cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of water troughs on cattle use of riparian zones in the Georgia Piedmont in the United States.

Cattle use of riparian areas may lead to stream water contamination with nutrients, pathogens, and sediments. Providing alternative water away from the stream may reduce the amount of time cattle spend near streams and therefore reduce contamination. We conducted this study to 1) evaluate the effect of provid- ing water troughs outside of the riparian zones on the amount of time cattle spend in riparian zones, and 2) evaluate if environmental factors such as temperature and humidity affect the impact of water trough avail- ability on the amount of time cattle spend within ripar- ian and nonriparian locations. Global positioning sys- tem (GPS) collars were used to document cow locations every 5 min in 2 mixed tall fescue/common bermuda- grass pastures of the Georgia Piedmont in the United States. We found that when the temperature and hu- midity index (THI) ranged between 62 and 72, provid- ing cattle with water troughs outside of riparian zones tended to decrease time cattle spent in riparian zones by 63% (52 min·d −1 ; P = 0.11) . When THI ranged between 72 and 84, nonriparian water availability did not have a significant impact on the amount of time cattle spent in the riparian zone or in riparian shade. These results suggest that water troughs placed away from unfenced streams may improve water quality by reducing the amount of time cattle spend in riparian zones when environmental conditions as evaluated by THI are not stressful.
Regioselective synthesis of multiply halogenated azaxanthones

Four multiply halogenated azaxanthones 3, 4b, 5, and 6 were synthesized as novel core building blocks of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitors. Each of these heterocycles requires a specific synthetic strategy to control not only the aza-positions, but also the regiochemistry of the fully differentiated and highly reactive halogen substituents.
A Relentless Spinozism: Deleuze's Encounter with Beckett

If I begin by stating that this paper will focus on the encounter between Gilles Deleuze and Samuel Beckett, that is, if I suggest that the nature of Deleuze’s engagement with Beckett took, and continues to take, the form of an encounter, this is in part because the notion of the encounter in Deleuze’s work has still not received the attention it deserves. 2 Most frequently discussed are notions of becoming, planes of immanence, or lines of flight—notions of flux, we might say, rather than those of articula tion or delimitation. Yet the articulating concept of the encounter may be singularly more characteristic of Deleuze’s thought than any other, if at the very least because it is characteristic of what thought is for Deleuze, in general. Every encounter produces effects in two directions: in one, in the direction of sensation, because what is encountered always takes the form of a sensible sign. Hence Deleuze claims that the “primary characteristic” of the encounter is that “it can only be sensed” [“il ne peut etre que senti] (Difference and Repetition 139/182fr.). In the other direction, it poses a problem, a problem that can only be thought, and that transmits to thought an irrevocable necessity. The sensible encounter, in short, is nothing less than the condition of thought. This is not to say that thought is occasioned by a body or material object, because objects as such have already been constituted as objects of recognition for subjects. Rather, it is to assert the necessity of sensation to the exercise of thought, as Deleuze makes clear in his central chapter of Difference and Repetition, “The Image of Thought” (144). What is encountered is not an object but a difference in sensation, one that wounds or strains existing categories of sense perception, and that transmits a shock to thought because it disrupts thought’s ready concepts, determining instead a mutation in thought (Zourabichvili 38). The primacy of the encounter as the condition of thought means that thought has a constitutive and positive relation to what it has not yet thought or been able to think: to what bites and scratches, to what it will drag, kicking and screaming, into thought. The encounter is not the beginning of thought but thought’s genetic middle point; it is thought’s confrontation with its own limit, which in turn
Evidence for shallow isostatic compensation of the southern Rocky Mountains from Rayleigh wave tomography

In the past decade, seismologists have found that the topography in Colorado correlates with seismic velocities in the upper mantle, not with crustal thickness, and postulated that isostatic compensation of the southern Rocky Mountains takes place largely in the mantle. To test the validity of this hypothesis, we use Rayleigh wave phase and amplitude data recorded in the Rocky Mountain Front PASSCAL Experiment to obtain crustal thickness and shear-wave structure in the crust and upper mantle. The thickest crust in the model is beneath one of the two most elevated regions, the San Juan volcanic field. The other most elevated region in central Colorado, the Sawatch Range, is underlain by crust of anomalously low velocity. The seismically defined mantle lithosphere is thicker beneath the Great Plains than beneath the Colorado Plateau and is largely absent beneath the southern Rocky Mountains, but the correlation of topography with mantle velocities is weaker than the correlation with crustal anomalies. We construct a model that matches the observed Bouguer gravity anomaly primarily with variations in crustal thickness and density by assuming that density anomalies are proportional to the observed velocity anomalies. The anomalous mantle may also contribute to maintaining regional isostasy in Colorado, but its contribution may be much less important than the crust.
Amperometric biosensors based on carbon paste electrodes modified with nanostructured mixed-valence manganese oxides and glucose oxidase

