cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Online optical measurement and monitoring of yarn density in woven fabrics

This paper describes a vision-based system that monitors the yarn density of woven fabrics on-line. The system is described in terms of its two principal modules, namely, the image acquisition and the image analysis subsystems. The image acquisition subsystem is implemented with standard components on a low-cost personal computer platform. These components consist of a line-scan camera, a DSP-based image acquisition and processing card, and a host personal computer. The image acquisition process is controlled by a software module that runs on the DSP board and accumulates a 2D image suitable for the density measurement algorithm. The image analysis subsystem, which also runs on the DSP board, implements a novel, yet straightforward, algorithm that utilizes the discrete Fourier transform for monitoring the yarn density of the fabrics from the acquired images. In this algorithm, the Fourier spectrum of the images is covered by contiguous, concentric annular regions that have a prespecified width. THe spectrum values within each annular region are summed, normalized, and subsequently used to produce a 1D signature. Simple statistics of the obtained signatures are the basis for characterizing the fabric in terms of its yarn density. The described system is tested on seven fabrics with common properties but varying yarn densities and has shown to be accurate within 2 yarns per inch in either direction. It is also shown that the obtained accuracy, which is primarily a function of the image resolution, can be greatly improved.
Thermal trouble in the tropics

Early Victorian naturalists marveled at the profusion of diversity they encountered as they traveled from temperate to tropical latitudes. The inverse relationship between latitude and species richness that these naturalists first observed is now referred to as the latitudinal diversity gradient. Various ecological and evolutionary explanations have been proposed for the latitudinal diversity gradient. Of these, perhaps none are more relevant to contemporary conservation issues than Janzen's hypothesis of latitudinal differences in species' climatic tolerances and thermal selectivity ( 1 ). On page [1437][1] of this issue, Chan et al. ( 2 ) advance Janzen's early theories by elucidating some of the potential selective pressures imposed by climate and climate variability. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aab4119
The Taxonomy of Sporotrichum pruinosum and Sporotrichum pulverulentum / Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Cultures of Phanerochaete chrysosporium were compared with isolates from the type specimens of Sporotrichum pruinosum and S. pulverulentum. Both morphological and physiological characters were obse...
Geophysical investigation of archeological sites

Rapid loss of archeological sites as a consequence of population expansion and industrial, urban, and rural development in the United States necessitates the expeditious assessment of the importance of particular sites within a region. Tailored to different scales of archeological phenomena, two alternative interpretation techniques for the use of resistivity surveying methods have proven effective for this purpose. Where features are large, tend to have linear boundaries, and/or contrast well with their matrices relative to the local level of noise, individual features can be investigated. Where features are small, round, have low contrast profiles, and are clustered in activity areas, these areas should be characterized by the statistical and spatial patterning of their collective resistivity values. Trend surface analysis of resistivity survey data works well when applied to house foundations, wells, and burials in historic sites in North Carolina. The Barnes Layer method of resistivity data interpretation and frequency analysis is effective in locating clusters of artifacts, earthen pits, midden deposits, hearths, and post molds as demonstrated at a prehistoric Indian village in Illinois.
Analysis of Dynamic Response and Sensitivity of Gear Systems Based on Stochastic Perturbation Theory

A multi-stage gear transmission dynamic model was developed,where the nonlinearity factors such as time-varying stiffness,transmission error,and backlash w ere considered. This model took the relevant physical,geometrical and load parameters as random variables. When the random section of the variables w as much smaller than the determining section,the kinetic equations w ere expanded to the first order at the mean value of the random parameter vector by Taylor series expansion theorem using the stochastic perturbation theory. Then the finishing equations w ere solved numerically,w ith the first fourth-order moment of the system response obtained based on the Kronecker product algebra and matrix differential theory. To assess the stability of the system,the first second-order moment of the dynamic transmission error of a gear pair w as solved and compared w ith the Monte Carlo method. At the same time,the dimensionless mean sensitivity of dynamic transmission error to the random parameters w as analyzed. The results provide a basis for improving the system stability.
MODELING OF CIRCULATING FLOW IN RH DEGASSING VESSEL WATER MODEL DESIGNED FOR TWO-AND MULTI-LEG OPERATIONS

A mathematical model has been developed to analyze the circulating flow character- istics in RH degassing vessel designed for two-and multi-leg system. The homogeneous model with the spatially variable density was used to simulate gas-liquid flow in up-legs. The difference of density between pure liquid and gas-liquid was considered to be a driving force of circulation flow. The volume fraction of gas was obtained by modifying the gas plume model of the stirred ladle. The complicated geometry including ladle, vacuum, up legs, and down leg was considered by incorporation of blockage technjque. Numerical calculations of the circulating flow have been conducted for the water model of RH degassing vessel with two-and multi-legs with the air flow rates from 5 to 35 L/min. Computed velocities at the exit of down-leg agree well with the observed data available in the literature. The momentum transport in RH degassing vessel with multi-leg will be larger than that with two-leg. This is justified based on the fact that the velocities in RH degassing vessel with multi-leg tend to be uniform, i.e. the mean velocity of bulk in a ladle is remarkably larger than that in two-legs. Simulated transient concentration profile of the tracer from top surface to interior shows clearly the difference of flow characteristics between two-and multi-leg RH degassing vessels.
Numerical simulation of flow condition in burner zone of tangential firing boiler

