cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using Moiré Patterning to Map Surface Reactivity versus Atom Registration: Chemisorbed Trimethyl Acetic Acid on TiO/Au(111)

A surface moire pattern is used to examine the site-dependent variation in the surface reactivity of an organic molecule on an epitaxial-layered system. Our experiment examines chemisorption of trimethyl acetic acid (TMAA) molecules on epitaxial monolayers of TiO on Au(111). This layered system is shown to exhibit a 6-fold pinwheel moire pattern, such that each pinwheel consists of six interlocking triangles (with both a clockwise and counterclockwise orientation) around a central hub. The unit cell for this pinwheel moire pattern is measured to be 28 A × 28 A. The evolution of the TMAA chemisorption geometry on these patterned layers as a function of coverage is investigated by atomic-resolution scanning-tunneling-microscopy (STM) imaging. TMAA is preferentially chemisorbed, most probably to form trimethyl acetate (TMA), at the center of the fixed pinwheels at low coverage (∼0.02 ML). This chemisorption pattern evolves into a 3-fold symmetric triad at the center of each pinwheel as the coverage of TMA in...
Notes on the Phylogeny of the Pelecaniformes

CERTAIN aspects of the phylogeny of the order Pelecaniformes are obscured by the arrangement of its three living suborders in fi•e standard classifications. The sequence as given by Wetmore (1940) and Peters (1931)is: PHAJ•THONTES (Tropic-birds), PELECANI (Pelicans, Boobies, Cormorants, Snake-birds), and FREGATAE (Frigatebirds). The tropic-birds and œrigate-birds, although widely divergent, show basic structural similarities which indicate both to be primitive members of the order, and which link the order with the Pro-
Study of nitrobenzene removal in wastewater by synergic action of ultrasound and micro-electrolysis

[Objective]To study the nitrobenzene removal in wastewater by micro-electrolysis method,and the effect of ultrasound and electrochemistry or their synergic action on micro-electrolysis [Methods]The experiment was based on a micro-cell composed by battery scrap and activated carbon,and under the experimental conditions of ultrasound and electrochemistry.The sample was detected by high-performance liquid chromatography after experiment.[Results]For the degradation effect of nitrobenzene in wastewater,the synergic action was better than the single action of ultrasound and electrochemistry,and better than the action of micro-electrolysis.[Conclusion]It is feasible to remove nitrobenzene in wastewater by synergic action of ultrasound and micro-electrolysis.This method can greatly enhance the biodegradability of wastewater so as to provide appropriate conditions for subsequently biochemical degradation which means to get higher environmental benefits with lower cost.
Ureaplasma urealyticum upper urinary tract infection: persistence and pathogenicity in a canine model

Ureaplasma urealyticum is an opportunistic pathogen, commonly isolated from the lower urogenital tract. Although U. urealyticum has been cultured from the upper urinary tracts of patients with interstitial renal diseases and struvite renal calculi, the precise role of ureaplasmas in upper tract diseases is unknown. To evaluate their potential significance in the etiology of renal diseases, we studied survival, multiplication, and pathogenicity of U. urealyticum in canine kidneys with experimentally induced hydronephrosis. After inoculation of the prototypic serovar (Type 8, strain 960) of U. urealyticum, seral urine specimens were obtained using a subcutaneously positioned nephrostomy catheter. Although U. urealyticum survived for less than 48 hours in canine urine in vitro, organisms persisted in the obstructed upper urinary tract for at least 21 days. Urinary pH of infected renal units increased to 7.5 to 8.5, a most unfavorable range for U. urealyticum in culture. Renal parenchyma had higher concentrations of ureaplasmas (8.7 X 10(3) to 9.5 X 10(4) CFU/gm.) than either renal pelvis tissue (1.0 X 10(3) CFU/gm.) or urine (6.5 X 10(3) CFU/ml.). Histologic studies demonstrated progressive interstitial inflammation in infected kidneys but similar changes were not apparent in obstructed, uninfected kidneys. The obstructed upper urinary tract appears to provide favorable conditions for ureaplasmas which may cause progressive interstitial inflammation in the absence of other pathogens.
Maternal administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor improves neonatal rat survival after a lethal group B streptococcal infection

Maternally administered recombinant human granulocyte colony- stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) has been shown to cross the placenta and induce a peripheral neutrophilia and increases in the marrow and spleen neutrophil storage pools in fetal and newborn rats. In the present study, we have used this model system to investigate the efficacy of prenatally administered rhG-CSF on neonatal defense to a lethal challenge with Group B-beta hemolytic Streptococcus (GBS). Pregnant rats were injected with rhG-CSF twice daily beginning 6 days before parturition. At birth, all pups were infected with a dose of GBS that is lethal for 90% of infected pups (LD90). Survival was monitored daily for 5 days. Survival of infected pups from saline-treated mothers beyond 60 hours after infection was 10%. No difference in survival was observed among pups from mothers treated 2 and 4 days before parturition. In contrast, we determined that survival was 82.5% among infected pups from mothers treated for 6 days before parturition with rhG-CSF. Our results demonstrate that maternal administration of rhG- CSF augments neonatal defenses against a lethal bacterial challenge.
Towards the Declassification of S&P 500 Boards

