cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of high-impact targeted trap-neuter-return and adoption of community cats on cat intake to a shelter

ABS T RA C T Approximately 2–3 million cats enter animal shelters annually in the United States. A large proportion of these are unowned community cats that have no one to reclaim them and may be too unsocialized for adoption. More than half of impounded cats are euthanased due to shelter crowding, shelteracquired disease or feral behavior. Trap-neuter-return (TNR), an alternative to shelter impoundment, improves cat welfare and reduces the size of cat colonies, but has been regarded as too impractical to reduce cat populations on a larger scale or to limit shelter cat intake. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of TNR concentrated in a region of historically high cat impoundments in a Florida community. A 2-year program was implemented to capture and neuter at least 50% of the estimated community cats in a single 11.9 km 2 zip code area, followed by return to the neighborhood or adoption. Trends in shelter cat intake from the target zip code were compared to the rest of the county. A total of 2366 cats, representing approximately 54% of the projected community cat population in the targeted area, were captured for the TNR program over the 2-year study period. After 2 years, per capita shelter intake was 3.5-fold higher and per capita shelter euthanasia was 17.5-fold higher in the non-target area than in the target area. Shelter cat impoundment from the target area where 60 cats/ 1000 residents were neutered annually decreased by 66% during the 2-year study period, compared to a decrease of 12% in the non-target area, where only 12 cats/1000 residents were neutered annually. Highimpact TNR combined with the adoption of socialized cats and nuisance resolution counseling for residents is an effective tool for reducing shelter cat intake. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NCND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Waveforms of long-period body waves in a slightly aspherical earth model

Summary Considering the coupling of normal modes of different dispersion branches, we present a formulation for synthesizing waveforms of long-period body waves in a slightly aspherical Earth model. A general asymptotic result, which is valid when angular degrees of modes are much higher than the maximum harmonic degree of lateral heterogeneity, is derived for arbitrary source mechanisms and receiver components. If we restrict the coupling to the modes along a single dispersion branch, this result reduces to the pre-existing theory for surface waves. For body waves, we demonstrate numerically that cross-branch coupling is important to set up the correspondence between normal mode and ray theories. Actually, the coupling of the modes which interfere constructively in the spherically symmetric reference model represents the largest effects of heterogeneity on the waveform of a body wave packet. This would lead to a significant reduction in computation time. Numerical tests show that the formulation is able to bring out the ray character of body waves: only the structural perturbation in the neighbourhood along the geometrical ray affects the seismogram.
T=2 pion-pion scattering

Angular distributions for π−π− scattering have been studied using the reaction π−p→π−π−π+p at 2.26 GeV/c. TheT=2D-wave phase shift is discussed.
Impact of Structure and Composition on the Dealloying of AuxAg(1–x) Alloys on the Nanoscale

This work discusses the impact of structural and compositional factors on the dealloying behavior of different AuxAg(1–x) alloys. It has been found that the dealloying critical potential, Ec, of (111) oriented alloys is systematically more positive than the one for polycrystalline alloys with identical composition. Results also indicate that thin alloy films (thickness of 20–100 nm) exhibit almost identical Ec to the bulk samples, whereas spherical particles (diameters ∼100 nm) feature consistently lower Ec (by about 0.050 to 0.100 V). A trend toward even lower Ec (0.300 to 0.450 V) is illustrated by the dealloying of AuxAg(1–x) nanoparticles (NPs, diameter 10–15 nm). It has been shown for the first time that no dealloying threshold applies to AuxAg(1–x) NPs. Surface area increase has been registered upon dealloying of all samples, except the NPs that exhibit an opposite trend. SEM characterization of dealloyed samples reveals (i) finer structures with increase of the original Au content, (ii) inherent or...
Standard Survey Procedures for the Alfalfa Weevil

In 1964 a subcommittee of the Eastern Branch Survey and Losses Committee, ESA, was established to develop recommendations for a standard survey procedure for the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal). This report was prepared for publication at the request of the National ESA Survey and Losses Committee following acceptance of their recommendations to the Governing Board of the Society at the Philadelphia Meeting in December 1964. To determine current survey procedures and to solicit suggestions for preferred or better methods, questionnaires were sent to 43 workers in 25 States. This group of workers included survey, extension, and research personnel in about equal numbers in most of the States where the weevil is a problem, but primarily consisted of workers in the East. Twenty-four questionnaires were returned, 11 of which were from survey entomologists. These sometimes reflected the opinions of more than one person. Issues of the Cooperative Economic Insect Report (CEIR) were also consulted to determine current methods of reporting.
Patent foramen ovale: echocardiographic evaluation and clinical implications.