In large tangential firing boilers the jet flow from the burners would inevitably departure from the designed direction. Aiming at the two major factors causing the deviation of the jet flow in the burner zone, namely the entrainment force of the jet flow itself and the horizontal impact force of the rotating flow in the furnace to the jet flow, the method of numerical simulation was adopted to study the jet flow from the burners. The influence of the opening angle of the jet flow from the burners and the number of the spouts on the aero-dynamical field of the burner zone was analyzed. The study provides the basis for improving combustion condition in the furnace.
The Ultrastructure of Acute Pyelonephritis in the Monkey

P-fimbriated E. coli, which have specific receptors on urothelial cells for their fimbriae, were used to produce pyelonephritis. Using both scanning and electron microscopy, it was shown that the bacteria attached to ureteral epithelium by 12 hours after inoculation. They developed into a biolayer of bacteria covering the epithelium by 48 hours, but did not invade within that time. In the kidney, adherence was seen by 6 hours in collecting proximal and distal tubules. While many bacteria were seen, tubular epithelium remained normal through 24 hours. The inflammatory response was first seen at 48 hours. Phagocytosis was accompanied by mortal damage to both phagocytes and surrounding tubules. This was followed by bacterial invasion of the interstitium.
Rapid Assessments of Amazon Forest Structure and Biomass Using Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) can provide new ways to measure forests and supplement expensive or labor-intensive inventory methods. Forest carbon, a key uncertainty in the global carbon cycle and also important for carbon conservation programs, is typically monitored using manned aircraft or extensive forest plot networks to estimate aboveground carbon density (ACD). Manned aircraft are only cost-effective when applied to large areas (>100,000 ha), while plot networks are most effective for total C stock estimation across large areas, not for quantifying spatially-explicit variation. We sought to develop an effective method for frequent and accurate ACD estimation at intermediate scales (100–100,000 ha) that would be sensitive to small-scale disturbance. Using small UAVs, we collected imagery of 516 ha of lowland forest in the Peruvian Amazon. We then used a structure-from-motion (SFM) approach to create a 3D model of forest canopy. Comparing SFM- and airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)-derived estimates of canopy height and ACD, we found that SFM estimates of top-of-canopy height (TCH) and ACD were highly correlated with previous LiDAR estimates (r = 0.86–0.93 and r = 0.73–0.94 for TCH and ACD, respectively, at 0.1–4 ha grain sizes), with r = 0.92 for ACD determination at the 1 ha scale, despite SFM and LiDAR measurements being separated by two years in a dynamic forest. SFM and LiDAR estimates of mean TCH and mean ACD were highly similar, differing by only 0.4% and 0.04%, respectively, within mature forest. The technique allows inexpensive, near-real-time monitoring of ACD for ecological studies, payment for ecosystem services (PES) ventures, such as reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), forestry enterprises, and governance.
Understanding the Role of Ozone Stress in Altering Belowground Processes

Forested ecosystems are comprised of tremendous biological diversity and functional complexity both above and belowground. Soil ecosystems are known to contain thousands of species, with many more that have not yet been identified. Soil heterotrophic organisms depend on green plants for their energy, while autotrophs depend on soil heterotrophs for processing and cycling nutrients that are needed for continued growth. Together, heterotrophs and autotrophs form a complex web of interacting entities, the balance of which is always changing as ecosystems change in response to stress.
Outcomes of Investing in OTC Stocks

This paper analyzes three aspects of over-the-counter (OTC) stocks: (1) the recent trends in the OTC stock market structure and size; (2) the documented properties of OTC stocks; and (3) the differences in returns based on investor and stock characteristics. Approximately 10,000 OTC stocks were quoted at the end of 2013 through 2015, generating a total trading volume of over $200 billion per year. Dollar volume has grown substantially since 2012 and is now concentrated in the segment of the OTC market with no requirements of registration or reporting to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A synthesis of recent academic literature reveals troubling properties of OTC stocks. Academic studies find that OTC stocks tend to be highly illiquid; are frequent targets of alleged market manipulation; generate negative and volatile investment returns on average; and rarely grow into a large company or transition to listing on a stock exchange. Moreover, these properties tend to worsen when the OTC company has fewer disclosure-related eligibility requirements. I examine the relationship between OTC investor demographics and investment outcomes using a proprietary database of transaction-level OTC data with confidential investor information. Analysis of 1.8 million trades by over 200,000 individual investors confirms that the typical OTC investment return is severely negative. Investor outcomes worsen for OTC stocks that experience a promotional campaign or have weaker disclosure-related eligibility requirements. Demographic analysis reveals that older, retired, low-income, and less educated investors experience significantly poorer outcomes in OTC stock markets. Given that retail investors are the predominant owners of OTC stocks, and the documented trend towards less transparent OTC companies, the results of this study have important implications for investor protection.
Clinical utility of gene panel-based testing for hereditary myelodysplastic syndrome/acute leukemia predisposition syndromes.

