cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experience drives the development of movement-cognition correlations in a butterfly

Correlations between behavioral traits are widespread, but the developmental genetic architecture of such correlations is poorly characterized. Understanding the developmental mechanisms that lead to correlations between behaviors has implications for predicting how changing environments might alter the strength, direction and persistence of these associations. Here we test the idea that genetic variation in one behavioral trait can drive the development of traits related to a second behavior, resulting in correlations between them.. We focus on correlations between movement and aspects of cognition, in particular accuracy of decision making and neural investment. Such syndromes have been seen across a variety of systems, from insects to birds, but the direction of the correlation often varies. We use cabbage white butterflies as a system because they are easy to rear in large numbers and show ample genetic variation in both movement and learning, facilitating a split-sibling design. We test the prediction that variation in established proxies for movement at emergence will be correlated with the development of cognitive traits later in life (in siblings). Our results suggest that genotypes (full-sibling groups) that emerge with more elongate wings explore their environment more rapidly. In addition, genotypes that emerge with relatively smaller thoraxes are more likely to learn to search for atypical host plants and subsequently develop larger brains and brain regions. Taken together, genotypes that invest less in flight are slower, better learners and develop larger brains. These data are consistent with the idea that movement can drive the development of other behavioral traits, resulting in the emergence of correlated behaviors.
Kinetics of amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in neurospora

The incorporation of l-[14C]proline into Neurospora mycelium was studied at short time intervals. Proline was taken into the cell immediatedly at a linear rate and reached a concentration exceeding the outside concentration. The incroporation rate of proline into proteins (tirchloroacetic acid insoluble material) increased gradually during the first minute and became linear thereafter. The initial lag could have been due either to the presence of an intermediary pool of proline in the cell or to the time needed to synthesize a molecule of protein. The free proline pool of mycelia was found to be greater than the pool necessary to explain the lag in protein synthesis. The pool size which would explain the lag was calculated to be between 0.05 and 0.3 mg/g dry weight. When the rate of uptake of proline into the cell was varied by changing the external concentration or temperature, the incorporation into proteins followed a curve which was consistent with the presence of a pool of the calculated size. These experiments indicated that the absorbed proline enters the intermediary or internal pool and is taken from it for protein sythesis. Pretreatment of the mycelia with non-radioactive proline showed that the absorbed proline, after mixing with the internal pool, is diverted into a reservoir, the expandable pool. The presence of an intermediate pool accounts entirely for the lag in the incorporation of proline into proteins, so that it could be inferred that the time necessary to make a m olecule of protein (polypeptide chain) is negligible, of the order of magnitude of a few seconds or less.
Lignin, land plants, and fungi: Biological evolution affecting Phanerozoic oxygen balance

As dominance shifted from lycopsids and pteridophytes in the Paleozoic, to gymnosperms in the Mesozoic, to angiosperms in the Tertiary, plant architecture became more sparing in its use of lignin. Lignin-degrading organisms were rare or absent in the Paleozoic, but diverse and abundant in the Tertiary. Thus the terrigenous organic-carbon cycle has quickened over time, the fraction of terrestrial primary production preserved in coals and kerogens has declined, and terrestrial production has been able to increase over time without concomitant rises in atmospheric O{sub 2}.
Methodology to achieve higher tolerance to delay variations in synchronous circuits

A methodology is proposed for designing robust circuits exhibiting higher tolerance to process and environmental variations. This higher tolerance is achieved by exploiting the interdependence between the setup and hold times, reducing the delay uncertainty caused by variations. An algorithm is proposed to determine the interdependent setup-hold pair of a register. A data path designed with the proposed setup-hold pair improves the overall tolerance to variations. The methodology is evaluated for several technologies to determine the overall reduction in delay uncertainty.
Service orientation and performance: an organizational perspective

Purpose – With the growing interest in service orientation research, the concept has been demonstrated to be a defining factor in the creation of superior customer service and value. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate service orientation as a socially constructed variable, empirically examine its relationship with measures of organization performance, and offer implications for management.Design/methodology/approach – This study was conducted to conceptualize and measure service orientation as an element of organizational culture, understand the linkage between service orientation as a strategic choice and organizational performance, and measure service orientation utilizing a multi‐informant approach.Findings – The data indicated that organizational service orientation in banking is positively correlated with employee commitment, longevity, and esprit de corps, consumer products performance, service quality image, and banking profitability.Research limitations/implications – The study had five princ...
Evaluation of the New York Posture Rating Chart for Assessing Changes in Postural Alignment in a Garment Study

