cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AN EQUATION OF STATE FOR SILICATE MELTS. IV. CALIBRATION OF A MULTICOMPONENT MIXING MODEL TO 40 GPa

Mixing relations for the "high-pressure" parameters of the equation of state of Ghiorso (2004a) are developed and compositional coefficients are optimized to permit calculation of melt density in portions of the system SiO2-TiO2-Al2O3-FeO- MgO-CaO-Na2O-K2O to pressures in excess of 40 GPa and temperatures up to 2500°C. Four data sets are analyzed and fitted to yield an internally consistent model: (1) density estimates made from measurements of the sinking/floating of reference mineral markers in silicate liquids at known temperatures and pressures, (2) density estimates obtained from shock compression studies on molten liquids, (3) liquid densities inferred from the temperature and pressure dependence of the slopes of mineral fusion curves, and (4) estimates of densities of molten silicate liquids obtained by molecular dynamics simulations. Calibration compositions include chemically complex liquids (komatiite, peridotite and MORB bulk compostions) as well as simple liquids with mineral-like stoichiometry. The model recovers density with an average error of 2 percent. The model is limited by not including the effects of volatiles or oxidized iron at elevated pressure.
Nonlinear finite-difference time-domain modeling of linear and nonlinear corrugated waveguides

A multidimensional, nonlinear finite-difference time-domain (NL-FDTD) simulator, which is constructed from a self-consistent solution of the full-wave vector Maxwell equations and dispersive (Lorentz), nonlinear (finite-time-response Raman and instantaneous Kerr) materials models, is used to study finite-length, corrugated, optical waveguide output couplers and beam steerers. Multiple-cycle, ultrashort-optical-pulse interactions with these corrugated, nonlinear, dispersive waveguides are characterized. An all-optical nonlinear beam-steering device is designed, and its output-coupling performance is characterized with this NL-FDTD simulator.
Optical transmission and contrast ratio studies of the magnetooptic spatial light modulator.

Measurements are reported of the optical transmission and the contrast ratio for single pixel elements of the magnetooptic spatial light modulator consisting of both LLC and GGG materials having antireflection coatings and different thicknesses. The LLC material shows superior transmission values compared with the GGG material. High contrast ratios are reported with both materials, with the highest value being 45,000/1.
3D and 4D Fetal Neuroscan: Sharing the Know-how and Tricks of the Trade

Visual information from 2-D images may be limited in reflecting a 3-D structural reality. 3-D techniques have emerged enabling acquisition of an entire volume of spatial ultrasound information that can be analyzed and displayed in multiple planes and display modes that exceed the capacities of 2-D US and better reflect the 3-D nature of a structure or anomaly. In the future 3-D evaluation of the fetal body will be an inherent part of fetal study in cases of congenital anomaly' specifically fetal brain abnormality. This article focuses on the technique for obtaining and analyzing acquired volumes and displaying them.
Investigation of phoshpazene additive for magnetic recording lubrication

The addition of X-IP to the Fomblin Z-Dol disk lubricant is found to improve the contact start-stop (CSS) durability of hydrogenated carbon overcoated disks. Two-angle electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), contact angle measurements, spin-off measurements, and degradation studies on powdered AlCl/sub 3/ and Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ are used to show that X-IP improves lubrication by perfluoropolyethers on magnetic disks by chemically interacting with disk and slider surfaces so as to block sites for lubricant degradation, to lower surface energies, and to increase lubricant mobility.
Genetic components of variation in Nemophila menziesii undergoing inbreeding: Morphology and flowering time

The standard approaches to estimation of quantitative genetic parameters and prediction of response to selection on quantitative traits are based on theory derived for populations undergoing random mating. Many studies demonstrate, however, that mating systems in natural populations often involve inbreeding in various degrees (i.e. , self matings and matings between relatives). Here we apply theory developed for estimating quantitative genetic parameters for partially inbreeding populations to a population of Nemophila menziesii recently obtained from nature and experimentally inbred. Two measures of overall plant size and two of floral size expressed highly significant inbreeding depression. Of three dominance components of phenotypic variance that are defined under partial inbreeding, one was found to contribute significantly to phenotypic variance in flower size and flowering time, while the remaining two components contributed only negligibly to variation in each of the five traits considered. Computer simulations investigating selection response under the more complete genetic model for populations undergoing mixed mating indicate that, for parameter values estimated in this study, selection response can be substantially slowed relative to predictions for a random mating population. Moreover, inbreeding depression alone does not generally account for the reduction in selection response.
The effects of English language dominance of the Internet and the digital divide