This report provides an overview and analysis of the work that the Shareholder Rights Project (SRP) undertook on behalf of a number of institutional investors during 2012 and 2013, the SRP’s first two years of operations. During 2012 and 2013, the SRP worked on behalf of eight SRP-represented investors on board declassification proposals submitted for a vote at the 2012 and/or 2013 annual meetings of 122 SP this large-scale change can be expected to increase board accountability and thereby to enhance shareholder value and company performance in the affected companies.Beyond Board Declassification: The SRP’s 2012 and 2013 work also facilitated a substantial increase in successful engagement by public pension funds, and in their ability to obtain governance changes favored by shareholders. The proposals that the SRP worked in 2012 and 2013 on represented over 50% of the shareholder proposals by public pension funds that received majority support in 2012 and 2013, and over 20% of all precatory shareholder proposals (by all proponents) that received majority support in 2012 and 2013.The Shareholder Rights Project (SRP) is a clinical program operating at Harvard Law School and directed by Professor Lucian Bebchuk. The SRP works on behalf of public pension funds and charitable organizations seeking to improve corporate governance at publicly traded companies, as well as on research and policy projects related to corporate governance. Any views expressed and positions taken by the SRP and its representatives should be attributed solely to the SRP and not to Harvard Law School or Harvard University.
Seed Selection by the Harvester Ant Pogonomyrmex rugosus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Coastal Sage Scrub: Interactions With Invasive Plant Species

Harvester ants can be the dominant seed predators on plants by collecting and eating seeds and are known to influence plant communities. Harvester ants are abundant in coastal sage scrub (CSS), and CSS is frequently invaded by several exotic plant species. This study used observations of foraging and cafeteria-style experiments to test for seed species selection by the harvester ant Pogonomyrmex rugosus Emery (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in CSS. Analysis of foraging behavior showed that P. rugosus carried seeds of exotic Erodium cicutarium (L.) and exotic Brassica tournefortii (Gouan) on 85 and 15% of return trips to the nest (respectively), and only a very few ants carried the native seeds found within the study areas. When compared with the availability of seeds in the field, P. rugosus selected exotic E. cicutarium and avoided both native Encelia farinosa (Torrey & A. Gray) and exotic B. tournefortii. Foraging by P. rugosus had no major effect on the seed bank in the field. Cafeteria-style experiments confirmed that P. rugosus selected E. cicutarium over other available seeds. Native Eriogonum fasciculatum (Bentham) seeds were even less selected than E. farinosa and B. tournefortii.
SU-F-T-350: Continuous Leaf Optimization (CLO) for IMRT Leaf Sequencing

Purpose: To study a new step-and-shoot IMRT leaf sequencing model that avoids the two main pitfalls of conventional leaf sequencing: (1) target fluence being stratified into a fixed number of discrete levels and/or (2) aperture leaf positions being restricted to a discrete set of locations. These assumptions induce error into the sequence or reduce the feasible region of potential plans, respectively. Methods: We develop a one-dimensional (single leaf pair) methodology that does not make assumptions (1) or (2) that can be easily extended to a multi-row model. The proposed continuous leaf optimization (CLO) methodology takes in an existing set of apertures and associated intensities, or solution “seed,” and improves the plan without the restrictiveness of 1or (2). It then uses a first-order descent algorithm to converge onto a locally optimal solution. A seed solution can come from models that assume (1) and (2), thus allowing the CLO model to improve upon existing leaf sequencing methodologies. Results: The CLO model was applied to 208 generated target fluence maps in one dimension. In all cases for all tested sequencing strategies, the CLO model made improvements on the starting seed objective function. The CLO model also was able to keep MUs low. Conclusion: The CLO model can improve upon existing leaf sequencing methods by avoiding the restrictions of (1) and (2). By allowing for more flexible leaf positioning, error can be reduced when matching some target fluence. This study lays the foundation for future models and solution methodologies that can incorporate continuous leaf positions explicitly into the IMRT treatment planning model. Supported by Cancer Prevention & Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) - ID RP150485
Three Unit Quantum Protocols

