cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract TP301: Patient Preferences for Inpatient vs Outpatient Management of TIA and Minor Stroke and Its Association With Psychological Stress

Introduction: Understanding patient preferences may help guide decision making around discharge timing after TIA or minor stroke (TIAMS) and may lead to treatment algorithms with higher patient sat...
Semantics-Directed Prototyping of Hardware Runtime Monitors

Building memory protection mechanisms into embedded hardware is attractive because it has the potential to neutralize a host of software-based attacks with relatively small performance overhead. A hardware monitor, being at the lowest level of the system stack, is more difficult to bypass than a software monitor and hardware-based protections are also potentially more fine-grained than is possible in software: an individual instruction executing on a processor may entail multiple memory accesses, all of which may be tracked in hardware. Finally, hardware-based protection can be performed without the necessity of altering application binaries. This article presents a proof-of-concept codesign of a small embedded processor with a hardware monitor protecting against ROP-style code reuse attacks. While the case study is small, it indicates, we argue, an approach to rapid-prototyping runtime monitors in hardware that is quick, flexible, and extensible as well as being amenable to formal verification.
Transitioning from Infertility-Based (ART 1.0) to Elective (ART 2.0) Use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and the DOHaD Hypothesis: Do We Need to Change Consenting?

The use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) has increased significantly in recent years. While this is partially due to improved access for infertile patients, another contribution to the growth of ART utilization is represented by individuals without infertility, who electively chose to freeze their gametes and embryos for future use, before ever attempting conception spontaneously. Overall, the safety of ART for parents and children is well described and the risks are modest. However, while long-term health consequences for offspring as postulated by the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease (DOHaD) hypothesis are unknown, numerous animal studies suggest a predisposition for chronic diseases like hypertension and glucose intolerance. In this article, we argue that a key difference exists between infertile patients, who need to use ART as the only means to achieve pregnancy, and (likely) fertile patients who elect to use ART techniques as a family planning option. We believe that these two sets of patients are different and their risks–benefit ratios are different. We propose that while all patients should be aware of the risks, patients planning to utilize ART techniques without a diagnosis of infertility should be encouraged to think critically about the additional risks, particularly the “potential” long-term risks that may be imposed from these elective procedures.
THE SUBJECT OF WRONGS: Crime, Populism, and Venezuela's Punitive Turn

This article draws on research in Venezuela to make a broader argument about the link between populism and injury. Specifically, it considers the role that crime victimhood plays in the rise of punitive populism or the so-called punitive turn. Under President Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan government publicly denounced tough-on-crime policies as instruments of socioeconomic oppression. Following Chavez’s death, there was an abrupt change of course due, in part, to the opposition’s mobilization of crime victims. The Venezuelan case illustrates a double bind that confronts scholars who are critical of the punitive turn. On the one hand, the figure of the crime victim mediates the body politic in a way that reproduces structures of racial and economic domination. On the other hand, the failure to substantively address the material injuries of crime victims propels grassroots support for punitive populism. Instead of focusing on the subject of rights, this article proposes starting with the subject of wrongs as a bottom-up approach to political subjectivity that can help us understand the dynamic behind punitive populism and show us a way out of the double bind. Abstracto Este articulo se basa en trabajo de campo en Venezuela y persigue establecer un argumento general sobre el vinculo entre el populismo y el dano. Especificamente, el articulo considera el papel que las victimas del crimen desempenan en el auge del populismo punitivo o el giro punitivo. Durante el gobierno de Hugo Chavez se denunciaba la politica de mano dura como un instrumento de opresion socioeconomica. Tras la muerte de Chavez, hubo un cambio abrupto en esta practica debido, en parte, a la movilizacion de las victimas del crimen. El caso venezolano constituye un dilema para los academicos que critican el giro punitivo. Por un lado, la figura de la victima participa en el cuerpo politico de una manera que reproduce estructuras de dominacion racial y economica. Por otro lado, la incapacidad para responder efectivamente a los reales danos del crimen aumenta el apoyo popular a la politica de mano dura. En vez de enfocarse en el tema de los derechos, este articulo propone enfocarse en el tema de los males (o danos) como una manera de abordar la subjetividad politica que podria, por un lado ayudarnos a entender la dinamica detras del populismo punitivo, y por el otro encontrar una solucion al dilema que este plantea.
Empirical evidence that concept mapping reduces neurocognitive effort during concept generation for sustainability

