cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phylogeny of the New Termite Genus Terrenitermes from Hispaniola (Isoptera: Termitidae: Nasutitermitinae)

The new, monotypic genus Terrenitermes has Constrictotermes toussainti N. Banks, known only from Hispaniola, as its type-species. The genus, which appears to be South American in origin, is intermediate between Diversitermes and Velocitermes . Diversitermes has 3 soldier castes in each of its species; Terrenitermes , only 2. Of these, the major is nearest related to the major soldier of 1 species of Diversitermes ; the minor, to the intermediate soldier of a different Diversitermes species. The 2 soldier castes of Terrenitermes , however, are found not to be related to the major and intermediate castes which occur together in any single species of Diversitermes . By definition, Velocitermes (from which T. toussainti is here removed) has soldier castes related to the intermediate and minor castes, but not to the major caste, of Diversitermes .
Fatty Acids of Selected Athelia Species

Mycelia of Athelia epiphylla, A. decipiens, A. neuhoffii, A. borealis, A. bombycina, and A. bicolor growing in vitro were analyzed for fattyacid composition by GLC and TLC methods. The major fatty acid in each fungus was a diunsaturated 18-carbon acid with lesser amounts of 16: 0, 18: 0, and 18:1. An unidentified 18:2 was detected in A. bicolor. The fungi could be identified by their fatty-acid patterns.
Research on Toxicity of Communication Cable for Buildings

Composition and classification of communication cable for buildings are introduced; toxicity of the material of insulating layer,external protective layer(polyethylene,polyvinyl chloride and fluoroplastics)of common communication cable is analyzed in terms of combustion or decomposition product of material,oxygen consumption for combustion and the point-in-time of material toxicity producing.
Konfokale Laser Reflektanz Mikroskopie in vivo: eine neue Methode zur Beurteilung der pankreatischen Mikrozirkulation bei akut nekrotisierender Pankreatitis

Background Near infrared confocal microscopy (CM) provides non-invasive real time images of thin virtual horizontal tissue sections with high resolution and contrast. We recently described the validity of CM for evaluation of pancreatic microcirculation and leukocyte-endothelial interaction in-vivo in healthy rats. The objective of this study was to apply reflectance confocal microscopy for the evaluation of pancreatic microcirculation in-vivo in rats with acute pancreatitis.
Conversion, Acquiescence, or Delusion: The Contingent Nature of the Party-Voter Connection

Normative theories of representative government posit congruence of opinion between the electorate and their representatives. However, not all political issues are equally salient, and agreement is expected to be greater on relatively salient issues. This paper employs balance theory to describe mechanisms which may produce congruence of opinion between voters and parties when an issue increases rapidly in salience. Panel data on Norwegian opinion during the debate on European Union membership are used to determine whether opinion congruence resulted from persuasion by political parties or policy voting by the electorate. Policy voters are found to differ systematically from voters who were persuaded by parties. Finally, the characteristics of parties which determine their success in persuading voters or attracting policy voters are evaluated.
ARF2 coordinates with PLETHORAs and PINs to orchestrate ABA-mediated root meristem activity in Arabidopsis

Multiple hormones, including abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin, regulate cell division and differentiation of Arabidopsis root meristems. AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 2 (ARF2) functions as a negative regulator of ABA responses, as seed germination and primary root growth of arf2 mutants are hypersensitive to ABA. In this study, we found that ABA treatment reduced the expression levels of the PIN-FORMEDs (PIN) auxin efflux carriers, PIN1, PIN3, PIN4, and PIN7, to a greater extent in the root meristems of arf2-101 mutant than in the wild type. Also, arf2-101 pin1 and arf2-101 pin4 double mutants show less ABA-induced inhibition of root meristem activity than the arf2-101 mutants. Furthermore, ARF2 positively mediates the transcripts of transcription factor PLETHORA 1 (PLT1) gene but negatively mediates PLT2 at protein level in root meristems. Using a dexamethasone (DEX)-inducible transgenic line, Pro35S:PLT2-GR, we showed that PLT2 greatly promotes cell division and completely inhibits cell differentiation in root meristems of the arf2-101 mutant once PLT2 is induced by DEX, which can be partially reversed by ABA treatment, suggesting that ABA regulates root meristem activity in both ARF2-dependent and independent pathways. Our results uncover a complex regulatory architecture in which ARF2 coordinates with PLTs and PINs to orchestrate ABA-mediated regulation of root meristem activity in Arabidopsis.
Some Methodological Issues in Climate Science

Although the science of the greenhouse effect of atmospheric CO2 is well established, all efforts to relate this phenomenon to fossil fuel emissions has failed because of deficiencies in the methodology used in the presentation of empirical evidence. Circular reasoning is used in the IPCC carbon budget to relate atmospheric CO2 to fossil fuel emissions as a way of dealing with insurmountable measurement problems. No evidence exists to relate changes in atmospheric CO2 or the rate of warming to fossil fuel emissions because correlations presented for these relationships are spurious. The UNFCCC holds annual COP meetings and calls for reductions in fossil fuel emissions to attenuate global warming without evidence that warming is related to emissions.
The Relationship Between Self-Rated Health and Use of Parks and Participation in Recreation Programs, United States, 1991 and 2015.