inferior vena cava. The eustacian valve, located at the entrance of the inferior vena cava into the right atrium, diverts the blood flow jet towards the fossa ovalis in the center of the interatrial septum. Since at that stage of fetal life the right atrial pressure is higher than the left, the septum primum, which acts like a flap, is displaced toward the left atrium and creates a gap between the septum secundum and the septum primum known as the patent foramen ovale. In late fetal life, blood is shunted from right to left across the PFO. After birth, the left atrial pressure increases and exceeds that of the right atrium. As a result, the septum primum flap moves to a position that closes the patent foramen ovale and this stops the right-to-left shunt. During the first year of life, growth of fibrous tissue seals the communication completely in approximately 75% of individuals. In the remaining 25% or so, the sealing process is incomplete and therefore there is a residual potential interatrial communication – the PFO. In most of these individuals the combination of higher pressure in the left atrium and the overlap of the septum primum over the septum secundum maintains the foramen in a nearly completely closed position. Still, in many of these individuals there may be a small trickle of left-to-right interatrial shunt. However, maneuvers or conditions that increase right atrial pressure or decrease left atrial pressure may result in shifting of the flap toward the left atrium, with wider communication and right-to-left interatrial shunting across the PFO. Clinical significance of PFO PFO is almost always a benign condition. Many hundreds of millions of people have PFO, and the chances of a PFO-related complication are extremely slim. PFO is therefore not considered a condition that requires routine screening, follow-up or treatment. There are, however, two well-known complications associated with PFO: namely, hypoxia and paradoxical
Role of serum albumin in lipemia clearing reaction.

SummaryData are presented to show that purified serum albumin enhances the lipemia clearing reaction, probably by binding the fatty acids produced which, if not removed, are capable of inhibiting the reaction. Evidence that albumin is not the only cofactor in the clearing reaction is presented.
Phenylketonuria and its variants.

Ever since its discovery by Folling 50 years ago (Folling, 1934), phenylketonuria (PKU), like a great teacher, has commanded the attention of a diverse group of devoted students.
Hemispheric dominance underlying the neural substrate for learned vocalizations develops with experience

Many aspects of song learning in songbirds resemble characteristics of speech acquisition in humans. Genetic, anatomical and behavioural parallels have most recently been extended with demonstrated similarities in hemispheric dominance between humans and songbirds: the avian higher order auditory cortex is left-lateralized for processing song memories in juvenile zebra finches that already have formed a memory of their fathers’ song, just like Wernicke’s area in the left hemisphere of the human brain is dominant for speech perception. However, it is unclear if hemispheric specialization is due to pre-existing functional asymmetry or the result of learning itself. Here we show that in juvenile male and female zebra finches that had never heard an adult song before, neuronal activation after initial exposure to a conspecific song is bilateral. Thus, like in humans, hemispheric dominance develops with vocal proficiency. A left-lateralized functional system that develops through auditory-vocal learning may be an evolutionary adaptation that could increase the efficiency of transferring information within one hemisphere, benefiting the production and perception of learned communication signals.
A stress-controlled microfluidic shear viscometer based on smartphone imaging

We report a stress-controlled microfluidic shear viscometer with flow visualization aided by smartphone technology. The method involves driving the fluid into a microchannel at constant pressure and using the smartphone camera to track the fluid front in a glass capillary attached to the microchannel. We find that videos of interface propagation from the smartphone are of sufficient resolution that accurate pressure drop-flow rate relations can be determined to quantify the viscosity curves for complex fluids. We demonstrate that this simple ‘iCapillary’ device measures the shear viscosity of Newtonian and polymeric fluids over a broad range of shear rates (10–10,000 s−1) that is in quantitative agreement with rotational rheometry. We further show that the simplicity of the iCapillary device allows for parallel analysis of viscosity of several samples. We performed multiplexed measurements of concentration dependence of high shear rate viscosity of globular protein solutions, and the results are in good agreement with models of suspension rheology as well as prior experimental data. Our approach is unique, since no on-chip sensing element is required other than the smartphone camera. This sensor-less approach offers the potential to create inexpensive and disposable devices for point-of-care rheology of complex fluids and biological samples.
Fire in Eastern North American Oak Ecosystems: Filling the Gaps

This special issue of Fire Ecology is focused on the fire ecology of eastern USA oak (Quercus L.) forests, woodlands, and savannas. The papers were presented as part of the Fifth Fire in Eastern Oak Forests Conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA, in 2015. The topic of fire in Eastern oak ecosystems is one that has received insufficient interest from the broader fire ecology community. Specific papers in this issue address the historical role of fire in the region, the response and adaptations of plant and animal species to fire and fuels treatments, and the future of these important ecosystems under a future of global change. We hope that this issue provokes future research on the past, present, and future of fire in eastern North American oak ecosystems.
Novel long QT syndrome-associated missense mutation, L762F, in CACNA1C-encoded L-type calcium channel imparts a slower inactivation tau and increased sustained and window current

