cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Granular packings sheared in an annular channel: flow localization and grain size dependence.

We investigate experimentally a quasistatic flow of glass beads in an annular channel, in which particles are packed and sheared from above under a constant normal load. The experiments utilize techniques of refractive-index-matched fluorescent imaging to determine the motion of individual particles and the velocity fields inside the sheared packing. We demonstrated in a previous paper [Phys. Rev. E 70, 031303 (2004)] that an ordering transition has a significant impact on the velocity profile. Here, we report the effects of layer thickness, channel width, and particle size on the internal velocity field. For very thin layers, the grain velocity exhibits a linear vertical profile. As the layer thickness increases, a strongly nonlinear velocity profile emerges, with particle motion that is largely localized to a narrow region (shear band) near the driving surface. Once the packing has reached its steady state, the velocity field is insensitive to the size of grains being used---the velocity profile does not scale with grain size. However, the vertical decay of grain velocity becomes significantly steeper as the horizontal width of the channel decreases. In addition, we demonstrate that changing the direction of shearing generates an anomalous mobility of grains in the deep interior that is sensitive to particle size. The transient grain motion is accompanied by an abrupt volume compaction and a gradual recovery as the shearing proceeds. Reviewing results from this and other works reveals that the velocity profiles of granular shear flows are often geometry specific. We present a heuristic continuum model that qualitatively captures the shear banding observed in this geometry.
The polarization structure of p + p → d + π and of spinwise similar reactions

Abstract The polarization structure of the reaction 1 2 + 1 2 → 1 + 0 is discussed in all conceivable optimal formalisms, with an application to p + p → d + π in mind. First, the relationship between the observables and the bilinear products of amplitudes is given when only Lorentz or rotation invariance holds. Then parity conservation is imposed (with the product of the four intrinsic parities taken to be −1) and the resulting modified relationship between observables and amplitudes is displayed in all four possible optimal types of formalisms. This relationship is also constructed in the special case when the reaction angle is 90°. A comparison of the four types is made from the point of view of the phenomenological determination of amplitudes from observables, and it is found that the pure transversity formalism has the largest number of advantages. In this pure transversity formalism, a complete experimental procedure is specified for the determination of amplitudes. The procedure is also outlined for the special case of θcm = 90°. It is shown that while a complete determination of all amplitudes involves some measurement of the tensor polarization of the deuteron and also tends to involve observables in which all three particles are polarized, nine out of the eleven amplitude parameters can in fact be determined by measurements which involve at most two polarized particles at a time and which avoid the measurement of tensor polarization for the deuteron.
Rapid Inward Impurity Transport during Impurity Pellet Injection on the DIII-D Tokamak

Neon killer pellets are injected into the DIII-D tokamak plasma in order to radiatively quench the plasma{close_quote}s stored energy and mitigate disruption effects. Inward radial transport on the time scale of the pellet ablation ({le}1 ms) results in central deposition of the neon inside the ablation penetration radius of the pellet, causing effective radiative energy dissipation. This result is in contrast to the radially outward deposition measured for fueling (hydrogenic) pellets. The observed magnitudes of magnetic fluctuations ({delta}B/B{approximately}0.2{percent}) are shown to be capable of causing the radial transport. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society }
Current carrying states in the lowest Landau level.

We have performed numerical calculations for noninteracting electrons in two dimensions in the high-magnetic-field (lowest-Landau-level) limit in the presence of a random potential. By identifying the first Chern character of each eigenstate, we show directly from the data for sizes varying from scrN=8 flux quanta to scrN=128 that the lowest Landau level has extended eigenstates only at a single energy ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{c}}$ (the center of the band). The localization length \ensuremath{\xi} is found to diverage as (E-${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{c}}$${)}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\nu}}$, with \ensuremath{\nu}=2.4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1, in agreement with previous calculations.
Cofactors in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins F1α and F2α

Abstract Cu2+, added to enzyme preparations from vesicular gland stimulates the production of prostaglandins F. This is further enhanced by addition of dithiols, which presumably provide reducing equivalents to convert the intermediate endoperoxide to the diol, F, derivative. The increased yield of prostaglandins F is accompanied by decreased amounts of prostaglandins E, confirming the concept of a common intermediate in the biosynthesis of the two types of prostaglandin.
Antimicrobial Irrigants in the Endodontic Therapy

This paper highlights the importance of root canal disinfection. It discusses the different endodontic irrigants available and comments on how these can be used most effectively. Eliminating bacteria from the root canal system is an essential stage in endodontic therapy. An objective of endodontic treatment is removal of diseased tissue, elimination of bacteria from the canal system and prevention of recontamination. (1) Disinfection of the root canal system, as part of endodontic therapy, by preparation and irrigation is a key in reducing the number of bacteria within the root canal and helping to control periapical disease.
Mini review: Fluorescent heteroditopic ligands of metal ions