English has become the official language of the Internet by default. Internet technology uses English words. Most of the Websites are available only in English. The English speaking United States dominates in active Internet users, e-commerce, Internet advertising, and B2B industry collaboration. This study examines and measures the effect of English language dominance on the digital divide. In a study of 189 countries, the relationship of English language, Internet usage patterns and infrastructure are examined. The 189 countries are divided into tow groups: developed and developing. The developed group (39 countries) is then divided into two groups (English speaking and not English speaking). The two groups are compared as to the number of Internet service providers per one million population and the percent of the total population that are Internet users. The developing countries are split into two groups. The first group is either English speaking or English is an official language, while the second group is either not English speaking or English is not an official language. The same variables are examined. Secondary data is employed with same instances of lagging data.
Neurogenesis of Rhesus adipose stromal cells

In this study, we isolated and characterized a population of non-human primate adipose tissue stromal cells (pATSCs) containing multipotent progenitor cells. We show that these pATSCs can differentiate into several mesodermal lineages, as well as neural lineage cells. For neural induction of pATSCs and non-human primate bone marrow stromal cells (pBMSCs), the cells were cultured in Neurobasal (NB) media supplemented with B27, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). After 4 days in culture, the pATSCs form compact, spheroid bodies that ultimately become neurospheres (NS). Free-floating neurospheres undergo extensive differentiation when cultured on PDL-laminin. Our data suggest that the neurogenic potential of pATSCs is markedly higher than that of pBMSCs. We have also performed microarray analysis and characterized the gene expression patterns in undifferentiated pATSCs. The direct comparison of gene expression profiles in undifferentiated pATSCs and pATSC-NS, and delineated specific members of important growth factor, signaling, cell adhesion and transcription factors families. Our data indicate that adipose tissue may be an alternative source of stem cells for therapy of central nervous system (CNS) defects.
Pest management through habitat design

Mathematical modeling and computer simulations used for investigating the role of habitat design parameters that determine rates of successful host location by pests which use simple search strategies are presented. The objective is to examine the theoretical basis of patterns of variability on infestation generated by the modeling and noted in the literature for other pest/host plant interactions. In particular, the arrangement of host plants in patchy rather than uniform distributions may limit the ability of key pests to find their host plants. The authors present modeling and simulation results supporting this conclusion analyze how this reduced level of infestation is achieved and define patchiness as a property of habitat design which reflects pest search dynamics as well as plant dispersion. >
Glycemic Control and Critical Illness: Is the Kidney Involved?

The pathophysiology, consequences, and management of hyperglycemia during critical illness is an important clinical issue. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia in this setting is associated with a variety of adverse events, including mortality. The kidneys have a major role in glucose and insulin metabolism, and emerging evidence suggests that they both are actively involved in the development, maintenance, and resolution of hyperglycemia. The development of acute kidney injury is also a risk in this setting. This article discusses potential approaches for efficient and effective management of hyperglycemia.
Sex differences: implications for heart failure care.

See doi:10.1016/j.ehj.2003.10.003for the article to which this editorial refers There is a strong interest in differences in the care and outcomes between men and women with cardiovascular disease. In the United States, for example, the Institute of Medicine and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have specifically emphasized the need to address disparities in care in order to optimize population health.1Heart failure has been identified as an important condition in which to evaluate sex differences because of high prevalence, significant morbidity and mortality, and because women constitute the majority of patients with heart failure.2 To date, however, research on sex differences in heart failure has had a limited impact on practice. Inconsistent findings in the literature have left clinicians confused about the implications for clinical care. A majority of previous studies have found that men with heart failure have worse survival than women, but other studies have been neutral and at least one study suggested that women are at higher risk.3–5At the same time, most studies have suggested that women receive fewer guideline-indicated heart failure therapies, but studies are again mixed.5,6The inconsistency of study results has been attributed, at least in part, to methodological limitations including non-representative populations, inadequate clinical data for risk adjustment, and limited follow-up. Ultimately, it is difficult to draw firm conclusions from the literature about the magnitude and direction of … *Corresponding author: John S. Rumsfeld MD PhD FACC, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Cardiology (111B), Denver VA Medical Center, 1055 Clermont St., Denver, CO 80220 USA. Tel.: +1-303-399-8020 x2131; Fax: +1-303-393-5054 E-mail address: John.Rumsfeld{at}med.va.gov
Evolution and Functional Diversification of MIRNA Genes

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory RNAs found in diverse eukaryotic lineages. In plants, a minority of annotated MIRNA gene families are conserved between plant families, while the majority are family- or species-specific, suggesting that most known MIRNA genes arose relatively recently in evolutionary time. Given the high proportion of young MIRNA genes in plant species, new MIRNA families are likely spawned and then lost frequently. Unlike highly conserved, ancient miRNAs, young miRNAs are often weakly expressed, processed imprecisely, lack targets, and display patterns of neutral variation, suggesting that young MIRNA loci tend to evolve neutrally. Genome-wide analyses from several plant species have revealed that variation in miRNA foldback expression, structure, processing efficiency, and miRNA size have resulted in the unique functionality of MIRNA loci and resulting miRNAs. Additionally, some miRNAs have evolved specific properties and functions that regulate other transcriptional or posttranscriptional silencing pathways. The evolution of miRNA processing and functional diversity underscores the dynamic nature of miRNA-based regulation in complex regulatory networks.
Follicular Lymphoma Revisited