Nanostructured, multivalent, manganese-oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS), including cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides, were synthesized and evaluated for chemical sensing and biosensing at low operating potential. Both cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides are nanofibrous crystals with subnanometer open tunnels that provide a unique property for sensing applications. The electrochemical and electrocatalytic performance of OMS for the oxidation of H2O2 have been compared. Both cryptomelane-type manganese oxides and todorokite-type manganese oxides can be used to fabricate sensitive H2O2 sensors. With glucose oxidase (GOx) as an enzyme model, amperometric glucose biosensors are constructed by bulk modification of carbon paste electrodes with GOx as a biocomponent and nanostructured OMS as a mediator. A Nafion thin film was applied as an immobilization/encapsulation and protective layer. The biosensors were evaluated as an amperometric glucose detector at phosphate buffer solution with a pH 7.4 at an operating potential of 0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The biosensor is characterized by a well-reproducible amperometric response, linear signal-to-glucose concentration range up to 3.5 mmol/L and 1.75 mmol/L, and detection limits (S/N = 3) of 0.1 mmol/L and 0.05 mmol/L for todorokite-type manganese oxide and cryptomelane-type manganese oxide–modified electrodes, respectively. The biosensors based on OMS exhibit considerable good reproducibility and stability, and the construction and renewal are simple and inexpensive.
Work in progress: teaching the art of learning in engineering education

With new technological breakthroughs occurring related to engineering almost daily, it is getting harder and harder to cover all the "essential" material in a four year degree. Some engineers feel we should be sticking to the fundamentals while others think we should be exposing the students to all the leading edge technology. Another response to this information explosion has been that many educators are examining the concept of teaching learning through various engineering concepts. The idea stems from the concept that if we teach the students how to learn for themselves they will be much better prepared for the lifetime of learning that awaits them, especially with respect to complicated new engineering concepts.
Induction of Immunologic Tolerance for Transplantation

Rossini, Aldo A., Dale L. Greiner, and John P. Mordes. Induction of Immunologic Tolerance for Transplantation. Physiol. Rev. 79: 99–141, 1999. — In the second half of the 20th century, the transpla...
A Clinical Decision Rule Identifies Risk Factors Associated With Antimicrobial-Resistant Urinary Pathogens in the Emergency Department A Retrospective Validation Study

Background: Identifying patients at high risk for multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs) is important for guiding empirical antimicrobial therapy. Clinical risk factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant urinary pathogens and the derivation of a simple clinical decision rule could help define health care–associated UTI. Objective: To derive a simple clinical decision rule to identify clinical risk factors associated with antimicrobial-resistant urinary pathogens. Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study of all emergency department (ED) patients from July 1, 2011, to July 1, 2012, who presented to the ED with UTI and a positive urine culture. Candidate risk factors were collected retrospectively from medical record review. We compared differences in patient characteristics stratified by the presence of an antimicrobial-resistant urinary pathogen. Results: A total of 360 patients with UTI had a positive, noncontaminated urine culture during the study period. About 6.7% of patie...
Free radical enhancer xenobiotic is an inducer of cataract in rabbit.

Free radical enhancers, diquat, paraquat, plumbagin and juglone were used to study the oxy radical-induced damage to the rabbit lens in vitro and in vivo. Each compound caused a 6–8 fold increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and a 30–55% decrease in reduced glutathione of the lens in vim. These peroxidative and oxidative changes were potentiated in the presence of 100% 0., abolished by N, and prevented by desferal-Mn (III) (DF-Mn) or liposomal superoxide dismutase (LSOD) indicating the involvement of O2−.Diquat injected intravitreally as a single dose (300nmole in 30μl of isotonic saline) in the right eye of a 5-wk-old Dutch belted rabbit, induced early cataract after 24–72h. The lens of the contralateral control eye injected with isotonic saline had no change. In the right eye, O2,− and OH -productions were significantly (P < 0.01) higher; O2-, was about 16 fold higher in the aqueous humor and vitreous humor, and 5 fold in the lens and retina, and OH. was 35 fold higher in the aqueous humor, 2 fold in vitreo...
Human impacts, disease risk, and population dynamics in the chimpanzees of Gombe National Park, Tanzania.

