cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determining optimal energy storage size to mitigate intra-hour wind power variability

Mitigating wind power variability is essential to improving grid reliability and power dispatch flexibility. The objective of this paper is to determine the optimal size of energy storage systems (ESSs) using the proposed conditional range metric (CRM). By employing a two-parameter gamma distribution, intra-hour wind power variability can be quantified via its cumulative distribution functions (CDF) at each production level. A maximum likelihood estimator delivers accurate parameters to the gamma CDF. To reduce intra-hour power variations, a generic ESS is incorporated with the wind farm. Optimal designs for sizing and dispatch schemes of the ESS are proposed using wind power time-series available from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Validity and efficacy of these designs are evaluated and quantified by the CRM.
Resistance of Polymers to Permeation by Air Conditioning Refrigerants and Water

Abstract The permeability of several polymers to refrigerants and to water vapor has been determined. The investigation included refrigerant R-12 which is currently used in automotive air conditioning and refrigerants R-22 and R-134A which are considered as future candidates. For the different polymers investigated, the permeability constants for R-22 at 93°C ranged between 0 and cm/11×10−10 cm2 sec cm2 cm Hg for the plastics, 29×10−10 and 124×10−10 for thermoplastic elastomers and 135×10−10 and 276×10−10 for crosslinked elastomers. The permeability decreased with decrease in test temperature and with increase in molecular size of the refrigerants. Hence both R-12 and R-134A exhibited lower permeability constants than R-22 because of their bigger size. Trends in water permeability of the different polymers were mostly opposite to those of the refrigerant permeability. For example, polynorbornene has the lowest water permeability of the polymers tested, but has one of the highest permeability constants fo...
Justice, Creativity, and Popular Culture: The 'Jurisprudence' of Mary Chapin Carpenter

This Article takes the position that normative "truth" is contingent and, culture bound and defines "law" as decisions by officials of the state, the entity with an effective geographic monopoly on violent force. One approach to developing normative political theory in this contingent context is to view justice as a cultural construct, consisting of shared views about important normative ideals, that can be used to make "meaningful" statements about justice. More specifically, this cultural approach acts on a "creativist" faith or belief in three interconnected tenets: first, given the state's monopoly on violence, agreement on political theory is uniquely important; second, agreement is preferable to coercion and, therefore, interpersonal agreement means more than mere preference; and third, the creative aspect of humanity can be used, along with rational analysis, to implement and improve the shared normative perspective. Adopting this "creativist" approach requires criteria for determining how shared cultural views should be utilized in developing a nonnative political theory.This article begins the process of developing such measures by proposing three criteria: (1) Popularity; (2) provision of framework for dialogue and consensus, rather than force, to resolve disagreement over basic values; and (3) "fit" with existing political theories. The use of these criteria is demonstrated by applying them to the songs of Mary Chapin Carpenter. As a successful singersongwriter, she satisfies the popularity criterion. Her "fit" with traditional political theory is addressed by considering the extent to which Carpenter's scheme complements John Rawls's theory of justice. The usefulness of Carpenter's framework in fostering dialogue and the pursuit of common ground is illustrated by discussing the ways and extent that her scheme provides a basis for dialogue between potentially conflicting feminine and masculine points of view. The conclusion argues that the analysis of Carpenter's songs is a useful beginning on the neglected task of fitting traditional political theory with popular culture.
SEROLOGICAL DIFFERENTIATION OF TWO FORMS OF PHELLINUS WEIRII

Two forms of Phellinus weirii exist in North America that are morphologically similar, and identi? fication of these isolates is often diificult. The purposes of this study were 1) to assess the potential of using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a rapid means of separating these two forms in culture and 2) to determine the relatedness of the two forms and P. sulphurascens from Asia using ELISA and Western blots from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Separation of the two North Amer? ican forms was achieved using chicken antibodies specific to one of the forms in ELISA. In serological tests, P. sulphurascens and the Douglas-fir form react similarly to one another but differently from the redcedar form. These data support previous suggestions that the two North American forms of P. weirii are distinct species. The assertion that P. sulphurascens is conspecific with P. weirii is supported only when P. sulphurascens is compared serologically with Douglas-fir form isolates.
Indianmeal Moth (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Resistance to Different Strains and Mixtures of Bacillus thuringiensis

The potential for Indianmeal moths, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), to evolve resistance to isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis other than subsp. kurstaki HD-l was determined through laboratory selection experiments. Resistance developed quickly toward isolates HD-112 and HD-133 of subsp. aizawai and HD-198 of subsp. entomocidus , reaching levels of28, 61, and 21, respectively, after ≈ 20 generations of selection. However, the rates of progression were somewhat slower toward these isolates than toward HD-l, probably because of the different toxin composition of these other isolates. Simultaneous selection for resistance to a mixture of HD-l and HD-133 resulted in resistance to both isolates, but the rate toward the mixture was somewhat slower than that to the individual isolates. An insect population that was already resistant to isolate HD-l readily developed resistance to isolate HD-133 as well. The results demonstrate that mixtures of strains do not preclude the possibility of resistance and that their value in slowing resistance development may not be large.
The role of the wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in formation and maintenance of bone and teeth.