This chapter begins our first exciting application of the postulates of the quantum theory to quantum communication. We study the fundamental, unit quantum communication protocols. These protocols involve a single sender Alice and a single receiver Bob. The protocols are ideal and noiseless because we assume that Alice and Bob can exploit perfect classical communication, perfect quantum communication, and perfect entanglement. At the end of this chapter, we suggest how to incorporate imperfections into these protocols for later study. Alice and Bob may wish to perform one of several quantum informationprocessing tasks, such as the transmission of classical information, quantum information, or entanglement. Several fundamental protocols make use of these resources: 1. We will see that noiseless entanglement is an important resource in quantum Shannon theory because it enables Alice and Bob to perform other protocols that are not possible with classical resources only. We will present a simple, idealized protocol for generating entanglement, named entanglement distribution . 2. Alice may wish to communicate classical information to Bob. A trivial method, named elementary coding , is a simple way of doing so and we discuss it briefly. 3. A more interesting technique for transmitting classical information is superdense coding . It exploits a noiseless qubit channel and shared entanglement to transmit more classical information than would be possible with a noiseless qubit channel alone. 4. Finally, Alice may wish to transmit quantum information to Bob. A trivial method for her to do so is to exploit a noiseless qubit channel. However, it is useful to have other ways for transmitting quantum information because such a resource is difficult to engineer in practice. An alternative, surprising method for transmitting quantum information is quantum teleportation . The teleportation protocol exploits classical communication and shared entanglement to transmit quantum information. Each of these protocols is a fundamental unit protocol and provides a foundation for asking further questions in quantum Shannon theory. In fact, the discovery of these latter two protocols was the stimulus for much of the original research in quantum Shannon theory. One could take each of these protocols and ask about its performance if one or more of the resources involved is noisy rather than noiseless. Later chapters of this book explore many of these possibilities.
Glial Cells as Metabolic Regulators of Neurons

The brain is a complex organ composed of neuronal “wiring” and the more supportive glial and connective tissue cells. Neuronal function is highly dependent upon the interrelationships among these cells and their interactions with the microenvironment. A schematic representation of the various intercellular interactions is illustrated in Figure 1. It has been shown that neurons, neuroglia cells and connective tissue cells secrete into the microenvironment factors which in turn influence the function of other cells, i. e., neurotransmitter and other neurohormones, hypothalamic releasing factors, nucleotide messengers, etc. Exchange of intracellular molecules can occur via specialized intercellular junctions, i. e., ions, nutrients, regulatory molecules. Fixed insoluble molecules can form an extracellular matrix capable of interacting with other cells (the “microexudate” or basement membrane substance). Cell surface and intracellular molecules relay specific signal during early growth and differentiation of the neuron.
Which One Has More Influence on Fracture Strength of Ceramics: Pressure or Strain Rate?

Both strain rate and confinement pressure have been known to have a strong influence on the failure strength of ceramics. However, the debate about which one has more influence has never been resolved. This manuscript aims to conclusively prove that confinement pressure has significantly higher influence than strain rate on the compressive strength of a ceramic. Normalized shear stress versus hydrostatic pressure plot on a variety of ceramics shows that the quasi-static and dynamic strength of brittle solids is a strong function of applied pressure and not the strain rate. The plots also revealed that despite the differences in material properties, test methods, and strain rate the data on failure strength fall in a narrow range and therefore a unified model, that extends the traditional Mohr-Coulomb criteria by adding an exponential term, can capture the overall deformation behavior of structural ceramics at high pressures.
Congenital absence of the inferior vena cava with bilateral iliofemoral acute deep venous thrombosis

Iliofemoral acute deep venous thrombosis (DVT) poses increased risk for post-thrombotic syndrome. Absent inferior vena cava (IVC) syndrome is a rare vascular anomaly that can be associated with idiopathic DVT in the young patient. It remains unclear whether endovenous thrombolytic intervention for DVT in patients with absent IVC can be successful, given the impaired venous outflow. This case report describes revascularization of bilateral iliofemoral and femoropopliteal DVT using endovascular pharmacomechanical thrombolysis and thrombectomy in a patient with underlying absent IVC syndrome to prevent post-thrombotic morbidity.
Effect of Clostridium difficile Prevalence in Hospitals and Nursing Homes on Risk of Infection.

Objectives To assess the effect of facility Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) prevalence on risk of healthcare facility (HFC) acquired CDI. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) claims and skilled nursing facility (SNF) Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessments. Participants Medicare beneficiaries with 90 days or more of no contact with a HCF before a hospital admission without a CDI diagnosis. Participants were separated into two cohorts: discharged to the community and discharged to a SNF. Measurements Risk of HCF-acquired CDI associated with CDI prevalence at the index facility measured according to 30-day rehospitalization with a discharge diagnosis of CDI or diagnosis in the SNF after admission. Hospital and SNF CDI prevalence were categorized into three groups: 0% and above and below the median value for facilities with greater than 0% prevalence. Results Of 817,900 eligible individuals, there were 553,423 admissions in the first cohort (discharged to the community) and 315,109 in the second (discharged to a SNF). In the first cohort, the risk of HCF-acquired CDI was higher for individuals admitted to hospitals with CDI prevalence less than the median (relative risk (RR) = 1.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–2.12) and greater than the median (RR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.91–3.45) than for those with no CDI. In the second cohort, the risk of HCF-acquired CDI was greater for individuals admitted to a hospital (RR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.49–2.39) and a SNF (RR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.31–1.67) with CDI prevalence greater than the median. Conclusion The risk of HCF-acquired CDI is greater for noninfected individuals admitted to hospitals and SNFs with a high prevalence of CDI.
Patient-Ventilator Asynchrony and Standard Waveforms: Looks Can Be Deceiving

