cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RACIAL THREAT, CONCENTRATED DISADVANTAGE AND SOCIAL CONTROL: CONSIDERING THE MACRO‐LEVEL SOURCES OF VARIATION IN ARRESTS*

Several studies have examined the relationship between racial threat (measured by the size of black population) and social control imposed on blacks, but evidence of this hypothesis has been mixed. Although dependency on percent black as the main indicator of racial threat in many studies has contributed to the inconsistency in findings, we argue that this literature has also neglected to consider other important conceptual and methodological issues. Using 2000 census and arrest data, we estimate the impact of multiple measures of racial economic threat, such as the size of the black population, racial inequality and black immigration patterns on black arrest rates. Furthermore, by integrating racial competition and race-relations arguments, we examine how the concentration of black disadvantage may temper the extent to which blacks pose a threat to white interests. Our findings reveal important and conceptually distinct relationships between racial threat, concentrated disadvantage and the use of social control against blacks, particularly when compared to white arrests.
The enzymatic domain of Clostridium difficile toxin A is located within its N-terminal region.

Clostridium difficile, an anaerobic pathogen encountered in human enteric disease, produces two major virulence factors, toxins A and B, which are members of a clostridial family of large cytotoxins. These are glucosyltransferases, which use a UDP-sugar as co-substrate to glucosylate and inactivate small GTPases of the Rho or Ras families, culminating in cytotoxicity. Clinically, toxin A is perhaps the most important family member, because it causes major tissue damage in the course of disease, leading to a potentially lethal, pseudomembranous colitis. The location of the enzymatic domain of toxin A and mechanistic details of its action are not yet known, so we wished to localize this domain using gene deletion constructions from the full-length gene and by monitoring glucosylation activity of encoded protein products. Toxin A deletions were obtained by successively truncating the C-terminal coding region. These were transformed into E. coli, cell lysates were prepared and they were assayed for their ability to glucosylate Rho A protein, using an in vitro enzymatic assay. We report that the UDP-glucose binding site, the catalytic site for glucose transfer and the Rho A interaction site occur within the first 659 N-terminal amino acids of toxin A, i.e., less than 25% of the length of holotoxin A. Localization of the enzymatic domain of toxin A to these 659 N-terminal amino acids should greatly simplify studies on mechanistic details of this clinically important toxin.
WHAT IS THE VASCULAR ARCHITECTURE OF COMPLEX MEDULLOSAN POLLEN ORGANS

The recent emphasis on vascular architecture as a key to interpreting the structure and phylogeny of Dolerotheca and similar pollen organs prompts a critical examination of this feature in specimens from the Upper Pennsylvanian of Illinois. Contrary to previous descriptions, the major bundle system of these organs consists of anastomosing strands that are not consistently positioned proximal to (over) radiating sclerenchymatous plates of ground tissue. In addition, branching that has been previously described as pinnate actually consists of non-
Pulmonary Hypertension Caused by Graves’ Thyrotoxicosis: Normal Pulmonary Hemodynamics Restored by 131I Treatment

We describe a case of pulmonary hypertension, initially thought to be idiopathic, which resolved after treatment of Graves' hyperthyroidism. Results of pulmonary artery catheterization before and after treatment are reported, and the effects of thyrotoxicosis on hemodynamics and pulmonary function are briefly reviewed. Possible mechanisms for development of pulmonary hypertension caused by hyperthyroidism include pulmonary vascular endothelial dysfunction or damage because of autoimmunity or the high cardiac output state, or increased metabolism of intrinsic pulmonary vasodilators.
Electrical Stability of Electrical Insulating Oils Under Limited Oxidation

ELECTRICAL insulating oils find a wide application in the electrical industry in cables, transformers, capacitors, circuit-breakers, and other oil-insulated equipment. The present paper discusses the electrical stability as indicated by low power factor of an oil under limited-oxidation conditions, such as exist in certain service applications in oil-impregnated paper-insulated cables and sealed transformers. This test differs from the conventional “open-beaker” or unlimited-oxidation test. The limited amount of oxygen made available to the oil may be varied, from residual amounts due to contact materials or present in the oil, to the normal solubility of air in oil, and to larger amounts as desired. The limited-oxidation test indicates that, for a given duration of deterioration, oils may give power factors of 10 to 100 times those indicated in the conventional test. This fact is important in service applications for oil-paper cables (since these losses limit the rating of the cable and decrease its efficiency) and for oil-filled equipment (since increased dielectric losses may reduce directly or indirectly the useful life of the equipment). While the power factor of an oil is not of prime importance for many types of oil-filled electric equipment, it is one of the most sensitive known criteria for stability tests. Operating performance of oil-paper cables in service shows, in general, that the power factor of the insulation increases with time, even in certain cases to the extent of impairing the investment seriously. Hitherto, these changes have been unexplainable. It is believed that the limited-oxidation test, which to a certain extent simulates service conditions, will be useful in controlling this important problem.
Effect of Perphenazine Treatment of Rats on Serum Ovarian and Adrenal Steroids

