cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapid wavelength scans over one octave and application to laser-induced fluorescence

Rapid excitation scans of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) have been demonstrated. Broadband light was generated in a photonic crystal fiber and transmitted through a long fiber. Due to group-velocity dispersion in the long fiber, a wavelength scan emerged from the fiber in time. The wavelength was swept over approximately one octave in ?150?ns. The generated light was used to excite LD 700 Perchlorate diluted in methanol. The LIF excitation scan had a spectral resolution of ?15?nm, and the integrated fluorescence spectrum was found to be within 7% of the integrated absorption spectrum of the dye molecule. The method presented makes possible spatially and spectrally resolved LIF excitation scans with scanning speeds up to the limits set by the excited-state lifetime of the dye molecule.
Small enterprises, fungibility and Indonesian rural family livelihood strategies

One critical aspect of the study of rural development involves the contribution of non-farm employment. In light of the need for employment creation and income expansion, the analysis of small businesses and home enterprises has been understudied. The current paper focuses on these activities in a spatially differen- tiated sample of transmigrant households from South Sumatra, Indonesia. An overriding objective is the deeper understanding of enterprise activities in terms of economic, social and contextual variables. Statistical inference is used to draw out relationships which contribute to the body of knowledge on enterprises and entre- preneurs in the developing world. In addition qualitative analyses of business experiences are presented using a case study approach with information derived from in-depth household interviews. In this regard the family mode of production is used as a theoretical tool to gain insight and seek more generalisation on the Lipton defined concept of 'fungibility'.
A procedure for creating actuated joints via embedding shape memory alloys in PolyJet 3D printing

Additive manufacturing’s layer-by-layer fabrication approach allows the user to access the entire volume of the part throughout the build process. This allows for the embedding of functional components and actuators to enable the fabrication of complex systems in a single process. A process for the embedding of shape memory alloy actuating wire within direct PolyJet 3D printed parts is presented in this article. A series of “Design for Embedding” considerations are presented for achieving successful and repeatable embedding results. These considerations include guide channel design, design of shape converters for irregularly shaped elements, and design of wire fixation points. The embedding process is demonstrated with two case studies: a simple compliant joint specimen with a straight shape memory alloy wire and an antagonistic joint design with spring-shaped shape memory alloys. The process is characterized through an exploration of the potential for surface defects in the final specimens, as well as ba...
A novel soft-switched PWM inverter for AC motor drives

A novel soft-switched inverter topology is derived from the passively clamped quasi-resonant link (PCQRL) circuit. By introducing magnetic coupling between the two resonant inductors, the number of auxiliary switches can be reduced from two to one, and only a single magnetic core is required for the resonant DC link. An analysis of this novel PCQRL topology with coupled inductors is presented to reveal the various soft-switching characteristics. In comparison with the conventional passively clamped, continuously resonant DC link inverter, this soft-switched inverter can reduce voltage stresses from more than 2 per unit (pu) to 1.1-1.3 pu. It can also provide soft-switched pulse-width modulated (PWM) operation. Simulations and experiments are performed to backup the analysis.
Water‐soluble embedding materials for botanical microtechnique

Abstract A method employing water-soluble polyethylene glycols and solid materials of the same type of structure called “Carbowaxes” has been developed for the preparation of slides of plant materials. The specimens are killed and fixed in the usual manner and are then run up in dilutions of polyethylene glycol until they are completely dehydrated in 100 per cent glycol and are then embedded in the solid “Carbowax” matrix. Sectioning and mounting of the sections on glass slides is described and staining techniques are explained.
Black bile: Are elevated monoamines an etiological factor in some cases of major depression?

It was hypothesized decades ago that reduced levels of brain monoamines such as serotonin or norepinephrine form, at least in part, a pathophysiological basis for major depression. Consistent with this hypothesis, a conventional strategy used, with varying success, to treat major depression involves administering antidepressant drugs that are thought to boost the synaptic concentration of serotonin and/or norepinephrine. While the reduced monoamine hypothesis is well known but highly controversial and widely considered to be incomplete or simply incorrect, the possibility that elevated monoamines are an etiological factor in some cases of major depression (rather than or in addition to hypomania or mania) has received little attention at all. This paper puts forth the novel hypothesis elevated brain levels of three monoamines – serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine – are each etiological factors in some cases of major depression. In support of this hypothesis, the paper very briefly reviews relevant data on each of these neurotransmitter systems, including: transporter knockout mice, human genetic association studies, and pharmaceutical studies that enhance or diminish transmitter signaling in either rodents or humans. While all of the published data do not support the hypothesis, there are studies that do for each of the three transmitter systems. The etiological basis of the putative effect of monoamines on depression may be mediated both through genetics and exposure to psychological stress. If the elevated monoamine hypothesis is correct for some persons, pharmaceutical treatment of depression may be significantly improved if the particular elevated monoamine(s) could be identified and then altered on a personalized basis, or perhaps for different putative subtypes of depression. One possibility is that atypical depression involves elevated noradrenergic signaling.
Microstructure dependence of nanometre corrosion in Al-Ni-Y glassy alloys