The Wnt signaling pathway is known as one of the important molecular cascades that regulate cell fate throughout lifespan. The Wnt signaling pathway is further separated into the canonical signaling pathway that depends on the function of β-catenin (Wnt/β-catenin pathway) and the noncanonical pathways that operate independently of β-catenin (planar cell polarity pathway and Wnt/Ca2+ pathway). The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is complex and consists of numerous receptors, inhibitors, activators, modulators, phosphatases, kinases and other components. However, there is one central, critical molecule to this pathway, β-catenin. While there are at least 3 receptors, LRP 4, 5 and 6, and over twenty activators known as the wnts, and several inhibitors such as sclerostin, dickkopf and secreted frizzled-related protein, these all target β-catenin. These regulators/modulators function to target β-catenin either to the proteasome for degradation or to the nucleus to regulate gene expression. Therefore, the interaction of β-catenin with different factors and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway will be the subject of this review with a focus on how this pathway relates to and functions in the formation and maintenance of bone and teeth based on mainly basic and pre-clinical research. Also in this review, the role of this pathway in osteocytes, bone cells embedded in the mineralized matrix, is covered in depth. This pathway is not only important in mineralized tissue growth and development, but for modulation of the skeleton in response to loading and unloading and the viability and health of the adult and aging skeleton.
Energy performance investigation of a solar water heating system for single-family houses in Mediterranean climate

Algeria is one of the sunniest countries in the world and therefore solar energy is the most promising alternative energy source that can contribute strongly in the reduction of its energy consumption especially in residential sector. This paper investigates the energy performance of a solar water heating system under Algiers climate conditions. Two different models of storage tank are studied; fully mixed tank and stratified tank. A parametric study was performed in order to determine the optimum size of the thermal collector, storage tanks and mass flow rate. The optimized systems was used to simulate the annual energy performance of the solar water heating system under Algiers climate conditions. The simulation results show that the solar fraction of the solar system with a stratified storage tank is very important (96%) than the solar fraction in the case of a fully mixed tank (88%).
MRI and Cognitive Markers of Progression and Risk of Alzheimer Disease

Antemortem, Alzheimer disease (AD) remains a clinical diagnosis because no fully validated biologic markers are available. Consequently, case selection for clinical trials is based on clinical symptoms (impaired cognition, functioning and behavior), coupled with a full history and medical evaluation. Similarly, the demonstration of treatment efficacy in clinical trials requires effects on clinical symptoms or progression. While validated cognitive assessments are accepted markers of disease severity and progression, certain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures (e.g., hippocampal atrophy) correlate well with cognitive assessments in aging and AD, and thus potentially could serve as biologic markers of disease progression. Furthermore, both cognitive tests (particularly decline in delayed recall) and hippocampal atrophy indicate greatly increased risk of AD in nondemented elderly individuals. MRI, therefore, may provide an important adjunct to both selection of “at risk” cases and for tracking disease progression in early AD. In this brief review, these conclusions are supported primarily by results from our Center, but they are consistent with reports from a number of other laboratories.
Rethinking Learning Design for Learning Technologies: A Formalized Vision to Operationalize Pattern-Based Scenarios

The operationalization of learning scenarios on learning management systems (LMS) is more than a technology-related question. Different research issues around instructional design are to be addressed in order to provide pedagogical expressiveness of the different elements within a learning scenario, while it respects sufficiently the structure to describe it. In this work, we examine existing pattern-based approaches for learning design, and we provide a pattern's formalism for learning designs that enables their deployment automatically on the chosen LMS. We have adopted a methodology elaborated on the basis of a case study on which we have executed a process of learning scenario's operationalization. One of the results was to prove the usefulness of a pattern's formalism to design learning scenarios. We have considered the structural, constraints and content aspects of a learning scenario from both human and computational point of view. The formalism described in this paper is part of a process based on ontologies and semantic web principles, offering a support for teachers-designers to produce deployable learning scenarios without having to master the target platforms.
Understanding the impact of QPOC representation in video games