SummaryA comparison of the concentration of steroids in peripheral serum was made between normal rats in the third day of diestrus and rats injected subcutaneously for 3 days with 5 mg/kg body wt/d...
Monitoring root-zone soil moisture through the assimilation of a thermal remote sensing-based soil moisture proxy into a water balance model

Two types of Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) modeling approaches can be applied to monitor root-zone soil moisture in agricultural landscapes. Water and Energy Balance (WEB) SVAT modeling is based on forcing a prognostic root-zone water balance model with observed rainfall and predicted evapotranspiration. In contrast, thermal Remote Sensing (RS) observations of surface radiometric temperature (TR) are integrated into purely diagnostic RS-SVAT models to predict the onset of vegetation water stress. While RS-SVAT models do not explicitly monitor soil moisture, they can be used in the calculation of thermal-based proxy variables for the availability of soil water in the root zone. Using four growing seasons (2001 to 2004) of profile soil moisture, micro-meteorology, and surface radiometric temperature measurements at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Optimizing Production Inputs for Economic and Environmental Enhancements (OPE3) study site in Beltsville, MD, prospects for improving WEB-SVAT root-zone soil water predictions via the assimilation of diagnostic RS-SVAT soil moisture proxy information are examined. Results illustrate the potential advantages of such an assimilation approach relative to the competing approach of directly assimilating TR measurements. Since TR measurements used in the analysis are tower-based (and not obtained from a remote platform), a sensitivity analysis demonstrates the potential impact of remote sensing limitations on the value of the RS-SVAT proxy. Overall, results support a potential role for RS-SVAT modeling strategies in improving WEB-SVAT model characterization of root-zone soil moisture.
Medical problem and document model for natural language understanding.

We are developing tools to help maintain a complete, accurate and timely problem list within a general purpose Electronic Medical Record system. As a part of this project, we have designed a system t o automatically retrieve medical problems from free-text documents. Here we describe an information model based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language) and compliant with the CDA (Clinical Document Architecture). This model is used to ease the exchange of clinical data between the Natural Language Understanding application that retrieves potential problems from narrative document, and the problem list management application.
Object associations of early-learned light and heavy English verbs

Many of the verbs that young children learn early have been characterized as ‘light.’ However, there is no agreed upon definition of ‘lightness’ and no useable metric that could be applied to a wide array of verbs. This article provides evidence for one metric by which the ‘lightness’ of early-learned verbs might be measured: the number of objects with which they are associated (in adult judgment) or co-occur (in speech to and by children). The results suggest that early-learned light verbs and heavy verbs differ in the breadth of the objects they are associated with: light verbs have weak associations with specific objects, whereas heavy verbs are strongly associated with specific objects. However, there is an indication that verbs have narrower associations to objects in speech to children. The methodological usefulness of this metric is discussed as are the implications of the patterns of distributions for children’s learning of common verbs.
Experimental Demonstrations of the “Not-So-Minimal” Consequences of Television News Programs

Two experiments sustain Lippmann's suspicion, advanced a half century ago, that media provide compelling descriptions of a public world that people cannot directly experience. More precisely, the experiments show that television news programs profoundly affect which problems viewers take to be important. The experiments also demonstrate that those problems promimently positioned in the evening news are accorded greater weight in viewers' evaluations of presidential performance. We note the political implications of these results, suggest their psychological foundations, and argue for a revival of experimentation in the study of political communication.
Personal Narrative: Revealing Self and Reflecting Other.

The telling of personal narratives is one form of presenting self to others that begins early in life and crosses racial, ethnic, and cultural boundaries. Not only do we present ourselves through narrative, those with whom we are involved present us to others through narrative. The purpose of this study was to examine how well one's perception of self is communicated to familiar others. One hundred targets each brought a perceiver to the experiment. The target and perceiver were separated and given a series of questionnaires to complete. The target and the perceiver were then asked to tell a personal narrative about the target. Findings include the following: (a) Self-concept is presented through personal narrative, (b) such self-presentations function as impression management, (c) view of other is presented through narrative, and (d) narrative presentation of a familiar other reflects the familiar other's self-concept.
Teaching Strategies: Self-Created Children's Literature as a Teaching Strategy--Voices from the College and the Elementary Classroom.

