge of carbon stocks and fluxes is needed to understand the current state of the carbon cycle and how it might evolve with changing land uses and climatic conditions. For Canada, the United States, and Mexico, the North American Carbon Program (NACP) has been devised to measure and understand the sources and sinks of CO2, CH4, and CO in North America and adjacent ocean regions. At one scale, there are presently several national networks, each containing many thousands of plots, that provide broad characterization of carbon stocks in different land types (especially forest). At a much finer scale and far fewer are intensive sites where detailed and frequent measurements of various carbon cycle stocks and processes are made. There exists a large discontinuity in spatial coverage, frequency of sampling, and scope of research between the intensive sites and the extensive inventory plots. We define here an intermediate (∼1 km2), landscape-scale sampling system to help bridge the gap between these different measurement intensities.
Differential treatment of occupational disease v occupational injury by workers' compensation in Washington State

Washington State's workers' compensation claims filed in 1984 and followed through 1988 contained 11,356 claims for occupational disease and 178,927 claims for occupational injury. There was a higher rate of rejection (18% v 4%) and resource utilization (14% v 5%) for occupational disease when compared to occupational injury. The factors most predictive of rejection included the specific disease category and the provider frequency of filing. Development of diagnostic guidelines would aid health providers in identifying and properly characterizing occupational diseases.
Jailing of American Indian adolescents: The legacy of cultural domination and imposed law

Based on a random sample of 300 youth detained prior to trial in a Southwestern Indian Community, this paper analyzes the pre-trial incarceration of American Indian adolescents. It discusses two major similarities between the detention of adolescents in this Indian community and the detention of adolescents nationwide, including the minimalization of the potentially deleterious effects of incarcerating adolescents and the detention of minor offenders. It also emphasizes divergences between the detention of adolescents in the Indian community and the detention of adolescents nationwide: a much higher rate of detention and recidivism on the reservation; the multiplicity of legal jurisdictions to which Indian adolescents are subject; administration of the reservation detention facilities by Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) personnel with minimal training in adolescent services; the unique power of BIA police to determine unilaterally who will be detained initialy; and the extreme lack of alternative resources for adolescents and families within the Indian community.
Chemistry of Doped Oxides: The Activation of Surface Oxygen and the Chemical Compensation Effect

We use density functional theory to study the chemistry of oxides doped substitutionally with cations having lower valence than that of the host. We document two rules. (1) The presence of the dopant makes the oxide a better oxidant. (2) Adsorbing an electron donor on the surface counteracts strongly the effect of the dopant. We discuss how these rules affect methane activation by doped-oxide catalysts.
Insulating Coordination Between Composite Insulator and Parallel Gap Device of 500 kV Transmission Line at High Altitude Area

In order to further research the application of parallel gap device(PGD) in insulating coordination for 500 kV transmission lines at high altitude,we experimentally researched flashover characteristics on 500 kV composite insulator with different PGDs at altitude of 2 100 m,and compared results of different PGDs' flashover characteristics.Meanwhile,according to the experimental results of lightning impulse and switching impulse,appropriate intervals of PGD were gained after taking the insulating coordination principle between insulator and PGD into consideration:3 780 mm stick type PGD and 3 780 mm ring type PGD were suitable for engineering use of 500 kV lines at altitude of 2 100 m,which could fulfill both insulator protection and line insulating requirements.The results provide a reference for engineering designs of PGD.
Obstacles to successful implementation of exposure therapy

Publisher Summary Exposure therapy is an effective primary intervention for the treatment of specific phobias, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder. The efficacy of cognitive–behavior programs in which exposure is a major component for the treatment of panic disorder (PD), social anxiety disorder (SAD), and generalized anxiety disorder has also evidences. However, few therapists use exposure therapy in treating their clients with anxiety disorders. In considering obstacles to clinicians' use of exposure therapy, there are two different types of barriers. First, the majority of therapists simply do not use evidence-based treatments such as exposure therapy, even when they are aware of their existence. Second, implementing exposure therapy in an effective or optimal manner is often easier said than done. Even when the exposure therapist has the benefit of good training and detailed treatment manuals, many clients with anxiety disorders present significant challenges in therapy.
Quad Precision Floating Point on the IBM z13