Abstract Background Mutations in the CACNA1C -encoded L-type calcium channel have been associated with Timothy syndrome (TS) with severe QT prolongation, syndactyly, facial dysmorphisms, developmental delay, and sudden death. Recently, patients hosting CACNA1C mutations with only long QT syndrome (LQTS) have been described. We sought to identify novel variants in CACNA1C associated with either TS or LQTS, and to determine the impact of the mutation on channel function. Methods/results Two probands were identified with mutations in CACNA1C , one with a TS-associated mutation, G406R, and a second with genotype-negative LQTS. Illumina HiSeq 2000 whole exome sequencing on the genotype-negative LQTS proband revealed a novel variant, CACNA1C-L762F, that co-segregated within a multi-generational family. The missense mutation localized to the DII/DIII intracellular interlinker segment of the channel in a highly conserved region in close proximity to the 6th transmembrane segment of domain II (DIIS6). Whole cell patch clamp of heterologously expressed CACNA1C-L762F in TSA201 cells demonstrated slower inactivation tau and increased sustained and window current. Comprehensive review and topological mapping of all described CACNA1C mutations revealed TS-specific hotspots localizing to the cytoplasmic aspect of 6th transmembrane segment of respective domains. Probands hosting TS mutations were associated with elevated QTc, higher prevalence of 2:1 AV block, and a younger age at presentation compared to LQTS. Conclusions The CACNA1C-L762F mutation is associated with development of LQTS through slower channel inactivation and increased sustained and window current. TS-associated mutations localize to specific areas of CACNA1C and are associated with a younger age at presentation, higher QTc, and 2:1 AV block than isolated LQTS-associated mutations.
Thermal Evaporation Sources

The simplest sources for producing vapors of materials may be the thermal sources. These are sources where thermal energy is utilized for producing the vapor of the evaporant material. Even when the energy that is supplied to the evaporant may come from electrons or photons, the vaporizing mechanism may still be thermal in nature. One can employ sources where the vapor pressure is equal to the equilibrium vapor pressure of the evaporant as determined by the temperature of the evaporant source. Most sources are non-equilibrium sources where the vapor pressure is less than the equilibrium value. Thin film deposition sources are the means for bringing about a phase change of a material from the condensed phase to the vapor phase. This chapter presents a simple laboratory system whereby vaporization is achieved by heating the material electrically. However, the equilibrium source is typified by the Knudsen cell source. These sources have been modified for filling practical needs so that deviations from equilibrium occur in these sources also. Electron beam sources have become popular for increasing the rate of deposition and extending the range of materials that can be evaporated. Even in these sources, practical applications demand new approaches, especially to coat such shapes as fibers uniformly.
High resolution microphotonic needle for endoscopic imaging (Conference Presentation)

GRIN (Graded index) lens have revolutionized micro endoscopy enabling deep tissue imaging with high resolution. The challenges of traditional GRIN lenses are their large size (when compared with the field of view) and their limited resolution. This is because of the relatively weak NA in standard graded index lenses. Here we introduce a novel micro-needle platform for endoscopy with much higher resolution than traditional GRIN lenses and a FOV that corresponds to the whole cross section of the needle. The platform is based on polymeric (SU-8) waveguide integrated with a microlens micro fabricated on a silicon substrate using a unique molding process. Due to the high index of refraction of the material the NA of the needle is much higher than traditional GRIN lenses. We tested the probe in a fluorescent dye solution (19.6 µM Alexa Flour 647 solution) and measured a numerical aperture of 0.25, focal length of about 175 µm and minimal spot size of about 1.6 µm. We show that the platform can image a sample with the field of view corresponding to the cross sectional area of the waveguide (80x100 µm2). The waveguide size can in principle be modified to vary size of the imaging field of view. This demonstration, combined with our previous work demonstrating our ability to implant the high NA needle in a live animal, shows that the proposed system can be used for deep tissue imaging with very high resolution and high field of view.
Hurricane Sandy (New Jersey): Mortality Rates in the Following Month and Quarter

Objectives. To describe changes in mortality after Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey on October 29, 2012.Methods. We used electronic death records to describe changes in all-cause and cause-specific mortality overall, in persons aged 76 years or older, and by 3 Sandy impact levels for the month and quarter following Hurricane Sandy compared with the same periods in earlier years adjusted for trends.Results. All-cause mortality increased 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2%, 11%) for the month, 5%, 8%, and 12% by increasing Sandy impact level; and 7% (95% CI = 5%, 10%) for the quarter, 5%, 8%, and 15% by increasing Sandy impact level. In elderly persons, all-cause mortality rates increased 10% (95% CI = 5%, 15%) and 13% (95% CI = 10%, 16%) in the month and quarter, respectively. Deaths that were cardiovascular disease–related increased by 6% in both periods, noninfectious respiratory disease–related by 24% in the quarter, infection-related by 20% in the quarter, and unintentional injury–related ...
P251 Testing HIV and HBV viral load in ffpe transplant biopsies with the cobas ®mpliprep/cobas®taqman®system