In-situ scanning force microscopy was used to examine how corrosion at the nanometre scale depends on material microstructure. The results reveal an unusual porous corrosion morphology in partially nanocrystalline Al 87 Ni 8.7 Y 4.3 alloys exposed to dilute Cl - solutions at various pH values. This nanometre-scale porosity is absent in the fully amorphous state of the same alloy. This difference is surprising because the macroscopic corrosion behaviours of the two materials are similar. This work shows that the partially nanocrystalline material sustains nanometre-scale corrosion damage in addition to localized corrosion pits. We propose a mechanism for porosity development based on acid-induced depassivation of protective oxides and two key microstructural differences between the fully amorphous and the partially nanocrystalline alloys.
Macromers by carbocationic polymerization. IV. Synthesis and characterization of polyisobutenyl methacrylate macromer and its homopolymerization and copolymerization with methyl methacrylate

This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a new macromer, polyisobutenyl methacrylate (PIB-MA), its free-radical homopolymerization and copolymerization with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to afford the graft copolymer poly(methyl methacrylate-g-isobutylene) (PMMA-g-PIB), the characterization of these polymers, and some physical-mechanical (stress-strain) measurements of the graft copolymer. The key intermediate toward the synthesis of the target macromer was the preparation of polyisobutenyl chloride PIB-Clt by the minifer technique. As shown by 1 H-NMR spectroscopy, and independently by IR spectroscopy coupled with Mn determination, the PIB-MA macromer carries one terminal methacrylate function per polyisobutylene chain. The free-radical homopolymerization of PIB-MA to very high-molecular-weight product was achieved in bulk at 60°C. The free-radical copolymerization of PIB-MA with MMA also occurs readily and is a convenient route to PMMA-g-PIB. The reactivity of PIB-MA is almost identical to that of MMA; however, in highly viscous systems its rate of diffusion to the reaction site is reduced.
Zero-current-transition converters for high-power-factor AC/DC applications

Zero-current-transition, discontinuous-conduction-mode (ZCT-DCM) converters are introduced in this paper. Compared to hard-switching (PWM) converters in DCM, the ZCT-DCM converters have similar current stresses and conduction losses, and much reduced turn-off switching losses. At the expense of increased voltage stresses, current/zero-voltage switching is maintained wide range of loads and voltage conversion ratios without the need for auxiliary active devices. In AC/DC applications, high power factor is obtained automatically, without the need for active control over the input current. An experimental 100 kHz, 500 W ZCT-DCM Sepic rectifier with isolation transformer and single IGBT switch is described.
Markets and Product Variety Management

Does product variety need managing? Even a person skeptical of efficient market theories and other articles of faith in the perfection of markets, will find himself asking two questions when he contemplates this question: If there is too much or too little product variety, why isn’t the market adjusting it? And if the market is tolerating it, in what sense is there really a mismatch? The main purpose of this paper is to answer these two questions, with special emphasis on the role of incomplete information.
Capacity of MIMO channels in the presence of co-channel interference: Research Articles

This paper presents analytical results on the capacity of multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels in the presence of co-channel interference (CCI). We consider the scenario in which the desired and CCI users are all subject to Rayleigh fading. We assume that channel realizations of both the desired and CCI users are known at the receiver. Moreover, we consider the case where the transmitter does not have any CSI and as such equal-power allocation among transmit antennas is used. Given this setup, we derive the moment generating function (MGF) and the mean of the mutual information (MI). We then study the complementary cumulative distribution function of the MI using a Gaussian approximation. Finally, we present and discuss numerical examples to illustrate the mathematical formalism and to show the effect of various parameters on the capacity of MIMO channels in the presence of CCI. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.This paper was presented in part in Conference Information Science and System (CISS'2003), Baltimore, MD, March 2003.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION AND THE INCIDENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN THREE PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDIES

Increased fruit and vegetable intake lowers blood pressure in short-term interventional studies. However, data on the association of long-term intake of fruits and vegetables with hypertension risk are scarce. We prospectively examined the independent association of whole fruit (excluding juices) and vegetable intake, as well as the change in consumption of whole fruits and vegetables, with incident hypertension in 3 large longitudinal cohort studies: Nurses' Health Study (n=62 175), Nurses' Health Study II (n=88 475), and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n=36 803). We calculated hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for fruit and vegetable consumption while controlling for hypertension risk factors. Compared with participants whose consumption was ≤4 servings/week, the pooled hazard ratios among those whose intake was ≥4 servings/day were 0.92(0.87-0.97) for total whole fruit intake and 0.95(0.86-1.04) for total vegetable intake. Similarly, compared with participants who did not increase their fruit or vegetable consumption, the pooled hazard ratios for those whose intake increased by ≥7 servings/week were 0.94(0.90-0.97) for total whole fruit intake and 0.98(0.94-1.01) for total vegetable. Analyses of individual fruits and vegetables yielded different results. Consumption levels of ≥4 servings/week (as opposed to <1 serving/month) of broccoli, carrots, tofu or soybeans, raisins, and apples was associated with lower hypertension risk. In conclusion, our results suggest that greater long-term intake and increased consumption of whole fruits may reduce the risk of developing hypertension.
Teaching security concepts using hands-on and open source products

Today's undergraduate students are visual learners with a great aptitude for application of concepts. Short presentations and lectures interlaced with a great deal of hands-on activities is the preferred method of learning for many career oriented undergraduates. More so, students that are currently working in the IT field would like to learn skills that they can immediately apply to their work environment. Many students often ask about remote access and VPNs as a relevant need for companies in which they hold entry level IT positions. Students learn how to provide basic and advanced security for a small to medium size company to include firewall, intrusion detection and prevention, proxing, VPNs and implementing security policies. Some of the students have configured IPCop firewalls for small business in the Burlington area as a result of this class. Professor Balan teaches students how to setup profitable consulting business in network administration and information security field by using Open Source products. Professor Balan will be joined by some of his students in this presentation. The students will help participants get an IPCop firewall up and running and connected to the classroom network. Additionally, the participants will setup site-to-site and "road-warrior" VPNs. Professor Balan will discuss classroom techniques for teaching using hands-on activities and how to prompt students to ask pertinent questions about topics that lead to meaningful discussions and presentation on security topics. Professor Balan will use donated Pentium II systems that will be transformed into firewalls during the tutorial/workshop. Bringing a laptop to the tutorial is useful but not required.
Impelled Group Migration: Minority Struggle to Maintain Institutional Completeness

Ideology is an important motivating factor in the migrations of some groups. Frequent migrations from higher to lower economic advantage areas cannot be explained by economic motivation alone. The extensive exchange of population between Pakistan and India in the forties, the migrations of Jews to Israel, the Mormon trek to Utah, and the migrations of Hutterites and Mennonites are but a few recent examples of the influence of religious ideology on migrations. Political ideology has motivated migrations in Bangladesh, movements of refugees between North and South Vietnam, French Canadian refusal to leave Quebec, and recent Hungarian and Czech migrations. Although most sociologists deplore the limited migration theory available, several attempts to develop theories ignore ideology as a motivating factor (Duncan, 1940:3-22; Lee, 1966:47-57). Mangalam and Schwarzweller (1970:8) however, emphasize the place of "decision-making on the part of mi? grants on the basis of a hierarchically ordered set of values or valued ends", and Peterson (1958) refers to man's norms and "higher aspirations" as crucial in migrations. The social structures of the migrant group may or may not change with mi? gration, depending on whether the migrants consider specific structures essential for maintenance of ideology. Mangalam and Schwarzweller (1970:15-18) hold that "migrants seek a destination where: 1) their unmet wants can be satisfied, and where the social organization is as similar as possible to that of the place of origin". Although migrants usually prefer a place that minimally disturbs their social organization, migration tends to set in motion a series of changes in the entire social structure (Mangalam and Schwarzweller, 1970:15; 1968:3-18). Is this also the case for groups who value their social structure because it supports their religion? In this study we propose that religious ideology is dependent on the maintenance of certain social structures.
The Production and Collection of B. Coli in Quantity on Synthetic Media

The literature on synthetic media for the cultivation of bacteria was consulted with the view of procuring the best means of obtaining B. coli in quantity for a careful study of the chemical composition and the products of metabolism of this organism. To meet the requirements of the work as desired, the media ultimately selected should give a luxurious growth, the bacterial crops should be easily separable from the substrate by a simple mechanical operation which would give an uncontaminated product, and the medium itself should be in a condition that would warrant careful examination for substances occurring therein by virtue of the bacterial growth. Such a medium must obviously contain known and simple constituents in accurately measured quantities and would best be of the consistency of stiff jelly.
How Sex Became a Civil Liberty. By Leigh Ann Wheeler. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2013. Pp. xiv, 327. $34.95.)

