cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photochemistry of uranyl complexes with the salicylidene-α-hydroxy acid chelates, X-Sal-AHA

Abstract Two dimeric uranyl complexes, K2[UO2(3,5-diCl-Sal-AHA)]2 (1) and Na2[UO2(3,5-ditbutyl-Sal-AHA)]2 (2), were synthesized from salicylidene-α-hydroxy acid-containing chelates of the X-Sal-AHA series. Both are photochemically reactive upon irradiation with UV light, with quantum yields of 4.2% and 2.9% for 1 and 2, respectively. Irradiation results in similar spectroscopic changes for 1 and 2, which differ for each depending on the presence of air. The photolysis products include an air-sensitive U(IV) species, which can reduce methyl viologen, and an aldehyde resulting from decarboxylation of the chelate. The photochemistry of 1 and 2 is more similar to that of the Fe(III) complexes of the X-Sal-AHA chelates than to the typical photochemical reaction of uranyl nitrate in solution.
Basis for non-propagation domains, their transformations and their impact on software reliability

Fault propagation analysis is an important step in determining system reliability and defining fault tolerance strategies. Typically, in the early software design phases, the propagation probability for a fault is assumed to be one. However, the assumption that faults will always propagate highly underestimates reliability, and valuable resources may be wasted on fixing faults that may never propagate. To determine the fault propagation probability, a concept of flat parts is introduced. A flat part is a property of a function; when multiple functions containing flat parts interact with each other, these flat parts undergo a transformation. During this transformation, the flat parts may be killed, preserved, or new flat parts may be generated. Interval arithmetic-based rules to determine such flat part transformations are introduced. A flat part-based propagation analysis can be used to determine the reliability of a software system, or software-driven mechanical system expressed functionally. In addition, the information obtained through flat part-based propagation analysis can be used to add sensors within the flat parts to increase the probability of fault detection, thus increasing the robustness of the system under study.
What Will It Take to Reduce HIV Incidence in the United States: A Mathematical Modeling Analysis.

Background The National HIV/AIDS Strategy has set ambitious goals to improve the epidemic in the United States. However, there is a paucity of usable program-level benchmarks tied to population-level epidemiologic goals. Our objective was to define tangible benchmarks for annual rates along the care continuum that are likely to translate to meaningful reductions in incidence. Methods We used a validated mathematical model of HIV transmission and care engagement to characterize care continuum parameters that would translate into 50% reductions in incidence by 2025, compared with a base case scenario of the current US care continuum. We generated a large pool of simulations in which rates of screening, linkage, and retention in care were varied across wide ranges to evaluate permutations that halved incidence by 2025. Results Among all simulations, 7% achieved a halving of incidence. It was impossible for our simulations to achieve this target if the annual rate of disengagement from care exceeded 20% per year, even at high rates of care reengagement. When retention in care was 95% per year and people living with HIV (PLWH) out of care reengaged within 1.5 years (on average), the probability of halving incidence by 2025 was approximately 90%. Conclusions HIV programs should aim to retain at least 95% of PLWH in care annually and reengage people living with HIV into care within an average of 1.5 years to achieve the goal of halving HIV incidence by 2025.
Parent–Child Care as a Brief Dyadic Intervention for Children With Mild to Moderate Externalizing Problems: A Case Study:

Although many parenting interventions have been shown efficacious in reducing externalizing behavior problems in young children, they often take months to implement and tend to target children with moderate to severe behavior problems. Parent–Child Care (PC-CARE) was designed to be an engaging, brief (six-session) dyadic intervention to reduce mental health symptoms even for children with few behavior problems and/or parents who are unable to commit to lengthy treatments. We present an evidence-based case study of a 5-year-old child with mild externalizing problems and his biological parents, who participated in PC-CARE. Standardized measures were collected, and the child’s and parents’ emotional availability were assessed at pre- and posttreatment. Weekly codings of parent–child interactions and parent-reported measures of child behaviors were also collected. This child’s behavioral symptoms improved from pre- to posttreatment (per parents’ reports and observation), and he maintained this improved behavi...
Mechanism of Interleukin-10 Inhibition of T-Helper Cell Activation by Superantigen at the Level of the Cell Cycle

