cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Management of Periparturient Disorders in Dairy Cattle

Monitoring the health status of postpartum dairy cows to minimize costly disorders has become indispensable; most dairy operations use monitoring programs to aid identification of clinically or even subclinically sick animals. The main objective is to aid in the management of periparturient disorders of dairy cows by using reasonably cost-effective techniques to identify animals in the early stages of disease, thus allowing routine, reliable treatment and the swift return of the animal to good health. An appropriately established and critically reviewed monitoring program can be vital when managing disease conditions of the periparturient dairy cow, especially postpartum reproductive disorders. The decisions made from information gathered by monitoring programs ensure the highest level of productivity and profitability by dairy producers.
Modeling Hydrate Formation in Media with Broad Pore Size Distributions

We show how the modification by Henry et al. of the earlier van der Waals−Plateeuw thermodynamic model can be used to interpret data for hydrates in small pores even when there is a broad distribut...
Linear approximation for the excitation energies of single and double analog states in the f 7 / 2 shell

We find that the excitation energies of single analog states for odd-even nuclei in the f{sub 7/2} shell with J=j=7/2{sup -} and the J=0{sup +} double analog states in the even-even nuclei are fairly well described by the formulas E{sup *}(j,T+1)=b(T+X) and E{sup *}(0{sup +},T+2)=2b(T+X+0.5), respectively, where T=|N-Z|/2 is usually the ground-state isospin. Comparisions are made with single j-shell calculations and also those involving configuration mixing. (c) 2000 The American Physical Society.
Geoarchaeological evidence for prairie-mound formation in the Mississippi alluvial valley, southeastern Missouri

Abstract Archaeological materials in several prairie mounds in the northern Western Lowlands of southeastern Missouri indicate that mounds began forming prior to ca. 5000-3000 yr B.P. The mounds subsequently were inundated and built up to their modern configuration by aggradational and reworking processes. Human use of the mounds may have been tied to exploitation of aquatic animals residing in backwater habitats during periods of prolonged flooding. Principal features of the sampled portion of the mound field include preoccupation topographic highs, early occupation (ca. 5000-3000 yr B.P.) layers that drape the topographic highs, and later occupation (ca. 3000-950 yr B.P.) layers that drape earlier occupation layers and extend onto intermound areas.
Capacity, Commitment, and Compliance

Why should governments delegate decision-making authority over territorial issues to an international institution? This study argues that governments are motivated to reach territorial solutions to reduce the opportunity costs associated with a festering dispute. The evidence suggests that domestic political incapacity to negotiate concessions is associated with a commitment to arbitrate. Compliance is a function of the net costs and benefits involved in accepting the arbitral decision. These costs include the loss of valuable territory, but noncompliance also exacts costs with respect to governments' reputation, both domestically and internationally. This research speaks to a broader debate about the role of international legal institutions in foreign policy making and international outcomes. It shows that governments have good reasons, under certain political and economic conditions, to use international legal processes as a substitute for domestic political decision making.
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE OF PHOTOSENSITIZED ELECTRON TRANSPORT ACROSS LIPID VESICLE WALLS

— An overall Arrhenius activation energy of 117 plusmn; 19 kJ/mol (28.0 plusmn; 4.5 kcal/mol) has been measured for photosensitized electron transport across phospholipid vesicle walls in the temperature range 18–38°C. A dynamic model for the overall process is proposed which accounts for the parabolic growth curves of the kinetically probed species, heptyl viologen radical. The temperature dependence of the initial quantum yield derived from these curves, and of fluorescence quenching behavior of the ruthenium tris-bipyridyl photosensitizer, is used to estimate an activation energy of 67 plusmn; 21 kJ/mol(16 plusmn; 5 kcal/mol) for the electron transport step itself. The activation energy for the co-transport of charge compensating ions is estimated to contribute no more than 4.6 kJ/mol to this energy.
Goals of screening.

