cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estimating Exploitation and Modeling the Effects of Hand Fishing on a Flathead Catfish Population in East Texas

AbstractThe recent legalization of hand fishing in Texas has prompted concern for the potential overharvest of catfish. Large (≥600 mm) Flathead Catfish Pylodictis olivaris are thought to be vulnerable to this angling method, and the potential effects of selectively harvesting large fish are not well understood. Therefore, in April 2013 we quantified size- and gear-specific exploitation of Flathead Catfish in Lake Palestine, Texas, by tagging 255 fish within three size-groups (457–599, 600–761, and ≥762 mm) with reward tags. We also quantified abundance, mortality (total and natural), and growth to simulate the effects of exploitation (particularly of size-groups targeted by hand fishing) on the Flathead Catfish population. Exploitation was low (3.2%), and size-specific harvest was less than 5% for all size-groups. Trotlines and hand fishing accounted for 100% of observed harvest (50% for each gear). Our models indicated that maximum sustainable yield would be achieved at 10% to 15% exploitation. Recruitm...
A study of dynamic high voltage output charge measurement for 15 kV SiC MOSFET

Newly developed 15 kV silicon carbide (SiC) power MOSFETs with fast switching capability enable the reduction of size, weight and complexity of medium voltage power converters. In medium voltage and high frequency applications, zero voltage switching (ZVS) is necessary since significant amount of energy is stored in MOSFETs' parasitic output capacitors. Recovering these energy is important for high conversion efficiency while ZVS also reduces the dV/dt significantly in these devices. To guarantee complete ZVS, it is crucial to accurately characterize the output charge of devices. In this paper, existing high voltage capacitance and output charge measurement techniques are reviewed. A dynamic half-bridge test method for 15kV SiC MOSFETs' output charge measurement is thoroughly analyzed and experimentally verified up to 6 kV. Output capacitance model is then derived using the measured results. The test circuit not only reflects the realistic ZVS scenario, but also achieves high accuracy (<1% error) without resorting to special equipment or complex configuration which are usually necessary in high voltage test. System level design consideration, error analysis and accuracy certification for this high voltage tester is also given in the paper.
Abstract 86: Apo(a) Inhibits Plasminogen-Dependent Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation in Transgenic Mice

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a lethal disorder found primarily in adults over 65. Unlike coronary heart disease, the incidence of AAA is rapidly increasing, and currently there is no nonsurgical treatment. AAA is a chronic inflammatory disease that includes early leukocyte infiltration, destruction of the elastic lamina and extracellular matrix, expansion of the aorta, and eventually fatal aorta rupture. Components of the plasminogen (Plg) and MMP pathways that mediate leukocyte infiltration are prominent in AAA. The goal of this study is to investigate regulators of these pathways in AAA, namely the inhibition Plg by apo(a). In AAA patients, the association of elevated Lp(a) and progression of AAA is controversial. Apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)], a component of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], has a high homology to Plg, and interferes with Plg functions in vitro. In our previous studies apo(a), independent of Plg, inhibited neutrophil recruitment in a peritonitis model of inflammation, and in Plg deficient mice macrophage infiltration was impaired in CaCl2 induced AAA formation. Our hypothesis is that apo(a) inhibits AAA formation by reducing neutrophil or macrophage infiltration by interfering with Plg. To test our hypothesis, the CaCl2 induced AAA model was performed in 5 strains of mice: WT; Plg-/-; apo(a)tg; apo(a)tg:Plg-/-; and Lp(a)tg mice (6-14 mice analyzed per genotype). Three weeks after injury, the WT aorta diameter increased from 0.54 to 0.88mm (62%). The diameter changed in WT 0.31±0.11mm, apo(a)tg 0.06±0.02mm, apo(a):Plg -/- 0.39±0.07mm and Lp(a) 0.08±0.07mm. The dilation was significantly lower in apo(a) and Lp(a) mice compared to WT (P -/- injured aorta, accompanied by thining of the media layer and elastic lamellae fragmentation. In contrast, the aorta of apo(a) mice remained preserved. Neutrophils and macrophages were decreased in apo(a) mice compared to WT(P -/- mice, only neutrophil infiltration was decreased not macrophages. These results suggest that inhibition of neutrophils in apo(a) mice is independent of Plg, but reduced macrophage infiltration in apo(a) mice is Plg-dependent during AAA formation.
Incidence of Biliary Atresia and Timing of Hepatoportoenterostomy in the United States

Objective To evaluate the incidence, trends, seasonality, and age at the time of hepatoportoenterostomy (Kasai procedure) for biliary atresia in the US. Study design The triennial Health Cost and Utilization Project–Kids' Inpatient Database for 1997-2012 was used to perform a retrospective analysis of biliary atresia in the US. Infants aged Results The incidence of biliary atresia in the US was 4.47 per 100 000 and was higher in females (risk ratio [RR], 1.43; 95% CI, 1.27-1.62), Asian/Pacific Islanders (RR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.44-2.47), and blacks (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.58) compared with whites. The incidence of biliary atresia increased by an average of 7.9% per year from 1997 to 2012 (P Conclusion The incidence of biliary atresia has increased over the past 15 years, with the median age at the time of the Kasai procedure now outside the optimal window. Implementation of systematic screening measures for biliary atresia in the US are needed.
A New Species of Scaptolenus LeConte (Coleoptera: Elateridae: Cebrioninae) from Sonora, México, with a Checklist of Species of northern México and the United States

