cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biogenic Pelletization and Alteration of Suspended Argillaceous Sediments: ABSTRACT

The feeding activities and excretory products of the marine decapods Callianasa and Upogebia and the marine annelid Onuphis have been studied in the natural environments of the southern Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico coasts and in controlled aquarium experiments. These organisms produce depositionally significant quantities of argillaceous fecal pellets which are transported with hydraulically equivalent sand grains and deposited as viable, granular clays in relatively high-energy environments. The organisms also significantly alter clay minerals taken into their digestive systems and the organic-rich, argillaceous fecal pellets serve as sites for postdepositional alteration of the clay minerals. The fecal pellets are more than 90% mineral matter, largely clay minerals. The decapods produce rod-shaped fecal pellets about 2 mm long and 0.75 mm in diameter. The specific gravity and water content of these pellets yield a fall velocity in seawater equivalent to that of 0.25 mm quartz grains. The annelids produce ovoid fecal pellets, about 0.5 mm in diameter, with fall velocities in seawater equivalent to coarse silt and fine quartz sand. The argillaceous fecal pellets exhibit a clay mineralogy significantly different from that of the related suspended sediments. In fecal pellets the crystallinity of muscovite is disordered, the crystallinity of interlayered minerals is reduced, chlorite is largely destroyed, and the illite/montmorillonite ratio is reduced. There is a clay mineral difference between fecal pellets produced by decapods and annelids in the same environments. The argillaceous fecal pellets also are recycled in the coprophagic chain and the clay minerals are further altered. End_of_Article - Last_Page 645------------
Detection of blood group genes using multiplex SNaPshot method.

BACKGROUND: The determination of blood group antigens in patients and donors is of primary importance in transfusion medicine. Blood group antigens are inherited and are polymorphic in nature. The majority of polymorphic blood group antigens arise from single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the blood group genes. Many DNA-based assays, such as species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism, and microchips, have been described to study variant blood group genes. In this study, the SNaPshot (Applied Biosystems) method was adapted to detect SNPs in 10 common blood group systems. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: DNA regions of interest were amplified in multiplex PCR and annealed to specific oligonucleotide probe primers of different lengths. AmpliTaq DNA polymerase extended the primers by adding only a single fluorescent ddNTP to its 3′ end and was detected by differential mobility in capillary electrophoresis in a genetic analyzer. Results were analyzed using computer software in SNaPshot default analysis method. RESULTS: Seventeen SNP sites in 29 blood samples, previously phenotyped and/or genotyped, were used to test the accuracy and reproducibility of multiplex SNaPshot assays. The results were compared with the previously analyzed types. SNaPshot analyses predicted the 17 SNP sites accurately for all the 29 blood samples. Both homozygous and heterozygous blood groups were detected with equal confidence. CONCLUSION: Blood group detection by SNaPshot method is a practical alternative to antibody-dependent phenotype prediction. Starting with DNA, this method is fast with a turnaround time of 24 hours with mean reagent cost around $2 per SNP detected.
Glucose homeostasis during canine pregnancy: Insulin resistance, ketosis, and hypoglycemia

Through a variety of mechanisms, pregnancy causes insulin resistance, which suppresses the intracellular transport of glucose and increases blood glucose concentrations. In the extreme, gestational diabetes (GDM) mellitus may develop. In addition to insulin resistance, pregnant bitches have decreased ability to produce glucose via gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis and lipolysis, because the normal multi-factorial responses to hypoglycemia are blunted late in pregnancy. Simply fasting late-pregnant bitches is sufficient to cause blood glucose and insulin concentrations to decrease and ketones to increase. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical implications of pregnancy-associated changes in glucose homeostasis in bitches.
Metallic photonic crystals at optical wavelengths

We theoretically study three-dimensional metallic photonic-band-gap ~PBG! materials at near-infrared and optical wavelengths. Our main objective is to find the importance of absorption in the metal and the suitability of observing photonic band gaps in this structure. For that reason, we study simple cubic structures and the metallic scatterers are either cubes or interconnected metallic rods. Several different metals have been studied ~aluminum, gold, copper, and silver!. Copper gives the smallest absorption and aluminum is more absorptive. The isolated metallic cubes are less lossy than the connected rod structures. The calculations suggest that isolated copper scatterers are very attractive candidates for the fabrication of photonic crystals at the optical wavelengths. There has been growing interest in the development of easily fabricated photonic-band-gap ~PBG! materials operating at the optical frequencies; 1 these are periodic dielectric materials exhibiting frequency regions where electromagnetic ~EM! waves cannot propagate. The reason for the interest in PBG materials arises from the possible applications of those materials in several scientific and technical areas such as filters, waveguides, optical switches, cavities, design of more efficient lasers, etc. 1 Most of the research effort has been concentrated on the development of two-dimensional and three-dimensional PBG materials consisting of positive and frequency-independent dielectrics 1 because, in that case, one can neglect the possible problems related to the absorption.
Changes in the Mechanical and Biochemical Properties of Aortic Tissue due to Cold Storage

