cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluations of target tracking in wireless sensor networks

Target tracking is one of the most important applications of wireless sensor networks. Optimized computation and energy dissipation are critical requirements to maximize the lifetime of the sensor network. There exists a demand for self-organizing and routing capabilities in the sensor network. Existing methods attempting to achieve these requirements, such as the LEACH-based algorithms, however, suffer either redundancy in data and sensor node deployment, or complex computation incurred in the sensor nodes. Those drawbacks result in energy use inefficiency and/or complex computation overhead. OCO, or Optimized Communication and Organization, is an algorithm that ensures maximum accuracy of target tracking, efficient energy dissipation, and low computation overhead on the sensor nodes. Simulation evaluations of OCO are compared with other two methods under various scenarios.
Robotic Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinomas With Venous Tumor Thrombus

Objective To describe the first report of robotic partial nephrectomies (RPNs) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT). Methods Partial nephrectomy for RCC extending into the renal vein has been described in limited fashion, but such a complex procedure has not previously been reported in minimally-invasive fashion. We demonstrate the feasibility of robotic nephron-sparing surgery despite vein thrombi and the results of the initial four highly-selected patients to have undergone this novel procedure. Two patients underwent RPN for RCC with VTT involving intraparenchymal vein branches, and 2 others had VTT involving the main renal vein. Mean patient age was 65 years (range 50-74 years). Mean tumor size was 7.75 cm (range 4.3-12.8 cm) with mean RENAL (radius, exophytic/endophytic, nearness to collecting system, anterior/posterior, and location) nephrometry score of 9.75 (range 8-12). Results Mean warm ischemia time was 24.2 minutes (range 19-27 minutes) and mean estimated blood loss was 168.8 mL (range 100-300 mL). No patients required transfusion, and there were no intraoperative complications. No patients required conversion to open or standard laparoscopic surgery. All 4 patients were discharged home on the first postoperative day. A single postoperative complication occurred in 1 patient who was readmitted with an ileus that resolved spontaneously. All patients had negative surgical margins. Two patients developed metastatic disease on surveillance imaging. Conclusion RPN in patients with VTT is safe and feasible in selected patients. Given the risk of metastatic disease in patients with pathologic stage T3a RCC, the role of nephron sparing requires further evaluation such that radical nephrectomy remains the standard of care.
The effect of fluid composition on the behavior of well cemented, quartz-rich sandstone during faulting

Abstract Previous studies [O'Kane, A., Onasch, C.M., Farver, J., 2007. The role of fluids in low-temperature, fault-related deformation of quartz arenite. Journal of Structural Geology 29, 819--836; Cook, J., Dunne, W.M., Onasch, C.M., 2006. Development of a dilatant damage zone along a thrust relay in a low-porosity quartz arenite, Journal of Structural Geology 28, 776–792] found that quartz arenite within two fault zones in the Appalachian foreland thrust belt displays very different structural styles and histories despite deforming at similar pressures and temperatures during the Alleghanian orogeny. A comparison of the grain-scale deformation and fluid histories using transmitted and cathodoluminescence microscopy and fluid inclusion microthermometry, shows that fluid composition was a controlling factor for causing these differences. The Cove fault zone deformed in the presence of aqueous fluids, first a CaCl 2 brine and then an iron-rich fluid. The precipitation of quartz cement from the brine kept pace with brittle deformation, maintaining overall rock cohesion in the fault zone. The introduction of iron-rich fluids caused a switch from precipitation to dissolution of quartz, along with precipitation of goethite. In a damage zone along a backthrust in the Cave Mountain anticline, early deformation occurred in the presence of an aqueous fluid from which quartz was precipitated. The latest deformation, however, occurred in the presence of a methane-rich fluid, which inhibited the precipitation of quartz cement producing porous breccias and open fractures despite deformation at 6 km depth. Fluid composition not only affected cementation in the fault zones, but also the selection of grain-scale deformation mechanisms. Therefore, it is a controlling factor in determining the behavior and strength of these fault zones.
IGF and insulin action in the mammary gland: lessons from transgenic and knockout models.

Transgenic and knockout mice have become valuable experimental systems with which tostudy specific molecular events within the mammary gland of an intact animal. These modelshave provided a wealth of information about the effects of a number of oncogenes and growthfactors. This review focuses on results obtained from the application of transgenic and knockoutmodels to determine the roles of insulin and insulin-like growth factors (IGF)3 in the regulationof mammary gland development, lactation and tumorigenesis. Transgenic models whichoverexpress IGF-I or -II display specific alterations in mammary gland development and an increasedincidence of mammary tumors. Analysis of mammary gland development in knockout micewhich are deficient in IGF-I or the IGF-I receptor supports the conclusion that the IGF systemis important for normal mammary gland development. This review discusses these observationsin detail and attempts to fit them into a larger picture of IGF and insulin action in themammary gland.
Biological aerosols: a review of airborne contamination and its measurement in dairy processing plants