We have analyzed the effects of interleukin-10 (IL-10) on the entry of quiescent CD4+ T cells into the cell cycle upon stimulation with the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). IL-10 arrested cells at G/G1. IL-10 treatment prevented the downregulation of p27Kip1, an inhibitory protein that controls progression out of the G phase of the cell cycle. IL-10 also prevented the upregulation of the G1 cyclins D2 and D3, proteins necessary for entry and progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Associated with the inhibition of the cell cycle, IL-10 suppressed SEB induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Addition of exogenous IL-2 to IL-10–treated cells significantly reversed the antiproliferative effects of IL-10. Moreover, IL-10 effects on the early G1proteins p27Kip1 and cyclin D2 were similarly reversed by exogenous IL-2. Although this reversal by IL-2 was pronounced, it was not complete, suggesting that IL-10 may have some effects not directly related to the suppression of IL-2 production. Cell separation experiments suggest that IL-10 can effect purified CD4+ T cells directly, providing functional evidence for the presence of IL-10 receptors on CD4+ T cells. IL-10 also inhibited expression of IL-2 transcriptional regulators c-fos and c-jun, which also inhibit other cell functions. Our studies show that the mechanism of IL-10 regulation of quiescent CD4+ T-cell activation is mainly by blocking induction of IL-2 that is critical to downregulation of p27Kip1 and upregulation of D cyclins in T-cell activation and entry into the cell cycle.
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and the health care worker

The continued resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) and the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistant strains have placed a burden on urban health care facilities across the globe [1]. Because of their ongoing contact with patients, health care workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting and spreading multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDRTB). To date, hundreds of HCWs in the United States have developed tuberculin skin test (TST) conversions during outbreaks of MDRTB. Based on current reports, at least 20 HCWs have acquired active MDRTB from an occupational exposure and several have died [2,3]. Numerous other HCWs with both latent and active MDRTB have undoubtedly gone unreported.
Response time, autonomic mediation, and reversibility of hyperoxic bradycardia in conscious dogs.

Normobaric hyperoxia decreases heart rate (HR) in humans and animals. This study explored the mechanisms of hyperoxic bradycardia by examining its response time, autonomic neural mediation, and rev...
Center-of-Mass Energy Removal in Relativistic Three-Quark Models of the Proton

A variant of a squared three-body Dirac equation is used to determine center-of-mass energy effects in independent particle motion approximations for three quarks in the nucleon. A scalar linear flux tube potential is used to confine the quarks. The relativistic nearly massless three-quark system, in the rest frame where the total momentum is zero, has a squared energy that is 3/5 the value compared to when the quarks are assumed to move independently. This is smaller than the 2/3 energy ratio determined using the non-relativistic harmonic oscillator model. This analytic model has one parameter, the flux tube constant. Choosing the flux tube constant to reproduce the proton rest energy, results in the analytic wave function well reproducing the proton axial charge and rms charge radius. The proton magnetic moment predicted is 2.235, lower than experiment.
A new laparoscopic retroperitoneal posterior culdoplasty technique.

Objective To test the hypothesis that laparoscopic retroperitoneal culdoplasty executed with a CO2 laser is comparable to the same operation performed with mechanical laparoscopic instruments and to extend a previously reported series of laparoscopic posterior culdoplasties. Study design A prospective, cohort, comparison, clinical study was conducted to determine relative risk on 30 subjects who met inclusion criteria for this trial. Group I patients (n = 15) were subjected to laparoscopic culdoplasty with a CO2 laser, group II subjects (n = 15) were exposed to the same intervention with 5-mm laparoscopic mechanical instruments. Both groups were observed for intraoperative, immediate postoperative and delayed complications. During the postoperative follow-up period, the following parameters were recorded: dyschesia, dyspareunia, sexual dysfunction, pelvic pain (preoperative and postoperative rating scale for pain used). Results There was no significant difference in clinical and demographic data between the two groups. All planned laparoscopic culdoplasties for symptomatic enterocele were successfully carried out, with no conversions to laparotomy or vaginal surgery. In group I, average operating time was 1 hour, 11 minures, and in group II it averaged 47 minutes (P = .03). There were no intraoperative complications or blood transfusions. During the early recovery period, 26% in group I vs. 6% in group II (P = .04) reported transitional urine retention. Two of those patients from group I developed symptoms of lower urinary tract infections. In group I, one patient (3%) (P = .10) developed a recurrence of enterocele, grade 2. In group II, one patient (3%) (P = .10) experienced difficulty during sexual intercourse following laparoscopic culdoplasty. In all patients but two, symptoms of dyschesia, dyspareunia and sexual dysfunction related to anatomy distortion and pelvic pain were cured. Conclusion Laparoscopic retroperitoneal posterior culdoplasty executed with mechanical instruments yielded a clinical outcome similar to that of surgery performed with a CO2 laser. The operative time was statistically significantly longer when the operation was performed with a laser. Using a laser increases the potential for complications associated with the laser itself and increases the cost of the operation. Ninety-three percent of patients remained symptom free after surgery.
The National Medical Commission Bill 2017 – The Relevant Clauses

The National Medical Commission Bill 2017 was labelled Bill No 279 0f 2017The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 a bill to provide for a medical education system that ensures availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals; that encourages medical professionals to adopt latest medical research in their work and to contribute to research; that has an objective periodic assessment of medical institutions and facilitates maintenance of a medical register for India and enforces high ethical standards in all aspects of medical services; that is flexible to adapt to changing needs and has an effective grievance redressal mechanism and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto
Beatlab: How a Hip-Hop Digital Space Became an Outlet for Political Dialogue

This paper explores the implications of a project called “Beatlab,” a digital music studio that was created at Chestnut Hill College as a gathering place to craft music (beats) and write personal reflections (rhymes). I document how Beatlab emerged as a safe space for expression and self-exploration and in turn, became a hub for conversation around complex political issues for the College and beyond.
Common bacterial infections and their treatment in hospitalized pediatric patients.