Researchers have noticed a shift in education, with science and social studies taking a backseat to mathematics and literacy (Marx & Harris, 2006; Rodriguez, 2006). Some school districts are operat...
Parameterization of ion channeling half-angles and minimum yields

Abstract A MS Excel program has been written that calculates ion channeling half-angles and minimum yields in cubic bcc, fcc and diamond lattice crystals. All of the tables and graphs in the three Ion Beam Analysis Handbooks that previously had to be manually looked up and read from were programed into Excel in handy lookup tables, or parameterized, for the case of the graphs, using rather simple exponential functions with different power functions of the arguments. The program then offers an extremely convenient way to calculate axial and planar half-angles, minimum yields, effects on half-angles and minimum yields of amorphous overlayers. The program can calculate these half-angles and minimum yields for 〈 u v w 〉 axes and [ h k l ] planes up to (5 5 5). The program is open source and available at http://www.sandia.gov/pcnsc/departments/iba/ibatable.html .
Spectroscopic Measurements of Tropospheric Composition from Satellite Measurements in the Ultraviolet and Visible: Steps Toward Continuous Pollution Monitoring from Space

This chapter reviews the current capabilities for ultraviolet and visible spectroscopic measurements of the Earth’s troposphere, and discusses what remains to be achieved in the short term to enable global, continuous measurements of atmospheric pollution from space to be undertaken. Challenges in instrumentation, spectroscopy, radiative transfer modeling, and retrievals are discussed. Current and planned satellite instruments with the capability to make tropospheric measurements in the ultraviolet and visible, with their measurement properties, spectral coverage, and target molecules, are presented. Measurement examples are taken from recent work done at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, together with our colleagues at a number of institutions. The examples include global tropospheric ozone (O3) measurements from the nadir geometry; global tropospheric nitrogen dioxide (NO2); bromine oxide (BrO) in the polar spring, and from salt lakes and volcanoes; global tropospheric formaldehyde (HCHO); and preliminary measurements of glyoxal (CHOCHO). Except for a few remaining developments, the field is shown to be sufficiently mature that global measurements of atmospheric pollution from space may be undertaken.
Distributed Fictitious Play for Optimal Behavior of Multi-Agent Systems with Incomplete Information

A multi-agent system operates in an uncertain environment about which agents have different and time varying beliefs that, as time progresses, converge to a common belief. A global utility function that depends on the realized state of the environment and actions of all the agents determines the system's optimal behavior. We define the asymptotically optimal action profile as an equilibrium of the potential game defined by considering the expected utility with respect to the asymptotic belief. At finite time, however, agents have not entirely congruous beliefs about the state of the environment and may select conflicting actions. This paper proposes a variation of the fictitious play algorithm which is proven to converge to equilibrium actions if the state beliefs converge to a common distribution at a rate that is at least linear. In conventional fictitious play, agents build beliefs on others' future behavior by computing histograms of past actions and best respond to their expected payoffs integrated with respect to these histograms. In the variations developed here histograms are built using knowledge of actions taken by nearby nodes and best responses are further integrated with respect to the local beliefs on the state of the environment. We exemplify the use of the algorithm in coordination and target covering games.
Beyond Denialism: Think Tank Approaches to Climate Change

Sociologists have done important research documenting the key role that think tanks play in the climate change denialism movement in the United States, which has sought to mislead the American public about the realities of global warming. Sociologists have not, however, assessed the full range of ways that think tanks are responding to – or planning for – global environmental change. This article proposes a typology of elite responses to global warming, which goes beyond denialism to include (i) limited climate mitigation, (ii) climate adaptation/privileged accommodation, and (iii) climate opportunism. Ultimately, this article provides insights on ways to build upon previous research in both environmental and political sociology to study the interface between elite-driven policy, climate change, and capitalism.
Fourier Analysis for Mathematical Finance

This lecture notes summarizes the standard machinery of Fourier Analysis useful for several applications in Mathematical Finance.
Long Range π-Type Hydrogen Bond in the Dimers (HF)2, (H2O)2, and H2O−HF

Based on ab initio calculations at MP2 and MP4 levels, a chemically intuitive π-type hydrogen-bond model is proposed to illustrate and interpret the small deviations from a strictly linear hydrogen bond X···H−Y in the dimers (HF)2, (H2O)2, and H2O−HF. The computational results show that π-type hydrogen-bond interaction is secondary and is an attraction between the H atom of the H−X bond and lone pair on Y. In particular, the orientations of lone pairs are detected, by the energy scan at the MP2/6-311+G (2df, 2p) level with a probing point charge of q = −1, which is important to show the existence of the π-type hydrogen bond. Furthermore, the interaction energy of π-type hydrogen bond, Dπ, and stabilized energy of bent hydrogen bond, ΔEsb, are also calculated and discussed.
Abstract IA29: Eliminating racial disparities in colorectal cancer