Background Temporary cold storage is a common procedure for preserving tissues for a short time before using them in a clinical or experimental setting. The process of storing tissues at refrigeration or freezing temperatures can affect the mechanical properties of the tissue. Previous studies were limited to uniaxial tensile tests and did not have substantial explanations for what was structurally occurring in the tissue to account for the changes in mechanical properties. Materials and Methods This study involved biaxial tensile testing of bovine thoracic aortas that had been stored at common storage temperatures (4°C, −20°C, or −80°C) for three different time points (48 h, 1 wk, or 3 wk). The slopes of the initial and stiff region of the stress-strain curves were measured. The knee point of the stress-strain curves was also determined. Collagen content before and after storage was quantified using a Sircol collagen assay kit. Results The stored arteries showed decreased initial slope and increased stiff slope after 48 h of 4°C refrigeration. The −20°C and −80°C storage conditions had similar initial slopes compared with the fresh ones but an increase in the stiff slope. There was also a significant shift of the knee point to a higher strain and stress. The soluble and insoluble collagen content decreased significantly due to storage but the percentage of cross-linked collagen was unchanged. Conclusions Cold storage causes several changes in the mechanical properties due to structural and biochemical changes in the tissue. Overall, freezing protocols (either −20°C or −80°C) are suggested over refrigeration (4°C) for maintaining the initial stress-strain behavior.
Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate Is Absorbed but Extensively Glucuronidated Following Oral Administration to Mice

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most abundant catechin in green tea (Camellia sinensis), has shown cancer preventive activity in animal models. The bioavailability of EGCG in the most commonly used animal species, mice, is poorly understood. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic parameters of EGCG have not been reported previously in mice. Here we report that after administration of EGCG intravenously at 21.8 mol/kg or intragas- trically at 163.8 mol/kg, the peak plasma levels of EGCG in male CF-1 mice were 2.7 0.7 and 0.28 0.08 mol/L, respectively. EGCG was present mainly (50 -90%) as the glucuronide. The plasma bioavailability of EGCG after intragastric administration was higher than previously reported in rats (26.5 7.5% vs. 1.6 0.6%). The conjugated EGCG displayed a shorter t1/2 (82.8 -211.5 vs 804.9 -1102.3 min) than unconjugated EGCG (P 0.01, Student's t test). EGCG was present in the unconjugated form in the lung, prostate and other tissues at levels of 0.31-3.56 nmol/g after intravenous administration. Although intragastric administration resulted in lower levels in most tissues compared with intravenous administration (e.g., 0.006 0.004 vs. 2.66 1.0 nmol/g in the lung), the levels in the small intestine and colon were high at 45.2 13.5 and 7.86 2.4 nmol/g, respectively. This is the first report of the pharmacokinetic parameters of EGCG in mice. Such information provides a basis for understanding the bioavailability of EGCG in mice and should aid in understanding the cancer preventive activity of EGCG. J. Nutr. 133: 4172- 4177, 2003.
Degradation of bipolar transistor current gain by hot holes during reverse emitter-base bias stress

Experimental evidences are given which demonstrate that degradation of the common-emitter forward current gain h/sub FE/ of submicron silicon npn bipolar transistors at low reverse emitter-base junction applied voltage is caused by primary hot holes of the n/sup +//p emitter tunneling current rather than secondary hot electrons generated by the hot holes or thermally-generated hot electrons. Experiments also showed similar kinetic energy dependence of the generation rate of oxide/silicon interface traps by primary hot electrons and primary hot holes. Significant h/sub FE/ degradation was observed at stress voltages less than 2.4 V.
The friendship of Matthew and Paul: a response to a recent trend in the interpretation of Matthew's Gospel

David Sim has argued that Matthew’s so-called Great Commission (Mt 28:16–20) represents a direct anti-Pauline polemic. While this thesis may be theoretically possible and perhaps fi ts within the perspective of an earlier era in New Testament research, namely that of the Tubingen School, the evidence in both Matthew and the Pauline corpus does not support such a reading of early Christianity. In this paper, I argue that an antithetical relationship between Matthew’s Great Commission and Paul’s Gentile mission as reflected in his epistles is possible only (1) with a certain reading of Matthew and (2) with a caricature of Paul. In light of the most recent research on both Matthew’s Great Commission and the historical Paul, these two traditions can be seen as harmonious and not antithetical in spite of the recent arguments to the contrary. My argument provides a further corrective to the view of early Christianity, which posits a deep schism between so-called Jewish Christianity and Paul’s ostensibly Law-free mission to the Gentiles.
A novel intrachromosomal rearrangement in the beta-globin gene found in an African-American family.