Aim Determine if the COBAS® AmpliPrep/COBAS® TaqMan® System (COBAS® System) could be used to quantify viral loads of HIV and HBV in FFPE biopsies using as input sample purified RNA and DNA, respectively. Methods Cell lines containing HIV (CRL-8993 producing multiple non-infective copies of the HIV genome), HBV (CRL-2235 containing the genome of the HBV) and negative (Jurkat Clone E6-1) were used. Formalin treated (fixed) and non-treated cells suspended in SPEX buffer were analyzed in COBAS® System. RNA from non-treated cells was purified using QIAamp RNA Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen). RNA or DNA of fixed cells and FFPE cells were purify in a Maxwell® 16 LEV (Promega) with the corresponding Maxwell® 16 LEV FFPE RNA or DNA extraction kit. RNA and DNA were diluted in SPEX buffer for analysis. Results HIV cp/ml obtained in the COBAS® System with fixed CRL-8993 cells were 100 times lower than with non-treated cells. HIV cp/ml obtained with non-treated cells was similar to counts obtained with RNA from the same number of cells. Fixed cells RNA gave about half the cp/ml obtained by non-treated cells RNA. The drop was due to lower fixed cells RNA recovery, as adjusted values to cp/ng of RNA added showed no difference between fixed and non-treated cells. FFPE cells were prepared from dilution series of CRL-8993 into jurkat cells, maintaining a constant cellular density. The cp/ml and cp/μg of RNA obtained with RNA from FFPE curls of each cellular dilution showed high degree of correlation with the number of FFPE CRL-8993 cells. Quantitation of HBV was possible in CRL-2235 cells suspended in SPEX buffer. However, the same was not achieved in fixed cells. Quantitation of HBV in DNA from fixed and non-treated cells was very similar, with superimpose best fit equations. Conclusions The COBAS® System can be used in the clinical laboratory to quantitate HIV and HBV in purified RNA and DNA from FFPE samples, respectively. There was no detectable loss of input RNA. This was not directly tested for DNA. It was revealed that the origin of nucleic acid was not a factor in the test as long as the appropriate purification method was applied. The methodology of this study could be extended to quantify HIV and HBV in RNA and DNA from fresh tissue biopsies. The procedure can be extended to other RNA and DNA viruses like HCV and CMV, respectively, for which kits are available.
Adjuvanting an inactivated influenza vaccine with conjugated R848 improves the level of antibody present at 6 months in a nonhuman primate neonate model

Generation of a potent antibody response that can be sustained over time is highly challenging in young infants. Our previous studies using a nursery-reared nonhuman primate model identified R848 conjugated to inactivated influenza virus as a highly immunogenic vaccine for neonates. Here we determined the effectiveness of this vaccine in mother-reared infants as well as its ability to promote improved responses at 6 months compared to vaccination in the absence of R848. In agreement with our nursery study, R848 conjugated to influenza virus induced a higher antibody response in neonates compared to the non-adjuvanted vaccine. Further, the increase in the response relative to that induced by the non-adjuvanted vaccine was maintained at 6 months suggesting the increased antibody secreting cells that resulted from inclusion of conjugated R848 production were capable of surviving long term. There was no significant difference in quality of antibody (i.e. neutralization or affinity), suggesting the beneficial effect of conjugated R848 during vaccination of neonates with inactivated influenza virus is likely manifest during the early generation of antibody secreting cells.
Provider Agreement in the Assessment of Glaucoma Progression Within a Team Model.

PURPOSE Glaucoma specialists and optometrists who work in a team model at a single institution utilize a common definition of glaucoma progression and treatment algorithm. The purpose of this study was to assess the consistency of agreement in identifying glaucoma progression among glaucoma specialists and optometrists of 1 team. METHODS In total, 399 eyes of 200 patients age 18 or older with glaucoma were enrolled over 2 years. Clinical data, disc photographs, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and visual fields were independently reviewed by 2 masked optometrists and 2 masked fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists. Each eye was judged as progression or no progression of glaucomatous disease. The following were assessed: (1) agreement among optometrists; (2) agreement among glaucoma specialists; and (3) agreement among optometrists and glaucoma specialists. The frequency of use of testing modality to determine progression was also studied. κ statistics were used to evaluate agreements. RESULTS Optometrists agreed with each other for 74.2% of the eyes assessed (κ=0.42), whereas glaucoma specialists agreed with each other for 78.7% of eyes (κ=0.39). All 4 providers agreed with each other for 54.4% of the eyes evaluated (κ=0.37). Providers had the highest agreement when the progression decision was based on disc hemorrhage (92%) and the lowest agreement when based on OCT progression analysis (36%). Compared with optometrists, glaucoma specialists used OCT (P≤0.01) more frequently to determine disease progression. CONCLUSIONS Fair to moderate agreement levels were found among providers in their assessment of glaucoma progression, suggesting that a team approach to glaucoma management may be effective. Further work is needed to investigate ways to optimize consistency within the glaucoma team.
Insights into human cooperation from comparative economics.