The recent advances in the development of fluorescent heteroditopic ligands of metal ions are reviewed. The scientific endeavour in this area is fuelled partly by the need for sensing technologies that are (1) targeting substances over large concentration ranges and (2) capable of analysing multiple analytes simultaneously. These objectives are largely not attainable using monotopic coordination platforms. The investigations of the fluorescent heteroditopic ligands of metal ions have revealed surprisingly intricate interplays between metal coordination at two different sites and the photophysical states that are accessible through those systems. The chemical complexity of fluorescent heteroditopic ligands of metal ions warrants further investigations on the fundamental science front in order to fully acquire their potential for meeting our practical needs.
In Situ Synthesis of Alkenyl Tetrazines for Highly Fluorogenic Bioorthogonal Live-Cell Imaging Probes†

In spite of the wide application potential of 1,2,4,5-tetrazines, particularly in live-cell and in vivo imaging, a major limitation has been the lack of practical synthetic methods. Here we report the in situ synthesis of (E)-3-substituted 6-alkenyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine derivatives through an elimination–Heck cascade reaction. By using this strategy, we provide 24 examples of π-conjugated tetrazine derivatives that can be conveniently prepared from tetrazine building blocks and related halides. These include tetrazine analogs of biological small molecules, highly conjugated buta-1,3-diene-substituted tetrazines, and a diverse array of fluorescent probes suitable for live-cell imaging. These highly conjugated probes show very strong fluorescence turn-on (up to 400-fold) when reacted with dienophiles such as cyclopropenes and trans-cyclooctenes, and we demonstrate their application for live-cell imaging. This work provides an efficient and practical synthetic methodology for tetrazine derivatives and will facilitate the application of conjugated tetrazines, particularly as fluorogenic probes for live-cell imaging.
Reading a Neural Code

Traditional methods of studying neural coding characterize the encoding of known stimuli in average neural responses. Organisms face nearly the opposite task - decoding short segments of a spike train to extract information about an unknown, time-varying stimulus. Here we present strategies for characterizing the neural code from the point of view of the organism, culminating in algorithms for real-time stimulus reconstruction based on a single sample of the spike train. These methods are applied to the design and analysis of experiments on an identified movement-sensitive neuron in the fly visual system. As far as we know this is the first instance in which a direct "reading" of the neural code has been accomplished.
Automatic Generation of A High-level Contact State Graph for Assembly between Curved Objects

Information of high-level, topological contact states is useful for robotic assembly in the presence of uncertainty. All possible contact states in the process of an assembly operation due to uncertainty can be described in a contact state graph for assembly. This paper addresses how to represent concisely and generate automatically such a graph between general curved objects, which may include curved or planar surfaces. The approach has been implemented, and the implemented examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.
Investigation of HPLC-MS Using a Monolithic Column to Separate a Diverse Suite of Steroids

A rapid method for profiling steroids with a wide range of polarity has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with a monolithic LC column. Steroids are detected using tandem mass spectrometry (MS(n)) with a quadrupole ion trap and quantified using testosterone-d(3) as the internal standard. The method is compared to two similar methods using a traditional particulate column in terms of number of steroids eluted, peak area reproducibility, limits of detection, and overall analysis time. The monolithic method elutes the steroids in a 20-min analysis time, whereas the particulate methods elute the steroids in 30 and 45 min, respectively. The monolithic column also allows for improved reproducibility (relative standard deviations from 5-23%, as opposed to 14-42% for the shorter particulate method) and lower limits of detection (typically 2-5 times lower) when compared to the particulate column. Finally, the method is evaluated with unextracted, spiked alligator plasma, giving responses within 80-90% of those expected for standards for all steroids tested (except androstenedione).
Multi-scale global optimization of all-atom molecular models of n-alkanes