The Delaware Cancer Advisory Council was convened in 2001 by Governor Ruth Ann Minner to develop a statewide cancer control program. Rather than reporting a comprehensive cancer control program, the Council in 2002 recommended a limited number of achievable deliverables to reduce Delaware9s high rates of cancer incidence and mortality. The Delaware Legislature and the Governor Minner accepted the recommendations and fully funded the program. Three key elements of the program include a statewide coordinated colorectal screening program with coverage of the uninsured, a cancer treatment program providing for the uninsured, and an emphasis of African American cancer disparity reduction. The screening program featured statewide nurse navigation, colonoscopy promotion, statewide marketing, and coverage for both screening and up to two years of cancer treatment for the uninsured. Over the next ten years, the program eliminated the Caucasian and African American colorectal cancer disparities between by raising screening rates, lowering the stage at diagnosis, reducing the incidence, and finally eliminating the mortality disparity. All Delaware populations achieved improved colorectal cancer outcomes with the greatest gain in the African American community that closed the disparity gaps. Delaware can be viewed as a model for success, achieved when all parties including government, health care systems, providers, and the public are determined together to improve health and tackle health disparities. Citation Format: Stephen Grubbs. Eliminating racial disparities in colorectal cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Colorectal Cancer: From Initiation to Outcomes; 2016 Sep 17-20; Tampa, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA29.
Failure to rescue the elderly: a superior quality metric for trauma centers

Trauma centers require reliable metrics to better compare the quality of care delivered. We compared mortality after a reported complication, termed failure to rescue (FTR), and FTR in the elderly (age >65 years) (FTRE) to determine which is a superior metric to assess quality of care delivered by trauma centers. This was a retrospective review of the National Trauma Databank (NTDB) research data sets 2010 and 2011. Patients ≥16 years admitted to centers reporting ≥80% of AIS and/or ≥ 20% of comorbidities with > 200 subjects in the NTDB were selected. Centers were classified based on the rate of FTR and FTRE (<5 vs. 5–14 vs. ≥15%). The primary outcome was adjusted mortality for each group of trauma centers based on FTR and FTRE classifications. The overall mean ± SD FTR rate was 7.2 ± 5.2% and FTRE was 10.4 ± 7.9%. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for mortality was not different when centers with FTR <5% were compared to those with FTR of 5–14 or ≥15%. In contrast, a stepwise increase in FTRE predicted a significantly higher mortality when centers with FTRE 5% were compared to those with 5–14% (AOR: 1.05, p = 0.031) and ≥15% (AOR: 1.13, p < 0.001). Similarly, stepwise increase in FTRE predicted higher adjusted mortality for severely and critically injured patients, whereas FTR did not. Higher FTRE predicts increased adjusted mortality better than FTR after trauma and should, therefore, be considered an important metric when comparing quality care delivered by trauma centers.
Innovating with Underutilized Marketing Strategies to Enhance Profitability for Small Retail-related Firms

To remain competitive and profitable, small businesses today face increased pressure to innovate by adding novel products, services, or marketing practices that create customer value. The present paper focuses on the perceived use of three groups of underutilized marketing strategies by small business operators engaged in retail-related operations (apparel and retail stores, restaurants, hotels, service operations). These marketing strategies included entrepreneurial marketing (EM), experiential marketing (4Es), and branding strategies (brand distinctiveness and brand image). EM consisted of four validated processes (opportunity vigilance, consumer-centric innovation, risk management, and value creation) that firms undertake when developing new and innovative ways to market products and create value for customers. Pine and Gilmore's four experiential realms, the 4Es (educational, esthetic, escapist and entertainment experiences) were explored. Branding strategies captured brand distinctiveness and the creation of a unified brand image measured through perceived attention to the brand's 5Ps (property, product, product presentation, promotion, and people). The relationship of these practices to financial performance of small business operations was tested. Results of the study show that an integrated marketing approach including entrepreneurial marketing (EM), experience economy 4Es, brand image, and brand distinctiveness is characteristic of successful small retail-related enterprises, but not fully utilized in all business categories. Thus, business operators would be wise to implement marketing strategies that fit the needs of their business. Small business assistance programs may also consider recommending these underutilized and innovative marketing strategies when designing support for specific categories of small business operators.
On the Stability and Reactivity of Redox Shuttles in Their Neutral and Radical Cation Forms

