cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Titration of synaptotagmin I expression differentially regulates release of norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y.

Abstract Synaptotagmin (syt) I is a Ca 2+ sensor that has been thought to trigger all vesicle secretion with similar mechanisms. However, given the calcium and stimulation requirements of small clear, and large dense core vesicles, we hypothesized that syt I expression differentially regulates vesicle release. Therefore, in this study, we generated multiple stable cell lines of PC12 cells that each had a different and stable level of syt I expression. We determined the functional effects of titrated syt I expression on transmitter release from the two vesicle types, and showed that the transmitters, norepinephrine (NE) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), each have a threshold level of syt I expression required for their release that is different for the two transmitter types. We used carbon fiber amperometry to measure release of NE from single vesicles, and found that release ranged from 50% to 100% in the syt I-targeted cells compared to release from control cells. We used an immunoassay to measure NPY release and found that NPY release was abolished in cells that had abolished syt I expression, but cell lines that expressed 50–60% of control levels of syt I exhibited NPY release levels comparable to release of NPY from control cells. Furthermore, the vesicle fusion pore exhibited a reduced open duration when syt I was abolished, but a longer open duration time for 50% syt I expression than control cells. Therefore, vesicles have a threshold for syt I that is required to control opening of the fusion pore, expansion, and full fusion to release large dense core proteins, but not for full fusion of the small molecules like NE.
Optimal Stopping Under Partial Observation: Near-Value Iteration

We propose a new approximate value iteration method, namely near-value iteration (NVI), to solve continuous-state optimal stopping problems under partial observation, which in general cannot be solved analytically and also pose a great challenge to numerical solutions. NVI is motivated by the expression of the value function as the supremum over an uncountable set of linear functions in the belief state. After a smart manipulation of the operations in the updating equation for the value function, we reduce the set to only two functions at every time step, so as to achieve significant computational savings. NVI yields a value function approximation bounded by the tightest lower and upper bounds that can be achieved by existing algorithms in the same class, so the NVI approximation is closer to the true value function than at least one of these bounds. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on an example of pricing American options under stochastic volatility.
Equine osteochondrosis review and update

Since 1972 there have been published over 300 references concerned with osteochondrosis in the domestic species. Over 150 of these references concern the condition in the horse. The incidence of the condition is escalating according to all published reviews and the equine industry acknowledges the economic losses to racing, breeding and competition are substantial. Despite these recognition's there have been few controlled studies on its pathogenesis. There have been a number of extensive review papers, describing the histology of the lesions and their most frequent sites within specific joints and variation within different breeds of equids. There are over 30 papers involved with treatment of the disease and 85% of those papers involved the surgical management and follow-up study of results, usually in race horses. Osteochondrosis is a general term for the group of conditions in young animals that result from a primary lesion in the articular/epiphyseal or the metaphyseal growth cartilage. Since 1978 it has been felt that the disturbance was in the process of endochondral ossification. The lesion begins in the cartilage layer and only secondarily affects the bone, making even the name, osteochondrosis, inaccurate. Several authors have argued that more correct terminology would be to call the condition dyschondroplasia (see article above) but old habits die hard and this
Neuropsychological deficits associated with chronic alcohol abuse

Abstract This paper reviews the neuropsychological literature on the effects of chronic alcohol abuse. Research reveals a relatively consistent pattern of intellectual and adaptive ability deficits associated with alcoholism. Alcoholics frequently show deficits in abstract thinking and problem solving involving integration of novel material, particularly of a visual-spatial nature; at the same time, their verbal skills and general psychometric intelligence often appear intact. This pattern of cognitive functioning is moderated to some degree by demographic, drinking-related, and cognitive style variables, and is closely associated with morphological and functional impairment of the brain. While a precise neurological mechanism for these effects has not been clearly established, several hypotheses have been advanced to account for the behavioral deficits evidenced by alcoholics. Based on a knowledge of the neuropsychological functioning of alcoholics, several treatment-related implications are discussed.
Isolation of ionophores from ion-transport systems.