Se presenta la descripcion de Scaptolenus paltingi una nueva especie proveniente de la Sierra Aconchi y Sierra la Purica, Sonora, Mexico. Esta especie es la primera del genero registrada para Sonora y la segunda especie de las Islas del Cielo Madrenses Sonora-Arizona. Se proporciona una clave para las especies del grupo-vagans y una lista de las especies para Estados Unidos y el norte de Mexico
High-dose interleukin-2 (HD IL-2) for advanced melanoma: a single center experience from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Durable remissions are observed in a fraction of metastatic melanoma patients treated with high-dose interleukin-2 (HD IL-2). Early studies reported overall (OR) and complete response (CR) rates of 16% and 8% respectively. Toxicity limited use to specialized centers with standardized protocols. We report on 243 patients treated at the University of Pittsburgh in a non-intensive care unit (ICU) oncology specialty setting. Clinical and radiological data were collected on 243 patients treated between 1992 and 2015. Each HD IL-2 cycle was given over 5 days, cycles were repeated after 9 days and courses (2 cycles) were repeated every 6–9 weeks in patients with stable or responding disease, for up to 3 courses total. Influence of baseline characteristics on outcomes was assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Two hundred forty-three patients received 692 cycles (5270 doses) between 1992 and 2015. Two hundred thirty-seven patients were evaluable for response: OR rate 18.1% with CR rate 8.0%. Median overall survival (OS) 9.6 months in the entire cohort but 64.9 months in responders. Median number of cycles delivered was 2,and median number of doses per cycle was 8. Toxicity was consistent with prior reports. HD IL-2 required ICU transfers in 11 patients and 1 death was attributed to HD IL-2. Pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels correlated significantly with progression-free survival [1-2× upper limit normal (ULN) HR 1.95; >2× ULN HR 2.32] and overall survival (1-2× ULN HR 1.67; >2× ULN 2.49). Response to HD IL-2 and site of metastatic disease also correlated significantly with progression-free and overall survival. In this large series of patients spanning more than two decades, OR/CR rates with HD IL-2 were 18.1%/8.0% respectively. Toxicity data was consistent with prior reports. Pre-treatment LDH values and site(s) of metastatic disease may be useful markers to select patients at greater likelihood of benefit to HD IL-2 therapy.
Gene Action and Morphogenesis in Plants

One of the most important unanswered questions facing evolutionists is: “How do those genes act that are responsible for morphogenetic or developmental patterns in multicellular eukaryotes?” The importance of this question lies in the fact that answers to it will provide the most significant links possible between those morphological changes recorded by paleontologists and differences that geneticists can analyze. At present, the gap between the historical documentation of the fossil record and the analysis of evolutionary processes at the level of DNA-coded information is wide and almost completely unbridged, as is clearly shown by the content of the most recent books dealing with development and evolution (Gould, 1977; Raff and Kaufman, 1983).
Siberian Late Upper Paleolithic

relative time period: Follows Siberian Middle Upper Paleolithic tradition, precedes Siberian Neolithic tradition
Reciprocity and Self-Restriction in Elementary Recognition

Originally, Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition ignored Hegel’s Phenomenology of Spirit, on the basis that Hegel’s post-Jena writings moved from intersubjectivism to idealism. More recently, however, Honneth has reconsidered the elements of the Phenomenology that consider recognition. Around the same time that he began re-evaluating Hegel’s discussions of recognition, Honneth developed a theory of “elementary recognition” that is a basic level of affective engagement with one’s environment that must be in place before one can take up cognitive relations to others. On its face, Honneth’s study of Hegel’s Phenomenology and his discussion of elementary recognition would seem to be largely unrelated. But as this paper will show, the two works discuss very similar ideas and complement each other quite well. Furthermore, the expansion of some ideas developed in Honneth’s study of the Phenomenology can help respond to criticisms that have been leveled against his theory of elementary recognition.
Learning and estimating whole sky visible, VNIR, SWIR radiance distributions from a commercial camera