When operating on a rapidly increasing amount of data, business analytics applications become sensitive to rounding errors, and profit from the higher stability and faster convergence of quad precision floating-point (FP-QP) arithmetic. The IBM z13 supports this emerging trend around Big Data with an outstanding FP-QP performance. The paper details the vector and floating-point unit of IBM z13, with special focus on binary FP-QP. Except for divide and square root, these instructions are executed in the decimal engine. To operate such an 8-cycle decimal and quad precision pipeline at 5GHz required innovation around exponent handling, normalization, and rounding.
Alpha1-antitrypsin concentration in serum of laboratory animals. Changes following proteolytic enzyme injection

Abstract The inhibitor capacity of mouse and rat sera against trypsin and elastase was determined in several strains, males and females, and different size animals. Strains reported by others to have low inhibitor levels were found not to differ significantly from common laboratory strains. Female animals had lower inhibitory capacities and older, larger animals had higher levels. Ease of emphysema induction by proteolytic enzyme injection was greater in older rats and did not seem to be a function of inhibitor concentration. Shortly after injection with proteolytic enzymes, i.e., Brinase and pancreatic elastase, the inhibitor levels decreased markedly, but at 24 hours, the original level had been restored. Trypsin and antiserum to rat alpha 1 -antitrypsin showed similar transient reduction of inhibitory capacity, as they combine with the serum antitrypsin even though they do not produce emphysema. Obligatory initial lowering of inhibitor level prior to elastolytic breakdown is postulated as a mechanism of emphysema induction in experimental animals and in man.
Improving Climate Change Acceptance Among U.S. Conservatives Through Value-Based Message Targeting:

Although prior research has identified communication strategies for reducing climate change skepticism, recent research suggests such approaches can backfire. To explore this issue, we report on a preliminary study investigating two prominent messaging styles: consensus and targeted messages. While consensus messaging did not produce significant effects, targeted messages emphasizing free market solutions to climate change were effective at improving conservatives’ climate change acceptance. Furthermore, the inclusion of consensus information did not improve or diminish the effects of the targeted messages. These findings underscore the utility of targeted messaging in improving climate change acceptance among political conservatives.
Genetic mapping of a major gene in triticale conferring resistance to bacterial leaf streak

A major gene conferring resistance to bacterial leaf streak was mapped to chromosome 5R in triticale. Bacterial leaf streak (BLS), caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtu), is an important disease of wheat and triticale around the world. Although resistance to BLS is limited in wheat, several triticale accessions have high levels of resistance. To characterize the genetic basis of this resistance, we developed triticale mapping populations using a resistant accession (Siskiyou) and two susceptible accessions (UC38 and Villax St. Jose). Bulked segregant analysis in an F2 population derived from the cross of Siskiyou × UC38 led to the identification of a simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker (XSCM138) on chromosome 5R that co-segregated with the resistance gene. The cross of Siskiyou × Villax St. Jose was advanced into an F2:5 recombinant inbred line population and evaluated for BLS reaction. Genetic linkage maps on this population were assembled with markers generated using genotyping-by-sequencing as well as several SSR markers previously identified on 5R. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping revealed a single major QTL on chromosome 5R, underlined by the same SSR marker as in the Siskiyou × UC38 population. The F1 hybrids of the two crosses were highly resistant to BLS, indicating that resistance is largely dominant. This work will facilitate introgression of this rye-derived BLS resistance gene into the wheat genome by molecular marker-mediated chromosome engineering.
A theory of an elastic-plastic continuum with special emphasis to artificial graphite