Background. Colorectal cancer is a major target of inquiry into the effectiveness of screening in the control of the disease by earlier detection and possibly reduced incidence after removal of polyps. Four randomized clinical trials are in process to determine the efficacy of fecal occult blood tests (FOBT) in reducing mortality from colorectal cancer. Methods. General issues that affect decisions to initiate screening, benefits and risks, and precision of screening are discussed
Cancer and Diabetes

The relationship of cancer and diabetes has been discussed for many years. Despite the large number of studies which have been carried out over the years, no unanimity of opinion has been expressed. Some investigators believed that cancer occurs more frequently in diabetics than in nondiabetic persons, with an incidence ranging from 3 to 10%.1–4 Others,5–7 using different figures, arrived at the conclusion that no association between these diseases exists. In 1934, Marble5 studied the records of 10,000 patients with proven diabetes. Among these 256 (2.56%) had malignant disease. He also investigated the figures of insurance companies and felt that although certain evidence suggested that cancer was more common among diabetic individuals, it was not possible to draw any definite conclusions. In a study of associated causes of death of persons dying of cancer, in Massachusetts, during a 10-year period, Wilson and Maher1 noted that diabetes and cancer occur together much more frequently than would be expected if the two diseases were independently studied. Ellinger and Landsman,2 in a survey of 1280 diabetic patients seen at the Montefiore Hospital in New York City from 1933 to 1941, found 39 (3.04%) afflicted with malignant disease. This incidence of cancer was 6.5 times greater than that in the general population (0.46%) in the State of New York in 1941. Jacobson,3 using data from certificates and matched hospital case histories in New York, concluded that cancer is more common among diabetics than nondiabetics.
Performance Improvement of Polymer Based Solar Cell by Ordered Nano-Morphology

Polymer based organic solar cell offers a relatively inexpensive option for the future solar cell technology, provided its efficiency increases beyond the current limit of 4-6%. In this paper, we use the process and device models to explore the possibility of the efficiency improvement of the solar cell by ordered active layer morphology, obtained through template based fabrication technique. Our analysis shows that ordered morphology improves both photon collection as well as carrier transport and hence promises to double the cell efficiency.
Amplitude modulated micro Coulter counter for high throughput counting of microparticles

We present the design, fabrication and testing of a multiplexed multichannel Coulter counter. The micromachined device is used to achieve high throughput for counting microparticles. Multiplexed detection is achieved by amplitude modulation of signals from individual channels, requiring only one set of detection electronics. Preliminary testing results using 30 mum polystyrene particles demonstrate the feasibility of the multiplexed detection principle using both single and multiple channel sensors. The multiplexed detection principle can be extended to a larger number of channels to further improve the throughput.
Low power bus coding techniques considering inter-wire capacitances

The power dissipation associated with driving data buses can be significant, especially considering the increasing component of inter-wire capacitance. Previous work on bus encoding has focused on minimizing transitions to reduce power dissipation. In this paper, it is shown that transition reduction is not necessarily the best approach for reducing power when the effects of inter-wire capacitance are considered. An electrical model for data buses designed with submicron technologies is presented and a family of coding techniques is proposed that can reduce the average power consumption of the bus by 40%.
Public Administration Computing Education in Public Administration Journals and Textbooks

This article evaluates the ability of public administration programs to provide computing education by surveying current textbooks' and general public administration journals' treatment of the topic since 1985. Three highly respected journals and six textbooks were studied. The journals were found to barely treat the topic of computing, whether as a main focus or as merely a mention in articles. The textbooks also barely mentioned computing. In addition, there was no consistent rubric or chapter topic under which computing was discussed. It was found that the articles that mention computing were authored by a variety of people in academia and government; by people in the West, Midwest, South, and East; and by both women and men.
The Neuroscience of Mammalian Associative Learning

Mammalian associative learning is organized into separate anatomically defined functional systems. We illustrate the organization of two of these systems, Pavlovian fear conditioning and Pavlovian eyeblink conditioning, by describing studies using mutant mice, brain stimulation and recording, brain lesions and direct pharmacological manipulations of specific brain regions. The amygdala serves as the neuroanatomical hub of the former, whereas the cerebellum is the hub of the latter. Pathways that carry information about signals for biologically important events arrive at these hubs by circuitry that depends on stimulus modality and complexity. Within the amygdala and cerebellum, neural plasticity occurs because of convergence of these stimuli and the biologically important information they predict. This neural plasticity is the physical basis of associative memory formation, and although the intracellular mechanisms of plasticity within these structures share some similarities, they differ significantly. T...
Knowledge-guided left ventricular boundary detection