The lack of representation of diversity in media has been a long-standing and documented problem. Different types of media suffer from different problems with regard to representation. The games industry has been under fire for portrayals of women and underrepresented minorities for many years. Looking at the game industry as part of the larger technology and computing industry, which also has problems with lack of diversity in its workforce, we see that the problem is not just within the games, but also within the industry and community (Gamergate). The focus of this work is specifically on representation of a cross-sectional group of underrepresented minorities, Queer People of Color (QPOC) in video games. The term QPOC is derived from the term Person of Color (POC). It is used as a means of self-identification by members of the group to reject a single “master status”. To find out the impact that representation has, we surveyed QPOC about their experiences with representation in video games and solicited their opinions on how this representation, or lack thereof, has impacted them. Our survey showed that members of this group did not feel well represented, but were greatly influenced by the representations that do exist. We believe that one of the steps to solving the diversity problem in technology is to make sure that all groups feel welcome in the technology space. For games, working to make sure as many people as possible are represented is the first step in that inclusion.
Effect of reinforcement connectivity on the elasto-plastic behavior of aluminum composites containing sub-micron alumina particles

The mechanical properties of composites consisting of an aluminum matrix with 34 and 37 vol.% sub-micron Al2O3 particles were studied in compression for two reinforcement architectures: interconnected and discontinuous. Both the elastic and plastic behaviors of these composites are successfully modeled using a self-consistent approach: the classical self-consistent and the three-phase self-consistent models for the interconnected and discontinuous architectures, respectively. At ambient temperature, an interconnected architecture offers only a modest increase in stiffness and strength over a discontinuous architecture of equal volume fraction. At elevated temperatures (250, 500 and 600 °C), the interconnected reinforcement becomes increasingly more effective at strengthening the composites. However, the relative increase in strength due to interconnectivity can only be exploited at small strains (1–5%) due to the early development of compressive flow instabilities in the interconnected composites. While microstructural damage controls the instability strain of the interconnected composites at ambient temperature, their low strain-hardening coefficient is the main contribution to flow instabilities at elevated temperature.
Infectious Complications After Battlefield Injuries: Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment

Recent conflicts have resulted in an unprecedented proportion of survivors of complex battlefield injuries. These patients are predisposed to infectious complications with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). The epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of these infections are described, with emphasis on recent literature. Data from the Trauma Infectious Disease Outcomes Study (TIDOS) cohort have revealed a 27% rate of infectious complications in those evacuated after traumatic injury; this increases to 50% in the intensive care unit. Acinetobacter baumannii-calcoaceticus was common in casualties injured in Iraq, but was replaced by other extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae as well as fungi in casualties from Afghanistan. Prevention of infections includes short courses of narrow-spectrum prophylactic antimicrobials and infection control; the mainstay of wound infection prevention is debridement and irrigation. Treatment of many infections is primarily surgical and antimicrobial therapy directed against expected and recovered pathogens. Infections after combat trauma are common and complex, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to prevention and care.
Changing Patterns of Violence in the Northern San Juan Region

Evidence of human violence in the Northern San Juan region of the American Southwest has stimulated a variety of inferences, including interpersonal strife, cannibalism, raiding, and warfare. We summarize existing information on regional violence and discuss new research results from excavations in the Sand Canyon locality. The analysis explores similarities and differences in patterns of violent deaths through time and across the region and explains these similarities and differences with respect to population movement and changing political systems.
A "Loopy" Encounter: Teaching Elementary Students the Concept of Loops (Abstract Only)

Loops are a fundamental concept in computing and well known to be difficult for novices. Recent research shows that the open-ended learning approach often used in teaching block-based programming can be insufficient to help young students gain a solid understanding of computing concepts. Misconceptions about loop are very common despite the user-friendly block-based programming syntax. This study aims to contribute to the current understanding of how elementary-aged students can learn the concept of loops through a more structured instructional design. We engage students in structured learning activities consisting of "tangible" programming concept demo and progressive problem solving exercises. These activities were used to teach a group of 3-5th graders two types of loops: counting loops that repeat a set number of times without logic conditions, and conditional loops where the loop iteration is controlled by a Boolean condition. The evaluation results indicate that most students are able to understand and use counting loops correctly in their programs after the weeklong class. The understanding of conditional loops, however, remains difficult for elementary-aged students. Our study suggests that computing concepts may be learned more effectively with a structured instruction setting. Nonetheless, teaching young students conditional loops, especially how to apply them in computational problem solving is a very challenging task even in block-based environments.
Transfer Operators on Measure Spaces