This work proposes estimating sky radiance distribution curves between 350-2500nm from images captured with a hemispherical digital camera. A novel hardware system simultaneously captured spectral, spatial, and temporal information to acquire accurate physical measurements of the solar/skydome radiance variation. To achieve this goal, we use a custom-built spectral radiance measurement scanner to measure the directional spectral radiance, a pyranometer to measure the irradiance of the entire hemisphere, and a commercial digital camera to capture high-dynamic range (HDR) hemispherical imagery of the sky. We use the measurements obtained from a commercially available digital camera and correlating spectroradiometer measurements to train machine learning (ML) models to estimate whole sky full-spectrum radiance distributions (VIS, VNIR, and SWIR) from a low dimensional RGB input. We train clear, cloudy, and mixed sky models, and cross-validate the estimated radiance distributions with ground-truth data. We highlight important measured and engineered ML features, and we present useful feature engineering techniques employed to minimize model estimation error. Additional contributions of this work include the code for all ML models and experiments, a dataset of all-sky HDR captures with correlating spectroradiometer measurements captured 453 times over 16 days, and an open-source, crossplatform, interactive viewer used to visualize photometric and radiometric data side by side.
Staying close to home: The significance of relationships for immigrant-origin local college students

For local college students from immigrant backgrounds, entering college involves navigating both existing and new obligations to family, community, and school. This qualitative study describes the ...
IN-HOSPITAL OUTCOMES AFTER TRANSCATHETER EDGE-TO-EDGE MITRAL VALVE REPAIR IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE 2012-2015 NATIONAL INPATIENT SAMPLE

Percutaneous transcatheter edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (TMVr) is a generally safe procedure that may be beneficial in high surgical risk patients with severe mitral regurgitation, many of whom have chronic kidney disease (CKD). We sought to assess the outcomes following TMVr in patients with
Equivalent Modeling, Design and Analysis of Integrated Magnetics Ćuk Converter

Harnessing solar energy for residential applications is becoming increasingly popular. Ripple-free terminal currents along with compact design are the most desired features for a photovoltaic interface and Cuk converter is an ideal candidate due to its wide operating range. Modifying the conventional Cuk converter by adding coupled inductors and isolation forms the integrated magnetics Cuk converter. Input inductor, output inductor and transformer windings are wound on a single magnetic structure thus leading to reduction in EMI. The obtained topology is capable of operating as a DC transformer with ripple-free input and output currents and eliminates the need for large output filter capacitor. However, adaption of such a topology is low due to complex design criteria and lack of simple procedure for determining ideal component values that yield ‘zero-ripple’ terminal currents. This paper provides a novel, descriptive approach with an analytical basis for determining the component values that cater to a wide range of applications for an integrated magnetics Cuk converter and compares it with the conventional Cuk converter topology. MATLAB scripts, PLECS and ANSYS Simplorer models are used for validation of the presented analysis.
Bowel obstruction in a dying patient: To operate or not?

Explore options with Dora, a woman who has chosen hospice care and adamantly does not want more surgery, who subsequently develops an incarcerated hernia. Learn how to manage a malignant bowel obstruction non-operatively, and how to navigate goals of care with family via best case/worst case scenarios, to explore the benefits and risks of an operation in the setting of a dying patient. Rescinding DNR/DNI orders in the OR is explored.
Agency within Structures and Warranted Resistance: Response to Commentators

I am honoured and humbled by the wonderful comments on my paper [Haslanger 2020]. The paper was my attempt to synthesize a wide range of ideas from different traditions in order to reframe some que...
Soft Endoluminal Robots Propelled by Rotating Magnetic Dipole Fields

Medical procedures often involve a device moving through a natural lumen of the human body (e.g., intestines, blood vessels). However, with existing technology, it is difficult, impossible, or traumatic to reach certain locations. In this article, we present a magnetically actuated soft-robotic concept for use in endoluminal applications (e.g., capsule endoscopes and catheters). The soft endoluminal robot is a simple device comprising two or more permanent magnets, axially magnetized and embedded co-axially with alternating polarity in a compliant body, with an optional internal lumen, actuated by an external rotating magnetic dipole field. We use simulations to elucidate the actuation concept’s underlying physics and, combined with experiments, demonstrate how the proposed concept outperforms other potential variations. We experimentally demonstrate the robustness to misalignment between the soft robot and the applied field, enabling operation in different applications without precise knowledge of the robot’s orientation or precise control of the actuator dipole field. Experiments are then performed inside a synthetic bowel to compare capsule-endoscope-size robots and multi-component robots formed by connecting multiple capsule-endoscope-size robots axially. Finally, experiments in a synthetic stomach show how the concept lends itself to directed self-assembly in the stomach, thus creating robots that are larger than could be swallowed.
First North American Records of the Old-World Tramp Ant Syllophopsis sechellensis(Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Syllophopsis sechellensis (Emery) (formerly Monomorium sechellense) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is a small, inconspicuous ant species native to the Old-World tropics. Syllophopsis sechellensis is widespread in Asia and Australia, and on islands the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. In the New World, all published records come from West Indian islands. Here, I report the first records of S. sechellensis from North America: from four sites in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, Florida, more than 1500 km from the closest records in the West Indies. The ants of Florida have been well-studied in the past, so S. sechellensis appears to be a recent arrival.
Wildfire-Induced CO Plume Observations From NAST-I During the FIREX-AQ Field Campaign

