cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Habitat associations of the marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) in freshwater wetlands of southern Illinois

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is a semiaquatic rodent occurring in wetland habitats throughout the southeastern United States and along the Atlantic Coast. A lack of understanding of its ecology and distribution in inland parts of its range limits our ability to assess the species’ status and needs. We trapped rice rats at random and previously occupied, wetland-dominated sites in 5 southern Illinois watersheds during 2007–2009 to determine key variables affecting habitat occupancy by the species. We detected rice rats within 3 of 5 watersheds, 16 of 48 sites, and at 5 new locations. Most rice rats were captured in permanent or semipermanent emergent wetlands (n 5 89; 46.3% of total captures) or roadside ditches in wetland patches (n 5 73; 38.0%). Habitat associations determined using logistic regression and occupancy modeling provided similar results. Percent herbaceous cover and percent visual obstruction (0.0–0.5 m) were the most important microhabitat variables positively influencing rice rat occurrence. In areas surrounding wetlands, the proportion composed of upland grass was the best predictive variable of rice rat occurrence among landcover models. Estimates of daily detection probability were high (0.44–0.87). The likelihood of occupancy increased with the proportion of upland grass cover adjacent to wetland complex and percent herbaceous cover at the microhabitat scale. Inland metapopulations of rice rats are clustered throughout the southeastern United States in appropriate wetland complexes. Construction, restoration, and protection of emergent wetlands, and consideration of connectivity and adjacent grasslands, should benefit rice rat populations.
This Thing Men Call Law

TH wOBBES is authority for it that "In the right definition of names lies the first use of speech, and in wrong or no definition lies the first abuse," while Joseph Kohler declares "The moderns do not generally give definitions in the old pedagogic way. Definitions are now characterizations."' We have it on the authority of some that to define law is an impossible task. Others say "Not so, for definition is sufficiently accomplished when we make the new we are trying to learn understood in terms of the old we know, and this can be done of law." At any rate, I shall not try to define it. It is sufficient for my purpose to assume that it has been defined, and to ascribe to it characteristics within the assumption. Its apparent self-sufficiency by now, its cast of authority, have made it a favorite word with those who like to speak in absolutes, but it is not as an absolute that I shall deal with it; quite the contrary. I shall deal with it as it has manifested itself in the unending struggle between rule and discretion, the absolute and the relative, the fixed and the changing, the predictable and the unpredictable, as they affect or are affected by judging. In short, I shall deal with this iridescent thing called law in its most elusive and entrancing phases, its everchanging content under the steady pressure of the changing life it serves and rules. I shall take the position, as some do, that the apparent confusion and inconsistency manifested by the law we have on different social planes, in different social set-ups, under different decisions within those set-ups, is not, speaking fundamentally, an inconsistency at all, but a living consistency, the result of the pressure of formal law for a material law with an ideal content, a law ever more truly representing the life always evolving around us. I shall take the position that the civilian and the common lawyer, the strict constitutionalist and the believer in legislative freedom, the precedent men and those for free decision, are always struggling for the same thing as each sees it. This is to have the actual content of the law in its pronounce-
Merging Two Strategies for Mixed-Sequence Recognition of Double-Stranded DNA: Pseudocomplementary Invader Probes.

The development of molecular strategies that enable recognition of specific double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) regions has been a longstanding goal as evidenced by the emergence of triplex-forming oligonucleotides, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), minor groove binding polyamides, and—more recently—engineered proteins such as CRISPR/Cas9. Despite this progress, an unmet need remains for simple hybridization-based probes that recognize specific mixed-sequence dsDNA regions under physiological conditions. Herein, we introduce pseudocomplementary Invader probes as a step in this direction. These double-stranded probes are chimeras between pseudocomplementary DNA (pcDNA) and Invader probes, which are activated for mixed-sequence dsDNA-recognition through the introduction of pseudocomplementary base pairs comprised of 2-thiothymine and 2,6-diaminopurine, and +1 interstrand zipper arrangements of intercalator-functionalized nucleotides, respectively. We demonstrate that certain pseudocomplementary Invader probe designs re...
The earthquake sequence of September, 1965 near Antioch, California

A foreshock-aftershock sequence associated with an earthquake of magnitude 4.9 on September 10, 1965, in the San Francisco Bay Region is analyzed. The sequence was monitored by nearby Berkeley network stations and by one temporary station in the epicentral region. Precise hypocenters were determined for 29 of the shocks and these clustered in a small focal region with dimensions on the order of a few kilometers and at an average depth of 12 km. Within this focal region a N-S trend was observed with shocks apparently migrating down and then back up the trend. (First motion radiation patterns were uniform throughout the sequence, and a P -wave fault plane solution for the main shock yielded as one possible source, consistent with observed S -wave polarization, a N-S trending fault with right-lateral motion. The log cumulative frequency of shocks versus magnitude plot yields a slope of b = −0.78. The similarities between this sequence and the 1964 Corralitos sequence are discussed and are shown to be at variance with the 1963 Salinas-Watsonville sequence and, from preliminary indications, from the 1966 Parkfield sequence. As a result, two characteristically different types of earthquake sequences in the magnitude 5.0-5.5 range are defined for the Central California region.
Accuracy of Genomic Prediction in Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) Improved by Accounting for Linkage Disequilibrium