Abstract All-atom potential energy models of solid n-alkanes are important in understanding wax formation. Numerical results for molecular conformation computations using the multi-scale terrain/funneling method of Lucia and co-workers [Lucia, A., DiMaggio, P. A., & Depa, P. (2004a). A geometric terrain methodology for global optimization. Journal of Global Optimization, 29, 297; Lucia, A., DiMaggio, P. A., & Depa, P. (2004b). Funneling algorithms for multi-scale optimization on rugged terrains. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 43, 3770; Gattupalli, R. R., & Lucia, A. (2007). Molecular conformation of n-alkanes using terrain/funneling methods. Journal of Global Optimization, doi:10.1007/s10898-007-9206-5] are reported for all-atom potential energy models of the solid n-alkanes: dodecane, hexadecane, tetracosane, and triacontane, and compared with the basin hopping method of Wales and Doye [Wales, D. J., & Doye, J. P. K. (1997). Global optimization by basin hopping and the lowest energy structures of Lennard-Jones clusters containing up to 110 atoms. Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 101, 5111]. It is shown that the terrain/funneling method is capable of finding the global minimum energy molecular conformation for all examples in a reliable and efficient manner while basin hopping often fails. These numerical results provide strong evidence demonstrating that the multi-scale terrain/funneling method is a powerful global optimization method for solving molecular conformation problems.
Type I interferons are associated with subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a striking increase in cardiovascular (CV) comorbidity not fully explained by the Framingham risk score. Recent evidence from in vitro studies suggests that type I interferons (IFN) could promote premature CV disease (CVD) in SLE. We assessed the association of type I IFN signatures with functional and anatomical evidence of vascular damage, and with biomarkers of CV risk in a cohort of lupus patients without overt CVD. Methodology/Principal Findings: Serum type I IFN activity (induction of five IFN-inducible genes; IFIGs) from 95 SLE patient and 38 controls was quantified by real-time PCR. Flow mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) were quantified by ultrasound, and coronary calcification by computed tomography. Serum vascular biomarkers were measured by ELISA. We evaluated the effect of type I IFNs on FMD, CIMT and coronary calcification by first applying principal components analysis to combine data from five IFIGs into summary components that could be simultaneously modeled. Three components were derived explaining 97.1% of the total IFIG variation. Multivariable linear regression was utilized to investigate the association between the three components and other covariates, with the outcomes of FMD and CIMT; zero-inflated Poisson regression was used for modeling of coronary calcification. After controlling for traditional CV risk factors, enhanced serum IFN activity was significantly associated with decreased endothelial function in SLE patients and controls (p,0.05 for component 3), increased CIMT among SLE patients (p,0.01 for components 1 and 2), and severity of coronary calcification among SLE patients (p,0.001 for component 3). Conclusions: Type I IFNs are independently associated with atherosclerosis development in lupus patients without history of overt CVD and after controlling for Framingham risk factors. This study further supports the hypothesis that type I IFNs promote premature vascular damage in SLE.
Experience with a newly developed pericardiocentesis set

Abstract Pericardiocentesis is a widely used therapeutic and diagnostic procedure. Although a limited number of pericardiocentesis sets are commercially available, none has been developed for use in children. This report describes experience with a newly developed pericardiocentesis set, specifically designed for pediatric patients.
Duplicate bladder exstrophy: a unique variant.

Abstract Duplicate bladder exstrophy is an extremely rare congenital malformation. Two forms have been described, the anteroposterior form and the collateral form, which is the less common. We report a case of bladder exstrophy in association with a duplicated lower urinary tract, omphalocele, colic duplication and diphallia. Fewer than 30 cases of duplicate bladder exstrophy have been described previously, emphasizing the embryologic significance of this case. To our knowledge it is the first reported case of such an association of anomalies with the exstrophy–epispadias complex.
Reemergence of Anaerobic Bacteremia

Background. During 1974-1988, the incidence of anaerobic bacteremia at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) decreased. This trend occurred nationally, prompting calls for discontinuation of routine anaerobic blood cultures. However, recently, the sites of anaerobic infection have been shown not to be as predictable as once thought, and since 1993, the incidence of anaerobic bacteremia has increased significantly in our medical center. Methods. Records from the Mayo Clinic Division of Clinical Microbiology were used to tabulate the number of cases of anaerobic bacteremia in patients at the clinic for the 12-year period from 1993 through 2004. Medical records for patients with anaerobic bacteremia were reviewed from the periods of 1993-1994 and 2004 to identify differences between these 2 patient populations with different rates of bacteremia. Results. The mean incidence of anaerobic bacteremias increased from 53 cases per year during 1993-1996 to 75 cases per year during 1997-2000 to 91 cases per year during 2001-2004 (an overall increase of 74%). The total number of cases of anaerobic bacteremia per 100,000 patient-days increased by 74% (P<.001). The number of anaerobic blood cultures per 1000 cultures performed increased by 30% (P =.002). Organisms from the Bacteroides fragilis group, other species of Bacteroides, and Clostridium species were most commonly isolated. Conclusions. Anaerobic bacteremia has reemerged as a significant clinical problem. Although there are probably multiple reasons for this change, the increasing number of patients with complex underlying diseases makes the clinical context for anaerobic infections less predictable than it once was. Anaerobic blood cultures should be routinely performed in medical centers with a patient population similar to ours.
Law enforcement intelligence: Implications for self-radicalized terrorism

A series of tragic events over the last three years has further strengthened the emerging preventative and proactive philosophies adopted by US law enforcement post-September 11, 2001. Law enforcement and the American public now have a heightened awareness of homegrown terrorism. While these terrorist actors operate independent of traditional terrorist networks and groups, they are often influenced by such groups through a process where they enter as a non-violent individual and exit as a violent ‘true believer’. Efforts by law enforcement to mitigate or prevent such threats rely on the implementation of intelligence-led policing practices. Central to these practices is the input of raw information into the intelligence cycle. This paper will discuss the importance and application of suspicious activity reporting as it impacts law enforcement intelligence practices to prevent threats from self-radicalized terrorism.
CHLAMYDOMONAS AS A MODEL ORGANISM