We describe here a deletion of 34 nucleotides from the 3′ end of the first intervening sequence of the β-globin gene covering the AGGC splice junction, and the insertion of 32 nucleotides of the δ-globin gene at the same location. This gene rearrangement was detected in three members of an African-American family. The proband, a 28-year-old female, and her mother had a history of chronic anemia. One of her two brothers, who inherited the same gene defect, was apparently healthy with no symptoms of hemolytic anemia. The proband, her father, and her two brothers, including the one who carried the β-globin gene rearrangement, were found to be heterozygous for a-thalassemia-2 (-α3.7). Although the AGGC splice junction is disrupted (AGGC→AGAT), the invariant AG has remained intact after this gene rearrangement. Our investigations could not detect any defect in RNA processing in the affected β-globin genes. The discrepancies between the phenotypes and the globin chain synthesis ratios of the mother, her daughte...
Autonomous Navigation Preparations for Future Unmanned Space Missions

In order to prepare for the era of autonomous navigation, this paper first examines existing techniques for spacecraft navigation by describing the basic elements of the Mark-I and II navigation technologies. The remainder of the paper deals with identification of criteria which necessitate onboard navigation, and with promising solutions now under consideration. An attractive solution possibility is proposed which utilizes narrow-angle optics, a charge-coupled device area-array image sensor, a small advanced onboard flight computer, and a simplified set of software algorithms. Onboard commands would be derived and sent to the appropriate spacecraft attitude control, propulsion, and science platform pointing subsystems. The proposed autonomous navigation system does not address all mission options, but focuses primarily on precision approach trajectory control and adaptive science instrument pointing for asteroid, cometary, and outer planet satellite missions.
Global finite-time stabilization by output feedback for planar systems without observable linearization

This note considers the problem of global finite-time stabilization by output feedback for a class of planar systems without controllable/observable linearization. A sufficient condition for the solvability of the problem is established. By developing a nonsmooth observer and modifying the adding a power integrator technique, we show that an output feedback controller can be explicitly constructed to globally stabilize the systems in finite time. As a direct application of the main result, global output feedback finite-time stabilization is achieved for the double linear integrator systems perturbed by some nonlinear functions which are not necessarily homogeneous.
Nursing Issues in Hong Kong

Changes in nursing in Hong Kong over the past decade have had more to do with the changes in the world and the region's economy and population than the changes instituted by the Republic of China. Hong Kong's nearly 7 million people's health is, like in other places, threatened by a shortage of skilled and experienced nurses. Hong Kong's three major university-based nursing programs, if they can work together creatively, have the potential to avert a decline in quality of healthcare in Hong Kong and advance nursing at the same time.
An inverter output filter to mitigate dV/dt effects in PWM drive system

High switching frequencies and small rise times are common with modern switching devices. These parameters, especially the rise time, are known to have undesired side effects such as excessive voltage stress on windings, motor leakage currents, bearing currents, conducted EMI, etc. Furthermore, if long cables are used to connect the inverter and the motor, the rapid rise times cause the transmission line effect, which can double the voltage applied to the motor terminals. In this paper a new inverter output filter to mitigate these problems is presented. The filter topology has the advantage of being easy to implement on existing ASDs as an add-on option and it reduces both common and differential mode dV/dt simultaneously. Its effectiveness is shown analytically via simulations and by experimental results on a 20 kW ASD.
Regional Views on the Role of Immigrant Labor on U.S. and Southern Dairies

Although immigration is a controversial issue, it is also of major importance to the United States and to agriculture. Immigration policy has been discussed in the recent presidential debates and will likely be debated again in Congress at some point in the near future. Agricultural producer organizations, commodity associations, and lobbying groups have been at the forefront of this issue for many years. Our profession certainly has a role to play by informing constituent groups and the public with objective analytical results. Immigrant labor is an important component of many, if not most, U.S. agricultural enterprises. The Current Population Survey estimates that in 2010, 57.2% of the agricultural hired labor force was foreign-born (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Approximately 62% of those foreign employees worked in crop production, while the remainder worked in livestock operations (U.S. Department of Agriculture—Economic Research Service, 2012). Recent evidence suggests the role of immigrant labor on U.S. dairies is significant. In Wisconsin, for example, it was estimated that immigrant labor accounted for 40% of the dairy farm workforce in 2008, compared with almost no immigrant labor before 2000 (Harrison, Lloyd, and O’Kane, 2009). Immigrant labor is particularly important to dairies in the Southwest. Our results indicate that those farms employ many more foreign workers than farms in other regions of the country. With increased enforcement of U.S. immigration regulations, lack of congressional action to resolve immigration policy issues, and economic recovery of the U.S. economy, concerns have been raised about the prospects of reduced labor availability in many sectors of agriculture. Dairy farming is no exception.
The Effect of Productive Energy Level of the Diet on the Methionine Requirement of the Chick