To the Editor: In a recent issue of Respiratory Care, Ramirez et al[1][1] assessed clinicians' ability to detect patient-ventilator asynchrony using standard ventilator waveforms. I applaud their contribution. The ability to interpret ventilator waveforms is essential for safe and effective
DCM: Dynamic Concurrency Management for Scaling n-Tier Applications in Cloud

Scaling web applications such as e-commerce in cloud by adding or removing servers in the system is an important practice to handle workload variations, with the goal of achieving both high quality of service (QoS) and high resource efficiency. Through extensive scaling experiments of an n-tier application benchmark (RUBBoS), we have observed that scaling only hardware resources without appropriate adaptation of soft resource allocations (e.g., thread or connection pool size) of each server would cause significant performance degradation of the overall system by either under- or over-utilizing the bottleneck resource in the system. We develop a dynamic concurrency management (DCM) framework which integrates soft resource allocations into the system scaling management. DCM introduces a model which determines a near-optimal concurrency setting to each tier of the system based on a combination of operational queuing laws and online analysis of fine-grained measurement data. We implement DCM as a two-level actuator which scales both hardware and soft resources in an n-tier system on the fly without interrupting the runtime system performance. Our experimental results demonstrate that DCM can achieve significantly more stable performance and higher resource efficiency compared to the state-of-the-art hardware-only scaling solutions (e.g., Amazon EC2-AutoScale) under realistic bursty workload traces.
Measurement of Technology Behaviors: A Look at Texting Scales:

The measurement of technology behaviors occurs in everyday interactions with websites and smart devices, and can be applied to customize interfaces to improve users’ experiences as well as increasi...
Overview and Evaluation of Selected General Business Databases

The Database Review column focuses on subscription databases, primarily business-related resources that may be of interest to readers of the Journal of Business and Finance Librarianship. Starting ...
El mercado de banca privada en España: perspectivas, retos y oportunidades

Private banks operations are expected to experience significant growth, according to the European Wealth and Private Banking Industry Survey 2005, presented every two years by IBM Business Consulting Services, the consulting branch of IBM. From the opinions compiled by the survey, IBM sees five imperatives for private banks management to ensure success: build stronger client insight and focus, perfect the client experience and offer holistic advice, provide innovative high value added products blended into solutions to offset commoditisation, focus on processes of value creation and determine partnering and outsourcing solutions to enable operational agility.
Remote Sensing of Coastal Ecosystems and Environments

Advances in sensor design and data analysis techniques are making remote sensing systems suitable for monitoring coastal ecosystems and their changes. Hyperspectral imagers, LiDAR and radar systems are available for mapping coastal marshes, submerged aquatic vegetation, coral reefs, beach profiles, algal blooms, and concentrations of suspended particles and dissolved substances in coastal waters. Since coastal ecosystems have high spatial complexity and temporal variability, they benefit from new satellites, carrying sensors with fine spatial (0.4–4 m) or spectral (200 narrow bands) resolution. Imaging radars are sensitive to soil moisture and inundation and can detect hydrologic features beneath the vegetation canopy. Multi-sensor and multi-seasonal data fusion techniques are significantly improving coastal land cover mapping accuracy and efficiency. Using time-series of images enables scientists to study coastal ecosystems and to determine long- term trends and short- term changes.
Virtue and law in Plato and beyond

Julia Annas' new book is a study of the interrelationship between law and virtue in Plato, Cicero, and Philo. Annas begins by exploring the evolution of Plato’s views. She observes that there is a ...
Weight Loss and Overactive Bladder

We sought to explore the relationship between obesity and overactive bladder (OAB) and to review the available literature that supports weight loss as a means to alter OAB severity and bother. Over the past 15 years, several population-based human studies and animal models have identified obesity as a risk factor for the development of OAB. The bariatric surgery literature demonstrates that substantial weight loss following some form of gastric bypass can lead to at least subjective improvement in OAB symptoms. Ongoing research seeks to further elucidate the role of anti-inflammatory agents, anti-oxidants, and β3-receptor agonists in obesity-associated OAB. The currently available literature has identified obesity as a risk factor for the development OAB. Data taken from the bariatric surgery literature indicates that surgical weight loss can lead to a significant improvement in OAB severity and bother. Future studies will determine if less dramatic weight changes can lead to significant and sustained changes in OAB parameters. Based on the available literature, clinicians should start to counsel their obese patients with OAB that weight loss can help improve their OAB severity and bother.
Comorbidity of Borderline Personality Disorder: Current Status and Future Directions.