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas offers a simple life cycle, easy isolation of mutants, and a growing array of tools and techniques for molecular genetic studies. Among the principal areas of current investigation using this model system are flagellar structure and function, genetics of basal bodies (centrioles), chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthesis, light perception, cell-cell recognition, and cell cycle control. A genome project has begun with compilation of expressed sequence tag data and gene expression studies and will lead to a complete genome sequence. Resources available to the research community include wild-type and mutant strains, plasmid constructs for transformation studies, and a comprehensive on-line database.
Probing the NASA generic transport aircraft in real-time for health monitoring

This paper investigates the effectiveness of a pseudo-random binary sequence as a probing signal for real-time monitoring of a closed-loop nonlinear GTM aircraft (NASA Generic Transport Model). Two forms of probing outputs based on two probing algorithms are studied: a small signal pulse response matrix at trim using pulse-compression, and a linearized state-space parameter set using regression. A new structure of the pulse-compression method is introduced to simultaneously monitor the small signal pulse sequences for all input-output channels of the aircraft, and the probing algorithm is implemented on a Virtex-5 FPGA evaluation platform for speed. The paper also exploits the role of the probing signal in regression to identify a local state-space model for GTM as the first step in our effort toward real-time faulty model identification to support flight envelope assessment. The pseudo random sequence probing compares favorably to white noise and doublet excitations. Probing outputs in both forms are shown to be highly sensitive to the occurrence of actuator faults in the plant.
Cardio-vocal syndrome: laryngeal paralysis in intrinsic heart disease.

Abstract 1. 1. A case of occlusive coronary artery disease complicated by hoarseness due to left recurrent laryngeal nerve damage is presented. This is the third such autopsy case to be reported. 2. 2. Hoarseness was an early symptom of cardiac decompensation, and, initially, it constituted the patient's chief complaint. 3. 3. It is thought that nerve compression between the aorta and a dilated pulmonary artery is a constant factor in the production of recurrent nerve injury in cases of intrinsic heart disease. Dilatation of the pulmonary artery is at times noticeable on the chest film. However, an additional unknown factor appears necessary to explain the pathogenesis, since dilatation of the pulmonary artery is apparently only rarely accompanied by significant damage to the recurrent nerve.
Left ventricular hypertrophy after hypertensive pregnancy disorders

Objective Cardiac changes of hypertensive pregnancy include left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and diastolic dysfunction. These are thought to regress postpartum. We hypothesised that women with a history of hypertensive pregnancy would have altered LV geometry and function when compared with women with only normotensive pregnancies. Methods In this cohort study, we analysed echocardiograms of 2637 women who participated in the Family Blood Pressure Program. We compared LV mass and function in women with hypertensive pregnancies with those with normotensive pregnancies. Results Women were evaluated at a mean age of 56 years: 427 (16%) had at least one hypertensive pregnancy; 2210 (84%) had normotensive pregnancies. Compared with women with normotensive pregnancies, women with hypertensive pregnancy had a greater risk of LVH (OR: 1.42; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.99, p=0.05), after adjusting for age, race, research network of the Family Blood Pressure Program, education, parity, BMI, hypertension and diabetes. When duration of hypertension was taken into account, this relationship was no longer significant (OR: 1.19; CI 0.08 to 1.78, p=0.38). Women with hypertensive pregnancies also had greater left atrial size and lower mitral E/A ratio after adjusting for demographic variables. The prevalence of systolic dysfunction was similar between the groups. Conclusions A history of hypertensive pregnancy is associated with LVH after adjusting for risk factors; this might be explained by longer duration of hypertension. This finding supports current guidelines recommending surveillance of women following a hypertensive pregnancy, and sets the stage for longitudinal echocardiographic studies to further elucidate progression of LV geometry and function after pregnancy. Clinical trial registrations GENOA- NCT00005269; HyperGEN- NCT00005267; Sapphire- NCT00005270; GenNet- NCT00005268.
Experimental and theoretical analysis of the optimum decision threshold for varying numbers of active users in a 2-D time-wavelength asynchronous O-CDMA system

We experimentally demonstrate the existence of an optimal decision threshold in an optical code-division-multiple-access (O-CDMA) system and show its relation to the number of active users. Our results show that tuning the decision threshold in an O-CDMA receiver to an optimal point based on the number of active users improves receiver sensitivity by > 3 dB. We also demonstrate a monitoring scheme to estimate the number of active users in an O-CDMA system using harmonics of RF clock tones.
Target classification via support vector machines