In the report evidence is presented for the characterization and isolation of variety of ionophores from various sources. Evidence is also presented for the following: (1) the characterization of Na/sup +/-dependent ionophore from Na + K-ATPase; (2) the isolation of cation-selective ionophoric peptide fragment from Na/sup +/ + K/sup +/-ATPase; (3) the isolation of K/sup +/-dependent ionophore from Na/sup +/ + K/sup +/-ATPase; (4) the demonstration that a cholinergic-agent-sensitive cation-selective ionophore is part of the acetylcholine receptor; (5) the isolation and characterization of Ca/sup 2 +/-dependent ionophore as a peptide fragment (< 2,000 daltons) from sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca/sup 2 +/ + Mg/sup 2 +/-ATPase.
Measuring intensity correlations with a two-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detector

Second-order intensity correlation measurements were made using a two-element superconducting nanowire single photon detector (SNSPD) without the need for an optical beam splitter. This approach can be used to obtain a $50\text{\penalty1000-\hskip0pt}\mathrm{ps}$ full width at half maximum timing resolution over a wide range of visible and near-infrared wavelengths and can be extended to measure higher-order intensity correlations. Measurements of the second-order intensity correlation of a pulsed laser and an InGaAs quantum dot were made using both a two-element SNSPD and a conventional Hanbury Brown--Twiss interferometer to demonstrate the accuracy and advantages of the multielement SNSPD.
Employers' Perspectives of Online Education.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the strengths and weaknesses of seven representative studies pertaining to the employers’ perceptions of online education.Design/methodology/approach – The paper retrieved and analysed representative studies on the subject from two scholarly databases and Google.Findings – The results indicate that there is a much greater likelihood that a candidate with an online degree would be viewed less favorably for employment purposes compared to the candidate with the face‐to‐face degree.Originality/value – The paper identifies the gaps in the current studies and suggests future research directions regarding this critical topic.
Family Therapy Retention: An Observation of First‐Session Communication

Education and Human Ecology: 1st Place (The Ohio State University Edward F. Hayes Graduate Research Forum)
Overview of Innovative Life-Risk Analysis Method for the 2012 California Central Valley Flood Protection Plan

AbstractThe State of California’s 2012 Central Valley flood protection plan (CVFPP)—a large-scale reconnaissance-level assessment of flood management problems and potential solutions—formulated a set of broad management alternatives and compared them by assessing risk reduction attributable to each. Both economic risk and life risk were assessed and compared. Economic risk was evaluated with standard U.S. Army Corps of Engineers methods and software. Inputs that described the flood hazard, flood-management system performance, property exposure, and vulnerability to damage were developed by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) using state-of-practice models (hydrologic, hydraulic, geotechnical, and economic) and data. After considering life-risk analysis methods proposed in the literature, for the CVFPP reconnaissance-level analysis, DWR developed and applied an innovative method that leveraged the economic-risk analysis method and its inputs. Measures of hazard and performance remained the s...
Young children's attributions of knowledge when speaker intent and listener access conflict

Three experiments assessed children's attributions of knowledge to a listener when a speaker's intent for a message to be heard either conflicted or coincided with a listener's perceptual access to the message. When speaker intent and listener access coincided, both 3-year-olds and 5-year-olds correctly attributed knowledge to the listener. However, performance between the two groups diverged when access and intent conflicted, with only 5-year-olds consistently attributing knowledge on the basis of access alone. These results suggest that 3-year-olds do not yet fully distinguish the intent to inform from the actual informativeness of a message. For older children, the intent to be heard is secondary to perceptual access in judgments of listener comprehension because listener access to a message is regarded as a necessary precondition for being informed by that message.
Malignant transformation of anorectal giant condyloma acuminatum (Buschke-Loewenstein tumor).

Giant condyloma acuminatum, originally described by Buschke and Loewenstein in 1925 as a lesion of the penis, is more rarely seen in the anorectum and is characterized by clinical malignancy in the face of histologic benignity; however, malignant transformation to frankly invasive squamous-cell carcinoma has been described. Malignant transformation has been reported in 15 patients with “ordinary” condylomata acuminata as well. Twenty giant condylomata acuminata have been previously reported, six of which (30 percent) went on to develop squamous-cell carcinoma. The authors report eight cases of giant condylomata acuminata with invasive squamous-cell carcinoma developing in four patients. Light and electron microscopic methods were used to verify the diagnosis of squamous-cell carcinoma and/or giant condyloma acuminatum in our cases. Human papillomavirus (HPV), known to cause condylomata acuminata, is also known to induce these tumors. The authors support the hypothesis that giant condyloma acuminatum represents an intermediate lesion in a pathologic continuum from condyloma acuminatum to squamous-cell carcinoma. These lesions have a propensity for recurrence, likelihood of malignant transformation, and significant mortality. Therefore, early and radical local excision, and in cases of recurrence, invasion, or malignant transformation, abdominoperineal resection, along with vigilant follow-up, provides the only current hope for cure.
Volunteer bias in research employing vaginal measures of sexual arousal