ABSTRACT THE nutrient requirements of animals are ordinarily expressed as percent of diet. Baldini and Rosenberg (1955) reported that the methionine requirement of the chick expressed in this manner was not a constant but varied with the energy content of the diet. They postulated that such a relationship probably existed with other animals and other nutrients. Such was found to be the case with the lysine requirement of the rat (Rosenberg and Culik, 1955). The experiments reported in this paper were conducted to determine whether or not a similar relation existed for the turkey poult. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE This report summarizes the results of nine battery experiments, each of which employed ten treatments applied to duplicate groups of twelve day-old tom poults. Jersey Buffs were used in four experiments and Broad Breasted Bronze were used in five experiments. The length of each experiment was six weeks during which time weekly measurements of . . .
A re‐examination of parturition scars on the human female pelvis

Pits, cavities and depressions located on the dorsal surface of the pubic symphysis of females have been attributed to the trauma of parturition. Earlier research based on human skeletal remains provides inadequate information on the individual's obstetrical history. The 68 female pubic bones that were studied had comprehensive medical records indicating whether or not each female had given birth. Fourteen and one-half percent of the females who had not given birth exhibited trace to small scarring of the pubic symphysis and 23.4% of the females who had not given birth exhibited medium to large scarring. It is suggested that bony changes previously used as an indicator of child bearing must be re-examined in light of the fact that "birth scarring" has been found in women known not to have had children.
Porphyria: My Story

From the Patient's Desk provides an opportunity for patients to share their personal experiences with renal replacement therapy, comment on health care delivery, and relate 'stories of how the success or failure of their treatment has affected their lives. The topics and presentations should be of interest to professionals involved in the delivery of renal replacement care, including physicians, nurses, dietitians, technicians, and social workers. Please
Zero-Variance Solutions for Linear Monte Carlo

A zero-variance solution exists for any linear Monte Carlo problem, and this solution can be obtained by sampling the random numbers proportional to the expected score subsequently produced by usin...
The Politics of Gift Exchange in Early Qajar Iran, 1785–1834

This article uses gift-giving practices in early nineteenth-century Iran as a window onto statecraft, governance, and center-periphery relations in the early Qajar state (1785–1925). It first demonstrates that gifts have a long history in the administrative and political history of Iran, the Persianate world, and broader Eurasia, before highlighting specific features found in Iran. The article argues that the pīshkish, a tributary gift-giving ceremony, constituted a central role in the political culture and economy of Qajar Iran, and was part of the process of presenting Qajar rule as a continuation of previous Iranian royal dynasties. Nevertheless, pīshkish ceremonies also illustrated the challenges Qajar rulers faced in exerting power in the provinces and winning the loyalty of provincial elites. Qajar statesmen viewed gifts and bribes, at least at a discursive level, in different terms, with the former clearly understood as an acceptable practice. Gifts and honors, like the khil‘at, presented to society were part of Qajar rulers' strategy of presenting themselves as just and legitimate. Finally, the article considers the use of gifts to influence diplomacy and ease relations between Iranians and foreign envoys, as well as the ways in which an inadequate gift could cause offense.
Response of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Populations to Canopy Development in Soybean as Influenced by Heterodera glycines (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) and Annual Weed Population Densities

Field experiments to investigate the interactive effects among corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie);soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe; and annual weed species in soybean ( Glycine max (L.) Merrill) were conducted during 1986-1988 in eastern North Carolina, This study examined the effects of canopy development in soybean on H. zea oviposition and larval establishment as influenced by H. glycines and weed densities. Soybean canopy development was inversely related to increasing initial population density (PI) of H. glycines . In general, soybeans with moderate and high H. glycines P, levels had more open canopies and consequently had greater H. zea larval populations during mid- to late August than did the 0 and low H. glycines P, treatments where soybean canopies were closed, In some field sites, very high H. glycines P, levels caused severe stunting and chlorosis, reducing the suitability of these soybeans as a food source for H. zea larvae, Weed-free and moderately weedy soybeans had greater H. zea larval populations than soybeans with high weed densities. Across locations and years, numbers of early developmental stages (egg and early instars) of H. zea were not influenced by l H. glycines P1 or weed density. Numbers of H. zea late instars were positively correlated with distance between canopies of adjacent rows.
Improvements still needed for transgender coverage

This article examines contemporary newspaper coverage of transgender citizens. Findings indicate journalistic practices accommodate transgender identity and expression, but efforts to provide more ...
Quality control study on effective fractions of Chaqiling prescriptions