Interpolation of X-ray motion pictures of the heart (cineventiculograms of the left ventricle) is complicated by the low contrast of the images and the elastic motion of the heart. Here, the problem of placing the heart boundary in each frame of the motion sequence is described by a framework for the application of knowledge in the form of diagnostically relevant models of the heart in motion. A blackboard architecture is utilized as a basis for the image interpretation. In this architecture, local features such as edges are grouped to build a complete description of the moving heart; the knowledge is organized in a hierarchy with knowledge sources (KSs) operating on different levels of the hierarchy and opportunistic problem-solving techniques are used to control the order of activation of both data-directed and goal-driven sources. >
Constructing an understanding of mind with Peers

Carpendale & Lewis (C&L) stress the importance of social interaction for social understanding, but focus on the adult-child relationship. In the present commentary, we discuss the development of social understanding within early peer relationships. We argue that peer interaction stretches the limits of early social understanding, thereby providing both unique challenges and unique opportunities for constructing an understanding of others' minds.
A Dosimetric Study of Inhomogeneous Dose Delivery: A Novel Approach to Dose Escalation

Materials/Methods: The study included volumetric modulated arc plans obtained with an Eclipse planning system from 11 localized prostatecancer cases. The clinical targetvolume (CTV) was the prostategland. The planningtargetvolume (PTV) was an expansion of CTV by 3 mm posteriorly and 4 mm in other directions. The prescribed dose (PD) to the PTV was 40 Gy (100%) to be delivered in 5 fractions with a RapidArc technique, similar to an ongoing SBRT protocol in our department. The intent in this exercise was to perform dose escalation within the PTV by increasing mean doses, rather than the minimum or peripheral doses. To create PTV dose inhomogeneity, a PTV sub-volume was defined to receive a higher dose. This high-dose volume (HDV) was created by shrinking the CTV by 5 mm and subtracting the urethral volume with a margin of 3 mm. The HDV was intended to receive at least 150% of the PD with no maximal dose limit. The mean PTV was 90 cc (range 54 to 127 cc). The HDV represented an average of 24% of the prostate PTV volume (range 15 to 38%). Rectal and bladder constraints were the same at: 50%\40 Gy, 20%\32 Gy, 12%\36 Gy, and 8%\40 Gy. Results: The profiles of the PTV dosevolume histograms resemble those achieved with high dose rate brachytherapy of the prostate. With respect to the target areas, the average PTV dose was 132% of the PD (range 110 to 140%). The HDV received an average of 155% of the PD (range 120 to 183%). The average of the HDV maximal doses was 195% of the PD (range 128.3 to 236.3%). Critical structure constraints were met in all cases. Overall, the mean rectal volume receiving 36 Gy was\5% (range 3 to 11%); the mean bladder volume receiving 36 Gy was\3% (range 1 to 12%) The urethral mean dose was 106% of the PD (range 91 to 128%). Conclusions:In this study, allowing dose inhomogeneity within the prostategland resulted in large dose escalation without compromiseofcriticalnormaltissues.Brachytherapytargetdose/volumeprofilescanbesafelyachievedwiththisnovelexternalbeam technique. Author Disclosure: N.G. Nickols: None. N. Agazaryan: None. C. King: None. P. Lee: None. M. Steinberg: None. P. Kupelian: None.
Mining associative decision rules in decision tables through attribute value reduction