The fire influence on regional to global environments and air quality (FIREX-AQ) field campaign was conducted during August 2019 to investigate the impact of wildfire and biomass smoke on air quality and weather in the continental United States. One of the campaign's scientific objectives was to estimate the composition of emissions from wildfires. Ultraspectrally resolved infrared radiance measurements from aircraft and/or satellite observations contain information on tropospheric carbon monoxide (CO) as well as other trace species present in fire emissions. A methodology for retrieving tropospheric CO from such remotely sensed spectral data has been developed for the National Airborne Sounder Testbed-Interferometer (NAST-I) and is applied herein. Retrievals based on NAST-I measurements are used to demonstrate CO retrieval capability and characterize fire emissions. NAST-I remotely sensed CO from ER-2 flights are evaluated with concurrent in situ measurements from the differential absorption carbon monoxide measurements flown on the NASA DC-8 aircraft. Enhanced CO emissions along with plume evolution and transport from the fire ground site locations were captured by moderate vertical and high horizontal resolution observations obtained from the NAST-I IR spectrometer; these were intercompared and verified by the cloud physics lidar and the enhanced MODIS airborne simulator also hosted on the NASA ER-2 aircraft. This study will be beneficial to the science community for studying wildfire-related topics and understanding similar remotely sensed observations from satellites, along with helping to address the broader FIREX-AQ experiment objectives of investigating the impact of fires on air quality and climate.
Fiscal sustainability in the aftermath of the great pause

Abstract Faced with a global natural catastrophe, countries must spend to deal with the immediate crisis, and to reduce longer-term economic scarring. Sustained infrastructure and education spending can help counter headwinds to the long-term outlook. However, the fact that government borrowing rates are at extremely low levels does not imply that the very high debt, especially short-term borrowing, is a free lunch. Real borrowing rates are likely below long-term trend, and there is no guarantee that any future adverse shock can only lower interest rates. Massive underfunded old-age transfer and support programs are a form of hidden non-market “junior” debt.
Legacy Patient-reported Outcome Measures Can Be Reliably Translated to PROMIS Domains for Use in Adolescent Spinal Deformity.

STUDY DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric Domain scores can be accurately and reliably predicted from legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for use in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Previous efforts have been made to develop translational models between PROMIS domains and legacy PROMs in adult spinal deformity, but translational models for pediatric and adolescent patients with spinal deformity have not yet been developed. METHODS Scores were retrospectively collected on pediatric patients 8-17 years old who were diagnosed with spinal asymmetry or scoliosis for the following PROMs: Scoliosis Research Society-22r (SRS-22r), Trunk Appearance Perception Scale (TAPS), Hospital for Special Surgery Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS), and PROMIS Pediatric Domains: Pain Interference, Mobility, Physical Stress Experiences, Psychological Stress Experiences, and Physical Activity. Pearson correlations were calculated between legacy and PROMIS scores. In the derivation cohort, PROMIS domains were modeled from SRS-22r or HSS Pedi-FABS using linear regression. These equations were used to predict PROMIS scores in the test cohort to determine the reliability of the translation model. RESULTS A total of 1171 patients (68% female) with a mean age of 13.4 ± 2.3 years were included in the final analyses. PROMIS Pain Interference was dependent on SRS-22r domains Pain, Function, Mental Health, and Management Satisfaction, PROMIS Mobility was dependent on SRS-22r Pain, Function, Mental Health, and Self-Image, PROMIS Physical Stress Experiences and Psychological Stress Experiences were dependent on SRS-22r Pain, Mental Health, and Management Satisfaction, and PROMIS Physical Activity was dependent on HSS Pedi-FABS. (P < 0.05 for all). In the test cohort, all developed models for PROMIS domains demonstrated strong correlations between estimated and actual scores (r = 0.63-0.75). CONCLUSION All of the evaluated PROMIS domains (Pain Interference, Mobility, Physical Stress Experiences, Psychological Stress Experiences, Physical Activity) were reliably translated directly from these legacy scores for pediatric and adolescent patients with spinal deformity.Level of Evidence: 3.
Identifying the genetic and non-genetic factors associated with accelerated eye aging by using deep learning to predict age from fundus and optical coherence tomography images

With age, eyesight declines and the vulnerability to age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy increases. With the aging of the global population, the prevalence of these diseases is projected to increase, leading to reduced quality of life and increased healthcare cost. In the following, we built an eye age predictor by training convolutional neural networks to predict age from 175,000 eye fundus and optical coherence tomography images (R-Squared=83.6+/-0.6%; root mean squared error=3.34+/-0.07 years). We used attention maps to identify the features driving the eye age prediction. We defined accelerated eye aging as the difference between eye age and chronological age and performed a genome wide association study [GWAS] on this phenotype. Accelerated eye aging is 28.2+-1.2% GWAS-heritable, and is associated with 255 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 122 genes (e.g HERC2, associated with eye pigmentation). Similarly, we identified biomarkers (e.g blood pressure), clinical phenotypes (e.g chest pain), diseases (e.g cataract), environmental variables (e.g sleep deprivation) and socioeconomic variables (e.g income) associated with our newly defined phenotype. Our predictor could be used to detect premature eye aging in patients, and to evaluate the effect of emerging rejuvenation therapies on eye health.
Split Bond Ratings and Information Opacity Premium