The introduction of new diseases can havedevastating effects. For example, Eurasian diseasessuch as smallpox and measles killed millions ofNative Americans following the Spanish conquest[Crosby, 1972; Diamond, 1997; McNeill, 1977]. Agrave concern facing primatologists is that byhabituating primates to human presence for closeobservation, we have created frequent and variedopportunities to expose primates to new diseaseagents. However, it is clear that disease is not theonly factor in the complex relationship betweenhumans and nonhuman primates. The recent articleby Ko¨ndgen et al. [2008] has a twofold message:human presence in the form of research and tourismprotects chimpanzees from poaching and humandiseases from the same researchers and touristsendanger them. The question is how to proceed withthese activities in a way that maximizes survival ofthe primates being studied, visited, and managed bypeople. A ﬁrst step is to examine the situation inseveral different study sites to review the common-alities and differences. Are the beneﬁts and costs ofhuman activities the same at all sites or do they varywith the particulars of the sites? Here we report onthe experience from Gombe, the longest chimpanzeeﬁeld study.The chimpanzee population of Gombe in Tanza-nia lives at the easternmost edge of the entirechimpanzee range where the mountainous habitatsupports a mosaic of riverine forest and woodland,giving way to drier miombo woodland in the east.Particularly fertile areas of evergreen forest occur inthe valleys sandwiched between the eastern edge ofLake Tanganyika and the rift escarpment that risesfrom the lakeshore (770m.a.s.l.) to a ridge of peaks inthe east (1,300–1,600m.a.s.l.), which parallel thelake. In the 1940s, the British government estab-lished the small Gombe Stream Game Reserve in aremnant of forest and woodland located 15–30kmnorth of Kigoma town to protect the chimpanzeesand their habitat from deforestation by the rapidlygrowing human population [Moreau, 1945]. Thereserve formed the basis for the current GombeNational Park, a narrow strip of land between LakeTanganyika and the rift escarpment of 35km
3-D field computation: the near-triumph of commercial codes

In recent years, more and more of those who design and analyze magnets and other devices are using commercial codes rather than developing their own. This paper considers the commercial codes and the features available with them. Other recent trends with 3-D field computation include parallel computation and visualization methods such as virtual reality systems.
Online experiences: flow theory, measuring online customer experience in e-commerce and managerial implications for the lodging industry.

The past decade has perceived a significant development of various Internet technologies including HTML5, Ajax, landing pages, CSS3, social media and SEO to name a few. New web technologies provide opportunities for e-commerce companies to enhance the shopping experiences of their customers. This article focuses the phenomenon of online experiences from a services marketing aspect by concentrating online hotel booking. Successful lodging management strategies have been associated with the creation of experience, which in turn leads to fruitful performance outcomes such as superior financial performance, enhanced brand image, customer loyalty, positive word of mouth and customer satisfaction. E-commerce researchers and practitioners also focus on the phenomenon of online customer experiences. Plentiful of previous studies investigated the precursors and consequences of positive online customer experiences by utilizing various marketing and Information Systems theories, and it was found that online customer experience has numerous positive outcomes for e-commerce companies. This study analyses the previous studies on customer experiences by utilizing flow theory and develops a conceptual framework of customer experiences. Later it proposes and tests a measurement model for online customer experiences. Our findings indicate that for successful e-commerce practices, online shoppers need to reach a state of mind where they engage with the website with total involvement, concentration and enjoyment. The traditional approaches to attract customers in brick-and-mortar commerce are not applicable in online contexts. Therefore, interaction, participation, co-creation, immersion, engagement and emotional hooks are important in e-commerce. Managerial and theoretical implications of positive online customer experiences were discussed.
A Drosophila Protease Cascade Member, Seminal Metalloprotease-1, Is Activated Stepwise by Male Factors and Requires Female Factors for Full Activity

Females and males of sexually reproducing animals must cooperate at the molecular and cellular level for fertilization to succeed, even though some aspects of reproductive molecular biology appear to involve antagonistic interactions. We previously reported the existence of a proteolytic cascade in Drosophila melanogaster seminal fluid that is initiated in the male and ends in the female. This proteolytic cascade, which processes at least two seminal fluid proteins (Sfps), is a useful model for understanding the regulation of Sfp activities, including proteolysis cascades in mammals. Here, we investigated the activation mechanism of the downstream protease in the cascade, the astacin-family metalloprotease Seminal metalloprotease-1 (Semp1, CG11864), focusing on the relative contribution of the male and female to its activation. We identified a naturally occurring semp1 null mutation within the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel. By expressing mutant forms of Semp1 in males homozygous for the null mutation, we discovered that cleavage is required for the complete activation of Semp1, and we defined at least two sites that are essential for this activational cleavage. These amino acid residues suggest a two-step mechanism for Semp1 activation, involving the action of at least two male-derived proteases. Although the cascade’s substrates potentially influence both fertility and sperm competition within the mated female, the role of female factors in the activation or activity of Semp1 is unknown. We show here that Semp1 can undergo its activational cleavage in male ejaculates, without female contributions, but that cleavage of Semp1’s substrates does not proceed to completion in ejaculates, indicating an essential role for female factors in Semp1’s full activity. In addition, we find that expression of Semp1 in virgin females demonstrates that females can activate this protease on their own, resulting in activity that is complete but substantially delayed.
Seascape genetics along a steep cline: using genetic patterns to test predictions of marine larval dispersal