The performance of aromatic compounds as redox shuttles for overcharge protection in lithium-ion batteries is quite variable and is often difficult to predict. Redox shuttles may decompose in battery electrolyte in their neutral and radical cation forms, both of which are present during overcharge protection. While hundreds of compounds have been evaluated as redox shuttle candidates and a few have stood out as top performers, the reasons for increased stability over similar candidates with slightly different structures is often unclear, and the exploration of decomposition of redox shuttles has been severely limited, restricting our ability to design improved versions of redox shuttles that do not suffer from the same reactions in lithium-ion batteries. To better understand the stability and reactivity of redox shuttles (also relevant to the improvement of positive electrode materials in non-aqueous redox flow batteries) our research has focused on measuring the stability of neutral and oxidized forms of redox shuttle candidates as well as using a variety of spectroscopic methods to analyze the byproducts of decomposition, both from radical cations generated in model solvents and electrolytes from postmortem analysis of failed batteries.
High-speed active devices integrated in hybrid silicon on silicon nitride platform

We present a hybrid resonant linear frequency comb generator and a modulator for pulse formation and fast electro-optic modulation. Integrated in a hybrid silicon-on-silicon nitride platform, such devices utilize the high-speed plasma dispersion in Si and high-Q resonance in SiN.
Abstract 435: Adiposity Increases Blood Pressure in Blacks More Than in Whites

Strong associations between adiposity and blood pressure (BP) have been observed consistently in most human populations. While obesity and hypertension are more prevalent in blacks, it is unclear whether adiposity affects BP differentially in blacks and whites and whether mechanisms by which adiposity exerts its influence are common across populations. The current study examined the effects of body mass index (BMI) on BP using longitudinally collected data from healthy black and white children. Using nonparametric regression techniques, we assessed the concurrent influences of age and BMI on BP. The analysis was based on 9113 observations from 1112 subjects (463 blacks and 649 whites; enrollment ages 4-17 years). To accommodate age and sex-related variations in BP and to compare BP in subjects of different ages, we modeled age and sex adjusted BP percentile values (BP%). The mean systolic BP% were 43% and 38% for blacks and whites respectively (p
Relationship of Weight-Related Eating Behaviors and Weight Loss of Participants Enrolled in a Proprietary Weight Loss Program:

Background: There is a need for improving long-term success in meal replacement programs and identifying the variables that affect weight loss and maintenance in a proprietary weight loss program t...
Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for power system big data analysis

The concept of automated power system data analysis using Deep Neural Networks (as part of the routine tasks normally performed by Independent System Operators) is explored and developed in this paper. Specifically, we propose to use the widely-used Deep neural network architecture known as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). To this end, a 2-D representation of power system data is developed and proposed. To show the relevance of the proposed concept, a multi-class multi-label classification problem is presented as an application example. Midcontinent ISO (MISO) data sets on wind power and load is used for this purpose. TensorFlow, an open source machine learning platform is used to construct the CNN and train the network. The results are discussed and compared with those from standard Feed Forward Networks for the same data.
Emphatic fingerspelling as code-mixing in American Sign Language

In this paper, we propose a view of fingerspelling in American Sign Language (ASL) not only as cross-modal lexical borrowing (Padden & Gunsauls 2003), but also as code-mixing. Using corpus data from public online video sources, we show that fingerspelling can be utilized for pragmatic and sentential purposes aside from the more generally cited uses (e.g. personal names, technical terms, gaps in the lexicon). Namely, it may be used to put emphasis on a particular word, generally in focus constructions. This motivation for fingerspelling is used with items which have a well-attested lexical alternative. In these cases, fingerspelling is not necessary but rather driven by its function in the discourse.
Abstract #2589: Identification of direct Smad3 target genes mediating the TGF-beta-dependent \#8220;metastatic switch\#8221;

Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-beta) has a complex dual role in carcinogenesis, acting as a tumor suppressor in early cancer development and as a prometastatic factor later in tumor progression. Perturbations in the TGF-beta system are seen in most human tumors. A key question is to understand what causes the tumor cells response to TGF-beta to switch from tumor suppression to metastasis promotion. We have shown that this \#8220;metastatic switch\#8221; occurs in a well-defined xenograft model of breast cancer. TGF-beta suppresses tumorigenesis in the MCF10Ca1h (M3) line, but promotes metastasis in the genetically highly-related MCF10Ca1a (M4) cell line. This pair of cell lines represents an ideal model to identify the critical molecular changes in the TGF-beta pathway that underlie the \#8220;metastatic switch\#8221;. I hypothesize that genetic and/or epigenetic alteration of direct target genes of Smad3, a key transcription factor of the TGF-beta pathway, occur during cancer progression and cause the cellular response to TGF-beta to switch from tumor suppression to tumor promotion. To address this, I used chromatin immuno-precipitation combined with Affymetrix promoter tiling array (ChIP-on-chip) to identify regions that are directly bound with Smad3 in different stages of breast cancer. Sixty Smad3 binding regions were identified at high stringency, most of which (95%) were novel. Expression status of these genes was analyzed in breast cancer datasets and I observed significant correlation with patient survival in clinical cohorts, suggesting that the identified Smad3 binding regions are enriched for genes that are relevant to breast cancer progression. Among the 60 Smad3 binding regions identified, many overlapped between M3 and M4 cell lines. However, by integrating the Chip-on-chip data with gene expression data, I have found that 25% of those Smad3 target genes are differentially regulated between M3 and M4 cell lines either by physical association to Smad3 and/or at subsequent transcriptional level. My finding suggests that this subset of Smad3 target genes could function as key mediators of the TGF-beta driven \#8220;metastatic switch\#8221; in breast cancer progression. I further validate those set of genes and establish a Smad3-based gene expression signature that distinguishes tumor suppressor from pro-metastatic activity of TGF-beta. My approach may provide novel strategies to normalize cancer cell responses to TGF-beta, eliminating the pro-progression responses and restoring the tumor suppressor responses. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 2589.
Liberal Education and Professional Studies at the Undergraduate Level: Still Circling Moose Jaw