Clinical utility of gene panel-based testing for hereditary myelodysplastic syndrome/acute leukemia predisposition syndromes
Innovation in Teacher Education: Cutting Edge? Or on the Cutting Room Floor?

In the U.S., teachers and the university-based programs that prepare them, have been relentlessly criticized. “Blistering media commentaries” about teacher education have been further fueled by U.S. students’ middling performance on international tests such as PISA and TIMSS in comparison to top performing peer nations, causing policy makers to argue ever more vociferously that teacher education requires a “sea change…revolutionary change, not evolutionary tinkering.” Increasing calls for the “dramatic overhaul of how teachers are prepared” such that teacher preparation will be turned “upside-down.” have spurred energetic reform, change, and innovation in the profession. While the impact of these changes and reforms has not yet been fully measured or realized, the education field is certainly undergoing a period of revision, reflection, and even renewal, and is exploring an interesting array of practices in an effort to be relevant and responsive.
Genetic incorporation of 4-fluorohistidine into peptides enables selective affinity purification

Due to the lowered pKa of 4-fluorohistidine relative to histidine, peptides and proteins containing this amino acid are potentially endowed with novel properties. We report here the optimized synthesis of 4-fluorohistidine and show that it can efficiently replace histidine in in vitro translation reactions. Moreover, peptides containing 6×-fluorohistidine tags are able to be selectively captured and eluted from nickel resin in the presence of his-tagged protein mixtures.
Secondary Liability of Internet Service Providers in the United States: General Principles and Fragmentation

Private Internet service providers (ISPs) have played a key role in propelling the industry that the United States relies so heavily upon. The law that governs the secondary liability of ISPs significantly affects their operations; nevertheless, the U.S. law of secondary liability of ISPs is surprisingly fragmented and potentially outdated. Although the law builds on general tort law principles, it creates variations in different areas of law, such as copyright law, trademark law, and defamation law. The chapter reviews the U.S. rules of secondary liability relevant to ISPs, explores the safe harbours and immunities available under U.S. law, and discusses the best practices developed by the private sector in response to the existing rules. The Conclusions suggest the technological developments that might affect potential changes to the rules in the near future.
Macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and tissue factor in unstable angina : Implications for cell-mediated thrombogenicity in acute coronary syndromes

Background Macrophage expression of tissue factor may be responsible for coronary thrombogenicity in patients with plaque rupture. In patients without plaque rupture, smooth muscle cells may be the thrombogenic substrate. This study was designed to identify the cellular correlations of tissue factor in patients with unstable angina. Methods and Results Tissue from 50 coronary specimens (1560 pieces) from patients with unstable angina and 15 specimens from patients with stable angina were analyzed. Total and segmental areas (in square millimeters) were identified with trichrome staining. Macrophages, smooth muscle cells, and tissue factor were identified by immunostaining. Tissue factor content was larger in unstable angina (42±3%) than in stable angina (18±4%) (P=.0001). Macrophage content was also larger in unstable angina (16±2%) than in stable angina (5±2%) (P=.002). The percentage of tissue factor located in cellular areas was larger in coronary samples from patients with unstable angina (67±8%) than ...
Siphonaptera from Western North American Chipmunks

ABSTRACT: Several species of western North American chipmunks (Rodentia: Tamias) are distributed in overlapping ranges. Field-collected specimens of 9 species of chipmunks from 8 U.S. states were examined externally for fleas (Siphonaptera). We document flea infestations and 1 new range extension. This work demonstrates that ongoing field collection can shed light on host and parasite distributions over large geographical areas.
The Patient Perspective: Exploring the Meaning of Bedside Handoff on an Inpatient Hematopoietic Cellular Transplant Unit