Demographic, sexual, and personality characteristics of volunteers and nonvolunteers for a laboratory study of sexual arousal were compared. Subjects were 296 female students from an introductory psychology course who had volunteered for a study on sexuality and personality. After completing several questionnaires, subjects were presented with a written description of an experiment that involved viewing sexually explicit videotapes and measurement of sexual arousal with a vaginal photoplethysmograph and indicated in writing whether or not they would be interested in participating in the experiment. Chi-square analyses revealed that a greater percentage of volunteers had experienced sexual trauma and that fewer women in this group reported objections to viewing sexually explicit films than nonvolunteers. A discriminant function analysis revealed that the volunteers masturbated more frequently, had more exposure to commercialized erotica materials, were exposed to these materials at an earlier age, and reported less sexual fear than nonvolunteers. Other personality, demographic, and sexual characteristics did not differ across the groups. This study demonstrates that the external validity of studies employing vaginal measures of sexual arousal is limited. Researchers must use caution when discussing the generality of findings based on genital measurement of sexual arousal.
PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR ESTIMATING RISK FOR FAMILIAL BREAST CANCER

Life-table analysis was used to estimate the cumulative risk of breast cancer to various ages for mothers and sisters of breast cancer patients in a population-based series. These cumulative risk estimates were then used to derive a probability of breast cancer diagnosis within each decade between ages 20 and 70 for mothers and sisters, according to age of diagnosis in the patient and whether the disease was unilateral or bilateral. Risks for relatives of premenopausal patients with unilateral disease were no higher than those for relatives of postmenopausal patients. Relatives of premenopausal patients with bilateral disease had higher risk than relatives of patients with unilateral disease, irrespective of age at diagnosis in those with unilateral disease. Sisters were at higher risk than were mothers.
Images and Policy Preferences

This article reports the results of an experiment that tests the independent and interactive effects of two dimensions of international images: perceived historical relationship and cultural differences. Priming techniques are used to manipulate images in subjects who are involved in a simulated international conflict. Dependent variables include attitudes and behaviors, the latter in the form ofpolicy preferences arranged on a cooperative-conflictual continuum. The results indicate that images do matter. When the perceived relationship is hostile, subjects develop more negative attitudes toward their opponents and choose more conflictual policies. Cultural differences produce more negative attitudes in all conditions but result in more negative policy selections only when the perceived relationship is hostile. In other words, in considering policy moves, cultural differences exacerbate conflict between enemies, but make no difference between friends, in spite of the negative outgroup attitudes they elicit. Do international images affect attitudes and behavior in conflict situations? If so, do different dimensions of images matter? Is there an interaction effect between different dimensions of images? Building on the theoretical and case-based research associated with image theory, this article investigates these substantive questions. Existing case-based research on images has its limitations, particularly in terms of internal validity and establishing the temporal component of causation. Because of this concern, experimental methods are used here in conjunction with priming materials and a simulated international conflict. Two dimensions of images are manipulated: perceived historical relationship and cultural differences. Effects are analyzed in terms of three different dependent variables: attitudes toward the opposing country, attitudes on strategy, and behavior in terms of cooperative and conflictual policy choices. The next two sections of the article review the literature on image theory and expand on the substantive research questions. After that, the
Cluster-model calculations of the electrodisintegration of Li (II)

Abstract We extend the phenomenological α + d and α + t descriptions of 6 Li and 7 Li to the unbound regime in order to describe electrodisintegration of these isotopes. Using a separable potential in each channel containing a strong resonance or a bound state, with parameters determined from elastic scattering, we are able to fit electrodisintegration spectra rather well without further adjustment of parameters. Since we can turn off the final-state interaction at will in any given channel, we can define unequivocally the inelastic form factor to an unbound state, and compare it with prescriptions in common use.
Optically fabricated three dimensional nanofluidic mixers for microfluidic devices.

This paper describes a simple technique for fabricating complex, but well defined, three-dimensional (3D) networks of nanoscale flow paths in the channels of microfluidic systems. Near field scanning optical measurements reveal the optics associated with the fabrication process and the key features that enable its application to the area of microfluidics. Confocal studies of microfluidic devices that incorporate 3D nanostructures formed using this approach show that they function as efficient passive mixing elements, particularly at low Reynolds numbers. This application and others such as separation and extraction in microfluidic total analysis systems or lab on a chip devices represent promising areas for 3D nanostructures of this general type.
A Review of the Effects of Peer Tutoring on Students with Mild Disabilities in Secondary Settings

Researchers reviewed 20 articles on peer tutoring research in secondary settings and addressed demographics of tutors and tutees, content areas in which peer tutors were employed, tutor training required for implementing effective tutoring programs, and the effects of peer tutoring on tutee performance. Generally, peer tutoring in secondary settings results in improved academic performance of students with mild disabilities and could be classified as an evidence-based practice. It appears that training tutors on how to implement instruction produces a large effect on tutee outcomes. Additional research is needed, however, to explore several factors regarding peer tutoring in general education classes and with secondary students with culturally diverse backgrounds.
The Challenge of Inclusion.