Patients with borderline personality disorder have high rates of comorbid mood, anxiety, substance use, and eating disorders. The longitudinal studies conducted on borderline patients over 10 years of prospective follow-up suggest that patients with borderline personality disorder experienced declining rates of Axis I disorders over time, but the rates of these disorders remained high compared with those with other personality disorders. In addition, patients whose borderline personality disorder remitted over time experienced a substantial decline in all comorbid Axis I disorders, but those whose borderline personality disorder did not remit over time, reported stable rates of comorbid disorders.
Children judge others based on their food choices.

Abstract Individuals and cultures share some commonalities in food preferences, yet cuisines also differ widely across social groups. Eating is a highly social phenomenon; however, little is known about the judgments children make about other people’s food choices. Do children view conventional food choices as normative and consequently negatively evaluate people who make unconventional food choices? In five experiments, 5-year-old children were shown people who ate conventional and unconventional foods, including typical food items paired in unconventional ways. In Experiment 1, children preferred conventional foods and conventional food eaters. Experiment 2 suggested a link between expectations of conventionality and native/foreign status; children in the United States thought that English speakers were relatively more likely to choose conventional foods than French speakers. Yet, children in Experiments 3 and 4 judged people who ate unconventional foods as negatively as they judged people who ate canonical disgust elicitors and nonfoods, even when considering people from a foreign culture. Children in Experiment 5 were more likely to assign conventional foods to cultural ingroup members than to cultural outgroup members; nonetheless, they thought that no one was likely to eat the nonconventional items. These results demonstrate that children make normative judgments about other people’s food choices and negatively evaluate people across groups who deviate from conventional eating practices.
Compact wearable bent slot antenna with compact EBG for wearable applications

A compact wearable bent slot antenna with a compact electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure for wireless body area network is presented in this paper. The antenna resonates in the 2.45 GHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band. The antenna was simulated on a jean fabric. The EBG surface limits the back radiation enabling the antenna to be used for wearable applications. The specific absorption rate in a multilayer human body model was evaluated for this antenna with and without the EBG structure. The compact structure and reduced specific absorption rate values obtained makes it an ideal choice for wearable applications.
Effect of a mobile just-in-time implementation intention intervention on momentary smoking lapses in smoking cessation attempts among Asian American young adults.

Identifying vulnerable windows for a given problematic behavior and providing timely and appropriate support are critical for building an effective just-in-time (JIT) intervention for behavioral change. We developed and evaluated an implementation intention (II) based, JIT cessation intervention prototype to support Asian American young adult smokers to prevent lapses in their cessation attempts in real-time. We examined how a JIT II reminder may prevent lapses during self-identified high-risk smoking situation (HRSS) as a microtemporal process. We also tested whether the effect of JIT reminder changes over the course of study and differed between those who used their own versus project loan phones. Asian American young adult smokers (N = 57) who were interested in quitting or reducing smoking participated in a 4 week, mobile-based, cessation study (MyQuit USC, MQU). MQU is a JIT mobile app that deploys a user-specified II reminder at user-specified HRSS and assesses momentary lapse status. Generalized mixed linear models were conducted to assess the effect of the JIT intervention on lapse prevention. We found a significant interaction effect (p = .03) such that receiving JIT reminder reduced the likelihood of lapses for participants using their own phones but not for the loaners. The results also showed that when participants enacted the suggested II, they were less likely to lapse (p < .001). The JIT effect did not change over time in study (p = .21). This study provides evidence that receiving a reminder of a smoker's own plan just before a self-identified risky situation on a familiar device and successfully executing specified plans can be helpful in preventing lapses. Our results highlighted factors to consider when designing and refining a JIT intervention.
Predictors of success on the MCAT among post-baccalaureate pre-medicine students

Post-baccalaureate pre-medicine programs (PBPMP) provide prerequisite coursework for non-life science majors who aspire to become physicians. Students entering these programs generally do not have previous college-level exposure to the natural sciences. This pilot study was conducted to determine characteristics of scientifically naive, career changer, pre-medical students that may be used by PBPMP admissions committees. Statistical analyses were performed between Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores and student gender, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores, undergraduate field of study, and undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA). While relationships between certain subscores on the SAT and MCAT were found, data suggest that other non-quantitative metrics be considered as predictors of performance among PBPMP students.
War, Collective Responsibility, and Contemporary Challenges to Democracy

In his groundbreaking work, Just and Unjust Wars, Michael Walzer discusses collective responsibility for unjust wars using a principle he takes from J. Glenn Gray’s philosophical memoir. The principle states: “The greater the possibility of free action in the communal sphere, the greater the degree of guilt for evil deeds done in the name of everyone.” Walzer works with this principle and explores the opportunities for free action in response to unjust actions emerging in a democratic regime. He uses the Vietnam War to address the obligations of democratic citizens “who cooperated in planning, initiating, and waging” the war as well as those who failed to vote or voted against it. Although brief, his analysis offers some careful thinking about responsibility for and in war as well as the variety of methods that might be used to oppose an unjust military action. In this chapter, I reexamine his argument for a new era of warfare. Contemporary challenges to democracy demand a reexamination of collective guilt, responsibility for unjust war, and citizen obligations when democratic states act unjustly.
Supervised Whole DAG Causal Discovery.