The last quarter century has seen significant advances in the management and understanding of many human malignancies. This is especially true for the malignant lymphomas. The invitation to reflect on a report from Stanford, published 25 years ago, and the changes that have occurred since then, is a rare opportunity to look at what we have learned about the follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas, generally, and their histologic and clinical transformation, specifically. It is useful to divide the Editorial into three parts: diagnostic advances, management advances, and transformation, of both the follicular lymphomas, but, also of the physicians who care for them.
Materials issues in molecular beam epitaxy

The technology of crystal growth has advanced enormously during the past two decades; among those advances, the development and refinement of molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been among the most important. Crystals grown by MBE are more precisely controlled than those grown by any other method, and today form the basis for many of the most advanced device structures in solid-state physics, electronics and optoelectronics. In addition to its numerous device applications, MBE is also an enormously rich and interesting area of materials science in and of itself. This paper, discusses a few examples of some of these materials issues, organized according to whether they involve bulk, thin films, or surfaces.
Pathways for eosinophil lipid body induction: differing signal transduction in cells from normal and hypereosinophilic subjects.

Although lipid bodies, inducible cyto- plasmic inclusions active in arachidonic acid me- tabolism, are abundant in activated leukocytes, including eosinophils, mechanisms for eosinophil lipid body formation are not certain. Eosinophils from hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) donors contained about twice (D18/cell) as many lipid bodies as eosinophils from normal donors (D10/ cell). By immunocytochemistry both 5- and 15- lipoxygenases were localized at lipid bodies in HES eosinophils. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) in- duced rapid, receptor-mediated increases in lipid bodies in normal and HES eosinophils. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors, chelerythrine and cal- phostin C, inhibited PAF-induced lipid body forma- tion partially in normal and HES eosinophils. In HES, but not normal, eosinophils, PAF-induced lipid body formation was completely blocked by two tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein, which were not acting on 5-lipoxygenase because they also blocked 5-HETE-induced lipid body formation in HES, and not normal, eosino- phils. After 24 h culture with eosinophil growth factor cytokines (interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or GM-CSF alone but not IL-5 or IL-3 alone), normal eosinophils were induced to exhibit an HES-like phenotype, including increased lipid body numbers and tyrosine kinase-dependent signal- ing for PAF-induced lipid body formation. Thus, signal transduction mechanisms involved in PAF- induced lipid body formation in eosinophils can be differentially recruited. Tyrosine kinase-dependent signaling is not involved in normal eosinophils, but is active in HES eosinophils and in normal eosino- phils cultured with GM-CSF. PKC- and tyrosine kinase-dependent pathways are involved in the formation of eosinophil lipid bodies, which may facilitate enhanced synthesis of lipoxygenase- derived eicosanoids. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 563- 569; 1998.
Dominance relationships in harems of female Red-winged blackbirds

We investigated the factors determining dominance in aggressive encounters between female Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) resident on territories of single males. Three male territories were observed, with harems of 5, 5, and 3 females. Feeding platforms were placed on the territories to increase the sample of observable encounters between residents. Order of settlement on the territory was strongly related to dominance; in 19 of 23 dyads the earlier settler won the majority of encounters. Proximity to the nest at the encounter site was also related to dominance; in 30 of 45 dyads the female closer to her nest won the majority of interactions. The effect of proximity on dominance also was shown experimentally by moving the platforms from near one nest to near another, which caused the dominance relationships between the pairs of females to reverse. In a partial correlation analysis, both order of settlement and proximity to nest correlated independently with the percentage of encounters won within dyads. Size, age, and nesting stage were not related to dominance. Received 30 January 1987, accepted 18 September 1987.
Motor-unit activation patterns in lengthening and isometric contractions of hindlimb extensor muscles in the decerebrate cat