The integration or inclusion of young children with disabilities into public school and community-based educational and child care programs is a topic of importance to the range of personnel working in early intervention/early childhood special education. This paper takes the position that many of these personnel embrace inclusion at the conceptual level but ignore or discount its implications at the applied or child level. A discussion of the policies and practices of inclusion as they may potentially affect individual children and families serves as a basis for offering a series of recommendations for fostering successful inclusion.
Accelerated testing of time-dependent breakdown of SiO 2

Electric-field acceleration factor β is the slope of the \log (t_{BD}) versus E ox curve, where t BD is the time to breakdown at oxide field E ox . We report that β is not a constant but proportional to E\min{ox}\max{-2} . This is the main cause of the wide divergence of β values reported in the literature. The reported oxide thickness dependence of β is believed to be a result of the higher electron trap densities in thicker oxides. Oxide lifetime extrapolation using \log (t_{BD}) , or better, \log (Q_{BD}) against 1/E_{ox} plots is more accurate and has a theoretical basis. Highly accelerated oxide testing appears to be feasible especially for very thin oxides.
Solderability degradation models for fusible tin alloy coatings on copper substrates

Ion milling is used to investigate the role of surface corrosion products in degrading solderability of tin and tin alloy coatings over oxygen-free high-conductivity copper substrates. The coatings were applied by electroplating from a low organic stannous sulfate bath and by dipping into molten 300 degrees C Sn and Sn-40Pb alloy. Ageing took place in an 85% relative humidity, 85 degrees C environment for 100 days, and in a 190 degrees C environment with less than 6 mm (Hg) of water vapor for 10 hours. Solderability was measured by edge dipping the samples into molten 260 degrees C Sn-40Pb alloy. The effectiveness of ion-mill cleaning in removing the surface corrosion products was determined using Auger depth profiles. A small reduction in solderability due to surface corrosion is seen regardless of the coating type or ageing condition. The majority of the solderability degradation is due to the modification of the metal system below the surface corrosion layers, and surface corrosion plays only a small role. >
Improving the Network Scale-Up Estimator: Incorporating Means of Sums, Recursive Back Estimation, and Sampling Weights.

Researchers interested in studying populations that are difficult to reach through traditional survey methods can now draw on a range of methods to access these populations. Yet many of these methods are more expensive and difficult to implement than studies using conventional sampling frames and trusted sampling methods. The network scale-up method (NSUM) provides a middle ground for researchers who wish to estimate the size of a hidden population, but lack the resources to conduct a more specialized hidden population study. Through this method it is possible to generate population estimates for a wide variety of groups that are perhaps unwilling to self-identify as such (for example, users of illegal drugs or other stigmatized populations) via traditional survey tools such as telephone or mail surveys—by asking a representative sample to estimate the number of people they know who are members of such a “hidden” subpopulation. The original estimator is formulated to minimize the weight a single scaling variable can exert upon the estimates. We argue that this introduces hidden and difficult to predict biases, and instead propose a series of methodological advances on the traditional scale-up estimation procedure, including a new estimator. Additionally, we formalize the incorporation of sample weights into the network scale-up estimation process, and propose a recursive process of back estimation “trimming” to identify and remove poorly performing predictors from the estimation process. To demonstrate these suggestions we use data from a network scale-up mail survey conducted in Nebraska during 2014. We find that using the new estimator and recursive trimming process provides more accurate estimates, especially when used in conjunction with sampling weights.
Fine Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Thymic Epithelial Neoplasms

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of thymoma is a demanding diagnostic exercise by the cytopathologist because of an overwhelming, often obscuring population of benign lymphocytes in many cases. Diagnosis requires the presence of a dual population of unequivocal epithelial cells and lymphocytes in the correct clinical-radiologic context. Cytologic examination alone is not insufficient to discriminate among the various subtypes of thymoma, nor can capsular invasion or invasion of adjacent structures be determined using FNA. The cytopathology of various thymic carcinomas (including neuroendocrine carcinoma) imitate their appearance in extra-thymic sites, and are generally recognizable using FNA. Separation of moderately differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma from poorly differentiated small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas is generally not possible.
Testing for growth hormone deficiency in adults: doing without growth hormone-releasing hormone.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article summarizes recent advances in testing for growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults, focusing on critical appraisal of existing growth hormone (GH) provocative tests as well as newer tests in development. RECENT FINDINGS The diagnosis of GHD can be challenging and often requires the use of GH provocative testing. The most widely validated of these is insulin-induced hypoglycemia (ITT), which requires close supervision and has significant contraindications and side-effects. The arginine-growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) test had become widely used as a safe and accurate alternative to the ITT, but GHRH is currently unavailable for clinical use in the USA. On the basis of review of recent literature we recommend that in the absence of GHRH, glucagon stimulation testing should be the preferred alternative to ITT. Several synthetic GH secretagogues that mimic the gastric peptide ghrelin are currently in development and may become available for use in the diagnosis of GHD in the near future. Other GH provocative tests suitable for use in children lack adequate specificity for the diagnosis of GHD in adults. SUMMARY Due to the current unavailability of the arginine-GHRH test in the USA, when ITT is contraindicated or impractical we recommend the glucagon stimulation testing as the GH provocative test of choice. There remains a need for a simple, safe and accurate test for the diagnosis of GHD.
“Starting at the Top”: Identifying and Understanding Later Generation Chicano Students in Schools