Processing plant air is a source of post-pasteurization contamination of dairy products. Little is known about the extent to which biological aerosols contaminate pasteurized products, however evidence indicates that air within a packaging area is a critical control point for both pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Consequently, it is important to understand the characteristics of biological aerosols, learn how to control their occurrence, and discover practical and valid monitoring methods. Methods used for monitoring viable particles in air include the use of sedimentation plates, impingers, slit and sieve impactors, filters, and centrifugal samplers. Each of these methods has limitations on its usefulness for dairy plant air monitoring. Microorganisms are often injured due to the stresses of the aerosolized state and consequently may not grow on selective media. Sampling methods such as impingement and filtration which subject the organisms to additional stress may cause sufficient injury to prevent growth on non-selective media. However, gentler collection methods such as centrifugal samplers may not generate enough force to collect the smallest viable particles. Aerosols are generated within the dairy plant by worker activity, sink and floor drains, water spraying, and air conditioning systems. Environmental sanitation, air filtration, air flow control, and control over personnel cleanliness and activity are useful control measures. The adoption of "clean room" design principles for a packaging area will aid in controlling biological aerosols in new dairy processing plants.
Measuring Players' Losses in Experimental Games

In some experiments rational players who understand the structure of the game could improve their payoff. We hound the size of the observed losses in several such experiments, lb do this, we suppose that observed play resembles an equilibrium because players learn about their opponents' play. Consequently, in an extensive-form game, some actions that are not optimal given the true distribution of opponents' play could be optimal given available information. We find that average losses are small: $0.03 to $0.64 per player with stakes between $2 and $30. In one of the three experiments we examine, this also implies a narrow range of outcome.
The Role of Fracture Mechanics in Adhesion

The problem of adhesion cannot be completely comprehended by consideration of interfacial properties alone. Other parameters such as geometry, applied and residual stresses, and the interfacial flaw population are equally important. The well-established field of fracture mechanics permits these aspects to be considered. One of the most important features of fracture mechanics is that it can provide a means of characterizing interfacial properties which does not depend upon the method of testing. It may also allow a predictive ability in determining failure and a rational explanation of what is known as “adhesive” or “cohesive” failure. These issues are addressed in conjunction with a discussion of the current limitations in the application of fracture mechanics to the topic of adhesion.
MELAS: a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy syndrome

MELAS, a syndrome characterized by Myopathy, Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke-like episodes, is one of a group of diseases known as mitochondrial encephalopathies. These genetically-transmitted diseases result in metabolic abnormalities associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, which contribute to neuronal destruction. Clinical manifestations include dementia, seizures, muscle weakness and stroke-like episodes. Accurate diagnosis is difficult to make and effective treatment is nonexistent at this time. The focus of care is supportive and the nurse's role centers on identification of deficits and maintenance of existing function.
Measurement of Viscous Drag on a Disc Rotating in a Low Pressure Gas

Viscous drag on a rotating disc under different air-pressures is measured experimentally. Disc spin-down experiments are carried out from atmospheric pressure through a vacuum pressure of 1333 Pa. Deceleration torque was plotted as a function of angular velocity at the various pressures. Torque was nondimensionalized using dynamic viscosity of the air, angular velocity and the characteristic dimension of the disc. The results obtained could approximately be classified into two sets of self-similar curves, the first set between atmospheric pressure and 13332 Pa, and the second set between 13332 Pa and 1333 Pa.
Organosulfate and nitrate formation and reactivity from epoxides derived from 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol.

Recent work has suggested that 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol (MBO)-derived epoxide intermediates are responsible for some of the molecular species commonly found in ambient secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques were used to study the reaction kinetics and products of two potential MBO-derived epoxides under acidic solution conditions in the presence of sulfate and nitrate nucleophiles. These epoxides were found to undergo reasonably fast acid-catalyzed reaction at typical SOA acidities and to produce a variety of organosulfate and nitrate species. This finding supports a previous supposition that 3-methylbutane-1,2,3-triol and at least some of the MBO-derived organosulfates previously detected on SOA are formed from the reactions of these epoxides. In general, the particular MBO-derived organosulfates and nitrates produced from MBO-derived epoxides and their respective stability toward hydrolysis were similar to those found for isoprene-derived epoxides; the nucleophilic reaction...
Stable Isotopes of Water and Carbonate Samples from Caves in Central Western Guizhou:Implications of Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment

23 water samples and 24 carbonate samples were obtained from four caves located in the central—western Guizhou for analyses ofδD andδ~(18)O.The averageδD andδ~(18)O of the surface and cave waters are -51.1±6.2‰and -7.48±0.88‰(SMOW),which represent these of the annual precipitation in this region.The cave waterδD andδ~(18)O at most sites reflect the annual mean values of the surface precipitation,except for a few specific sites where the dripping waterδD andδ~(18)O can sensitively reflect the changes ofδD andδ~(18)O in seasonal rainfall,perhaps because of a thinner vadoes zone above the cave.Theδ~(18)O of modern soda straw from Shijiangjun Cave in Anshun is nearly 2‰heavier than that of the modern soda straw from Zhijin Cave,whereas theδ~(18)O values of dropping water in both caves are similar.The discrepancy is difficult to be explained by theδ~(18)O of atmospheric precipitation and depositional temperature.The phenomenon is also observed on the comparison of Holoceneδ~(18)O records between Dongge Cave and Qixing Cave in the same region.The explanation of the discrepancy remains unclear.Theδ~(13)C _(PDB)(-1.6‰)of modern soda straw in Shijiangjun Cave is heavier than theδ~(13)C_(PDB)(-7.00‰)of modern soda straw in Zhijin Cave,which may be caused by serious karst-desertification and poor vegetation coverage in the former site.Around Zhijin Cave,vegetation and environment have been protected since 1982 when the cave became a national scenic area.Since then,the vegetation coverage and environmental condition have been well recovered in the area.Theδ~(18)O andδ~(13)C of other speleothem samples show that vegetation condition in Anshun was better during warm and wet Holocene reflected by lighterδ~(13)C;and was poor during cold and dry glacial period indicated by heavierδ~(13)C.Therefore,δ~(13)C of speleothem appears to be a sensitive proxy for reconstruction of paleo-vegetation and evolution of karst-desertification in the region.
Physicians' intention to prescribe hydrocodone combination products after rescheduling: A theory of reasoned action approach.

Abstract Background The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) rescheduled hydrocodone combination products (HCPs) in an attempt to mitigate the prescription opioid epidemic. Many in the medical and pharmacy community expressed concerns of unintended consequences as a result of rescheduling. Objectives This study examined physicians' intentions to prescribe HCPs after rescheduling using the framework of the theory of reasoned action (TRA). Methods A cover letter containing a link to the online questionnaire was sent to physicians of the Texas Medical Association who were likely to prescribe opioids. The questionnaire assessed physicians' intentions to prescribe HCPs after rescheduling. Predictor variables included attitude toward rescheduling, subjective norm toward HCP prescribing, and past prescribing behavior of schedule II prescriptions. All variables were measured on a 7-point, Likert-type scale. Intention to prescribe as a dependent variable was regressed over TRA variables and respondent characteristics. Results A total of 1176 usable responses were obtained, yielding a response rate of 13.3%. Mean ( M ) age was 53.07 ± 11 and most respondents were male (70%) and Caucasian (75%). Physicians held a moderately positive intention to prescribe HCPs ( M = 4.36 ± 2.08), held a moderately negative attitude towards rescheduling, M = 4.68 ± 1.51 (reverse coded). Subjective norm was moderately low, M = 3.06 ± 1.78, and past prescribing behavior M = 2.43 ± 1.21. The linear regression analysis indicated that attitude ( β = 0.10; P = 0.006), subjective norm ( β = 0.35; P β = 0.59; P Conclusions TRA was shown to be a predictive model of physicians' intentions to prescribe HCPs after rescheduling. Overall, physicians held a moderately positive intention to prescribe HCPs. Past behavior concerning schedule II prescribing was found to be the most significant predictor of intention. Understanding the impact of federal rule changes on pain management care and patient satisfaction is necessary to determine whether this change has produced the intended consequences without harming patients in need of HCPs.
Social Media: An Integration Guideline for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Today’s students bring to class more than just a notebook and pencil. Using social media is now easier than ever before with a multitude of mobile apps and high speed internet, and most importantly, it is almost always free. In this study, researchers surveyed how instructors at Purdue University have used social media tools for personal, professional, and academic purposes. Specifically, we examined how instructors have used social media tools in support of teaching and learning. Issues instructors need to be aware of during implementation of social media for teaching and learning and practical guidelines for social media integration are discussed. Educational technologists as change agents have worked on the underlying issues to alleviate various barriers related to using social media tools in teaching and learning. Trust, privacy, and safety are critical to learning in an open education.
Value and Capital in Marxian Economics