Abstract Sustainable development is a systems problem that requires a shift in thinking from individual parts to the relationships between them. Enabling those involved in the development process to more quickly think in systems is therefore vital to create more sustainable solutions. However, measuring the ability to think in systems is a challenge because of the limited methods to observe behavior or measure outcomes. Recent advances in neuroimaging offer a radically new approach to measure one's ability to think in systems. The specific technique, called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), captures the change in oxygenated blood in the cortical region of the brain, which is a proxy for elevated cognitive activation. In this study, engineering students (n = 28) performed both concept mapping (i.e., labeling concepts and drawing directional connections between them) and concept listing (i.e., generating a list of concepts without indicating relationships) related to grand challenges for sustainability. fNIRS captured the increase in oxygenated blood along the prefrontal and parietal cortex during both concept mapping and listing tasks. Self-evaluation and concept mapping scores were also captured and compared. Concept mapping led to significantly more concepts compared to concept listing. Concept mapping also required less cognitive resources (i.e., oxygenated blood) to generate more concepts. The region of the brain that received more cognitive resources is also significantly different when participants were using concept listing and mapping. Concept mapping directed more cognitive resources to the regions of the brain associated with cognitive flexibility and decreased cognitive resources in regions associated with visuospatial processing. Self-evaluation of systems thinking was negatively correlated with concept mapping scores, meaning students with high perceived ability produce worse concept maps. Global efficiency of brain networks was positively correlated to concept map scores and more accurately measure performance compared to self-evaluation. This study provides neurocognitive evidence to support the benefits of concept mapping and also demonstrates the added advantages of neuroimaging to study systems thinking.
The Materials Simulation Toolkit for Machine learning (MAST-ML): An automated open source toolkit to accelerate data-driven materials research

Abstract As data science and machine learning methods are taking on an increasingly important role in the materials research community, there is a need for the development of machine learning software tools that are easy to use (even for nonexperts with no programming ability), provide flexible access to the most important algorithms, and codify best practices of machine learning model development and evaluation. Here, we introduce the Materials Simulation Toolkit for Machine Learning (MAST-ML), an open source Python-based software package designed to broaden and accelerate the use of machine learning in materials science research. MAST-ML provides predefined routines for many input setup, model fitting, and post-analysis tasks, as well as a simple structure for executing a multi-step machine learning model workflow. In this paper, we describe how MAST-ML is used to streamline and accelerate the execution of machine learning problems. We walk through how to acquire and run MAST-ML, demonstrate how to execute different components of a supervised machine learning workflow via a customized input file, and showcase a number of features and analyses conducted automatically during a MAST-ML run. Further, we demonstrate the utility of MAST-ML by showcasing examples of recent materials informatics studies which used MAST-ML to formulate and evaluate various machine learning models for an array of materials applications. Finally, we lay out a vision of how MAST-ML, together with complementary software packages and emerging cyberinfrastructure, can advance the rapidly growing field of materials informatics, with a focus on producing machine learning models easily, reproducibly, and in a manner that facilitates model evolution and improvement in the future.
Associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older women and men: Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

To examine cross-sectional associations between perceived neighborhood environment and cognitive function among middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latino women and men. Data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (2008–2011) and its Sociocultural Ancillary Study (2009–2010) were used. Participants were Hispanic/Latino women (n = 1812) and men (n = 1034) aged 45–74 years. Survey-weighted linear regression models were used to examine associations between self-reported perceived neighborhood environment (i.e., neighborhood social cohesion and problems categorized as quintiles, and neighborhood safety from crime categorized as low, medium, or high) with cognitive function (i.e., global cognition, verbal learning, memory, verbal fluency, and processing speed scores) in women and men. Final model adjusted for age, Hispanic/Latino background, language, field site, household income, education, years lived in neighborhood, and depressive symptoms. Women in the lowest quintile of perceived neighborhood problems (vs. highest quintile) had higher global cognition (β 0.48, 95% CI 0.03, 0.94, p trend 0.229) and memory scores (0.60, 95% CI 0.11, 1.09, p trend: 0.060). Women in the highest quintile of perceived neighborhood social cohesion (vs. lowest quintile) had lower global cognition (β − 0.56, 95% CI − 1.02, − 0.09, p trend 0.004), verbal learning (B − 1.01, 95% CI − 2.00, − 0.03, p trend 0.015), verbal fluency (B − 2.00, 95% CI − 3.83, − 0.16, p trend 0.006), and processing speed (B − 2.11, 95% CI − 3.87, − 0.36, p trend 0.009). There was no association between perceived neighborhood safety from crime and cognition among women, or between any perceived neighborhood environment measure and cognition among men. Middle-aged and older Hispanic/Latina women living in neighborhoods with the lowest perceived problems had higher global cognition and memory. Women living in neighborhoods with the highest perceived social cohesion had lower global cognition, verbal learning, verbal fluency, and processing speed.
Sense and Accessibility: Understanding People with Physical Disabilities’ Experiences with Sensing Systems