Switchgrass is a relatively high-yielding and environmentally sustainable biomass crop, but further genetic gains in biomass yield must be achieved to make it an economically viable bioenergy feedstock. Genomic selection (GS) is an attractive technology to generate rapid genetic gains in switchgrass, and meet the goals of a substantial displacement of petroleum use with biofuels in the near future. In this study, we empirically assessed prediction procedures for genomic selection in two different populations, consisting of 137 and 110 half-sib families of switchgrass, tested in two locations in the United States for three agronomic traits: dry matter yield, plant height, and heading date. Marker data were produced for the families’ parents by exome capture sequencing, generating up to 141,030 polymorphic markers with available genomic-location and annotation information. We evaluated prediction procedures that varied not only by learning schemes and prediction models, but also by the way the data were preprocessed to account for redundancy in marker information. More complex genomic prediction procedures were generally not significantly more accurate than the simplest procedure, likely due to limited population sizes. Nevertheless, a highly significant gain in prediction accuracy was achieved by transforming the marker data through a marker correlation matrix. Our results suggest that marker-data transformations and, more generally, the account of linkage disequilibrium among markers, offer valuable opportunities for improving prediction procedures in GS. Some of the achieved prediction accuracies should motivate implementation of GS in switchgrass breeding programs.
More than Leisure: Organized Activity Participation and Socio-Emotional Adjustment Among Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Adolescents with high-functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder (HFASD) experience difficulties with socio-emotional adjustment, including compromised friendships, feelings of loneliness, and depression. Using a sample of 127 adolescents with HFASD and their parents, this study is first to examine: (1) relations between organized activity (OA) involvement and adjustment and (2) whether these relations were moderated by social impairment and executive functions. Results indicated that greater intensity, breadth, and academic OA involvement were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. OA intensity was also associated with less loneliness. For adolescents with better emotional control, greater intensity was associated with better friendship quality. Results suggest that for adolescents with HFASD, more involvement in OA is associated with better socio-emotional adjustment even after accounting for risk factors.
Investigation of Fecal Incontinence

Fecal incontinence (FI) is generally caused by altered bowel habit, predominantly diarrhoea, with or without pelvic floor dysfunction. Appropriate testing for diseases causing FI (e.g., spinal imaging for patients with suspected spinal cord lesions) should be guided by the clinical features. Similarly, changes in bowel habit should be investigated using conventional techniques (e.g., endoscopy, serological testing for celiac sprue, stool studies, breath tests for carbohydrate intolerance etc) dependent on the patient’s age and the clinical presentation.
Theory of Sovereign Debt and Default

This chapter provides a relatively nontechnical survey of theoretical research on the effect of sovereign risk on the market for sovereign debt, with an emphasis on the way sovereign risk constrains the process of financial globalization. After summarizing the legal environment governing sovereign debt, it discusses the forces that encourage repayment of sovereign debt when legal enforcement is ineffective. It then reviews the recent literature that examines the quantitative importance of these forces. It concludes by discussing a range of institutional changes and policy reforms that might act to further reduce the level of sovereign risk and hence strengthen the process of financial globalization.
IDENTITIES, INTERESTS, AND IMPORTS

There is increasing attention to the mass public in the politics of trade debate, yet we still know little about how Americans formulate opinion on trade. Scholars are puzzled by the ineffectiveness of traditional dispositional beliefs to account for trade policy judgment, while an emerging economic self-interest perspective contends that opinion on trade is based on material concerns. This article demonstrates how symbolic predispositions provide critical information shortcuts for Americans on trade in which the relationship between trade policy and economic self-interest may be unclear. Symbolic politics theory explains how citizens can rely on accessible symbolic predispositions, including conceptions of national identity, in an unfamiliar and evolving trade policy environment often subject to multiple and conflicting cues, limited political information, and changing economic circumstances.
Titanium: efficient analysis of evolving alloy specifications

The Alloy specification language, and the corresponding Alloy Analyzer, have received much attention in the last two decades with applications in many areas of software engineering. Increasingly, formal analyses enabled by Alloy are desired for use in an on-line mode, where the specifications are automatically kept in sync with the running, possibly changing, software system. However, given Alloy Analyzer's reliance on computationally expensive SAT solvers, an important challenge is the time it takes for such analyses to execute at runtime. The fact that in an on-line mode, the analyses are often repeated on slightly revised versions of a given specification, presents us with an opportunity to tackle this challenge. We present Titanium, an extension of Alloy for formal analysis of evolving specifications. By leveraging the results from previous analyses, Titanium narrows the state space of the revised specification, thereby greatly reducing the required computational effort. We describe the semantic basis of Titanium in terms of models specified in relational logic. We show how the approach can be realized atop an existing relational logic model finder. Our experimental results show Titanium achieves a significant speed-up over Alloy Analyzer when applied to the analysis of evolving specifications.
Evaluation of methods for determining heavy metal content in polyethylene terephthalate food packaging