Our starting point is a fixed pair (R, σ) on \((X, {\mathcal B})\) making up a transfer operator. In the next two chapters we turn to a systematic study of specific and important sets of measures on \((X, {\mathcal B})\) and actions of (R, σ) on these sets of measures. These classes of measures in turn lead to a structure theory for our given transfer operator (R, σ). Our corresponding structure results are Theorems 4.14, 5.13, 5.12, 5.9, and 5.20.
Why Intentionalism Cannot Explain Phenomenal Character

I argue that intentionalist theories of perceptual experience are unable to explain the phenomenal character of perceptual experience. I begin by describing what is involved in explaining phenomenal character, and why it is a task of philosophical theories of perceptual experience to explain it. I argue that reductionist versions of intentionalism are unable to explain the phenomenal character of perceptual experience because they mischaracterize its nature; in particular, they fail to recognize the sensory nature of experience’s phenomenal character. I argue that nonreductionist versions of intentionalism are unable to explain the phenomenal character of perceptual experience because, although they recognize its sensory nature, they mislocate it.
REVERSE PLASTICITY EFFECTS IN FREE SURFACE WAVE PROFILES

Wavecode calculations are done to interpret the shock-rise portions of the uranium free-surface velocity profiles of Grady. The deviatoric stress and plastic strains are extracted from the shock data. A model due to Johnson et al.1 is used to model the reverse plasticity occuring when release waves reflect back from the free surface. It is found that a fairly good match to the free surface data can be obtained with this reverse plasticity model and an initial condition obtained from the free surface data by dividing by (approximately) two. If a yield surface is used in the reverse plasticity model, a feature appears in the calculated velocity profile that is not present in the data. Hence, the reverse plasticity is different from the forward plasticity (in the shock rise) which clearly exhibits a plastic yield transition in its precursor.
Immediate management of prostatomembranous urethral disruptions.

AbstractWe present 33 patients with complete prostatomembranous urethral disruptions: 20 were managed by immediate realignment, while 13 were managed by initial cystotomy and delayed urethroplasty. Techniques for immediate realignment are described. Immediate realignment of complete prostatomembranous disruptions resulted in an overall potency rate of 80% compared to only 50% in patients who underwent delayed repair. In addition, there was an increased need for a secondary operation when the repair was delayed. Continence rates were excellent and similar in both groups. Immediate urethral realignment as described results in impotence and incontinence rates that are comparable to or better than delayed repair techniques without the need for multiple surgical procedures.
Holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with multiple-level gradients.

Photonic quasi-crystals and photonic crystals with certain degrees of disorder can have a broadband light–matter interaction. In this paper, we present the holographic fabrication of graded photonic super-quasi-crystals through pixel-by-pixel phase pattern engineering using a spatial light modulator. Using the same phase pattern arranged in a decagon, we have fabricated graded photonic super-quasi-crystals with five-fold symmetry and multiple levels of gradients and graded photonic super-crystals with rectangular unit super-cells, depending on the Fourier filter. Although a certain degree of disorder was incorporated in the quasi-crystals, we still observed the golden ratio in the diameters of the diffraction rings of the fabricated quasi-crystals, indicating five-fold symmetry. Using direct pixel-by-pixel phase engineering, the same laser projection system, consisting of an integrated spatial light modulator and a reflective optical element, can be used for the fabrication of graded photonic super-crystals with various symmetries. The multi-level gradient effects on the optical properties of an organic light-emitting diode were simulated. When the cathode of an organic light-emitting device is patterned in the graded photonic super-crystals, a light extraction efficiency up to 76% in the visible range can be achieved.
Distributed Augmentation-Regularization for Robust Online Convex Optimization

Abstract This paper studies the use of distributed, primal-dual dynamics to solve continuous, time-dependent optimization problems on the fly. When using primal-dual dynamics, the availability of a strongly convex-strongly concave Lagrangian is desirable, but this is a strong assumption not satisfied in many applications. To deal with this, we develop a new Lagrangian regularization technique that seeks to minimize the perturbation to the original solutions and is compatible with the distributed nature of the optimization problem. We provide analytic bounds of the tracking error of the optimal solution using standard Lyapunov stability analysis techniques. As an application, we consider a receding horizon formulation of a dynamic traffic assignment problem and illustrate the performance of our approach in simulation.
Influence of plasma nitriding pressure on microabrasive wear resistance of a microalloyed steel