Sensing technologies that implicitly and explicitly mediate digital experiences are an increasingly pervasive part of daily living; it is vital to ensure that these technologies work appropriately for people with physical disabilities. We conducted on online survey with 40 adults with physical disabilities, gathering open-ended descriptions about respondents’ experiences with a variety of sensing systems, including motion sensors, biometric sensors, speech input, as well as touch and gesture systems. We present findings regarding the many challenges status quo sensing systems present for people with physical disabilities, as well as the ways in which our participants responded to these challenges. We conclude by reflecting on the significance of these findings for defining a future research agenda for creating more inclusive sensing systems.
Quick Edge-Device Deployment for Connecting First Responders in Public Safety Networks

Keeping First Responders (FR) connected has the highest priority of communications in public safety networks. In this paper, we propose a method to quickly determine where to deploy Edge-Devices for connecting the first responders in the scenarios, where the infrastructure supports may be insufficient. As an FR can only carry very few numbers of edge-devices, our research goals are two folds: (i) Quickly decide where to deploy edge-devices and (ii) deploy as less number of edge-devices as possible. We model the problem as an Optimal (Minimal) CDS construction problem with time constraints. Specifically, we propose a novel real-time connected dominating set (CDS) construction algorithm for connecting first responders (FRs) in public safety networks. The proposed algorithm is a polynomial time approximate solution that can yield a solution in a given time, which is guaranteed by both the algorithm convergence speed and the designed stopping theory based rules. The approximation ratio to the optimal solution is jointly determined by the stopping rules, the required time, and the algorithm properties. The outputs from the algorithm can guide the FRs to deploy and/or select edge-devices in off-network environments to make them connected.
The Covid-19 pandemic and mental health of first-year college students: Examining the effect of Covid-19 stressors using longitudinal data.

Purpose The Covid-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented stress to students and educational institutions across the world. We aimed to estimate the effect of the pandemic on the mental health of college students. Methods We used data on 419 first-year students (ages 18–20) at a large public university in North Carolina both before (October 2019-February 2020) and after (June/July 2020) the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. After evaluating descriptive data on mental health and stressors by students’ demographic characteristics, we estimated the associations between Covid-19 stressors (including work reductions, health, distanced learning difficulties and social isolation) and mental health symptoms and severity controlling for students’ pre-pandemic mental health, psychosocial resources, and demographic characteristics. Results We found that the prevalence of moderate-severe anxiety increased from 18.1% before the pandemic to 25.3% within four months after the pandemic began; and the prevalence of moderate-severe depression increased from 21.5% to 31.7%. White, female and sexual/gender minority (SGM) students were at highest risk of increases in anxiety symptoms. Non-Hispanic (NH) Black, female, and SGM students were at highest risk of increases in depression symptoms. General difficulties associated with distanced learning and social isolation contributed to the increases in both depression and anxiety symptoms. However, work reductions as well as Covid-19 diagnosis and hospitalization of oneself, family members or friends were not associated with increases in depression or anxiety symptoms. Conclusion Colleges may be able to reduce the mental health consequences of Covid-19 by investing in resources to reduce difficulties with distance learning and reduce social isolation during the pandemic.
Reinforcement Learning Adversarial Swarm Dynamics

Swarm robotics is a growing field that explores the implementation potential for multi-agent robotic systems completing tasks in a decentralized manor. Reinforcement Learning is a sub-field of Machine Learning that uses a feedback reward system to optimize the control laws on a given system. The Reinforcement Learning Adversarial Swarm Dynamics project will implement reinforcement learning into a simple game executed by adversarial homogeneous swarms for exploration into the feasibility and optimality of reinforcement learning in swarm robotic systems.
Stochastic fracture simulation using pixel-based multiple-point geostatistics by integrating seismic radial anisotropy and well data: applications in two hydrology sites

We propose a pixel-based multiple-point simulation algorithm for stochastic simulation of near surface fractures using seismic radial anisotropy as secondary information. The method borrows information from the training image of the fracture and anchoring within the secondary radial anisotropy data using wavelet-based multiple-point simulation framework. The simulation was performed sequentially, by sampling from the conditional cumulative density function (ccdf) of fracture, conditioning to radial anisotropy. For faster computation, instead of calculating ccdf at each unknown location, a limited number of ccdfs are calculated. The patterns of the multiple-point representation are extracted from the training image and are classified into multiple classes using the wavelet decomposition analysis. Each class is represented by a class prototype and ccdf. During simulation, the conditioning data are compared with the class prototypes, and a random sample is generated from the ccdf of the best match class. We validated the proposed simulation method using a synthetic fracture dataset. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to show the impact of correlation between fracture and radial anisotropy, and the resolution of the radial anisotropy. Results demonstrated that the reproduction of the fracture depends on its correlation with the radial anisotropy. It was also observed that fracture reproduction is proportional to the resolution of the radial anisotropy. We successfully applied our proposed model to two hydrogeological sites in which seismic radial anisotropy was obtained using the dispersion analysis of the surface wave.
Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 After Naftalin and Redington