PURPOSE Common bacterial infections in pediatric patients that the hospital pharmacist may encounter are reviewed, and guidance on the safe and effective use of antibiotics to treat those infections is provided. SUMMARY Pharmacists play a key role in evaluating and creating antibiotic treatment plans for patients with infections. Bacterial infections are a common reason for hospital admission in pediatric patients, and pharmacists working in hospitals may be consulted to provide treatment and monitoring recommendations. It is important for pharmacists to be aware of similarities and differences in adult and pediatric populations with regard to presenting signs and symptoms of bacterial infections, common causative pathogens, and antibiotic selection, dosing, and monitoring. This article reviews current approaches to treatment of common bacterial infections in pediatric patients and also provides general suggestions for antibiotic use. CONCLUSION Pharmacists have an opportunity to positively impact the care of pediatric patients with bacterial infections. Especially at facilities where pediatric patients are not regularly treated, pharmacists can potentially improve care through provision of recommendations for optimal antibiotic selection, dosing, and monitoring.
Analytic and computational analysis of wing twist to minimize induced drag during roll

Geometric and/or aerodynamic wing twist can be used to produce a lift distribution that results in a rolling moment. A decomposed Fourier-series solution to Prandtl’s lifting-line theory is used to...
Stormwater ponds: An overlooked but plentiful urban designer ecosystem provides invasive plant habitat in a subtropical region (Florida, USA)

Abstract Designed ecosystems are built as part of ongoing urban expansion, providing a suite of valued ecosystem services. However, these new ecosystems could also promote disservices by facilitating the colonization and spread of invasive species. We conduct the first assessment of the quantity and invasion of an overlooked designed ecosystem: stormwater ponds. These ponds are commonly recommended for managing urban hydrology, but little is known about their ecology or extent of proliferation. Using a broad-scale survey of pond coverage in Florida, USA, we found that over 76,000 stormwater ponds have been built just in this state, forming 2.7% of total urban land cover. This extensive pondscape of manufactured habitats could facilitate species spread throughout urban areas and into nearby natural waterbodies. We also conducted a survey of the severity of plant invasion in 30 ponds in Gainesville, FL, US across two pond types (dry vs. wet), and a gradient of management intensities (low, medium, high) and pond ages. We unexpectedly found a high number of invasive plant species (28 in just 30 ponds). Ninety-six percent of surveyed ponds contained from one to ten of these species, with ponds exhibiting high turnover in invader composition (i.e., high beta diversity). The bank sections of dry unmanaged ponds exhibited the highest mean invasive species richness (5.8 ± 1.3) and the inundated centers of wet medium managed ponds exhibited the highest mean invasive species cover (34 ± 12%). Invasive plant richness and cover also tended to be greater in dry ponds with higher soil nutrient levels, and in older wet ponds. Therefore, we found that highly maintained and younger wet ponds were the least invaded. Nevertheless, common management practices that limit plant invasions may also limit native species establishment and invasion may increase in the decades following pond construction.
Mining Social Media Data for Rapid Damage Assessment during Hurricane Matthew: Feasibility Study

AbstractPrevious research has employed social media index such as disaster-related ratio (DIRR) or damage-related ratio (DARR) and sentiment to estimate the damages during disasters. These studies ...
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the United States, 2011-2016: patient characteristics and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and describe MDR-TB according to three characteristics: previous TB disease, recent transmission of MDR-TB, and reactivation of latent MDR-TB infection.SETTING and DESIGN: We used 2011-2016 surveillance data from the US National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and National Tuberculosis Genotyping Service and used logistic regression models to estimate risk factors associated with MDR-TB.RESULTS: A total of 615/45 209 (1.4%) cases were confirmed as MDR-TB; 111/615 (18%) reported previous TB disease; 41/615 (6.7%) were attributed to recent MDR-TB transmission; and 449/615 (73%) to reactivation. Only 12/41 (29%) patients with TB attributed to recent transmission were known to be contacts of someone with MDR-TB. For non-US-born patients, the adjusted odds ratios of having MDR-TB were 32.6 (95%CI 14.6-72.6) among those who were known to be contacts of someone with MDR-TB and 6.5 (95%CI 5.1-8.3) among those who had had previous TB disease.CONCLUSION: The majority of MDR-TB cases in the United States were associated with previous TB disease or reactivation of latent MDR-TB infection; only a small proportion of MDR-TB cases were associated with recent transmission.
The Current Account in the Macroeconomic Adjustment Process