Research on Latinos in schools tends to focus on first-generation immigrant and second-generation students. This article raises the profile of the later-generation (third or later) Chicano (LGC) or Mexican American students who continue to experience academic neglect despite their citizenship and English monolingualism. Using 31 oral histories from a multi-generational Mexican American family, this paper describes LGC ethnic identity and school experience in relation to race and class. I propose that schools “start at the top” to improve Latino educational attainment by identifying LGC early for placement in advanced tracks and by providing consistent access to quality academic and career counseling.
Psychological sense of community: A new construct for the field of management

This article introduces a new construct to the field of management called Psychological Sense of Community (PSOC). This is important because management scholars are calling for the creation of comm...
Composite polymer electrolytes using surface-modified fumed silicas: conductivity and rheology

Abstract We report results from our studies on composite polymer electrolytes based on novel surface-modified fumed silicas. The electrolytes were prepared by dispersing fumed silica in a matrix formed by methyl-capped polyethylene glycol and lithium salt. Silicas with widely different surface chemistries were synthesized in order to study the effects of surface modification, with the attached surface groups ranging from non-polar alkyl moieties (C 1 or C 8 ) to polar polyethylene oxide (PEO) oligomers (MW∼200). We find, rather surprisingly, that the conductivity is independent of the type of surface group present on the silica. Moreover, the conductivity decreases only slightly on addition of fumed silica, even at high weight fraction of solids. In contrast, the rheological properties of the composites are strongly affected by both the silica surface chemistry and weight fraction. Dynamic rheology measurements reveal that fumed silicas with silanol and octyl coverage both flocculate into gels (networks). The resulting materials are mechanically stable, with the elastic modulus of the gel being strongly dependent upon weight fraction of solids. The PEO-modified silica, in contrast, gives rise to a low-viscosity suspension where the silica units exist as distinct, non-interacting species. The findings of this study have significant implications for future work on composite electrolytes, in that we can tailor the mechanical properties of the system without affecting the electrochemical behavior.
Microstructure and Properties of an HfB2-SiC Composite for Ultra High Temperature Applications

An ultra-high-temperature ceramic (UHTC) based on HfB 2 was produced. The microstructure consisted of fine and regular diboride grains (2 μm average size), with SiC particulate distributed intergranularly, not rarely in clustered formation, and low levels of secondary phases were identified. The resulting thermo-mechanical properties proved interesting results for microhardness and fracture toughness. The microstructural alteration experienced within the explored temperature range renders the material unsuitable for service in extreme conditions of temperature and pressure.
High resolution maps from wide angle sonar

We describe the use of multiple wide-angle sonar range measurements to map the surroundings of an autonomous mobile robot. A sonar range reading provides information concerning empty and occupied volumes in a cone (subtending 30 degrees in our case) in front of the sensor. The reading is modelled as probability profiles projected onto a rasterized map, where somewhere occupied and everywhere empty areas are represented. Range measurements from multiple points of view (taken from multiple sensors on the robot, and from the same sensors after robot moves) are systematically integrated in the map. Overlapping empty volumes re-inforce each other, and serve to condense the range of occupied volumes. The map definition improves as more readings are added. The final map shows regions probably occupied, probably unoccupied, and unknown areas. The method deals effectively with clutter, and can be used for motion planning and for extended landmark recognition. This system has been tested on the Neptune mobile robot at CMU.
Electrically Programmable Fuses for Analog and Mixed Signal Applications in Silicon Germanium BiCMOS Technologies

An electrically programmable fuse, known as "eFUSE," is used to provide passive device trimming and circuitry fine tuning for analog and mixed signal applications in silicon germanium BiCMOS technologies will be discussed. Timing analysis, pre-and post-programming electrical characterization, and electro-migration failure analysis will be presented.
The eye as a replicating and diverging, modular developmental unit