The New York Posture Rating (NYPR) was evaluated for assessing postural alignment changes in a garment study as captured in photographs and body scans. The posture of 15 pre-menopausal females aged 40 to 55 were assessed while wearing a control and a posture support garment. The scale was successfully applied with good rater reliability for photographs (0.77) and body scans (0.91). Overall photographic posture assessments were not significant, however, two body segments showed improvement. Overall body scan posture assessments revealed significant improvement for the posture support garment, and improvement in one body segment (neck). Paired t –test comparison of NYPR from photographs and body scans were not significantly different in the posture support garment and significantly different for the control. Possible solutions are discussed. Overall results, support the potential use of the NYPR in studies of garment effects on posture and the body scans as an assessment tool.
Ion fractions of scattered Ne and Ar and directly recoiled H, O, and Mg from Mg surfaces

Abstract Ion fractions of Ne + and Ar + in the scattered flux and of H + , O + , and Mg + in the directly recoiled flux have been determined during Ne + , Ar + , and Ar 2+ bombardment of clean, oxidized and hydroxylated magnesium surfaces. The VUV photons emitted during bombardment of clean Mg have been analyzed. The extraordinarly large ion fractions of Ne + and O + , the sensitivity of the ion fractions to adsorbates, and the emitted photons are analyzed in terms of an ion-surface charge-exchange mechanism. The direct recoil measurements are capable of detecting the chemisorbed oxygen-oxide phase transformation on the magnesium surface.
Determinants of access to fertility preservation in women with breast cancer.

Objective To evaluate socioeconomic, demographic, and medical factors that influence the referral pattern—either before cancer treatment for fertility preservation (FP, early referral) or post-chemotherapy for assisted reproductive technology (PCART, delayed referral)—in women with breast cancer. Design Secondary analysis. Setting Academic medical centers. Patient(s) Three hundred fourteen patients with breast cancer who were counseled for FP (n = 218) or PCART (n = 96) from June 1999 to July 2009. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Factors favoring early referrals. Result(s) Mean age at diagnosis was higher in FP vs. PCART (35.3 ± 4.5 years vs. 33.9 ± 4.7 years). Ninety percent presented with cancer stage 1 or 2. From 2000 to 2009 the proportion of referrals for FP increased continually. In 2009, nearly all (95.5%) were for FP. The majority (63.8%) was referred from an academic center. Patients with a family history of breast cancer were more likely to consult for FP (75.2% vs. 64.3% without). There was no association with occupation, income, race, ethnicity, obstetric history, and prior infertility treatment. Only 22.9% of those counseled in PCART, compared with 45.0% in the FP group, proceeded with a procedure. Conclusion(s) There has been an increasing trend within the last 10 years for early referral of breast cancer patients to FP. Factors favoring early referrals are older age, early-stage cancer, family history of breast cancer, and academic center involvement. Those seen before cancer treatment are more likely to receive an intervention.
Antifungal Drug Therapeutic Monitoring: What are the Issues?

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), an established practice for many antimicrobials, has recently seen increasing utilization in the management of patients receiving antifungal agents. There is a growing body of literature supporting the use of TDM for itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and flucytosine. In addition, clinical practice guidelines have been recently published that give recommendations on the appropriate use of TDM for antifungal agents. However, there are still uncertainties regarding the optimal use of antifungal TDM in clinical practice. We conducted a review of recent literature in order to describe the clinical situations and specific antifungal agents for which TDM is ideal and summarize key information about the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug toxicities, TDM concentration targets, and dose adjustment algorithms for antifungals in which routine TDM is performed.
Cementing the foundations of thermodynamics: Comparison of system-based and surroundings-based definitions of work and heat

Abstract The distinction between system-based and surroundings-based definitions of thermodynamic heat ( q ) and work ( w ), particularly pressure–volume work, in irreversible processes is introduced and cleanly drawn. A systematic presentation of system-based q and w is given for the first time. This development complements the authors’ earlier presentation of surroundings-based work and heat. Either set of definitions can and has been used to develop the laws of thermodynamics. Both sets of definitions are used to analyze examples presented by Kivelson and Oppenheim (KO). It is seen for two KO processes that w (sys-based) and w (surr-based) are not equal. This not uncommon result does not violate the first law because the two q values are also different. One of the KO examples corresponds to a “quasistatic” process, which is reversible from the point of view of the system but not from the point of view of the system plus surroundings taken together, and, therefore, not reversible overall. A number of reasons are given for preferring surroundings-based definitions of w and q to system-based definitions. Perhaps the most important is the fact that w (sys-based) does not always satisfy the theorem of maximum work in a constant temperature process. Finally, an explanation is presented for why the common use of two different sets of definitions for w and q has not led to greater confusion in the past.
A homoeotic gene cluster in the red flour beetle