Macroeconomic adjustments to changes in the economic environment are to a large extent conditioned by the intertemporal choices of economic agents. When agents face an intertemporal budget constraint, a decision to alter current indebtedness implies changes in future consumption possibilities and will be based on expectations of the entire future path of key variables and not only current variables. A formal model to show how today’s current account is a function of both current and future economic variables is presented. The determination of the current account under classical assumptions of market clearing and continuous full employment is emphasized.
Long-TUC-seq is a robust method for quantification of metabolically labeled full-length isoforms

The steady state expression of each gene is the result of a dynamic transcription and degradation of that gene. While regular RNA-seq methods only measure steady state expression levels, RNA-seq of metabolically labeled RNA identifies transcripts that were transcribed during the window of metabolic labeling. Whereas short-read RNA sequencing can identify metabolically labeled RNA at the gene level, long-read sequencing provides much better resolution of isoform-level transcription. Here we combine thiouridine-to-cytosine conversion (TUC) with PacBio long-read sequencing to study the dynamics of mRNA transcription in the GM12878 cell line. We show that using long-TUC-seq, we can detect metabolically labeled mRNA of distinct isoforms more reliably than using short reads. Long-TUC-seq holds the promise of capturing isoform dynamics robustly and without the need for enrichment.
Comparison of in-hospital outcomes and readmissions for valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement vs. reoperative surgical aortic valve replacement: a contemporary assessment of real-world outcomes

Aims We sought to perform a head-to-head comparison of contemporary 30-day outcomes and readmissions between valve-in-valve transcatheter aortic valve replacement (VIV-TAVR) patients and a matched cohort of high-risk reoperative surgical aortic valve replacement (re-SAVR) patients using a large, multicentre, national database. Methods and results We utilized the nationally weighted 2012-16 National Readmission Database claims to identify all US adult patients with degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves who underwent either VIV-TAVR (n = 3443) or isolated re-SAVR (n = 3372). Thirty-day outcomes were compared using multivariate analysis and propensity score matching (1:1). Unadjusted, VIV-TAVR patients had significantly lower 30-day mortality (2.7% vs. 5.0%), 30-day morbidity (66.4% vs. 79%), and rates of major bleeding (35.8% vs. 50%). On multivariable analysis, re-SAVR was a significant risk factor for both 30-day mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of VIV-SAVR (vs. re-SAVR) 0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.81] and 30-day morbidity [aOR for VIV-TAVR (vs. re-SAVR) 0.54, 95% CI 0.43-0.68]. After matching (n = 2181 matched pairs), VIV-TAVR was associated with lower odds of 30-day mortality (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.74), 30-day morbidity (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.43-0.72), and major bleeding (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.85). Valve-in-valve TAVR was also associated with shorter length of stay (median savings of 2 days, 95% CI 1.3-2.7) and higher odds of routine home discharges (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.61-2.78) compared to re-SAVR. Conclusion In this large, nationwide study of matched high-risk patients with degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves, VIV-TAVR appears to confer an advantage over re-SAVR in terms of 30-day mortality, morbidity, and bleeding complications. Further studies are warranted to benchmark in low- and intermediate-risk patients and to adequately assess longer-term efficacy.
PAStime: progress-aware scheduling for time-critical computing

Over-estimation of worst-case execution times (WCETs) of real-time tasks leads to poor resource utilization. In a mixed-criticality system (MCS), the over-provisioning of CPU time to accommodate the WCETs of highly critical tasks may lead to degraded service for less critical tasks. In this paper we present PAStime, a novel approach to monitor and adapt the runtime progress of highly time-critical applications, to allow for improved service to lower criticality tasks. In PAStime, CPU time is allocated to time-critical tasks according to the delays they experience as they progress through their control flow graphs. This ensures that as much time as possible is made available to improve the Quality-of-Service of less critical tasks, while high-criticality tasks are compensated after their delays. This paper describes the integration of PAStime with Adaptive Mixed-criticality (AMC) scheduling. The LO-mode budget of a high-criticality task is adjusted according to the delay observed at execution checkpoints. This is the first implementation of AMC in the scheduling framework of LITMUS^RT, which is extended with our PAStime runtime policy and tested with real-time Linux applications such as object classification and detection. We observe in our experimental evaluation that AMC-PAStime significantly improves the utilization of the low-criticality tasks while guaranteeing service to high-criticality tasks.
Abstract B27: MTORC1/2 inhibition as a treatment strategy for PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death. PIK3CA mutations are common, leading to a constitutively active phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). An effective means to target this pathway has yet to be identified. We investigated the use of a panel of inhibitors targeting the PI3K pathway including copanlisib (dual PI3K/mTOR), BYL-719 (alpha isomer specific PI3K), GDC-0941 (pan PI3K), and TAK-228 (MTORC1/2). To test the efficacy of these inhibitors in CRC, murine organotypic cancer spheroids (MDOCS) were generated from the invasive adenocarcinomas of Apc and Pik3ca transgenic mice. These inhibitors were investigated at clinically relevant doses (100-400nM). Copanlisib and TAK-228 were the only inhibitors to result in a significant reduction in the size of the MDOCS (200nM; 27% p-value Citation Format: Rebecca A. DeStefanis, Susan N. Payne, Devon Miller, Cheri A. Pasch, Christopher Babiarz, Alyssa DeZeeuw, Stephanie L. Fricke, Carley Sprackling, Alexander E. Yueh, Demetra P. Korkos, Dana R. Van De Hey, Gioia Sha, Aurora Greane, Jeremy D. Kratz, Linda Clipson, Kristina A. Matkowskyj, Michael A. Newton, Dustin A. Deming. MTORC1/2 inhibition as a treatment strategy for PIK3CA mutant colorectal cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting PI3K/mTOR Signaling; 2018 Nov 30-Dec 8; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(10_Suppl):Abstract nr B27.
Abstract 122: Effects of Early Administration of Argatroban on CPR Quality in Porcine Model of Prolonged Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Background: The effectiveness of CPR declines over time during prolonged cardiac arrest (CA). Intravascular thrombosis may be a contributing factor. As part of a larger study examining antithrombot...
The New Student Activists: The Rise of Neoactivism on College Campuses