There are many algorithms and approaches developed to induce decision rules in decision/information tables. Basically, these methods share a common idea: reduction, including row reduction, column reduction, and cell reduction. Most solutions based on the rough set theory integrate these three reductions in the above order, where column reduction is performed by finding attribute reducts and cell reduction is conducted via value reduction. Since there may exist various attribute reducs, many efforts have been put on seeking the best or optimal reduct in the sense of accurate decisions. However, different attribute reducts are only equivalent in the circumstance of the given decision table. The decision rules that are induced from different attribute reducts are not replaceable each other for the coming objects in the future. On the other hand, value reduction is to reduce the decision rules to a logically equivalent minimal subset of minimal length. Traditionally, the value reduct has been searched through the attribute reduct. This method may miss important decision rules. In this paper, a novel method is presented to find associative decision rules in a decision table by value reduction only using the association rule mining technology. Value reduction is conducted in a bottom-up fashion to induce the decision rules without finding any attribute reducts. Our method is described and demonstrated with an illustrative example.
The Demand for M1 in the U.S.A., 1960–1988

Estimated U.S. M1 demand functions appear unstable, regularly "breaking down," over 1960–1988 (e.g. missing money, great velocity decline, M1-explosion). We propose a money demand function whose arguments include inflation, real income, long-term bond yield and risk, T-bill interest rates, and learning curve weighted yields on newly introduced instruments in M1 and non-transactions M2. The model is estimated in dynamic error-correction form; it is constant and, with an equation standard error of 0–4%, variance-dominates most previous models. Estimating alternative specifications explains earlier "breakdowns," showing the model's distinctive features to be important in accounting for the data.
Social metacognitive judgments: The role of retrieval-induced forgetting in person memory and impressions☆

Retrieval is a “memory modiWer” (R.A. Bjork, 1975) in two senses: information retrieved from memory becomes more recallable; and, other information associated with the same cues becomes less recallable. Over time, therefore, retrieval processes act to update, shape, and sometimes distort our memories, including, presumably, memories involved in our feelings toward others. This paper reports several experiments exploring the role of retrieval-induced forgetting in maintaining and modifying impressions; more speciWcally, whether we monitor or use the retrieval accessibility of memories about other people to make and adjust our impressions of them. Participants who practiced retrieving neutral characteristics associated with target individuals exhibited retrieval-induced forgetting of positive or negative characteristics also associated with such individuals, but such impaired retrieval did not aVect subsequent likeability ratings. Findings suggest that impairing retrieval access to speciWc information does not, in of itself, lead to changes in judgments originally based on such information.
REGENERATION OF NORTHERN RED OAK: POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF COMPETITOR REMOVAL

The decreased ability of northern red oak (Quercus rubra) to regenerate throughout its range in the eastern United States has important ecological and economic implications. We studied regeneration of northern red oak in oak and pine stands on moderately productive sites in northern Lower Michigan. Our objectives were (1) to investigate the hypothesis that regeneration of northern red oak is more successful in pine than in oak stands and (2) to test whether removal of potential overstory and understory competitors increases regeneration success on moderately productive sites. Northern red oak acorns and 2-yr-old nursery seedlings were planted in spring 1991 in three natural oak stands and three red pine (Pinus resinosa) plantations on comparable, moderately productive sites. Each stand contained four canopy cover treatments: clearcut, 25% cover (50% the first year), 75% cover, and uncut. Each canopy cover treatment contained four understory treatments: herb-layer removal, shrub-layer removal, litter remov...
Youth culture(s)

Youth cultures have had an important influence on shaping the consumption patterns of both youth and adults. A crucial stimulant to distinct youth cultures are extended years schooling, with young people spending most of their time interacting with age peers. While youth cultures have had their most obvious affect in developed countries this has spread to most societies. Because of their sheer numbers, youth in less developed countries are likely to have the most important impact on future levels and forms of consumption, and hence on the world's economy and environment. Keywords: age, consumerism; identity; sociology of groups; sociology of popular culture
Dealing With Unexpected Moving Obstacles By Integrating Potential Field Planning With Inverse Dynamics Control

We present a motion planning/control system that deals with moving obstacles whose trajectories are not known a priori. An artificial potential field planner is tightly coupled with a robust inverse dynamic controller, allowing the robot to avoid obstacles in realtime while retaining the benefits of inverse dynamic control. Our implementation of the artificial potential field planner uses digital filtering techniques to shape the input signal to the inverse dynamic controller, so that system’s response to moving obstacles will depend, not only on the position of those obstacles, but also on their velocity relative to the robot. We prove stability along solution trajectories of the system in the absence of obstacles, and discuss stability issues that arise when obstacles are present.
Siblingrivalry: online autotuning through local competitions