The bodies of insects consist of a tandem array of segments. Homoeotic genes direct cells in different segments to the appropriate developmental pathways. I have discovered the existence of a cluster of homoeotic genes in the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum that are ordered along the second linkage group in a sequence identical to that of the body segments in which they act. The known domain of function of this homoeotic gene cluster (HOM-C) spans approximately 15 segments in the head, thorax and abdomen. The HOM-C contains at least six complementation groups, including elements with apparent homology to the two major groups of homoeotic genes in Drosophila melanogaster, the Antennapedia complex (ANT-C) and the bithorax complex (BX-C).
Extending Fibonacci numbers to negative subscripts through problem solving

This classroom note shows how Fibonacci numbers with negative subscripts emerge from a problem-solving context enhanced by the use of an electronic spreadsheet. It reflects the author's work with prospective K-12 teachers in a number of mathematics content courses.
Comparison of generalized Gaussian and Laplacian modeling in DCT image coding

Generalized Gaussian and Laplacian source models are compared in discrete cosine transform (DCT) image coding. A difference in peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of at most 0.5 dB is observed for encoding different images. We also compare maximum likelihood estimation of the generalized Gaussian density parameters with a simpler method proposed by Mallat (1989). With block classification based on AC energy, the densities of the DCT coefficients are much closer to the Laplacian or even the Gaussian. >
Postmeningitic ossification in pediatric cochlear implantation

OBJECTIVEThe goals of this study were to retrospectively review high-resolution CTs (HRCTs) of pediatric postmeningitic cochlear implant recipients and to correlate results with surgical findings.METHODSHRCTs of 20 children (11 months to 12 years old) who underwent implantation with multichannel devices were reviewed. Results were correlated with the degree of ossification observed at surgery.RESULTSNinety percent of subjects required drilling of ossified bone within the basal turn at surgery. HRCT of the cochleas suggested ossification within the basal turn in 45% (50% sensitivity). Ossification of the lateral semicircular canal on HRCT was present in 72% (77% sensitivity). Five of 6 cases without radiographic evidence of ossification had positive findings at surgery.CONCLUSIONOssification is a common occurrence in postmeningitic deaf children. Ossification of the lateral semicircular canal on HRCT is a more sensitive measure for predicting ossification than evidence of cochlear involvement. Absence of o...
Visualizing transgenic murine papillary thyroid cancer with novel nerve peptide and protease‐dependent tumor‐targeting peptides

Thyroid cancer has an ageand genderadjusted incidence that is rising faster than that of any other malignancy in recent years. Fortunately most differentiated thyroid cancers are highly curable if the tumor is completely removed. One of the biggest challenges of such surgeries is to distinguish tumor and critical nerve structures from the surrounding normal tissue in traditional white light illumination, especially in the context of cancer invasion and distortion of local anatomy. A way to objectively assess both tumor and nerve margins during surgery and thereby improve the rate of complete tumor removal while minimizing iatrogenic transections of critical nerve structures would benefit patients and may produce significant cost savings.
Effects of cognitive interference on performance in relation to psychopathology.

The construct of cognitive style in relation to cognitive disposition was investigated by means of a task involving conflicting cues or cognitive distractors, the Stroop test. Differences in cognit...
Stress behavior of electrodeposited copper films as mechanical supporters for light emitting diodes

Abstract Thick copper films electrodeposited on vertically structured GaN-based LEDs play a critical role in supporting thin GaN multi-layers mechanically after laser lift-off (LLO) of the sapphire substrate. The intrinsic stress of electrodeposited copper was measured from the change in the substrate's curvature using a modified Stoney equation. 150-μm thick copper supporters showed very low intrinsic stress of 4–28 MPa (tensile stress), which developed during copper electrodeposition on Au seed. The stress generation was attributed to nuclei coalescence and formation of grain boundaries of which volume increased with the applied current density. The preferential texture plane of thick copper supporters was (2 2 0) at high current densities, while copper films thinner than 1 μm was strongly oriented along (1 1 1) plane. Various seed metals such as Cu, Ni, Au, Ag, and Al were employed to observe the influence of seed material on the stress of copper supporters. The effect of wetting agent on the stress of copper supporters was also monitored in the concentration range of 0.1–1.5 g/L of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
Studying Community Colleges and Their Students: Context and Research Issues.