Topic Significance & Study Purpose/Background/Rationale Delivery of patient-centered care in the hematopoietic cellular transplant (HCT) setting is grounded in communication between patients, caregivers and clinicians. Bedside shift handoff (BSH) provides a consistent forum for this communication and is designed to improve the patient care experience. Surrogate indicators of the patient's perception of care quality at our institution are reflected in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores and leadership rounding. Neither source reflects indicators chosen by the patient, but instead by the institution and governing organizations. In 2016, BSH was implemented as an institution-wide initiative; however, HCT nursing staff continue to resist this change. Reasons cited by staff include the unit's consistently high HCAHPS scores and lack of a tailored BSH format for HCT recipients who often have prolonged inpatient stays and consistent nursing care. Nurses report that the current BSH can be “awkward”, “repetitive”, and “disruptive”. In practice, there is a recognized gap between nurses' commitment to meeting both the HCT patient's needs and alignment with the current BSH format. The purpose of this quality improvement initiative is to first understand the value of the current BSH format for patients admitted to the inpatient HCT unit. By collecting this data, we aim to increase staff compliance with and tailor BSH by infusing patient's perception of meaning and preferences. Methods, Intervention, & Analysis Following a review of the literature, two tools were developed. The first is an 11-item structured patient interview adopted from Wakefield, et al. (2012). This tool was designed to evaluate the patient/caregiver's perception of how well key elements of the current BSH were explained. The second tool is a 5-item survey designed to explore the value of key elements of BSH from the patient's perspective. Following review from our Institutional Review Board, these two tools will be offered one time during each admission to all patients admitted to the HCT unit for a period of three consecutive months. Aggregate data will be reviewed to inform development of a revised BSH tool, if indicated, for the HCT unit. Findings & Interpretation Summative data and the revised BSH format will be presented. Discussion & Implications In her theory of Bureaucratic Caring, Ray (1989) outlines unique dominant caring behaviors across clinical care settings. All are elements of the caring dimension, but adapted to the different needs of the patient population. For medical surgical units, the two dominant behaviors are “team” and “involvement”. Though both are clearly supported during BSH, we believe that the “one size fits all” standardized approach may not be optimal. We are looking to our patients with the hope of assigning increased meaning of BSH for both nurses, and most importantly, patients and their caregivers.
Understanding the impact of C60 at the interface of perovskite solar cells via drift-diffusion modeling

Perovskite solar cells have recently seen rapid improvements in performance with certified efficiencies of above 23%. Fullerene compounds are a very popular electron-transfer material in these devices. In a previous report, it has been shown that while an ultrathin fullerene layer of just 1 nm is sufficient to achieve good device performance, removal of this layer causes a drastic decrease in performance. We provide an explanation to these observed effects by use of a numerical device model. This work provides theoretical support to the experimental understanding of the dominant role of fullerenes in perovskite solar cells.
Biological effects of nicotine exposure: A narrative review of the scientific literature

The emergence of new tobacco heating products and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) is changing the way humans are exposed to nicotine. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a broad overview of published scientific literature with respect to the effects of nicotine on three key health-related areas: 1) cardiovascular risk, 2) carcinogenesis and 3) reproductive outcomes. These areas are known to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of cigarette smoke, and in addition, nicotine has been hypothesized to play a role in disease pathogenesis. Acute toxicity will also be discussed. The literature to February 2019 suggests that there is no increased cardiovascular risk of nicotine exposure in consumers who have no underlying cardiovascular pathology. There is scientific consensus that nicotine is not a direct or complete carcinogen, however, it remains to be established whether it plays some role in human cancer propagation and metastasis. These cancer progression pathways have been proposed in models in vitro and in transgenic rodent lines in vivo but have not been demonstrated in cases of human cancer. Further studies are needed to determine whether nicotine is linked to decreased fertility in humans. The results from animal studies indicate that nicotine has the potential to act across many mechanisms during fetal development. More studies are needed to address questions regarding nicotine exposure in humans, and this may lead to additional guidance concerning new ENDS entering the market.
Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Gastrostomy after Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Abstract Introduction: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is a disabling form of stroke, and some patients will require nutritional interventions for dysphagia. We sought to determine if socioeconomic status indicators mediate whether minorities undergo gastrostomy tube placement. Materials and Methods: Patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage were enrolled in a single center, observational cohort study from 2010 to 2017. A socioeconomic index score was imputed using neighborhood characteristics by patients’ ZIP code, according to an established method utilizing 6 indicators of wealth/income, education, and occupation. Multivariable logistic regression models were generated and stratified by racial/ethnic groups to determine the association of socioeconomic status with gastrostomy tube placement. Results: Among 512 patients, 93 (18.2%) underwent gastrostomy tube placement. There were 245 Whites, 220 Blacks, and 47 Hispanic. Blacks underwent the highest percentage of gastrostomy placement (22.7%), and Whites had the lowest percentage (13.5%). Among patients with gastrostomy, Blacks and Hispanics had lowest median socioeconomic index (−2.1 [IQR: −3.0, .7]; .7 [IQR: −1.6, 2.9], respectively, P
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Women With Preexisting Immunity: Sources of Infection and Mechanisms of Infection in the Presence of Antiviral Immunity