Modern high performance libraries, such as ATLAS and FFTW, and programming languages, such as PetaBricks, have shown that autotuning computer programs can lead to significant speedups. However, autotuning can be burdensome to the deployment of a program, since the tuning process can take a long time and should be re-run whenever the program, microarchitecture, execution environment, or tool chain changes. Failure to re-autotune programs often leads to widespread use of sub-optimal algorithms. With the growth of cloud computing, where computations can run in environments with unknown load and migrate between different (possibly unknown) microarchitectures, the need for online autotuning has become increasingly important.We present SiblingRivalry, a new model for always-on online autotuning that allows parallel programs to continuously adapt and optimize themselves to their environment. In our system, requests are processed by dividing the available cores in half, and processing two identical requests in parallel on each half. Half of the cores are devoted to a known safe program configuration, while the other half are used for an experimental program configuration chosen by our self-adapting evolutionary algorithm. When the faster configuration completes, its results are returned, and the slower configuration is terminated. Over time, this constant experimentation allows programs to adapt to changing dynamic environments and often outperform the original algorithm that uses the entire system.
Graph-based submodular selection for extractive summarization

We propose a novel approach for unsupervised extractive summarization. Our approach builds a semantic graph for the document to be summarized. Summary extraction is then formulated as optimizing submodular functions defined on the semantic graph. The optimization is theoretically guaranteed to be near-optimal under the framework of submodularity. Extensive experiments on the ICSI meeting summarization task on both human transcripts and automatic speech recognition (ASR) outputs show that the graph-based submodular selection approach consistently outperforms the maximum marginal relevance (MMR) approach, a concept-based approach using integer linear programming (ILP), and a recursive graph-based ranking algorithm using Google's PageRank.
Environmental Controls of Reproduction and Early Growth of Lindera melissifolia (Lauraceae)

ABSTRACT Lindera melissifolia is a federally endangered endemic shrub of the southeastern United States. Numerous populations are gender-biased. The goal of this study was to determine environmental conditions most appropriate for establishment and growth of seedlings and adult females. Seedlings were grown under varied moisture and light to compare growth rates and morphological ratios. Seedlings were clipped to simulate two levels of disturbance, and their shoot sprouting ability was assessed. Densities of adult flowering stems, co-occurring species, and solar transmittance were analyzed within two North Carolina populations. The lowest levels of light resulted in decreased growth, but light and moisture did not interact to affect seedling growth rate significantly. Morphological ratios and growth responses followed patterns expected for plants exhibiting plasticity in response to varied light levels, but not to moisture. Clipping immature plants below root collars decreased survivorship to 31%. Growth ...
High-Risk Multiple Myeloma: Does it Still Exist?

Abstract Major improvement milestones in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) include the introduction of the melphalan/prednisone combination in the 1960s, high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplant in the 1980s, and the more recent introduction of the novel agents thalidomide, lenalidomide, and bortezomib. Historically, age and eligibility for autologous stem cell transplantation were the primary basis for treatment selection, but, from a biologic standpoint, MM therapy was "one size fits all," in that therapy was not tailored based on molecular or other features that define subtypes of MM. Recently, novel therapies have extended overall survival for the broad spectrum of patients with myeloma. Moreover, newer data demonstrate that novel therapies may ameliorate the prognostic impact of predictors of high risk and poor outcome in MM, which suggests that patients with MM and with high-risk disease should receive novel agents. Such approaches may constitute nascent steps toward individualized therapy, ie, the selection of highly effective therapies based on specific features exhibited by an individual patient's MM. However, prospective data that demonstrate the validity of these approaches are lacking. Definitive, multi-institutional clinical trials are required before redefining standards of myeloma care based on this approach.
MIGRATION AND THE PURSUIT OF EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN MEXICO.