This paper examines the relationship between split bond ratings and bond yields at the notch level for newly issued corporate bonds. We find that split rated bonds average a 7-basis-point yield premium over non-split rated bonds of similar credit risk. The yield premium increases from 5 basis points for one-notch splits to 15 (20) basis points for two-notch (three-notch) splits. These findings indicate that investors demand higher yields for split rated bonds to compensate for the information opacity of such bonds. In addition, the yield premium for split rated bonds is higher during economic recessions indicating investors are more risk averse during economic downturns. Consequently, split ratings impose higher borrowing costs for firms, especially during economic downturns.
Article Title: Hemodynamic Instability Resulting from Pseudo-malfunction of A Leadless Pacemaker During Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Abstract Leadless pacing (LP) is a rapidly evolving technology for the treatment of bradyarrhythmia that avoids lead and device pocket-related complications of traditional transvenous pacemakers. As leadless pacemakers are placed with increased frequency, more patients will present to the operating theatre with these devices in place. With the increase in the complexity of LP technology, an evolving challenge for the anesthesiologist develops as current perioperative guidelines do not address management of LPs. Herein we present a case in which the complexity of an advanced LP technology contributed to hemodynamic instability encountered in a patient undergoing off pump coronary artery bypass grafting. Lessons learned from this report will add to the limited existing body of knowledge regarding perioperative management of leadless pacemakers in the cardiac surgical patient.
Complex aspen forest carbon and root dynamics during drought

Drought-induced vegetation mortality has been documented on every vegetated continent in recent decades and constitutes a major uncertainty in climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and carbon cycle feedbacks. While recent research has focused on specific failure mechanisms during drought-induced forest die-off, a broader understanding of the physiology of trees under drought, especially changes in growth and carbon allocation, is needed for determining the sensitivity of forests to drought and interacting mechanisms during forest mortality. I present here multi-tissue and high-resolution temporal dynamics of tree carbon resources during moderate experimental and natural drought in trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests, a major forest type in western North America that recently experienced widespread drought-induced die-off. Drought led to substantial declines in inferred carbon uptake. Tree carbohydrate concentrations, however, largely increased in concert with substantial decreases in growth and severe declines in root biomass. These findings highlight that growth declines, especially in fine roots which are important to water uptake, and increased carbon allocation to root non-structural carbohydrates are key responses to drought in aspen and could play an important role in widespread die-off. They suggest multi-year consequences of drought and carbon-hydraulic interconnections. They underscore the need for a more integrated multi-tissue, multi-process, and multi-year perspective of climate-induced forest mortality.
Analysis of lactic dehydrogenase in the lethal toad hybrid Bufo americanus female times Bufo marinus male.

Abstract 1. 1. Electrophoretic analysis of LDH of lethal hybrids of Bufo americanus female and B. marinus male yielded no detectable differences in the hybrid as compared to the normal control embryo. 2. 2. The overall ability of LDH to react with its appropriate substrate was the same. 3. 3. A further assay of LDH activity showed no dissimilarity in either initial velocity or maximum velocity between hybrid and control embryos.
Marsh Rice Rat, Oryzomys palustris , Predation on Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri , Eggs in Coastal North Carolina

Nesting success of Forster’s Terns ( Sterna forsteri ) was examined on two small islands in the Cedar Island area of North Carolina. Forster’s Terns laid an average of 2.1 eggs per nest (n = 50) on Chainshot Island and 2.1 eggs per nest (n = 43) on Harbor Island in clutches that consisted of 1 to 3 eggs. On Chainshot Island every egg (n = 107) was lost to predation. On Harbor Island, 72 of 92 eggs were preyed upon. A trapping program, initiated on both islands, yielded 32 Marsh Rice Rats ( Oryzomys palustris ). Stomach contents of 23 rats were inspected, with 92.3% from Chainshot Island and 70% of the stomachs from Harbor Island containing yolk and feathers of Forster’s Terns.
Embryogenesis of peripheral nerve pathways in grasshopper legs: I. The initial nerve pathway to the CNS

Abstract The founding of the first nerve path of the grasshopper metathoracic leg was examined at the level of identified neurons, using intracellular dye fills, immunohistochemistry, Nomarski optics, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The embryonic nerve is established by the axonal trajectory of a pair of afferent pioneer neurons, the tibial 1 (Ti1) cells. Following a period of profuse filopodial sprouting, the Ti1 axonal growth cones, possessing 75- to 100-μm-long filopodia, navigate a stereotyped path across the limb bud epithelium to the base of the appendage and into the CNS. The Ti1 axons grow from cell to cell along a chain of preaxonogenesis neurons spaced at intervals along the pathway, forming dye-passing junctions with them. The contacted neurons subsequently undergo axonogenesis and follow the pioneer axons into the CNS. Later arising neurons project their axons onto the cell bodies of the chain, thereby establishing the principal branch points of the nerve. Among the later arising afferents are the sensory neurons of the femoral chordotonal and subgenual organs. The morphology of the adult nerve appears to be determined by the stereotyped positioning of neurons in the differentiating limb bud and by the resultant axonal trajectories established during the first 10% of peripheral neurogenesis.
Sex differences in immunity and rapid upregulation of immune defence during parental care in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus orbicollis

