cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variable Density Responses of Primate Communities to Hunting Pressure in a Western Amazonian River Basin

Large-bodied game species are in decline in tropical forests worldwide due to unsustainable extraction levels by hunters, which can result in cascading effects on vertebrate community structure. In this study, we examine the density responses of primate populations to different levels of hunting pressure in the Madre de Dios river basin, Peru. Across three surveyed sites, both small- and mid-sized primates exhibited population-level density compensation in response to the extirpation of sympatric large primates. Small primate density at one heavily hunted site was 5x that of a comparable nonhunted site, while the highest density of mid-sized primates was recorded at mid-level hunting pressure. Primate response to hunting pressure appears to be influenced by reproductive rate, with strong interspecific variability. High reproductive rate, infrequent extraction, and the relaxation of competitive interactions with extirpated large primates appear to facilitate increasing density of the smallest-bodied species. Evidence from elsewhere in the Madre de Dios basin suggests that large primates are particularly slow to recover from past hunting pressure, with continuing recovery even in sites that have not been hunted for several decades. These variable density responses to hunting pressure alter inter-specific and community dynamics, with potentially expansive short- and long-term ecosystem-level effects.
What Do You Tell Parents Who Ask, "Why Can't My Child Have Refractive Surgery?"

The success and popularity of refractive procedures in adults has raised the issue of whether children should also be treated. The social stigma of spectacle wear and widespread difficulties with compliance are sometimes enough reason for parents to explore refractive surgery as an alternative means to improve vision. There are many unanswered questions regarding pediatric refractive surgery, its complications, and implications on a still developing eye. With the success of traditional methods like glasses and patching, the possibility of refractive surgery in children should be delayed until sufficient scientific data has been collected.
Development and Validation of the Coping with Acculturative Stress in American Schools (Casas-A) Scale on a Latino Adolescent Sample.

The psychometric properties of the Coping With Acculturative Stress in American Schools (CASAS-A) scale were examined using a sample of 148 Latino middle school students. CASAS-A is a self-report s...
Cautionary tales from real world failures for managing security in the cyber world

Any field of endeavor benefits from a body of knowledge of failures that provide guidance on what to avoid. As a relatively young discipline whose failures can often be handled privately, information security professionals do not have access to the volume of well documented failures for analysis that more mature professions such as mechanical and civil engineering rely on. This paper examines catastrophic failures from the physical world and provides "lessons learned" that can be applied in managing an information systems security program.
Tumor and host factors that may limit efficacy of chemotherapy in non-small cell and small cell lung cancer

While chemotherapy provides useful palliation, advanced lung cancer remains incurable since those tumors that are initially sensitive to therapy rapidly develop acquired resistance. Resistance may arise from impaired drug delivery, extracellular factors, decreased drug uptake into tumor cells, increased drug efflux, drug inactivation by detoxifying factors, decreased drug activation or binding to target, altered target, increased damage repair, tolerance of damage, decreased proapoptotic factors, increased antiapoptotic factors, or altered cell cycling or transcription factors. Factors for which there is now substantial clinical evidence of a link to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) resistance to chemotherapy include MRP (for platinum-based combination chemotherapy) and MDR1/P-gp (for non-platinum agents). SPECT MIBI and Tc-TF scanning appears to predict chemotherapy benefit in SCLC. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the strongest clinical evidence is for taxane resistance with elevated expression or mutation of class III β-tubulin (and possibly α tubulin), platinum resistance and expression of ERCC1 or BCRP, gemcitabine resistance and RRM1 expression, and resistance to several agents and COX-2 expression (although COX-2 inhibitors have had minimal impact on drug efficacy clinically). Tumors expressing high BRCA1 may have increased resistance to platinums but increased sensitivity to taxanes. Limited early clinical data suggest that chemotherapy resistance in NSCLC may also be increased with decreased expression of cyclin B1 or of Eg5, or with increased expression of ICAM, matrilysin, osteopontin, DDH, survivin, PCDGF, caveolin-1, p21WAF1/CIP1, or 14-3-3sigma, and that IGF-1R inhibitors may increase efficacy of chemotherapy, particularly in squamous cell carcinomas. Equivocal data (with some positive studies but other negative studies) suggest that NSCLC tumors with some EGFR mutations may have increased sensitivity to chemotherapy, while K-ras mutations and expression of GST-pi, RB or p27kip1 may possibly confer resistance. While limited clinical data suggest that p53 mutations are associated with resistance to platinum-based therapies in NSCLC, data on p53 IHC positivity are equivocal. To date, resistance-modulating strategies have generally not proven clinically useful in lung cancer, although small randomized trials suggest a modest benefit of verapamil and related agents in NSCLC.
Effect of the surface and barrier defects on the AlGaN/GaN HEMT low-frequency noise performance

We report on the effect of Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ passivation of the surface of AlGaN/GaN transistors on low-frequency noise performance. Low-frequency noise measurements were performed on the device before and after the passivation by a Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ film. A lower level of the low-frequency noise was observed from the device after the passivation. The passivation layer improved high-frequency, large-signal device performance, but introduced parasitic leakage current from the gate. A lower level of flicker noise is explained by the fact that noise is mostly originated from the fluctuation of sheet charge and mobility in the ungated region of the device due to the defects on the surface and in the barrier of the unpassivated device. Passivation eliminates part of the defects and higher leakage current increases the number of electrons on the surface and in the vicinity of the barrier defects, lowering the contribution to the low-frequency noise according to Hooge's law.
Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery: Surgical Repair With Anatomic- and Function-Based Follow-Up.