This paper generalizes the theory of plasticity to make it applicable to artificial graphite in the temperature range from room temperature to 750°F. The theory includes no yield surface in the classical sense, that is, a surface enclosing a purely elastic region. Only radial paths are considered. It is assumed that at the beginning of each loading reversal the behavior of the stress-strain curve is the same independently of the values of stress and plastic strain at which loading reversal takes place. We also assume that the reloading curve obtained upon double reversal of loading approaches asymptotically the extension to the initial loading curve which would have existed provided reversal of loading hat not existed.
Enteral Feeding Tube Clogging: What Are the Causes and What Are the Answers? A Bench Top Analysis

BACKGROUND Clogged enteral feeding tubes remain a significant barrier to the delivery of nutrition, hydration, and medications to patients who cannot tolerate oral intake. There is limited research that compares the relative efficacy of different methods used to clear a clogged feeding tube. The objectives of this study were to better understand the factors that contribute to enteral feeding tube clogging and to test the efficacy of 3 methods for clearing clogged feeding tubes. METHODS Three formulations of clogs were artificially created and tested in vitro and composed of various quantities of crushed medication (ie, aspirin) and 0.15 g coagulated protein (ie, tofu). The following 3 clog clearing strategies were tested on all clog types (n = 5 clogs/formulation/treatment): warm water flushes, an enzyme treatment, and an actuated mechanical occlusion clearing device. RESULTS The variable among the clog types that appears most responsible for decreased clearing success is the state of the coagulated protein. Dried-out protein appears to makes a greater difference than increasing the medication quantity. The actuated mechanical occlusion clearing device was significantly more successful (93%) when compared with warm water flushes (20%) and the commercially available enzyme treatment (33%; P < .005) at clearing the clogs. The actuated device required significantly less total procedure time (P < .005) and total nursing time (P < .005) when compared with the other 2 clearing methods. CONCLUSIONS When clogs occur, they can be quickly and effectively resolved by the actuated device, but other methodologies such as water and enzyme treatments may be of assistance.
“Should This Loan be Approved or Denied?”: A Large Dataset with Class Assignment Guidelines

In this article, a large and rich dataset from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and an accompanying assignment designed to teach statistics as an investigative process of decision makin...
The human-snail transmission environment shapes long term schistosomiasis control outcomes: Implications for improving the accuracy of predictive modeling.

Introduction Schistosomiasis is a chronic parasitic trematode disease that affects over 240 million people worldwide. The Schistosoma lifecycle is complex, involving transmission via specific intermediate-host freshwater snails. Predictive mathematical models of Schistosoma transmission have often chosen to simplify or ignore the details of environmental human-snail interaction in their analyses. Schistosome transmission models now aim to provide better precision for policy planning of elimination of transmission. This heightens the importance of including the environmental complexity of vector-pathogen interaction in order to make more accurate projections. Methodology and principal findings We propose a nonlinear snail force of infection (FOI) that takes into account an intermediate larval stage (miracidium) and snail biology. We focused, in particular, on the effects of snail force of infection (FOI) on the impact of mass drug administration (MDA) in human communities. The proposed (modified) model was compared to a conventional model in terms of their predictions. A longitudinal dataset generated in Kenya field studies was used for model calibration and validation. For each sample community, we calibrated modified and conventional model systems, then used them to model outcomes for a range of MDA regimens. In most cases, the modified model predicted more vigorous post-MDA rebound, with faster relapse to baseline levels of infection. The effect was pronounced in higher risk communities. When compared to observed data, only the modified system was able to successfully predict persistent rebound of Schistosoma infection. Conclusion and significance The observed impact of varying location-specific snail inputs sheds light on the diverse MDA response patterns noted in operational research on schistosomiasis control, such as the recent SCORE project. Efficiency of human-to-snail transmission is likely to be much higher than predicted by standard models, which, in practice, will make local elimination by implementation of MDA alone highly unlikely, even over a multi-decade period.
Differential Diagnosis, Clinical Features, and Prognosis of Multiple Sclerosis

The diagnosis and prognosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has changed dramatically over the years from the first descriptions from St. Lidwina of Schiedam (1380–1433) and Augustus D’Este (grandson of George III) between 1822 and 1848 to the pathological descriptions of Cruveilhier (1829–1842) and Carswell (1838). Serious study and synthesis of clinical and pathological human MS began with the work of Jean Martin Charcot at the Salpetriere in Paris in the last three decades of the 19th century. Recently, there has been a trend to classify MS as an immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). This classification is useful as a diagnostic tool, as demonstrated by Schumacher (1962) and Poser (1983). The new diagnostic criteria (1), which is discussed in detail in the remainder of this chapter, has changed the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of MS.
Early differential induction of C-jun in the central nervous system of hens treated with diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP).

Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP) produces organophosphorus-ester induced delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) in the hen, human and other sensitive species. We studied the effect of a single dose of DFP (1.7 mg/kg/sc) on the expression of c-jun, which is one of the heterodimerizing ITFs (Inducible Transcriptional Factors) of the AP-1 family. The hens were sacrificed at different time points ie 0.25,0.50, 1 and 2 hrs. Total RNA was extracted from the following brain regions: cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, midbrain and as well as spinal cord. Northern blots prepared using standard protocols were hybridized with c-jun as well as b-actin and 18S RNA cDNA (control) probes. The results indicate differential regulation of c-jun levels which may be due to the activation of both cholinergic and non-cholinergic pathways of CNS, besides changing roles of c-jun (as mediator of degeneration or regeneration) depending on heterodimerization with other ITFs. In the highly susceptible tissues like brainstem and spinal cord c-jun transcript levels increased at 15 minutes and continued to increase gradually till it reached the maximum at 2 hrs. Overall spinal cord showed the maximum levels of c-jun induction (207%) at 2 hrs time point of all the CNS tissues. The enhancement of cholinergic transmisson by the inhibition of cholinestrase may be responsible for the gradual increase mediated by neural and vascular factors. In contrast, less susceptible tissue, cerebellum showed almost immediate induction to high level of (179%) at 15 minutes and the levels stayed more or less the same until it peaked to 185% at 2 hrs. Relatively low abundance of cholinergic neurons and high number of sensitized specialized cell types like Bergman glia and Purkinje cells may be responsible for the immediate higher induction. Non-susceptible tissue cerebrum did not show any changes in the c-jun levels. In midbrain the induction pattern was very similar to that of brainstem. This differential induction pattern of c-jun encomposing the differences in the quantity and time course was directly proportionate to the degree of susceptibility and cellular heterogeneity of different regions of CNS. The significant increase in c-jun levels along with our earlier observation on the increased c-fos levels indicate that AP-1 family of genes may be one of the IEGs involved in the long term changes which eventually lead to OPIDN.
Initial Field Testing of Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic (CSPV) Thermal Hybrid Solar Energy Generator Utilizing Large Aperture Parabolic Trough and Spectrum Selective Mirrors

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has completed initial field testing of a test unit of the MH Solar Concentrating Solar Photovoltaic (CSPV) system. The CSPV unit is a retrofit system for use with a parabolic trough type concentrating solar power (CSP) thermal solar collector which redirects a portion of the incident solar radiation spectrum to a PV module while allowing normal operation of the thermal system to continue. The system was tested at the UL Lafayette Solar Energy Laboratory utilizing the existing Large Aperture Trough (LAT) test field. The dichroic cold mirror reflected solar radiation of between 500 and 1000 nm to the MH Solar vertical multi junction (VMJ) silicon PV cells (known as the MIH VMJ cells) which provided high efficiency operation under a concentration ratio of 30. The testing produced a PV module efficiency of 30% across the portion of the spectrum which was redirected, while the thermal efficiency was reduced by only about 9 percentage points, resulting in an overall efficiency increase of the power plant. The total power output of the power plant could therefore be increased through utilization of the hybrid configuration.
Epidemiologic comparison of ankle injuries presenting to US emergency departments versus high school and collegiate athletic training settings