1. Multiunit integrated electromyographic (EMG) signals and single-unit EMG potentials were recorded during isometric and lengthening (stretch reflex) contractions of soleus and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles in 20 decerebrate cats. Patterns of motor-unit recruitment and rate modulation were examined in isometric muscles and during constant-velocity stretches. 2. Analysis of multiunit EMG activity and its relationship to active force revealed a marked difference between isometric and lengthening contractions. While the force-EMG relationship for isometric contractions was characteristically linear, the relation recorded during stretch-reflex responses showed a disproportionate early EMG increase, which was most obvious at low force levels, suggesting that the efficacy of force production is reduced in lengthening muscle. 3. Single-unit recruitment patterns were found to be qualitatively similar in isometric and lengthening contractions. In each case, motor units were recruited in order of increasing spike voltage. The numbers of newly recruited units declined steeply with each successive increment in active force. For a given unit, the force at which recruitment occurred was found to be greater in lengthening contractions than in isometric contractions, and in lengthening contractions it was also found to depend on the level of initial force. 4. Two patterns of motor-unit rate modulation were observed during muscle stretch, depending on whether a given unit was firing before the beginning of stretch or whether it was recruited during the course of stretch. Motor units that were active prior to stretch were found to increase firing rate at stretch onset and to vary their rate very little thereafter. Motor units recruited in the course of stretch began firing at an initial rate proportional to their force threshold, gradually increased their firing rate with increasing force, and sometimes reached an apparent maximum rate. 5. These results are discussed in terms of the mechanical properties of lengthening muscle and reflex regulation of these properties. Each identified pattern of motor-unit recruitment and rate modulation is evaluated for its potential contribution to the regulation of muscle properties, especially the prevention of muscle yield. We conclude that at low to moderate levels of initial force, recruitment of new motor units is likely to be the most effective compensatory mechanism.
Bone-anchored hearing aid and skin graft removal with subsequent cochlear implantation

We describe a novel technique of scalp flap rearrangement for cochlear implant (CI) candidates who have previously undergone ipsilateral bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) placement. One patient with single-sided deafness (SSD) underwent removal of a BAHA with subsequent scalp rearrangement for coverage of the implant site. After adequate healing of the scalp rotational flap, he underwent uncomplicated cochlear implantation without soft tissue complications. With increasing utilization of CIs in SSD, there will be more patients undergoing cochlear implantation who have previously had a BAHA. We present a novel method for accomplishing this goal while minimizing the risk of soft tissue complications. Laryngoscope, 126:2601-2604, 2016.
Microscopy and Titanium Alloy Development

Although the Kroll process for refining titanium was invented in 1937, significant production in the U.S. did not begin until 1948. It was the advent of the aircraft jet engine that stimulated growth of the titanium industry, primarily because of titanium’s excellent strength-to-weight ratio. A wide variety of alloy compositions evolved for various aircraft applications, not only for engines, but for airframe structures as well.1 As the demand for these applications ebbed and flowed in the years following 1948, the industry began to cultivate other areas for use. The corrosion resistance of Ti made it a viable replacement for stainless steels in many applications in the chemical processing industry.2 More recently, Ti has been used in various types of prostheses for surgical implant in humans.3
Bitcoin versus Regulated Payment Systems: What Gives?

In a short period of time virtual currencies have gained significant traction and become an economic reality, with Bitcoin being the most dominant among over 500 virtual currencies. Bitcoin and other virtual currencies present a particularly difficult and unique jurisdictional challenge to existing regulatory enforcement because of their: ability to transcend national borders in the fraction of a second; and anonymity due to encryption. In January 2014 the Uniform Law Commission (ULC) created a Study Committee on Alternative and Mobile Payments (Study Committee). The focus of the Study Committee (now designated a Drafting Committee) is to devise an optimal licensing system for intermediaries that perform financial services for third parties relating to digital or virtual currencies. The Study Committee/Drafting Committee concluded that the New York regulatory framework for virtual currencies (New York “Bitlicense” Regulation) is “well drafted” and (with some changes) could serve as a beginning template for a uniform law. At this writing, a remaining significant issue is the extent to which the proposed uniform law should go beyond the licensing, compliance and enforcement issues common to the CSBS regulatory framework and the New York “BitLicense” Regulations, to cover substantive commercial transaction issues as in the UCC. Advances such as the blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin and many other virtual currencies may hold great promise for efficiencies in the transfer cost of money and data.This article addresses the legal and financial implications of virtual currencies, and is organized as follows. Part II. presents a brief history describing the evolution and function of money and currencies. Part III. describes the development of virtual currencies and Bitcoin in particular. Part IV. discusses traditional payment and regulatory systems. Part V. looks at criminal law issues relating to currencies. Part VI. considers the history of modern payment systems and regulation, currency stability issues, and the possible threat to financial order posed by virtual currencies. Part VII. Explores the future of regulation in this area of law. Implications for further research are then presented. The focus is the impact on payment systems of the rapidly developing use of virtual and cybercurrencies, especially bitcoins.
PET artefact masquerading as a PET positive lung mass

A 70-year-old man was referred for evaluation of multiple lung nodules. His medical history was significant for stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in remission for the past 10 years. Physical examination and laboratory tests were unremarkable. Positron emission tomography and CT (PET-CT) of the chest demonstrated non-hypermetabolic scattered pulmonary nodules measuring up to 1.0 cm in diameter and an intense fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid hypermetabolic lesion adjacent to the right hilum extending to the medial segment of the right lower lung (RLL), without any corresponding abnormality on …
Effects of Diagnosis, Laterality, and Gender on Brain Morphology in Schizophrenia