We examined the relationship between self-rated health and use of parks and recreation program participation by using logistic regression to analyze data from representative national surveys conducted in 1991 and 2015. Neither park use nor program participation were significantly related to self-rated health in 1991; however, both were significantly related in 2015. The growing relationship between use of parks and recreation programs and self-rated health during this period is likely the result of broad national health promotion efforts and provides support for funding of capital and operational expenses for park and recreation services. Language: en
Efficient planning with the Bayes tree for active SLAM

This paper reports on an active simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) framework that leverages the Bayes tree data structure for efficient planning. Evaluating information-theoretic objective functions in the context of active SLAM is a very expensive process that requires significant computational overhead. The contributions of this work involve exploiting the structure of the planning problem integrated with SLAM via the Bayes tree graphical model. Specifically, we propose a constrained variable ordering and subtree caching scheme that reduce computational complexity by eliminating redundant computations between candidate actions that are similar. We also propose an active SLAM framework that utilizes these concepts, and demonstrate the benefits of the approach with an underwater robot performing visual SLAM in a hybrid simulation environment.
Exploiting phase cohesiveness for frequency control of islanded inverter-based microgrids

In this paper, we propose a generation control strategy for islanded lossless microgrids with inverter-interfaced generators. In particular, we address the problem of obtaining a desired active power load sharing while regulating the frequency to some nominal value. The proposed control strategy is based on the slow readjustment of the active power reference of each inverter, i.e., each inverter aims to track a slowly-varying reference that is set sufficiently close to the actual active power injection, and, thus easy to track. The control enforces the trajectory to satisfy the so-called phase-cohesiveness property, i.e., the absolute value of the voltage phase angle difference across electrical lines is smaller than π/2, which ensures the system remains stable at all times, while achieving the desired active power load sharing. We also propose a method to find the active power reference distributively which satisfies the phase-cohesiveness property for tree networks as well as for some cyclic networks.
Suboptimal Inspiratory Flow Rates Are Associated with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and All-Cause Readmissions.

Rationale: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are prescribed after hospitalization for acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD). Peak inspiratory flow (PIF) affects DPI delivery.Objectives: To study the impact of PIF on readmission after hospitalization for AECOPD.Methods: A retrospective analysis of hospitalized patients, enrolled in an AECOPD care plan, was performed. Data analyzed included PIF, age, sex, length of stay, Charlson Comorbidity Index, COPD Assessment Test score, modified Medical Research Council score, percent predicted FEV1, FVC, and inspiratory capacity. A PIF equal to and less than 60 L/min was defined as suboptimal (sPIF). Outcome measures included 30- and 90-day COPD and all-cause readmissions, and days to next COPD and all-cause readmissions.Results: Of the 123 subjects, 52% (n = 64) had sPIF. They had greater COPD Assessment Test scores (29.1 ± 5.9 vs. 25.3 ± 8.7; P = 0.0073), rates of 90-day COPD readmissions (28.1 vs. 13.6%; P = 0.048), fewer median days to COPD (63.5 [interquartile range (IQR...
Experiential Learning: Benefits for Hispanic and First-Generation College Students

Experiential learning continues to gain in popularity within higher education in the United States. Consideration of the effects experiential learning has on different groups of student populations, however, is quite limited. Accordingly, this article examines several different examples of experiential learning assignments and projects in two specific courses at a Hispanic and Asian-serving institution to better understand the outcomes for underrepresented student populations. The analysis utilizes qualitative data collected from student reflections and assignments, as well as faculty observations, from six sections of two classes that were comprised of 50% to 65% Hispanic students. The findings highlight the benefits experiential learning offers for Hispanic, first-generation students by highlighting the strengths of learning through facilitating students’ connections between their lived experiences and their educational experiences. The paper also addresses how such experiences help to scaffold learning and promote more democratic classroom environments, in turn increasing student perceptions of their own learning.
Ask Me Anything about MOOCs

In this article, ten questions about MOOCs (crowdsourced from the recipients of the AAAI and SIGCSE mailing lists) were posed by editors Michael Wollowski, Todd Neller, James Boerkoel to Douglas H. Fisher, Charles Isbell Jr., and Michael Littman — educators with unique, relevant experiences to lend their perspective on those issues.
Mexico: Conditionality Abandoned