Ankle sprains account for a large proportion of injuries presenting to both United States (US) emergency departments (EDs) as well as high school (HS) and collegiate school athletic training settings. The epidemiologic differences across these settings by both sport and diagnosis have not been well differentiated. Ankle injury data from 3 national surveillance datasets. Athletic training setting data from the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance System and the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program was from academic years 2009/10 through 2013/14 and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (ED setting) data was from calendar years 2009 through 2013. Data was analyzed for patients 14–22 years old participating in 12 sports (male football, baseball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and wrestling, and female softball, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and field hockey). We calculated sport-specific injury rates, proportions, and rate ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). During the study period, the surveillance systems captured 20,261 ankle injuries presenting to EDs plus 5546 HS and 2725 collegiate injuries presenting to school athletic training settings. Rates were higher in collegiate compared to HS athletes presenting in the athletic training setting. Football accounted for the largest proportion of ankle injuries presenting to HS (31.2%) and college (41.0%) athletic training settings; male basketball accounted for the largest proportion presenting to EDs among both HS (41.0%) and college (65.8%) aged patients. Sprains/strains accounted for over 80% of injuries in all three settings. Fractures accounted for a larger proportion of ankle injuries presenting to EDs (9.5%) compared to HS (3.8%) and college (0.8%) athletic training settings. There was no change in injury rates during the study period across the three settings. Injury rates and patterns varied by sport and presentation setting, with athletic trainers evaluating more ankle injuries overall in the collegiate setting compared to the high school setting. Ankle injuries presenting to EDs were more commonly fractures, suggesting that more severe injuries present to this setting. Understanding the epidemiology of such patterns will help readers interpret differences in publications reporting data from varied clinical settings.
‘Weaver of Tales’: The Veroli Box and the Power of Eros in Byzantium

Combining art, historical, and textual analyses, Angelova sheds new light on the iconographic program of the well-known and much-studied Veroli box, kept in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Rather than seeing it as a luxury object, she argues that it offers testimony to the enduring relevance of pagan gods and figures in Byzantine amatory art and literature, both in the expression of erotic feelings and in their gendering. Their potency was ensured by the dearth of Christian exempla of passionate love; the enchantment of the classical artistic and literary tradition, especially in articulating erotic feelings; the centuries-old traditions surrounding marriage gifts; and the habit of allegory.
Objectivity in the Writing of History/Critical Legal History: Two Cribs for Harried Graduate Students

Scholars have long argued about the degree to which objectivity is possible in the writing of history. In 1988 Peter Novick published a wonderful chronicle of this dispute, a summary of which history graduate and law students might find useful. Novick’s book concludes with work by legal historians affiliated with the Critical Legal Studies movement. Critical Legal History developed a distinctive understanding of its subject matter that, through the concepts of contingency and constitutiveness, seemingly managed to avoid questions about objectivity. A summary of how this was accomplished might also be found useful by history and legal history graduate and law students interested in the development of Critical Legal History and its subsequent path.
Statutes of Limitation and Other Legal Challenges to the Recovery of Stolen Art

In the United States, a thief can never transfer title to stolen property, even to a good faith purchaser, but the passage of time may bar the claim of the original owner. Given the ease of concealing and transferring art and cultural objects across national boundaries, courts have generally delayed the accrual of a cause of action until the original owner has a reasonable chance to locate the property and learn the identity of the current possessor. This chapter examines the different rules that have developed in the United States for recovery of stolen art, whether a court should apply its law or that of another jurisdiction, and recent federal legislation enacted to remove time bars to recovery of cultural objects looted during the Holocaust.
Selling the Iran Nuclear Agreement: Prospect Theory and the Campaign to Frame the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

AbstractThis paper examines the Obama administration’s arguments for ratifying the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to limit Iran’s nuclear capabilities and whether these claims encourage...
Hydrogen peroxide adducts of triarylphosphine oxides