Neo-Classical theory roots value in the act of exchange, which is undertaken by the parties in order to gain. The theory shows that under the postulated conditions all parties will gain from exchange in terms of their subjective preferences. This then generalizes into the theory of optimal allocation of scarce rewards by means of the price mechanism, which makes it possible to incorporate production into the theory as a special case of indirect exchange. Value arises from the interactions of isolated, rootless ‘individuals’ acting in terms of their abstract ‘preferences,’ expressed as a consistent ranking of the bundles of commodities assumed to be ‘available’ on the one hand and ‘scarce’ on the other. Where these individuals come from, how they are supported, what their preferences are based on, how and by whom the commodities have been produced, and by whose authority the ‘initial endowments’ were conferred — all are assumed to be irrelevant to the foundation of value-in-exchange. Whatever the answers to such questions, value arises because the parties to exchange stand to gain in terms of their preferences, so long as these are consistent and ‘convex,’ and goods are scarce. Value arises from convex preferences coupled with scarcity.
Coated protein nanoclusters from influenza H7N9 HA are highly immunogenic and induce robust protective immunity

Recurring influenza viruses pose an annual threat to public health. A time-saving, cost-effective and egg-independent influenza vaccine approach is important particularly when responding to an emerging pandemic. We fabricated coated, two-layer protein nanoclusters from recombinant trimeric hemagglutinin from an avian-origin H7N9 influenza A virus as an approach for vaccine development in response to an emerging pandemic. Assessment of the virus-specific immune responses and protective efficacy in mice immunized with the nanoclusters demonstrated that the vaccine candidates were highly immunogenic, able to induce protective immunity and long-lasting humoral antibody responses to this virus without the use of adjuvants. Because the advantages of the highly immunogenic coated nanoclusters also include rapid productions in an egg-independent system, this approach has great potential for influenza vaccine production not only in response to an emerging pandemic, but also as a replacement for conventional seasonal influenza vaccines.
Familial risk for bipolar disorder is not associated with impaired peroxisomal function: Dissociation from docosahexaenoic acid deficits

Bipolar I disorder is associated with deficits in the long-chain omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). The final biosynthesis of DHA is mediated by peroxisomes, and some heritable peroxisomal disorders are associated with DHA deficits and progressive psychopathology. The present cross-sectional study investigated whether medication-free asymptomatic and symptomatic youth with familial risk for bipolar I disorder exhibit impaired peroxisomal function using a comprehensive diagnostic blood panel. Measures of peroxisomal impairment included plasma concentrations of very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFA), branched-chain fatty acids, bile acid intermediates, and pipecolic acid, and erythrocyte plasmalogen and DHA levels. Compared with healthy subjects, significant erythrocyte DHA deficits were observed in ultra-high risk and first-episode bipolar groups, and there was a trend for lower DHA in the high-risk group. There were no significant group differences for any other measure of peroxisomal function, and erythrocyte DHA levels were not correlated with any measure of peroxisome function. These results indicate that familial risk for bipolar I disorder is not associated with impaired peroxisomal function, and that DHA deficits associated with familial bipolar disorder are not attributed to heritable defects in peroxisomal function.
High power side-pumped Er/Yb doped fiber amplifier

A high-power Er/Yb double-cladding fiber amplifier, side-pumped through a V-groove by a 100-/spl mu/m-wide broad stripe laser diode exhibited 32 dBm output power, 57 dB small signal gain, a 3 dB gain compression at 28 dBm, and a 15% electrical to optical power conversion efficiency.
Targeting amino acid metabolism for cancer therapy.

To support sustained biomass accumulation, tumor cells undergo metabolic reprogramming. Nutrient transporters and metabolic enzymes are regulated by the same oncogenic signals that drive cell-cycle progression. Some of the earliest cancer therapies used antimetabolites to disrupt tumor metabolism, and there is now renewed interest in developing drugs that target metabolic dependencies. Many cancers exhibit increased demand for specific amino acids, and become dependent on either an exogenous supply or upregulated de novo synthesis. Strategies to exploit such ‘metabolic addictions’ include depleting amino acids in blood serum, blocking uptake by transporters and inhibiting biosynthetic or catabolic enzymes. Recent findings highlight the importance of using appropriate model systems and identifying target patient groups as potential therapies advance into the clinic.
The study of temperature measurement on optical fiber in OPGW based on stimulated Brillouin scattering

In this paper, stimulated Brillouin scattering techniques were introduced, given the principle of fiber optic temperature measurement use of stimulated Brillouin scattering. We use BOTDR (Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer) equipment to measure fiber Brillouin signal of the same outdoor unit 17 of OPGW (optical fiber composite overhead ground wire), as a comparison we calibrated the temperature 900um tight clad optical fiber calibration. Through experiment we compared the temperature coefficient of Brillouin scattering frequency shift and basic frequency shift of different fiber in the same optic cable, analyzes the reasons for the differences.
Getting into Place/Gaining Acceptance and Trust