We propose to address the task of causal structure learning from data in a supervised manner. Existing work on learning causal directions by supervised learning is restricted to learning pairwise relation, and not well suited for whole DAG discovery. We propose a novel approach of modeling the whole DAG structure discovery as a supervised learning. To fit the problem in hand, we propose to use permutation equivariant models that align well with the problem domain. We evaluate the proposed approach extensively on synthetic graphs of size 10,20,50,100 and real data, and show promising results compared with a variety of previous approaches.
Evidence for a hot start and early ocean formation on Pluto

Pluto is thought to possess a present-day ocean beneath a thick ice shell. It has generally been assumed that Pluto accreted from cold material and then later developed its ocean due to warming from radioactive decay; in this ‘cold start’ scenario, the ice shell would have experienced early compression and more recent extension. Here we compare thermal model simulations with geological observations from the New Horizons mission to suggest that Pluto was instead relatively hot when it formed, with an early subsurface ocean. Such a ‘hot start’ Pluto produces an early, rapid phase of extension, followed by a more prolonged extensional phase, which totals ~0.5% linear strain over the last 3.5 Gyr. The amount of second-phase extension is consistent with that inferred from extensional faults on Pluto; we suggest that an enigmatic ridge–trough system recently identified on Pluto is indicative of early extensional tectonics. A hot initial start can be achieved with the gravitational energy released during accretion if the final stage of Pluto’s accretion is rapid (<30 kyr). A fast final stage of growth is in agreement with models of the formation of Kuiper belt objects via gravitational collapse followed by pebble accretion, and implies that early oceans may have been common in the interiors of large Kuiper belt objects. Pluto’s subsurface ocean may have formed early due to accretionary heating, a comparison of thermal evolution modelling with observed tectonic structures suggests.
Metaphor and Meaning in the Teleological Language of Biology

In the early twentieth century, neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory replaced traditional teleological causality as the accepted explanatory basis for biology. Yet, despite this rejection of teleology, biologists continue to resort to the language of purpose and design in order to define function, explain physiological processes, and describe behavior. The legitimacy of such teleological language is currently debated among biologists and philosophers of science. Many biologists and educators argue that teleological language can function as a type of convenient short-hand for describing function while some argue that such language contradicts the fundamentally ateleological nature of evolutionary theory. Others, such as Ernst Mayr, have attempted to redefine teleologyin such a way as to evade any metaphysical implications. However, most discussions regarding the legitimacy of teleological language in biology fail to consider the nature of language itself. Since conceptual language is intrinsically metaphorical, teleological language can be dismissed as decorative if and only if it can be replaced with alternative metaphors without loss of essential meaning. I conclude that, since teleological concepts cannot be abstracted away from biological explanations without loss of meaning and explanatory power, life is inherently teleological. It is the teleological character of life which makes it a unique phenomenon requiring a unique discipline of study distinct from physics or chemistry.
An optimization drone routing model for inspecting wind farms

The use of wind turbines to generate electricity is growing worldwide. They comprise an extended area of hundreds of square miles, making the inspection process difficult and time-consuming. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in using a drone, or also known as unmanned aircraft systems, for inspecting wind turbines. Motivated by leveraging drone technology, this paper provides a routing optimization model to reduce the total operation time for inspecting a wind farm. We assume that one drone and one ground vehicle which carries the drone and extra batteries and charging equipment are available. The optimization model is solved in two steps. The first step clusters the wind turbines and optimizes the drone routing in each cluster by solving the classical traveling salesman problem using an integer linear programming model. The second step optimizes the ground vehicle routing by solving the equality generalized traveling salesman problem using an integer linear programming model. We test our proposed model using three case studies created by using actual wind farm locations. We compare the results with two models. One model assumes no clustering of the wind turbines, and the other model uses a greedy approach for determining the ground vehicle route. The results show that the proposed model is more efficient at different flight speeds and endurances. Also, we confirm that the efficiency increases as the drone flies faster or it has longer flight endurance.
Elitism and Secularism, Old and New: Augustine on Humility, Pride, and Philosophy in City of God VIII–X

The facets of our current time of crisis include a disjunction between political, social, and cultural elites’ perceptions and concerns, and those of ordinary citizens in diverse social, cultural, and economic milieus. A related aspect is the embrace of secularism by many elites, coupled with a growing alienation from religion among younger persons. This chapter considers what insights Augustine of Hippo might offer to our unsettled age in navigating these social tensions and shifts, through a close reading of Augustine’s City of God in its engagement with the philosophic elite of the also-unsettled, late classical era. The chapter focuses on Augustine’s analysis of the thought of Apuleius and Porphyry, Platonists who influenced Roman elite and popular opinion regarding civil and theurgic religious thought and practice.
Bayesian benchmark dose analysis for inorganic arsenic in drinking water associated with bladder and lung cancer using epidemiological data.