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection remains an important cause of neurodevelopmental sequelae in infants infected in utero. Unique to the natural history of perinatal HCMV infections is the occurrence of congenital HCMV infections (cCMV) in women with existing immunity to HCMV, infections that have been designated as nonprimary maternal infection. In maternal populations with a high HCMV seroprevalence, cCMV that follows nonprimary maternal infections accounts for 75%-90% of all cases of cCMV infections as well as a large proportion of infected infants with neurodevelopmental sequelae. Although considerable effort has been directed toward understanding immune correlates that can modify maternal infections and intrauterine transmission, the source of virus leading to nonprimary maternal infections and intrauterine transmission is not well defined. Previous paradigms that included reactivation of latent virus as the source of infection in immune women have been challenged by studies demonstrating acquisition and transmission of antigenically distinct viruses, a finding suggesting that reinfection through exposure to an exogenous virus is responsible for some cases of nonprimary maternal infection. Additional understanding of the source(s) of virus that leads to nonprimary maternal infection will be of considerable value in the development and testing of interventions such as vaccines designed to limit the incidence of cCMV in populations with high HCMV seroprevalence.
Willingness to Accept Tradeoffs among Covid-19 Cases, Social-Distancing Restrictions, and Economic Impact: A Nationwide US Study

We designed a discrete-choice experiment to quantify the extent to which US adults would accept greater risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2 in return for lifting social-distancing restrictions and diminishing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 5953 adults recruited from a SurveyHealthcareGlobus internet panel, representing all 50 states, had 4 distinctly different preference patterns. About 37% were risk minimizers reluctant to accept any increases in risk of contracting the virus. Another group (26%) was primarily concerned about time required for economic recovery, accepting increases in COVID-19 risk levels up to 16% to shorten recovery from 3 to 2 years. The remaining two groups diverged on the relative importance of reopening nonessential businesses. The larger group (26%) strongly preferred delaying reopening while the smaller group (13%) would accept COVID-19 risks well beyond 20% to avoid a delay in reopening. Political affiliation, race, household income and employment status were predictive of group membership.
When do patients truly reach maximal medical improvement after undergoing reverse shoulder arthroplasty? The incidence and clinical significance of pain and patient-reported outcome measure improvement.

Hypothesis Patients receiving reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) may reach MMI prior to 12 months postoperatively. Background With the growth of RTSA indications, there is a paucity of information regarding maximum medical improvement (MMI) after these procedures. Systems of evaluating recovery, such as patient-reported outcome measures and minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) will allow for measurement of when patients reach maximum medical improvement (MMI) after these procedures. Purpose To evaluate when patients have reached MMI after RTSA. Methods Patients were prospectively enrolled in the institution's RTSA registry. All patients undergoing RTSA who agreed to be enrolled were included. Patient-specific factors, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form (ASES) score, and pain data were collected preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Subgroup analysis was performed on preoperative diagnosis before analyzing MCID and MMI. MMI was calculated by using the last time point interval that an MCID did not occur. Results Of 182 patients, 92 had complete 12-month postoperative data, including visual analog scale (VAS) pain and ASES scores. Subgroup analysis showed preoperative diagnosis of rotator cuff arthropathy, revision surgery, glenohumeral arthritis, proximal humerus fracture, and chronic dislocation. All 5 groups had improvement that exceeded MCID thresholds at 6 months and variable improvement from 6-12 months. Analysis of variance compared the different groups, showing that VAS pain scores and ASES scores were different at all time points except for preoperative VAS pain scores. Conclusions Patients undergoing RTSA may reach MMI at 6 months instead of the previously reported 1-year time point. Data from this study can allow providers to deliver value care and potentially limit visits after 6 months postoperatively.
Staphylococcus aureus antimicrobial susceptibility trends and cluster detection in Vermont: 2012-2018.

Objectives: This study presents demographic and temporal trends in the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus in Vermont clinical microbiology laboratories and explores the use of statistical algorithms and multi-resistance phenotypes to improve outbreak detection.Methods: Routine microbiology test results downloaded from Vermont clinical laboratory information systems were used to monitor S. aureus antimicrobial resistance trends. The integrated WHONET-SaTScan software used multi-resistance phenotypes to identify possible acute outbreaks with the space-time permutation model and slowly emerging geographic clusters using the spatial-only multinomial model.Results: Data were provided from seven hospital laboratories from 2012 to 2018 for 19,224 S. aureus isolates from 14,939 patients. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolation were seen by age group, specimen type, and health-care setting. Among MRSA, multi-resistance profiles permitted the recognition and tracking of 6 common and 21 rare 'phenotypic clones.' We identified 43 acute MRSA clusters and 7 significant geographic clusters (p ≤ 0.05).Conclusions: There was significant heterogeneity in MRSA strains between facilities and the use of multi-resistance phenotypes facilitated the recognition of possible outbreaks. Comprehensive electronic surveillance of antimicrobial resistance utilizing routine clinical microbiology data with free software tools offers early recognition and tracking of emerging resistance threats.
Provenance and paleogeography of Archean Fig Tree siliciclastic rocks in the East-Central Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa

Abstract The 3.6–3.2 Ga Barberton Greenstone Belt, South Africa, is a complex terrain divided into multiple structural blocks. The structural deformation and poor geochronological constraints often make correlation among blocks difficult. To overcome structural complexities, provenance proxies including sandstone petrography, shale geochemistry, and detrital zircon geochronology are here used to compare source terrain signatures among multiple structural blocks in the East-Central Domain of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. This will expand our understanding of Paleoarchean paleogeography and the nature of crustal uplift in the southeastern part of the Barberton Greenstone Belt. The Manzimnyama and Mlumati Synclines are composed of 600 m-thick sections of the Fig Tree Group, Mapepe Formation. These synclines have high sedimentary and volcanic lithic contents in sandstones, an upward transition from felsic to mafic signatures in shales, and a detrital zircon age distribution transition from a basal member with a main peak at 3.28 Ga to members with a peak at about 3.45 Ga. There are three other East-Central Domain, fault-bounded blocks made up mostly of Mapepe Formation strata. The Eastern Barite Valley lies northwest of the Manzimnyama Syncline. From older to younger strata, the Eastern Barite Valley progresses from high lithics to more quartz and feldspar in sandstones, from more mafic to felsic signatures in shales, and from a unimodal 3.45 Ga detrital zircon signature at the base to complexly mixed age distributions with a strong 3.24 Ga peak at the top. The Paulus Syncline, southeast of the Manzimnyama Syncline, has a high chert content, mafic to ultramafic geochemistry signatures, and a main detrital zircon peak at 3.28–3.30 Ga with a minor peak at 3.45 Ga. The Emlembe Syncline, southeast of the Paulus Syncline, has a high monocrystalline quartz content, mixed geochemistry signatures, and unimodal 3.28–3.30 Ga detrital zircon ages. The proximity and sedimentology of these structural blocks could suggest deposition in a single basin; however, contrasts in provenance suggests sediments were deposited in different basins, at different times, or in one basin with provenance partitioning. The blocks likely had locally different sources, implying the sequences were not part of a single large source, transport, and depositional fairway.
Malaysian press laws violate social responsibility and press freedom

This study researched how Malaysian press law prevents journalists from discharging their duties. Using social responsibility theory of the press, the research highlighted how the Malaysian press l...
Comparing noninvasive sampling techniques with standard cannula sampling method for ruminal microbial analysis

Abstract Rumen microbes play an important role in the conversion of indigestible plant material to energy and protein in dairy cows. Sampling for ruminal contents via cannula is considered the gold standard technique for microbial analysis, but the technique requires ruminally cannulated animals and specialized animal facilities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether other sampling methods and locations along the digestive tract may serve as noninvasive proxies to the cannula method for microbial analysis. Six ruminally cannulated lactating Holstein dairy cows were adapted to a standard total mixed ration for 2 wk and sampled during the third week. Sampling locations and methods included salivary content, rumination bolus (regurgitated digesta collected from the cow's mouth), feces, and rumen contents via stomach tube and cannula. Stomach tube and cannula samples differ in proportions of solid and liquid material and were therefore separated into whole (as collected), liquid, and solid fractions. Samples were collected at 0 (before feeding), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 h after feeding over 2 d. All samples were extracted for total genomic DNA and selected samples for metabolically active DNA (RNA), PCR-amplified for the V1-V2 region of the 16S rRNA bacterial gene, and analyzed for bacterial diversity using the QIIME2 pipeline followed by statistical analysis in R ( https://www.R-project.org/ ). In DNA-based analysis, at the community level, saliva, rumination bolus, and fecal samples clustered in separate groups, whereas all fractions of stomach tube and cannula samples clustered together, indicating that microbial communities of stomach tube and cannula samples were homogeneous. Rumination bolus samples at 6, 8, and 12 h after feeding clustered with stomach tube and cannula samples, indicating that rumination bolus samples may be an alternative for cannula samples; however, time of sampling is critical for sampling of bolus digesta. Results of the RNA-based analysis of rumination bolus samples and solid samples from cannula and stomach tube at 0 and 6 h after feeding were similar. We concluded that the solid fraction of samples obtained via the stomach tube method may serve as a proxy for the solid fraction of whole ruminal contents obtained via cannula for DNA-based microbial investigations. Both rumination bolus and stomach tube solid samples may serve as proxies for cannula solid samples for RNA-based microbial analysis.
Craniometrics Relationships of Plains Populations: Historical and Evolutionary Implications

Large skeletal samples from cemeteries in the Northern Plains near Mobridge, South Dakota have made possible the accurate determination of craniometric relationships between populations ancestoral ...
Molecular mechanism of eukaryotic selenocysteine incorporation