Five new hydrogen peroxide adducts of phosphine oxides (p-Tol3PO·H2O2)2 (1), (o-Tol3PO·H2O2)2 (2), (o-Tol2PhPO·H2O2)2 (3), (p-Tol3PO)2·H2O2 (4), and (o-TolPh2PO)2·H2O2 (5), and the water adduct (o-Tol2PhPO·H2O)2 (6) have been synthesized and fully characterized. Their single crystal X-ray structures have been determined and analyzed. The IR and 31P NMR data are in accordance with strong hydrogen bonding of the hydrogen peroxide. The mono- versus dimeric nature of the adduct assemblies has been investigated by DOSY NMR experiments. Raman spectroscopy of the symmetric adducts and the ν(O-O) stretching bands confirm the presence of hydrogen-bonded hydrogen peroxide in the solid materials. The solubilities in organic solvents have been quantified. Due to the high solubilities of 1-6 in organic solvents their 17O NMR spectra could be recorded in natural abundance, providing well-resolved signals for the P[double bond, length as m-dash]O and O-O groups. The adducts 1-5 have been probed regarding their stability in solution at 105 °C. The decomposition of the adduct 1 takes place by loss of the active oxygen atoms in two steps.
Are the folk historicists about moral responsibility

Manipulation cases have figured prominently in philosophical debates about whether moral responsibility is in some sense deeply historical. Meanwhile, some philosophers have thought that folk think...
An improved theory of the response of DIII-D H-mode discharges to static resonant magnetic perturbations and its implications for the suppression of edge localized modes

The plasma response to an externally generated, static, n = 2, resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) in the pedestal region of DIII-D H-mode discharge #158115 is investigated using a toroidal generalization of the asymptotic matching model presented by Fitzpatrick [Phys. Plasmas 27, 042506 (2020)]. Just as in a recent paper [Q. M. Hu et al., Phys. Plasmas 26, 120702 (2019)], it is hypothesized that the density pump-out phenomenon is due to locked magnetic island chains induced at the bottom of the pedestal, whereas the suppression of edge localized modes is associated with a locked magnetic island chain induced at the top of the pedestal. Neutral penetration inside the last closed magnetic flux-surface is found to have a significant influence on locked magnetic island chain formation at the bottom of the pedestal. It is found that locked island formation at the top of the pedestal is only possible when q95 lies in certain narrow windows. Finally, it is inferred that, in order to successfully induce a locked island chain at the top of the pedestal, an external RMP field-coil system must generate a magnetic field that is simultaneously strongly amplified by the plasma (via the ideal kink response) and has a large resonant component at a rational surface that lies close to the top of the pedestal.
A Case of Anaplasmosis during a Warm Minnesota Fall.

A healthy 33 year old male presented in December with a 3 week history of fever and fatigue. He had been deer-hunting in northern Minnesota 1 month prior and had sustained a tick bite. Extensive la...
Wildfire impacts on forest microclimate vary with biophysical context

Increasing wildfire activity in western North America has the potential to remove forest canopy cover over large areas, increasing the vulnerability of understory plants and juvenile trees to microclimatic extremes. To understand the impacts of wildfire on forest microclimatic buffering, we monitored daily temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in 33 plots over the first two growing seasons following two wildfires from 2017. The Lolo Peak and Sunrise fires occurred during a regionally extensive fire season, burning mixed‐conifer and subalpine forests across complex mountainous topography in western Montana. Sensors were deployed from June to September in 2018 and 2019 in sites stratified by aspect, elevation, and fire severity (unburned, moderate, high) to capture a range of forest types, biophysical contexts, and fire effects. Loss of canopy and understory vegetation had marked effects on microclimate: On average, sites burned at high severity had 3.7°C higher daily maximum temperatures and 0.81 kPa higher daily maximum VPD relative to paired unburned sites. Differences between burned and unburned sites were most pronounced when ambient temperatures were high, across diurnal and seasonal time scales. Differences were also more pronounced at sites with less canopy cover, more bare ground postfire, and greater long‐term water availability (i.e., low climatic water deficit). Our results reveal fire‐caused changes in microclimate extremes that are biologically meaningful for the postfire establishment of tree seedlings and understory vegetation. These effects depend strongly on biophysical context, with cool‐wet forests more vulnerable to fire‐caused changes in microclimate compared with warm‐dry settings. Our results further highlight the functional importance of standing dead trees for moderating surface temperature in postfire environments. Anticipating forest ecosystem responses to increased warming and wildfire activity, and the potential for fire to catalyze vegetation changes, thus requires considering the substantial impacts of fire on microclimate.
Delays in LEEP associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and impact on resulting pathology