Increased consumer awareness of heavy metal content in virgin and post-consumer recycled polymers for direct food-contact packaging has necessitated developing analytical methods that identify and ...
Overview of technologies for improving energy efficiency from energy intensive industries derived from the Italian national experience in IPPC permit licensing

One-third of global energy demand as well as CO2 emissions is accounted to industrial processes. In particular, over 30% of total industrial energy consumption is attributed to the iron and steel, cement and refining industry. The aim of the present paper is to review crosscutting technologies and measures adopted to improve energy efficiency in the main Italian industrial sectors regulated by the recent EU legislation on integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC-IED). In fact, 2010/75/EU Directive on industrial emissions, a general improvement on the entire environmental performance of the industrial installations is pursued by taking into account relevant environmental issues, such as emissions into water, air, soil as well as energy efficiency, waste production, recovering and recycling, restoration of the site upon definitive cessation of activities. Moreover, according to 2010/75/EU Directive, IPPC permits should be based on Best Available Techniques (BAT) aimed to reach an adequate level of environmental protection and should establish all the necessary measures including operating conditions, emission limit values for relevant polluting substances as well as monitoring requirements. Thus, in the present paper an assessment of Best Available Techniques (BAT) related to energy efficiency in the main Italian industrial installations is carried out on the base of the analysis on the IPPC permits released by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea, and made available on its web site. As a result a significant improvement in energy efficiency was assessed. In fact, many process units were upgraded, by major revamping or even by replacing the process completely with one showing better performances. Finally, since energy efficiency is at its best at the beginning of the life cycle of the plant, operators, whenever necessary, periodically monitor and measure the actual energy performance of their own installations for process control and maintenance purposes.
Fatal caffeine intoxication in a dog

An 8-month-old male Yorkshire terrier was presented for ingestion of 800 mg of an over-the-counter caffeine supplement. Clinical signs included extreme tachycardia, facial fasciculation, coma/stupor and flailing. Due to the lack of response to medical therapies, humane euthanasia was elected. Microscopically, necrotic neurons were scattered throughout the hippocampus, olfactory cortex, pyriform lobe, amygdala, and basal nuclei, with relative sparing of the caudate nuclei. In addition, mild skeletal myocyte necrosis and mural necrosis of cardiac arterioles in the left and right ventricles were noted. This is the first report of the microscopic lesions associated with caffeine intoxication in a dog.
Techniques for Synthesizing FRFs from Analytical Models

Modal correlation of test and analytical data is an important step in system identification and model updating. The Frequency Response Assurance Criterion (FRAC) is one of the metrics that can be used to quantify the strength of correlation between the test and analytical degrees of freedom (DOF). To calculate FRAC for test and analytical data, frequency response functions (FRF) are required. Techniques to synthesize FRFs from finite element models are discussed in this paper. Methods to represent damping in analytical models are also presented. These techniques were applied to synthesize FRFs from a finite element model of a rectangular steel plate structure. Comparing the synthesized FRFs with the measured FRFs for the rectangular plate structure aided in calibrating the rectangular plate FE model. The techniques presented in this paper can be used to visually check if the test and analytical data are well correlated and for calculating FRAC metric to quantify the strength of correlation.
Using the Time-Correlated Induced Fission Method to Simultaneously Measure the 235U Content and the Burnable Poison Content in LWR Fuel Assemblies

The uranium neutron coincidence collar uses thermal neutron interrogation to verify the 235U mass in low-enriched uranium (LEU) fuel assemblies in fuel fabrication facilities. Burnable poisons are ...
Abstract 16577: Cardioprotective Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in Mouse Model of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Introduction: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterized by impaired relaxation, ventricular stiffening and fibrosis. We previously showed that activation of GHRH signaling axis within the heart had favorable phenotypic effects, particularly improving cardiac function and reducing myocardial fibrosis in murine model of ischemic injury. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that activation of GHRH receptor signaling can reduce fibrosis and improve diastolic function in a mouse model of HFpEF. Methods: C57BL6N mice were implanted with a mini-osmotic pump to deliver angiotensin-II (Ang-II: 0.8 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks and randomly assigned to receive daily injections of GHRH agonist (MR-356: 200 μg/kg) or vehicle. Cardiac performance was assessed by Doppler echocardiography and hemodynamic analysis. Results: Chronic administration of Ang-II resulted in increased end-diastolic pressure (EDP) with no changes in EF or end-systolic pressure (ESP) in comparison to control mice. Isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT) and end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR) were markedly increased in the Ang-II group consistent with increased ventricular stiffness and poor myocardial relaxation (Fig 1). MR-356 treatment reset diastolic functional parameters to normal levels (Table 1). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that chronic administration of Ang-II mediates structural and functional changes that mimic HFpEF. Importantly, MR-356 treatment reduces Ang-II-induced elevation of EDP, EDPVR and IVRT; thus preventing HFpEF-like effects, suggesting that administration of MR-356 represents a potential new therapeutic approach for HFpEF.
Device Versus Drug Clinical Trials: Similarities and Important Differences