This manuscript discusses the relationship between liberal education and professional programs, including recreation and leisure studies. It proposes a shift in frame of reference from liberal educ...
Response of determinate soybean cultivars to low pH soils

The main purpose of this study was to identify soybean cultivars which maintained high yields on acid soil. A secondary purpose was to determine what nutrient changes were responsibe for the yield losses occurring due to low pH soil. The significant cultivar × lime interaction indicated that yield in some cultivars was more adversely affected than in others. Terra Vig 708 and Deltapine 345 showed no significant yield loss when grown on low pH compared to limed soil and were classified as very insensitive to soil acidity. Other cultivars were classified as either moderately insensitive, sensitive, very sensitive, or severely sensitive. Analysis of variance and correlation studies indicated that the most probable reason for reduced seed yield on low pH compared to limed soil in this study was interference with N fixation and reduced N uptake by the plants grown on low pH soil.
Respiratory Diseases of Rabbits

Respiratory diseases are second only to gastroenteric diseases in importance in rabbits. Pasteurellosis is the primary respiratory disease affecting domestic rabbits, but other bacteria (e.g., Bordetella broniseptica and Staphylococcus spp) are significant opportunistic pathogens. The primary manifestations are upper respiratory disease (e.g., rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and dacryocystitis). Various antimicrobials are effective for treatment.
A Simple Question That Isn't So Simple: Where Do Entities Reside for Federal Venue Purposes?

The federal venue statutes contain two sections that govern the residence of entities: § 1391(c)(2) governs the residence of both corporate and non-corporate entities while § 1391(d) is limited to corporate entities in multiple-district states. Both sections tie residence to personal jurisdiction but do so in different ways that, at least in the case of corporations, conflict with each other. Under § 1391(c)(2), a corporation is a resident of every district in a state in which it is subject to personal jurisdiction while under § 1391(d), a corporation is a resident only of the districts in which it would be subject to personal jurisdiction were the districts separate states.The courts have ignored the words of the statute and blended the two sections together, treating corporate and non-corporate entities alike. This Article proposes a different approach: § 1391(c)(2) should be interpreted as applying to all entities but only in states with one judicial district and § 1391(d) should be interpreted as applying only to corporate entities and only in multiple-district states. This is the best interpretation of the two sections given their wording and evolution. One consequence of this interpretation is that corporate and non-corporate entities will be treated differently for venue purposes. The different treatment, however, is not significant as practical matter in light of the overall structure of the venue statutes and Daimler AG v. Bauman, the Supreme Court’s 2014 decision that substantially narrows the scope of general personal jurisdiction.
Persistence and turnover in desert plant communities during a 37‐yr period of land use and climate change

Understanding long‐term changes in ecological communities during global change is a priority for 21st‐century ecology. Deserts, already at climatic extremes, are of unique interest because they are projected to be ecosystems most responsive to global change. Within a 500‐km² landscape in the Mojave Desert, USA, we measured perennial plant communities at 100 sites three times (1979, 2008, and 2016) during 37 yr to evaluate six hypotheses of community change. These hypotheses encompassed shifts in community measures (e.g., diversity, cover) and species elevational distributions, biotic homogenization, disproportionately large change at the highest elevations, relationships between turnover and species’ responses to disturbance and drought, and that environmental refugia (e.g., moist topographic positions) would receive species during climatic warming and drying. Most community measures changed temporally, such as species density (species/600 m²) increasing 23% and plant cover doubling between 1979 and 2016. There was no increase in nonnative species and minimal evidence for biotic homogenization. High‐elevation communities did not display greater change than low‐elevation communities. Moreover, environmental refugia factored little in species shifts. While species distributional changes were unrelated to affinity for disturbance, the six most persistent species (persisting on >80% of sites) were long‐lived shrubs not associated with disturbance. Overall, seemingly paradoxically, climatic warming and drying was associated with increasing plant abundance. Comparing the 1970s to 2007–2016, precipitation in the study area declined 16% from 17 to 14 cm/yr and average daily minimum temperature rose 13% (1.2°C). The current climate with fewer freezes, together with reduced grazing, could be among the most optimal for desert perennials in the past century, although potential response lags to continuing warming and drying are uncertain. This study of long‐term elevational shifts in communities during global change is among few in deserts, and the average upward elevational shift of 6 m/decade for species in our study is within the range reported for temperate biomes. However, the 41% of species moving downslope is unusually high. We propose that dynamics within desert perennial communities follow a core‐transient species model where a site's species are either highly persistent or transient in approximately equal proportions.
Trends in opioid use disorder and overdose among opioid-naive individuals receiving an opioid prescription in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2014.