Diversity of mission, student intent, and student demographics should influence state- and institution-level assessment and evaluation of community colleges.
Adjustment for Whole Brain and Cranial Size in Volumetric Brain Studies: A Review of Common Adjustment Factors and Statistical Methods

In this article we address analytic challenges inherent in brain volumetrics (i.e., the study of volumes of brains and brain regions). It has sometimes been assumed in the literature that deviations in regional brain size in clinical samples are directly related to maldevelopment or pathogenesis. However, this assumption may be incorrect; such volume differences may, instead, be wholly or partly attributable to individual differences in overall dimension (e.g., for head, brain, or body size). What quantitative approaches can be used to take these factors into account? Here, we provide a review of volumetric and nonvolumetric adjustment factors. We consider three examples of common statistical methods by which one can adjust for the effects of body, head, or brain size on regional volumetric measures: the analysis of covariance, the proportion, and the residual approaches. While the nature of the adjustment will help dictate which method is most appropriate, the choice is context sensitive, guided by numerous considerations-chiefly the experimental hypotheses, but other factors as well (including characteristic features of the disorder and sample size). These issues come into play in logically framing the assessment of putative abnormalities in regional brain volumes.
Isolation and Genetic Localization of Three ϕX174 Promoter Regions

SPECIFIC sequences of nucleic acids such as ribosome binding sites1 (W. Gilbert, cited in ref. 2) and portions of the promoter region3,4 have been isolated by protecting those sequences with the relevant protein or organelle and digesting away the exposed nucleic acid. We have isolated specific sequences from the promoter regions in bacteriophage ϕX174 replicative form (RF) DNA using RNA polymerase as the protecting protein. We wish to describe that isolation and the procedures used to localize these RNA-polymerase-protected sequences within the ϕX174 genome.
Is Canada a Westminster or Consensus Democracy? A Brief Analysis

Because of its mix of institutions and practices, the fundamental nature of the government of Canada is a problematic case for scholars. A reconsideration of the Canadian polity needs to be undertaken because of events over the past quarter century, such as the development of executive federalism; the repatriation of a revised Constitution from the supervision of the United Kingdom over the objections of Quebec; the rejection of the constitutional settlements in the Meech Lake Accord (1990) and the Charlottetown Accord (1992); increased attention to the claims of Aboriginal peoples; increased movements for relaxing party discipline in Parliament and for a more proportional electoral system; increased controversy over the use of judicial review in interpreting the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and, above all, the ongoing problem of national unity, especially stemming from the Quebec separatist movement.An earlier version of this paper was presented at a conference of the Association of Canadian Studies, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Thanks to Arend Lijphart for data and comments.
Functional Proteomic Analysis of Protein Kinase C ε Signaling Complexes in the Normal Heart and During Cardioprotection

Abstract—Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, immunoblotting, and affinity pull-down assays, we found that myocardial protein kinase C e (PKCe) is physically associated with at...
PREDICTING CHRONICITY IN ACUTE TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT DISORDERS USING THE RESEARCH DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

The authors describe a prospective study designed to examine the clinical utility of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders, or RDC/TMD, in evaluating physical and psychological differences between patients with acute TMD that does not become chronic and patients with chronic TMD. A total of 153 patients with acute TMD participated in the study; the researchers deemed the condition of 87 of these patients to be chronic after a six-month follow-up period, and that of 66 patients to be nonchronic. Using a multiple logistic regression model, the authors found that a number of physical and psychological variables differed significantly between the two groups. These results highlight the importance of the physical-psychosocial interface that affects the development of chronic TMD.
ARMMS: analogical reasoning model management system for multicriteria vehicle scheduling

The transportation industry problem of scheduling vehicles combines the spatial characteristics of routing with time domain considerations of activity schedules. The problem is complex because of the numerous interacting constraints in the spatial and time domains. Further, some of the constraints are flexible and some arise in real-time. The scheduling problem is often presented with multiple objectives that are not all economic in nature and which can be contradictory to one another. In response to these needs, this paper describes an analogical reasoning model management system, called ARMMS, designed in the domain of vehicle scheduling. ARMMS consists of knowledge bases and data bases, a truth maintenance system, a user interface, an inference engine, a learning mechanism, and a model library. Given a scheduling problem, ARMMS searches its memory for solutions. If no solution is available, ARMMS falls back on an analogical problem solving approach in which similar experience can be recalled, and solutions to new, but similar, problems can be constructed. If no similar experience exists, ARMMS intelligently selects an appropriate algorithmic model from its model library, based on the input parameters and problem type, to solve the given problem. By combining experts' knowledge, analogical problem-solving approaches, and algorithmic methods, ARMMS provides an efficient problem-solving approach for vehicle scheduling and routing. ARMMS is also a feasible base for the development of intelligent model management systems.
Orchids and Bee's Knees: Investigating the Euglossine Syndrome with Gas Chromatography/Fourier Transform Infrared GC/FT-IR

The GC/FT-IR analysis of a fragrance obtained from a Gongora tricolor orchid is described. The significance of this type of analysis is explained in terms of the elucidation of the complex relationship between orchids and bees known as "The Euglossine Syndrome". The fragrance sample was found to contain p-cresol, p-methylanisole and a variety of terpenoids, including myrcene, cineole, limonene, cymene, ipsdienol, and an olefinic product which appears to be the dehydration product of ipsdienol.
Automated container transport system between inland port and terminals