This study is based on ethnographic research I conducted at a co-ed county juvenile justice institution in a large city. Although this institution was a lockdown facility consisting of 60 residents, it attempted to encompass group home living by dividing the residents into bungalows comprising groups of 10. This is one of a handful of institutions to which youth may be sentenced after spending time in juvenile hall and being charged with a minor offense. However, this was the only lockdown institution that included therapeutic practices as part of the rehabilitation program. Although the institution is co-ed, the girls and boys are kept separate from each other with the exception of time spent in the classroom and time spent during recreational activities. The only gender-integrated sphere within this institution was the school, where the residents attended regularly scheduled classes in working toward high school graduation. Although there was a school on the premises, the school seemed to be peripheral to the institution’s merit program. Neither school nor education is mentioned in any of the expectations at each of the levels of the tiered merit-ladder system, and actions that occurred in school were not considered in the evaluation system calculating daily points for each girl.
Epidemiology of Recurrent Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis: Similarities and Differences

Emerging data in the past few years suggest that acute, recurrent acute (RAP), and chronic pancreatitis (CP) represent a disease continuum. This review discusses the similarities and differences in the epidemiology of RAP and CP. RAP is a high-risk group, comprised of individuals at varying risk of progression. The premise is that RAP is an intermediary stage in the pathogenesis of CP, and a subset of RAP patients during their natural course transition to CP. Although many clinical factors have been identified, accurately predicting the probability of disease course in individual patients remains difficult. Future studies should focus on providing more precise estimates of the risk of disease transition in a cohort of patients, quantification of clinical events during the natural course of disease, and discovery of biomarkers of the different stages of the disease continuum. Availability of clinically relevant endpoints and linked biomarkers will allow more accurate prediction of the natural course of disease over intermediate- or long-term-based characteristics of an individual patient. These endpoints will also provide objective measures for use in clinical trials of interventions that aim to alter the natural course of disease.
Medieval Ruins and Wordsworth’s The Tuft of Primroses: “A Universe of Analogies”

In The Tuft of Primroses, an 1808 poem, though not published until 1949, we find an excellent opportunity for grasping the essential analogousness of Wordsworth’s treatments of experiences superficially so different as the gazing on a tuft of primroses, the contemplating of the ruins at Tintern, the sudden glimpsing of a cross high above the devastated monastery at the Grande Chartreuse, the reading of heroic tales, and the recollecting of saints’ lives. The poet’s quest, in all of these encounters, is invariably for those “privileged moments,” which he treasures, those “spots of time” “that with distinct pre-eminence retain / A renovating virtue” (Prelude XII, 208–10). It is to the fact of the analogousness of these experiences, presented in this poem in terms of the poet’s views of perception, knowledge, history, poetry, and language that this paper seeks to draw attention. The discussion of the “spots of time” also attempts to show the similarity between Wordsworth’s treatment of these moments of insight and Platonic/Augustinian ascent patterns, Wordsworth’s relationship to a continuing tradition being a sub-theme of the paper.
GaN based transformer-less microinverter with extended-duty-ratio boost and doubly grounded voltage swing inverter

Microinverters are capturing the roof-top-PV market due to their plug and play feature, easy installation, and higher power yield under partial shading condition. This paper explores a converter for the transformer-less microinverter with extended-duty-ratio (EDR) boost as the DC-DC stage and doubly grounded inverter as the DC-AC stage. EDR boost is a hybrid of the interleaved boost and switched capacitor concept which has the advantage of providing high gain while simultaneously maintaining reduced voltage and current stress on most of the switches. The inductor currents are interleaved, reducing the equivalent ripple on the converter input current and the inductor power loss. The doubly grounded voltage swing inverter has the advantages of reduced capacitor requirement for 120 Hz power decoupling and zero capacitive-coupled common-mode ground currents, critical for transformer-less PV inverters. Also through dynamically variable DC-link with large voltage swing approach the decoupling capacitor is reduced allowing an all film capacitor implementation. A 300 W GaN based inverter prototype with 20 V–40 V DC input and 120 V, 60 Hz AC output and operating at switching frequency of 100 kHz has been developed to validate the converter's operation in hardware.
Observations of Stellar Oscillations with the Hubble Space Telescope

A rationale and plan for using the Hubble Space Telescope to observe solar-like oscillations in stars is presented.
A Road Map for Interdisciplinary Collaborations

When it comes to protecting athletes, warfighters, and laborers from exertional heat stroke (EHS), an interdisciplinary collaboration between different entities is of the upmost importance, especially when those entities share many common goals. Currently, organizations such as the Korey Stringer Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and additional organizations discussed in this section do not have an effective framework in place to share their research and EHS knowledge, leading to a potential lack in appropriate EHS care. By providing a road map for effective interdisciplinary collaboration, organizations can facilitate advancement in each entity’s ability to prevent, recognize, treat, and recover/return to activity from EHS.
Exploratory and Descriptive Methods

Before beginning any sort of statistical analysis, it is imperative to take a preliminary look at the data with three main goals in mind: first, to check for errors and anomalies; second, to understand the distribution of each of the variables on its own; and third, to begin to understand the nature and strength of relationships among variables. Errors should, of course, be corrected, since even a small percentage of erroneous data values can drastically influence the results. Understanding the distribution of the variables, especially the outcomes, is crucial to choosing the appropriate multipredictor regression method. Finally, understanding the nature and strength of relationships is the first step in building a more formal statistical model from which to draw conclusions.
Two fast hemoglobin components in Liberian blood samples.