The area of automatic target classification has been a difficult problem for many years. Many approaches involve extracting information from the imagery through a variety of statistical filtering and sampling techniques, resulting in a reduced dimension feature vector that is the input for a learning algorithm. We introduce the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, which is a wide margin classifier that can provide rea- sonable results for sparse data sets and whose training speed can be nearly independent of feature vector size. Therefore, we can avoid the feature extraction step and process the images directly. The SVM algo- rithm has the additional features that there are few parameters to adjust and the solutions are unique for a given training set. We apply SVM to a vehicle classification problem and compare the results to standard neu- ral network approaches. We find that the SVM algorithm gives equivalent or higher correct classification results compared to neural networks. © 2000 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. (S0091-3286(00)02703-3) Subject terms: support vector machine; target classification; neural network; computer vision.
Molecular Mechanisms Affecting Fibrin Structure and Stability

Fibrin structure and stability have been linked to many thrombotic diseases, including venous thromboembolism. Analysis of the molecular mechanisms that affect fibrin structure and stability became possible when the crystal structure of fibrinogen was solved. Biochemical studies of natural and recombinant variant fibrinogens have examined the interactions that mediate the conversion of soluble fibrinogen to the insoluble fibrin network. These studies identified intermolecular interactions that control fibrin structure, although some critical events remain ambiguous. Studies show that fibrin structure modulates the enzymatic lysis of the fibrin network, so the molecular mechanisms that control structure also control stability. Studies show that the mechanical stability of the fibrin clot depends on the properties of the fibrin monomer, leading investigators to explore the molecular basis of the monomer's mechanical properties. The work summarized here provides insights that might allow the development of pharmaceuticals and treatments to modulate fibrin structure and stability in vivo and thereby prevent or limit thrombotic disease.
Telepsychiatry reduces geographic physician disparity in rural settings, but is it financially feasible because of reimbursement?

Telemedicine has been shown to improve rural patient outcomes in two randomized controlled trials, to increase access to many patients, to serve underserved minorities, and to train primary care providers. Yet, programs are dwindling even after successful grants due to inadequate reimbursement. Studies have been thoroughly done to gauge the payor status of potential rural telemedicine patients, as the “floodgates” are not generally open to all—including those who cannot pay—in typical grants. Or the population of one community may not be representative of others. This study is part of a grant that explored the use of telemedicine for rural service delivery, attempted to get a clear snapshot of whom would be served if all were invited (paying or not), and to understand issues with the reimbursement systems. This article (1) examines the receipts of reimbursement and insurance coverage during the 1-year grant period by determining actual versus projected reimbursements, (2) identifies what payor(s) typical patients use, and (3) identifies problems and barriers for future study. Other administrative issues pertinent to telemedicine and costs are briefly discussed (eg, no-show rates, staffing, scheduling).
Incorporating Concept Ontology for Hierarchical Video Classification, Annotation, and Visualization

Most existing content-based video retrieval (CBVR) systems are now amenable to support automatic low-level feature extraction, but they still have limited effectiveness from a user's perspective because of the semantic gap. Automatic video concept detection via semantic classification is one promising solution to bridge the semantic gap. To speed up SVM video classifier training in high-dimensional heterogeneous feature space, a novel multimodal boosting algorithm is proposed by incorporating feature hierarchy and boosting to reduce both the training cost and the size of training samples significantly. To avoid the inter-level error transmission problem, a novel hierarchical boosting scheme is proposed by incorporating concept ontology and multitask learning to boost hierarchical video classifier training through exploiting the strong correlations between the video concepts. To bridge the semantic gap between the available video concepts and the users' real needs, a novel hyperbolic visualization framework is seamlessly incorporated to enable intuitive query specification and evaluation by acquainting the users with a good global view of large-scale video collections. Our experiments in one specific domain of surgery education videos have also provided very convincing results.
British Justice and the Native Tribunals of the Southern Gold Coast Colony

As a result of the policy of indirect rule which British administrators introduced into the Colony of the Gold Coast at the turn of the twentieth century, customary courts, or what were called Native Tribunals, became important venues of adjudication for the indigenous population. As a result, however, of the powerful impact of British justice on the Colony, the judicial responsibilities, procedure, personnel and the nature of the customary law that these courts applied underwent profound changes. It was an excellent example of how important was the cultural interchange between European and African ideas during the colonial period, which, however, both academic lawyers and historians have neglected. The former have preferred to focus on the superior courts as venues of juridical interaction while the latter have focused far more on ‘what was said about change than what was said about order’. By looking, however, at this example of cultural interaction on a fundamentally popular level, we can see that this ‘transforming moment’ in the colonial situation can be seen neither as something ‘imposed’ on African society by colonial administrators nor as simply generating new mechanisms for privileged groups to take advantage of. The Native Tribunals never fully came up to what British administrators or African lawyers considered the highest standards of British rule of law. Nevertheless, their most important function was to popularize recourse to judicial institutions which increasingly adopted more and more of the features of the British legal system.
Pollinator assemblages and visitation rates for 11 species of neotropical Costus (Costaceae).