In this article, the author analyzes two recent Supreme Court decisions involving the securities acts. The conclusions drawn from this analysis are that despite the Court's recent trend of restricting the scope of the federal securities laws, it is now possible for defrauded offerees and purchasers of securities to pursue private damage remedies under section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933. The scope of this implied private right of action is arguably limited to those instances in which the defendant engaged in reckless or willful misconduct. At the same time, however, the Securities and Exchange Commission will apparently be able to bring injunctive proceedings against negligent wrongdoers under the implicit authority of section 17(a).
The effects of triceps surae muscle stimulation on localized Achilles subtendon tissue displacements

The triceps surae muscle tendon unit is comprised of the lateral and medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus (SOL) muscles and three in series elastic "subtendons" that form the Achilles tendon. Comparative literature and our own in vivo evidence suggests that sliding between adjacent subtendons may facilitate independent muscle actuation. We aim to more clearly define the relation between individual muscle activation and subtendon tissue displacements. Here, during fixed-end contractions, electrical muscle stimulation controlled the magnitude of force transmitted via individual triceps surae muscles while ultrasound imaging recorded resultant subtendon tissue displacements. We hypothesized that MG and SOL stimulation would elicit larger displacements in their associated subtendon. 10 young adults completed 4 experimental activations at 3 ankle angles (-20°, 0°, 20°) with knee flexed to approximately 20°: MG stimulation (STIMMG), SOL stimulation (STIMSOL), combined stimulation, and volitional contraction. At 20° plantarflexion, STIMSOL elicited 49% larger tendon non-uniformity (SOL - MG subtendon tissue displacement) than that of STIMMG (p=0.004). For STIMSOL, a one-way post-hoc ANOVA revealed a significant main effect of ankle angle (p=0.009) on Achilles tendon non-uniformity. However, peak tendon non-uniformity decreased by an average of 61% from plantarflexion to dorsiflexion, likely due to an increase in passive tension. Our results suggest that localized tissue displacements within the Achilles tendon respond in anatomically consistent ways to differential patterns of triceps surae muscle activation, but these relations are highly susceptible to ankle angle. This in vivo evidence points to at least some mechanical independence in actuation between the human triceps surae muscle-subtendon units.
Bovine viral diarrhea virus transmission from persistently infected cattle to non-persistently infected cattle when commingled:

Worldwide, bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infects cattle of all ages, resulting in huge economic loss due to ensuing morbidity and death. Persistent infection (Pl) of calves results from in utero infection of a fetus with a non-cytopathic strain of BVDV prior to the development of immunocompetency. A PI calf is infected for life and constantly sheds virus in its mucosal secretions. Exposure of naive cattle to BVDV results in a transient infection (Tl), in which the virus is cleared within weeks of infection. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of BVDV in cattle following direct exposure to PI cattle.
Optothermal effects of laser modes in laser materials processing

All laser materials processing involves two fundamental phenomena: the conversion of optical energy into thermal energy, and the generation of thermal stresses in the laserprocessed materials. The distributions of the thermal energy and stresses in the substrate depend on the laser mode used for materials processing. A proper understanding of the temperature and stress distributions is essential for producing high-quality products using the laser technology. The solution of the complete thermoelastic problem is very complex and requires numerical methods. This paper presents simple analytic expressions for the temperature and thermal stress distributions in the substrate processed with TEM00 and TEM inf01 sup* mode laser beams. The temperature is found to be maximum at the point that encounters the maximum laser intensity. The thermal stress distributions are found to be different owing to the differences in the laser modes used for this study.
A Guide for Human Factors Research with Stereoscopic 3D Displays