Background Anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (AAOCA) with an interarterial (IAC) course is an uncommon congenital anomaly. Surgical indications and repair techniques have evolved. We have managed 259 adult patients with AAOCA over 40 years. Our management strategy includes anatomic- and function-based surveillance to select surgical candidates. We reviewed our surgical cohort and analyzed anatomic and functional outcomes. Methods We queried our heart center databases to obtain the names of all patients with AAOCA managed at our institution between 1974 and 2014. We performed a retrospective chart review. Results Two hundred fifty-nine patients were managed for AAOCA. Sixty-one underwent surgical intervention. Twenty-six with associated coronary atherosclerosis were excluded. Thirty-one who underwent surgical repair were analyzed. Mean age was 42.5 ± 2.7 years. Twenty-four patients (77.4%) had right AAOCA. Six (19.4%) had left AAOCA. One (3.2%) had bilateral coronary anomalies. Repair techniques included 21 unroofing procedures (67.7%), 6 translocations (19.4%), and 4 coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures (12.9%). Mean follow-up was 3.8 ± 0.8 years. Thirteen patients underwent follow-up anatomic testing with computed tomography. Twelve of these patients had widely patent coronary arteries, and 1 patient had mild coronary artery stenosis. Seventeen patients underwent functional testing. Fifteen of these patients had no evidence of ischemia. One patient had reversible ischemia after CABG, and 1 had subclinical ischemia after unroofing. There was 1 late mortality from endocarditis. Conclusions Our multidisciplinary program uses a treatment algorithm to select patients with AAOCA for surgical intervention. Only a small subset requires an operation, and we favor unroofing and translocation techniques. With this paradigm, outcomes are excellent, as validated with anatomic- and function-based testing.
Resolution of some taxonomic and nomenclatural issues in a recent revision of Ceraeochrysa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

With the purpose of promoting nomenclatural stability, this paper addresses a number of errors, omissions, and controversial conclusions in a recent revision of the green lacewing genus Ceraeochrysa by Freitas et al. (2009). 1. Valid species, new combinations and synonymies: (a) We identified Ceraeochrysa chiricahuae Freitas and Penny (in Freitas et al. 2009), Chrysopa forreri Navas, and Chrysopa intacta Navas as subjective synonyms. Thus, Ceraeochrysa intacta, a species that was previously synonymized under Ceraeochrysa placita (Banks), becomes the valid name of the species [New status, new combination]. Chrysopa forreri is now synonymized under Cer. intacta, not Cer. placita [New synonymy]. And, Cer. chiricahuae becomes a junior synonym of Cer. intacta, not a valid species of Ceraeochrysa [New synonymy]. (b) We enumerate specific internal and external features of the Chrysopa cornuta Navas type that identify it as conspecific with Ceraeochrysa caligata (Banks), not Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider) as proposed by Freitas et al. (2009). Thus, Ceraeochrysa cornuta (Navas), which has priority, is reinstated as the valid name [Reinstated status, reinstated combination], and Ceraeochrysa caligata (Banks) is reinstated as a junior subjective synonym of Cer. cornuta, not a valid species [Reinstated synonymy]. (c) We provide documented evidence for reinstating three synonymies that Freitas et al. had reversed [Reinstated synonymies]: (i) Allochrysa parvula Banks is a junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa lineaticornis (Fitch); (ii) Chrysopa columbiana Banks is a junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa lineaticornis (Fitch); (iii) Chrysopa rochina (Navas) is a junior subjective synonym of Ceraeochrysa cincta (Schneider). 2. Generic assignments: (a) Visual evidence is provided for the placement of Ceraeochrysa laufferi (Navas) in Ungla. Therefore, Ungla laufferi (Navas) is reinstated as the valid name [Reinstated combination]. (b) We question Freitas et al.’s rationale for including Cer. placita (Banks) and Cer. intacta (Navas) (as Cer. chiricahuae Freitas and Penny) in the genus Ceraeochrysa; female and larval features of the two species differ markedly from those used to characterize Ceraeochrysa species. As an alternative that recognizes the uncertainty surrounding the generic placement of these species and that avoids additional, unnecessary name changes, we propose including the caveat “genus incertae sedis” with the names, as follows: Ceraeochrysa placita (Banks), genus incertae sedis, and Ceraeochrysa intacta (Navas), genus incertae sedis. 3. Type designations: (a) Errors concerning the Chrysopa furculata Navas type in the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (MNHN), are corrected, and doubts raised by Freitas et al. (2009) concerning the identification of this specimen as the holotype are removed. (b) The earlier designation of the Chrysopa rochina (Navas) type in the MNHN as the lectotype (not holotype) is verified.
Comparison of simulators for assessing the ability to sustain wireless sensor networks using dynamic network reconfiguration