Aims To examine how the risks of incident opioid use disorder (OUD), non-fatal and fatal overdose have changed over time among opioid-naive individuals receiving an initial opioid prescription. Design Retrospective, longitudinal study using the Massachusetts Chapter 55 data set, which linked multiple administrative data sets to study the opioid epidemic. We identified the cumulative incidence of OUD, non-fatal and fatal overdose among the opioid-naive initiating opioid treatment in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2014 and estimated rates of these outcomes at 6 months and at 1, 2, 3 and 4 years to 2015. We used Cox regression to examine the association between characteristics of the initial prescription and risk of these outcomes. Setting Massachusetts, USA. Participants Massachusetts residents aged ≥ 11 years in 2011-15 who were opioid-naive (no opioid prescriptions or evidence of OUD in the 6 months prior to the index prescription) (n = 2 154 426). The mean age was 49.1 years, 55.3% were female and 47.3% had commercial insurance. Measurements Opioid prescriptions were identified in the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database, as were the characteristics of the initial prescription database. The outcomes of OUD and non-fatal overdose were identified from claims in the All Payer Claims Database (APCD) and hospital encounters in the acute hospital case mix files. Fatal overdoses were identified using Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS) death certificates and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) circumstances of death and toxicology reports. Findings Among opioid-naive individuals receiving an initial opioid prescription, the risk of incident OUD appears to have declined between 2011 and 2014, while rates of overdose were largely unchanged. For example, the 1-year OUD rate was 1.18% in 2011, 1.11% in 2012, 1.26% in 2013 and 0.94% in 2014. Longer therapy duration was associated with higher risk of OUD [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.19-2.29 for duration of 3 or more months], non-fatal (HR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.53-1.82) and fatal opioid overdose (HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.91-2.61). Concurrent benzodiazepine treatment was also associated with higher risk of OUD (HR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.12-1.17), non-fatal (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.10-1.30) and fatal overdose (HR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.61-2.16). Conclusions Among opioid-naive individuals in Massachusetts receiving an initial opioid prescription, the risk of incident opioid use disorder appears to have declined between 2011 and 2014, while rates of overdose were largely unchanged. Longer therapy duration and concurrent benzodiazepines were associated with higher rates of opioid use disorder and opioid overdose.
Initial Development of Scales to Assess Self-Efficacy for Disclosing HIV Status and Negotiating Safer Sex in HIV-Positive Persons

Two studies were conducted to develop scales for assessing self-efficacy to disclose HIV status to sex partners and negotiate safer sex practices among people living with HIV/AIDS. Elicitation research was used to derive 4 sets of scenarios with graduated situational demands that serve as stimulus materials in assessing self-efficacy. Two studies demonstrated that the self-efficacy scales for effective disclosure and negotiating safer sex practices were internally consistent, time stable over 1 month, and demonstrated evidence for validity. Self-efficacy scales also demonstrated evidence of criterion-related, convergent, and divergent validity. Reliable and valid instruments for assessing self-efficacy to make effective HIV status disclosure decisions and practice safer sex were therefore developed and these scales can be used in research to explain, predict, and enhance self-efficacy for these important behaviors.
Comparison of Machine Learning and Land Use Regression for fine scale spatiotemporal estimation of ambient air pollution: Modeling ozone concentrations across the contiguous United States.