In this work, we provide some common methods, techniques, information, concepts, and relevant citations for those conducting human factors-related research with stereoscopic 3D (S3D) displays. We give suggested methods for calculating binocular disparities, and show how to verify on-screen image separation measurements. We provide typical values for inter-pupillary distances that are useful in such calculations. We discuss the pros, cons, and suggested uses of some common stereovision clinical tests. We discuss the phenomena and prevalence rates of stereoanomalous, pseudo-stereoanomalous, stereo-deficient, and stereoblind viewers. The problems of eyestrain and fatigue-related effects from stereo viewing, and the possible causes, are enumerated. System and viewer crosstalk are defined and discussed, and the issue of stereo camera separation is explored. Typical binocular fusion limits are also provided for reference, and discussed in relation to zones of comfort. Finally, the concept of measuring disparity distributions is described. The implications of these issues for the human factors study of S3D displays are covered throughout.
Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-mediated apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been reported to induce cell death in a variety of transformed cells but spared the normal cells. In this study, we examined its potential against advanced prostate cancer cells. Treatment of PC-3 and DU145 cells with TRAIL caused a rapid apoptotic cell death, whereas tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is ineffective unless in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide. The induction of apoptosis by TRAIL in PC-3 cells was mediated by a death receptor, DR 4, and the downstream caspases. Treatment of PC-3 cells with TRAIL also activated c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1); however, inhibition of JNK1 activation by its dominant-negative mutant had little effect on TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, TRAIL weakly stimulated nuclear factor κB activity in PC-3 cells. Interestingly, activation of nuclear factor κB pathway by pretreatment with TNF-α did not prevent the induction of apoptosis by TRAIL. These data indicate that TRAIL triggers apoptosis in advanced prostate cancer cells through the activation of caspase cascades, which appears to be independent of TNF-α- and JNK-mediated mechanisms.
Beyond the null hypothesis

The Ecological Detective Confronting Models with Data. Ray Hilborn and Marc Mangel. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 1997. 334 pp., $39.50, £30. ISBN 0-691-03496-6. Paper, $19.95, £16.95. ISBN 0-691-03497-4. How do we find congruence among field, laboratory, and model? Hilborn and Mangel present an approach to investigating the complex (ecology, in this case) by trying different hypotheses until a coherent picture emerges. The authors make extensive use of computer programming for the generation of hypotheses, exploration of data, and comparison of different models.
Advances in the Study of Feeding Behaviors, Mechanisms, and Mechanics of Sharks

Sharks as a group have a long history as highly successful predatory fishes. Although, the number of recent studies on their diet, feeding behavior, feeding mechanism, and mechanics have increased, many areas still require additional investigation. Dietary studies of sharks are generally more abundant than those on feeding activity patterns, and most of the studies are confined to relatively few species, many being carcharhiniform sharks. These studies reveal that sharks are generally asynchronous opportunistic feeders on the most abundant prey item, which are primarily other fishes. Studies of natural feeding behavior are few and many observations of feeding behavior are based on anecdotal reports. To capture their prey sharks either ram, suction, bite, filter, or use a combination of these behaviors. Foraging may be solitary or aggregate, and while cooperative foraging has been hypothesized it has not been conclusively demonstrated. Studies on the anatomy of the feeding mechanism are abundant and thorough, and far exceed the number of functional studies. Many of these studies have investigated the functional role of morphological features such as the protrusible upper jaw, but only recently have we begun to interpret the mechanics of the feeding apparatus and how it affects feeding behavior. Teeth are represented in the fossil record and are readily available in extant sharks. Therefore much is known about their morphology but again functional studies are primarily theoretical and await experimental analysis. Recent mechanistic approaches to the study of prey capture have revealed that kinematic and motor patterns are conserved in many species and that the ability to modulate feeding behavior varies greatly among taxa. In addition, the relationship of jaw suspension to feeding behavior is not as clear as was once believed, and contrary to previous interpretations upper jaw protrusibility appears to be related to the morphology of the upper jaw-chondrocranial articulation rather than the type of jaw suspension. Finally, we propose a set of specific hypotheses including: (1) The functional specialization for suction feeding hypothesis that morphological and functional specialization for suction feeding has repeatedly arisen in numerous elasmobranch lineages, (2) The aquatic suction feeding functional convergence hypothesis that similar hydrodynamic constraints in bony fishes and sharks result in convergent morphological and functional specializations for suction feeding in both groups, (3) The feeding modulation hypothesis that suction capture events in sharks are more stereotyped and therefore less modulated compared to ram and bite capture events, and (4) The independence of jaw suspension and feeding behavior hypothesis whereby the traditional categorization of jaw suspension types in sharks is not a good predictor of jaw mobility and prey capture behavior. Together with a set of questions these hypotheses help to guide future research on the feeding biology of sharks.
Numerical simulation of transition in boundary layers

Transition in boundary layers is a spatially evolving process. In natural transition it is initiated by environmental disturbances such as pressure fluctuations, sound, vortical disturbances, etc. By virtue of certain receptivity mechanisms, which are enhanced for example by strong local wall variations, such as steps, protuberances (roughness elements) or suction slots, the disturbances generate instability waves within the boundary layers. Ideally, if no such disturbances were present, the transition process would not evolve, or if disturbances that were present initially are then suppressed, an already initiated transition process would come to a halt and the flow would relax to the laminar undisturbed state. In short, the dynamic events occurring during the transition process are initiated and derived by the continual forcing of the flow system under consideration which, in this case, is the wall boundary layer.
The calculation of transonic rotor noise