Two abnormal hemoglobins, at least one of which has not previously been described, were encountered with appreciable frequency in Liberian blood samples. Some properties of these components are described.
Origins and Development

This contention by Lieber prefaces his now classic exposition on legal hermeneutics. It appeared in 1839, the year of Peirce’s birth, and anticipates in significant ways, with special reference to law, the method of inquiry of semiotics. It is appropriate here to introduce the topic of a semiotics of legal hermeneutics by way of Lieber: The signs which man uses, the using of which implies intention, for the purpose of conveying ideas or notions to his fellow-creatures, are very various, for instance, gestures, signals, telegraphs, monuments, sculpture of all kinds, pictorial and hieroglyphic signs, the stamp on coins, seals, beacons, buoys, insignia, ejaculations, articulate sounds, or their representations, that is, phonetic characters on stones, wood, leaves, paper, etc., entire periods, or single words, such as names in a particular place, and whatever other signs, even the flowers in the flower language of the East, might be enumerated.… These signs then are used to convey certain ideas, and interpretation, in its widest meaning, is the discovery and representation of the true meaning of any sign used to convey ideas. (Lieber 1839/1963:17,18)
The good and bad of working relationships: implications for burnout

The concept of burnout materialized in the 1970s (Schaufeli et al., 2009), and was defined as a multidimensional syndrome that is experienced in response to chronic job stressors (Maslach, 1993). Much has been written about burnout, and given the amount of time people spend at work each week (e.g., typical estimates across countries for full-time employees range from 40 hours/week in Canada to 42 hours/week in UK, and 43 hours/week in Australia; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2012; Statistics Canada, 2011), it is not surprising that chronic, negative working conditions can lead to feelings of exhaustion, cynicism, and inefficacy. It also is not surprising that employees form many relationships – both good and bad – with the people with whom they interact at work, including supervisors, clients, and coworkers. Ironically, these relationships constitute both potential chronic demands as well as potential resources to reduce demands. Therefore, the quality of these relationships has a huge impact on employees’ level of burnout and overall health and well-being. Moreover, in an information/service economy, the quality of working relationships has vital importance for both individual career development as well as organizational productivity.
The Impact of Women in Parliament

O’Brien and Piscopo examine how increases in the number of female parliamentarians shape three outcomes: policies and policymaking, public opinion, and the legislature as a workplace. Reviewing the literature, the authors conclude that female representatives indeed diversify legislative agendas, especially regarding women and other vulnerable groups. Women’s presence also erodes negative perceptions about women as political leaders, both among the public and among politicians. However, O’Brien and Piscopo also find that women’s presence meets resistance, particularly because parliaments’ internal cultures and leadership structures remain male-dominated. Gender quotas mediate all these trends: Quotas raise the number of female parliamentarians and accelerate political and social change but may also provoke backlash. The authors conclude by calling for more research on this latter trend.
Effects of graded nitrogen levels on the growth and quality of Cordyline fruticosa L. variety ‘Purple Compacta’ in Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka

Cordyline is a popular foliage plant with high demand in the export markets as cut decorative foliage. Nitrogen has significant effects on vegetative growth and quality of foliage plants. A shade house (50%) experiment was conducted to determine the effects of graded nitrogen levels on vegetative growth and quality of cordyline (Cordyline fruticosa var. ‘purple compacta’) plants in the Crop Farm, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with twenty replications. Five treatments were defined viz. 0.5(T1), 1.0 (T2), 1.5 (T3), 2.0 (T4) and 2.5 (T5) g nitrogen/plant/month (g/p/m). Recommended agronomic practices were followed uniformly for all treatments. Parameters viz. plant height, leaf area and plant biomass were measured at monthly interval and quality of cuttings was assessed at 3 months after transplanting. Analysis of Variance was performed to determine significant difference among treatments (p < 0.05). Results revealed that plants belong to T1 (nitrogen level 0.5g/p/m) showed significantly (p < 0.05) better performance in the measured growth parameters viz. plant height, leaf area and plant biomass while the lowest performance was observed in T5 at 3 MAT. In quality assessment, plants grown at T1 received significantly highest scores. It could be concluded that, nitrogen level of 0.5g/p/m (T1) is the suitable amount of nitrogen as growth and quality of plants was higher.
Detection of Low Power Trojans in Standard Cell Designs using Built-in Current Sensors