Most plant species in tropical forests are pollinated by animals, and yet the diversity and specificity of pollinator assemblages are poorly documented. Here, we investigated pollinator relationships for 11 species of understory herbs in the genus Costus, with the goal of documenting visitation rates and pollinator assemblages among a variety of habitats. For a subset of species, we documented pollinator visitation for multiple years and/or multiple sites to examine temporal and spatial variation in pollinator relationships. Furthermore, we examined the extent to which specialization in pollination systems can contribute to reproductive isolation for sympatric species. Each species was primarily pollinated by either euglossine bees or hummingbirds. Total visitation rates were generally low, averaging 3.2 visits per flower per hour for bee-pollinated species and 0.5 visits per flower per hour for hummingbird-pollinated species. All of the higher elevation species studied were hummingbird-pollinated, while low elevation species were pollinated either by euglossine bees or hummingbirds. Spatial and temporal variation in visitation rates and pollinator identities was minimal. Pollinator specificity was found to contribute strongly to reproductive isolation for the 11 pairwise combinations of sympatric species differing in pollination syndrome, in some cases functioning as a complete barrier to potential pollen flow.
Knockout of Slo2.2 enhances itch, abolishes KNa current, and increases action potential firing frequency in DRG neurons

Two mammalian genes, Kcnt1 and Kcnt2, encode pore-forming subunits of Na(+)-dependent K(+) (KNa) channels. Progress in understanding KNa channels has been hampered by the absence of specific tools and methods for rigorous KNa identification in native cells. Here, we report the genetic disruption of both Kcnt1 and Kcnt2, confirm the loss of Slo2.2 and Slo2.1 protein, respectively, in KO animals, and define tissues enriched in Slo2 expression. Noting the prevalence of Slo2.2 in dorsal root ganglion, we find that KO of Slo2.2, but not Slo2.1, results in enhanced itch and pain responses. In dissociated small diameter DRG neurons, KO of Slo2.2, but not Slo2.1, abolishes KNa current. Utilizing isolectin B4+ neurons, the absence of KNa current results in an increase in action potential (AP) firing and a decrease in AP threshold. Activation of KNa acts as a brake to initiation of the first depolarization-elicited AP with no discernible effect on afterhyperpolarizations.
Tax Efficiency and Marginal Effective Tax Rates for Capital Income

Standard specification of marginal effective tax rate (METR) as expected pretax minus after-tax rates of return divided by pretax rate of return contains a fundamental flaw rendering the measure useless except in a few special cases. The current study exposes the flaw and introduces an alternative specification robust for a wider class of scenarios. Analysis reveals that asset characteristics such as service life or time-paths of pretax cash flow and economic depreciation are irrelevant to METR. Tax neutrality requires immediately expensing capital investments. Second best policy uses one tax depreciation schedule for all assets irrespective of underlying economic depreciation patterns.
A Hybrid Scheme for the Singular Value Decomposition on a Multiprocessor

We present a hybrid multiprocessor scheme for determining clusters of singular values and corresponding singular vectors of rectangular matrices in which the number of rows is substantially larger or smaller than the number of columns. In this scheme, we perform an initial orthogonal factorization on the tall matrix (either A or A T ) using a multiprocessor block Householder algorithm. A parallel one-sided Jacobi method is then applied to the resulting upper triangular R to reduce the matrix S = R T R to block diagonal form. This is followed by applying either a one-or two-sided Jacobi method to obtain the eigenvalues of these diagonal submatrices (which are the clusters of singular values of A) in parallel. These hybrid methods are well suited for the hierarchical memory architectures of the Alliant FX/8, CEDAR, and CRAY 2. Some initial results on the Alliant FX/8, CRAY X-MP/416, and CRAY 2 are presented along with a comparison in the performance of the classical bi-diagonalization technique used in EISPACK and UNPACK.
Tissue Expander Complications Predict Permanent Implant Complications and Failure of Breast Reconstruction.

BackgroundTwo-stage tissue expander–based breast reconstruction is the most commonly used reconstructive modality following mastectomy. We sought to determine if patients who experienced complications during the expansion phase were at increased risk for complications or reconstructive failure after
Epidemiological Analysis of Emergent Public Health Events in Yiyang City From 2005 to 2007

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of public health emergency in Yiyang City,and to a provide scientific basis for prevention,control and effective disposition of emergent public health events. Methods The network reporting data of public health emergency from 2005 to 2008 were collected to analyze by descriptive epidemiological methods. Results During the period of 2005～2008,there were totally 33 reported emergent public health events in Yiyang,1,365 individuals involved and 4 cases died. The event types were infectious disease outbreak and food poisoning,and there was a morbidity peak in March,June,September,November,and December. Most of the events occurred in rural primary schools and middle schools,and the major victims were the students. Conclusions The emphasis of public health service should be put on strengthening health management in rural areas and schools.
High-sensitivity in situ QCLAS-based ammonia concentration sensor for high-temperature applications