The US Supreme Court regularly reviews cases dealing with sexual liberty, privacy, and freedom of speech. Where our understanding of sexuality and sexual privacy as a civil liberty originated and h...
Functional domains of autoimmune regulator, AIRE, modulate INS-VNTR transcription in human thymic epithelial cells

INS-VNTR (insulin-variable number of tandem repeats) and AIRE (autoimmune regulator) have been associated with the modulation of insulin gene expression in thymus, which is essential to induce either insulin tolerance or the development of insulin autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. We sought to analyze whether each functional domain of AIRE is critical for the activation of INS-VNTR in human thymic epithelial cells. Twelve missense or nonsense mutations in AIRE and two chimeric AIRE constructs were generated. A luciferase reporter assay and a pulldown assay using biotinylated INS-class I VNTR probe were performed to examine the transactivation and binding activities of WT, mutant, and chimeric AIREs on the INS-VNTR promoter. Confocal microscopy analysis was performed for WT or mutant AIRE cellular localization. We found that all of the AIRE mutations resulted in loss of transcriptional activation of INS-VNTR except mutant P252L. Using WT/mutant AIRE heterozygous forms to modulate the INS-VNTR target revealed five mutations (R257X, G228W, C311fsX376, L397fsX478, and R433fsX502) that functioned in a dominant negative fashion. The LXXLL-3 motif is identified for the first time to be essential for DNA binding to INS-VNTR, whereas the intact PHD1, PHD2, LXXLL-3, and LXXLL-4 motifs were important for successful transcriptional activation. AIRE nuclear localization in the human thymic epithelial cell line was disrupted by mutations in the homogenously staining region domain and the R257X mutation in the PHD1 domain. This study supports the notion that AIRE mutation could specifically affect human insulin gene expression in thymic epithelial cells through INS-VNTR and subsequently induce either insulin tolerance or autoimmunity.
Sources of reproductive chemosignals in female white-tailed deer

To assess the attraction of adult, male white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) to urinary and vaginal chemosignals during the reproductive season, we analyzed the behavioral responses of three males to ovariectomized females anointed with midcycle or estrus urine or with estrous vaginal secretions. Seventy-four trials were conducted during a 2-year period in captive deer. During each trial, one ovariectomized female was assigned randomly a treatment, and another received the control. Association time, number of chases, and number of courtship approaches by sexually experienced males were recorded. For all males, behavioral responses were significantly greater toward females treated with estrous vaginal secretions. Differences also were detected for one male for all response variables to females treated with voided urine from estrous females. No differences were detected in trials comparing responses to urine from midcycle and the water control. Our data provide additional evidence that the female reproductive tract is the primary source of a reproductive chemical signal(s) in white-tailed deer. However, some males may have the ability to determine estrous status from voided urine.
Introduction to the Promoting Psychological Well-Being Globally Project

This chapter describes the rationale and conceptual foundations for the Promoting Psychological Well-Being Globally (PPWBG) project that is the focus of this book. The purpose of the multi-country project was to explore psychological well-being of children and adolescents from the perspectives of multiple stakeholders (children, adolescents, parents, teachers, school administrators, and support staff). Data were collected by research teams led by local school/educational psychologists in 14 sites across 12 countries: Brazil, Estonia, Greece, India, Italy, Mexico, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the USA. The conceptual foundations for the project included Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, a conceptual model of psychological well-being that included individual and cultural factors, and a child rights framework. The research process was guided by the participatory culture-specific intervention model, with the goal of formulating culturally and contextually relevant definitions of psychological well-being that could inform development of universal (shared) and local (site-specific) models for promoting well-being of children and adolescents.
Analysis of Temperature Field in Molten Pool for Sponge Titanium Production by Magnesiothermic Reduction

The mathematical models of heat and mass flow in reduction in sponge titanium production by magnesiothermic reduction were established.The temperature field was analyzed based on a numerical simulation to provide a theoretical support for enhancement heat transfer.
Monitoring and Comparison of Drug Resistance of Enteric Bacilli to Ceftazidime Under New Standard Conditions

Objective To compare the drug resistance of Enteric bacilli to ceftazidime under the new standard conditions(CLSI2009 and CLSI2010),and to provide the evidence for rational use of antibiotics in clinical practice.Methods ESBL confirmatory tests were conducted using double-disk synergy method.Agar dilution method was used to study the antimicrobial resistances.Results Under the new standard conditions,the total resistance rates showed an upward trend.The drug resistance rate of Enteric bacilli to ceftazidime was 67.0%.As compared with the ESBL positive resistance rate,the sensitive rates of ceftazidime and aztreonam increased significantly,with the resistance rates of 55.2% and 50.2%,respectively.Conclusions The uncertainty of the former standard is confirmed by multiple resistant profile.Under the new standard conditions,the rate of resistance to 3rd-generation cephalosporins increases,and clinicians have to select other antimicrobials.This is a great challenge for controlling hospital-acquired infection.
Reshaping public persona and the prophetic ethos: Louis Farrakhan at the million man march