The regulatory requirements for investigational drugs and devices are complex, and the clinical investigator must have a working knowledge of these requirements as mandated by the Food and Drug Administration in order to effectively bring a product to market. Preclinical laboratory data must support an application in order to test the drug or device in humans. A clinical trial focused to gain approval then proceeds through defined phases of clinical testing. Data from the clinical investigations must be used in the various application documents required to legally market a new drug or device. The differences between the drug and device approval process include classifications based on risk, different application documents, and different checkpoints in the investigational and approval process.
Wide Variation in Opioid Prescribing After Urological Surgery in Tertiary Care Centers.

Abstract Objective To describe postoperative opioid prescribing practices in a large cohort of patients undergoing urological surgery. Patients and Methods We identified 11,829 patients who underwent 21 urological surgical procedures at 3 associated facilities from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2016. After converting opioids to oral morphine equivalents (OMEs), prescribing patterns were compared within and across procedures. Subgroup analysis for opioid-naive patients (those without a history of long-term opioid use) was performed. Statistical analysis was utilized to evaluate variations based on demographic and perioperative/postoperative variables. Results Of the 11,829 patients, 9229 (78.0%) were prescribed an opioid at discharge, and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) OME prescribed was 188 (150-225). The remaining 9253 patients (78.2%) were considered opioid naive. Striking variation in prescribing patterns was observed within and across surgical procedures. For instance, IQR ranges of 150 or greater were observed for open cystectomy (median, 300; IQR, 210-375], open radical nephrectomy (median, 300; IQR, 225-375), retroperitoneal node dissection (median, 300; IQR, 225-375), hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy (median, 225; IQR, 150-300), and penile prosthesis (median, 225; IQR, 150-315). On multivariate analysis, younger age, cancer diagnosis, and inpatient hospitalization were associated with higher likelihood of receiving a highest-quartile OME prescription for opioid naive patients. Thirty-day refill rates varied from 1.6% to 25.9%. Interestingly, refill rates were higher in patients receiving more opioids at discharge. Conclusion The United States is facing an opioid epidemic, and physicians must take action. In this study, we found considerable variation in opioid prescribing patterns within and across surgical procedures. These data provide support for the development of standardized opioid prescribing guidelines for postoperative analgesia.
Asian American Racial and Ethnic Identity

Case Synopsis Jenny could remember the ﬁ rst time she felt ashamed of being Korean. It was in the ﬁ rst grade in the predominantly White school in the predominantly White suburb where she lived. It was show-and-tell day, and one of the other kids had forgotten to bring something to show, so he decided to tell a joke instead. He put his hands together, palms facing in, and said, “Th is is a refrigerator. Now open the door.” He moved his ﬁ ngers outward so that his hands made a “V” shape. “Now take the bottle of Coke from the refrigerator. Now open the bottle. Now drink from the bottle.”
Treatment of Leg Veins for Restless Leg Syndrome: A Retrospective Review.

Background: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) and chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) share similar circadian timings and epidemiological characteristics. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether treating superficial venous reflux (SVR) improves the RLS severity in patients with CVI and whether there is an association of the RLS severity with the number of refluxed veins. Materials and methods: Patients with RLS and duplex ultrasound-proven SVR were identified from a database of 134 patients. All patients underwent endovenous radiofrequency ablation and ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy. International RLS (IRLS) rating scale questionnaires were reviewed to assess pre- and post-intervention RLS status. Results: Thirty-five patients were identified. The average baseline IRLS score was 19.83 (moderate RLS) and improved to 7.89 (mild RLS) after treatment (p < .0001), corresponding to 63% decrease in symptoms. Ten patients (29%) had a follow-up score of 0, indicating complete relief of RLS symptoms. Twenty patients (57%) had decreased IRLS scores of 10 points or more (i.e. 1 grade level of severity). Six patients had no improvement. There was no association of the RLS severity with the number of refluxed veins. Conclusion: The study found that correcting SVR improves RLS symptoms, suggesting an association between CVI and RLS. Venous ultrasound study and intervention should be considered for potential patients.
Equivalence Classes with Applications to Clock Arithmetic and Fractions