Objective: Structural neuroimaging and neuropathological studies have demonstrated a vanety ofaspects of brain morphology that appear to distinguish schizophrenic patients from companison subjects (diagnostic effects), a predominance ofleft-sided pathology (laterality effects), and a greater likelihood of brain abnormality among males (gender effects). However, findings have been inconsistent across studies, perhaps reflecting limited power due to small study group sizes. The goal of this study was to examine diagnostic, laterality, and gender effects of brain morphology as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging in a large, carefully evaluated group of schizophrenic and comparison subjects. Method: One hundred two patients with schizophrenia (DSM-III-R) (70 men and 32 women) and 87 normal comparison subjects, chosen to be equivalent to the patients in terms of familial socioeconomic background, underwent magnetic resonance imaging with a 1.5-tesla scanner. All regions of interest were outlined manually by an experienced technician on all slices in which they were visualized. Region of interest volumes were compared across groups, and age, sex, and stature were controlled. Results: Schizophrenic patients were found to have larger lateral and third ventricles and smaller thalamic, hippocampal, and superior temporal volumes than comparison subjects. No significant differences were demonstrated for intracranial, cerebral, cerebellar, temporal lobe, caudate nuclei, or temporal horn volumes. There were no significant Laterality by Diagnosis effects and no significant Gender by Diagnosis effects for any of the regions of interest. Conclusions: Many, but not all, of the hypotheses informed by earlier studies regarding diagnostic effects were confirmed, while hypotheses regarding gender and laterality interactions with diagnosis were not supported. (Am J Psychiatry 1995; 152:704-714)
The Dangling Bond in Undoped Amorphous Hydrogenated Silicon: Trap or Recombination Center?

The role of the neutral dangling bond defect upon photocarrier processes in undoped amorphous hydrogenated silicon (a-Si:H) is discussed. The evidence that the dangling bond is a simple recombination center is reviewed, and it is shown that this model does not account for photocurrent response time measurements. Experimental data pertinent to the role of electrical contacts upon response time measurements are presented, and it is concluded that contact effects do not account for response-time measurements. The possibility that the dangling bond is primarily an electron trap is discussed.
Comments on the effect of amphetamine in avoidance conditioning.

Conflicting evidence related to the effect of amphetamine in avoidance conditioning is noted. Although a “freezing reduction” hypothesis has been most widely employed to explain the facilitating effect of the drug in such conditioning, the need for expanding the hypothesis to include consideration of the interaction of the drug with experimental conditions and the effect of the drug on bodily activity is suggested.
The Demographics and Rates of Tattoo Complications, Regret, and Unsafe Tattooing Practices: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Tattoos have become increasingly common in the United States; however, there are limited data on the rates of tattoo complications and tattoo regret. Objective To determine the rates of infectious and allergic complications after tattooing, rates of tattoo regret, the perception of dermatologists among people with tattoos, and the demographics of people with tattoos. Materials and methods An 18-question cross-sectional survey was fielded in New Orleans in January 2015. Participants had to be at least 18 years old, have at least 1 tattoo, and reside within the United States. Results In total, 501 participants from 38 American states were enrolled. Of all participants, 3.2% had a history of an infected tattoo, 3.8% had a history of a painful tattoo, and 21.2% had a history of a pruritic tattoo; 16.2% of participants regret a current tattoo and 21.2% are interested in having 1 or more tattoos removed; 21.2% received a tattoo while intoxicated and 17.6% had a tattoo placed somewhere other than at a tattoo parlor; and 78.9% believe dermatologists are knowledgeable about the infectious and allergic complications of tattoos. Conclusion Given the rates of pruritic tattoos and tattoo regret, there is an opportunity, and trust among people with tattoos, for dermatologists to manage these complications.
Molecular Targeted Therapies in Head and Neck Cancer

Molecular targeted therapies for head and neck cancer offer promising opportunities to improve upon clinical outcomes of conventional treatments. The toxicity profiles of these agents are unique, reflecting their distinct mechanisms of action, and generally do not appear to directly overlap or amplify the toxicities of conventional treatment modalities. Herein, we discuss strategies for targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and angiogenesis (VEGF) as models for the development and clinical evaluation of molecular targeted agents. We explore phase III clinical data demonstrating measurable survival benefits with the use of cetuximab in the locally advanced and recurrent/metastatic head and neck cancer settings. In addition, we review EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors and angiogenesis inhibitors, both of which have shown activity in head and neck cancer. Finally, we review promising new agents and future directions for the incorporation of molecular targeted therapies in head and neck cancer.
Presidents and the American Environment. By Otis L. Graham Jr