The Million Man March in Washington, D.C. on 16 October 1995 generated a significant amount of public discourse. At the center of the conversation was the controversial character of the primary March organizer, Nation of Islam leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan. This essay examines the central rhetorical act of the Million Man March, Farrakhan's “lecture,” and argues that the Minister used this speech as an opportunity to deal with the rhetorical problems of his prior ethos by taking up the familiar persona of the prophet. This essay asserts that the prophetic role was a strategic choice for Farrakhan because it resonates with people in most of the major religious traditions in the United States, and because it allowed Farrakhan to occupy a position that, at the same time, is in the mainstream and on the margins of American civic discourse.
Continued Use of Warfarin in Veterans with Atrial Fibrillation After Dementia Diagnosis

Objectives To determine the effectiveness of warfarin in older adults with dementia. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Department of Veterans Affairs national healthcare system. Participants Veterans aged 65 and older (73% aged ≥75, 99% male, 91% white) who had been receiving warfarin for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation for at least 6 months, were newly diagnosed with dementia in fiscal year 2007 or 2008, and were not enrolled in Medicare Advantage (n = 2,572). Measurements The onset of dementia was defined according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, code. Participants were followed for up to 4 years for persistence of warfarin therapy, anticoagulation control, major hemorrhage, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. Results The average CHADS2 score was 3.3 ± 1.3. After a diagnosis of dementia, 405 individuals (16%) persisted on warfarin therapy. Unadjusted Cox proportional hazards analysis demonstrated a protective effect of warfarin in prevention of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.46–0.89, P = .008), major bleeding (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.55–0.94, P = .02), and all-cause mortality (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55–0.79, P < .001). Using propensity score matching, the protective effect of continuing warfarin persisted in prevention of stroke (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.54–0.996, P = .047) and mortality (HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.60–0.87, P < .001), with no statistically significant decrease in risk of major bleeding (HR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.61–1.01, P = .06). Conclusion Discontinuing warfarin after a diagnosis of dementia is associated with a significant increase in stroke and mortality.
Incidental Thrombus in Transit Causing Embolic Stroke

Thrombus in transit leading to paradoxical systemic arterial embolism is a rare echocardiographic finding in patients presenting with embolic stroke. We present a case of a patient who had an atrial thrombus in transit discovered incidentally and later suffered a fatal stroke. Etiologies of cardioembolic stroke and the use of echocardiography in diagnosis and management are briefly discussed.
A systematic review of hypertension outcomes and treatment strategies in older adults.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the literature regarding blood pressure control and management in older adult patient population over 70 years of age. Methods A literature search was conducted using PubMed and capturing the data from 2006 to 2016. Terms used included MeSH headings for hypertension/therapy and antihypertension agents. A systematic review of published studies was performed. Articles including older patients (average age 70 years or older) being treated for hypertension were included. We analyzed the blood pressure goals and treatment regimens along with cardiovascular outcomes. Results Six trials were evaluated that met criteria for inclusion. A range of countries were represented including Europe, China, Australia, Tunisia, US, and Japan. The population size in the trials ranged from 142 to 4736. All studies included had adequate power to assess treatment effects. Blood pressure goals were variable and ranged from a systolic of Conclusions The studies discussed had a range of blood pressure goals. The optimal management of hypertension in older adults is still being debated. Data from the clinical trials show that treating blood pressure to tight goals of at least
Effects of sachet presence on consumer product perception and active packaging acceptability - A study of fresh-cut cantaloupe

Abstract Numerous active packaging systems have been created and characterized for food applications. However, studies delving into consumer acceptability of active packaging are scarce and limited to gathering consumer opinion using surveys that contain verbal descriptions of the packages rather than exposing participants to these. This study investigated the impact of a visible sachet inside of a food package on the consumer acceptance of the package and product perception. The approach was to use a consumer sensory evaluation of packaged fresh-cut cantaloupe, with or without a sachet, first using a Likert scale to evaluate consumer liking of package and product quality attributes, followed by directly asking consumers their opinions of packaging changes and innovations. The responses from ninety-four panelists were analyzed as a whole and when split into population segments. Responses of package acceptability showed that panelists preferred packages without sachets. These differences did not carry over to ratings of cantaloupe quality attributes. Panelists expressed willingness to pay more for packages that extend the use life of fresh-cut cantaloupe and liked to see new types of packaging. This study indicates that initiatives to develop active packaging for produce should focus on delivering active compounds in a manner not apparent to consumers.
The Seifert–Van Kampen Theorem

In this chapter we develop the techniques needed to compute the fundamental groups of finite CW complexes, compact surfaces, and a good many other spaces as well. The basic tool is the Seifert–Van Kampen theorem, which gives a formula for the fundamental group of a space that can be decomposed as the union of two open, path-connected subsets whose intersection is also path-connected.
Performance-Based Assessment of Depriving Environments: Comparison of Context/Response Interactions Within Inner-City and Suburban School Settings