Sparked by new discoveries in developmental genetics, few topics have generated as much debate as eye evolution. This is somewhat surprising because the central controversy is not unique to eyes, but is a general theme of developmental genetics: evolutionarily conserved genes are deployed during the development of highly divergent morphological features. In the case of eyes, this paradox has engendered opposing camps entrenched in what has been termed a ‘scientific war’. One camp highlights conserved genetic features, concluding that eyes stem from an ancestral prototype. The opposing camp emphasizes variation, arguing that some eyes must have recruited the same genes after separate morphological origins. Here, I blur the line between these camps and suggest that eyes have often evolved by replication, perhaps through the ectopic expression of a conserved, modular regulatory cascade to produce serially homologous structures that often diverged during evolution. Therefore, morphologically diverse eyes could stem from a single ancestral prototype, yet also result from multiple morphological origins.
MOLECULAR ACTIONS OF RACEMIC KETAMINE ON HUMAN CNS SODIUM CHANNELS

In search of a molecular site and mechanism of action for anaesthetics, we have examined the effects of racemic ketamine on single human CNS sodium channels with the new planar lipid bilayer technique. In the dose range studied (0.05–9.2 mmol litre−1) ketamine depressed in a dose-dependent manner two major functions of the sodium channel, by reducing the fractional open time in a voltage-independent manner (ED50 1.1 mmol litre−1; maximal conductance block 71 %) and by interfering with the voltage-dependent, steady-state activation. These actions occurred at concentrations which were greater than those used clinically in general anaesthesia (up to 0.02 mmol litre−1), therefore they reflect local rather than general anaesthetic effects which may be related to the hydrophobic properties of ketamine. In comparison with two other i.v. anaesthetic agents, pentobarbitone and propofol, racemic ketamine behaves differently at both the molecular and the clinical level.
STATE‐OF‐THE‐ART OF ESTIMATING FLOOD DAMAGE IN URBAN AREAS

ABSTRACT: With implementation of the Flood Insurance Act of 1968 many additional local flood protection projects are being considered. Consulting engineers and local agencies need consistent methods to estimate flood damage in order to perform feasibility studies. Federal agencies have a great deal of data and long experience in making damage estimates but no comprehensive guides are available at the local level. Curves of flood damages to different residential structure types are presented. The relationships in use by the U. S. Federal Insurance Administration are shown to be reasonable and are recommended for use as approximate guides. Additional research is recommended and discussion of the paper is invited in order to make additional data available in the literature.
Natural Resource Management Plan for Brookhaven National Laboratory

This comprehensive Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) for Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) was built on the successful foundation of the Wildlife Management Plan for BNL, which it replaces. This update to the 2003 plan continues to build on successes and efforts to better understand the ecosystems and natural resources found on the BNL site. The plan establishes the basis for managing the varied natural resources located on the 5,265 acre BNL site, setting goals and actions to achieve those goals. The planning of this document is based on the knowledge and expertise gained over the past 10 years by the Natural Resources management staff at BNL in concert with local natural resource agencies including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Long Island Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission, The Nature Conservancy, and others. The development of this plan is an attempt at sound ecological management that not only benefits BNL's ecosystems but also benefits the greater Pine Barrens habitats in which BNL is situated. This plan applies equally to the Upton Ecological and Research Reserve (Upton Reserve). Any difference in management between the larger BNL area and the Upton Reserve are noted in the text. The purposemore » of the Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) is to provide management guidance, promote stewardship of the natural resources found at BNL, and to sustainably integrate their protection with pursuit of the Laboratory's mission. The philosophy or guiding principles of the NRMP are stewardship, sustainability, adaptive ecosystem management, compliance, integration with other plans and requirements, and the incorporation of community involvement, where applicable. The NRMP is periodically reviewed and updated, typically every five years. This review and update was delayed to develop documents associated with a new third party facility, the Long Island Solar Farm. This two hundred acre facility will result in significant changes to this plan warranting the delay. The body of this plan establishes the management goals and actions necessary for managing the natural resources at BNL in a sustainable manner. The appendices provide specific management requirements for threatened and endangered amphibians and fish (Appendices A and B, respectively), and lists of actions in tabular format - including completed items as well as ongoing and new action items (Appendices C and D, respectively).« less
Secondary signs may improve the diagnostic accuracy of equivocal ultrasounds for suspected appendicitis in children.