Abstract Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) can be used for a variety of tasks. The goal is to sustain such networks for as long as possible while still maintaining acceptable performance on the task. Evaluating WSNs for such diverse tasks precludes actual deployment and thus requires simulation. In this work, we compare simulators that can model power consumption and allow dynamic reconfiguration of network parameters based on feedback from the end application. The simulation results demonstrate some fundamental differences in out-of-the-box performance in terms of the way the simulators behave and calculate power consumption. With modifications to parameters and behavior, however the simulators’ outputs become more closely aligned. Overall, based on our selection criteria, ns-3 was the best WSN simulator of those evaluated for assessing the sustainability of a WSN in a variety of settings.
Demand-following or supply-leading: an examination of the finance-growth nexus in selected sub-Sahara African countries

This study assesses the extent to which economic growth has been influenced by financial sector development in sub-Sahara Africa. In order to empirically determine the flow of causation between financial sector development and economic growth, country-specific time series data on key financial development indicators was utilised to implement various tests for causality. The results from causality tests reveal that, whilst causation flows purely from growth to financial development for Benin, Congo, Nigeria and Zambia, the reverse holds for Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania and Kenya. The study also reveals bilateral causation between financial sector development and growth for countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, Mali, Sierra Leone and South Africa. It however fails to establish significant causal effects between financial development and growth for Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Swaziland and Uganda.
Technology and Social Change in Rural Areas: A Festschrift for Eugene A. Wilkening. Edited by Gene F. Summers. Westview, 1983. 252 pp. $25.00.

particular attention to the influence of the family and of social psychological factors on the behavior of rural people and agencies." The book consists of an introduction and thirteen concise, well-written chapters, organized in four parts. The topics represent Wilkening's dominant concerns over a period of thirty years, including the adoption and diffusion of technology, the changing structure of agriculture and its relation to technological changes, the effects of technological and social change on rural life both in the U.S. and in developing countries, and the "appropriate technology" movement. The introduction, by Gene Summers, provides a succinct and integrating overview of the book, particularly important for a collection of disparate essays characterized by very different styles and content. In addition, Summers highlights the aspects of technological development and social change that are implicitly or explicitly assumed by each of the chapter authors. First, technological determinism is rejected; technology and social change are viewed as mutually intertwined and reciprocally related. Since institutions are consequently regarded as essential elements in the development and implementation of technology, issues of their control and use and the role of citizen participation in decision-making are central themes in the book. The issue of citizen participation figures in the major debate between two standards of system performance: equity and efficiency in the allocation of resources. Within this context, the first three essays deal with the adoption and diffusion of technological innovations in agriculture. Fliegel and van Ess point out that interest has shifted from micro-level concern with farmers' adoption of innovations to structural and societal issues. Protest against technology, the obverse of innovation, is well-reviewed in Mazur's speculative essay, but it seems only tan
TEMPORAL TRENDS OF INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS EPIDEMIOLOGY FROM 2007-2013 IN OLMSTED COUNTY, MINNESOTA

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a rare, but life-threatening disease. Our group has reported temporal trends in IE incidence from 1970-2006 in Olmsted County, Minnesota. Now, we report an update in IE incidence from 2007-2013. We performed a population-based review of all adults (18 years and older
Differential Screening of cDNA Libraries for Analysis of Gene Expression During Tumor Progression

The ability to examine gene expression differences during cancer progression is crucial to our understanding of the biological events that lead to uncontrolled growth of malignant cells. Differential expression screening of complementary DNA libraries is described in detail here as a valuable method for monitoring gene expression changes in a prostate cancer xenograft model. Using Southern blot analysis of complementary DNA clones and Northern blot analysis to confirm differential expression, several androgen-regulated transcripts have been identified that may be important in prostate cancer progression.
Publication Rate and Evidence‐Based Evaluation of Abstracts Presented at the American College of Veterinary Surgeon's Annual Meeting

Objective To document the publication rate of abstracts presented at 10 ACVS conferences and report the time required for publication and level of evidence. Study Design Literature review. Methods All scientific abstracts published in the ACVS proceedings from 2001 to 2010 were reviewed. The level of evidence of each abstract was evaluated and scored (1–4). Publication information was determined after a broad bibliographic search through multiple online databases. Results The overall publication rate for ACVS abstracts (n=1,395) was 66% and 11% were published before conference presentation. The majority of abstracts focused on the dog (35%) or the horse (33%). Most (90%) abstracts were submitted to veterinary-based journals. The median time (interquartile range [IQR]) from abstract presentation to journal submission was 222 days (107–541), from journal submission to acceptance for publication was 122 days (89–185), and from acceptance to publication in a journal was 208 days (151–289). The time from abstract presentation to final publication took 449 days (238–794). Of the abstracts, 4% were of level 1 evidence, 9% level 2, 66% level 3, and 21% level 4. Studies with a higher level of evidence were submitted, accepted, and published quicker than ones with a lower level of evidence. The publication rate was 61%, 71%, 68%, and 65% for level 1, 2, 3, 4 evidence, respectively. Conclusion The publication rate of scientific abstracts presented at the ACVS conferences is comparable to other biomedical conferences. The subject matter is limited in scope and focused mainly on dogs or horses. Most abstracts contained lower level of evidence. Studies with higher levels of evidence were submitted, accepted, and published more timely. However, the publication rate was similar for abstracts of all levels of evidence.
Stalk Rot Diseases Impact Sweet Sorghum Biofuel Traits