Mexico has become known for drug violence, which escalated dramatically from 2006 to 2012, including a ten-fold intensification of cartel-state conflict. However, large DTOs operated peacefully in Mexico for more than a century. Since its advent in the 1930s, the hegemonic Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) actively managed cartels through a highly conditional state-sponsored protection racket. This system began to erode in the late 1980s and eventually collapsed with Mexico's democratization in the 1990s. Though cartels grew stronger from the 1990s onward due to market forces, the triggering factor for cartel–state conflict—and possibly inter-cartel turf war—was shifts in state policy. This chapter makes four key claims: (1) Under single-party PRI rule (1930s–1989), conditionality was high, leading cartels to eschew anti-state violence. (2) Democratization (1990–2000) weakened conditionality, pushing cartels toward violent strategies, though actual anti-state violence remained rare. (3) Fox's limited, unconditional crackdown (2003–2005) pushed cartels to fight back, triggering the onset of cartel–state conflict. (4) Calderon's massive crackdown (2006–2012) severely reduced conditionality, leading to full-blown cartel–state conflict. I also conjecture that attempts to reform policy in a more conditional direction in 2010 and 2011 mostly failed, but modestly increased conditionality in some repressive agencies. This may have induced some cartels to adopt less confrontational strategies. Under Enrique Pena Nieto, state policy seems to have remained largely unconditional, and cartel–state conflict abides. OVERVIEW Between December 2006, when President Felipe Calderon led Mexico's armed forces into a “war without quarter” against drug cartels, and the end of his term six years later, some 75,000 lives were lost to cartel-related violence. Mexico's drug war began before Calderon's time in office, and has certainly outlived it. Yet Calderon's crackdown and the explosion of violence that followed it both represent radical breaks with the past. What had been a growing but minor concern at the outset of Calderon's presidency became an enduring crisis of national proportions, altering Mexico's perception in the eyes of the world and its own people. Moreover, Calderon's unconditional, militarized approach was quietly adopted by his successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, despite initial vows to reverse course.
A Consideration of the Second Permanent Molars as a Source of Anchorage

Abstract No Abstract Available. *Read before the tenth annual meeting of the Edward H. Angle Society of Orthodontia, May 10–15, 1936, Del Monte, California.
Potential of Brown-Midrib, Low-Lignin Mutants for Improving Forage Quality

Publisher Summary Brown-midrib (bmr) mutants differing in quality and quantity of lignin from normal genotypes offer an opportunity to increase the overall digestion of plant fiber. It is a simple recessive trait that phenotypically produces a reddish-brown pigmentation associated with lignified tissues. Several different genes have been identified in both maize and sorghum, which produce the characteristic bmr phenotype. Lignin concentrations in bmr genotypes are consistently lower than their normal counterparts. Besides differences between bmr and normal alkali-labile phenolics, the nitrobenzene oxidation of the two lignins yields different ratios of products. In vitro digestibility of bmr genotypes has been consistently higher than normal, but in vitro rate of digestion does not appear to be consistently affected by the mutation. Animal performance on bmr forage has not always produced better results than with normal genotypes but the tendency is for improved animal performance with bmr genotypes. Activities of several enzymes involved in lignification differed between bmr and normal genotypes. Differences in activities are not consistent across species, indicating that several different modifications of the lignifications pathway may result in a similar phenotypic bmr response. This chapter concludes that bmr provide an excellent system for examining and possibly modifying the lignifications process in plants.
Viral Pathogenesis and Toll-Like Receptors

A number of different viral gene products are now known to interact with different TLR family members. In some cases, induction of the innate response may limit infection by different viruses, especially when the infectious dose is high. Because these receptors recognize elements of the virus that are highly conserved, instead of evolving to avoid this response, some viruses may have adapted to utilizing the response, as a means of facilitating entry or replication, producing gene products such as transcription factors that increase virus gene expression or by down-modulating or subverting subsequent antiviral immune responses. Future studies are likely to uncover more effects of virus-induced TLR activation on pathogenesis.
Felon-Jurors in Vacationland: A Field Study of Transformative Civic Engagement in Maine

Maine is the only jurisdiction in the United States that places no limitations on a convicted felon’s juror eligibility. Instead, Maine screens prospective felon-jurors using their normal jury selection procedures. In recent years, scholars have suggested that meaningful community engagement can help facilitate former offenders’ reintegration and criminal desistance. From that theoretical posture, a number of empirical studies have explored the connection between participation in the electorate and the reentry of former offenders. Those studies suggest that voting has the potential to prompt pro-social changes among former offenders. Still, to date, no research has focused on jury service as a form of civic inclusion that may foster successful reintegration and criminal desistance. Drawing on data derived from a large-scale field study in Maine, the present article addresses this research void, arguing that the jury is perfectly positioned as a tool for change, employable by jurisdictions seeking to facilitate the successful reentry of former offenders. This article further notes that Maine is the only U.S. jurisdiction that has exploited this transformative power of the jury process.
The Dynamic Library

The Dynamic Library: Organizing Knowledge at the Sitterwerk – Precedents and Possibilities, Soberscove Press, 2015, is a compilation of essays on a symposium about new systems of knowledge organiza...
The Effects of Corruption and Regulation on Business Entrepreneurship: Evidence from American States

While there is a large volume of cross-country studies identifying and measuring adverse impacts of corruption, empirical analyses of whether and how corruption actually affects entrepreneurship in...
Joint Visual-Textual Embedding for Multimodal Style Search.