Many species face the problems of how, when and with whom to cooperate. Comparing responses across species can reveal the evolutionary trajectory of these decisions, including in humans. Using nearly identical economic game methods to compare species could identify the evolutionary constraints and catalysts to cooperation.
Ontological Implications of Modeling and Simulation in Postmodernity

Models and simulations are immediately obfuscated by being what they are, abstract representations of reality. With reductionist parameters and defined algorithms, models and simulations obtain a definitiveness lacking in the reality they explain. Increased computational power has enabled the production of complex representations. This increased complexity makes understanding what is happening “behind the scenes” almost entirely unintelligible to consumers. At the same time, advancements in Animation enable practitioners to present the results at almost movie-like levels of production. This subtly transforms the ontological status of the results, making them appear as something one should view rather than something about which one should think. What happens when producers and consumers of models and simulations lose the self-certainty associated with their project? Such a situation calls into question the performative aspects of both groups’ maneuvers. We situate the locus of this discussion around the notion of validity. Once considered essential, the quest for validity perhaps increasingly reveals a form of existential absurdity and, in a nihilistic twist of postmodern thought, the radical devaluation of one of the ideals of the philosophy of science.
A Commensal Dipeptidyl Aminopeptidase with Specificity for N-Terminal Glycine Degrades Human-Produced Antimicrobial Peptides in Vitro.

Proteases within the C1B hydrolase family are encoded by many organisms. We subjected a putative C1B-like cysteine protease secreted by the human gut commensal Parabacteroides distasonis to mass sp...
On the Chaotic Dynamics Associated with the Center Manifold Equations of Double-Diffusive Convection Near a Codimension-Four Bifurcation Point at Moderate Thermal Rayleigh Number

We analyze the dynamics of the Poincare map associated with the center manifold equations of double-diffusive thermosolutal convection near a codimension-four bifurcation point when the values of t...
Muslin Granuloma Mimicking Parenchymal Hematoma in Patient with Seizures 30 Years After Aneurysm Wrapping

Muslin foreign body granulomas are a known complication of muslin aneurysm wrapping and have been associated with vision loss from optochiasmatic arachnoiditis. Muslin granulomas have also been confused with abscesses due to surrounding inflammatory changes. In this clinical image, we present a unique case of a muslin granuloma mimicking an intraparenchymal hematoma.
Quantification of discrete behavioral components of the MDS-UPDRS.

Abstract Introduction The Movement Disorder Society’s Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) is the current gold standard means of assessing disease state in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective measures in the form of wearable sensors have the potential to improve our ability to monitor symptomology in PD, but numerous methodological challenges remain, including integration into the MDS-UPDRS. We applied a structured video coding scheme to temporally quantify clinical, scripted, motor tasks in the MDS-UPDRS for the alignment and integration of objective measures collected in parallel. Methods 25 PD subjects completed two video-recorded MDS-UPDRS administrations. Visual cues of task performance reliably identifiable in video recordings were used to construct a structured video coding scheme. Postural transitions were also defined and coded. Videos were independently coded by two trained non-expert coders and a third expert coder to derive indices of inter-rater agreement. Results 50 videos of MDS-UPDRS performance were fully coded. Non-expert coders achieved a high level of agreement (Cohen’s κ > 0.8) on all postural transitions and scripted motor tasks except for Postural Stability (κ = 0.617); this level of agreement was largely maintained even when more stringent thresholds for agreement were applied. Durations coded by non-expert coders and expert coders were significantly different (p Conclusions Non-expert coders consistently and accurately quantified discrete behavioral components of the MDS-UPDRS using a structured video coding scheme; this represents a novel, promising approach for integrating objective and clinical measures into unified, longitudinal datasets.
Quantification of lutein + zeaxanthin presence in human placenta and correlations with blood levels and maternal dietary intake.