Abstract Introduction Ultrasound (US) is the preferred imaging modality for evaluating appendicitis. Our purpose was to determine if including secondary signs (SS) improve diagnostic accuracy in equivocal US studies. Methods Retrospective review identified 825 children presenting with concern for appendicitis and with a right lower quadrant (RLQ) US. Regression models identified which SS were associated with appendicitis. Test characteristics were demonstrated. Results 530 patients (64%) had equivocal US reports. Of 114 (22%) patients with equivocal US undergoing CT, those with SS were more likely to have appendicitis (48.6% vs 14.6%, p p Conclusion Use of SS in RLQ US assists in the diagnostic accuracy of appendicitis. SS may guide clinicians and reduce unnecessary CT and admissions.
Information creation on online drug forums: How drug use becomes moral on the margins of science

Potential users of grey-market substances seek out internet drug websites to gather legal high information. However, where previous researchers have investigated drug wikis as sources of drug infor...
Common Raven and Starling Reliance on Sentinel Common Crows

During January, February and March, 1973 we observed interactions of three avian species on 20 days at the Montgomery County sanitary landfill near Blacksburg, Virginia. Sixty-two hours of observation at the landfill were made from the concealment of a blind located on the edge of the landfill trench. On a typical day, Common Crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), the first species to arrive, appeared at the landfill shortly after dawn around 06:30 EST. Common Ravens (C. corax) were the next species to arrive, followed later by Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The number of individuals per species varied from day to day: 35 to 90 crows, 2 to 25 ravens, and 50 to 150+ starlings. Four to seven sentinel crows always were in position before the appearance of the majority of the flock and before any crows entered or fed in the landfill trench. It was common to see several sentinel crows post themselves in trees near the trench while others stood on high points of the earthen berms on both sides of the trench. The sentinel crows called frequently from their perches, even in the absence of any threat. Common Ravens never entered the trench unless the sentinel crows were in position and the other crows were actively feeding within the trench. These conditions met, ravens would first fly over the trench, land on high ground up from the trench, and after surveying the landfill, fly or walk into it to feed. Neither raven nor starling sentinels were ever observed, though on occasion, a raven gave a lowpitched, stacatto alarm call while flying over the landfill. Such calling induced all the ravens in the trench to fly out abruptly, but only about half the crows would leave. This sequence also occurred when a raven feeding in the trench gave an alarm call in response to an audible stimulus such as the sound of a diesel engine on a main highway about 350 m away from the landfill. Most often, the three species would flush when sentinel crows intensified their "cawing" in response to their detection of an approaching hazard. All the ravens and most of the crows and starlings flushed in these instances. Another corvid, perhaps inadvertently, augmented the sentinel system at the landfill. Whenever Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) issued alert calls in the woods adjacent to the landfill, all the corvids in the trench promptly became alert, especially the sentinel crows and the ravens. On no occasion did Blue Jay alert calls elicit an immediate flight response by any species in the trench. After the three species were flushed from the landfill trench, we noticed a definite reinvasion sequence. Starlings were invariably the first species to return, followed by the sentinel crows. With the sentinels in position, other crows began descending into the trench. The ravens waited until crow sentinels were in position and crows were actively foraging before flying to the trench or descending into it. Since starlings entered the trench prior to the arrival of the sentinel crows, they apparently depended less on the corvid warning system, or were less cautious than the ravens.
Evidence for rapid turnover of norepinephrine in rat heart and brain.

SummaryAdministration of an indolyl-alkyl-arylpiperazine (Win 18501–2) to rats depletes the norepinephrine content of heart and brain without affecting brain serotonin. Maximum depletion was observed within 3 hours with return to normal values within 8 hours. These findings suggest that the turnover of heart and brain norepinephrine in the rat is very rapid.
Experimental Analysis of Screech Tone Effects for a V-Gutter Stabilized Flame

The objective of this work is to experimentally test and verify the instability and vortex shedding effects resulting in combustion instabilities within a combustion wind tunnel facility (CWTF). While bluff bodies set within a combustible high-speed flow are known to stabilize flames, the effects that screech tones have on these bodies’ flame holding stability is unknown. Due to the highly destructive nature of instabilities, (high amplitude noise, strong pressure oscillations, deterioration, and failure of hardware) a more intimate knowledge of the relation between instabilities, flame holders, and the flow dimensions must be understood. In order to investigate these effects, instabilities were excited within the CWTF and investigated with high speed and phase locked ICCD imagery.
Analysis of results of health examination of health-reated practitioners in Kaili from 2007 to 2009

Objective:To know the HBsAg positive state of the people employed in the food industry and public places of kaili in order to offer more credible evidence to health supervision of these trades.Methods:Fetching the vein blood of persons who are examined,HBsAg was adopted by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and ALT was adop ted by rate of speed with the full-automatic analysator of biochemistry.Results:9883 employees of the food industry and public places who are examined by Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Qiandongnan Prefecture from 2007 to 2009.The positive rate of HBsAg was 4.46%.The different positive rate of HBsAg had statistical significance between sex,nations,ages,trades and degree of educating.The positive rate of HBeAg was 26.30% in 116 positive peoples of HBsAg.The positive rate of the abnormal simple ALT is 1.66%,There are significant differences between years,sexs,and trades.Conclusion:In order to control HIV transitting,we must strengthen the public health supervison and surveillance;grasping tomanage the health-reated practitioners;training the knowledge of health to the people employed in the food industry and public places;grasping to disinfect the surroundings and goods of the food industry and public places;HB vaccine immunity in HBsAg negative people.
The nature of mutation.