Abstract Abundant epidemiological evidence has shown that there is a strong causal relationship between long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs) through drinking water and a few types of cancer (e.g., lung and bladder cancer). Traditionally, a linear low-dose extrapolation assumption was applied in risk assessment for iAs which resulted in a relatively conservative cancer risk estimate. Growing biological evidence suggests that the mode of action of iAs-induced cancer follows a threshold process (e.g., sufficient concentration of trivalent arsenic is required to disrupt normal cellular function). In this study, we applied the benchmark dose (BMD) methodology to model the relationship between the relative risk of bladder and lung cancer and the iAs concentration in drinking water using the high-quality epidemiological data reported in recently published papers, with a special focus on the low exposure range (i.e.,
Dance and doctrine : Shaker and Mormon dancing as a manifestation of doctrinal views of the physical body

DANCE AND DOCTRINE SHAKER AND MORMON DANCING AS A manifestation OF DOCTRINAL VIEWS OF THE PHYSICAL BODY lindsy stewart cieslewicz department of dance master of arts this thesis compares the dancing of the shakers the united society of believers in christs second appearance and the mormons cor the church of jesus christ of latter day saints or LDS church during the nineteenth century as it was influenced by their doctrinal beliefs about the human body specifically it examines how the role of the physical body in achieving mortal happiness and immortal salvation was viewed by each group and how these beliefs were reflected in their dancing it describes the different forms of dancing performed by each religious group and how dance functioned as worship and recreation for the members of each religion during the nineteenth century research for this study was taken from primary and secondary sources including a large number of shaker and mormon journals diaries and autobiographies major doctrinal works from each religion were also consulted to compile a summary of doctrinal beliefs about the physical body for each religion this study found that the dancing of the shakers reflected doctrinal beliefs of the need to be freed from the corrupt human body in contrast the dancing of the mormons cor exhibited the latter day saint belief in celebrating the body the doctrines of each religion about the role of the body in attaining mortal joy and immortal salvation were easily recognizable in the dances that the two groups performed although beliefs about the body cannot be considered in isolation of other motivational factors they can be used as a means of studying how and why particular religious or cultural groups dance this method of evaluating dance as a function of beliefs or ideologies about the human body is given as a possible method for studying other cultural or societal groups who dance and whose beliefs about the body may be reliably gathered i
Sperm-egg association in animals.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the sperm–egg fusion in mammals. Eggs fusing with spermatozoa can be obtained, by flushing the oviducts of mated females shortly after ovulation, but the chance of obtaining eggs in the initial stage of the fusion is very poor because of asynchronous sperm penetration and the rapidity of the fusion process. The fusion of a spermatozoon with an egg seems to be facilitated by the presence of numerous microvilli on the egg surface. The process of sperm–egg fusion in mammals can be readily studied by inseminating zona pellucida, free eggs, with acrosome reacted spermatozoa. The sperm membrane that initially fuses with the egg plasma membrane is the plasma membrane in the posterior region of the sperm head, not the inner acrosomal membrane. The inability of the acrosomal membrane to fuse with the egg membrane could be due to its lack of “fluidity.” The acrosome reaction appears to be essential for successful fusion of the spermatozoon with the egg. In some mammals (e.g., the hamster), the egg plasma membrane remains capable of fusing with the spermatozoa even long after the penetration of the fertilizing spermatozoon into the egg.
Using Scanning Probe Microscopy to Characterize Nanoparticles and Nanocrystals

Inorganic synthesis and materials chemistry have made it possible to synthesize and tailor the properties of nanoparticles for diverse applications. Nanoparticles have been conjugated with DNA, peptides, and antibodies to generate nanoparticle bioconjugates with hybrid functionalities that are useful for a broad range of applications in bioanalytical assays, targeted drug delivery and nanotechnology. Concurrent with development of synthetic approaches for nanoparticles, new measurements have evolved using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), providing unprecedented resolution and measurement capabilities for characterizations of the morphology and certain properties of nanoparticles and nanocrystals. New measurement technologies with SPM are still being invented, and the tools of SPM have been widely implemented by researchers in both academia and industry. The incentive and primary advantage for SPM measurements are the capabilities of reaching atomic and molecular resolution. Local surface modification can also be accomplished with SPM-based lithographies. In this article, recent applications of SPM for nanoscale measurements and nanofabrication with different systems of nanoparticles and nanocrystals are reviewed. Scanning probe measurements provide unprecedented resolution for characterizing nanomaterials to investigate physical, chemical, and biochemical properties at the nanoscale. The advantages and limitations of SPM are also discussed, with descriptions of the various imaging and lithography modes that have been applied for characterizing nanoparticles. Keywords: atomic force microscopy; nanocrystals; nanolithography; nanoparticles; scanning force microscopy; scanning probe microscopy; scanning tunneling microscopy
Automated Motile Cell Capture and Analysis with Optical Traps