An approach to detect ultra-low-power no-payload Trojans by analyzing IDDT waveforms at each gate is presented. The approach uses a novel ATPG to insert small number of current sensors in order to analyze the behavior of individual gates at the IDDT waveform. The proposed method is assisted by a standard cell placement method that strengthens Trojan detection. Experimental results on the largest ISCAS'85, ISCAS'89 and ITC'99 benchmarks demonstrate that low-power no-payload Trojans are detected without any area overhead and with negligible performance degradation.
Mass Spectrometry-Based Integration and Expansion of the Chemical Diversity Harbored Within a Marine Sponge

Marine sponges and their associated symbionts produce a structurally diverse and complex set of natural products including alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, lipids, and steroids. A single sponge with its symbionts can produce all of the above-mentioned classes of molecules and their analogs. Most approaches to evaluating sponge chemical diversity have focused on major metabolites that can be isolated and characterized; therefore, a comprehensive evaluation of intra- (within a molecular family; analogs) and inter-chemical diversity within a single sponge remains incomplete. We use a combination of metabolomics tools, including a supervised approach via manual library search and literature search, and an unsupervised approach via molecular networking and MS2LDA analysis to describe the intra and inter-chemical diversity present in Smenospongia aurea. Furthermore, we use imaging mass spectrometry to link this chemical diversity to either the sponge or the associated cyanobacteria. Using these approaches, we identify seven more molecular features that represent analogs of four previously known peptide/polyketide smenamides and assign the biosynthesis of these molecules to the symbiotic cyanobacteria by imaging mass spectrometry. We extend this analysis to a wide diversity of molecular classes including indole alkaloids and meroterpenes.
Does Organization Research Have a File Drawer Problem

The file drawer problem occurs when research not published for reasons including statistically nonsignificant results, small effects, or small samples, all examples of publication bias, or author s...
Species energy and Thermal Performance Theory predict 20-yr changes in ant community abundance and richness.

In an era of rapid climate change, and with it concern over insect declines, we used two theories to predict 20-yr changes in 34 North American ant communities. The ecosystems, from deserts to hardwood forests, were first surveyed in the 1990s. When resurveyed in 2016-2017, they averaged 1°C warmer with 200 g C·m-2 ·yr-1 higher plant productivity. Ant colony abundance changed from -49% to +61%. Consistent with Thermal Performance Theory, colony abundance increased with temperature increases < 1°C, then decreased as a site's mean monthly temperature change increased up to +2.4°C. Consistent with Species Energy Theory, (1) ant abundance tracked changes in a measure of energy availability (net aboveground productivity, g C·m-2 ·yr-1 ) and (2) increases in colony abundance drove increases in local plot- and transect-level species richness but not that of Chao 2, an estimate of the size of the species pool. Even after accounting for these drivers, local species richness was still higher ~20 yr after the original surveys, likely due to the increased activity of ant workers. These results suggest community changes are predictable using theory from geographical ecology, and that warming can first enhance but may ultimately decrease the abundance of this important insect taxon.
Hemorrhagic Transformation in the Natural History of Acute Embolic Stroke

Interest generated by the potential benefits of thrombolytic treatment (especially tissue-type plasminogen activator, t-PA) for acute stroke is tempered by the serious complication of intracranial bleeding. The risks of intracranial bleeding are presently being assessed in several United States and European pilot trials, of different design, using intravenously administered t-PA in acute stroke. Serious intracranial bleeding in these studies refers to bleeding which causes clinical neurologic deterioration not attributable to the original stroke. When the pilot phase of these investigations is complete, control groups of untreated patients will help us compare, in a scientific fashion, intracranial bleeding associated with t-PA. Meanwhile, observations on the natural incidence and clinical computed tomography (CT) features of hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in untreated patients with acute embolic stroke will have to serve as a framework for comparison with acute stroke patients treated with thrombolytic agents.
Friends in High Places: Peer Effects and Politics

We demonstrate that personal connections amongst U.S. politicians have a significant impact on Senate voting behavior. Networks based on alumni connections between politicians are consistent predictors of voting behavior. We estimate sharp measures that control for common characteristics of the network, as well as heterogeneous impacts of a common network characteristic across votes. We find that the effect of alumni networks is close to 60% as large as the effect of state-level considerations. The network effects we identify are stronger for more tightly linked networks, and at times when votes are most valuable. We show that politicians use school ties as a mechanism to engage in vote trading (“logrolling”), and that alumni networks help facilitate the procurement of discretionary earmarks.
The long-standing significance of genetic diversity in conservation

Since allozymes were first used to assess genetic diversity in the 1960s and 1970s, biologists have attempted to characterize gene pools and conserve the diversity observed in domestic crops, livestock, zoos and (more recently) natural populations. Recently, some authors have claimed that the importance of genetic diversity in conservation biology has been greatly overstated. Here, we argue that a voluminous literature indicates otherwise. We address four main points made by detractors of genetic diversity's role in conservation by using published literature to firmly establish that genetic diversity is intimately tied to evolutionary fitness, and that the associated demographic consequences are of paramount importance to many conservation efforts. We think that responsible management in the Anthropocene should, whenever possible, include the conservation of ecosystems, communities, populations and individuals, and their underlying genetic diversity.
Online relationship education for help-seeking low-income couples: A Bayesian replication and extension of the OurRelationship and ePREP programs.