OBJECTIVE To investigate methods for the quality control of Chaqiling prescriptions.METHODS Thin-layer chromatography was used to determine astragaloside IV in the effective parts of Chaqiling prescriptions.The UV spectrophotometry was applied to determine the content of pachyman and HPLC was used to measure tanshinone II A.RESULTS The liner ranges of the methods of Astragaloside Ⅳ was 0.2-0.7 μ g.The average recovery was 98.37%,and RSD=1.70%.The liner ranges of the method to determine glucose was 3.286-13.143 μg·mL-1.The average recovery was 99.49% and RSD=0.88%.The liner ranges of Tashinone ⅡA was 0.025-0.200 μg,the average recovery was 98.38% and RSD=2.74%.CONCLUSION The established methods are simple,accurate and reproducible,which can be used for the quality control of Chaqiling prescriptions.
Developing a Learning Garden on a Mid-Western Land Grant University

I remember standing in front of the crowd of preschoolers, parents, and other leaders at the Mid-Western Land Grant University (MWLGU) while nervously delivering a speech that told the story of how our Learning Garden (LG) developed and what I learned from the process. In my best sport coat, a remarkable find at a thrift store, I took the microphone and read from the notes on my smart phone, standing next to the Dean for the College of Environmental and Human Sciences, the Department Co-Chair for Family Studies, the Director of the United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Services (USDA-ARS) division, and the donors who put forth the $50,000 contribution to build the major phase of the LG.
HDL Particle Size and Functional Heterogeneity.

Classic clinical and epidemiological studies have long ago established the presence of an inverse relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, and thus, it was assumed that measures that increase HDLC levels would afford protection against atherosclerosis-based CVD.1,2 However, trials of drugs, such as cholesterol ester transfer protein inhibitors and niacin, have failed to provide evidence of cardiovascular benefit in patients on statin therapy, indicating that HDLC increases from 30% to 120% are not able to modify risk when low-density lipoprotein is kept very low. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms that associate with increased HDLC do not predict reduced CVD risk,3–5 and isolated low HDL does not predict risk when low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels are completely normal.6 Therefore, although a causal role for HDL in arterial homeostasis is still widely accepted, current discussions highlight the necessity to identify novel HDL metrics linked to CVD risk and targetable for diagnostic or therapeutic development. Article, see p 751 Despite the spectacular collapse of the HDLC hypothesis and the paucity of alternative strategies in the clinical space, the field as a whole has experienced a groundbreaking shift in the understanding of the basic biology and metabolism of HDL. Advances have been made in the areas of HDL functionality as it relates to particle heterogeneity, biogenesis, and variations in lipid and protein cargo. The central functions of HDL are believed to be the ability to quell local oxidative and inflammatory events and to accept excess cholesterol from cells via specific efflux mechanisms mediated by transmembrane transporters, such as ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-B1. The ABCA1 pathway is important in humans because lipid-laden macrophages—abundant in atherosclerotic plaques—will turn on ABCA1 gene transcription in an effort to maximize sterol losses. Our current understanding of sterol efflux …
Anxiety influences TIA diagnosis (P7.134)

Objective: To assess whether ICD9 codes for anxiety or depression are associated with TIA diagnosis. Background: The short duration of symptoms and multitude of non-vascular mimics make diagnosis of TIA subjective and vulnerable to misdiagnosis. Pathophysiology is the same for TIA and IS; therefore, the proportion of TIA versus IS should be the same regardless of patient/physician/hospital characteristics. However, we previously have shown that physician specialty, hospital type and patient demographics influence the TIA-IS ratio and hypothesized that patient characteristics also matter. Design/Methods: Cases were identified using primary ICD9 discharge codes at three Montefiore hospitals from January 2009-June 2014. Depression and anxiety were identified by secondary ICD9 codes. Mantel-Haenszel chi-square and Student’s t-test were used for univariate and logistic regression for multivariate comparisons. Results: There were 1543 TIA and 4982 IS cases, for a TIA-IS ratio of 0.3. In univariate analysis, anxiety (154 cases, OR 2.3, 95[percnt] CI 1.7-3.1, p<0.0001) but not depression (454 cases, 1.2, 1.0-1.5, p=0.12) was associated with TIA diagnosis. In multivariate analysis, anxiety (OR 2.1, 95[percnt] CI 1.5-2.9) remained an independent predictor of TIA diagnosis alongside age (0.99, 0.98-0.99), sex (male versus female, 0.7, 0.6-0.8), race/ethnicity (black versus white or Hispanic, 0.7, 0.7-0.8), and hospital site (community versus academic, 2.1, 1.8-2.4), all p<0.0001. Conclusions: We found an elevated TIA-IS ratio among patients with a concurrent ICD9 code for anxiety. The ABCD2 score, assessing symptoms and vascular risk factors, is promoted as a criterion for admission; however, these data suggest that comorbid conditions such as anxiety along with demographic and hospital factors also influence TIA diagnosis. The validity and meaning of an ICD9 code for anxiety is uncertain. The code may be associated with over-diagnosis of TIA as well as increased recognition of true TIA. Disclosure: Dr. Sugrue has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bhupali has nothing to disclose. Dr. Labovitz has nothing to disclose.
Why Do We Pin? New Gratifications Explain Unique Activities in Pinterest:

Pinterest is now the fourth most popular social network site after Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn in the United States, offering its own suite of functions. This study investigated why individuals...
Optimal Distributed Nonlinear Battery Control

Energy storage plays a more important role than ever before, due to the transition to smart grid along with higher penetration of renewable resources. In this paper, we describe our optimal nonlinear battery control algorithm that can handle multiple batteries connected to the grid in a distributed and cost-optimal fashion, while maintaining low complexity of $O(N^{2})$ . In contrast to the state-of-the-art models, we use a high accuracy nonlinear battery model with 2% error. We present three distributed solutions: 1) a circular negotiation ring, providing convergence rates independent of the number of batteries; 2) a mean circular negotiation ring, converging very quickly for a low number of batteries; 3) a bisection method has a convergence rate independent of battery capacities. We compare our algorithm to the state-of-the-art algorithms and show that we can decrease the utility cost of an actual building by up to 50% compared with the batteryless case by 30% over the load-following heuristic and by 60% over a state-of-the-art optimal control algorithm designed using a linear battery model. For a constant load profile, optimal linear control incurs costs higher by 150% for model predictive control and 250% for single-trajectory solutions than for our algorithm.
Neither Owners Nor Guardians: In Search of a Morally Appropriate Model for the Keeping of Companion Animals

The institution of owning pets has been subjected to compelling criticism on moral grounds. Yet advocates of a reformed, guardian/dependent model may yet face an abolitionist conclusion. We argue that treating companion animals as dependents entails an indefensible moral priority for them in the face of their guardians’ competing moral demands. An abolitionist dilemma arises as a result: if the property and reformed models fail, a morally acceptable characterization of the moral relationship between humans and their companion animals has yet to be articulated. We close by inviting others to develop plausible alternatives to the ownership and reformed models.
Comparison Matrix and Venn Diagram: Making Comparisons in Flat Patternmaking.

The innovative strategy was piloted in an existing flat patternmaking course. In the current curriculum, students do not utilize any formal comparison tools to compare patternmaking concepts, i.e. dart types, stylelines, and so on. To engage students in making patternmaking comparisons, students were introduced to the use of a comparison matrix and Venn diagram. These comparison tools would allow students to practice identifying and thinking critically about the similarities and differences of patternmaking concepts such as dart types and stylelines. An inventory of student responses was compiled by the instructor after the class period, which permitted further instructor evaluation of student comprehension and application of the patternmaking concepts. A student expressed, "It helped point out differences and similarities." Other students stated the tools were helpful as visual aids in understanding the characteristics of patternmaking concepts. The students were advised to keep the handouts for future reference.
The effects of disproportional load contributions on quantifying vegetated filter strip sediment trapping efficiencies

Vegetated filter strips (VFSs) are a best management practice (BMP) commonly implemented adjacent to row-cropped fields to trap overland transport of sediment and other constituents present in agricultural runoff. Although they have been widely adopted, insufficient data exist to understand their short and long-term effectiveness. High inter-event variability in performance has been observed, yet the majority of studies report average removal efficiencies over observed or simulated events, ignoring the disproportional effects of loads into and out of VFSs over longer periods of time. We argue that due to positively correlated sediment concentration-discharge relationships, disproportional contribution of runoff events transporting sediment over the course of a year (i.e., temporal inequality), decreased performance with increasing flow rates, and effects of antecedent moisture condition, VFS removal efficiencies over annual time scales may be significantly lower than reported per-event averages. By applying a stochastic approach, we investigated the extent of disparity between reporting average efficiencies from each runoff event over the course of 1 year versus the total annual load reduction. Additionally, we examined the effects of soil texture, concentration-discharge relationship, and VFS slope in contributing to this disparity, with the goal of revealing potential errors that may be incurred by ignoring the effects of temporal inequality in quantifying VFS performance. Simulation results suggest that ignoring temporal inequality can lead to overestimation of annual performance by as little as 20%, with the greatest disparities observed for soils with high clay content.
Tenderness and flavor of leg cuts from meat goats influenced by calcium chloride injection

This study was conducted to assess the potential of improving tenderness of chevon using calcium chloride (CaCl2) injection and its effect on the palatability characteristics of chevon. Primal leg ...
Employee Rights, Moral Imagination, and the Struggle with Universal Values: A Quick Overview of Werhane’s Contributions to Ethics in Employment