We introduce a multimodal visual-textual search refinement method for fashion garments. Existing search engines do not enable intuitive, interactive, refinement of retrieved results based on the properties of a particular product. We propose a method to retrieve similar items, based on a query item image and textual refinement properties. We believe this method can be leveraged to solve many real-life customer scenarios, in which a similar item in a different color, pattern, length or style is desired. We employ a joint embedding training scheme in which product images and their catalog textual metadata are mapped closely in a shared space. This joint visual-textual embedding space enables manipulating catalog images semantically, based on textual refinement requirements. We propose a new training objective function, Mini-Batch Match Retrieval, and demonstrate its superiority over the commonly used triplet loss. Additionally, we demonstrate the feasibility of adding an attribute extraction module, trained on the same catalog data, and demonstrate how to integrate it within the multimodal search to boost its performance. We introduce an evaluation protocol with an associated benchmark, and compare several approaches.
Does Mentoring by Orthopedic Surgeons Improve Forearm Fracture Reduction Outcomes by Pediatric Emergency Physicians? Evaluation of a Process Improvement Intervention Program.

Abstract Background Forearm fractures are among the most frequently encountered orthopedic injuries in children. The maintenance of satisfactory alignment can be problematic and postreduction displacement with resultant malunion can occur. Objectives The objective of the study was to evaluate pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) physicians’ performance on forearm fracture reduction to determine the impact of a Process Improvement Intervention Program (PIIP) on postreduction displacement rates after initial reduction. The PIIP was designed to improve our PEM physicians’ skills and knowledge in how to properly apply and mold casts to better maintain the alignment of reduced forearm fractures. Methods A PIIP was implemented during 2015–2016 when orthopedic surgeons mentored postfellowship-trained PEM physicians. Patient cohorts from pre- and post-PIIP implementation were investigated and compared to evaluate the impact of the PIIP on PEM physicians’ initial fracture reduction success rates and postreduction displacement rates. Descriptive and analytical statistics including univariate and multivariate models were tested to understand changes in physicians’ performance. Results Pre- and postcohorts had similar demographic and clinical characteristics and similarly high initial reduction success rates. When distal and midshaft fracture types were combined, there was no significant difference in postreduction displacement rates between the 2 cohorts, but when stratified based on fracture type, the distal radius postcohort showed a statistically significant improvement in postreduction maintenance. Conclusions A PIIP by pediatric orthopedic surgeons did not change the PEM physicians’ initial fracture reduction success rate, but it did result in a statistically significant improvement in maintenance of reduction rates.
Unconventional petroleum potential in the Mowry Shale, Southern Powder River Basin, Wyoming

The Lower Cretaceous Mowry Shale is a major source rock in the northern Rocky Mountain region (Schrayer and Zarrella, 1968; Nixon, 1973; Byers and Larson, 1979; Burtner and Warner, 1984; Momper and Williams, 1984; Davis et al., 1989; Modica and Lapierre, 2012). The source rock contains primarily Type II organic matter with an admixture of Type III kerogen towards the west. Thermally mature Mowry Shales are closely associated with petroleum accumulations in both Lower and Upper Cretaceous reservoirs. The Mowry Shale has produced modest amounts of oil from older vertical wells in the Powder River basin (Figure 1). With technology improvements (horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracture stimulation) over the past decade, the Mowry is now a prospective target for hydrocarbon production (Finley, 2017). Horizontal drilling is currently targeting the Mowry in the deeper parts of the Powder River Basin. The Mowry Shale overlies the Shell Creek Shale or Muddy/Newcastle sandstones and is overlain by the Frontier Formation or Belle Fourche Shale (Figure 2). The Mowry petroleum system consists of the Mowry source rock and the following Cretaceous reservoirs: Lakota, Fall River, Muddy, Newcastle, Mowry, Frontier, and Turner.
Two-Port, Common Aperture, High-Isolation, Dual-Polarized Sub-Millimeterwave Antenna System Based on Spatial Power Divider

A two-port antenna system is proposed that uses a polarization-independent spatial power divider to align the beams from two orthogonally oriented dual-polarized feeds. Such an antenna system will provide a common aperture for transmit and receive, and high port isolation, while minimizing radar parallax and maintaining compatibility with fully polarimetric radar. The spatial power divider is designed using an all-dielectric metasurface approach, and is fabricated on a silicon wafer using the standard micromachining technology. The simulated device exhibits at most 0.1 dB of difference between reflection and transmission for both TE and TM incident waves at 45-degree incidence, over a band from 227 GHz to 239 GHz.
Fungicide suppression of flight performance in the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and its amelioration by quercetin