Introduction We will first define a quite unifying concept: what it means for two objects to be equivalent (rather than equal), and apply it in the next section to modular (or clock) arithmetic and in the following one to establish a rigorous definition of fractions. The notion of equivalence is pervasive in mathematics and will be a part of many courses you will take in the future, including abstract algebra and geometry. The last section shows that there are fascinating applications from number theory.
A comparison of differential reinforcement procedures for treating automatically reinforced behavior

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit stereotypy, which can be socially stigmatizing, interfere with daily living skills, and affect skill acquisition. We compared differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) when neither procedure included response blocking or interruption for (a) reducing stereotypy, (b) increasing task engagement, and (c) increasing task completion. DRA contingencies yielded superior outcomes across each measure when evaluated with 3 individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
A Correction of Schutz on Culture for Cultural Science

What Schutz writes about culture is reviewed in detail and then the case is made that constructs are ultimately about pre-conceptual objects with basic characteristics of value and use that are learned and thus cultural but more fundamental than the understanding of subjective meanings or insider constructs.
State-Space Modeling and Reachability Analysis for a DC Microgrid

In a DC microgrid containing parallel voltage sources, distributed control algorithms such as droop control methods are mainly employed. These controllers depend on the nominal bus voltage and the droop coefficients to operate properly. In the DC microgrid with PV arrays there are uncertainties in the PV current. To analyze the transient behavior of this uncertain system simulation-based techniques cannot be used, since they cannot consider the uncertainties. To analyze the uncertain DC microgrid, reachability analysis is used to find the limits of the system variables from a given state-space model of the system. In this paper, using the state-space model of the DC microgrid, reachability analysis is performed to analyze effectiveness of the droop control method in the existence of uncertainties. Simulation and experimental case studies are performed to verify the reachability analysis results.
Fetal and Maternal Hepcidin Respond Inversely to Prenatal Alcohol Exposure in a C57BL/6J Mouse Model (P09-010-19)

Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) dysregulates iron metabolism and causes fetal iron deficiency in rats, even when mothers consume sufficient iron. This dysregulation is partly due to PAE-mediated induction of hepcidin, which routes iron to hepatic storage, where it is unavailable for fetal use. It is unclear how PAE upregulates hepcidin; our rat model suggests dysregulation may be via the IL6/STAT3 pathway. The objective of this study is to quantify hepcidin in a mouse PAE model and ascertain via which pathway(s) PAE disrupts hepcidin. C57BL/6J female mice consumed AIN93G diet prior to and throughout pregnancy. Pregnant females received 3g/Kg alcohol or isocaloric maltodextrin (MD) by gavage from gestational day (GD) 8.5-17.5. We analyzed mothers and fetuses at GD17.5. Although PAE fetuses had an increased incidence of malformations, fetal weight at GD17.5 did not differ from MD controls (p = 0.800). As in our rat model, PAE upregulated fetal hepatic hepcidin expression (191% increase, p = 0.010). Supporting other studies of chronic alcohol consumption in mice, PAE reduced maternal hepcidin expression, although not significantly (45% decrease, p = 0.055). At a higher alcohol dose (4.5g/Kg, GD13.5-17.5), maternal hepcidin expression was significantly lower than MD controls (59% decrease, p = 0.044). Potential sources of this hepcidin dysregulation include PAE-induced reductions in fetal (24% decrease, p = 0.035) and maternal (61% decrease, p = 0.0004) hepatic Bmp6 expression and elevated fetal hepatic erythropoietin expression (61% increase, p = 0.033). Although decreased BMP6 may contribute to the reduced maternal hepcidin, decreased BMP6 is inconsistent with the elevated fetal hepcidin, and, along with the elevated Epo, may reflect an attempt to increase iron availability in response to PAE. We quantified pro-inflammatory cytokines and found unaltered (Il-6, Ifn-gamma) or decreased (Tnf-alpha) expression in maternal and fetal liver, suggesting a lack of generalized hepatic inflammation in this model. PAE exerts different effects on maternal and fetal hepcidin, which may reflect differences in iron status, time of development, or ethanol processing. PAE also dysregulates hepcidin regulatory pathways. T32-DK, R01-AA.
Zoonotic Bacterial Infections Triggering Cytokine Storm Syndrome

Zoonotic infections can result in life-threatening complications that can manifest with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)/cytokine storm syndrome (CSS). Zoonotic bacterial infections constitute the largest group of reported cases associated with HLH among other zoonotic infections. There is a growing list of zoonotic bacterial infections associated with HLH/CSS and these include Brucella spp., Rickettsia spp., Ehrlichia, Coxiella burnetii, and Mycobacterium spp.
Sociocognitive Foundations of Educational Measurement: by Robert J. Mislevy, New York, Routledge, 2018, xx+437 pp., $82.95 (USD, paperback), ISBN: 978-0-415-71697-0