Educational attainment in rural Mexico is increasingly structured by migration opportunities. The rise in adult US migration increases potential funding for adolescents to stay in school but may also decrease incentives for them to do so. Domestic migration flows can fund schooling locally, and may also support students’ own movement for education when opportunities in rural communities are limited. We study these processes using survey and focus group data from rural villages in southern Mexico undergoing rapid changes in migration and education opportunities. We find evidence that education trajectories are intimately linked with adolescents’ exposure to migration in their communities, and that gender plays an important role in structuring these effects. We also document the increasing importance of adolescent movement to peri-urban and urban centers to complete secondary education, a pathway of schooling acquisition that is itself influenced by adult migration patterns in their communities.
THE DECAY OF A THERMALIZED NEUTRON PULSE

A theoretical basis is presented for the interpretation of the pulsed- neutron technique for measuring thermalneutron absorption cross sections and transport parameters. A procedure is given for the exact solution of the Fourier- transformed, multivelocity transport equation in an infinite medium. The method used is an expansion of the decay constant and neutron spectrum in a power series in the Fourier-transform variable. The procedure is first illustrated for the case of isotropic scattering and then generalized to anisotropic scattering by using the spherical harmonics expansion. The results are given in terms of integral equations whose solution involves a knowledge of the energy-transfer cross sections between thermal neutrons and the moderating material. The approuch employed is to extract the maximum amount of information which is independent of these cross sections and to derive expiicitly the equations involving them. The relation of the infinite medium Fourier transform variable to the geometric buckiing of a finite sample is discussed. The validity of the interpretation of the experiments in terms of the diffusion coefficient and diffusion cooling coefficient by requiring the assignment of an equivalent infinite medium buckling to each finite sample measured is discussed. (auth)
Marine foraging ecology influences mercury bioaccumulation in deep-diving northern elephant seals.

Mercury contamination of oceans is prevalent worldwide and methylmercury concentrations in the mesopelagic zone (200–1000 m) are increasing more rapidly than in surface waters. Yet mercury bioaccumulation in mesopelagic predators has been understudied. Northern elephant seals ( Mirounga angustirostris ) biannually travel thousands of kilometres to forage within coastal and open-ocean regions of the northeast Pacific Ocean. We coupled satellite telemetry, diving behaviour and stable isotopes (carbon and nitrogen) from 77 adult females, and showed that variability among individuals in foraging location, diving depth and δ 13 C values were correlated with mercury concentrations in blood and muscle. We identified three clusters of foraging strategies, and these resulted in substantially different mercury concentrations: (i) deeper-diving and offshore-foraging seals had the greatest mercury concentrations, (ii) shallower-diving and offshore-foraging seals had intermediate levels, and (iii) coastal and more northerly foraging seals had the lowest mercury concentrations. Additionally, mercury concentrations were lower at the end of the seven-month-long foraging trip ( n = 31) than after the two-month- long post-breeding trip ( n = 46). Our results indicate that foraging behaviour influences mercury exposure and mesopelagic predators foraging in the northeast Pacific Ocean may be at high risk for mercury bioaccumulation.
Presidential Leadership and the Challenge of Global Climate Change

This article examines the kind of leadership our new president may reasonably be expected to provide with respect to the looming problem of global climate disruption. After an overview of recent scientific findings respecting the causes and the present and potential impacts of greenhouse gas emissions, the piece identifies a set of politically unique aspects of climate change that present unique challenges to a president's ability to lead. Following a survey of the writings of a selected set of presidential scholars who have examined the ways in which American presidents can and do set and influence national policy, the article suggests that our 44th president should attract a top team of advisers, fashion a practical, workable program to address global warming, take the diplomatic initiative on the issue, coordinate his efforts with those of influential members of Congress, employ effective public persuasion, and carefully craft unilateral actions that will dramatize the climate change problem and take at least modest steps to eliminate it. The article further concludes that although these steps may be effective at moving policy forward, there remain practical constraints on presidential power that limit the extent to which any president can tackle climate change issues.
Edmund Spenser's Anti-Catholicism: Duessa's Part in it All