Abstract Microalloyed steels have been studied not only by the advent of the pre-salt, but also by the continuous search for improvement of their tribological properties. In this work, the influence of the plasma nitriding (PN) pressure on the nitrided layer formed on top of an API 5L X70 microalloyed steel was studied. PN treatments were carried out using a pulsed plasma reactor at temperatures of 410 °C and 440 °C, in a gas mixture of N2 and H2, for 3 h and under different pressures. Results showed that the pressure has a significant effect on the uniformity and width of the plasma sheath and, consequently, on the structure and thickness of the resulting nitrided layer. It has been observed that higher pressures and temperatures have led to the formation of nitrided layers containing a thinner white layer and without nitride needles. The best wear results were offered by the thicker nitrided layers, besides thinner white layer. This type of structure can be produced when PN treatments are performed using low-width plasma sheaths.
ANP32B, or not to be, that is the question for influenza virus

The evolutionary history of ANP32 proteins impacts how influenza virus jumps from birds to mammals.
Fish mitochondrial genome sequencing: expanding genetic resources to support species detection and biodiversity monitoring using environmental DNA

Conservation of aquatic resources is hampered by our limited knowledge of biological diversity and its distribution. Due to challenges with detection of rare or difficult to sample species, and the expansion of genetic technologies, fisheries professionals are supplementing traditional biodiversity field studies with emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) techniques. eDNA is generally evaluated with qPCR (primer- and probe-mediated single species detection), single-gene metabarcoding (PCR primer-mediated diversity analysis) or the emerging technique of multi-gene metagenomics (PCR independent diversity analysis). In each case, techniques are dependent on sequence databases for primer design and/or taxonomic assignment of recovered sequence data. Current reference databases contain limited mitochondrial genome information and are reliant on specific gene fragments, such as COI, which are not always suited for qPCR and metabarcoding marker design needs. To facilitate primer design and enhance taxonomic resolution for eDNA approaches, we describe a suite of order and/or family-specific long-range PCR primers sufficient for sequencing complete mitochondrial genomes. While the intent was to obtain mitochondrial genome data for freshwater fish, primers were designed on sequence alignments from all available species (including marine), and should be broadly applicable within their respective taxonomic group. We have sequenced 205 complete mitochondrial genomes representing 65 species/subspecies from 9 fish families, including novel genomes from 28 species not represented in GenBank at the time of submission. Continued expansion of species representation in mitochondrial genome databases will help move biodiversity assessment from single-gene metabarcoding approaches to multi-gene metagenomics and provide a valuable resource for eDNA applications, molecular ecology and phylogenetics.
Vertically-stacked MEMS PM2.5 sensor for wearable applications

Abstract Exposure to fine airborne particulate matter (PM), i.e., PM with an aerodynamic diameter (AD) less than 2.5 μm, is associated with many adverse health effects, including impaired pulmonary function, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, and Alzheimer. Consequently, there is a strong need for the development of small, low-cost wearable PM2.5 sensors that can be used by regular citizens to monitor their PM exposure. This work presents the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a stacked-channel wearable direct-read micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) PM2.5 sensor that directly measures the mass concentration of the ambient PM by deposition on a mass-sensing resonator. The sensor employs a vertically stacked air-microfluidic channel geometry and an out-of-plane vertical virtual impactor (VVI), fabricated using a novel delayed deep reactive ion etch (DDRIE) process. As a result, this new device not only allows for a greater level of miniaturization than the previously reported air-microfluidic PM sensors, but also significantly reduces internal fouling due to PM accumulation in its channels. The small footprint of the sensor (27 mm × 14 mm × 2 mm) allows for the integration of the sensor into a wearable or cellular platform. An opto-gravimetric method was used to evaluate the collection efficiency of the VVI, which confirmed its 50% cutpoint at 2.5 μm. The experimental evaluation of the functionality of the sensor confirmed the sensitivity of the new design at 7 Hz/min per μg/m3, which is the highest sensitivity of direct-read mass-based PM2.5 sensor presented to this date. Such sensitivity allows for the limit of detection (LOD) of one μg/m3 within 7 min of integration time at a noise level of 50 Hz.
A complicated abscess from a dropped gallstone

Laparoscopic cholecystectomies represent one of the most common procedures of General Surgery. Dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a rare occurrence but can potentially lead to morbid complications. We present a rare case of a broncho-pleuro-cutaneous fistula in a patient with recurrent abscess formations after an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The fistula formed over 3 years from a gallstone that eroded through the diaphragm, into the pleural space, and eventually into a terminal bronchiole. Bilirubin staining within the fistula tract was confirmed on hematoxylin and eosin staining.
Improvement of postinpatient psychiatric follow-up for veterans using telehealth.