It is widely accepted that depriving environments contribute to retarded academic development, particularly in minority group and poverty children (cf. Begab, Haywood and Garber, 1981a, 1981b). Yet, there is wide dissatisfaction with the often contradictory evidence supporting this view, and paradoxically, the processes by which environmental retardation occurs are not known or well documented (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Brophy, 1979; Schoggen and Schoggen, 1981). This has not been due to the lack of basic theoretical models concerning behaviour or academic delay. Both ecologically and behaviourally oriented researchers have elaborated models based upon environment, organism, response interaction (Kantor, 1959; Skinner, 1953; Barker, 1961) and open to empirical investigation (e.g. Bijou, 1981). But to date, data on momentary interactive processes and their relationships to developmental milestones in normal and problematic children or as a result of direct intervention, remain the exception, rather than the rule.
Ecology and the Claims for a Science-Based Ethics

Erazim Kohak loves the forest. He spends much of his leisure there, and he has written eloquently of it as a paradigm of nature, specifically searching for an ethics based on our relation to nature. He seeks to ascribe meaning to Nature. How is Nature itself, and especially our relation to it, meaningful to us, and perhaps more importantly, what is our responsibility to Nature. Our age has witnessed an increasing insularity from the natural world. Both individually and as a culture, we spend a large part of our national fortune on dissecting natural phenomena in order to control nature for our purported economic and social welfare, and the technological product of that endeavor has had a tremendous price. Erazim has been an important voice in attempting to assess that cost, a powerful witness to how we must still account for a humane philosophy of nature even as we recede from it in the guise of controller.
THE ROMAN SECOND CENTURY GATE AT PERGE AND ITS LITERARY ASSOCIATIONS

MIERSE, W.E. The Roman second century gate at Perge and its literary associations. Re v. do Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia, Sao Paulo, 7: 49-64, 1997. RESUMO: O artigo visa demonstrar como a entrada romana do seculo II d.C. da cidade de Perge, na Asia Menor, pertence a um conjunto arquitetonico harmonico, construido a partir de um programa artistico mais amplo. Assim, os varios elementos que compoem esta entrada (patios, nichos e esculturas, colunadas) sao analisados a luz de suas possiveis associacoes com os estilos de pintura mural e de composicoes literarias, adquirindo uma coeren­ cia unica.
Double Axonal Crush, Transection, and Implantation of Deep Peroneal Nerve for Intractable Pain

Introduction: Intractable pain following calcaneal fracture is a rare, but debilitating complication for a patient. The aim of this study was to assess if a double axonal crush with deep peroneal nerve (DPN) implantation is effective in alleviating residual intractable pain following surgical repair of Sanders III and IV calcaneal fractures. Methods: Eleven patients underwent DPN resection, double axonal crush, and bone implantation for entrapment of the distal portion of the DPN confirmed via EMG with a mean follow-up period of 26 months. The Visual Analog Scale and Quality of Life were used as scoring systems. Results: Results show a statistically significant (p Discussion: DPN resection, double axonal crush, and implantation into the tibia offers promising results, and further studies may be warranted to confirm as a valid treatment option.
National trends and pathologic outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy among patients with micropapillary variant urothelial carcinoma of the bladder.

477Background: Micropapillary variants of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) are associated with aggressive clinical behavior including an increased risk of regional and distant metastasis. Although n...
Student Perceptions of M.D.-Ph.D. Programs: A Qualitative Identification of Barriers Facing Prospective M.D.-Ph.D. Applicants

Phenomenon: Despite a high degree of interest in research among matriculating M.D. students, very few apply to combined M.D.-Ph.D. training programs. Even fewer of those applicants are female, leading to a gender disparity among M.D.-Ph.D. trainees. We used a qualitative approach to understand why students choose not to apply or matriculate to M.D.-Ph.D. programs. Approach: We recruited recently matriculated medical students at a private research university with a self-reported interest in academic medicine and biomedical research to participate in focus groups, in which students discussed their career and life goals, general knowledge and sources of information for M.D.-Ph.D. programs, perceived benefits and downsides, and barriers to applying to such programs. Findings: Twenty-two students participated in focus groups. Participants desired careers combining clinical work, research, and teaching. Students had knowledge of the structure and goals of M.D.-Ph.D. training and received information about dual-degree programs from research mentors, the Internet, and peers. Tuition remission and increased grant access were cited as benefits of M.D.-Ph.D. programs, whereas duration, perceived excessive research training, and early commitment were downsides. Perceived competitiveness, misconceptions about training, a lack of M.D.-Ph.D. program-specific advising, discouragement from applying, and duration of training all served as barriers preventing students from pursuing dual-degree training. Insights: Through this qualitative study, we identified perceptions and misconceptions that recent medical school applicants have about M.D.-Ph.D. programs. These findings suggest targetable barriers to increase applications from interested students, such as improving awareness of programs, increased accessibility of advising and resources, and addressing concerns over training length, with the goal of improving training access for aspiring physician-scientists.
Unilateral astigmatic changes associated with pressure induced stromal keratitis after bilateral laser in situ keratomileusis: A case report