In this article we propose a new concept called automated container transportation system between inland port and terminals (ACTIPOT) which involves the use of automated trucks to transfer containers between an inland port and container terminals. The inland port is located a few miles away from the terminals and is used for storing and processing import/export containers before distribution to customers or transfer to the terminals. We design and analyze the ACTIPOT system with particular attention paid to the overall supervisory controller that synchronizes all the operations inside the ACTIPOT system. We employ the technique of truck platooning in order to simplify the control of the overall system and to minimize the possibility of deadlocks, congestion, and failures. A microscopic simulation model is developed and used to demonstrate the overall performance of the ACTIPOT system. The contribution of this article is the design, analysis, and evaluation of the new concept ACTIPOT.
Characterizing peptides in individual mammalian cells using mass spectrometry

Cell-to-cell chemical signaling plays multiple roles in coordinating the activity of the functional elements of an organism, with these elements ranging from a three-neuron reflex circuit to the entire animal. In recent years, single-cell mass spectrometry (MS) has enabled the discovery of cell-to-cell signaling molecules from the nervous system of a number of invertebrates. We describe a protocol for analyzing individual cells from rat pituitary using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization MS. Each step in the sample preparation process, including cell stabilization, isolation, sample preparation, signal acquisition and data interpretation, is detailed here. Although we employ this method to investigate peptides in individual pituitary cells, it can be adapted to other cell types and even subcellular sections from a range of animals. This protocol allows one to obtain 20–30 individual cell samples and acquire mass spectra from them in a single day.
UNDERSTANDING THE PATTERNS AND EFFECTS OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE UTILIZATION IN ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME PATIENTS

In patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS), the use of emergency medical services (EMS) may allow for earlier diagnosis, stabilization and triage to a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) facility. Thus, use of EMS may lead to improvement in outcomes, particularly in those patients at
Family Scholarship A Reflection of the Changing Family

This article outlines and presents support for the thesis that family scholarship is largely shaped by sociodemographic changes in the family. It presents several additional alternative explanations for trends in the substantive foci of family scholarship. These include: serendipity; personal interest; proliferation and the changing composition of the body of researchers; social movements; key scholars; interaction between researchers and practitioners; shifts in public tolerance as subjects; increases in public sophistication as consumers of knowledge; and value changes. The article concludes that family scholarship is shaped by multiple factors for which salience varies across time and researchers.
Changing attendance patterns to sex therapy programs as a function of location and personnel

This paper explores innovative treatment modalities that may encourage the participation of lower socioeconomic minority clients in sex therapy programs. It suggests the consideration of informal therapeutic settings, flexible hours, and an immediate contact with the therapist. It lends support to the concept that equal time be given to education and communication skills in counseling. It also stresses the necessity of directive yet permissive techniques to bridge the communication gap by identifying areas of commonality, especially when confronted with the lower socioeconomic minority client. The paper compares this approach with a sex therapy approach more oriented to the middle class.
Variation in DNA repair is a factor in cancer susceptibility: a paradigm for the promises and perils of individual and population risk estimation?

Abstract The repair of DNA damage protects the genome of the cell from the insults of cancer causing agents. This was originally demonstrated in individuals with the rare genetic disease, xeroderma pigmentosum, the prototype of cancer genes, and subsequently in the relationship of mismatch repair to colon cancer. Recent studies suggests that individuals with less dramatic reductions in the capacity to repair DNA damage are observed at polymorphic frequency and these individuals have an increased susceptibility to several types of cancer. Screening of individuals for DNA sequence variation in the exons of 9 DNA repair genes has resulted in identification of 15 different polymorphic amino acid substitution variants. Although the studies to relate these variants to reduced DNA repair capacity and cancer status have not been completed, the available information is sufficient to suggest that DNA repair genes should be incorporated into molecular epidemiology and cancer susceptibility studies. The availability of molecular epidemiology data presents exciting opportunities for refinement of risk estimation models and identification of individuals at increased risk of disease, with resultant opportunities for effective surveillance and early intervention and treatment. The opportunities to acquire susceptibility data are associated with possible perils for establishment of regulations for permissible exposures to carcinogenic agents and also stigmatization of ‘at risk’ individuals that may result in decreased access to employment opportunities and health care.
Simulating Hydrological Drought Properties at Different Spatial Units in the United States Based on Wavelet-Bayesian Regression Approach