Purpose To describe the implementation and initial outcomes of a pilot interdisciplinary telehealth clinic, Allied Transitional Telehealth Encounters post-iNpatient Discharge (ATTEND), providing clinical pharmacy specialist follow-up for veterans transitioning from inpatient to outpatient mental healthcare in a Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) hospital. Summary The ATTEND clinic's primary intervention was providing medication management appointments through clinical video telehealth (CVT) to patient discharge locations through a DVA-provided tablet. An interdisciplinary team supported care through on-unit inpatient training, secure messaging, and self-help applications. Clinical outcomes were measured through readmission rates, wait times, self-report measures, and follow-up interview at the completion of ATTEND services. Twenty patients completed on-unit training, and 16 unique patients were seen for at least 1 outpatient appointment. Inpatient readmission rates were lower for ATTEND patients than with standard care (5% versus 19%, respectively). Wait times until first postdischarge mental health appointment were reduced by a mean of 18.6 (S.D., 8.8) days. The pharmacist made medication interventions, including dosing changes, education on incorrect administration, and medication discontinuation. Self-reported psychological symptoms decreased during ATTEND participation. Post-ATTEND interviews indicated high levels of acceptance and interest in continued tablet-based care. Primary challenges included unique technological limitations and effective care coordination. Conclusion The ATTEND telehealth clinic provided postinpatient mental health follow-up that was more prompt and convenient than conventional on-site appointments. Psychiatric self-report improved during ATTEND-facilitated transition to outpatient care, and the recidivism rate for ATTEND patients was lower than the general inpatient rate during the same time period.
On process and function in the capitalist stack

The recent critical infrastructure and mobilities turn in humanities and social sciences scholarship urges us to think carefully about the architectures and systems that compose the contemporary wo...
Moringa hildebrandtii (Moringaceae): a tree extinct in the wild but preserved by indigenous horticultural practices in Madagascar.

Un exemple d'un phenomene rare consistant en la persistance en culture d'un organisme disparu dans la nature est signale. L'arbre Moringa hildebrandtii (Moringaceae) est cense exister a l'etat sauvage le long de la cote ouest de Madagascar ; pourtant, une prospection recente et une enquete aupres de la population n'ont pas revele sa presence dans cette region ou dans une autre localite de l'ile. Cet arbre est, cependant, frequemment cultive dans les villages et toutes les recoltes d'herbier effectuees depuis sa decouverte en 1880 proviennent de plantations. Diverses donnees permettent de penser que l'arbre vivait a l'origine dans l'extreme sud-est de l'ile : 1) Le nom vernaculaire de cet arbre (hazomaroseranana) implique une relation avec cette region qui etait sous le controle des Maroseranana durant presque 400 ans ; 2) Toutes les autres especes de Moringa se trouvent dans de semblables types d'habitats semi-arides qui ne se rencontrent pas ailleurs a Madagascar. Des efforts pour la redecouverte de cet arbre dans cette region devraient se poursuivre.
Sensor-Based Virtual Reality for Clinical Decision Support in the Assessment of Mental Disorders

Recent reports show that 1 in 4 families has at least one member with a mental disorder. In the current practice, most diagnosis methods in psychiatry are based on clinical interviews and questionnaires, which are subjective and can lead to recalls and interviewer biases. In the healthcare context, Virtual Reality (VR) has shown a strong potential to improve decision making and help patients to better connect with reality, cope with pain, and overcome mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. This study integrates sensing technology (i.e., eye tracking) with a VR simulation of healthcare environments to improve the clinical decision-support system for diagnosis and assessment of mental disorders. Traditional scenario-based patient simulations are used as a basis for the development of VR modules. Data collected via the eye-tracking sensing technology are utilized to develop analytical models for predicting the risk of mental illness. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI) tools for VR-based healthcare training help medical students learn faster and make smarter decisions. This research helps contribute to improved population health by developing new methods for promoting health and effectively predicting and treating mental disorders.
Surviving at the Top?: Trump’s Buoyancy and Perseverance in Defiance of Neustadt’s Model

Despite the effectiveness of Neustadt’s model in explaining Trump’s meager accomplishments and/or lack of persuasive skill and power, nevertheless he does appear “relatively better off” or “more successful” than the model would predict. Notably, despite his poor relations and personal and power skills with other elites, he has had notable success in Congress in his first two years, passed some bipartisan legislation like criminal justice reform, and has won over, if not demanded loyalty from, his partisans. His public support, while somewhat low by historic standards, is also stable, and while it doesn’t go up much, it doesn’t drop much either, despite the controversies and setbacks of his term, up to and including impeachment. He also appears quite competitive for reelection in 2020.
Temporal and spatial variation in population structure among brooding sea stars in the genus Leptasterias.