Abstract Purpose To describe a patient with unilateral astigmatic changes associated with stromal edema secondary to increased intraocular pressure after LASIK. Method Case report and review of the literature. Results We report a case of unilateral astigmatic changes associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP) immediately following bilateral LASIK. After treatment with two IOP lowering medications and early cessation of steroids, the topographic and manifest astigmatism gradually resolved with improvement in visual acuity. Conclusion Pressure induced stromal keratitis (PISK) can have an asymmetric presentation that may manifest with an increase in corneal curvature. Corneal topography changes are not typically reported with PISK. Therefore, we wish to bring light to topographical changes as a tool to help aid in early diagnosis of PISK.
Does the Evolving Concept of Due Process in Obergefell Justify Judicial Regulation of Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change?: Juliana v. United States

Justice Kennedy’s Obergefell opinion, which held that same sex marriage is a fundamental right under the Constitution’s due process clause, reasoned that the principles of substantive due process may evolve because of changing societal views of what constitutes “liberty” under the clause, and that judges may recognize new liberty rights in light of their “reasoned judgement.” In Juliana v. United States, Judge Aiken used her “reasoned judgement” to conclude that evolving principles of substantive due process in the Obergefell decision allowed the court to find that the plaintiffs were entitled to a liberty right to a stable climate system capable of sustaining human life, and, furthermore, that these same evolving principles of substantive due process led the court to interpret the public trust doctrine to now include a similar right to a sustainable climate system. Relying on Chief Justice Robert’s dissenting opinion in Obergefell and a decision by Judge Sutton of the Sixth Circuit, one may criticize the Juliana decision for giving judges too much discretion to invent new due process rights and usurp the role of the legislature. More appropriately, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California dismissed a public nuisance suit against major oil companies because Congress and the Executive Branch should decide climate change policy rather than federal courts. Professor Kenji Yoshino has argued that the Obergefell decision should be interpreted as “antisubordination liberty” that protects “historically subordinated groups.” Following the “antisubordination liberty” principle, alleged victims of climate change are arguably not entitled to special protection from the judiciary because the impacts of such harms affect every person in the United States rather than singling out under-represented minority groups, even if certain “historically subordinated groups” are affected to a greater degree by climate change. Instead of judicial intervention against President Trump’s climate policies, states and cities should exercise their right in our federalist system to adopt policies reducing the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, renewable energy appears to be on an unstoppable trajectory to replace fossil fuels, so there is no need for judges to usurp political policy decisions about future energy choices.
Inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase by chlorpyrifos in juvenile rats results in altered exploratory and social behavior as adolescents.

Abstract The organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is suspected to cause developmental neurotoxicity in children leading to long term effects. Developmental exposure of rat pups to CPF at low levels disrupts degradation of the brain endocannabinoids through the inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and decreases the reactivity of juvenile rats in an emergence test. In this study, we further investigated the effects of developmental CPF exposure on behavior but also included exposure to PF-04457845, a specific inhibitor of FAAH, for comparison of behavior altered by FAAH inhibition with behavior altered by CPF. Ten day old rat pups were exposed orally either to 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0 mg/kg CPF or 0.02 mg/kg PF-04457845 daily for 7 days. In an open field (day 23), the high CPF and PF-04457845 groups exhibited increased motor activity but no differences in the time spent in the field’s center. In an elevated plus maze (day 29), all treatment groups had increased open arm activity but ethological behaviors associated with anxiety were not altered. Behaviors in the maze associated with increased general activity and exploratory drive were increased. Social interactions (day 36) were measured and all treatment groups exhibited increased levels of play behavior. The similarities in behavior between PF-04457845 and CPF suggest that enhanced endocannabinoid signaling during the exposure period plays a role in the persistent alteration of behavior observed following developmental CPF exposure.
A Call for a National Agenda for a Healthy, Equitable, and Sustainable Food System.