As a managed agricultural pollinator, the western honeybee Apis mellifera frequently encounters agrochemicals as contaminants of nectar and pollen. One such contaminant, the fungicide boscalid, is applied at bloom in orchards for fungal floral pathogen control. As an inhibitor of complex II in the mitochondrial electron transport chain of fungi, boscalid can potentially interfere with high energy-demanding activities of bees, including flight. We designed an indoor flight treadmill to evaluate impacts of ingesting boscalid and/or quercetin, a ubiquitous phytochemical in bee food that also affects mitochondrial respiration. Boscalid reduced the wingbeat frequencies of foragers during flight but did not alter the duration of flight. At the colony level, boscalid ingestion may thereby affect overall health by reducing forager efficiency. The consumption of quercetin, by contrast, led to higher adenosine triphosphate levels in flight muscles and a higher wingbeat frequency. Consuming the two compounds together increased wingbeat frequency, demonstrating a hitherto unrecognized mechanism by which dietary phytochemicals may act to ameliorate toxic effects of pesticides to promote honeybee health. In carrying out this work, we also introduce two methodological improvements for use in testing for pesticide effects on flight capacity-a 'force-feeding' to standardize flight fuel supply and a novel indoor flight treadmill.
How I Diagnose Minimal/Measurable Residual Disease in B Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma by Flow Cytometry.

Objectives Assessment for minimal/measurable residual disease (MRD) is a powerful prognostic factor in B lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (B-LL/L) that is quickly becoming standard of care in assessing patients with B-LL/L posttherapy. MRD can be assessed using methodologies including flow cytometry and molecular genetics, with the former being rapid, relatively inexpensive, and widely applicable in many hematopathology/flow cytometry laboratories. Methods This article presents an approach to MRD detection in B-LL/L by flow cytometry through case presentations with illustration of several potential pitfalls. We review normal maturation patterns, antigens used for assessment, flow panels that can be utilized, considerations to be made during therapy, and clinical impact. The benefits and drawbacks when using the "different from normal" and "leukemia associated phenotype" approaches are considered. Results Evaluation for MRD in B-LL/L by flow cytometry relies on a knowledge of normal immunophenotypic patterns associated with B-cell maturation in states of rest and marrow regeneration so that one can identify patterns of antigen expression that differentiate abnormal, leukemic populations from regenerating hematogones or B-cell precursors. The nature of therapy can affect normal patterns, a phenomenon especially important to take into consideration given the increased use of targeted therapies in the treatment of B-LL/L. Conclusions Flow cytometry is widely available in many laboratories and is a cost-effective way to evaluate for B-LL/L MRD. However, panel validation and interpreter education are crucial for accurate assessment.
Evidence for associations between Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure test and motor skill learning in older adults.

Abstract Age-related declines in motor learning may be related to poor visuospatial function. Thus, visuospatial testing could evaluate older adults' potential for motor learning, which has implications for geriatric motor rehabilitation. To this end, the purpose of this study was to identify which visuospatial test is most predictive of motor learning within older adults. Forty-five nondemented older adults completed six standardized visuospatial tests, followed by three weekly practice sessions on a functional upper-extremity motor task. Participants were re-tested 1 month later on the trained task and another untrained upper-extremity motor task to evaluate the durability and generalizability of motor learning, respectively. Principal component analysis first reduced the dimensions of the visuospatial battery to two principal components for inclusion in a mixed-effects model that assessed one-month follow-up performance as a function of baseline performance and the principal components. Of the two components, only one was related to one-month follow-up. Factor loadings and post hoc analyses suggested that of the six visuospatial tests, the Rey-Osterrieth test (visual construction and memory) was related to one-month follow-up of the trained and untrained tasks. Thus, it may be plausible that older adults' long-term motor learning capacity could be evaluated using the Rey-Osterrieth test, which would be feasible to administer prior to motor rehabilitation to indicate risk of non-responsiveness to therapy.
The microbiome of diverticulitis

Despite a marked impact on society in terms of patient suffering and healthcare expenditure, colonic diverticulitis has a relative scarcity of published literature examining its pathophysiology. Based on preliminary studies, akin to other gastrointestinal diseases, alterations of the microbiome appear to be associated with diverticulitis. In fact, these perturbations in the microbiome can be detected when comparing segments of diseased and non-diseased colonic tissues within the same individual. Unfortunately, differentiating cause from effect is not feasible without longitudinal studies. While the use of antibiotics for the treatment of uncomplicated diverticulitis is waning, studies utilizing rifaximin, probiotics, and even fecal microbiota transplantation are growing. At present, treatment recommendations are limited by significant heterogeneity in the study populations as well as confounding bias. Ultimately, while dysbiosis is likely to play a role in diverticulitis, a lack of animal models upon which to perform mechanistic study has limited evidence-based recommendations.
Clinical application of magnetization transfer imaging