This paper traces the evolution of Patricia Werhane’s theory of employee rights as she moves from the traditional human rights view to a socially constructed view of employee rights. In the course of that evolution, I argue that Werhane has a less robust view of human rights than she did when she first proposed a theory of human rights. I then argue that if Werhane adopted Martha Nussbaum’s human capabilities approach, she could have both a traditional account of employee rights and plenty of room for the exercise of moral imagination.
The Use of Accurate Mass and Time Tags Based Upon High-Throughput Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry for Global Proteomic Characterization

In this review, we describe the technological basis and progress towards a new global proteomics strategy that uses peptide accurate mass measurements augmented by information from separations (e.g. LC retention times) to provide large improvements in sensitivity, dynamic range, comprehensiveness and throughput. The use of ?accurate mass and time? (AMT) tags serves to eliminate the need for routine MS/MS measurements [#4109]. As the case study, we use our own research efforts to illustrate the role of AMTs within the broader context of a state-of-the-art proteomics effort. Our strategy exploits high-resolution capillary LC separations combined with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR). AMTs represent peptide biomarkers and can be used to confidently identify proteins based on the high mass measurement accuracy provided by FTICR combined with LC elution times. Once identified using MS/MS, these biomarkers provide the foundation for subsequent high throughput studies using only AMT tags to identify and quantify the proteins expressed within a cell system. Key attractions of this approach include the feasibility of completely automated high confidence protein identifications, extensive proteome coverage, and the capability for exploiting stable-isotope labeling methods for high precision abundance measurements [#4019]. Additional developments described in this review include methods formore » more effective coverage of membrane proteins [#4184], for dynamic range expansion of proteome measurements [#4012], and for multi-stage separations that promise to enable more focused analyses, further extend the quality of measurements, and also extend measurements to more complex proteomes.« less
World Systems: Models of the Universe Throughout Time

Cosmology is the study of the universe in its largest sense – the structure of the Earth, planets, and stars and our place within this system. Through the centuries, in all continents, humans have developed world systems to describe their cosmology. Their effort to describe the universe necessarily draws from the world known to each civilization – worlds are made of water, or ice, or fire, or dirt. Cultures describe universe that include layers, or nested spheres, or with spirits living in mountains, depending on the terrain and the aesthetic sensibility of each civilization. Each cosmology attempts to define the world in terms of what is precious and what is unique to each culture. In constructing a cosmology, a civilization gives both a model of the universe, and a mirror to its own sensibility.
Social Mechanisms of Psychophysical Pain Disparities

Racial disparities in pain significantly contribute to the public health burden of pain in America and are observable at every level of the pain experience. Racial disparities are even observable in physiological pain response to controlled laboratory stimuli among young healthy populations. However, the mechanisms that underlie this disparity are unknown. Our overarching hypothesis is that disparities in pain sensitivity are due to disparities in social determinants of health that are known to alter central nervous system function. Supported by the APS Future Leaders in Pain Research grant, we are probing the mediating role of social factors on disparities in laboratory pain among community-dwelling (non-student) African-, Hispanic-, and White-American adults. Self-reported social determinants (e.g., lived environments) as well as response to acute exposure to adverse social experiences in the laboratory are being collected along with quantitative sensory testing measures. We hypothesize that acute exposure to adverse environments will cause an increase in laboratory-evoked pain compared to baseline. We also predict that accumulation of adverse social determinants (as assessed via self-report) will be associated with greater baseline pain sensitivity, and mediate observed racial disparities in laboratory pain. We will discuss results of this first study as well as the potential utility of these experimental models for use in future basic and intervention research.
Fake News Detection: An Interdisciplinary Research

The explosive growth of fake news and its erosion to democracy, journalism and economy has increased the demand for fake news detection. To achieve efficient and explainable fake news detection, an interdisciplinary approach is required, relying on scientific contributions from various disciplines, e.g., social sciences, engineering, among others. Here, we illustrate how such multidisciplinary contributions can help detect fake news by improving feature engineering, or by providing well-justified machine learning models. We demonstrate how news content, news propagation patterns, and users’ engagements with news can help detect fake news.
An Empirical Analysis of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Implementation Benefits in Kentucky Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Some Implications for New IT Implementation

This paper reports that the benefits accrued from implementing and integrating Electronic Data Interchange (ED/) within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be conceptuali=ed into two factors. First, firms derive operational/tactical benefits by predominantly focusing on increasmg internal utility of this technology. Second, firms derive strategic benefits from ED! in the form of beller external relationships and alliances with trading partners and an enhanced ability to compete in their market. Among other significant findings, there are clear indications from the correlation statistics reported here that experience with ED/, mdustrial category of a firm and the level of ED! integral ton have a stgnificant mjluence on the abtlity of a firm to obtam long-term (strategic) benefits from such IT projects. These results also have significant implications for SME managers/stakeholders considering new interorgani=ational IT initiatives.
A Systems Factorial Technology dataset using visual and tactile cues to guide balance.