Coupled biological and physical oceanographic models are powerful tools for studying connectivity among marine populations because they simulate the movement of larvae based on ocean currents and larval characteristics. However, while the models themselves have been parameterized and verified with physical empirical data, the simulated patterns of connectivity have rarely been compared to field observations. We demonstrate a framework for testing biological-physical oceanographic models by using them to generate simulated spatial genetic patterns through a simple population genetic model, and then testing these predictions with empirical genetic data. Both agreement and mismatches between predicted and observed genetic patterns can provide insights into mechanisms influencing larval connectivity in the coastal ocean. We use a high-resolution ROMS-CoSINE biological-physical model for Monterey Bay, California specifically modified to simulate dispersal of the acorn barnacle, Balanus glandula. Predicted spatial genetic patterns generated from both seasonal and annual connectivity matrices did not match an observed genetic cline in this species at either a mitochondrial or nuclear gene. However, information from this mismatch generated hypotheses testable with our modelling framework that including natural selection, larval input from a southern direction and/or increased nearshore larval retention might provide a better fit between predicted and observed patterns. Indeed, moderate selection and a range of combined larval retention and southern input values dramatically improve the fit between simulated and observed spatial genetic patterns. Our results suggest that integrating population genetic models with coupled biological-physical oceanographic models can provide new insights and a new means of verifying model predictions.
Field defects in progression to adenocarcinoma of the colon and esophagus

A field of defective tissue (field defect) appears to be an early stage in the progression to adenocarcinoma of both the colon and the esophagus. In both cases the field is comprised of cells characterized by resistance to induction of apoptosis, aberrant increased proliferation and genomic instability. Specific mutations and epimutations occur in both types of field. Also there is evidence for aberrant overexpression or underexpression of specific proteins. Most of these early molecular alterations appear to promote either enhanced apoptosis resistance, proliferation, or genomic instability. The molecular alterations that are present early are often, but not always, also present to an even greater degree in the cancer itself. Many of the important events in the development of colonic and esophageal adenocarcinoma first occur in tissues that are histologically neither dysplastic nor malignant. The identification of early molecular defects in morphologically normal appearing tissue is paramount in identifying subjects at high risk for cancer.
Multiyear riparian evapotranspiration and groundwater use for a semiarid watershed

Riparian evapotranspiration (ET) is a major component of the surface and subsurface water balance for many semiarid watersheds. Measurement or model-based estimates of ET are often made on a local scale, but spatially distributed estimates are needed to determine ET over catchments. In this paper, we document the ET that was quantified over 3 years using eddy covariance for three riparian ecosystems along the Upper San Pedro River of southeastern Arizona, USA, and we use a water balance equation to determine annual groundwater use. Riparian evapotranspiration and groundwater use for the watershed were then determined by using a calibrated, empirical model that uses 16-day, 250–1000 m remotesensing products for the years of 2001–2005. The inputs for the model were derived entirely from the NASA MODIS sensor and consisted of the Enhanced Vegetation Index and land surface temperature. The scaling model was validated using subsets of the entire dataset (omitting different sites or years) and its capable performance for well-watered sites (MAD ¼ 0.32 mm day � 1 , R 2 ¼ 0.93) gave us confidence in using it to determine ET over the watershed. Three years of eddy covariance data for the riparian sites reveal that ET and groundwater use increased as woody plant density increased. Groundwater use was less variable at the woodland site, which had the greatest density of phreatophytes. Annual riparian groundwater use within the watershed was nearly constant over the study period despite an on-going drought. For the San Pedro alone, the amounts determined in this paper are within the range of most recently reported values that were derived using an entirely different approach. However, because of our larger estimates for groundwater use for the main tributary of the San Pedro, the watershed totals were higher. The approach presented here can provide riparian ET and groundwater use amounts that reflect real natural variability in phreatophyte withdrawals and improve the accuracy of a watershed’s water budget. r 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Harmony: holistic messaging middleware for event-driven systems

In this paper, we present Harmony, a holistic messaging middleware for distributed, event-driven systems. Harmony supports various communication paradigms and heterogeneous networks. The key novelty of Harmony is the unified provision of end-to-end quality of service, security, and resiliency, which shields the applications from the underlying network dynamics, failures, and security configurations. We describe the Harmony architecture in the context of cyber-physical business applications and elaborate on the design of its critical system components, including routing, security, and mobility support.
The potential role of anthropogenically derived nitrogen in the growth of harmful algae in California, USA