Owing to its sugar-rich stalks and high biomass, sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] has potential as a source of biofuel feedstock for juice and lignocellulosic-based bioethanol production. However, stalk rot-mediated lodging is an important concern. The potential impacts of disease on sweet sorghum biofuel traits are currently unknown. The objectives of this study were to test the effects of Fusarium stalk rot and charcoal rot on sweet sorghum biofuel traits and to assess the combining ability of the parental genotypes for resistance to the two diseases. Nineteen genotypes including 7 parents and 12 hybrids were tested in the field in 2014 (Ashland, Kansas) and 2015 (Manhattan, Kansas) against Fusarium thapsinum (FT) and Macrophomina phaseolina (MP). Fourteen days after flowering, plants were inoculated with FT and MP. Plants were harvested at 35 days after inoculation and measured for disease severity using stalk lesion length. Grain weight, juice weight, Brix (°Bx), and dried bagasse weight were also determined. Total soluble sugars per plant (TSSP) were determined using juice weight and °Bx. On average, FT and MP resulted in reduced grain weight and dried bagasse weight by 17.4 and 17.6 %, respectively, across genotypes. Depending on the genotype, pathogens reduced juice weight, °Bx, and TSSP in the ranges of 11.3 to 25.9, 0.2 to 16.7, and 21.2 to 33.3 %, respectively. Parental line general and specific combining abilities were found to be statistically insignificant. This study revealed the adverse effects of stalk rot diseases on harvestable biofuel traits and the need to breed sweet sorghum for stalk rot resistance.
Beam Coupling in Undoped GaAs at 1.06 µm Using the Photorefractive Effect

There is an ongoing need for an efficient nonlinear material at 1.06 µm for a variety of applications. For operation at visible wavelengths, much recent attention has been focused on photorefractive materials such as LiNbO3, KNbO3 and BaTiO3. These materials are efficient, but their spectral response is unfavorable for operation at wavelengths longer than ~600 nm. We have determined that Semi insulating GaAs has a prominent photorefractive effect, with a spectral response peaked near 1.06 µm.
Writing a Successful Research Paper. II—Revising, Resubmitting, and Post-Acceptance Tasks

Ok. You have submitted your article and you have patiently been waiting for 6 or 7 or 8 weeks. Then as you working through your emails you suddenly see one pop up from the journal to which you submitted the article. You open the email with understandable tentativeness. As you start to read the response from the journal, you may be surprised to find that the wording is not entirely comprehensible. You were expecting a simple yes or no. But, in fact, there are rarely clear yeses and even a “no” may not mean it is rejected. Thus, one often needs some assistance in interpreting the journal’s decision letter. So that is what we will approach first.
Molecular Cloning and Recombinant DNA Technology

The purpose of this chapter is to describe these tools and how they are used to clone and manipulate DNA constructs. First, we will discuss methods of isolating DNA fragments from the genome and other DNA vectors. Then we will describe molecular cloning: how these isolated fragments are inserted into storage vectors and mass produced using bacteria. Next, we describe how DNA fragments or recombinant DNA constructs are purified from other DNA molecules. Finally, we describe methods of reading the molecular sequence of a DNA construct. After creating and purifying a novel DNA construct, a scientist can deliver this construct into various cell types ( Chapter 11 ) or use the construct to produce a transgenic or knockout animal ( Chapters 12 and 13 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 ).
Surgical strategy in the management of non-small cell ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone syndrome.

BACKGROUND Non-small cell ectopic adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) syndrome is a rare cause of hypercortisolism that may require surgery for either curative resection or palliative adrenalectomy. METHODS We report our surgical experience with 41 patients with ectopic ACTH syndrome and no evidence of small cell lung cancer at initial evaluation. RESULTS All 41 patients had documented hypercortisolism secondary to ectopic production of ACTH. Based on imaging study results, we determined that 21 patients had localized/resectable disease; eight patients had metastatic disease, and 12 patients had occult disease at examination. Of the 21 patients with localized disease, 16 (76%) were cured of ectopic ACTH by surgery (15 bronchial carcinoid, one pheochromocytoma). Patients with bronchial carcinoid had the greatest probability for cure of ectopic ACTH syndrome, and patients with thoracic primary tumor were more likely to be cured than patients with abdominal primaries. Of the eight patients who had metastatic disease, none were cured of the disease; five patients underwent bilateral adrenalectomy, and three patients were given medical therapy. Only one patient was alive after 5 years. Of the 12 patients who had occult disease, four patients were eventually cured of the disease (three bronchial carcinoid, one thymic carcinoid); one patient died of disease (small cell lung cancer), and seven patients still have occult disease. Nine of 12 patients with occult disease underwent bilateral adrenalectomy for surgical management of hypercortisolism. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that the most common primary focus of ectopic ACTH production is within the thorax with 25 of 34 (74%) identifiable tumors originating within either the thymus or bronchus. Adrenalectomy offers excellent palliation of hypercortisolism secondary to either occult or metastatic disease. Patients who initially have localized disease usually have bronchial carcinoids and have a high probability of cure with surgical resection (81%).
A resilience metric and its calculation for ship automation systems