It is pointed out that an accurate prediction of the high-speed impulsive rotor noise is very difficult since the noise field depends on many complex factors. Schmitz and Yu (1981) have conducted a study with the aim to include local aerodynamic nonlinearities in a calculation regarding the acoustic shock. In the present investigation, the hover case of the model rotor studied by Schmitz and Yu was recomputed without certain implicit assumptions made in the earlier calculation. The obtained results show that the Schmitz-Yu computations are very much base-support area dependent. Attention is given to the quadrupole integral, and the pressure-time curves for the model rotor in hover.
Travel Narrative and the Ends of Modernity

List of illustrations Acknowledgments 1. Introduction: critical paradigms and problems 2. The privilege - and problem - of narrative authority 3. Modernist and postmodernist travels 4. Nostalgia and the spectacle of modernity 5. Perpetual wartime 6. The allure of authenticity Conclusion Notes Selected bibliography.
Estimating snow sublimation using natural chemical and isotopic tracers across a gradient of solar radiation

[1] Changes in both climate and vegetation may dramatically impact the amount of water stored in seasonal snow cover and the timing of spring snowmelt. This study quantifies how spatial variability in solar radiation affects the spatial and temporal patterns in snow water equivalent (SWE), snow chemistry, and snow water isotopes in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. Depth, density, stratigraphy, temperature, and snow samples were collected approximately monthly from five locations between January and April 2007 to quantify the effects of solar forcing on snowpack water and chemical balance. Locations varied in solar forcing due to topography and vegetation, while minimizing variability in precipitation, elevation, aspect, interception, and wind redistribution. Snowfall (340 ± 5 mm) was similar across all sites, but peak SWE at maximum accumulation ranged from 187 to 340 mm. Solute concentrations were highest directly under canopies, intermediate in nonshaded forest openings, and lowest in shaded forest openings. Conservative solute concentrations (SO42−, R2 = 0.80), Cl− (R2 = 0.60), and isotope values (δ18O R2 = 0.96) were inversely related to SWE at maximum accumulation. Mass balance estimates of snowpack water balance using solute concentrations and isotopes indicated that sublimation ranged from <2% to ∼20% of winter precipitation, consistent with previous studies at the site. The strong relationships between solar forcing, SWE, and chemistry suggest that snow chemistry at maximum accumulation can be used to estimate overwinter sublimation. Furthermore, variability in solar forcing also can be used to refine spatial estimates of catchment solute and isotope input at melt.
Quasi-periodic route to chaos in an actively mode-locked external-cavity semiconductor laser

Laser mode-locking is an effective modulation technique which can be used in fiberoptic link applications. In a semiconductor laser, active mode-locking can be achieved through the direct modulation of the laser at the cavity resonant frequency. If the modulation frequency is detuned from this condition, large optical intensity fluctuations can occur, which can cause a significant degradation in the noise figure of the laser, and consequently in the noise figure of the overall link. In this paper, we investigate the consequence of frequency detuning an actively mode-locked external-cavity semiconductor laser. We experimentally demonstrate the existence of chaos in a mode-locked laser upon frequency detuning. To our knowledge, chaotic instability in an actively mode-locked semiconductor laser has not been reported. >
Crosstalk as an attenuation mechanism in coupled microstrip transmission lines

Crosstalk contributes to attenuation and signal degradation on microwave transmission lines in addition to coupling signals between lines. Crosstalk is compared as an attenuation mechanism with skin effect and dielectric loss for coupled microstrip lines. >
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle: A Role for Mineralogy and Geochemistry

As the world faces the consequences of global warming caused by the use of fossil fuels, there has been a resurgence of interest in nuclear power. However, there is no “silver bullet,” and each energy-producing system produces waste. This issue of Elements shows the importance of mineralogy and geochemistry in the safe management and disposal of the different types of waste generated by the nuclear fuel cycle.
DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRINT RECOGNITION IN KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN

ABSTRACT Children construct knowledge about print by interacting with the logos, labels, road signs, billboards, and other print found in the child's immediate environment. A study was conducted to better understand the developmental progression of kindergarten children from reading of environmental print in context to reading of environmental print in standard manuscript, sentence, and in typed script. Eighty‐six kindergarten children from five classrooms in a middle‐class community were the subjects. These subjects had been exposed, through various activities, to environmental print instruction in the classroom. Teachers were then asked to identify the twenty most popular logos brought in by the children. Each logo was translated to six formats to evaluate the students’ abilities to recognize environmental print in different formats. Students were administered all six formats of all twenty logos randomly arranged across five sittings. A multivariate analysis of variance was employed with two repeated me...
Hepatic artery-biliary fistula. An unusual complication of infusion therapy