Abstract Cultural eutrophication is frequently invoked as one factor in the global increase in harmful algal blooms, but is difficult to definitively prove due to the myriad of factors influencing coastal phytoplankton bloom development. To assess whether eutrophication could be a factor in the development of harmful algal blooms in California (USA), we review the ecophysiological potential for urea uptake by Pseudo-nitzschia australis (Bacillariophyceae), Heterosigma akashiwo (Raphidophyceae), and Lingulodinium polyedrum (Dinophyceae), all of which have been found at bloom concentrations and/or exhibited noxious effects in recent years in California coastal waters. We include new measurements from a large (Chlorophyll a > 500 mg m−3) red tide event dominated by Akashiwo sanguinea (Dinophyceae) in Monterey Bay, CA during September 2006. All of these phytoplankton are capable of using nitrate, ammonium, and urea, although their preference for these nitrogenous substrates varies. Using published data and recent coastal time series measurements conducted in Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay, CA, we show that urea, presumably from coastal eutrophication, was present in California waters at measurable concentrations during past harmful algal bloom events. Based on these observations, we suggest that urea uptake could potentially sustain these harmful algae, and that urea, which is seldom measured as part of coastal monitoring programs, may be associated with these harmful algal events in California.
Acoustic Sensing and Mitigation of Lean Blow Out in Premixed Flames

§** †† This paper describes a method for detecting and preventing lean blow out (LBO) in a premixed, swirl stabilized combustor. The acoustic signal is filtered to detect localized extinction ‘events’, which increase in frequency as the flame equivalence ratio, φ, approaches the LBO limit, φ φ φ φLBO. As the flame becomes leaner, φLBO can be effectively shifted to lower equivalence ratios by redirecting a fraction of the total fuel into a central, premixed pilot. This actuation can increase the equivalence ratio in the stabilization region at a constant power setting and counter the flame lift associated with LBO. The resulting control system maintains lean flame stability in the presence of flow fluctuations. The combustor can therefore operate with an improved safety margin at lower temperatures and less NOx (nitrous oxides) emissions.
Regulation of Fatty Acid Metabolism by FadR Is Essential for Vibrio vulnificus To Cause Infection of Mice

The opportunistic bacterial pathogen Vibrio vulnificus causes severe wound infection and fatal septicemia. We used alkaline phosphatase insertion mutagenesis in a clinical isolate of V. vulnificus to find genes necessary for virulence, and we identified fadR, which encodes a regulator of fatty acid metabolism. The fadR::mini-Tn5Km2phoA mutant was highly attenuated in a subcutaneously inoculated iron dextran-treated mouse model of V. vulnificus disease, was hypersensitive to the fatty acid synthase inhibitor cerulenin, showed aberrant expression of fatty acid biosynthetic (fab) genes and fatty acid oxidative (fad) genes, produced smaller colonies on agar media, and grew slower in rich broth than did the wild-type parent. Deletion of fadR essentially recapitulated the phenotypes of the insertion mutant, and the DeltafadR mutation was complemented in trans with the wild-type gene. Further characterization of the DeltafadR mutant showed that it was not generally hypersensitive to envelope stresses but had decreased motility and showed an altered membrane lipid profile compared to that of the wild type. Supplementation of broth with the unsaturated fatty acid oleate restored wild-type growth in vitro, and infection with oleate in the inoculum increased the ability of the DeltafadR mutant to infect mice. We conclude that fadR and regulation of fatty acid metabolism are essential for V. vulnificus to be able to cause disease in mammalian hosts.
Modified Performance-Based Liquefaction Triggering Procedure Using Liquefaction Loading Parameter Maps

AbstractSimplified performance-based liquefaction triggering procedures have sought to address observed inconsistencies in predicted liquefaction triggering hazards across the United States resulting from conventional, pseudoprobabilistic analysis procedures. Unfortunately, current simplified performance-based procedures are limited to use with a single liquefaction triggering curve. This paper introduces a modified performance-based procedure and applies it to a different liquefaction triggering curve that is currently used by many engineering practitioners. The modified procedure is derived, and the concept of liquefaction loading parameter maps is introduced. Validation of the modified procedure against the full performance-based procedure is performed for multiple U.S. cities and soil profiles at three different return periods. The results of the validation demonstrate that the modified performance-based procedure reasonably approximates the full performance-based procedure across multiple return peri...
The grassland–forest continuum: trends in ecosystem properties for woody plant mosaics?