Temporal genetic studies of low-dispersing organisms are rare. Marine invertebrates lacking a planktonic larval stage are expected to have lower dispersal, low gene flow, and a higher potential for local adaptation than organisms with planktonic dispersal. Leptasterias is a genus of brooding sea stars containing several cryptic species complexes. Population genetic methods were used to resolve patterns of fine-scale population structure in central California Leptasterias species using three loci from nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Historic samples (collected between 1897 and 1998) were compared to contemporary samples (collected between 2008 and 2014) to delineate changes in species distributions in space and time. Phylogenetic analysis of contemporary samples confirmed the presence of a bay-localized clade and revealed the presence of an additional bay-localized and previously undescribed clade of Leptasterias. Analysis of contemporary and historic samples indicates two clades are experiencing a constriction in their southern range limit and suggests a decrease in clade-specific abundance at sites at which they were once prevalent. Historic sampling revealed a dramatically different distribution of diversity along the California coastline compared to contemporary sampling and illustrates the importance of temporal genetic sampling in phylogeographic studies. These samples were collected prior to significant impacts of Sea Star Wasting Disease (SSWD) and represent an in-depth analysis of genetic structure over 117 years prior to the SSWD-associated mass die-off of Leptasterias.
Advancing the science on cannabis concentrates and behavioural health.

Issues The Cannabis sativa L. plant contains hundreds of phytocannabinoids, but putatively of highest importance to public health risk is the psychoactive cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is associated with risk for cannabis use disorder, affective disturbance, cognitive harm and psychomotor impairment. Recently, there has been an increase in the use and availability of concentrated cannabis products (or 'concentrates') that are made by extracting cannabinoids from the plant to form a product with THC concentrations as high as 90-95%. These products are increasingly popular nationwide. The literature on these widely available high potency concentrates is limited and there are many unknowns about their potential harms. Approach This review covers the state of the research on cannabis concentrates and behavioural health-related outcomes and makes recommendations for advancing the science with studies focused on accurately testing the risks in relation to critical public and behavioural health questions. Key findings Data point to unique behavioural health implications of concentrate use. However, causal, controlled and representative research on the effects of cannabis concentrates is currently limited. Implications Future research is needed to explore chronic, acute and developmental effects of concentrates, as well as effects on pulmonary function. We also highlight the need to explore these relationships in diverse populations. Conclusion While the literature hints at the potential for these highly potent products to increase cannabis-related behavioural health harms, it is important to carefully design studies that more comprehensively evaluate the impact of concentrates on THC exposure and short- and long-term effects across user groups.
On the Stability of Laminar Flame Fronts

IN REFERENCES 1, 2, AND 3, the stability of a laminar flame front to two-dimensional disturbances that are time-variable is investigated. In references 1 and 3 the flame front is considered as a discontinuity in velocity, whereas in reference 2 a continuous distribution of velocity in the direction of flow is considered. In all three works, the effect of energy dissipation is neglected. A somewhat more general consideration of the problem is herein presented. The equations representing the flow of a viscous fluid may be given as follows:
Sex and Sexuality

The physical requirements for sexual intercourse have been compared to those for “a brisk walk around a city block” (Wise, 1983). Most patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI, heart attack) have the capacity for twice that expenditure of energy. Despite this, a significant number of men and women have sexual difficulties following a heart attack. As many as 60% of the men in one study reported erectile difficulties, and a third premature ejaculation (Mehta & Krop, 1979). Although medication or the complications of a heart attack could inhibit sexual functioning, in most cases it appears to be related to depression and anxiety. A certain amount of depression or lack of desire is to be expected during the recovery period following a heart attack or surgery. But if the lack of interest continues for more than a few months, other medical or psychological factors may be involved. For one, the medication may need to be adjusted. In some cases, patients who still experience the pain of angina may be disappointed with their recovery, and this may lead to the continuing depression.
Chapter 1 The cellular and molecular foundations of pulmonary edema

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the cellular and molecular foundations of pulmonary edema. The study of lung endothelium evolved from an early focus on barrier function to an intensive interest in the many interactive and regulatory functions of endothelium. However, the significance of the relationship between endothelial integrity and the clinically important problem of pulmonary edema is undiminished. To advance the treatment and prevention of alveolar flooding and inflammation, an improved and up-to-date mastery of the construction and maintenance of the dam is needed. The chapter presents the fundamentals of the structural elements of the endothelium and highlights the forces that challenge barrier integrity and the mechanisms of response. Detailed descriptions of the individual structural elements, their regulation, their contribution to barrier integrity or dysfunction, and the heterogeneity of endothelium are presented in the chapter. The interactions of endothelium with blood-borne cells, factors, infectious agents, and the injurious consequences are defined. Finally, the internal defenses and repair of the barrier by endothelium and the advances in the treatment to aid in resistance to activation, injury, and repair are reviewed.
Edge based mean LBP for valence facial expression detection