Abstract Background Spatial linear Land-Use Regression (LUR) is commonly used for long-term modeling of air pollution in support of exposure and epidemiological assessments. Machine Learning (ML) methods in conjunction with spatiotemporal modeling can provide more flexible exposure-relevant metrics and have been studied using different model structures. There is however a lack of comparisons of methods available within these two modeling frameworks, that can guide model/algorithm selection in air quality epidemiology. Objective The present study compares thirteen algorithms for spatial/spatiotemporal modeling applied for daily maxima of 8-hour running averages of ambient ozone concentrations at spatial resolutions corresponding to census tracts, to support estimation of annual ozone design values across the contiguous US. These algorithms were selected from nine representative categories and trained using predictors that included chemistry-transport model predictions, meteorological factors, land use and land cover, and stationary and mobile emissions. Methods To obtain the best predictive performance, model structures were optimized through a repeated coarse/fine grid search with expert knowledge. Six target-oriented validation strategies were used to prevent overfitting and avoid over-optimistic model evaluation results. In order to take full advantage of the power of different algorithms, we introduced tuning sample weights in spatiotemporal modeling to ensure predictive accuracy of peak concentrations, that is crucial for exposure assessments. In spatial modeling, four interpretation and visualization tools were introduced to explain predictions from different algorithms. Results Nonlinear ML methods achieved higher prediction accuracy than linear LUR, and the improvements were more significant for spatiotemporal modeling (nearly 10%-40% decrease of predicted RMSE). By tuning the sample weights, spatiotemporal models can predict concentrations used to calculate ozone design values that are comparable or even better than spatial models (nearly 30% decrease of cross-validated RMSE). We visualized the underlying nonlinear relationships, heterogeneous associations and complex interactions from the two best performing ML algorithms, i.e., Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting, and found that the complex patterns were relatively less significant with respect to model accuracy for spatial modeling. Conclusion Machine Learning can provide estimates that are actually more interpretable and practical than linear regression to improve accuracy in modeling human exposures. A careful design of hyperparameter tuning and flexible data splitting and validations is crucial to obtain reliable and stable results. Desirable/successful nonlinear models are expected to capture similar nonlinear patterns and interactions using different ML algorithms.
The Application of Humorous Imagery Situations in Psychotherapy: Case Illustrations

The Humorous Imagery Situation is a diagnostic and therapeutic device developed by the author for use in psychotherapy sessions. This newly created therapeutic imagery technique is an integration of the directed daydream with the therapeutic and diagnostic properties of humor. Through this integration the potentials of the directed daydream and humor allow for a safe confrontation and healthy resolution of personal conflicts and sources of stress.
Morphological characteristics of early- versus late-onset macular edema in preterm infants.

Macular images of infants with early-onset edema (occurring at or before 33 weeks' postmenstrual age [PMA]) and infants with late-onset edema (at or after 36 weeks' PMA) were compared. At first appearance, early-onset edema has a more severe morphology, with foveal bulging and elongated cystoid spaces than late-onset edema, which presents as small cystoid spaces outside the foveal center. Morphological variations may be an indicator of the underlying cause of edema in preterm infants. The presence of mostly parafoveal small cystoid spaces in the late-onset edema group may be suggestive of an association with neurological injury.
Numerical Model for Heat Transfer in Saturated Layered Soil with Effective Porosity

AbstractA numerical model, called HT1, is presented for one-dimensional (1D) heat transfer in saturated incompressible layered soil with effective porosity and steady fluid flow. The model uses a s...
Cost effectiveness of SEEK: A primary care-based child maltreatment prevention model.

Abstract Background Funding for prevention interventions is often quite limited. Cost-related assessments are important to best allocate prevention funds. Objectives To determine the (1) overall cost for implementing the Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK) model, (2) cost of implementation per child, and (3) cost per case of maltreatment averted. Design Cost-effective analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Participants and setting 102 pediatric providers at 18 pediatric primary care practices. 924 families with children Methods Practices and their providers were randomized to either SEEK training and implementation or usual care. Families in SEEK and control practices were recruited for evaluation. Rates of psychological and physical abuse were calculated by parent self-report 12 months following recruitment. Model costs were calculated including salaries for team members, provider time for training and booster sessions, and development and distribution of materials. Results Implementing SEEK in all 18 practices would have cost approximately $265,892 over 2.5 years; $3.59 per child per year; or $305.58 ($229.18-$381.97) to prevent one incident. Based on a very conservative cost estimate of $2779 per maltreatment incident, SEEK would save an estimated $2,151,878 in health care costs for 29,610 children. Conclusions The SEEK model is cost saving. Cost per case of psychological and physical abuse averted were significantly lower than the short-term costs of medical and mental health care for maltreated children. SEEK model expansion has the potential to significantly decrease medical, mental health, and other related costs associated with maltreatment.
Populism and Protest

The essay considers populism in the present moment in relation to Black Lives Matter as a popular protest movement. Popular protest movements demand that government change; populism in the present moment seeks to act extra-governmentally, and to this end relies on violence in the face of peace protest movement. This violence demonstrates the white patriarchalism of contemporary populism. I argue that peaceful, popular protest is an important tool to resist white patriarchal populist authoritarianism.