Many ecosystems can be viewed as lying within a continuum between grassland and forest, where ground coverage by woody plants (trees and shrubs) ranges from non-existent to complete. Patterns of energy, water, and biogeochemistry are often heterogeneous between canopy patches beneath woody plants and the intercanopy patches that separate them. Notably, connectivity between patch types is produced by processes such as shading, root uptake of resources, and redistribution of runoff. Patch-scale connectivity is hypothesized to influence trends in energy, water, and biogeochemistry as a function of woody plant canopy coverage. When connectivity is strong, the mean for an ecosystem property is expected to change in a more curvilinear than linear fashion along the continuum. Associated variance is expected to be greatest not midway along the continuum, as might be expected, but rather at a site with substantially less than 50% canopy coverage. These hypotheses collectively provide a framework for future researc...
Closing the loop: integrative systems management of waste in food, energy, and water systems

Modern food, energy, and water (FEW) systems are the product of technologies, techniques, and policies developed to address the needs of a given sector (e.g., energy or agriculture). Wastes from each sector are typically managed separately, and the production systems underlying FEW have traditionally treated pollution and waste as externalities simply diffused into the ambient environment. Integrative management that optimizes resource use presents opportunities for improving the efficiency of FEW systems. This paper explains how FEW systems can be optimized to (1) repurpose or cycle waste products, (2) internalize traditional externalities, and (3) integrate wastes with resource inputs across systems by diverting waste by-products from one system to meet demands of another. It identifies the means for “closing the loop” in production systems. Examples include management of legacy wastes from fossil fuel industries (coal and natural gas) and integrative designs for advanced renewable systems (biogas from waste, bioenergy from CAM plants, and solar). It concludes with a discussion of how studying the governance of such systems can assist in tackling interconnected problems present in FEW systems. New governance arrangements are needed to develop solutions that can align with regulatory frameworks, economics incentive, and policies. Four aspects of governances (property rights, policy design, financing, and scale) emerge as tools to facilitate improved institutional design that stimulates integrative management, technology innovation and deployment, and community development. The conclusion offers a framework through which integrative management of FEW systems can be linked to value chains in closed-loop systems.
Biologically Inspired Methods for Imaging, Cognition, Vision, and Intelligence

State-of-the-art image analysis and pattern recognition techniques have been successfully applied to a wide variety of industrial fields such as medical imaging, remote sensing, and biometrics, as well as methods for machine learning, computer vision, and visualization. However, the current methods of image analysis, computer vision, and artificial intelligence cannot achieve the performance of human visual and cognitive abilities although advances have progressed in hardware including optics, electronics, and computers. As Scott [1] stated, “the evolution of biological vision is gradual (incremental) and top down with basic modules and primitive architectural structures preserved.” The future of computer vision will be biologically inspired [2] that has much in common with human vision as a unified science of vision [1]. Thus, computational photography, cognition, and intelligence have recently become the sources of interactive scientific research. This special issue focuses on biologically inspired or nature-driven approaches to computer vision. There were a total of 17 manuscripts received, five of which were accepted for publication. Two papers address computer vision problems: estimation of homographs between two different perspectives and computation of visual saliency. The other three papers present optimization algorithms for pattern recognition using an artificial bee colony approach, a differential evolution method, and a feed-forward neural network. The success of computer vision and intelligence may start from the data representation of the real world (signal sensing, imaging), through analysis and cognition (learning, modelling, and classification), to achieve a certain level of performance (model revision, autolearning, and improvement). This special issue sheds light on the importance of bioinspired methods. Furthermore, editors believe that deeper research and development on bioinspired methods will greatly benefit the computational intelligence community. Yufeng Zheng Erik Blasch Adel S. Elmaghraby
Casualty rates of US military personnel during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

In Operation Iraqi Freedom, which ended in August 2010, nearly 3500 hostile deaths occurred among US military personnel and 32,000 more were wounded in action (WIA). More than 1800 hostile deaths occurred during Operation Enduring Freedom (in and around Afghanistan) through 2014 and about 20,000 were WIA. A larger proportion of wounded personnel survived in Iraq and Afghanistan than during the Vietnam War, but the increased survival rates were not as high as some studies have asserted. The survival rates were 90.2% in Iraq and 91.6% in Afghanistan, compared with 86.5% in Vietnam. The casualty rates varied between the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and before, during, and after the respective surges. Amputation rates are difficult to measure consistently, but I estimate that 2.6% of all WIA and 9.0% of medically evacuated WIA from the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters combined resulted in the major loss of a limb. Elevated non-hostile death rates (including deaths due to accidents, illnesses, homicides, or ...
Early clinical and roentgenologic diagnosis of anencephaly.

Summary A case of anencephaly has been reported in which clinical and roentgenologic diagnosis was made relatively early in fetal life. With modern technique, a simple anterior-posterior film of the pelvis early in pregnancy is fraught with absolutely no danger to the mother or fetus. Therefore, in cases of questionable diagnosis this facility for clarifying it should be readily used. It is felt that diagnosis of abnormalities of this type with subsequent therapeutic abortion is of obstetric as well as psychological value.
Images in clinical medicine. Strongyloides stercoralis embryonated ova in the lung.