Although substantial progress has been made in determining which ­factors are required for eukaryotic Sec incorporation, the mechanism by which the factors are able to alter the coding potential of an mRNA at specific UGA codons is still not known. What is clear is that a complex interplay between cis- and trans-acting factors regulates the selenocysteine (Sec) incorporation event both at the basal level and in determining the efficiency of the process. In this chapter, we dissect the current state of knowledge regarding this interplay and delve into the increasingly important role that in vitro systems will play in determining the precise mechanism by which Sec is incorporated into selenoproteins.
Synthesis of Amino Acid Ester Isocyanates: Methyl (S)‐2‐Isocyanato‐3‐Phenylpropanoate

Methyl (S)-2-isocyanato-3-phenylpropanoate R L-Phenylalanine methyl ester hydrochloride P Methyl (S)-2-isocyanato-3-phenylpropanoate Keywords: esters, of substituted monobasic acids, miscellaneous; isocyanates and isonitriles; acylation; elimination, dehydrohalogenation; amino acid ester isocyanates
Regional Enteritis and Amyloidosis

Summary Generalized amyloidosis in the course of chronic non-specific inflammatory diseases of the intestinal tract occurs with great rarity. To our knowledge, this is the first recorded instance of amyloidosis in association with uncompli cated regional enteritis. Despite careful clinical and pathological investigations of this case, no specific initiating or precipitating factor for the amyloidosis, other than the regional enteritis, could be ascertained.
[68Ga]-HP-DO3A-nitroimidazole: A promising agent for PET detection of tumor hypoxia

The goal of this study is to evaluate a new 68Ga-based imaging agent for detecting tumor hypoxia using positron emission tomography (PET). The new hypoxia targeting agent reported here, [68Ga]-HP-DO3A-nitroimidazole ([68Ga]-HP-DO3A-NI), was constructed by linking a nitroimidazole moiety with the macrocyclic ligand component of ProHance®, HP-DO3A. The hypoxia targeting capability of this agent was evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells in vitro and in SCID mice bearing subcutaneous A549 tumor xenografts. The cellular uptake assays showed that significantly more [68Ga]-HP-DO3A-NI accumulates in hypoxic tumor cells at 30, 60 and 120 min than in the same cells exposed to 21% O2. The agent also accumulated in hypoxic tumors in vivo to give a tumor/muscle ratio (T/M) of 5.0 ± 1.2 (n = 3) as measured by PET at 2 h post-injection (p.i.). This was further confirmed by ex vivo biodistribution data. In addition, [68Ga]-HP-DO3A-NI displayed very favorable pharmacokinetic properties, as it was cleared largely through the kidneys with little to no accumulation in liver, heart or lung (%ID/g < 0.5%) at 2 h p.i. The specificity of the agent for hypoxic tissues was further validated in a comparative study with a control compound, [68Ga]-HP-DO3A, which lacks the nitroimidazole moiety, and by PET imaging of tumor-bearing mice breathing air versus 100% O2. Given the commercial availability of cGMP 68Ge/68Ga generators and the ease of 68Ga labeling, the new agent could potentially be widely applied for imaging tumor hypoxia prior to radiation therapy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Shadow Terms: Contract Procedure and Unilateral Amendments

For decades, courts and commentators have debated the normative implications of contract procedure. Conservatives argue that mandatory arbitration clauses reduce the burden on the judicial system and that class arbitration waivers, choice-of-law clauses, and jury trial waivers allow businesses to pass their litigation savings to consumers in the form of lower prices. In response, liberals object that contract procedure dilutes substantive rights and runs roughshod over important jurisdictional and constitutional values. This Article argues that neither view has accounted for a defining trait of contract procedure: The regularity with which drafters unilaterally amend procedural terms. Indeed, many standard form consumer agreements and a growing number of state statutes authorize drafters to revise procedural terms unilaterally. The frequency with which drafters exercise this power undermines the foundational conservative theory that sophisticated adherents can exert market pressure on drafters to offer efficient procedural terms. However, the liberal model of contract procedure - which urges courts to nullify procedural terms that erode substantive, jurisdictional, or constitutional interests - creates perverse incentives. Drafters respond to judicial decisions voiding procedural terms by amending their terms again. The target audience for these revisions is not the adherents who will be subject to them, but the courts who will adjudicate their validity. This “private conversation” between corporations and courts not only widens the informational gulf between drafters and adherents, but increases the burden on the judicial system. To end this pernicious feedback loop, the Article encourages policymakers to eliminate drafters’ ability to amend procedural terms unilaterally.
The State of Swahili Studies: Remembering the Past, Present, and Future

It would be erroneous to conclude that Irish novelist Joyce Cary’s dismissal of Swahili language for supposedly having a narrow epistemic range in 1944 typifies attitudes toward the language. Indeed there were, have been, and will always be diverse attitudes and approaches within Swahili Studies. In tracing the path Swahili Studies as a field of enquiry has trodden over the years, this paper demonstrates these divergent views and opinions, and speculates about the future and its concomitant possibilities and challenges. In short, Swahili studies may be said to have traveled through three main historical and discursive phases, namely; 1) the colonial phase; 2) the nationalist phase; and 3) the post nationalist phase. However, it bears clarifying that categorizing Swahili studies into phases does not occlude or ignore the propensity for overlap between these phases. This paper will trace by way of example and in broad terms some of the key questions asked in the past and present and their implications for the future of Swahili Studies.
Incentive Regulation and Competition in Public Utility Markets: A 20-Year Perspective