Presidents and the American Environment . By Otis L. Graham Jr. (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2015. xi + 411 pp. Notes, bibliography, index. $39.95.) Recent years have seen an explosion of scholarship on presidential leadership and environmental protection. From Randall Lutter and Jason Shogren’s Painting the White House Green (2004), exploring the influence of the Council of Economic Advisers, to Tarla Rai Peterson’s Green Talk in the White House (2004), analyzing presidential rhetoric, scholars have dissected the records of recent American presidents. This new volume by Otis L. Graham Jr., a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, appears very similar to Byron W. Daynes and Glenn Sussman’s book White House Politics and the … bflippen{at}se.edu
Influence of Repeated Prescribed Fire on Tree Growth and Mortality in Pinus resinosa Forests, Northern Minnesota

Prescribed fire is widely used for ecological restoration and fuel reduction in fire-dependent ecosystems, most of which are also prone to drought. Despite the importance of drought in fire-adapted forests, little is known about the cumulative effects of repeated prescribed burning on tree growth and related response to drought. Using dendrochronological data in red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.)-dominated forests in northern Minnesota, USA, we examined growth responses before and after understory prescribed fires between 1960 and 1970 to assess whether repeated burning influences growth responses of overstory trees and vulnerability of overstory tree growth to drought. We found no difference in tree-level growth vulnerability to drought, expressed as growth resistance, resilience, and recovery, between areas receiving prescribed fire treatments and untreated forests. Annual mortality rates during the period of active burning were also low (less than 2%) in all treatments. These findings indicate that prescribed fire can be effectively integrated into management plans and climate change adaptation strategies for red pine forest ecosystems without significant short- or long-term negative consequences for growth or mortality rates of overstory trees.
Multimedia and Intermedia Transport Modeling Concepts in Environmental Monitoring

Environmental pollution is a multimedia problem. Pollutants do not stay where they originate but are able to migrate across environmental phase boundaries and to disperse throughout our ecosystem. Consequently, environmental exposure and risk assessments must be multimedia based analyses. In this paper, some aspects of intermedia transport are reviewed in relation to multimedia transport modeling, environmental monitoring and exposure assessment. Finally, an assessment is presented of the key research needs in the area of pollutant fate and transport modeling.
Windows into Microbial Seascapes: Advances in Nanoscale Imaging and Application to Marine Sciences

Geochemical cycles of all nonconservative elements are mediated by microorganisms over nanometer spatial scales. The pelagic seascape is known to possess microstructure imposed by heterogeneous distributions of particles, polymeric gels, biologically important chemicals, and microbes. While indispensable, most traditional oceanographic observational approaches overlook this heterogeneity and ignore subtleties, such as activity hot spots, symbioses, niche partitioning, and intrapopulation phenotypic variations, that can provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of planktonic ecosystem function. As part of the movement toward cultivation-independent tools in microbial oceanography, techniques to examine the ecophysiology of individual populations and their role in chemical transformations at spatial scales relevant to microorganisms have been developed. This review presents technologies that enable geochemical and microbiological interrogations at spatial scales ranging from 0.02 to a few hundred micrometers, particularly focusing on atomic force microscopy, nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry, and confocal Raman microspectroscopy and introducing promising approaches for future applications in marine sciences.
Third Gen AI as Human Experience Based Expert Systems

Abstract We are reviewing various notions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) based on its unsuccessful history (as the success of AI has too many reports). Then we suggest changes based on notions of possibility from fuzzy math, ergodic process for examining possibility space rather than a stochastic time space, speed and memory in neural networks, which follow the supervised least mean square (LMS) deep learning or unsupervised gradient descent learning based on minimizing cost function of Helmholtz free energy, etc. The first Gen AI is Marvin Minsky's rule-based AI which has taken into account implicitly the first attribute Poincare-Neumann Ergodicity that has foregone the small Rosenblatt neural nets. The second Gen AI is Google learnable rule-based system added either to LMS Deep Learning or Maxwell–Boltzmann irreversible thermodynamics Unsupervised Deep Learning (unlabeled inputs) that has beaten Go champion Lee Se-Dol. The third Gen AI shall take into account open set possibilities used in Fuzzy Logic (not yet in digital automation computer scientists [ACS]). In order to compute “where we are,” in turns of 5W (when, where, what, why, and how) needed for route planning, geolocation, and situation awareness, we generated the data from the dynamic equations of motion of Newton, Kubo-Langevin's Einstein fluctuation-dissipation, multiple satellite triangulation GPS, advanced EO, IR, RF sensors suite, as well as Lyaponov Control theory. We wish to tabulate the peak occurrence frequency of those dynamic data near the peak of a triangle shape function in rounded brackets into Zadeh-Freeman fuzzy membership functions (FMF).
Science and Religion: An Impossible Dialogue: by Yves Gingras, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2017,272 pp., $26.95 (paperback), ISBN 978-1-509-51893-7

With so many books on the market aiming to foster dialogue between religion and science, I was looking forward to Gingras’ contrarian approach. Yves Gingras’ manuscript, originally published in Fre...
Abstract WP149: Women on Hrt With Ischemic Stroke, a Positive Effect on Deficits and Recovery?