ABSTRACT This research looks at Edmund Spenser's The Faerie Queene, one of the earliest and most celebrated pieces of epic poetry in the English language. While it has long been recognized that Spenser's work participates in the agenda of the Protestant Reformation, this research illustrates that Spenser's work is much more than a reflection of the norms of the Elizabethan period. Using the character of Duessa as a focal point, this research illuminates the ways in which Spenser used The Faerie Queene to not just echo but present his idiosyncratic stance on the threat of Catholicism to the English people.
The Aspatial Economics of Virtual Worlds

This article compares and contrasts the economic geography of the physical world with that of virtual worlds, with an analytical focus on the spatial (and aspatial) characteristics of Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo II (released in 2000) and its massively multiplayer online roleplaying game World of Warcraft (released in 2004). The purpose of this article is to show that although virtual worlds are not immune to aspatial economic laws, geographic constraints on economic interaction in virtual worlds are optional inclusions. Virtual world designers can manage the inclusion, disinclusion, and degree of emphasis on space and place in order to carefully craft a specific user experience. Hence, even though virtual worlds may provide the illusion of operating in a spatially bounded environment, the underlying mechanics of the world may not have spatial constraints. Nevertheless, the article concludes that there still remains a role for geographic analysis in virtual worlds, especially because, though space may be deemphasized, virtual world designers still may go to great effort to emphasize place to create the users’ experiences. Further, the study of the economics of virtual worlds may provide insight into possible future economic situations of the physical world as increasingly more physical goods become digital.
Buzz: Urban Beekeeping and the Power of the Bee Lisa Jean Moore and Mary Kosut. New York: New York University Press, 2013.

Buzz: Urban Beekeeping and the Power of the Bee Lisa Jean Moore and Mary Kosut. New York: New York University Press, 2013.After three years of research, Moore and Kosut admit that bees "cannot be wholly contained, not in a hive or in theory, at least not permanently" (19). That truth conveys the frustrating charm of their book about the sociology of the interaction between bees and their keepers in America's largest city.During the first decade of the twenty-first century, beekeeping was banned within New York City. It was an unenforced regulation that had little effect on the practice. After reports that the bee population worldwide was gradually declining due to a mysterious phenomenon named Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), the city lifted the ban.Sociologists Moore and Kosut, teaching in Purchase College-SU NY and living in Brooklyn, responded to what they call the buzz about beekeeping. They thought it would be a doable and enjoyable project to study the tribal subculture of those whose urge to merge with nature took place within Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx, a remarkably unnatural environment of smog, flat rooftops (a favorite spot for urban beekeepers), asphalt streets, and concrete sidewalks. Studying an insect, they found, eliminated the bureaucratic hurdles usually faced by professional scholars. There was no need to file the standard approval or consent forms with the Institutional Review Board. Unlike human subjects, bees are not protected from invasive interviewing techniques. There was also no need to obtain permission from the animal rights organizations. Unlike dogs, cats, and reptiles, bees are not even protected by the American Veterinary Medical Association. That attitude-a casual sort of speciesism-became one of the unexpected aspects of Moore and Kosut's study.They read up on the life of bees, signed up for a sixmonth class about urban beekeeping, visited hives, and talked to practitioners. Turns out, one of the attractions for the urban hobbyist is the ease of getting started. It doesn't take much money or space: three pounds of bees, a queen, and a wooden box. Yet the importance of bees to human life is staggering. Without bees to pollinate crops, certain sources of food might become prohibitively scarce or disappear altogether. To take one prominent example, almond orchards depend almost entirely on forced bee pollination (driving flatbed trucks full of bee hives to the field for the growing season). …
Integrated Aeroramp-Injector/Plasma-Torch Igniter for Methane and Ethylene Fueled Scramjets