Lutein + zeaxanthin (L + Z) are carotenoids recognized in eye health, but less is known about their status during pregnancy. While quantified in maternal and umbilical cord blood, they have never been analyzed in placenta. The purpose of this study is to quantify combined L + Z concentrations in human placenta and correlate with levels in maternal dietary intake, maternal serum, and umbilical cord blood. The proportions of combined L + Z were compared within diet, placenta, maternal serum, and umbilical cord blood among additional carotenoids (lycopene, β-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and β-carotene). This Institutional Review Boardapproved cross-sectional study enrolled 82 mother-infant pairs. Placenta, maternal serum, and umbilical cord blood samples were analyzed for carotenoids concentrations. Mothers completed a food frequency questionnaire and demographic/birth outcome data were collected. L + Z were present in placenta, median 0.105 micrograms/gram (mcg/g) and were significantly correlated with maternal serum (r = 0.57; p < 0.001), umbilical cord blood levels (r = 0.49; p = 0.001), but not dietary intake (p = 0.110). L + Z were the most prevalent in placenta (49.1%) umbilical cord blood (37.0%), but not maternal serum (18.6%) or dietary intake (19.4%). Rate of transfer was 16.0%, the highest of all carotenoids. Conclusively, L + Z were identified as the two most prevalent in placenta. Results highlight unique roles L + Z may play during pregnancy.
1 Behavioral Genetics

Genetics can be used as a tool in the study of behavior in three ways. In the context of evolution, genetics can aid in defining natural units of behavior, analyzing the underlying biological mechanisms of behavior, and identifying the effects of environmental and experiential variables on behavior. Behaviors considered include emotionality, olfaction, social recognition, aggression, stress, parenting, and cognition in rodents, as well as personality, aggression, antisocial behavior, and psychopathology in humans. The subjects for and methods of behavioral genetics are also reviewed as background to the substantive sections of this chapter. Keywords: genetics; QTLs; knockouts; transgenics; knock downs; gene chips; gene expression; olfaction; social recognition; emotionality; aggression; parenting; cognition; stress; personality; psychopathology; genotype by genotype interaction; genotype by environment interaction; epigenetics; MOE; VNO; OT; OTR; ER-α; ER-β; MAOA; 5HTT; COMT; CHRM2; mice; rodents; humans
Divergent patterns of loss of interpersonal warmth in frontotemporal dementia syndromes are predicted by altered intrinsic network connectivity.

Loss of warmth is well-documented in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) at a group level, and has been linked to salience (SN) and semantic-appraisal (SAN) network atrophy. However, clinical observations of individual patients show much greater heterogeneity, thus measuring this clinical variability and identifying the underlying neurologic mechanisms is a critical step for understanding the symptom profile of any one patient. We used reliable change indexes with premorbid and current informant-based evaluations to characterize patterns of change on the warmth subscale of the Interpersonal Adjective Scale (IAS) questionnaire in 132 patients (21 bvFTD, 19 svPPA, 22 nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia [nfvPPA], 37 Alzheimer's disease [AD]) and 33 healthy older adults. We investigated whether individual differences in warmth change were reflected in SN or SAN functional connectivity, or structural volume of individual brain regions in these two networks. Though one subset of patients showed significant drop in warmth to abnormally low levels (bvFTD: 38%; svPPA: 21%; nfvPPA: 5%; AD: 11%), a second subset significantly dropped but remained within the clinically normal range (bvFTD: 33%; svPPA: 21%; nfvPPA: 9%; AD: 5%), and a third subset did not drop and stayed in the clinically normal range (bvFTD: 29%; svPPA: 58%; nfvPPA: 86%; AD: 84%). Furthermore, interpersonal warmth score was strongly predicted by SN functional connectivity (p < .01), but not by SAN functional connectivity or by structural volume in these networks. Our results extend earlier group-level findings by showing wide individual variability in degree of disease-related reduction of interpersonal warmth and SN functional connectivity in bvFTD and svPPA, and highlight new approaches to revealing how brain connectivity predicts behavior on an individual patient level. Our findings suggest that measures of interpersonal warmth can provide important clinical information about changes in underlying brain networks, and help clinicians and clinical researchers better identify which bvFTD and svPPA patients are at greater risk for interpersonal disruption.
Digital Storytelling Viewed though a Post-process Lens: Reflections from the Fulbright-Hays 2010 China Seminar

Post-process theory asserts that writing is public, interpretive, and situated and considers the larger social and political forces that affect a writer. Writing is viewed as a cultural activity by which writers position and reposition themselves in relation to their own and others’ subjectivities, discourses, practices, and institutions. Digital storytelling shifts writing from private to public. This qualitative study investigates the process of constructing and publically sharing digital stories by teachers who participated in the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad 2010 China Seminar. The digital stories from the China Seminar were examined using Bradley’s (1995) three-level framework for evaluating levels of reflection. Raters ranked the digital stories, focusing particularly on the evidence of insights about China and Chinese culture, indications of multiple perspectives, and suggestions of new meaning derived from the reflective process. Links to examples of narrative stories at each stage of reflection are in the paper, which uses postmodern and narrative theory to consider narrative representation as it relates to self-construction and revealing self.
Dimensions of Use: From Determinism to a New Humanism