A review of Jerusha O. Conner's The New Student Activists: The Rise of Neoactivism on College Campuses.
Screening for alternative splicing of lncRNA Dleu2 in the mouse liver cell line AML-12

The long non coding RNA deleted in leukemia 2 gene (Dleu2) has recently been demonstrated to be an active player in the progression of several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. Dleu2 may serve a role in modulating the downstream effects-mediated by alternative splicing of its multiple exons. However, the proportional expression of these alternative splicing populations of the Dleu2 exons is currently unknown. To determine how Dleu2 could be affected by alternative splicing, a series of alternative splicing primer sets were designed to investigate which transcripts were preferentially activated when Dleu2 was targeted for downregulation or upregulation. A specific Dleu2 small interfering RNA that targeted an exon upstream of the tumor suppressor microRNA site significantly knocked down Dleu2 expression across all the primer sets used, which targeted 13 different alternative splicing transcripts over 5 different promoter sites in the mouse liver cell line, AML-12. Similarly, 50 µM Resveratrol led to significant upregulation of Dleu2 in 11 alternative splicing transcripts. These results show that Dleu2 is capable of successful modulation across alternative splicing transcripts that can be screened, and also that Resveratrol can be a potential nutraceutical, which may potentially lead to novel approaches in the use of lncRNA Dleu2 for diagnostics and regulation.
Role of FDG-PET in Yttrium-90 treatment response evaluation

1376 Objectives: Yttrium-90 is an effective therapy for patients with intermediate stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Y-90 is a pure beta-emitter which induces cell death inside the cancerous lesions of the liver. Our goal in this study is to monitor the treatment response of Y-90 in the liver with the application of FDG PET using an adaptive threshold system.Methods: 14 patients (7 males and 7 females) with the average age of 63 who had undergone radioembolization of metastatic hepatic tumors with Yttrium-90 were studied. Subjects having multifocal liver metastases underwent FDG PET/CT before and after the treatment with Y-90 microspheres. Both scans were performed 60 minutes after tracer injection. All the images were analyzed using an adaptive thresholding system (ROVER software; ABX GmbH, Radeberg, Germany). Malignant lesions were localized from different lobes of the liver and global mean standardized uptake volume (SUVmean), max SUV (SUVmax) and partial volume effect corrected SUV mean (pvc SUVmean), total lesion glycolysis (TLG) and total lesion glycolysis corrected (TLG corrected) were calculated. A paired T-test was used to assess the changes between baseline and after treatment. Results: The baseline and post-treatment SUVmean(±SE) were 5.54(±0.62) and 3.92(±0.34), respectively (p=0.02). The baseline and post-treatment SUVmax were 10.17(±1.16) and 6.64(±0.52), respectively (p=0.009). The change of pvc SUVmean was not statistically significant (p=0.06). There was a decrease in TLG and TLG corrected in all 14 patients but the changes were not statistically significant, possibly due to small study population (p=0.08) and (p=0.057). Conclusion: Our study shows that FDG PET with an automated adaptive thresholding system can be an effective imaging technique to monitor the Y-90 treatment response using the global FDG uptake and volume of tumors, with the SUVmax and SUVmean measurements demonstrating the greatest change with treatment. Larger sample size is needed to confirm our findings.
Weather determines daily activity pattern of an endemic chipmunk with predictions for climate change