Resilient systems maintain state awareness and an accepted level of operational normalcy in response to disturbances, including threats of an unexpected and malicious nature [1]. In this paper we present a resilience metric for a large scale multi-physics system. We summarize the resilience metric calculations methods from different domains and analyze the fundamental challenges for case-by-case resilience metric calculation methods. We propose to decompose complex systems into subsystems and calculate multiple performance metrics, which are then combined to determine the resilience metric. Based on the context of ship automation system, we define a normalized resilience metric, which can be estimated by the system decomposition approach. The value of the resilience metric is between 0 and 1, where 1 is the best possible resilience. In a case study presented in this paper, we consider a ship chiller system that is partially damaged due to an external event. The control strategy takes proper action to determine new configuration that maximizes the resilience metric.
Human B-1 and B-2 B Cells Develop from Lin−CD34+CD38lo Stem Cells

The B-1 B cell population is an important bridge between innate and adaptive immunity primarily because B-1 cells produce natural Ab. Murine B-1 and B-2 cells arise from distinct progenitors; however, in humans, in part because it has been difficult to discriminate between them phenotypically, efforts to pinpoint the developmental origins of human B-1 and B-2 cells have lagged. To characterize progenitors of human B-1 and B-2 cells, we separated cord blood and bone marrow Lin-CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells into Lin-CD34+CD38lo and Lin-CD34+CD38hi populations. We found that transplanted Lin-CD34+CD38lo cells, but not Lin-CD34+CD38hi cells, generated a CD19+ B cell population after transfer into immunodeficient NOD.Cg-Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1wjl/SxJ neonates. The emergent CD19+ B cell population was found in spleen, bone marrow, and peritoneal cavity of humanized mice and included distinct populations displaying the B-1 or the B-2 cell phenotype. Engrafted splenic B-1 cells exhibited a mature phenotype, as evidenced by low-to-intermediate expression levels of CD24 and CD38. The engrafted B-1 cell population expressed a VH-DH-JH composition similar to cord blood B-1 cells, including frequent use of VH4-34 (8 versus 10%, respectively). Among patients with hematologic malignancies who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, B-1 cells were found in the circulation as early as 8 wk posttransplantation. Altogether, our data demonstrate that human B-1 and B-2 cells develop from a Lin-CD34+CD38lo stem cell population, and engrafted B-1 cells in humanized mice exhibit an Ig-usage pattern comparable to B-1 cells in cord blood.
Using Portable Radios to Operate Mobile Data Terminals

Recently, voice controlled software has begun to be used in public safety applications. The motivation for these efforts is to improve officer safety by allowing the officer to operate the police cruiser's electronics and mobile data terminal (MDT) using voice commands so he can continue to focus on the road when driving. Project 54, which is representative of the work in this area, allows an officer to use a microphone and push-to-talk button on the steering wheel for voice interaction with vehicle's MDT and electronics. This project's focus is on the officer's access to the cruiser's electronics and computer from outside the vehicle while responding to an unknown-risk call. Tactically, it is absolutely imperative that the officer be able to maintain visual contact of the potential threat. Accessing the electronics and MDT by voice avoids the division of attention that occurs if the officer is forced to look at a keyboard or computer screen. While Project54 appears to have been successful in making driving safer, its microphone technology limits its use to the interior and immediate vicinity of the cruiser making it unsuitable for tactical situations. We are investigating the use of the officer's off-the-shelf, portable radio packset to interact with the cruiser's MDT from outside the car. We do this by using the officer's packset to communicate with a transceiver attached to the MDT which also has an audio and control interface to the cruiser's in-car mobile radio. Transmissions received from the officer's packset by the MDT's transceiver are processed by a software module running on the MDT. Ordinary radio transmissions are forwarded to the in-car mobile radio, which rebroadcasts them. Voice commands, such as a computer aided dispatch (CAD) command are executed and responses converted from text to speech and rebroadcast by the MDT's transceiver to the officer's packset. A significant feature of this approach is that none of the hardware needs to be replaced. The only requirement is the addition of a transceiver (another packset like the one the officer carries), some cabling and software. Further, by simply changing channels on the officer's packset and replacing the cables between the MDT and the mobile radio with a microphone and speaker, the MDT and the communications equipment can revert to their original configuration.
Much Ado About Nothing: RDD and the Incumbency Advantage