AbstractBecause of their stochastic nature, droughts vary in space and time, and therefore quantifying droughts at different time units is important for water resources planning. The authors investigated the relationship between meteorological variables and hydrological drought properties using the Palmer hydrological drought index (PHDI). Twenty different spatial units were chosen from the unit of a climatic division to a regional unit across the United States. The relationship between meteorological variables and PHDI was investigated using a wavelet–Bayesian regression model, which enhances the modeling strength of a simple Bayesian regression model. Further, the wavelet–Bayesian regression model was tested for the predictability of global climate models (GCMs) to simulate PHDI, which will also help understand their role for downscaling purposes.
Finite-time settling real-time control for multi-robot formation

A recent algorithm proposed for real-time computation of individual agent reference trajectories for formation tracking under realistic dynamic and actuator constraints shows remarkable formation keeping and formation reconfiguration capability. A key assumption for its successful execution however is that the accurate system state should be available at the beginning of each computation segment. The success in utilizing that algorithm in real-time practical implementation therefore calls for any tracking errors due to system uncertainties to be zero prior to the commencement of the following computation segment. In this paper addressed is this important issue. By considering a class of nonlinear systems with favorable finite-time convergence characteristics, sufficient conditions for exponential finite-time stability are presented and then applied to distributed formation tracking controls. This manifests in the settling time of the controlled system being finite and no longer than the predefined reference trajectory segment computing time interval, thus making tracking errors go to zero by the end of the time interval. This leads to a guarantee of desired multi-robot motion evolution in spite of the system uncertainties. Simulations of multi-robot formation keeping and formation reconfiguration verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategies.
Extraction of leaves from herbarium images

Detection of a leaf from the image that contains the leaf, branches, and other background material is challenging. The existing approaches for automated leaf extraction do not provide satisfactory results when the end-users provide a plant image. For such an application to be feasible, the automated leaf extraction algorithm should handle leaves of various colors, shapes, sizes, and locations within the image. This paper presents an algorithm for automating the process of extracting the possible target leaves from herbarium plant images. Our results indicate high level of accuracy for the proposed algorithm.
Management of large primary spontaneous pneumothorax in children: radiological guidance, surgical intervention and proposed guideline

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is managed in accordance with the adult British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines due to lack of paediatric evidence and consensus. We aim to highlight the differences and provide a best practice surgical management strategy for PSP based on experience of two major paediatric surgical centres. Retrospective review of PSP management and outcomes from two UK Tertiary Paediatric hospitals between 2004 and 2015. Fifty children with 55 PSP (5 bilateral) were referred to our Thoracic Surgical Services after initial management: 53 % of the needle aspirations failed. Nine children (20 %) were associated with visible bullae on the initial chest X-ray. Forty-nine children were assessed with computed tomography scan (CT). Apical emphysematous-like changes (ELC) were identified in 37 children (75 %). Ten children had also bullae in the asymptomatic contralateral lungs (20 %). In two children (4 %), CT demonstrated other lung lesions: a tumour of the left main bronchus in one child; a multi-cystic lesion of the right middle lobe in keeping with a congenital lung malformation in another child. Contralateral asymptomatic ELC were detected in 20 % of the children: of those 40 % developed pneumothorax within 6 months. Best surgical management was thoracoscopic staple bullectomy and pleurectomy with 11 % risk of recurrence. Histology confirmed ELC in 100 % of the apical lung wedge resections even in those apexes apparently normal at the time of thoracoscopy. Our experience suggests that adult BTS guidelines are not applicable to children with large PSP. Needle aspiration is ineffective. We advocate early referral to a Paediatric Thoracic Service. We suggest early chest CT scan to identify ELC, for counselling regarding contralateral asymptomatic ELC and to rule out secondary pathological conditions causing pneumothorax. In rare instance if bulla is visible on presenting chest X-ray, thoracoscopy could be offered as primary option.
Considerations for the Pharmacological Treatment of Diabetes in Older Adults

More than 20 million people in America are estimated to have diabetes, with the prevalence in adults > 60 years of age now > 20%.1 The increased prevalence in older adults may be the result of several factors, including physiological changes in glucose metabolism that occur with aging, reduced physical activity, and increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome with aging. As the proportion of the population of older adults increases with the aging of the Baby Boomer generation, so will the proportion of those who are older and have diabetes. This older population will also be faced with increasing prevalence of many other conditions, such as arthritis and high blood pressure, underscoring the need for effective management of diabetes in this population to optimize health. This article reviews the normal physiological and pharmacodynamic changes of aging and relates this information to the process of making optimal therapeutic decisions for the pharmacological treatment of diabetes in older adults. The evidence basis for treatment of older adults, or lack thereof, is discussed, and a general approach to therapy is suggested. Aging is associated with defects in glucose metabolism. In healthy older adults, glucose metabolism is characterized by reduced non–insulin-mediated glucose uptake under basal conditions, with normal response during hyperglycemia compared with younger adults.2 In older adults with diabetes, the defect in basal glucose uptake is further accentuated, and there is a weaker uptake response during hyperglycemia.3 In addition to this effect on basal conditions, glucose-stimulated insulin response is diminished in older adults with diabetes compared with nondiabetic younger adults and nondiabetic older adults or those with impaired glucose tolerance.4 β-Cell sensitivity to the incretin hormones may also be reduced with aging, and delayed gastric emptying or gastroparesis is frequently reported for older adults with diabetes.5,6 …
Agranulocytosis during antibiotic therapy: Drug sensitivity or sepsis?