Summary 1. Immunity may trade-off against other important life history traits, with recent work suggesting that reproduction and parental care in particular impinge on immune defence. However, whereas the effect of parental care on immunocompetence has been intensively studied in birds and mammals, virtually nothing is known about how it affects insect immunity. 2. Burying beetles provide extensive biparental care that includes the burial, preparation and defence of a carcass, as well as the subsequent feeding of the larvae. In addition, they cover the carcass with anal exudates that have been shown to serve an antimicrobial function (social immunity sensu Behavioral Ecology, 21, 663–668). We examined the effect of sex, mating and parental care on measurements of individual and social immunity in the burying beetle Nicrophorus orbicollis. 3. Both males and females showed a rapid upregulation of the encapsulation response upon discovery of a carcass. The high encapsulation rate was maintained during the entire period of parental care. Lytic activity in anal exudates, a measure of social immunity, likewise increased. Mating had no effect on individual or social immunity, but females generally exhibited higher individual immunity than male N. orbicollis. 4. Our results suggest that the unusual breeding environment of burying beetles – a microbe-rich carcass – has selected for an atypical pattern of immune defence, with a significant upregulation of individual and social immunity during the physically demanding period of reproduction and parental care. The simultaneous investment in two life history traits that normally compete for resources may be an adaptive response in species that breed in environments with high densities of micro-organisms.
Livestock Agroterrorism and the Potential Public Health Risk

Although no nation has suffered a livestock agroterrorism incident in recent times, the potential risk to both animal and public health must be considered. Public health impacts will accompany livestock agroterrorism regardless of whether the agent involved causes human illness and death. Because of limited scientific literature on agroterrorism, the nature and extent of these public health impacts must be extrapolated from studies of natural disasters and bioterrorism incidents aimed at people. The stress of intentional animal disease outbreaks will cause mental health problems including depression, posttraumatic stress syndrome, and suicide in some of the farmers affected by the incident and the first responders involved. The indirect public health impacts of livestock agroterrorism may even be greater due to the disruptions of social well being. The animal disease outbreak can devastate animal agriculture in a region or country, undermining the economic stability and social fabric of rural communities and, in the worst situations, threatening the perceived safety and availability of foods of animal origin. In addition, the unintended consequences of large-scale animal disease control programs may exacerbate financial damage and social isolation for individuals and communities. Reducing the potential impacts of livestock agroterrorism on public health requires expanded preparedness activities for rural communities and the nation that include significant public–private partnership. The economic impacts of livestock agroterrorism must be moderated in order to limit the secondary societal health problems and public health infrastructure disruption. Keywords: agroterrorism; disasters; livestock disease; public health; risk communication; zoonoses
On properties of electronic equalizers for optical communications systems

We study the properties of electronic equalizers for optical communications systems and derive expressions that explain their behavior. We use simulations to show the agreement with the theory developed.
Production of a large unsupported carbon-film ultraviolet filter

The authors recently made some large unsupported carbon films suitable for use as far uv filters, in conjection with work at the University of Arizona and with the Arizona Carbon Foil Company. We think readers will find the procedure of interest.
Signature-Based Retrieval of Scanned Documents Using Conditional Random Fields

In searching a large repository of scanned documents, a task of interest is that of retrieving documents from a database using a signature image as a query. This chapter presents a signature retrieval strategy using document indexing and retrieval. Indexing is done using (i) a model based on Conditional Random Fields (CRF) to label extracted segments of scanned documents as Machine-Print, Signature and Noise, (ii) a technique using support vector machine to remove noise and printed text overlapping the signature images and (iii) a global shape-based feature extractor that is computed for each signature image. The documents are first segmented into patches using a region growing algorithm and the CRF based model is used to infer the labels of each of these patches. The robustness of the method is due to the inherent nature of modeling neighboring spatial dependencies in the labels as well as the observed data using CRF. The model parameters are learnt using conjugate gradient descent with line search optimization to maximize pseudo-likelihood estimates and the inference of labels is done by computing the probability of the labels under the model with Gibbs sampling. A further post processing of the labeled patches yields signature regions which are used to index the documents. Retrieval is performed using a matching algorithm to compare the query with the indexed documents. Signature matching is based on a normalized correlation similarity measure using global shape-based binary feature vectors. The end-to-end system is a content-based image retrieval system designed for signatures.
Interobserver and intraobserver variability using the Fuhrman grading system for renal cell carcinoma