Background: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal women is associated with increased incidence of ischemic stroke risk. Effects of HRT on stroke related deficits and functional outc...
Desktop-based safety training using 360-degree panorama and static virtual reality techniques: A comparative experimental study

Abstract Virtual reality (VR)-based approaches have been used to facilitate safety knowledge transfer and increase hazard awareness by providing safe and controlled experiences of unsafe scenarios in construction safety training applications. However, the long development times and high computational costs associated with existing VR methods have posed significant challenges to using such VR-based safety training platforms. Unlike VR settings that deliver computer-generated reproductions of the environment, 360-degree panorama can create true-to-reality simulations of construction jobsites. This research developed and compared two hazard-identification training platforms based on VR and 360-degree panorama. Construction students and professionals participated in an experiment to determine their perception of realism and evaluate their hazard-identification skills. It was found that students perceived the 360-degree panorama conditions as more realistic than the VR conditions, but professionals perceived no difference between them. Moreover, differences were found in the average hazard identification index (HII) scores for all participants, with higher scores for the VR conditions than for the 360-degree panorama conditions. Finally, it was found that there was an inverse correlation between the presence scores and the average HII scores for the participants in the study.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Modulator Therapy: A Review for the Otolaryngologist:

BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease that may result in multiple systemic disorders and potentially fatal severe respiratory compromise. However, the advent of CF transmembrane condu...
Multifunctional films for thermoplastic composite joints: Ultrasonic welding and damage detection under tension loading

Abstract This paper investigates the use of multi-walled carbon nanotube/polypropylene (MWCNT/PP) films to enable ultrasonic welding and damage detection of glass fiber/polypropylene (GF/PP) composite joints in a single lap configuration. Three MWCNT concentrations above electrical percolation (15–25 wt%) were chosen to weld GF/PP adherends. The effect of MWCNT content on the welding process was evaluated by comparing weld quality through lap shear strength (LSS) tests and fractography analysis. Films containing 15 and 20 wt% MWCNT had no significant effect on the welding process, while 25 wt% reduced LSS by up to 39% compared to pure PP films due to their brittleness. Welded joints with MWCNT/PP films showed potential for damage detection through real-time electrical resistance changes at the interface. Thus, the multifunctional films proposed in this study represent a novel and promising approach for ultrasonic welding and damage detection of thermoplastic composite joints, but future work should focus on improving weld strength.
Waitlist mortality and transplant free survival in Hispanic patients listed for liver transplant using the UNOS database.

Abstract Introduction and objectives After the implementation of “Share 35”, several concerns arose such as the potential to increase travel distance, costs, and decreased liver availability. These elements could have a negative impact on waitlist outcomes among ethnic minorities. We aimed to determine waitlist survival after the implementation of the Share 35 policy in non-Hispanic white and Hispanic patients. Materials and methods We identified non-Hispanic whites and Hispanics who were listed for liver transplantation from June 18th, 2013 to June 18, 2018. We excluded pediatric patients, patients with acute hepatic necrosis, re-transplants, multiorgan transplant, living donor, and exception cases. The primary outcome was death or removal from the waitlist due to clinical deterioration. We used competing risk analysis to compare waitlist survival between the two groups. Results There were 23,340 non-Hispanic whites and 4938 Hispanics listed for transplant. On competing risk analysis, Hispanic patients had a higher risk of being removed from the waitlist for death or clinical deterioration compared to their counterpart (SHR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13–1.34; P Conclusion After the implementation of Share 35, disparities are still present and continue to negatively impact outcomes in minority populations especially Hispanic patients.
Human-machine teaming: Evaluating dimensions using narratives

The current study examined potential dimensions of human-machine teaming as they related to teammate perceptions. Prior research has postulated that 6 facets of autonomous agent teammate-likeness (AAT) are the key factors in shaping teaming perceptions of technology. Using a narrative approach, participants (N = 300) viewed one of two descriptions created to characterize a high or low teaming technology. Following the narrative, participants responded to psychosocial scales aiming to assess teaming perceptions, commitment to the technology, and the 6 facets of AAT. Results demonstrated that all of the scales were reliable, and all but one scale was reported as higher in the high-teaming narrative condition, as expected. Unexpectedly, there were no differences in the interdependence scale between the two narrative conditions. Using linear regression, the current study also examined the unique relationships between the AAT facets and both teaming perceptions and commitment to the technology. For teaming perceptions, interdependence (higher), synchrony (lower), and team focus (higher) were uniquely related to teaming perceptions. For commitment to the technology, communication richness, interdependence, and team focus were all uniquely related to higher commitment. Implications for the human-machine teams are discussed herein.
Who Enters Politics and Why

Despite the importance of politicians, empirical work rarely examines who decides to enter politics and why. This survey presents conceptual issues in measuring political entry; reviews work on ind...
Engineering a 3D collective cancer invasion model with control over collagen fiber alignment.