A 65-year-old Vietnamese immigrant was hospitalized for persistent abdominal pain and malodorous black stools. He was being treated with glucocorticoids for giant-cell arteritis.
Edge-on Gating Effect in Molecular Wires

This work demonstrates edge-on chemical gating effect in molecular wires utilizing the pyridinoparacyclophane (PC) moiety as the gate. Different substituents with varied electronic demands are attached to the gate to simulate the effect of varying gating voltages similar to that in field-effect transistor (FET). It was observed that the orbital energy level and charge carrier’s tunneling barriers can be tuned by changing the gating group from strong electron acceptors to strong electron donors. The single molecule conductance and current–voltage characteristics of this molecular system are truly similar to those expected for an actual single molecular transistor.
Patients', caregivers', and providers' perceived strategies for diabetes care.

Objectives To explore strategies to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) self-management among low-income and minority groups. Methods Focus groups centered on T2DM self-care behaviors were conducted using convenient sample of patients with T2DM (N = 17), caregivers (N = 5) and healthcare providers (N = 15). Results Patients and caregivers perceived strategies included improving patient-provider communication, providers' accessibility and compassion, and flexible clinic hours. Strategies identified by providers were realistic patient's expectations, family support, and community resources. Conclusions To our knowledge, this study is the first to elicit strategies to improve T2DM self-management through a joint meeting of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Study findings could help inform future efforts to assist patients better manage their T2DM.
Chemical and Physical Properties of the Hepatic Receptor for Asialoglycoproteins

The nature and significance of protein-bound carbohydrates—whether in solution or as constituents of cell surface membranes—have long occupied the attention of biochemists and cell biologists. These questions have been resolved, at least partially, by the application of new and highly sensitive analytical techniques for the sequential analysis of carbohydrate chains. In general, the constituent monosaccharides appear to form a common and recognizable pattern that is repeated with minor, but potentially significant, variations. In contrast, there is much less agreement as to the significance or biochemical role of the carbohydrate moiety. Among current hypotheses, considerable attention has been focused on the ability of individual sugars to serve as unique recognition signals capable of mediating specific cellular interactions (Ashwell and Harford, 1982). A representative example of this concept is provided by the well-characterized hepatic receptor for asialoglycoproteins and is the subject matter of the present chapter. Here the discussion is restricted to an examination of the available data on the biochemical and physical properties of this membrane protein. Further progress in deciphering the complicated pathway of receptor-mediated endocytosis and receptor recycling in hepatocytes is addressed in Chapter 6.
Weed Control in Rice (Oryza sativa) with Quinclorac and Bensulfuron Coating of Granular Herbicides and Fertilizer

Weed control with thiobencarb, molinate, or fertilizer granules coated with quinclorac or bensulfuron was evaluated in 1992 and 1993. With thiobencarb or fertilizer granules, less than 55% control of 4-leaf junglerice was obtained, regardless of additional herbicide coating. Coating thiobencarb or fertilizer granules with quinclorac at 550 g ai/ha increased junglerice control, but was not satisfactory. Molinate granules at 4.4 kg ai/ha controlled junglerice at least 81% and improved rice yields over fertilizer or thiobencarb granules. Fertilizer coated with bensulfuron at 111 g ai/ha controlled ducksalad 86 to 96%.
Infants’ Perception of Speech: Constraints on Characterizations of the Initial State

Development has two natural endpoints. One is the initial state; the other the mature or asymptotic state. Research on language has produced a rather detailed description of the asymptotic state. We believe, for example, that adult users of language represent it in a formal and systematic way that 1s probably separate and distinct from other higher-order cognitive functions. But what characterizes the Initial state of linguistic knowledge? Is there evidence of a specialized linguistic system, and if so, are formal linguistic categories represented?
Use of the flipped classroom instructional model in higher education: instructors’ perspectives

The flipped classroom model is an instructional model in which students learn basic subject matter knowledge prior to in-class meetings, then come to the classroom for active learning experiences. Previous research has shown that the flipped classroom model can motivate students towards active learning, can improve their higher-order thinking skills, and can improve their collaborative learning skills. However, most current studies focus on students’ experiences with flipped classroom learning. Because so few studies address the instructor’s perspective, and instructors’ perspectives on technology integration can directly influence their practice of incorporating technology in instruction, this study sought to focus on instructors. This paper is a qualitative case study that reveals instructors’ experiences and perspectives on using the flipped classroom model in instruction. Structured interviews were conducted with eight faculty members who either previously had used or planned to use the flipped classroom model. Findings include instructors’ perceived definitions of the flipped classroom, how they improved teaching and learning by using the flipped classroom model, their perceived benefits and challenges of the flipped classroom, and perceived approaches of using it in an effective way. The participants also recommended peer assistance among instructors as valuable support to implement the flipped classroom model in instruction successfully.
Molecular Signaling in Oral Cancer Invasion and Metastasis