Robert Mislevy, the Frederic Lord Chair of Measurement and Statistics at the Educational Testing Service, stands as a major figure in the fields of assessment and educational measurement. His name ...
Effects on understory biomass and forage 8–10 years after precommercial thinning of Sitka spruce – western hemlock stands in southeast Alaska

In southeast Alaska, United States, multiple-use forest management objectives include both timber production and wildlife habitat. Following stand-replacing disturbances such as clear-cutting, Sitk...
Activation of optimally and unfavourably oriented faults in a uniform local stress field during the 2011 Prague, Oklahoma, sequence

The orientations of faults activated relative to the local principal stress directions can provide insights into the role of pore pressure changes in induced earthquake sequences. Here, we examine the 2011 M 5.7 Prague earthquake sequence that was induced by nearby wastewater disposal. We estimate the local principal compressive stress direction near the rupture as inferred from shear wave splitting measurements at spatial resolutions as small as 750 m. We find that the dominant azimuth observed is parallel to previous estimates of the regional compressive stress with some secondary azimuths oriented subparallel to the strike of the major fault structures. From an extended catalogue, we map ten distinct fault segments activated during the sequence that exhibit a wide array of orientations. We assess whether the five near-vertical fault planes are optimally oriented to fail in the determined stress field. We find that only two of the fault planes, including the M 5.7 main shock fault, are optimally oriented. Both the M 4.8 foreshock and M 4.8 aftershock occur on fault planes that deviate 20–29° from the optimal orientation for slip. Our results confirm that induced event sequences can occur on faults not optimally oriented for failure in the local stress field. The results suggest elevated pore fluid pressures likely induced failure along several of the faults activated in the 2011 Prague sequence.
Economics losses to fishery and seafood related businesses during harmful algal blooms

Abstract Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), specifically red tide, can cause coastal economic activity to slow in Southwest Florida. Popular as a vacation destination, the area thrives on revenue generated by its beach access and proximity to fresh seafood. When blooms persist for multiple months in a row, fishery and seafood related businesses feel the negative effects. We examine taxable sales receipts for the fishery and seafood sector of Pinellas County, and find that during months with a persistent bloom of red tide, the county generates 14.8 % less in monthly taxable sales revenue for this sector. For the average month, this is northwards of $20,000 in lost monthly fishery and seafood related revenue. Our estimates, along with previous literature suggest that even if seafood in the area is healthy, the negative news surrounding the blooms causes demand to drop. These results suggest effects of red tide are severely damaging to seafood related businesses and services, and must be at the forefront of policy and management decisions going forward.
Teaching Membrane Transport Concepts Using Flipped Teaching & Dramatizations

Cell membrane transport is an important topic discussed in the biology classroom from the middle school to the graduate level. Membrane transport is complex, and students are often confused between different types of transport mechanisms. Dramatization is an active-learning strategy to engage students in learning. The flipped teaching method is designed to introduce lecture content prior to class meeting, thus creating time during class to adapt active-learning strategies such as dramatization. In this work, students were given a pretest prior to the dramatization activity. As each type of membrane transport was discussed, which included simple diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, and active transport, students were assigned specific roles to demonstrate the movement. The dramatization activity triggered many questions related to the topic, and these questions were addressed immediately. A posttest was conducted at the end of the dramatization activity. Our results demonstrated increases in the students' understanding, engagement, and confidence level. The combination of flipped teaching and dramatization thus serves as a student-centered active-learning strategy for teaching difficult biological concepts.
TSAR: a Time Series Assisted Relabeling Tool for Reducing Label Noise

Accurately detecting instances in datasets that have been mislabeled is a difficult problem with several imperfect solutions. Hand-reviewing labels is a reliable but expensive approach. Time series datasets present additional challenges because they are not as easily interpreted by reviewers. This paper introduces TSAR, as system for facilitating human review of a small portion of a dataset that it identifies as the most likely to be mislabeled. TSAR’s use is demonstrated on real-world time series data.
Centering the Chārbāgh: The Mughal Garden as Design Module for the Jaipur City Plan

In Centering the Chārbāgh : The Mughal Garden as Design Module for the Jaipur City Plan, Susan N. Johnson-Roehr argues that the privileging of a Hindu-Vedic worldview has had a significant effect on our understanding of Jaipur City’s history. Current interpretive approaches assume that the city’s patron, Sawai Jai Singh II, relied on the maṇḍala when shaping the city plan in the eighteenth century. The emphasis on the maṇḍala as governing device has encouraged historians to neglect other sources of Jaipur’s city plan. Specifically, scholars have not considered the role of the quadripartite Mughal paradise garden ( chahār bāgh , Persian; chārbāgh , Hindi) in the planning of the city. Johnson-Roehr suggests that Jaipur’s spatial organization was defined by the chārbāgh rather than the navagraha or vāstu puruṣa maṇḍala , and demonstrates that the plan was a response to a specific chārbāgh , Jai Niwas Bagh, built by Sawai Jai Singh in 1713. Combining a rereading of eighteenth-century documents with an analysis of the physical characteristics of Jai Niwas Bagh, the author concludes that the chārbāgh was the most important element in the development of the rectilinear boulevards, bazaars, and walls that characterize Jaipur today.
Digitizing the biosphere