Abstract Environmental changes can affect an animal's activity pattern and influence fitness. Our goal was to understand the influence of weather on daily activity pattern and assess potential impacts of climate change on activity. We used the Organ Mountains Colorado chipmunk (Neotamias quadrivittatus australis) as a case study. To record activity, we deployed 19 remote cameras at locations occupied by the chipmunk for one year. First, we estimated seasonal variation in daily activity pattern using circular kernel density. Second, we tested if weather influenced activity in each season using Poisson regression in a model selection framework. Third, we predicted the impacts of future climate (RCP8.5 high-emissions scenario) on activity using the best weather model for each season. We found that times and modality of peak activity varied seasonally. Temperature influenced intensity of daily activity in late spring, early summer, monsoon, late fall, and winter, while precipitation influenced intensity of daily activity in early spring and early fall and relative humidity influenced intensity of daily activity in early and late fall. Intensity of daily activity was predicted to increase by 89% in winter and decrease by 51% in early summer under future (2050) climate. The predicted future increase in daily activity in winter may negatively affect fitness because small mammals have higher survival while hibernating. The predicted future decrease in daily activity in early summer may negatively affect fitness due to reduced reproductive output. Losing or gaining time for activity because of shifting climatic conditions could have severe consequences to fitness.
Drugs and retrograde amnesia.

Publisher Summary The retrograde amnesia (RA) phenomenon occurs in both animals and man and overwhelming evidence exists showing that a single electroconvulsive shock (ECS) treatment given after acquisition produces RA. Because ECS constitutes such a reliable RA treatment, drugs can be studied for their ability to duplicate the effects of this treatment or to antagonize or facilitate its effects. This chapter discusses three types of drugs effects on RA: (a) induction of RA by drugs, (b) drug-induced blockade of the known amnestic action of ECS, and (c) drug-induced facilitation of the amnestic action ECS or of other treatments under conditions in which RA does not ordinarily occur. The most prominent symptom produced by ECS is convulsion. The chapter also discusses various types of convulsant drugs, such as pentylenetetrazol and strychnine. Studies show that pentylenetetrazol produce a profound RA effect in rats and exerts a virtually “complete” RA effect when administered 8 hours after acquisition and substantial RA when administered as long as 4 days after acquisition. The concept of general anesthesia in humans is discussed in the chapter.
Evolutionary consequences of gender plasticity in genetically dimorphic breeding systems

A functional view of gender helps evolutionary biologists evaluate the mechanisms underlying breeding-system evolution. Evolutionary pathways from hermaphroditism to dioecy include the intermediate breeding systems of gynodioecy and androdioecy. These pathways start with the invasion of unisexual mutants, females or males, respectively, followed by alteration of the hermaphrodites to allocate more to the sexual function that the unisexuals lack. Eventually, hermaphrodites become unisexual and dioecy has evolved. Some species evolving along these pathways stop short of completing this second step, or even revert back from dioecy. We evaluate the hypothesis that gender plasticity is involved in these transitions to and from dioecy. Evidence from studies of subdioecious species that have evolved along the gynodioecy pathway suggests that gender plasticity occurs and stabilizes subdioecy by lowering the cost of producing seed. Factors influencing species evolving toward androdioecy, or reverting to androdioecy from dioecy, appear to be more varied and include reproductive assurance, herbivory and gender plasticity. In general, gender specialization appears to be favored in resource-poor environments regardless of which pathway is taken to dioecy.
Some Exchange Rates Are More Stable than Others: Short-Run Evidence from Transition Countries

The paper investigates empirically the endogenous liquidity nexus of exchange rate determination on a sample of four transition economies. We find evidence in favor of the hypothesis of a nonlinear error correction process vis-a-vis longer-term trend deviations. The results suggest that early and successful exchange-rate market and financial-account liberalization pays off in terms of depth of the market and, hence, faster adjustment of national currencies to short-term shocks to the exchange rate.
Transforming Caterpillars into Butterflies: The Role of Managerial Values and HR Systems in the Performance of Emergent Organizations - Executive Summary

Using the resource-based and dynamic capability perspectives, this project examines three factors that likely affect the performance of emerging firms: high performance work systems (HPWS), partnership philosophy, and an entrepreneurial orientation. Each of these may produce a sustainable competitive advantage by allowing firms to dynamically configure and reconfigure resource bundles. Results indicate that HPWS and partnership philosophy are positively associated with sales growth and innovation. Additional findings suggest that partnership and entrepreneurial orientation both increase the likelihood of implementing HPWS. Finally, results suggest that firms utilizing HPWS in conjunction with an entrepreneurial orientation achieve higher levels of sales growth.
Towards building a math discourse community: investigating collaborative information behavior

We reported a study that analyzes collaborative information behavior of small groups in an online math discourse community. Taking group as the unit of analysis, we analyzed the social interactions of participants engaged in collaborative math problem solving and examined how they seek for information in such context. Participants look for information oriented to the procedure, problem, context, and social aspects. Various resources and methods are observed being used by participants to satisfy their information needs. These findings help us understand social interactions and online communities.
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF INCENTIVES AND THE EFFICACY OF DIFFERENT METHODS IN KNOWLEDGE ACQUISITION: A STUDY