A novel quantum cascade laser (QCL) absorption sensor is presented for high-sensitivity in situ measurements of ammonia ( $$\hbox {NH}_3$$ ) in high-temperature environments, using scanned wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) with first-harmonic-normalized second-harmonic detection (scanned WMS-2f/1f) to neutralize the effect of non-absorption losses in the harsh environment. The sensor utilized the sQ(9,9) transition of the fundamental symmetric stretch band of $$\hbox {NH}_3$$ at $$10.39\,{\upmu }\hbox {m}$$ and was sinusoidally modulated at 10 kHz and scanned across the peak of the absorption feature at 50 Hz, leading to a detection bandwidth of 100 Hz. A novel technique was used to select an optimal WMS modulation depth parameter that reduced the sensor’s sensitivity to spectral interference from $$\hbox {H}_2\hbox {O}$$ and $$\hbox {CO}_2$$ without significantly sacrificing signal-to-noise ratio. The sensor performance was validated by measuring known concentrations of $$\hbox {NH}_3$$ in a flowing gas cell. The sensor was then demonstrated in a laboratory-scale methane-air burner seeded with $$\hbox {NH}_3$$ , achieving a demonstrated detection limit of 2.8 ± 0.26 ppm $$\hbox {NH}_3$$ by mole at a path length of 179 cm, equivalence ratio of 0.6, pressure of 1 atm, and temperatures of up to 600 K.
Getting Better? A Map of Organized Crime in the Western Balkans

Among many stereotypes associated with the Balkans, perhaps the most persistent one is that organized crime and corruption are somehow endemic to the region. Western diplomats and officials routinely mention these problems as the region’s main obstacles on the road towards European integration, even for the countries that have already acquired the coveted membership status. In 2008, Bulgaria’s access to EU funds were blocked because of its failure to contain organized crime — making it the only country in the history of the EU to be sanctioned in this way — and Romania narrowly avoided getting the same treatment. According to the European Commission 2008 progress report,1 all countries of former Yugoslavia, apart from Slovenia, have serious problems tackling organized crime and corruption, including Croatia, the only state in the region with a remote chance of joining the EU in the foreseeable future. Local politicians also like to put fighting organized crime at the top of their priorities, at least in their speeches, although not necessarily in reality.
Classroom, School, and District Impacts on Diverse Student Literacy Achievement.

Background/ContextPrior research has investigated the literacy achievement gap with particular focus on ethnically and linguistically diverse students’ performance. This study extends that research...
E-government in Alabama: An analysis of county voting and election website content, usability, accessibility, and mobile readiness

Abstract Previous scholarship has evaluated the quality and content of state voting and election websites, often finding that states do not provide voters with the type of information and tools they need in a format that is usable and accessible. Although states establish voting and election rules, much of what voters experience on Election Day is determined by the decisions of county election officials. However, limited scholarship has investigated the content and quality of information provided by these individuals. This study analyzes the content and quality of county voting and election websites in Alabama. To evaluate content, a 22 point Election Information Content Score (EICS) is used. Website accessibly, usability, and mobile readiness standard compliance are assessed using a combination of heuristics, automated evaluation tools, and manual inspection. A series of correlations are also presented to evaluate the relationship between EICS and the demographic, socioeconomic, partisan, and participatory composition of a county. The findings suggest that across the state, counties provide limited voting and election information and are not in full compliance with accessibility, usability, and mobile readiness standards. Further, the extent to which voting and elections information is provided, is related to county composition.
55. Aquaporins and CSF Flux Are Critical Determinants of AAV Mediated CNS Gene Transfer

The central nervous system (CNS) lacks conventional lymphatics for solute clearance. Convective currents of interstitial fluid (ISF) shunt macromolecules across the brain parenchyma into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) compartments. Here the cargo is either reabsorbed into CNS via subarachnoid ducts or disseminated into the blood or peripheral lymph vessels. Recent studies have identified that flow of water via aquaporin (AQP) channels at the astroglial endfeet enables exchange of biomaterials between ISF and CSF. Conversely, loss of AQP expression due to aging or disease is correlated with ineffective clearance of neurodegenerative accumulations such as Amyloid β and tau. AAV mediated gene therapy of CNS disorders requires a deeper understanding of such factors and their effects on transduction efficiency and biodistribution/clearance. Here, we demonstrate that AQP mediated water transport dictates various aspects of AAV gene transfer in the CNS. We compared the CNS spread, transduction profile and systemic leakage of clinically relevant AAV vectors in wildtype (WT) or AQP knockout (AQP-/-) mice. Within minutes following intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration, AQP-/- mice exhibited highly restricted spread of fluorophore labeled AAVs when compared to wild type mice. Transgene expression was markedly increased from AAV administrations in AQP-/- mice. Further, systemic leakage and off-target transgene expression in peripheral tissues were markedly reduced for some AAV serotypes in AQP-/- mice when compared to WT mice. These results suggest that AQP-mediated water transport plays a critical role in determining the spread, transduction efficiency and systemic leakage of AAV vectors following CNS administration. We hypothesize that altered CSF flux under conditions pertinent to aging and CNS disease, can impact the residence time of AAV vectors and consequently gene transfer efficiency. Further results evaluating the CNS transport properties of AAV in mouse models of aging and disease will be presented.
Sensing and transmission strategies in wireless cognitive radio systems