Head and neck cancer is among the ten most common and lethal tumors worldwide. Over 90 % of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, which have a 40 % 5-year mortality and 25 % recurrence rate despite rigorous utilization of several therapeutic modalities. Treatment costs exceed $3.1 billion in America alone. Thus, improvement of conventional therapy is urgently needed to reduce mortality and morbidity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). HNSCC represents a devastating type of malignancy with a high incidence of local invasion, cervical lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence, and drug resistance leading to patient disfigurement and death. Understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with aberrant growth, invasion, and metastasis to identify an effective therapeutic target is one of the most demanding goals in head and neck cancer biology. The hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and MET receptor signaling axis have been studied extensively over the past two decades, revealing their important role in mediating tumor growth, survival, chemoresistance, and invasive growth and metastasis. In this chapter, we will review HGF/SF-MET signaling in malignant HNSCC progression and discuss therapeutic options this signaling pathway may present for the treatment of HNSCC.
The effect of oral statin therapy on strabismus in patients with thyroid eye disease

Background Statins, known to possess anti-inflammatory characteristics, have recently been identified as potentially reducing the risk of developing thyroid eye disease (TED) in Graves disease patients. The current study investigates the effect of oral statin therapy on strabismus related to TED. Methods This is a retrospective review of patients with a diagnosis of both TED and restrictive strabismus. Oral statin users and nonusers were analyzed for smoking status, previous radioactive iodine, thyroidectomy, number of decompressions, motility restriction, amount of strabismus, number of surgeries, surgical dose, and number of muscles involved on radiography. Results Thirty patients (average age, 63.9 years; 50% male; 59% current/former smokers) were included: 12 statin users and 18 nonusers. Statin users averaged fewer decompressions (1.3 in users vs 2.4 in nonusers [P = 0.04]). Statin users on average had 15 mm of total strabismus surgery compared with 21.4 mm in the nonuser group (P = 0.09) and had fewer muscles involved radiographically (4.3 vs 5.1 [P = 0.08]) Conclusions Compared to nonusers, statin users tended to have fewer decompressions, less restriction, fewer surgeries, and fewer muscles involved despite having more current smokers (36% vs 5%), more males, more RAI, and fewer thyroidectomies, all of which are associated with worse TED. In our cohort of patients with TED and strabismus, statin therapy significantly reduced the number of orbital decompressions. Oral statin therapy also trended toward reducing the number and amount of strabismus surgeries as well as radiographic indication of muscle involvement, although these did not meet statistical significance.
The development of an academic cyber security lab: from bare walls to functional lab

This paper describes the creation of a cyber security lab to support instruction at the undergraduate level. At our university, the B.S. in Computer Science requires a student to pick one of several concentrations. These include software development, information systems, and network security. The concentration in network security was added in 2012. The lab supporting the network security concentration was inadequate and funding sources were sought. The seed funding for the lab came from a state grant program in fall 2014, with the money available the following spring. The amount awarded was small, when considering the costs of hardware and software so a number of decisions were made to most effectively use the provided funds. Lessons learned and future work will be part of the discussion.
Awake or Asleep: Can Regional Nerve Blocks Be Safely Performed in the Heavily Sedated or Asleep Patient?

A 59-year-old Spanish-speaking man presents for repair of a left torn rotator cuff. He has a history of coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and mild gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The patient is scheduled for a rotator cuff repair. Due to the patient’s poor prior experience with general anaesthesia, the patient requests regional anaesthesia. The plan is for an interscalene block and sedation. This chapter reviews the current discussion surrounding performing regional blocks in heavily sedated or asleep patients. Although it is an accepted practice in paediatric anaesthesia, it remains a very controversial subject in adult anaesthesia.
Selection of local peak pressure coefficients for wind tunnel studies of buildings

Abstract It has been recognized that the probability distribution of the largest peak pressure achieved during a design storm at a particular location on a building is skewed with a long tail extending toward higher loadings. Several procedures have been suggested in the literature for determining the statistical characteristics of the peak pressure. This paper provides an optimized method for prediction of the peak pressure from wind-tunnel model studies.
Independent predictors of overall survival and recurrence in biphenotypic hepatocellular cancer.

291 Background: Biphenotypic hepatocellular cancer (BPHCC), which is a combined hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CC), is a rare form of primary liver cancer, whose long term prognosis is extremely poor as compared to either HCC or CC alone. Little is known about the recurrence rates and predictors of recurrence in BPHCC. Our objective was to 1) identify both overall survival and recurrence rates after primary resection or systemic and liver directed therapies and 2) to evaluate the independent predictors of survival and recurrence. Methods: Our Hepatobiliary Registry identified 65 patients with BPHCC from February 1999 till April 2013 at Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, St. Louis MO. We conducted univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression to identify factors independently associated with overall survival. We also conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify factors independently associated with recurre...