Abstract This data contains response times for 19 participants from a Systems Factorial Technology paradigm using visual and vibratory cues, as described in “The Balance Between Vision and Touch [1]”. These cues could indicate one of four directions, and participants responded by shifting their weight in that direction. This was detected using a Wii Balance Board. Each participant has 720 trials: 1/3 with only a haptic cue, 1/3 with only vision, and 1/3 with both. Cues were equally divided into high and low salience versions.
Embedded discrepancy operators in reduced models of interacting species.

In many applications of interacting systems, we are only interested in the dynamic behavior of a subset of all possible active species. For example, this is true in combustion models (many transient chemical species are not of interest in a given reaction) and in epidemiological models (only certain critical populations are truly consequential). Thus it is common to use greatly reduced models, in which only the interactions among the species of interest are retained. However, reduction introduces a model error, or discrepancy, which typically is not well characterized. In this work, we explore the use of an embedded and statistically calibrated discrepancy operator to represent model error. The operator is embedded within the differential equations of the model, which allows the action of the operator to be interpretable. Moreover, it is constrained by available physical information, and calibrated over many scenarios. These qualities of the discrepancy model---interpretability, physical-consistency, and robustness to different scenarios---are intended to support reliable predictions under extrapolative conditions.
The current state of drug repurposing and rare diseases: an interview with Paul Trippier

Paul Tripper is an Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC, NE, USA) and an Editorial Board member of Future Drug Discovery. Here, he speaks to...
The Psychological Roots of Public Opinion toward a Militant Group: The Case of Pakistani Lashkar-e-Tayyaba

This paper explores Pakistani public opinion toward the Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) (also known as Jamaat ul Dawa, or JuD), which is one of the most competent and lethal Pakistan-based and backed militant groups operating in India and elsewhere in South Asia. Building on the theory of significance quest, this study argues that Pakistanis who believe that the group will increase their own sense of personal significance are most likely to sympathize with the group. This study contends that the LeT, which is allied with the Pakistani state, should be most favorably viewed by those who look favorably on the political status quo in Pakistan, Punjabis, Ahl-e-Hadith adherents and women as these are the groups most likely to believe they gain status because of the LeT. Conversely, the LeT should be opposed by Shia, Barelvis, Deobandis, and Baloch Pakistanis, all groups that are disparaged by the LeT and thus see it as a threat to their status. Using data from a country-wide survey of 7, 653 Pakistanis carried out in 2013, these contentions are tested in a multiple regression analysis and are supported.
Teaching about Color and Color Vision

Energy is a fundamental concept in physics, playing an important role in every aspect of the world around us. The conversion of energy among its many forms has enabled both the sustenance of living organisms on Earth and our development of a society based on the manufacture of products for our own convenience. All of these aspects of energy are treated in this resource book, beginning with the relationship between the force and distance required to pull a roller coaster to the top of its first hill along inclines of different slope, and ending with energy choices we will need to make for our future.
James-Stein estimation and the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure

For the problem of multiple testing, the Benjamini-Hochberg (B-H) procedure has become a very popular method in applications. Based on a spacings theory representation of the B-H procedure, we are able to motivate the use of shrinkage estimators for modifying the B-H procedure. Several generalizations in the paper are discussed, and the methodology is applied to real and simulated datasets.
Supra-nonlinear photorefractive response of C/sub 60/ and single-wall carbon nanotube-doped nematic liquid crystal

We have observed an extremely large micro-watt laser induced photorefractive effects in nematic liquid crystal doped with C/sub 60/ and single-wall carbon nanotubes. The effective refractive index change coefficient can be as large as 20 cm/sup 2//Watt.
Establishing the Framework to Support Bioartificial Heart Fabrication Using Fibrin-Based Three-Dimensional Artificial Heart Muscle

Only 3000 heart transplants are performed in the USA every year, leaving some 30 000-70 000 Americans without proper care. Current treatment modalities for heart failure have saved many lives yet still do not correct the underlying problems of congestive heart failure. Tissue engineering represents a potential field of study wherein a combination of cells, scaffolds, and/or bioreactors can be utilized to create constructs to mimic, replace, and/or repair defective tissue. The focus of this study was to generate a bioartificial heart (BAH) model using artificial heart muscle (AHM), composed of fibrin gel and neonatal rat cardiac myocytes, and a decellularized scaffold, formed by subjecting an adult rat heart to a series of decellularization solutions. By suturing the AHM around the outside of the decellularized heart and culturing while suspended in media, we were able to retain functional cardiac cells on the scaffold as evinced by visible contractility. Observed contractility rate was correlated with biopotential measurements to confirm essential functionality of cardiac constructs. Cross-sections of the BAH show successful decellularization of the scaffold and contiguous cell-rich AHM around the perimeter of the heart.