Abstract Magnetization transfer (MT) imaging probes tissue integrity and provides an indirect measurement of the degree of myelin integrity in the brain and spinal cord of persons with neurological conditions. Such estimate adds a layer of pathological specificity to imaging and monitoring diseases as well as physiologic developmental processes of the brain. Quantitative metrics derived from MT imaging have advanced the knowledge of neurological conditions by 1) providing pathological characterization of focal lesions visible on conventional T 1 -weighted or T 2 -weighted scans, 2) depicting pathology in areas of otherwise normal appearing tissue, and 3) identifying changes indicative of reparative or developmental mechanisms. The MT contrast also informs on T 1 tissue changes, a factor that renders MT imaging sensitive to specific neuronal products. However, despite decades of scientific effort, MT-based methods have not been incorporated into clinical practice, due to a fundamental unresolved conflict between scientific premises for excellence in imaging and extremely practical clinical needs.
Fusion of video and radar comparison to 3D ladar for activity recognition

Determining hostile or suspicious activities within a civilian population can be challenging. Incorporating automated techniques for classifying activities can significantly reduce the operator workload. Utilizing 3D sensor modalities such as ladar can provide a strong capability for recognizing dismount activities. However, fusing multiple modalities, such as video in conjunction with radar, could provide a cheaper alternative for wide-area coverage. This work utilizes a single point-of-view 3D imaging system to approximate ladar captured data. Activity classification is done on the full 3D extracted motion, achieving 86% correct classification. Simulation of video-only activity classification is done by reducing the radial motion resolution and increasing the radial velocity error, and shows good performance on a significant number of activities. Simulation of radar-only classification is done by reducing the angular resolution and increasing the angular velocity error and shows good performance on a roughly orthogonal set of activities. Fusing the simulated radar and video data together at different fusion levels and comparing to the 3D ladar system gives an estimate of the loss in classification capability when using the less expensive fusion system.
Using custom scientific workflow software and GIS to inform protected area climate adaptation planning in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract Anticipating the ecological effects of climate change to inform natural resource climate adaptation planning represents one of the primary challenges of contemporary conservation science. Species distribution models have become a widely used tool to generate first-pass estimates of climate change impacts to species probabilities of occurrence. There are a number of technical challenges to constructing species distribution models that can be alleviated by the use of scientific workflow software. These challenges include data integration, visualization of modeled predictor–response relationships, and ensuring that models are reproducible and transferable in an adaptive natural resource management framework. We used freely available software called VisTrails Software for Assisted Habitat Modeling (VisTrails:SAHM) along with a novel ecohydrological predictor dataset and the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 future climate projections to construct species distribution models for eight forest and shrub species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in the Northern Rocky Mountains USA. The species considered included multiple species of sagebrush and juniper, Pinus flexilis, Pinus contorta, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Abies lasciocarpa, Picea engelmannii, and Pinus albicaulis. Current and future species probabilities of occurrence were mapped in a GIS by land ownership category to assess the feasibility of undertaking present and future management action. Results suggested that decreasing spring snowpack and increasing late-season soil moisture deficit will lead to deteriorating habitat area for mountain forest species and expansion of habitat area for sagebrush and juniper communities. Results were consistent across nine global climate models and two representative concentration pathway scenarios. For most forest species their projected future distributions moved up in elevation from general federal to federally restricted lands where active management is currently prohibited by agency policy. Though not yet fully mature, custom scientific workflow software shows considerable promise to ease many of the technical challenges inherent in modeling the potential ecological impacts of climate change to support climate adaptation planning.
Morphological, behavioral and reproductive inducible defenses in two species of intertidal gastropods

iv Acknowledgements viii List of Figures x List of Tables xiv Chapter 1: The Significance of Marine Molluscs in the Field of Inducible Defenses 1 Chapter 2: Inducible Defenses in Shell Morphology and Foraging Behavior in a Littorine Snail Introduction 3 Methods 7 Results 14 Discussion 22 Chapter 3: Predator and Conspecifics Alter the Time and Rate at Which Marine Snails Deposit Embryo Capsules Introduction 27 Methods 33 Results 44 Discussion 65 Chapter 4: Conclusion 69 Literature Cited 71
Magnitude, treatment, and impact of diabetes mellitus in patients hospitalized with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction: A community-based study

Purpose of the study:To examine differences in the characteristics, treatment practices and in-hospital outcomes of patients with and without previously diagnosed diabetes hospitalized for non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.Key methods:The study cohort consisted of 3916 patients diagnosed with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction at all 11 central MA medical centres between 1999 and 2009, of whom 1475 (38%) had been previously diagnosed with diabetes.Main results:Diabetic patients were more likely to have received treatment with effective cardiac medications, and to have undergone coronary bypass surgery, but were less likely to have received a percutaneous coronary intervention, than non-diabetic patients. Patients with a history of diabetes were more likely to have developed cardiogenic shock, heart failure and died during their index hospitalization than non-diabetic patients.Main conclusion:Diabetic patients presenting with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction remain at...
Hormonal Regulation of Growth and Development of Nonmammalian Vertebrates