Recognition of spontaneous emotion would significantly influence human-computer interaction and emotion-related studies in many related fields. This paper endeavors to explore a holistic method for detecting emotional facial expressions by examining local features. In recent years examining local features has gained traction for nuanced expression detection. The local binary pattern is one such technique. Using the mu LBP, this modified mean LBP adds a discriminating factor to the examined feature via the addition of an edge detector. Hence, the Sobel based µ local binary pattern for the extraction of features in the human face. Using this method, the extracted feature is classified into its valence classes (positive and negative) using an SVM classifier.
Product Motivation and Purchasing Activity

Abstract The tremendous growth in Internet sales has prompted many firms to enter the world of E-commerce. The question must be raised if “marketing as usual” is the suitable approach for firms to gain and maintain competitive advantage. A vital area of concern is the promotional mix, or the communications element of marketing strategy. In order to be able to determine the availability, type, and presentation of information preferred by consumers, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the target consumer's motivations and activities. Using the product motivation scale developed by Dawson, Bloch, and Ridgeway, this study examines the shopping behaviors and information gathering activities of consumers, classified as product motivated or not, as they make purchases via the Internet. This information is useful for the design and implementation of effective integrated promotional efforts.
Fatty acid specificity of the P450 decarboxylase OleT(JE) (580.5)

The metal catalyzed oxidative cleavage of inert carbon-carbon bonds is central to a plethora of industrially and biochemically important transformations. Recently, a P450 peroxygenase (OleTJE) has ...
Ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the ubiquinol-cytochrome-c oxidoreductase from saccharomyces cerevisiae . As a consequence, such strains have to be identified among the broader class of respiratory-deficient nuclear petite (pet) mutants. The chapter discusses the screening for cytochrome-deficient mutants. Mutations are transferred to the strains of opposite mating type to that of the original pet isolates by crosses to a respiratory competent haploid with complementing auxotrophic markers. Following sporulation, the meiotic progeny are checked for the desired mating type, auxotrophy, and the presence of the pet mutation either by tetrad or random spore analysis. The chapter also describes the status of cytochrome b. All the nuclear genes for the constituent polypeptides of the yeast complex have been cloned and natural mutants or construct with null mutations in each gene are available.
Informal top-level specifications for trusted application systems

Presents some initial experiences in NRL's application system certification technology project. The project goal is to develop an approach to certifying US Navy application systems that must be trusted. The authors are conducting their research by participating in the certification of two NATO command and control systems targeted at the B3 class of the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria. An important initial finding of this project is a working definition of the role that an informal or descriptive top-level specification plays in development of trusted application systems. Other initial experiences include the possibility of using the descriptive top-level specification as a preliminary specification and the identification of some easily corrected shortcomings of natural language descriptions. The paper is divided into two parts. The first part discusses the role of the descriptive top-level specification and the second part relates three initial experiences with descriptive top-level specifications. >
Black Picket Fences: Privilege and Peril Among the Black Middle Class

Black Picket Fences: Privilege and Peril Among the Black Middle Class. Mary Patillo-McCoy. Chicago, 1L, and London, UK: The University of Chicago Press, 1999. xii. 276pp. (Cloth US$25.00; PaperUSS15.00)
Microstructure and cavitation in the superplastic Zn-22 wt% Al alloy: Effect of solution heat treatment

Abstract The effect of post-solution treatment on the microstructure and cavitation behaviour of the superplastic Zn-22 wt% Al was investigated by imposing different periods of solution heat treatment above the eutectic temperature with otherwise identical experimental conditions. Final microstructures show that groups of fine α and β-phases, which form by spontaneous decomposition, are surrounded by traces of former a boundaries which consist of fine elongated α grains. Microstructural observations indicate that these groups behave as independent domains during superplastic deformation. Cavity stringers parallel to the stress axis are typically found to exist along the traces of former α boundaries. This observation is a result of preferred cavitation at the former a boundaries and the tendency of these boundaries to become aligned with the stress axis during superplastic deformation.
Hydrogen Flash in Stars

The initial adiabat of the gas in a flat rotating disk is estimated in several ways. A star which can be represented by a polytrope of index 1.5 is considered. The central conditions are determined through specification of the total mass and the adiabatic constant. The values for the temperature and the density of the center are much higher than now exist at the center of the sun. It is possible that the ignition of hydrogen-burning reactions at the center of the disk can be accompanied by a thermal runaway.