An influential paper by Caughey and Sekhon (2011a) suggests that the outcomes of very close US House elections in the postwar era may not be as-if random, thus calling into question this application of regression discontinuity for causal inference. We show that while incumbent party candidates are more likely to win close House elections, those who win are no different on observable characteristics from those who lose. Further, all differences in observable characteristics between barely winning Democrats and barely winning Republicans vanish conditional on which party is the incumbent. Any source of a special incumbent party advantage in close elections must be due to variables that cannot be observed. This finding supports the conclusion of Eggers et al. (2015) that Caughey and Sekhon’s discovery of lopsided wins by incumbents in close races is a mere statistical fluke.
Controlling Severe Maladaptive Behaviors

Applied behavior analysis procedures for controlling severe forms of maladaptive behavior are reviewed. Considerations for use of these procedures in classroom environments are discussed. In additi...
Higher Rates of DZ Twinning in a Twenty-First Century Birth Cohort

The Colorado Twin Registry is a population based registry initiated in 1984 with the involvement of the Colorado Department of Health, Division of Vital Statistics. Recruitment includes birth cohorts several years prior to 1984 and all subsequent years. As part of a recent evaluation of Colorado birth records for the years 2006 through 2008 we became aware of a shifting trend in the proportion of MZ and DZ twins in the Colorado population. Historically (Bulmer 1970 The biology of twinning in man, Clarendon, Oxford) we have expected a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 ratio of MZ, same-sex DZ and opposite sex DZ twins in Caucasian populations. An excess of MZ pairs in most studies was assumed to be due to selection bias. Somewhat more recently, Hur et al.(1995 Behav Genet 25, 337–340) provided evidence that the DZ twinning rate was falling and that therefore selection bias was not the reason for higher MZ enrollment in most twin studies. They suggested that twin researchers might consider strategies to over-enroll DZ pairs to maximize statistical power. In contrast, we now find that of the 3217 twin births in Colorado from 2006 to 2008 with identified sex information the MZ rate is estimated at only 22%, and we have corroborating reports from other states of similar estimates. These were calculated applying Weinberg’s rule which assumes an equal birth rate for same sex and opposite sex DZ pairs so that the proportion of MZ in a sample is the proportion of same sex (MM + FF) minus the proportion of opposite-sex (MF, FM). We explore factors, such as an increase in the proportion of non-Caucasian parents and an increase in average maternal age, which may contribute to this shift.
Takes Two to Tango: Essential Practices of Highly Effective Transfer Partnerships

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe practices of 2- and 4-year institutional partnerships effective in supporting transfer student success. Method: Using student records from the...
LSAT® scores of economics majors: The 2015–16 class update and 15-year history

ABSTRACTIn this article, the author updates his prior studies of LSAT® scores (Nieswiadomy 1998, 2006, 2010, 2014) using current data for 2015–16 law school applicants, finding that economics majors remain at or near the top of all applicants. Results of the previous studies showing economics majors scored well on the LSAT® have been posted often on economics (and other) departments' Web sites. Economics majors (mean LSAT® score of 158.8) had the highest score of the 16 largest disciplines (with more than 950 law school applicants). Economics places second behind math/physics (161.7) out of 29 discipline groupings created to contain at least 325 students with similar majors. Also, the past 15 years (2001–2 through 2015–16) reveal similar rankings across time.
Mechanical Properties of Transgenic Silkworm Silk Under High Strain Rate Tensile Loading

Studies have shown that transgenic silkworm silk may be capable of having similar properties of spider silk while being mass-producible. In this research, the tensile stress–strain response of transgenic silkworm silk fiber is systematically characterized using a quasi-static load frame and a tension Kolsky bar over a range of strain-rates between $$10^{-3}$$ and 700/s. The results show that transgenic silkworm silk tends to have higher overall ultimate stress and failure strain at high strain rate (700/s) compared to quasi-static strain rates, indicating rate sensitivity of the material. The failure strain at the high strain rate is higher than that of spider silk. However, the stress levels are significantly below that of spider silk, and far below that of high-performance fiber. Failure surfaces are examined via scanning electron microscopy and reveal that the failure modes are similar to those of spider silk.
An ab Initio Exploration of the Bergman Cyclization

The Bergman cyclization is an important reaction in which an enediyne cyclizes to produce a highly reactive diradical species, p-benzyne. Enediyne motifs are found in natural antitumor antibiotic compounds, such as calicheammicin and dynemicin. Understanding the energetics of cyclization is required to better control the initiation of the cyclization, which induces cell death. We computed the singlet and triplet potential energy surfaces for the Bergman cyclization of (Z)-hex-3-ene-1,5-diyne using the CCSD and EOM-SF-CCSD methods. The triplet enediyne and transition state were found to have C2 symmetry, which contrasts with the singlet reactant and transition state that possess C2v symmetry. We analyzed the frontier orbitals of both cyclization pathways to explain the large energetic barrier of the triplet cyclization. Reaction energies were calculated using CCSD(T)/cc-pVTZ single-point calculations on structures optimized with CCSD/cc-pVDZ. The singlet reaction was found to be slightly endothermic (ΔHrxn...
Confirmatory Latent Class Analysis: Illustrations of Empirically Driven and Theoretically Driven Model Constraints

Most applications of person-centered methodologies have relied on data-driven approaches to class enumeration. As person-centered analyses grow in popularity within organizational research, confirm...
Copper oxide nanoparticles and arsenic interact to alter seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa japonica).