Objectives: Over the course of the past year, medical providers were forced to make difficult decisions in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Many clinics were closed for routine and follow-up visits in order to preserve personal protective equipment and to decrease exposure of patients and staff to the virus. The aim of this study was to assess the effect that the COVID-19 response had on scheduling a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and the potential impact on resulting pathology. Methods: A retrospective review of all patients who received a LEEP due to an abnormal cervical cancer screening test at a single inner-city academic institution was performed. Procedures scheduled from March 2020 (start of the COVID-19 pandemic) through July 2020 were included. Baseline patient characteristics (including race), time from colposcopy to LEEP, and pathology results were collected. Results: A total of 37 patients underwent a LEEP in this timeframe. Median age was 33 years (range, 22-63) and 6 patients (16%) were smokers. Median time between colposcopy and LEEP was 80 days (range, 0-303 days), with 25% having a delay of ≥131.5 days. Non-White patients (n=25, median 91 days) experienced numerically higher delays than White patients (n=12, median 34.5 days, p=0.077, Mann-Whitney U test). Expedited treatment (colposcopy and LEEP on same day) occurred in 0/25 non-White patients and in 3/12 White patients (p=0.028, Fisher exact test). On colposcopy, 31/37 patients (84%) had high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL); the rest had low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or lower. On LEEP, 1 patient had squamous cell carcinoma (3%) and 20 patients had HSIL (54%); the rest had LSIL or lower. From colposcopy to LEEP, 14/37 patients (37.8%) had discordant pathologies of which 2 patients (5%) had upgraded pathologies; these two patients underwent LEEP 136 days and 142 days after colposcopy and were upgraded to squamous cell carcinoma and HSIL, respectively. A total of 12 patients (32.4%) had downgraded pathologies. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large proportion of inner-city patients experienced delays between colposcopy and LEEP, an effect which seemed more pronounced among non-White patients. The patients with upgraded interval pathologies had particularly long delays between the procedures. Additional study is needed to examine the potential negative ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening and healthcare disparities.
Coordinated Network Changes Across the Catalytic Cycle of Alpha Tryptophan Synthase

Networks of noncovalent interactions play important roles in the structural dynamics of globular proteins. Allosteric signals can propagate from the surface of an enzyme into its active site through these amino acid interaction networks. We used nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift covariance analyses on a catalytically inactive variant of the alpha subunit of tryptophan synthase to map its amino acid interaction networks across its entire catalytic cycle. Each enzyme intermediate has unique sets of residues that display high chemical shift correlations across a set of alanine-to-glycine loop substitutions. Moreover, these chemical shift correlations systematically increase or decrease as a function of the catalytic cycle. These studies indicate that the enzyme intermediates have different amino acid interaction networks, and these network transitions are likely important for catalytic cycle progression. The different network interactions likely help to position catalytic machinery and coordinate function with the beta subunit.
Developing intelligent agents for distributed systems: exploring architecture, technologies, & applications

A brief history of intelligent agents fundamental technological aspects applications secret agents the dark side of intelligent agents future agents.
Condorcet Domains: A Geometric Perspective

One of several topics in which Peter Fishburn [4, 5] has made basic contributions involves finding maximal Condorcet Domains. In this current paper, I develop a geometric approach that, at least for four and five alternatives, is equivalent to Fishburn’s clever alternating scheme (described below), a scheme that has advanced our understanding of the area. To explain “Condorcet Domains” and why they are of interest, start with the fact that when making decisions by comparing pairs of alternatives with majority votes, the hope is to have decisive outcomes in that one candidate always is victorious when she is compared with any other candidate. When this happens, the candidate is called the Condorcet winner. The attractiveness of this notion, where someone can beat anyone else in head-to-head comparisons, is why the Condorcet winner remains a central concept in voting theory. For a comprehensive, modern description of the Condorcet solution concept, see Gehrlein’s recent book [7]. But Condorcet also proved that pairwise rankings can lead to cycles, where a Condorcet winner cannot exist. His three voter example [3],1 now called the Condorcet triplet, has the preferences
Fate and effects of polluting petroleum in the marine environment