This dissertation examines two behavioral issues related to knowledge acquisition. First, we examine whether incentives successfully motivate IS domain experts to contribute knowledge to a knowledge management system. We also investigate whether the impact of incentives differs according to the orientation of the IS expert: internal and external, and then we examine if there is a moderating effect of tasks, simple and complex, on the incentives offered for knowledge capture. Second, we investigate the efficacy of different methods in facilitating knowledge capture from multiple IS domain experts.
Discovery, Management, and Preservation of Geospatial Data Using Hydra

As a growing number of disciplines adopt geospatial technologies in their research, the need for access to geospatial data, in a variety of formats, has grown dramatically. For librarians to meet this demand, we also need to provide preservation, curation, metadata, and discovery services. GeoHydra, our open source toolkit and set of practices, provides these services for Stanford's libraries. We incorporate a variety of geospatial content types from raster imagery to scientific vector data to georeferenced scanned maps, and provide a data model for repositories. We demonstrate the potential of a new architecture and practice for librarianship for geospatial data using the Hydra framework. The digitization and georeferencing of historic map collections, streamlining the acquisition and cataloging of vendor-supplied data, shared cataloging of geographic resources, and citation of geospatial research data are all examples of use cases that GeoHydra serves. Our metadata creation and management strategies imp...
International Database for Slurry Injection of Drilling Wastes

Publisher Summary This chapter describes and summarizes the slurry injection database and Argonne also evaluated the legal and administrative requirements used by the U. S. states and federal agencies to regulate slurry injection and the other types of drilling waste injection in a separate regulatory compendium. One of the goals of Argonne's evaluation of slurry injection technology was to identify as many examples of slurry injection jobs as possible and to compile information about them into a database where they could be readily compared and analyzed. Many of the injection jobs were actually conducted by drilling or service contractors, but frequently their identity was not listed in the sources of data. Muds and cuttings are separated, and the cuttings are transported to the slurrying system. Although the operational problems are inconvenient and costly to operators who have to stop their normal activities, environmental problems are of much greater concern. Unanticipated leakage to the environment not only creates a liability to the operator, but it also generally results in short-term to permanent stoppage of injection at that site.
Computing perceptual organization using voting methods and graphical enumeration

Presents an efficient hierarchical computational paradigm for perceptual organization. Organization at each level of the hierarchy is done by graph enumeration on a set of Gestalt graphs. Efficient voting methods are proposed. The authors develop the method in detail and analyze its computational efficiency, considering both time and space. The theoretical and practical results are very encouraging. They strongly advocate the idea of an organizational hierarchy, constructed using graph enumeration. Graph theoretic representations enable one to extract various structures with considerable ease. They evaluated the performance using real images, with good results. >
Harmonic radar tag measurement and characterization

Conventional radar systems transmit and receive at a single, fundamental frequency. It is sometimes challenging to identify a small object against a large background with these radars due to the relatively large return from the background. In effect, the background represents a clutter environment. Harmonic radar tags can be attached to an item, such as insects, and then used to track that item against the background. To do so, the radar must transmit a signal at the fundamental frequency but receive at twice that frequency. Since the clutter return is at the fundamental frequency, the radar is able to discriminate the return from the tag. This paper describes equipment constructed at Michigan State University to conduct research on harmonic tags.
Using iterative test generation in a PC based guided probe testing system

The model for an automated guided probe implemented on a IBM personal computer-based system is presented. With the addition of a few interface cards and the appropriate software, a PC can be transformed into a tester capable of driving an X-Y prober. Thus existing PC systems can be upgraded to acquire testing capability. An additional benefit of the PC-based system is the ability to do CAD layout of PCBs (printed circuit boards) at the same station. This advantage allows an engineer to test a prototype board during the design stages of a PCB. >
The harmonic impact of variable speed air conditioners on residential power distribution

Power electronic circuits fed directly from electric utility power systems are often the source of significant harmonic currents. The susceptibility of residential power distribution systems to harmonics generated by inverter-driven variable-speed air conditioners, which are expected to see wider application in the future, is examined. In general, variable-speed air conditioners are 15-40% more energy efficient than comparable single-speed air conditioners. However, simulations indicate that harmonics produced by significant market penetration of variable-speed air conditioners may cause customer service voltage distortion levels to exceed the limits given in recently proposed standards. >
Magnitude-only reconstruction using a sinusoidal speech modelMagnitude-only reconstruction using a sinusoidal speech model

In this paper a sinusoidal model for the speech waveform is used to develop a new synthesis technique that requires specification of only the amplitudes and frequencies of the component sine waves. These parameters are estimated from the short-time spectral magnitude. The resulting synthetic waveform preserves the short-time spectral magnitude during rapid movements of spectral energy such as voiced/unvoiced transitions, and yields speech of very high quality and intelligibility. The approach is sufficiently flexible to also allow for high-quality time-scale modification with the option of time-varying scaling. Finally, results are given for some initial experiments that explore the possibility of magnitude-only waveform coding at 8 kbps.
The profile of the one-time 1572 investigator