Abstract Arsenic (As) causes phytotoxicity to rice plants, decreases rice production and causes serious human health concerns due to rice consumption. Additional stresses may be posed to rice plants due to the increasing release into the environment by the expanding production and application of copper oxide nanoparticles (nCuO). The influence of nCuO on As uptake in and effects on rice (Oryza sativa japonica) are explored here for the first time. An 18-d factorial experiment was conducted to determine main effects of nCuO (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10, 50, and 100 mg/L) and As (0 and 10 mg/kg), and the interaction between nCuO and As on rice seed germination and seedling growth. Arsenic alone decreased the germination percentage. Both As and nCuO reduced seedling shoot and root length, and exhibited interactive effects. nCuO and As also produced an interaction effect on the number of root branches (NRB) of rice seedlings. Notably, high nCuO concentrations (50 and 100 mg/L) mitigated the negative effect of As on the NRB. Copper uptake in shoots and roots was linearly correlated with Cu concentration in the sand without As addition (R2 > 0.756). Whereas, As addition to the sand produced non-monotonic changes in Cu concentrations in shoots and roots versus Cu concentration in the sand (R2 > 0.890). Arsenic concentration in shoots had a slightly negative linear correlation with Cu concentration in the sand (R2 = 0.275).
Reflections on the 100th Anniversary of Buchanan v. Warley: Recent Revisionist History and Unanswered Questions

In 1917, in Buchanan v. Warley, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisville residential segregation law, one of a wave of such laws spreading through the United States. Even though Buchanan v. Warley was a dramatic victory for racial equality at a time in American history when anti-black racism was at a post-Civil War peak, with an avowed segregationist occupying the White House, the opinion was largely ignored or misinterpreted until recently. The problem has been that Buchanan does not fit the dominant narrative about the so-called Lochner era Supreme Court. Part I of this article reviews scholarship that has challenged the traditional dismissive view of Buchanan v. Warley over the last twenty years. Part II of this article suggests various research topics raised by Buchanan v. Warley that should receive more scholarly attention, including: (1) How did African Americans manage to migrate to formerly all-white neighborhoods despite restrictive covenants and other barriers?; (2) To what extent did Buchanan v. Warley reflect a viable alternative civil rights vision to the progressive vision that came to dominate legal discourse?; (3) Under what circumstances judicial intervention on behalf of minority groups is likely to occur, and when it is likely to be successful; and (4) To what extent can early twentieth-century progressivism, as opposed to societal racism more generally, can be blamed for the rise of residential segregation ordinances that led to Buchanan?
Telomere length and cardiorespiratory fitness in marathon runners

Background and Aim Physical exercise up-regulates telomere-stabilizing proteins in mice, suggesting that physical activity affects telomere length. Several human studies assessing the relationship between physical activity, measured by health or activity surveys, and telomere length have produced conflicting results. The present study sought to explore the association between telomere length and physical fitness measured objectively as maximal oxygen uptake in endurance-trained athletes and sedentary controls. Methods Seventeen marathon runners and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy, sedentary control subjects participated in the study. Medical history, demographic information, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), and peripheral blood lymphocyte telomere length were measured in all subjects. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the relationship between telomere length and measured variables. Results Athletes and sedentary controls had similar lymphocyte (0.97 ± 0.20 vs 1.01 ± 0.18; P = 0.6) and granulocyte (0.89 ± 0.11 vs 0.89 ± 0.12; P = 0.9) telomere lengths. Linear regression analysis showed age as the only variable significantly associated with telomere length (P = 0.007). There was no correlation between VO2 max and telomere length. Conclusion In a cohort of healthy adult athletes and sedentary controls, there was no association between physical activity measured by VO2 max and peripheral blood lymphocyte and granulocyte telomere length.
IRS Criminal Enforcement Activities and Taxpayer Noncompliance

This chapter’s purpose is to answer several basic questions. First, does CI have a measurable effect on voluntary compliance, which includes both civil and criminal tax laws? Second, if CI does have a measurable effect on voluntary compliance, what mix of CI investigations has the greatest influence on voluntary compliance? CI investigates two broad categories of cases: tax violations and money laundering violations. A subsidiary inquiry is whether either one or both types of cases have an effect on voluntary compliance with the tax laws.
El descubrimiento de las pinturas murales de Bonampak

La historia del descubrimiento de Bonampak no se remite solamente a un descubrimiento; se refiere tambien a la atencion que los medios de comunicacion modernos enfocaron sobre los mayas, ya que fue el primer gran descubrimiento en Mexico y Guatemala despues de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, y es, ademas, una historia cuajada de intrigas internacionales, reclamos y adjudicaciones, y profusa cobertura periodistica.
Hematologic effects of acute and chronic alcohol abuse

Alcoholism affects 3 to 10 per cent of the American population. Alcohol is toxic to all organ systems. This article summarizes current information about the hematologic sequelae of alcohol abuse. A brief summary of ethanol-related metabolic events is followed by discussion of specific disorders of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets, and the immune apparatus.
Acute amino acid nephrotoxicity.