Abstract Prior to cancer cell invasion, the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounding the tumor is remodeled, such that circumferentially oriented matrix fibers become radially aligned. This predisposed radially aligned matrix structure serves as a critical regulator of cancer invasion. However, a biomimetic 3D model recapitulating a tumor's behavioral response to these ECM structures is not yet available. In this study, we have developed a phase-specific, force-guided method to establish a 3D dual topographical tumor model in which each tumor spheroid/organoid is surrounded by radially aligned collagen I fibers on one side and circumferentially oriented fibers on the opposite side. A coaxial rotating cylinder system was employed to construct the dual fiber topography and to pre-seed tumor spheroids/organoids within a single device. This system enables the application of different force mechanisms in the nucleation and elongation phases of collagen fiber polymerization to guide fiber alignment . In the nucleation phase, fiber alignment is enhanced by a horizontal laminar Couette flow driven by the inner cylinder rotation . In the elongation phase, fiber growth is guided by a vertical gravitational force to form a large aligned collagen matrix gel (35 × 25 × 0.5 mm) embedded with >1000 tumor spheroids. The fibers above each tumor spheroid are radially aligned along the direction of gravitational force in contrast to the circumferentially oriented fibers beneath each tumor spheroid/organoid, where the presence of the tumor interferes with the gravity-induced fiber alignment. After tumor invasion, there are more disseminated multicellular clusters on the radially aligned side, compared to the side of the tumor spheroid/organoid facing circumferentially oriented fibers. These results indicate that our 3D dual topographical model recapitulates the preference of tumors to invade and disseminate along radially aligned fibers. We anticipate that this 3D dual topographical model will have broad utility to those studying collective tumor invasion and that it has the potential to identify cancer invasion-targeted therapeutic agents.
Investment with insecure property rights: Capital outflow openness under dictatorship

Governments have two mechanisms through which to secure the rights of investors: protecting property rights and allowing capital mobility. This article develops a formal theoretic framework that demonstrates how dictators use capital outflow openness as a substitute for poor property rights protection to attract more investment. They do so for two related reasons. First, more capital outflow openness increases the pool of capital dictators can expropriate from. Second, more capital outflow openness increases domestic wages, preventing working class revolts. When the working class is not too strong, the dictator would be able to retain workers’ support by relying on capital outflow openness alone. However, when the working class is strong, the dictator would be forced to improve property rights protection to prevent a working class revolt, constraining the dictator’s ability to expropriate in the future.
Acclimation to Telehealth in Radiation Oncology During COVID-10 Response: Demographic Trends and Challenges.

Purpose/objective(s) The 2019 coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) had a broad impact on the care of cancer patients, including the rapid adoption of telehealth video visits. On March 15, 2020, our institutional leadership recommended transition to video visits, which posed a risk of altering patients' access to care. We assessed the impact of this rapid transition on demographic patterns in an urban academic radiation oncology department. Materials/methods Consultation and follow-up visits from the pre-COVID-19 period (January 1, 2019 to March 14, 2020) and COVID-19 period (March 15, 2020 to August 31, 2020) in a single radiation oncology department were identified. Demographics and appointment data were abstracted from the institutional electronic health record. Time trends and patient and visit characteristics were compared across the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods. Results During the study period, 9,450 consult and follow-up visits were performed pre-COVID-19 and 3,298 visits in the COVID-19 period. The proportion of video visits increased markedly in the transition period, from 0.6% of all visits in the week of March 2, 2020, to 87% in the week of March 23, 2020. In-person visits decreased from 98% to 3%. Among all visits (in-person and telehealth), those during the COVID-19 period were less likely to be new consultations (43.1% from 60.1%; P Conclusion The overall COVID-19 clinic population retained demographic features similar to the pre-COVID-19 population despite a very rapid near-complete transition to telehealth. Nonetheless, the telehealth-predominant COVID-19 period had slightly increased visits with patients who were white or primarily English speaking or had commercial insurance. Strategies for ensuring telehealth is accessible to diverse populations should be a priority as telemedicine is integrated into long-term clinical operations.
Making DBMS relevant to non-majors

Teaching service classes is always a challenge. Teaching a computer science course as a service course magnifies this challenge. This paper discusses the challenges of teaching a database management systems (DBMS) course to students whose major is geomatics (a part of Geographical Information Sciences - GIS). Furthermore, it presents possible solutions that the faculty can implement to ensure a successful course. Although the paper focuses upon a DBMS course for geomatics majors, the challenges and solutions can be generalized to other computer science courses taught to non-majors.