In Biocode , Dawn Field and Neil Davies propose that to safeguard the earth's biodiversity, we should produce an exhaustive DNA sequence catalog of every organism on our planet. They argue persuasively that an "Earth Biocode" is both conceivable, because of advances in technology, and urgent, because of the impending loss of species and destabilization of our biota. Reviewer Michael Goldman questions the extent to which we can extract useful information from DNA alone, but praises the book's efforts to inspire scientists and non-scientists to play a role in understanding and planning for our planet's future.
Numerical Solution of Incompressible Turbulent Flow over Airfoils near Stall

NUMERICAL solutions are obtained for two-dimensional incompressible turbulent viscous flow over airfoils of arbitrary geometry. A body-fitted coordinate system is numerically transformed to a rectangular grid in the computational plane. The unsteady Reynolds-averaged NavierStokes equations in the primitive variables of velocity and pressure are used. Turbulence is modeled with an algebraic eddy viscosity technique modified for separated adverse pressure gradient flows. The set of transformed partial differential equations is solved with an implicit finite-difference method. Numerical solutions for a NACA 0012 airfoil near stall at a chord Reynolds number of 170,000 are favorably compared with surface pressure and velocity field measurements. A small laminar separation bubble near the leading edge is observed. Computed lift and drag coefficients agree well with experimental values. Contents Much effort has been expended in determining the aerodynamic characteristics of airfoils. Experimental investigations are used to determine the characteristics near stall where separation phenomena become important. Recent developments in numerical techniques have stimulated research on numerically solving the Navier-Stokes equations. These equations model the viscous effects which contribute to airfoil stall. A review presented in Ref. 1 of existing numerical solutions of these equations for two-dimensional flow over airfoils reveals Reynolds number and angle-of-attack restrictions which prevent the accurate computation of the flowfield and resulting aerodynamic characteristics for an airfoil near stall. The purpose of this investigation is to develop a numerical Navier-Stokes method that will accurately determine the aerodynamic characteristics for incompressible turbulent viscous flow over two-dimensional airfoils near stall. The unsteady, Reynolds-averaged, two-dimension al, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are used with the convective velocity divergence term D retained. The pressure field is computed using a simplified Poisson equation for pressure given by
The Effects of Computer Based Instruction in Elementary Schools: A Quantitative Synthesis.

AbstractForty-eight studies on computer based instruction (CBI) in the elementary schools were coded on 45 variables using meta-analytic techniques. Results of the synthesis indicated computer assisted instruction (CAI) raised outcome measures by .45 standard deviation units. This is interpreted to mean that students in CAI treatment groups performed on the 65th percentile of the control group distribution. Results indicated that younger and lower achieving students profit most from exposure to CAI. Drill and practice is most effective in raising student achievement scores. The effects of computer managed instruction are minimal. The computer functions best when the task to be learned is relatively simple paired association.
Reflections on the K-12 years in public schools: Relations with hearing teachers and peers from the perspective of deaf and hard-of-hearing adults

This study explores how members of systematically disadvantaged groups describe their interactions with members of dominant groups. In an effort to examine both positive and negative intergroup relations, this paper reports on a study of deaf and hard-of-hearing adults’ retrospective accounts of their best and worst experiences with hearing teachers and peers when they attended their local public schools during their K-12 years (Oliva, 2004). Written accounts from 60 deaf and hard-of-hearing adults were content analyzed. Their most positive experiences occurred when hearing teachers and peers were accommodating, encouraging, supportive, and interested in deafness. Negative reflections described hearing teachers and peers who were discriminatory, non-accommodating, and insensitive.
Evaluation by Differential Scanning Calorimetry of the Effect of Acid, Ethanol, and NaCl on Escherichia coli