Low-income couples are at increased risk for relationship instability and divorce. In response, online relationship education programs such as ePREP and OurRelationship have been developed to more easily reach this population. A previous trial indicated that these programs promote relationship functioning (Doss et al., 2020) and individual well-being (Roddy et al., 2020a). However, given that these effects were notably larger than previous studies of in-person relationship education and approached effect sizes observed in couple therapy, it is possible that the magnitude of these effects was somewhat spurious; therefore, these findings need replication. The current manuscript seeks to replicate these programs' previous effects on relationship functioning and determine whether these effects are stable. Using a sample of 671 low-income couples seeking relationship help (N = 1337 individuals) and Bayesian estimation, the current study replicated previous findings that the OurRelationship and ePREP programs offered with four coaching calls produced reliable improvements in relationship functioning relative to a 6-month waitlist control group. There were no statistically reliable differences between the two active interventions. Bayesian analyses indicated that the effects of the two online programs were larger than the average effects of in-person relationship education for low-income couples reported in previous studies, roughly equivalent to efficacy studies of in-person relationship education reported in previous studies, smaller than those that resulted from the OurRelationship program delivered to distressed couples without an income requirement and smaller than couple therapy.
Sleep and White Matter in Adults with Down Syndrome.

Adults with Down syndrome are at a high risk for disordered sleep. These sleep problems could have marked effects on aging and Alzheimer’s disease, potentially altering white matter integrity. This study examined the associations between disordered sleep assessed via an actigraph accelerometer worn on 7 consecutive nights, presence of diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea, and diffusion tensor imaging indices of white matter integrity in 29 non-demented adults with Down Syndrome (48% female, aged 33–54 years). Average total sleep time was associated with lower mean diffusivity in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (r = −0.398, p = 0.040). Average sleep efficiency, length of awakenings, and movement index were related to fractional anisotropy in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (r = −0.614 to 0.387, p ≤ 0.050). Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea was associated with fractional anisotropy in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus (r = −0.373, p = 0.050). Findings suggest that more disrupted sleep is associated with lower white matter integrity in the major association tracts in middle-aged adults with Down syndrome. Longitudinal work is needed to confirm the directionally of associations. Sleep interventions could be an important component for promoting optimal brain aging in the Down syndrome population.
Research Note: Bacterial composition of settled dust during growout of broiler chickens

ABSTRACT Dust present in poultry houses can disseminate bacteria in air and deposit them on surfaces. This study evaluated bacteria in settled dust during growout of broilers from two flocks (Flocks A and B). Dust samples for bacteria analyses were obtained during 6 wks of growout (Flocks A and B) and 1 wk after flock termination (Flock B) by environmental swabbing and collecting dust in petri dishes from multiple locations inside the poultry house. For weekly swabbing, dust deposited during each wk of the sampling period (non-cumulatively, n=12/wk) and cumulatively (n=12/wk) throughout the sampling period was collected. Swabbed dust samples were analyzed for counts (log10 CFU/28 cm2) of aerobic bacteria, E. coli, coliforms, and Salmonella recovery. For petri dish dust collection, dust was collected in weekly and bi-weekly time spans during the sampling period and then analyzed for Salmonella recovery. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and Fisher's Exact Test and means were separated using LSD. Only aerobic plate counts changed over time in dust during growout (Flocks A and B; P
Doppler Flow Visualization Using Large Time-Bandwidth Signals

Our group is primarily interested in the imaging of blood flow, the construction of velocity profiles, and in determining volume blood flow in the cardiovascular system. In order to examine the factors limiting our ability to image velocity in blood vessels, it is necessary to interrelate system resolution constraints with the target model and its environment.
Electronic Scientific Information, Open Access, and Editorial Peer Review: Changes on the Horizon?

This paper reviews some of the many changes to publishing resulting from the electronic environment and focuses on how open access may impact or alter the editorial peer review process. Developments of particular importance to editorial peer review include the impact of electronic journals (e-journals) on scholarly publishing in general, pre-print repositories, open access journals, and access to unpublished data. New pricing models are changing the economics of scholarly publishing, and there are promises of quick reviews that may impact the peer review process itself. The paper ends with a discussion of the role the government is playing in developing a workable open access model.
Thermodynamics of Chemical Reactions

General relations for exchange of mass among the constituents of a mixture are included in the framework set up in the preceding lecture. Specifically, let p a be the peculiar density of constituent a, where a = 1, 2,…, k.