In less than a month, US voters will choose their next president and Congress, creating the opportunity for food, farm, and social justice activists to shape a new federal food agenda. Whether Demo...
A flexible analytic model of cosmic variance in the first billion years

Author(s): Trapp, AC; Furlanetto, Steven R | Abstract: ABSTRACT Cosmic variance is the intrinsic scatter in the number density of galaxies due to fluctuations in the large-scale dark matter density field. In this work, we present a simple analytic model of cosmic variance in the high-redshift Universe (z ∼ 5–15). We assume that galaxies grow according to the evolution of the halo mass function, which we allow to vary with large-scale environment. Our model produces a reasonable match to the observed ultraviolet (UV) luminosity functions in this era by regulating star formation through stellar feedback and assuming that the UV luminosity function is dominated by recent star formation. We find that cosmic variance in the UV luminosity function is dominated by the variance in the underlying dark matter halo population, and not by differences in halo accretion or the specifics of our stellar feedback model. We also find that cosmic variance dominates over Poisson noise for future high-z surveys except for the brightest sources or at very high redshifts (z ≳ 12). We provide a linear approximation of cosmic variance for a variety of redshifts, magnitudes, and survey areas through the public python package galcv. Finally, we introduce a new method for incorporating priors on cosmic variance into estimates of the galaxy luminosity function and demonstrate that it significantly improves constraints on that important observable.
Depression Severity Assessment for Adolescents at High Risk of Mental Disorders

Recent progress in artificial intelligence has led to the development of automatic behavioral marker recognition, such as facial and vocal expressions. Those automatic tools have enormous potential to support mental health assessment, clinical decision making, and treatment planning. In this paper, we investigate nonverbal behavioral markers of depression severity assessed during semi-structured medical interviews of adolescent patients. The main goal of our research is two-fold: studying a unique population of adolescents at high risk of mental disorders and differentiating mild depression from moderate or severe depression. We aim to explore computationally inferred facial and vocal behavioral responses elicited by three segments of the semi-structured medical interviews: Distress Assessment Questions, Ubiquitous Questions, and Concept Questions. Our experimental methodology reflects best practise used for analyzing small sample size and unbalanced datasets of unique patients. Our results show a very interesting trend with strongly discriminative behavioral markers from both acoustic and visual modalities. These promising results are likely due to the unique classification task (mild depression vs. moderate and severe depression) and three types of probing questions.
Empirical BLUE and BLUP

Recall from Sect. 13.5 that E-BLUP, the conventional procedure for predicting a predictable linear function τ = cTβ + u under the prediction-extended general mixed linear model $$\displaystyle \left \{\left (\begin {array}{c}\mathbf {y} \\ u\end {array}\right ),\left (\begin {array}{c}\mathbf { X}\boldsymbol {\beta } \\ 0 \end {array}\right ),\left (\begin {array}{cc}{\mathbf {V}}_{yy}(\boldsymbol {\theta }) & {\mathbf {v}}_{yu}(\boldsymbol {\theta }) \\ {\mathbf {v}}_{yu}(\boldsymbol {\theta })^T & \mathbf { v}_{uu}(\boldsymbol {\theta }) \end {array}\right )\right \}, $$ is to first obtain an estimate \(\hat {\boldsymbol {\theta }}\) of θ and then proceed as though this estimate was the true θ.
The Role of Membrane-Based Technologies in Environmental Treatment and Reuse of Produced Water

Produced water (PW) generation has been increasing recently due to the expansion of fossil fuel extraction and the aging of oil wells worldwide and especially in the United States (US). The adverse health risks, seismicity, and environmental impacts associated with PW have become a challenging concern. Therefore, there is increased demand for improved PW treatment and reuse management options. There are multiple methods for treating PW; this article focuses on treatment through membrane filtration. Moreover, this mini review aims to summarize statistics on PW abundance, trends in PW generation over time, to briefly call attention to health-related issues, highlight some treatment challenges, and mention potential purposes for reuse with an emphasis on the US, the largest generator of PW worldwide.
Gene expression in major depressive disorder: Peripheral tissue and brain-based studies

Abstract Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common, complex disorder that is among the most disabling illnesses worldwide. Although treatments are moderately effective, a substantial proportion of subjects with MDD suffers from persistent-resistant symptoms, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic development. However, the pathophysiology of MDD remains elusive, representing arguably the major challenge to developing novel treatments. MDD has both a prominent heritable and environmental component, both of which may be associated with specific changes in gene expression, an easily measurable molecular feature between genotype and downstream biological pathways. Due to limited access to the primary tissue of interest, large-scale gene expression studies have focused on identifying biomarkers in whole blood, with replicated evidence for association of MDD with the splicing regulator gene SRSF5. Several smaller studies have examined gene expression in MDD cases in postmortem brain tissue; while statistical power and replication of findings at the level of the gene has so far been limited, pathway analyses have found converging evidence for pathways broadly associated with the immune system. Moreover, as larger and more comprehensive studies of postmortem brain samples become available and integrated with emerging genetic associations, gene expression studies will provide important mechanistic insights into the molecular pathophysiology of MDD.