The recent revolution in our understanding of biochemical genetics has radically altered the simple concepts that held sway “only yesterday.” Correspondingly, our appreciation of the complexity and variety of mutation has begun to provide a biochemical rationale for much of the clinical heterogeneity observed in many genetic diseases—e.g., the beta-thalassemias.
Detection of Campylobacter in 100 commercial flocks–Evaluation of plating media and filtration method

Abstract Campylobacter is a natural member of the gut microflora in many commercial broilers and as such can become a contaminant on edible surfaces during processing. Culturing gut contents or feces can be a means to determine flock status prior to live-haul. The wide variety of non-Campylobacter background bacteria in these complex samples contaminates growth media and can make it very difficult to isolateCampylobacter. Over the course of 17 months, we cultured cecal contents from 100 different broiler flocks. For the last 50 flocks, we tested 3 selective plating media with and without the additional selection of a 0.45-μm filter for detection ofCampylobacter from cecal contents. Furthermore, from the last 50 flocks we also collected and cultured carcass rinse samples. Growth media tested included: Campy–Cefex Agar, Campy–Line Agar, and RF-Campylobacter jejuni/coli agar. About half (52%) of the 100 tested flocks were positive forCampylobacter; positive flocks were detected during each month of the year. Overall, theCampylobacter status of cecal contents from one carcass was predictive of the status of a carcass rinse from the same flock. Placing a complex sample such as cecal contents onto a 0.45-μm filter laid on top of the plating medium improved the detection ofCampylobacter by eliminating non-Campylobacter background colonies. All media allowed for detection ofCampylobacter from less complex carcass rinse samples without filtering. However, Campy–Cefex agar had higher numbers of competing bacterial colonies than did Campy–Line agar or RF-Campylobacter jejuni/coli agar.
A Summary—and a Look Ahead

As several chapters have pointed out, the principle behind much of cancer research and the principle underlying this Volume rests on the observation that each of the major forms of cancer is common in some parts of the world yet rare in others. Furthermore, it is plain from studies of migrants that these differences reflect the operation of environmental factors. Although there are genetic factors that affect cancer rates, these are not all-important: despite our genes, each of us could significantly reduce our risk of getting cancer if we really knew how it is that the Mormons, the Seventh Day Adventists, and the Protestant clergymen of the United States manage to drop their risk by almost a factor of two. That is the target of many investigations and is part of the stimulus for holding a conference on antimutagenesis and anticarcinogenesis.
Aquerium: A web application for comparative exploration of domain-based protein occurrences on the taxonomically clustered genome tree.

Gene duplication and loss are major driving forces in evolution. While many important genomic resources provide information on gene presence, there is a lack of tools giving equal importance to presence and absence information as well as web platforms enabling easy visual comparison of multiple domain-based protein occurences at once. Here, we present Aquerium, a platform for visualizing genomic presence and absence of biomolecules with a focus on protein domain architectures. The web server offers advanced domain organization querying against the database of pre-computed domains for ∼26000 organisms and it can be utilized for identification of evolutionary events, such as fusion, disassociation, duplication and shuffling of protein domains. The tool also allows alternative inputs of custom entries or BLASTP results for visualization. Aquerium will be a useful tool for biologists who perform comparative genomic and evolutionary analyses. The web server is freely accessible at http://aquerium.utk.edu. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mathematics practice without feedback: A desirable difficulty in a classroom setting

Recent research highlights the potential benefits of practice without feedback on learner’s strategy knowledge. However, most prior work has been conducted in one-on-one settings with short retention intervals. We compared the effects of mathematics practice with and without correct-answer feedback on immediate and 1-week delayed performance in a classroom setting. In a randomized experiment, 243 second- and third-grade children received strategy instruction and then practiced solving relevant problems in small groups within their classroom. During practice, children received immediate feedback (after each problem), summative feedback (after all the problems in the set), or no feedback. During the practice task, immediate feedback led to the best performance. However, practice without feedback led to higher levels of mastery on the 1-week knowledge retention test. Thus, instructional practices that seem less effective at first can, for some children, ultimately result in more desirable learning.
Beyond Freedom’s Reach: A Kidnapping in the Twilight of Slavery

Rose Herera, a slave, was born in the parish of Pointe Coupee in Louisiana around 1840, and experienced the upheaval of Civil War and emancipation. Like many other American slaves, she discovered j...