The sections in this article are: 1 The Growth Hormone–Prolactin Family of Hormones 1.1 Prolactin 1.2 Growth Hormone 2 Insulin and Insulin-Like Growth Factors 2.1 Insulin 2.2 Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor System 2.3 Insulin-Like Growth Factor-Binding Proteins 2.4 The Insulin-Like Growth Factor–Binding Protein/lnsulin-Like Growth Factor 3 Thyroid Hormones 3.1 Metamorphosis 3.2 Smoltification 4 Catabolic Hormones 5 Influence of Maternal Factors 6 Conclusions
AN EPIDEMIOLOGIC APPROACH TO THE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF INBREEDING ON PREREPRODUCTIVE MORTALITY

Although many studies report deleterious effects of inbreeding on prereproductive mortality (death before age 20 years), such effects are usually measured in terms of genetic load, a concept much debated in the literature. To evaluate the public health impact of inbreeding on prereproductive mortality in terms of relative and attributable risks, the authors reviewed 31 studies with 294 observations comparing various stages of infant and child mortality in offspring of unrelated parents with offspring of first cousin, first cousin once removed, and second cousin marriages, respectively. Compared with offspring of unrelated parents, offspring of first cousin marriages have a higher risk of prereproductive mortality (median relative risk (RR) = 1.41, signed-rank test, p less than 0.01). Offspring of first cousin once removed and second cousin marriages had median relative risks of 1.16 and 1.26, respectively. Countries with relatively higher rates of consanguineous marriages (greater than 5%) had lower median relative risks than did countries with lower consanguinity rates. Also, the higher the mortality rate in the population, the lower the effect of consanguinity (median relative risk). Because of the rarity (less than 5%) and declining trends of consanguineous marriages in many places of the world, and because of their modest effect on prereproductive mortality (RR less than 2.0), it can be shown that the attributable risk of prereproductive mortality due to consanguineous marriages is less than 5%. Except for a few places with very high inbreeding levels, inbreeding has a minor impact on mortality in the prereproductive period.
Endobronchial metastasis from prostatic cancer in patient with renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract A patient was seen with a right upper lobe endobronchial mass initially thought to be bronchogenic carcinoma. There was a history of prostatic carcinoma, and subsequent investigation demonstrated a hypernephroma. Thoracotomy and special studies proved the endobronchial metastasis to be prostatic in origin, a rare cause of endobronchial metastasis.
Kurtosis as Peakedness, 1905–2014. R.I.P.

The incorrect notion that kurtosis somehow measures “peakedness” (flatness, pointiness, or modality) of a distribution is remarkably persistent, despite attempts by statisticians to set the record straight. This article puts the notion to rest once and for all. Kurtosis tells you virtually nothing about the shape of the peak—its only unambiguous interpretation is in terms of tail extremity, that is, either existing outliers (for the sample kurtosis) or propensity to produce outliers (for the kurtosis of a probability distribution). To clarify this point, relevant literature is reviewed, counterexample distributions are given, and it is shown that the proportion of the kurtosis that is determined by the central μ ± σ range is usually quite small.
Composition, Origin, and Classification of Extrusive Carbonatites in Rifted Southern Syria

Carbonatite dikes, tuffs, and lavas of Lower Pleistocene age occur in several localities in southern Syria and are associated with nephelinite, alkaline basalt, and phonolite. The carbonates are magmatic and of mantle origin, as evidenced by basanitic and ultramafic inclusions, rare-earth elements (REE) that are typical of the alkaline ultramafic suite, and δ13C averaging -6 per mil (PDB). The carbonates are high in alkalis (up to 28 wt%) and can be classified as alkalic-dolomitic carbonatites; two fundamental kinds of carbonatite are recognized. The more abundant type has fine to microporphyritic textures, a trace of P2O5, and disequilibrium reaction relations with nepheline-bearing inclusions; it probably originated from partial melting of a CO2-rich source in the garnet peridotite zone. The less common type has emulsion textures, no K, Sr, and Ba, and scattered xenocrysts of spinel lherzolite minerals; it probably originated at shallower depths in the mantle. Carbonatites record rifting in southern Syr...
Perception of Safety Zone around an Industrial Robot

Laboratory experiments were performed to investigate human perception of safe zone around an industrial robot. It was shown that an angle of approach toward the robot, the speed of robot motions and exposure to a simulated accident significantly affected the student subjects perception of the safe area around the MH33 robot. On the average, across all approach angles, the subjects selected distances of 49.2 and 70.0 cm from the robot's working envelope, for the accident and non-accident group, respectively.
Hunting-ton for new proteases: MMPs as the new target?