Over the last 20 years, incentives in general and price caps in particular have breathed new life into public utility regulation. Price caps successfully combine incentives for cost reduction with incentives for more efficient pricing. These properties also facilitate opening public utility sectors to competition. Relatively tight price caps likely imply the right amount of competition, when the underlying natural market structure is unknown. While price caps make a regulated incumbent competitively more aggressive, this aggression is likely to improve on the unregulated outcome. Potentially anticompetitive behavior by the incumbent has led to regulation of essential inputs on the basis of benchmarked costs. Benchmarked costs should evolve into price caps for essential inputs and eventually lead to partial deregulation of end-user prices.
π-Deficient N-heteroaromatics as proton acceptors in hydrogen-bonding

Abstract IR spectral shifts (Δν) due to hydrogen-bonding between a common proton donor, methanol, and a wide variety of π-deficient N-heteroaromatics, including pyridine, alkylpyridines, halo- and cyanopyridines, benzologues of pyridine, and related molecules containing two N atoms were determined. With 3- and 4-cyanopyridines as proton acceptors, two methanol bonded OH peaks were observed, corresponding to hydrogen-bonding to the nitrile nitrogen and to the pyridine nitrogen; all other compounds gave symmetrical bonded OH peaks. The Δν's obtained were compared with the pKa's of the bases and the equilibrium constants (log K's) for the associations: phenol + base ⇄ hydrogen-bonded complex. pKa and log K as well as log K and Δν for all bases correlated reasonably well. A good linear relation between Δν and pKa for the limited class of alkyl pyridines also was found, but when all bases were considered, this correlation was not as successful. However, the compounds which deviated most significantly were probably exceptional cases whose behavior could be understood in terms of special structural features present. The abnormally high pKa of 1,10-phenanthroline was attributed to a strong intramolecular hydrogen-bond in the protonated base, while the high pKa's found with azines with adjacent N atoms were similarly ascribed to intermolecular hydrogen-bonding. These exceptions illustrate the essential difference between pKa and Δν as a measure of the “basicity” of molecules. 2,6-Di-t-butylpyridine did not associate with methanol, even at high concentration. Solvation effects in this molecule must also be very much inhibited.
Optical Coherence Tomography

Coronary angiography alone is often insufficient in the evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). In certain scenarios, more information is required before and after percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI). Determination of degree of calcification may be important to determine if further vessel modification is required with either higher pressure non-compliant balloons and/or mechanical rotablation atherectomy. Longer stent length may be necessary if there is lipid rich plaque at the margins of the lesion being treated. Ambiguities of angiography may need to be further delineated prior to committing to PCI. After PCI, determination of stent results maybe suboptimal with angiography alone with significant limitations involving stent malapposition or underexpansion, proximal or distal dissections, and angiographic haziness due to clot or tissue prolapse. This chapter will highlight the role of OCT in coronary artery disease and intervention.
Morphology and taxonomic distribution of a newly discovered feature, postero-lateral glands, in pelagic nemerteans

A variety of pelagic nemerteans from our collections off California and Hawaii between 1992 and 1997 have a pair of epidermal structures, usually visible on the intact specimens, located on the ventro-lateral margins near the caudal end of the body. The only previous reports of similar structures from pelagic or any other nemerteans are for two species of the genus Plotonemertes. Histological serial sections of at least one specimen from each of about 16 morpho-species demonstrate that these are specialized glandular regions of the epidermis, which we broadly term postero-lateral glands. The objects of this study are to describe these glands at the level of light microscopy and to consider their systematic implications and possible functions. Most of the glands consist of two more or less spatially segregated types of secretory cells. One type is usually at the anterior end of the gland and resembles typical mucous goblet cells. The other type usually is the more abundant, and resembles a nemertean serous cell, with secretion that probably is relatively proteinaceous. The glands of one of the Plotonemertes specimens have two additional types of secretory cells that are relatively abundant. This study reports on postero-lateral glands from 30 specimens: three specimens of Plotonemertes in the family Protopelagonemertidae, 18 in at least three genera of the family Pelagonemertidae, six in the monotypic family Balaenanemertidae, and three of Proarmaueria in the family Armaueriidae. The glands are relatively large, with large quantities of secretory vesicles, indicating that they must be of considerable importance to the animals. However, neither structure nor location offer self-evident clues to function of these glands. We also report on different forms of regional specialization in the epidermis of Crassonemertes and Nectonemertes, both of which lack postero-lateral glands.