This report describes a patient with carcinoid metastatic to the liver in whom a hepatic artery catheter was placed for infusion therapy. This resulted in a previously unreported complication of a hepatic artery-biliary fistula. The clinical presentation of this complication and mode of management are described. The etiologic factors responsible for this complication are discussed. It is speculated that as more aggressive therapy for hepatic metastases is undertaken, this potential complication will be seen more frequently.
Constructions of reality on MTV's “the real world”: An analysis of the restrictive coding of black masculinity

This article gives critical consciousness, via a semiotic analytical lens, to the representations of Black masculinity on MTV's THE REAL WORLD. My primary objective is to reveal the problematic nature of how African American male cast members are signified on the show, and how these images work to maintain the “typification “ of Black men as inherently angry, potentially violent, and sexually aggressive. Attention is also given to the uniqueness of the show and the ways that this programming format contributes to the hegemonic power of mediated images in reinforcing a general societal fear of Black men.
The Escherichia coli B restriction endonuclease

Abstract 1. 1. The restriction endonuclease of Escherichia coli B has been purified 1000-fold from crude extracts. 2. 2. It has been found to be similar to the K12 and P1 restriction endonucleases8, i.e., it requires ATP, S- adenosyl- l -methionine and Mg2+ and unmodified DNA for enzymatic activity and has an estimated large molecular weight (approx. 300 000 daltons). 3. 3. It introduces a limited number of double strand scissions in unmodified λvir DNA, Escherichia coli chromosomal DNA and probably one double strand scission per fd replicative form DNA. The double strand scission in the unmodified fd replicative form DNA occurs by a two-step mechanism. 4. 4. Replicative form DNA generated from an fd mutant which is only restricted by Escherichia coli B by a factor of 1·10−2 (versus 1·10−4 for wild type fd) is also a substrate for the B restriction endonuclease. Cosedimentation of the endonuclease-treated wild type and mutant replicative form DNA results in qualitatively identical patterns of DNA distribution.
Voicing connections: an interpretive study of university dancers’ experiences

The purpose of this study was to discuss the dance technique class experiences of students in a university dance program. Working within a post‐positivist methodological framework, I interviewed five university dancers. Using the lenses of phenomenology and hermeneutics, I compared and contrasted the women’s stories with each other’s and my own. Through studying dance, these women were at times able to find voice and identity. For each dancer, dance study was not a pursuit with a fixed end point but an ongoing process that offered unique rewards. It was also replete with contradictions, the most significant of which was the struggle between the need to achieve one’s own goals and the need to please outside parties, including teachers, choreographers and audiences.
Assimilating vortex position with an ensemble kalman filter

Abstract Observations of hurricane position, which in practice might be available from satellite or radar imagery, can be easily assimilated with an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) given an operator that computes the position of the vortex in the background forecast. The simple linear updating scheme used in the EnKF is effective for small displacements of forecasted vortices from the true position; this situation is operationally relevant since hurricane position is often available frequently in time. When displacements of the forecasted vortices are comparable to the vortex size, non-Gaussian effects become significant and the EnKF’s linear update begins to degrade. Simulations using a simple two-dimensional barotropic model demonstrate the potential of the technique and show that the track forecast initialized with the EnKF analysis is improved. The assimilation of observations of the vortex shape and intensity, along with position, extends the technique’s effectiveness to larger displacements of the for...
Management of Adjacent Segment Degeneration and Spinal Stenosis (Scar)

Adjacent segment degeneration after previous lumbar procedures can lead to recurrent symptoms. While many studies have examined the predisposing factors that may contribute to adjacent segment degeneration, few have outlined the management of this condition once it develops. This article reviews the risk factors and diagnostic workup of lumbar adjacent segment degeneration. Operative considerations for the management of spinal stenosis and epidural scar at the junctional level are highlighted. The limited information on surgical outcomes after reoperation is discussed. Emerging technology may offer novel approaches to managing this condition.
In2O3 nanowire mat devices as high performance NO2 gas sensors

A high sensitive and reliable In2O3 nanowire mat devices are fabricated. Detection of NO2 gas down to ppb levels was achieved. This represents orders-of-magnitude improvement over previously reported metal oxide film or nanowire/nanobelt sensors. Furthermore, this simple device shows certain selectivity to NO2 with other common chemicals such as NH3, O2, CO and H2 around.
The Visible Human ® at the University of Colorado 15 years later

The Visible Human has come through ages, providing a foundation of photorealistic anatomy for learner-centered, interactive education. Pathways for improvement of the Visible Human process for reverse engineering the macrostructure of the human body have been developed to provide higher resolution and decreased production time for segmentation and modeling human form. The assignment of physical properties, the development of algorithms for the interaction of surgical tools with this virtual anatomy and the availability of high-fidelity haptic interfaces provide the basis for fully immersive surgical training and certification in an environment that is zero direct-risk to patients. Interactive journal publishing, 3D stereoscopic anatomical visualization software and surgical simulators, all based on the Visible Human, the history of the Project and its utilization and provide a framework for its evolution and role in delivering education, training, certification and credentialing through virtual reality to the health care workforce of tomorrow.
Analysis of the secondary structure of ITS transcripts in peritrich ciliates (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea): implications for structural evolution and phylogenetic reconstruction.