Abstract Context.—Histologic grading of renal cell carcinoma has been shown to be second to staging in prognostic significance. A 4-tier grading scheme proposed by Fuhrman et al and based on nuclear features is the system used most frequently in North America. There are, however, very few studies in the literature assessing the interobserver variability for this system, and to our knowledge, none addressing intraobserver variability. Objective.—To assess the interobserver and intraobserver agreement among 4 pathologists using the Fuhrman nuclear grading scheme for renal cell carcinoma. Design.—Representative hematoxylin-eosin–stained slides of 99 consecutive primary renal cell carcinoma cases diagnosed between 1994 and 1999 at St Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, were independently graded by 4 pathologists on 2 occasions with a minimum period of 3 months separating the 2 readings. Results.—Intraobserver κ values ranged from 0.29 to 0.62 (mean = 0.45), and interobserver κ values ranged from 0.19 to 0.3...
The Religious Freedom Restoration Act and Prisons and Jails: An Assessment and a Proposal

In November of 1993, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was signed into law by the President. Its purpose was to overrule a 1990 Supreme Court decision and require government to satisfy a compelling interest test when its laws or actions place a substantial burden on an individual's exercise of personal religious beliefs. This article explores the impact of RFRA on prisons and jails. Since there was a failed effort in Congress to exempt prisons and jails from the strictures of RFRA, there is no question that RFRA applies to these institutions. The article begins by explaining the law on the free exercise of religion prior to RFRA. Then the provisions of RFRA and its legislative history are explored briefly. An assessment is made of the likely effect of RFRA on prisons and jails and its constitutionality. The article concludes with a recommendation for amending RFRA designed to insure that the free exercise rights of inmates are adequately protected, while not unduly hampering the ability of corr...
Do Managers Close to Zero Pretax Earnings Manage Pension Expense to Avoid Reporting a Financial Statement Loss

This study examines whether company managers manage pension expense to avoid reporting a financial statement loss. Since capital market participants achieve a greater financial gain when a company moves from being in a negative financial loss position to being in a positive financial gain position, company mangers experience strong incentives to report positive earnings rather than negative earnings. This study extends prior earnings management research by using zero pretax earnings as the benchmark to examine the extent to which managers manage pension expense to avoid reporting a financial statement loss. Managers close to the threshold of zero pretax earnings are predicted and shown to manage actual pension expense downward to increase actual reported earnings to avoid reporting a financial statement loss.
Vulvar pyoderma gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an idiopathic dermatologic disease manifested by painful cutaneous ulceration. The ulcers are characterized by their undermined, violaceous borders and necrotic tissue at the ulcer base. The lesions may have an unusual response to physical manipulation known as pathergy, a phenomenon that is manifested by rapid progression following debridement. Pyoderma gangrenosum is frequently associated with systemic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic active hepatitis and hematologic malignancies. Conservative wound care and systemic corticosteroids are usually effective therapy. We report the second case in the gynecologic literature of a patient with vulvar pyoderma gangrenosum.
Development of textured antimony sulphoiodide

Processing and characterization techniques which were used to obtain a dense well aligned antimony sulphoiodide ceramic body are described. A technique in which an a.c. field is used to electrically align SbSI crystals for subsequent orthogonal hot pressing is described. Characterization of the microstructure, the mechanical and the electrical properties disclosed that a reasonably strong (∼ 20MPa) piezoelectrically active (d33=∼ 500 pC N−1) body could be produced. These properties are then compared to those obtained on bodies prepared by other techniques and to those of single-crystal “boules” of SbSI.
Play it by ear: a case for serendipitous discovery of places with musicons

Current location-based services (LBS) typically allow users to locate points of interest (POI) in their vicinity but can detract from the user's emotional experience of exploring a new location. In this paper, we examine how cues in the form of popular music (musicons) can emotionally engage users and enhance their experience of discovering nearby POIs serendipitously in unfamiliar places. The primary contribution of this paper is a field study, in which we evaluate the performance and emotional engagement of different types of audio-based cues for directing users' attention to specific POIs. Musicons and mixed-modality cues performed close to visual and speech cues, and significantly better than auditory icons, for POI identification while creating a much more pleasant and engaging user experience. We conclude that cues for POI discovery need not always be as explicit as the baseline visual cues. Indeed, the most challenging cues, auditory icons, led to a heightened sense of autonomy.
The spectroscopic behavior of high CaO content, laser-type glasses

Abstract Spectroscopic measurements were made of three high CaO content Nd3+-doped glasses, two of which could only be prepared via splat cooling. Cross-section determinations of the Nd3+ 1.06 μm lasting line were performed for each of these glasses via several methods. The use of absorption spectroscopy and the Judd-Ofelt crystal field calculations indicated that the lasting line cross-section, viewed as a function of CaO content in these glasses, possesses a maximum. Fluorescent decay-time measurements, however, suggested a monotonically increasing cross-section with increasing CaO concentration in the base glass composition. Non-radiative decay processes could be responsible for the discrepancy in these results.
Function of a retrotransposon nucleocapsid protein

Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons are not only the ancient predecessors of retroviruses, but they constitute significant fractions of the genomes of many eukaryotic species. Studies of their structure and function are motivated by opportunities to gain insight into common functions of retroviruses and retrotransposons, diverse mechanisms of intracellular genomic mobility, and host factors that diminish or enhance retrotransposition. This review focuses on the nucleocapsid (NC) protein of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae LTR retrotransposon, the metavirus, Ty3. Retrovirus NC promotes genomic (g)RNA dimerization and packaging, tRNA primer annealing, reverse transcription strand transfers, and host protein interactions with gRNA. Studies of Ty3 NC have revealed key roles for Ty3 NC in formation of retroelement assembly sites (retrosomes), and in chaperoning primer tRNA to both dimerize and circularize Ty3 gRNA. We speculate that Ty3 NC, together with P-body and stress-granule proteins, plays a role in transitioning Ty3 RNA from translation template to gRNA, and that interactions between the acidic spacer domain of Ty3 Gag3 and the adjacent basic NC domain control condensation of the virus-like particle.
How Many Mutual Funds Are Needed to Form a Well- Diversified Asset Allocated Portfolio?

Funds of funds, which have become a popular investment vehicle in recent years, diversify across asset classes as well as managers with different styles and expertise. Lifecycle funds are a good example of funds of funds where investors can invest in a group of asset classes in different proportions depending on their investment horizon, risk tolerance, and objectives. Given that the number of mutual funds in the portfolios of lifecycle funds offered by different investment companies varies significantly even for those with similar targets, it is important to investigate the relationship between the number of mutual funds in an asset allocated portfolio and the resulting diversification benefits. As investors in lifecycle funds are concerned with the level of wealth they will have accumulated as of a target date, the variability of terminal wealth at the end of a given holding period is a relevant measure of risk for their portfolios. In this article the authors use a survivorship-bias-free sample to assess the impact of the number of mutual funds in an asset allocated portfolio on the variability and shortfall risk of its terminal wealth. Specifically, they run simulations to generate a large number of terminal wealth level outcomes for a portfolio with a given number of funds. Then, they obtain the frequency distribution of the terminal wealth outcomes, and use its dispersion as the risk measure in the analysis. The findings for three asset allocation scenarios, which are reported for 5-year and 10-year investment horizons, indicate that holding 10 to 12 funds in the portfolio instead of the minimum possible 2 funds as dictated by the asset allocation to equity and bonds reduces the standard deviation of terminal wealth by about 60%. This reduction can be obtained without sacrificing expected terminal wealth levels, and hence without a reduction in total returns. Similarly, the mean shortfall of terminal wealth and the semivariance of terminal wealth are reduced by 60% and 85%, respectively.
"Ischemic" ST-segment changes during the pericatheterization period in men with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease.

Abstract Silent ischemia has been characterized by ST-segment shifts in the absence of angina and has been shown to be associated with an adverse prognosis in some patient subgroups.1–4 The detection of silent ischemia by ambulatory monitoring has increased in popularity.4–6 Some studies of silent ischemia have enrolled untreated patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) and positive exercise stress tests. This bias in the pretest likelihood of the presence and severity of disease is likely to limit the clinical application of such studies. Further-more, withdrawing medications in order to assess risk would seem inappropriate in everyday clinical practice. This study was designed to look at the ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring detection of “ischemic” ST-segment changes during the pericatheterization period in 50 patients admitted for cardiac catheterization. Each patient had cardiovascular symptomatology severe enough to warrant cardiac catheterization, but the pre-test likelihood of the detection of ischemia had not been biased by prior diagnostic studies or a change in treatment. Thus, the study was specifically designed to relate to patients in a practical clinical setting.
Healthy habit changes in pre-professional college students: Adherence, supports, and barriers

This study examined the impact of participation in a wellness assignment on healthy habit changes in pre-professional undergraduate students. Participants consisted of 58 students enrolled in an undergraduate occupational science health and wellness course. Students were given an assignment to alter three to five habits that would improve their wellness over the semester, and follow-up surveys tracked their adherence to the changes. The assignment and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed using social cognitive and self-determination theories. Students believed that participation in the assignment increased (1) their own wellness status, (2) their understanding of how to impact their own wellness, and (3) their ability to understand client and therapist perspectives on making habit changes. The outcomes suggest that using the principles of social cognitive and self-determination theories appears to support the success of and adherence to healthy habit changes. Implications for occupational therapy educat...
A soluble, heat-labile, high-affinity Ca2+-binding factor extracted from rat liver mitochondria

Abstract Rat liver mitochondria exposed to osmotic shock (distilled water) lose the capacity for high-affinity binding of Ca 2+ . The Ca 2+ binding activity can be recovered in soluble form in the extract. It is heat-labile, not affected by uncouplers or respiratory inhibitors, and is inhibited by Sr 2+ , Mn 2+ , La 3+ , but not by Mg 2+ . The particle weight of the soluble factor exceeds 150,000.