Oceanic oil pollution has become a major environmental issue. This review attempts to assess the extent of this pollution problem and its impact on the marine environment. The complex nature of petroleum is discussed to the extent that it pertains to its effects and its fate in the sea. The roles of physical, chemical, and biochemical processes in the elimination of polluting oil from the marine environment are described. The pathways and products of the microbial degradation of various petroleum components are summarized and the possibility of oil removal by stimulated biodegradation is discussed in the context of other pollution abatement and prevention techniques. The emphasis of the review is on biological effects and on biodegradation, but these subjects are presented in the perspective of the marine oil pollution problem as a whole.
Torque estimation in switched reluctance motor drive using artificial neural networks

Measurement of torque developed by an electric machine is an essential part in many industrial applications. However, commercially available torque transducers are expensive and not very accurate at high speeds. Elimination of the external torque sensor is an attractive issue in many applications. An electric machine processes its input current based on its physical characteristics and converts it to electromagnetic torque and hence can be considered as a current to torque transducer. However obtaining the mapping between electrical and mechanical terminals of an electric machine by analytical tools is almost impossible because of the nonlinearities involved in the process. In this study, artificial neural networks (ANN) have been used to find the above mapping for an 8/6 SRM drive system. In this paper, the torque production mechanism in SRM is first reviewed to get a closer look at current to torque transformation. Linear estimation techniques are then used for predicting the electromagnetic torque and their shortcomings due to the inherent nonlinearity of the SRM drive are shown. In the next step neural networks have been used to implement nonlinear dynamic predictors. Regressor structure, network topology and learning algorithms have been tuned to introduce a novel torque sensing scheme which can process the phase currents and predict the electromagnetic torque. Certain special considerations for various operations have been taken into account.
Liquidus Temperature and One Percent Crystal Content Models for Initial Hanford HLW Glasses

Preliminary models for liquidus temperature (TL) and temperature at 1 vol% crystal (T01) applicable to WTP HLW glasses in the spinel primary phase field were developed. A series of literature model forms were evaluated using consistent sets of data form model fitting and validation. For TL, the ion potential and linear mixture models performed best, while for T01 the linear mixture model out performed all other model forms. TL models were able to predict with smaller uncertainty. However, the lower T01 values (even with higher prediction uncertainties) were found to allow for a much broader processing envelope for WTP HLW glasses.
Dimensional analysis of real estate portfolio selection methods

This study explores the portfolio selection methods that property managers utilise for managing real estate investments during an economic recovery cycle. Knowing more about portfolio selection methods is especially relevant for property project managers and investors given today’s financial uncertainties. To explore these issues, the researcher analysed the methods property managers applied for buy-sell decision making of residential and commercial rental properties. Data were collected from a random sample of licensed real property project managers in the USA. A concurrent embedded mixed-method research strategy was applied to integrate quantitative and qualitative survey data (describing the portfolio selection method). Correspondence analysis produced a statistically significant symmetric model partitioned by five methodology attributes and six investment categories.
Quest for rare events in mesoscopic disordered metals

The study reports on the first large statistics numerical experiment searching for rare eigenstates of anomalously high amplitudes in three-dimensional diffusive metallic conductors. Only a small fraction of a huge numberof investigated eigenfunctions generates the far asymptotic tail of their amplitude distribution function. The relevance of the relationship between disorder and spectral averaging, as well as of the quantum transport properties of the investigated mesoscopic samples, for the numerical exploration of eigenstate statistics is divulged. The quest provides exact results to serve as a reference point for understanding the limits of approximations employed in different analytical predictions and, therefore, the physics (quantum vs semiclassical) behind large deviations from the universal predictions of random matrix theory.