Sensing and Transmission Strategies in Wireless Cognitive Radio Systems by Babak Abbasi Bastami The main challenge in any cognitive radio system is to maximize secondary users throughput while limiting interference imposed on licensed users. In this regard, finding the optimal sensing and transmission timing strategies and accurate sensing techniques are of great importance in a cognitive radio network. In this thesis, we study a sensing-transmission scheme for secondary user in a cognitive radio system where the secondary user senses every primary channel independently and transmits a signal for a fixed duration if it finds the channel empty and stays idle for another fixed duration if it senses the channel busy. We obtain optimal idle and transmission durations which maximize access opportunity of the secondary user while keeping the interference ratios on the primary channels below some thresholds. Our results show that unless we have an error free perfect channel sensing, adding the idle duration improves the performance of the system. We also study a cooperative spectrum sensing scheme for cognitive radio systems where each sensor transmits multi-bit quantized information to a fusion center where the decision about the availability or occupancy of the channel is made. We compare
Growth and Survival of Bats

The literature on bat growth and survival is extensive. Nevertheless, few studies have made or permit within or among species comparisons of performance under varied combinations of biological and physiological parameters. In particular, surprisingly few studies have taken advantage of the fact that many species occupy wide ranges of environmental conditions. Growth and survival frequently have been treated as species-specific constants. Such treatment neglects many important determinants of success and likely has inhibited meaningful hypothesis testing and further investigation. Despite these limitations, existing studies demonstrate impressive variation. In fact, available literature indicates that few if any details of growth and survival are constant over time, even for individual colonies within a single species.
Walking the tightrope between racial stereotypes and respectability: images of African American and Native American artists in the golden age of the circus

The golden age of the circus coincided with especially difficult times in African American and Native American history. For African Americans, this era is known as the Nadir, a time of Jim Crow seg...
Retrospective Analysis of Healthcare Resource Utilization (HRU) in Patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in MarketScan® (P3.186)

Objective: To characterize HRU among patients with SMA in claims data. Background: SMA is a debilitating rare, genetic neuromuscular disease. HRU in SMA is high due to increasing muscle weakness and atrophy, with eventual respiratory and nutritional failure. Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with SMA in the Truven Health MarketScan® Databases, which consists of commercial claims (January 2010 – September 2015) and multi-state Medicaid claims (January 2010 – December 2014). Cohort A included patients born after January 2010 with ≥2 diagnoses for SMA (ICD-9: 335.0, 335.1×) ≥31days apart. Cohort B patients had ≥2 diagnoses of SMA ≥31days apart, born prior to 2010, and ≤18years in 2015. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: 3,142 patients had ≥2 claims for SMA ≥31days apart, 314 met inclusion for Cohort A and 916 for Cohort B. COHORT A: Mean age 1.2years, 54% male, average follow-up time 22.7months. 69% had ≥1 inpatient (IP) admission (average 3.1 per patient), mean length of stay (LOS) 13 days, maximum 183 days. 60.2% had ER visits (average 3.7 per patient). Top IP claims were respiratory abnormality (39%), pulmonary collapse (30.3%), respiratory failure (30.3%), and feeding difficulties/management (29%). 54% of patients had claims for suction machines, 44% cough assist, 39% IPPB, and 32% BiPAP/CPAP. COHORT B: Mean age 12years, 50% male, average follow-up time 35.8 months. 47.4% had ≥1 IP admission, average 3.2, mean LOS 8days and maximum 122days. 60.3% had ER visits (average 3.5 per patient). Top IP claims were respiratory abnormality (24.3%), pneumonia (23.8%), pulmonary collapse (19.8%), scoliosis (19%), and respiratory failure (18.2%). 60% of patients had diagnostic codes for scoliosis, and 47% had procedure claims related to scoliosis. Conclusions: HRU in SMA focuses around respiratory support and care, with increasing orthopedic resource use driven by onset and management of scoliosis in older patients. Study Supported by: Funded by Biogen. Disclosure: Dr. Teynor has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen as an employee. Dr. Teynor holds stock/stock options in Biogen. Dr. Zhou has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec. Dr. Zhou has received research support from Biogen Idec. Dr. Hou has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen as an employee. Dr. Wells has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen as an employee. Dr. Hall has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec as an employee. Dr. Hall holds stock and/or stock options in Biogen Idec. Dr. Avendano has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen as an employee. Dr. Avendano holds stock and/or stock options in Biogen.