Abstract The FDA database on investigators completing the 1572 form constitutes a rich database of practicing investigators. Within the most recent three-year period, roughly half of all the principal investigators appear only once in the 1572 database, which leads some to conclude that many of these investigators have only conducted one study and may be reluctant to be involved in a second clinical trial. Part of the misunderstanding about these investigators comes from the incorrect notion that 1572 forms are required to be submitted to the FDA. Drawing upon a random sample of 762 US investigators, the study concludes that many of the one-time 1572 investigators have participated as principal investigators in far more than one clinical trial, although the number is less than the number of clinical trials reported by investigators with multiple 1572s on record. There are few demographic or prescribing differences between the one-time 1572 and the multi-1572 groups. Nor do they differ in the reasons for taking part in clinical trials. Investigators with multiple 1572s are more likely though to come from academic medical centers, teaching organizations or research centers. Investigators with one 1572 are no more dissatisfied with the key activities of running clinical trials at their sites than are other investigators, although the one 1572 investigators appear slightly less willing to continuing their participation in clinical trials. Investigators with multiple 1572s, with their record of IND trial experience are a valuable pool of candidates for clinical trials. However, the data in this study cautions organizations conducting clinical trials to not overlook the single largest group of investigators, those in the one-time 1572 pool.
Transients in distance protection

The demand for high-speed operation in distance protection involves design consideration under three main headings, namely: the transient primary current and voltage at the relaying point; the modification of these signals due to secondary circuits; and the effect of the modified secondary signals on two input comparators currently or prospectively employed.These are considered in terms of simple formulation showing their effect on voltage transformers and current transducers (whether current transformers or linear couplers).Alternative means of eliminating, or equating, transient secondary current and voltage signals are considered.The use of secondary replica impedances is formulated, and the effect of the relaxation transient in the voltage-transformer secondary circuit and its relation to transient time delay are pointed out.General consideration is given to the effect of secondary transient signals, containing components of different time-constants determined, respectively, by the primary and the secondary circuits, and of unequal amplitude, on currently used comparators.
Predicting renal failure after liver transplantation from measured glomerular filtration rate: review of up to 15 years of follow-up.

Background. The immunosuppressive medications that have contributed greatly to the success of liver transplantation are also associated with posttransplant renal dysfunction. We reviewed measured glomerular filtration rate (GFR) data from patients who underwent transplantation more than 10 years ago to assess whether results from specific time points can predict renal failure. Methods. The GFR data were obtained at initial evaluation (IE), at month 3, and at years 1, 2, 5, 10, and 15. Two groupings were compared, one based on GFR at IE and the other at month 3. Patients were further stratified into three GFR (mL/min/1.73 m2) groups: G1, GFR more than 80; G2, GFR 60 to 80; and G3, GFR less than 60. Results. A total of 592 liver transplant recipients met the inclusion criteria; 114 had paired GFR data from IE to year 15. Analysis of paired and censored data based on IE GFR showed that 62.2% of G3 patients developed renal failure by year 5; another 6.7% did so by year 10 (P=0.027). The month 3 GFR data showed that 56.3% of G3 patients developed renal failure by year 5; another 15.6% did so by year 10. Surprisingly, 37.0% of G2 patients experienced renal failure by year 5; another 11.1% did so by year 10 (P=0.0024). Conclusions. The month 3 data indicate a slow but steady decline in GFR over years. The lower the initial GFR is after transplant, the sooner renal failure develops. Patients with GFR less than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 at month 3 have a higher risk of renal failure; however, those who avoid renal failure seem to maintain renal function long term.
Public housing revisited: Racial differences, housing assistance, and socioeconomic attainment among low-income families

Abstract This study investigates racial differences in the short-term and long-term effect of living in public housing as a child on socioeconomic attainment among young adults from low-income families. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 data and state-level public housing information, propensity score matching estimations addressed the self-selection problems encountered when evaluating the impact of welfare programs. The study findings indicate that Blacks with short-term public housing residence during adolescence seem to be more disadvantaged in terms of housing self-sufficiency and car ownership in an early adulthood than their low-income Black counterparts who lived in private housing. In the long run; however, public housing residence had very small effects on socioeconomic attainment of both White and Black young adults. The benefits of public housing in terms of providing a secure residence for economically vulnerable groups; therefore, outweigh any potential negative impacts.
Mass Political Letter Writing in America: The Growth of an Institution

Communication from political leaders to the public has been greatly facilitated by the developments of radio and television but no corresponding invention has facilitated communication from the electorate to political leaders. Consequently letter writing may well have a more important function today in the political process than it had several generations ago. The following article examines this aspect of the political functions of the Post Office. The author is Assistant Professor of Sociology at Wellesley College.