Forty-three patients reviewed from the literature and five cases of agranulocytosis during antibiotic therapy studied by the author are presented. Time required to develop agranulocytosis with antibiotics was 40 days required with nonantibiotic drugs. In all, agranulocytosis occurred concomitantly with drug treatment and became normal as treatment was discontinued. Retrospective rechallenge studies suggest that agranulocytosis may be dose related. In all cases PMNs were almost completely deleted and marrows were devoid of granulocyte precursors. In contrast, leukopenia secondary to overwhelming sepsis displayed persisting granulocytes in peripheral blood and marrow. While leukagglutinins were not found in nine cited cases, four serums were toxic to test PMNs as measured by suppression of postphagocytosis respiratory burst. Clindamycin directly suppressed development of CFU-G in one sensitive patient but not in 16 normal controls. The hazard of antibiotics in suppressing granulocytopoiesis is emphasized by these observations. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Region of Stability in Power Systems

The stability problem in power systems was mathematically formulated in Chapter I as one of ensuring that the state of the power system at the instant of clearing the fault is inside the region of stability (ROS) of the post-fault stable equilibrium point. Computation of ROS is perhaps the most difficult task in successfully using the Lyapunov/energy functions for stability analysis. In this chapter we explain the foundation of the theory underlying the characterization of the stability boundary of nonlinear autonomous dynamical systems and then indicate its application to power systems. We also provide a theoretical foundation to the potential energy boundary surface method. Both these theoretical results are due to Chiang et al. [1988]. A parallel development in characterizing ROS in the entire state space is due to Zaborsky et al. [1988]. In terms of application to realistic systems, three basic methods have proved to be successful in application.
Accuracy of close binary mass determinations from parallaxes

Absolute masses for W Ursae Majoris and Algol-type close binaries can be determined from their parallax, if observed, and the relative sizes of the stars and their mass ratio, obtained from a light curve solution. An error propagation study compares the typical order of magnitude of the various terms involved, and shows how accurate parallaxes have to be in order to make the procedure work, i.e., making the parallax term not larger than the combined non-parallax terms, and producing reasonably low mass errors. Some comments are made on the possibilities with respect to the HIPPARCOS program.
Emigrant Nation: The Making of Italy Abroad

Mark I. Choate (2008) Emigrant Nation: The Making of Italy Abroad (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press), i–x + 319 pp., ISBN: 9780674027848, US$45.00, hard cover One of the central themes of mo...
Development and Immigration: Experiences of Non-US Born Black Women

An exploration of inequality at the intersection of race, gender, and nationality offers a means to explore how complex economic and social forces combine to shape women’s outcomes in ways that differ from men’s. Women’s responsibility for care work and other forms of unpaid labor inhibits labor force participation, and in some cases, redounds heavily on children. Those responsibilities, coupled with labor market discrimination against black women, US or foreign born, increases the difficulties single mothers face in providing for families.
The hull of Rudin’s Klein bottle

In 1981 Walter Rudin exhibited a totally real embedding of the Klein bottle into C 2 . We show that the polynomially convex hull of Rudin's Klein bottle contains an open subset of C 2 . We also describe another totally real Klein bottle in C 2 whose hull has topological dimension equal to three.
Multiple sclerosis: Diagnostic usefulness of cerebrospinal fluid

Early, atypical, or progressive cases of multiple sclerosis (MS) may be hard to diagnose. Until recently, assays of the most common abnormalities in cerebrospinal fluid were not available in clinical diagnostic laboratories, but now they can be done with relative ease and adequate standardization. With the newer techniques the CSF is abnormal in more than 90% of clinically definite cases of MS, and determination of such changes can be a major aid in diagnosis. The most common CSF abnormalities are discussed: elevation of immunoglobulin G(IgG), expressed as percentage of total protein; elevation of the IgG/albumin index; and presence of oligoclonal IgG bands. Not only does assessment of these CSF proteins provide an improved aid to diagnosis, but their study may furnish important clues to the cause and pathogenesis of MS as well.
Research note: Using cost-benefit analysis to measure rehabilitation and special deterrence