Dimension”the measure of extent”is the technical means and manifestation of human use embedded in architecture. Beginning in the enlightenment historic, proportional relationships between humans and architectural dimension evolved into precise measurements, becoming by the modern era indicators of efficiency, performance, and standardization. Today, the architectural dimension has become deterministic; driven by stringent codes, standards, and benchmarks tied to building program. Divorced from their originating logics and consequences on human occupation, the dimensional standards and requirements abstract people into loads or clearances: separating buildings from human experience and use. Examining dimension's entanglement with practice and technology to provide shelter for human use illuminates the ways architecture has been thought about and the ways it is used over time. By tracing the changing concepts, metrics, standards, and technologies of architectural measurement, this article reveals the sometimes overlooked or disconnected values and considerations of use in the theory of architectural technology. This research points towards critical approaches to design based on human use, reframing building performance towards an architectural dimension of inhabitation; one that avoids standardization and reasserts human users as the measure of building.
California's success in the socio-ecological practice of a forest carbon offset credit option to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions

The mitigation of climate change through the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions has become a central goal of international policy. An estimated 27 cap-and-trade programs to reduce carbon emissions exist worldwide. But only a small number of them use a forest carbon offset credit option. In 2012, California created a forest carbon offset credit option as part of its greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. The offset credits have come primarily from US forests that meet requirements for additional, verifiable increases in carbon storage through improved forest management. California, with the help of its cap-and-trade program and modest carbon offset option, has met its initial goal for lower carbon emissions. This case study reveals a gap in socio-ecological practice research on a forest carbon offset credit option by identifying seven measures of success. These seven measures show how a forest carbon offset credit option can enhance a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Countries and regions that are using or contemplating the use of a forest carbon offset credit option can employ these seven measures to design, evaluate, or upgrade their forest carbon offset programs.
Assessment of corticospinal tract dysfunction and disease severity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (P5.076)

Objective: Upper motor neuron dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was quantified using triple stimulation (TST) and more focal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques that were developed to reduce recording variability. These measurements were combined with clinical and neurophysiological data to develop a novel supervised machine-learning (ML) prediction model. Background: ALS is a progressively fatal neuro-degenerative condition. It is associated with differential involvement of upper motor neuron (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) pathways. To better understand differential impact of UMN-LMN components on disease related disability and mortality, objective quantification of different components in ALS disease process is needed. TMS measurements are useful for measuring UMN involvement, but, there is inherent variability associated with most commonly used TMS parameters. A simplified set of TMS parameters, easier to interpret would have better utility in a clinical setting. Design/Methods: Approval was obtained from an institutional review board. 38 subjects with clinical features and diagnosis consistent with motor neuron disease (MND) were included in this study. There were no re-imbursements for participating in this study. We independently recorded ALSFRSr, AALS and MQoLSiS for disease severity, along with raw measurement values that constituted AALS. We developed computational models to compare induced electric (E) field distributions generated by two different TMS coils: 1) circular coil (MagVenture C-100) and 2) the MagPro R-30 stimulator with MC-B70 figure-of-eight coil. Motor-evoked-potential (MEP) amplitude, central motor conduction time (CMCT), TST amplitude ratio (rAmp) and TST area ratio (rArea) and motor-threshold (MT) estimation were recorded using TMS. Results: Conclusions: Significantly, the random forest based supervised ML model was capable of predicting disease severity with an overall accuracy of >97% and a precision of >99%. Disclosure: Dr. Remanan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Sukhotskiy has nothing to disclose. Dr. Shahbazi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Furlani has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lange has received personal compensation for activities with Genzyme as a consultant.
Metabolic response of vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) to acid mine drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a sulfuric discharge containing metals and particulates that can spread to nearby water sources, imposing toxicity and physical stress to living things. We have shown that vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is capable of tolerating and treating AMD-impacted water from the abandoned Tab-Simco mining site from southern Illinois, though little is known about its tolerance mechanisms. We conducted metabolomic analyses of vetiver shoots and roots after relatively short- and long-term periods of exposure to Tab-Simco AMD. The metabolic shift of vetiver shoots was dramatic with longer-term AMD exposure, including upregulation of amino acid and glutathione metabolism, cellular respiration and photosynthesis pathways, with downregulation of phosphorylated metabolites. Meanwhile, the roots demonstrated drastic downregulation of phospholipids and phosphorylated metabolites, cellular respiration, glyoxylate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Vetiver accumulated ornithine and oxaloacetate in the shoots, which could function for nitrogen storage and various intracellular functions, respectively. Organic acids and glutathione were secreted from the roots for rhizospheric metal-chelation, whereas phosphorylated metabolites were recycled for phosphorus. These findings reveal AMD-induced metabolic shifts in vetiver grass, which are seemingly unique in comparison to independent abiotic stresses reported previously.
Measurements of oxygen transport in single capillaries.