Mutant huntingtin proteolysis mediated by various proteases plays a key role in Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis. In this issue of Neuron , Miller et al. have identified 11 proteases, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), that when inhibited reduce huntingtin proteolysis and produce beneficial therapeutic effects. These findings provide new insights into huntingtin proteolysis and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Recognition of units in coarse, unconsolidated braided-stream deposits from geophysical log data with principal components analysis

Returns from drilling in unconsolidated cobble and sand aquifers commonly do not identify lithologic changes that may be meaningful for hydrogeologic investigations. Vertical resolution of saturated, Quaternary, coarse braided-stream deposits is significantly improved by interpreting natural gamma (G), epithermal neutron (N), and electromagnetically induced resistivity (IR) logs obtained from wells at the Capital Station site in Boise, Idaho. Interpretation of these geophysical logs is simplified because these sediments are derived largely from high-gamma–producing source rocks (granitics of the Boise River drainage), contain few clays, and have undergone little diagenesis. Analysis of G, N, and IR data from these deposits with principal components analysis provides an objective means to determine if units can be recognized within the braided-stream deposits. In particular, performing principal components analysis on G, N, and IR data from eight wells at Capital Station (1) allows the variable system dimensionality to be reduced from three to two by selecting the two eigenvectors with the greatest variance as axes for principal component scatterplots, (2) generates principal components with interpretable physical meanings, (3) distinguishes sand from cobble-dominated units, and (4) provides a means to distinguish between cobble-dominated units.
METABOLIC/HEARING SCREENING FOR EARLY DISCHARGED INFANTS: A POPULATION-BASED STUDY. † 1569

In a population-based study of the approximately 15,000 births in New Hampshire, we have previously reported an increased risk of readmission to hospital (50%) and Emergency Room visits (70%) within the first two weeks of life for infants discharged at less than 48 hours of life. To address additional concerns regarding appropriate metabolic screening/hearing evaluation all 26 N.H. hospitals with maternity services were surveyed. Questionnaires were sent to Chiefs of Pediatrics and Nurse Managers and were returned by all. A second survey was sent to practicing physicians(pediatrician/family practioner) and 31.4% were returned.
Differential recovery of skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve function after ischemia and reperfusion.

Recovery of skeletal muscle function is of prime importance in revascularization of acutely ischemic extremities. In order to study the effect of ischemia and reperfusion on peripheral nerve and skeletal muscle function, temporary unilateral hindlimb ischemia (1 or 3 hr) was induced in 12 rabbits by temporary arterial occlusion of common iliac and femoral arteries and collateral ligation. The control limb was similarly prepared without interruption of blood flow. Both anterior tibialis muscles were attached to force transducers, and the twitch and tetanic tensions were measured at the end of the ischemic interval and during reperfusion (2 hr) by either direct muscle stimulation or stimulation of the deep peroneal nerve. The ischemic limb was reperfused by removal of arterial clamps and reperfusion documented by Doppler flow over the vascular pedicle. The recovery of muscle function of the ischemic/reperfused limb relative to that of the contralateral control limb was used as the index of recovery. By the end of the ischemic interval, no contractile activity was elicited with nerve stimulation for either the 1- or the 3-hr group. After 2 hr of reperfusion, the 1-hr group regained 0.558 ± 0.116 (mean ± SEM) of control function with nerve stimulation, while the 3-hr group regained only 0.016 ± 0.005 of control function (P < 0.01). In contrast, with direct muscle stimulation, the 1-hr group produced 0.580 ± 0.015 compared to 0.286 ± 0.042 (P < 0.001) after 3 hr of ischemia. After 2 hr of reperfusion, the 1-hr group recovered 0.805 ± 0.059 of muscle function which was significantly better than 0.580 ± 0.077 (P < 0.05) for the 3-hr ischemia group. Therefore, peripheral nerve is more susceptible to ischemia and short reperfusion intervals than skeletal muscle. Strategies for revascularization that may prove beneficial in the treatment of acute severely ischemic limbs may need to take into account the demonstrated injury of peripheral nerve function following relatively short periods of ischemia.
Tailoring the Pore Alignment for Rapid Ion Transport in Microporous Carbons

The power density and charge−discharge time of electrical double layer capacitors are largely determined by how fast the electrolyte ions can travel within the carbon electrode particles. Our syste...
Nonpolar and Semipolar Orientations: Material Growth and Properties

Nitride-based optoelectronic devices prepared in the c orientation have been successfully introduced to the global marketplace and are changing the way we think about lighting. A part of the research interest has shifted toward nonpolar and semipolar orientations, which has the potential to broaden the scope and impact of this technology. This is because quantum-well structures prepared in nonpolar and semipolar orientations are able to suppress the quantum-confinement Stark effect, which has a negative impact on optoelectronic device performance. The lower crystal symmetry of such orientations provides spontaneously polarized light emission. Despite these attractive properties of nonpolar and semipolar orientations, the corresponding materials growth is not trivial. The present chapter discusses our efforts on growth of III-nitride materials in nonpolar and semipolar orientations and the related material properties.