How should rehabilitation and special deterrence be measured? Although they affect offenders differently, both rehabilitation and special deterrence should reduce the criminal activity of offenders following intervention. The same measure, therefore, can be used to estimate both. The measure should compare the number of crimes committed before and after intervention, as well as the seriousness, or cost, of the crimes. The measure should be robust to various assumptions that affect these estimates. Economists have developed a methodology, cost-benefit analysis, that is well suited to such a measure.
The role of regulated CFTR trafficking in epithelial secretion

The focus of this review is the regulated trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in distal compartments of the protein secretory pathway and the question of h...
Leaching and binding of fumonisins in soil microcosms.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a water-soluble mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides. Our research objectives were to determine the leaching of FB1 through soils and FB1 binding in soil. Leachate columns were used to determine the movement of FB1 through soil. FB1-contaminated corn screenings or water extracts containing FB1 were placed on the surface of soil columns. In 100% sand columns, FB1 leaching was only slightly retarded, whereas at 50%, 75%, and 100% Cecil sandy loam, approximately 60%, 50%, and 20% of the FB1 was recovered in the column leachate, respectively. The FB1 retained on the 100% Cecil sandy loam column was tightly bound. However, approximately 75% of the bound FB1 was released with 5% formic acid and 5% formic acid/acetonitrile (1:1), indicating that the nature of the interaction was probably ionic. The results suggest that FB1 is quite stable in soils and, while tightly bound, under certain environmental conditions could be released.
Über den Diäthylester der Amidomonophosphorsäure

Die leichte Hydrolysierbarkeit der NH2-Gruppe der Amidomonophosphorsaure in saurer und ihre Bestandigkeit in alkalischer Losung wird auch am Diathyl- und Monoathylester dieser Saure beobachtet.
Habit today: Ravaisson, Bergson, Deleuze and us

Habit has been understood, through the work of Descartes, Kant and Sartre, as a form of mechanism that arrests and inhibits consciousness, thought and freedom. This article addresses the concept of habit through a different tradition that links it instead to an ever-moving world. In a world of constant change, habits are not so much forms of fixity and repetition as they are modes of encounter materiality and life. Habit is the point of transition between living beings and matter, enabling each to be transformed through its engagement with the other. The article focuses on the work of Ravaisson, Bergson and Deleuze, who understand habit as fundamentally creative and addressed to the future rather than consolidating the past. Habit, within this tradition, is the opening of materiality to the forms of engagement required by life, and the modification of life imposed by the requirements of a material universe. It is open-ended plasticity.
Were Australopithecines Ape—— Human Intermediates or Just Apes? A Test of Both Hypotheses Using the ““Lucy”” Skeleton

Mainstream scientists often claim that australopithecines such as the specimen nicknamed “Lucy” exhibit anatomy intermediate between that of apes and that of humans and use this as evidence that humans evolved from australopithecines, which evolved from apes. On the other hand, creationists reject evolution and claim that australopithecines are “just apes.” Here, a point-by-point visual comparison with the skeletons of a chimpanzee, “Lucy,” and a human is presented in order to evaluate both claims, treating them as testable hypotheses. The results support the hypothesis that australopithecines are anatomically intermediate between apes and humans. Classroom applications of this test of hypotheses are also discussed.
A 25 dBm parallel class E power amplifier with minimal efficiency degradation under 10 dB back-off

This paper implements a Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS) Contour based power amplifier previously proposed theoretically by the authors. The proposed PA, implemented using discrete components on an FR4 PCB, achieves a peak power of 25dBm and a peak drain efficiency of 65% at about 6dB back-off from the peak output power at 100MHz from a 3V supply. The ZVS Contour PA achieves high efficiency for a 10dB back-off in output power by a simultaneous load and duty cycle modulation of a parallel class E PA.
Prison Inmates’ Right to Hunger Strike Its Use and Its Limits Under the U.S. Constitution

Hunger strikes have long been used as a means of protest, as a last resort, especially by those in prison. Recently, government officials have responded to hunger strikes with force-feeding, an approach that has generated considerable international attention. The purpose of this article is to analyze the nature and the scope of the right to hunger strike in prisons in the United States under both the First Amendment and the Due Process Clause, and to provide a policy recommendation for prison administrators based on a review of case law. This article stresses the nature of hunger strikes as symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment, an analysis that has yet to be extensively discussed by either criminal justice or law scholars. This article argues that retaliatory force-feeding or punishment of hunger strikers generally violates the First Amendment, regardless of the prison officials’ professed justification. This article further argues that, given the inherently peaceful nature of hunger strikes, ...