The influence of acid, ethanol, and NaCl on the cellular components and inactivation of Escherichia coli were evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry. Cell viability was assessed using plate counting. The thermal stability for ribosomal subunit denaturation and the total apparent enthalpy decreased with increasing ethanol, salt, and acid concentrations. The reduction of the ribosomal subunit denaturation peak was the primary contributor to the decrease in the total apparent enthalpy. Thermograms indicated that even at concentrations at which less than a 0.4-log reduction of cell viability with a concomitant minimal reduction of total apparent enthalpy occurred, a decrease in onset temperature of ribosomal transition was evident. Acid treatments at pH 3 induced by HCl and by 0.4 M acetic acid caused the DNA denaturation temperature in vivo to decrease. Application of chemical treatment prior to heat treatment noticeably reduced the viability of E. coli cells at all the heat treatment temperatures (60, 62.5, and 658C) compared with that of heat treatment alone, suggesting an increased sensitivity of bacteria to heat treatment. Differential scanning calorimetry in vivo can be used to assess the effectiveness of hurdles when thermal processing technologies with hurdles are designed. Thermal processing is the most common food preservation method for inactivation of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, producing a safe product with enhanced shelf life. However, high temperatures employed during thermal processing can adversely affect texture, flavor, and the nutrient value of food products. Therefore, mild heating in conjunction with antimicrobial agents has been utilized to preserve nutritional and textural qualities while maintaining extended shelf life. This approach is known as hurdle technology (1, 23, 25). Hurdle technology is based on the reduced thermal resistance observed for bacteria chemically or physically treated before or during heat treatment (20, 24). The effectiveness of hurdle technology can be enhanced when hurdles target different cellular components. The most commonly employed hurdles to reduce the intensity of heat treatment include controlling water activity (aw), increasing acidity, and using preservatives (2, 8, 9, 28). Several researchers have demonstrated that homeostatic mechanisms of microorganisms are affected by ethanol (15, 17), salt (10, 35), and acids (1, 7), leaving the bacteria in a dormant state or causing death. The accumulation of ethanol during fermentation inhibits microorganisms. Cell growth and survival in the presence of ethanol varies among bacteria. The D-values of Salmonella Typhimurium, Lactobacillus delbrueckii (9), and spoilage Lactobacillus species (2) decreased with increasing ethanol concentration. Results of studies on mesophilic microorganisms suggest that membrane damage is the primary effect of ethanol on bacteria. Ethanol replaces water molecules in the cell membrane and weakens hydro
Calcium Intake modulates obesity phenotypes in African American children possessing risk alleles for development of type 2 diabetes (767.11)

Objective: Explore whether total calcium consumption modulates obesity phenotypes in African American children (AA) possessing risk alleles for development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: 142 AA children (5 to 9 yrs) were genotyped for alleles associated with increased risk of developing T2D. 67 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were chosen from published GWAS to identify T2D risk loci. We evaluated three obesity phenotypes; body mass index percentile and, using DXA, percent fat, and total body fat/height. Assessments of nutritional intake (milk, dairy, and total calcium) were measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and then evaluated to assess their effect on the significant outcome/SNP relationships. All analyses used linear or quantile regression models. Results: We found significant relationships between body fat outcomes and 5 SNPs (ADAMTS9-AS2, CDC123, PRC1, ZMIZ1, and rs7560163). Assessment of the effect of nutritional intake showed that total calcium intake normalized for ...
3‐Bromopyruvic Acid

[1113-59-3] C3H3O3Br (MW 166.9) InChI = 1S/C3H3BrO3/c4-1-2(5)3(6)7/h1H2,(H,6,7) InChIKey = PRRZDZJYSJLDBS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent used for heterocycle formation by use of nucleophilic addition and subsequent cyclization reaction) Physical Data: mp 78–82°C. Solubility: readily soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, and ether; sparingly soluble in benzene and chloroform. Form Supplied in: colorless to light beige powder. Preparative Method: bromopyruvate is commercially available but it can also be easily prepared in the lab. The majority of the preparation protocols involve bromination of pyruvic acid using bromine in the presence of sulfuric acid.1 The most common procedure involves addition of 1 mol of bromine (which has been dried previously by shaking with concentrated sulfuric acid) to 1 mol of preheated pyruvic acid at 50 °C. The resulting mixture is dried by placing it in a desiccator over moist NaOH pellets for 24 h under suction. The mixture is then ground into a fine powder and kept in vacuo with frequent removal of NaOH pellets until no more HBr fumes are given off. The product is formed in 98% yield and can be recrystallized from dry chloroform.2 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: air sensitive: store in a tightly closed container under nitrogen at 2–8 °C. Corrosive: direct contact should be avoided. Incompatible with bases, reducing agents, and oxidizing agents. On decomposition releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen bromide gas. Toxicity (mouse) LD50: 72 mg kg−1.
The climate of Myanmar: evidence for effects of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

We show evidence for the influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on Myanmar's monsoonal hydroclimate using both instrumental and 20th century reanalysis data, and a tree-ring width chronology from Myanmar's central Dry Zone. The ‘regime shifts’ identified in the instrumental PDO for the past century are clearly evident in the Myanmar teak. The teak record and PDO index correlate most significantly and positively during December–May, at r = 0.41 (0.002, n = 109). We generated composite climate anomalies for southern Asia and adjacent ocean areas during negative and positive PDO phases and above/below average teak growth for the May–September wet monsoon season. They show that negative (positive) PDO phases correspond to dry (wet) conditions, due to reduced (enhanced) moisture flux into central Myanmar. Multitaper Method (MTM) and Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) spectral analyses reveal considerable multidecadal variability over the past several centuries of the teak chronology, consistent with the PDO.