Most oxygen is tranported to tissue cells across the walls of capillaries. The thin barrier between blood and the interstitial space and the relatively long contact time of blood within the capillary make diffusional oxygen exchange an effective process. Since most oxygen is carried in reversible combination with. hemoglobin inside the red cells (RBC), erythrocytes play a dominant role in any description of oxygen transport at the capillary level. The rate at which oxygen is delivered to a capillary is equal to the number of red cells entering the capillary per unit time (RBC flux) times the oxygen content per red cell. The amount of oxygen removed from an RBC as it traverses a capillary depends upon the radial gradient in oxygen partial pressure (PO2), the RBC flux and length of the capillary. The radial gradient in PO2 at the capillary wall is determined by tissue oxygen consumption, diffusion coefficient and solubility. In addition, the neighboring capillaries can influence the PO2 distribution in tissue.
Deploying Water Treatment Energy Flexibility in Power Distribution Systems Operation

As the global demand for freshwater resources continues to grow at a fast pace, energy costs associated with treating and distributing water in urban areas are projected to increase. A promising solution to enhance the efficiency and reduce these costs is to coordinate the operation of water systems with power distribution systems operation. In this paper, we propose an optimization framework which integrates the energy flexibility of water treatment, desalination and distribution systems in power distribution systems operation. In the proposed framework, a water distribution system operator (W-DSO) co-optimizes the operation of variable speed pumps and water storage tanks in water treatment, desalination and distribution systems for minimizing its daily energy costs, given the expected water demand and energy tariffs. The optimized energy flexibility of W - DSO is then incorporated in the operation of power distribution systems. The proposed framework takes into account the operational constraints of both power and water distribution networks, thus co-optimizing their operation without endangering the reliable supply of power and water to customers. Simulation results demonstrate the merits of the proposed model in enhancing the economic efficiency of the test 15-node water network supplied by a 33-bus power distribution system.
To Trach or Not to Trach: Is A Trial of Extubation Necessary?

Introduction: When previously healthy children experience sudden catastrophic illness, families can have difficulty understanding what life would be like for a child dependent on technology, such as a tracheostomy tube. Sometimes families are resistant to medically indicated procedures, wanting their child to have every opportunity to prove themselves. Families may want a trial of extubation despite the medical team’s confidence the child will fail. We present a case of family-driven extubation trial. Case Description: A 21 month old male with a history of subglottic stenosis presented with …
Teaching user-friendly web design: A case study on Zillow.com in the real estate industry:

When designing websites and planning marketing concepts, students need to understand how to create an experience that is user-friendly in order to build traffic over time. Users want a website that...
Rethinking Social Inquiry: Diverse Tools, Shared Standards

With innovative new chapters on process tracing, regression analysis, and natural experiments, the second edition of Rethinking Social Inquiry further extends the reach of this path-breaking book. The original debate with King, Keohane, and Verba remains central to the volume, and the new material illuminates evolving discussions of essential methodological tools. Thus, process tracing is often invoked as fundamental to qualitative analysis, but is rarely applied with precision. Pitfalls of regression analysis are sometimes noted, but often are inadequately examined. And the complex assumptions and trade-offs of natural experiments are poorly understood. The second edition extends the methodological horizon through exploring these critical tools. A distinctive feature of this edition is the online placement of four chapters from the prior edition, all focused on the dialogue with King, Keohane, and Verba. Also posted online are exercises for teaching process tracing and understanding process tracing.
Exploring the influence of urban context on building energy retrofit performance: A hybrid simulation and data-driven approach

Abstract Cities are an integral part to meeting the world's sustainable energy goals. Specifically, retrofits have been implemented to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions in the buildings sector. Recent simulation, reduced-order, and data-driven approaches have been used to predict the current energy consumption of urban buildings. However, these efforts are limited in their ability to evaluate potential impacts of future retrofits as they are unable to account for inter-building energy interactions that can influence urban building energy performance. To overcome these limitations, we extend a previously developed hybrid data-driven urban energy simulation (DUE-S) model that leverages building energy simulations and deep learning models by now predicting the impact of various building energy retrofits on multiple spatiotemporal scales across a city. We evaluate this approach on a case study of 29 densely co-located buildings in downtown Sacramento, California, USA. Our results indicate that accounting for urban context can compound the impact of retrofits on individual buildings by up to 7.4% as they also influence the electricity use of their surroundings. Finally, we show how DUE-S can provide insights on how to select buildings for retrofit that captures a potential compounding energy savings effect. We develop a greedy optimization algorithm that minimizes the number of required retrofits needed to achieve maximal energy savings across an urban study area. As a result, this work underscores how a flexible urban energy prediction model such as DUE-S can help inform energy-related decisions for a variety of urban-minded stakeholders including architects, engineers, planners, and policymakers.