Previous clinical and experimental data suggest that a limited number of AAs with particular molecular characteristics can adversely affect renal function. The present investigation was conducted to better define the scope and the molecular basis of this nephrotoxicity. Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 31) undergoing a solute diuresis were subjected to 80 min infusions (125 mumol/kg/min) of cationic AAs (lysine, arginine), anionic AAs (glutamic acid, aspartic acid), or neutral AAs (alanine, glycine). Rats infused for 80 min with equimolar amounts of urea or dextrose served as controls (N = 8). GFR (Cioth) were measured 40 min before, during, and 140 min after these infusions. Albumin excretion rates were determined by radioimmunoassay. All AA infusates induced significant (p less than 0.001) reductions in GFR compared to the control infusates (cationic AAs: 62% +/- 4; anionic AAs: 57% +/- 5; neutral AAs: 33% +/- 1; controls: 8% +/- 4) (X +/- S.E.M.). However, only cationic AAs induced a significant increase in albumin excretion (360% +/- 72; p less than 0.001). AA-treated rats had histologic changes with mild tubular injury compared to control rats. These data indicate the following. (1) AAs have in common a nephrotoxic potential. (2) This nephrotoxicity arises, in part, from the nonvariable portion of AA molecules since glycine, which has no variable (R) group, induced a significant reduction in GFR (32% +/- 1). (3) The ability of AAs to decrease GFR is enhanced by certain R groups. However, R group charge is not a critical factor in producing this response. (4) AA-induced increments in albumin excretion and reductions in GFR must arise via independent mechanisms. Since AA infusions are commonly used in patients with ARF the possibility that such therapy might have a deleterious effect on renal function and on the subsequent recovery from ARF should be entertained.
Monitoring Tools for HPC Data Centers: State of the Art

To download the unabridged version of this research paper, please contact: giovanni.aloisio@cmcc.it.
The rise of China as a cybersecurity industrial power: balancing national security, geopolitical, and development priorities

This article examines the development of China's cybersecurity industry over the past two decades since the arrival of the internet in that country. This analysis takes place from a primarily security and technology perspective because the national security apparatus occupies a powerful presence in China's cyber affairs. Moreover, the development of the cybersecurity industry is significantly driven by the development of technological capabilities. Key issues explored include: (1) Chinese decision-making and thinking on cybersecurity development within the context of the Chinese leadership's general approach to development, national security, and technology advancement; (2) the nature and characteristics of recent Chinese cybersecurity-related development strategies and plans; (3) the drivers behind the development of China's cybersecurity industry, looking especially at market failures, national security rationales, and government intervention; (4) the proliferation of principal actors and coalit...
Iris and Ciliary Body Injury

As you know, the iris and ciliary body are the middle part of the eyeball, continue with the cornea, and extend to the sclera, uvea, and retina. Traumatic injuries of the iris and ciliary body are usually caused by blunt eye injury but can result from any other type of injury, like firecrackers, pellet gun projectile, electric shock from Taser, fishing hook weight, motor vehicle accidents, batteries, water balloon slingshots, as well as many others. These injuries include hyphema, iridodialysis, and so on.
Effects of Partially Hydrolyzed Formula on Severity and Outcomes of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

Objective This article compares the effect of partially hydrolyzed formula (PHF) and standard formula (SF) on the severity and short-term outcomes of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Study Design We performed a retrospective chart review of 124 opioid-dependent mothers and their term or near-term infants. Infants were categorized according to the predominant type of formula consumed during the hospital stay. Finnegan's scale was used to assess symptoms of withdrawal. Results A total of 110 infants met our inclusion criteria. Thirty-four (31%) infants were fed predominantly PHF, 60 (54%) infants were fed SF, and 16 (15%) infants were fed maternal breast milk. There was no difference between the infants in the PHF and SF groups with respect to requirement of morphine (MSO4) therapy, maximum dose of MSO4 used, duration of MSO4 treatment or length of hospital stay after performing multivariate analyses to control for type of drug used by the mother, maternal smoking, regular prenatal care, inborn status, and maximum Finnegan score prior to MSO4 treatment. Conclusion Use of PHF failed to impact short-term outcomes in infants treated for NAS including maximum MSO4 dose, duration of MSO4 treatment, and length of hospital stay. A prospective randomized controlled trial may be indicated to confirm this finding.
Traumatic brain injury in children

Head trauma is a common occurrence in childhood, and the spectrum of its consequences is broad. Depending on the severity, type, and location of the injury, outcome may range from complete recovery in children with mild injuries to severe disability in children with more serious injuries. Potential deficits are multiple and include motor, communicative, cognitive, sensory, behavioral, and emotional problems. Optimizing function in those areas is the goal of neurorehabilitation, and this may require medical, therapeutic, and educational interventions. An even more important goal is prevention, and here, too, the pediatrician can play an essential role.