Laser trapping in the near infrared regime is a noninvasive and microfluidic-compatible biomedical tool. This chapter examines the use of optical trapping as a quantitative measure of sperm motility. The single point gradient trap is used to directly measure the swimming forces of sperm from several different species. These forces could provide useful information about the overall sperm motility and semen quality. The swimming force is measured by trapping sperm and subsequently decreasing laser power until the sperm is capable of escaping the trap. Swimming trajectories were calculated by custom built software, an automatic sperm tracking algorithm called the single sperm tracking algorithm or SSTA. A real-time automated tracking and trapping system, or RATTS, which operates at video rate, was developed to perform experiments with minimal human involvement. After the experimenter initially identifies and clicks the computer mouse on the sperm-of-interest, RATTS performs all further tracking and trapping functions without human intervention. Additionally, an annular laser trap which is potentially useful for high-throughput sperm sorting based on motility and chemotaxis was developed. This low power trap offers a more gentle way for studying the effects of laser radiation, optical force, and external obstacles on sperm swimming pattern.
Brand Management in Emerging Markets: Private Labels in Croatian Grocery Retailing and the Case of Dona Trgovina D.O.O.

Brand management is a fundamental business practice of any company. In a globalized world economy, however, brand management has become more challenging, especially in emerging markets which have attracted much attention from multinationals, and which have spawned their own internationally competitive companies. Private labels - sometimes called house branding - are a subform of brand management which have their own peculiarities and which, in emerging markets, are racing to catch up to that of the developed world. This chapter provides a brief overview of brand management and private labels in emerging markets. The evolution of private labels in Croatian grocery retailing is then outlined. Finally, the case of Dona Trgovina D.O.O., one of the leading Croatian manufacturers of private grocery labels, is presented.
Pollution Trading Permits as a Half-Way Solution

The concept of marketable pollution permits (MPP) has become an increasingly popular topic of discussion for environmentalists in recent years, although the idea has been around since at least 1968, when J.H. Dales published a book on the issue. This approach was given added credibility when the Congress passed the Clean Air Act of 1990, which made the concept an official part of environmental regulatory policy. A typical solution in this regard is for the government to mandate that a certain kind of pollutant in a specified geographic area be reduced by a defined target percentage within a certain time period. Basically, such nostrums are based on a centralized command system rather than the market place. This paper applies market theories to the problem of pollution. It maintains that while market socialism (e.g., tradeable emission rights) is preferable to central commands, a system of fully protected private property rights is superior to both.
An N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor mediated excitatory postsynaptic potential evoked in subthalamic neurons in an in vitro slice preparation of the rat.

Abstract Subthalamic (STH) neurons with slow EPSPs mediated by an N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor were studied in rat brain slice preparation. When STH neurons were intracellularly recorded with KC1-filled electrodes, stimulation of the internal capsule (IC) evoked a short duration depolarization followed by a slow excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) lasting 100–200 ms. The amplitude of the slow EPSP was increased when the neuron was hyperpolarized by a low intensity current injection but was blocked when it was hyperpolarized with strong current. The slow EPSP was reversibly suppressed by application of 30–50 μM dl -2-amino-5-phosphonovareric acid (APV). STH neurons also were recorded, with potassium methylsulfate filled electrodes, in the slice preparation obtained from rats that received chronic knife cuts of the IC at the level of the entopeduncular nucleus. Stimulation of the IC immediately rostral to the STH evoked a fast EPSP followed by a slow EPSP, and IPSPs were largely eliminated in this preparation. The slow EPSP was augmented in MG-free medium and suppressed by 50 μM APV. These results suggest that NMDA receptor mediating slow EPSPs may regulate activities of STH neurons.
Fiscal Federalism in the Caribbean: Implications for Fiscal and Monetary Policies

The paper examines intergovernmental fiscal relations in the Caribbean from the perspective of general principles of fiscal federalism and international practice, and considers the effects of intergovernmental design on macroeconomic management.
A new method for high-resolution characterization of hydraulic conductivity

[1] A new probe has been developed for high-resolution characterization of hydraulic conductivity (K) in shallow unconsolidated formations. The probe was recently applied at the Macrodispersion Experiment (MADE) site in Mississippi where K was rapidly characterized at a resolution as fine as 0.015 m, which has not previously been possible. Eleven profiles were obtained with K varying up to 7 orders of magnitude in individual profiles. Currently, high-resolution (0.015-m) profiling has an upper K limit of 10 m/d; lower-resolution (≈0.4-m) mode is used in more permeable zones pending modifications. The probe presents a new means to help address unresolved issues of solute transport in heterogeneous systems.