Abstract Despite extensive previous morphological work, little agreement has been reached about phylogenetic relationships among peritrich ciliates, making it difficult to study the evolution of the group in a phylogenetic framework. In this study, the nucleotide characteristics and secondary structures of internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 (ITS1 and ITS2) of 26 peritrich ciliates in 12 genera were analyzed. Information from secondary structures of ITS1 and ITS2 then was used to perform the first systematic study of ITS regions in peritrich ciliates, including one species of Rhabdostyla for which no sequence has been reported previously. Lengths of ITS1 and ITS2 sequences varied relatively little among taxa studied, but their G+C content was highly variable. General secondary structure models of ITS1 and ITS2 were proposed for peritrich ciliates and their reliability was assessed by compensatory base changes. The secondary structure of ITS1 contains three major helices in peritrich ciliates and deviations from this basic structure were found in all taxa examined. The core structure of peritrich ITS2 includes four helices, with helix III as the longest and containing a motif 5′-MAC versus GUK-3′ at its apex as well as a YU-UY mismatch in helix II. In addition, the structural motifs of both ITS secondary structures were identified. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS data were performed by means of Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood and neighbor joining methods. Trees had a consistent branching pattern that included the following features: (1) Rhabdostyla always clustered with members of the family Vorticellidae, instead of members of the family Epistylididae, in which it is now classified on the basis of morphology. (2) The systematically questionable genus Ophrydium closely associated with Carchesium , forming a clearly defined, monophyletic group within the Vorticellidae. This supported the hypothesis derived from previous study based on small subunit rRNA gene sequences that Ophrydium and its few relatives are morphologically anomalous vorticellids, not sufficiently distinct to be given familial status and should be placed within a more broadly defined family Vorticellidae. This study validated for the first time a secondary structure of ITS1 and ITS2 from peritrich ciliates and demonstrated its potential in helping to resolve deep phylogenetic relationships.
Wave propagation through a random medium: The random slab problem

The first-order smoothing approximation yields integral equations for the mean and the two-point correlation function of a wave in a random medium. A method is presented for the approximate solution of these equations that combines features of the eiconal approximation and of the Born expansion. This method is applied to the problem of reflection and transmission of a plane wave by a slab of a random medium. Both the mean wave and the covariance are calculated to determine the reflected and transmitted amplitudes and intensities.
Comparison of measurement of effective renal plasma flow by single plasma sample and plasma disappearance slope/volume methods.

Numerous simplified methods for the estimation of ERPF have been described, including the so-called slope/intercept (SI) methods, based on the analysis of the slope of certain segments of the131I-OIH plasma disappearance curve and its y-axis intercept, and the single sample (SS) clearance method, based on theoretical volumes of OIH distribution at some fixed time after injection. Using ERPFs estimated from compartment analysis of the entire 60-min plasma disappearance curve, we have compared the errors of data calculated from use of eight SI methods made at various times along the disappearance curve with that from the optimum SS curve. The errors obtained from the SS method were approximately 50% less than those obtained from the SI methods. The errors of the SI methods are greater at both ends of the 60-min plasma curve than when samples are drawn near the mid-time. The SS method appears to be the method of choice for the estimation of ERPF using single injection techniques.
Poor man’s missile tracking technology: thermal IR detection and tracking of bats in flight

Thermal infrared target detection and tracking has challenging and useful applications outside of military scenarios. A digital image processing technique is described for the detection and tracking of free flying bats. Uncalibrated video-rate thermal imagery from a stationary FPA micro-bolometric IR imager is captured on 8-bit digital media. Sequential frames are differenced to remove stationary clutter, and thresholded to select pixels outside of the central distribution of differenced pixel values (both positive and negative). Moving objects then appear as pairs of pixel clusters of differing contrast polarity. For the typical case of a warm bat against a cool background, a pixel cluster exceeding the positive threshold indicates a target location in the current frame and corresponding pixel cluster below the negative threshold indicates the target’s location in the previous frame. These location pairs define a motion vector that is updated every frame. Using the updated motion vector, the next position of the bat is predicted. If a similar-sized pixel cluster of the correct polarity is found at this predicted location, within a selectable error tolerance, then a track is established. This process is iterated frame-by-frame generating an output file of individual bat tracks. This process is described in detail and data are presented from an imaging survey of a bat emergence containing several thousand bats.