An integrated aeroramp-injector/plasma-torch igniter configuration has been experimentally tested in conditions simulating scramjet flight at a Mach number of 4. Ethylene (C2H4) and methane (CH4) were used as fuels with air as the torch feedstock gas. A range of equivalence ratios (φ) were tested to determine operability limits. Successful combustion was determined by observing wall-static pressure rise in the facility, as well as wall temperature increases. A long isolator in the facility allowed for dual-mode operation, and both subsonic and supersonic combustion modes with good efficiency were observed with ethylene fuel. Poor results were obtained with methane in the same configuration as was successful with ethylene. The GASP numerical solver was used to evaluate the suitability of the plasma torch location with respect to the aeroramp injector center. An analysis of the mixing of each fuel through the aeroramp indicated that the selected torch location for methane was not ideal, as opposed to the ethylene case, for which it was predicted as good. The predictions were in accord with the experimental results. This lends confidence to the idea that CFD can be used to help select a better configuration for methane.
The Dynamics of the Two-Level Bargaining Game: The 1988 Brazilian Debt Negotiations

This study examines the case of the Brazilian debt rescheduling agreement of 1988 as a two-level game in which each of the two main negotiators—the Brazilian state and the international bank advisory committee—must satisfy its own constituents while trying to negotiate an international agreement. It is argued that the interaction between the domestic and international levels must be understood in order to explain the outcomes of international debt negotiations. This article draws on Robert Putnam's concept of the two-level game in international politics and on a wider literature concerning the influence of domestic political considerations in international negotiations to demonstrate that such an analysis can explain the process and outcome of the 1988 agreement, where a unitary negotiating level fails to predict the final result. The two-level model explains how domestic constraints and opportunities affect international outcomes, and it highlights the importance of the ratification process.
The Good Mother: A New Look at Psychological Parent Theory

Professor Davis argues that child welfare planning should be redirected to take account of two developments in the human sciences: 1) rejection of the monotropic view of child development in favor of a family system view, and 2) a growing conviction that cognitive and emotional growth require encouragement of child-caregiver relationships in which the child learns to recognize and accept the autonomy of others. The first development teaches us that children can - and should - have multiple bonds. The second development teaches us that the inevitability of separations can be managed consciously and used constructively in the maturation process.
Distribution of Clostridium botulinum in the Environment of Shijiazhuang

Objective To explore the distribution of Clostridium botulinum in environment,so as to provide scientific basis for the prevention,diagnosis and treatment of food borne botulism in Shijiazhuang district. Method According to the landform,350 soil,water and food samples from 8 areas of Shijiazhuang were evenly collected for testing Clostridium botulinum. Results Clostridium botulinum was detected in 15 samples ( 4. 3% ). Type B Clostridium botulinum was detected in 12 samples,and type A Clostridium botulinum was detected in 3 samples. The contamination rates in areas where food borne botulism have occurred were higher than areas where no food borne botulism have occurred (P 0. 05). The contamination rates between mountainous and plain areas was not significantly different. Conclusion The prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in Shijiazhuang district was higher than before,and type A Clostridium botulinum is present in these areas.
262 MEASUREMENT OF DEUTERATED ISOTOPES OF CAFFEINE USING CAPILLARY GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY-MASS SPECTROMETRY.

Background Clearance of caffeine depends upon specific hepatic metabolic pathways and its measurement, which quantitates liver metabolic function, requires multiple samples for up to 3 days. Herein we describe a method for measuring deuterated isotopes of caffeine to allow determination of clearance from single samples of serum. Methods Caffeine concentrations range from 100 to 6,000 ng/mL 24 h after a single oral dose of 300 mg. Deuterated caffeine (D3 and D9), unlabeled caffeine, and phenacetin (500 ng/mL) were added to five separate samples of calf serum and extracted with methylene chloride after alkalinization. The methylene chloride layer was dried and reconstituted in 50 μL of acetone. Compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with an initial oven temperature of 40°C for 0.55 min, increasing at 50∫/min to 280°C, held isothermally at 280°C for 4 min, and quantified by selected ion monitoring (m/z 179, 194, 197, and 203) using calibration curves with phenacetin as internal standard. Results The correlation coefficients for the calibration curves were 0.995, 0.996, and 0.995 for unlabeled, D3 and D9 caffeines, respectively. X ± SD and coefficients of variance (CV) for unlabeled caffeine (2,800 ng/mL) and D3 and D9 (400 ng/mL each) were 2,800 ± 109, 3.9%; 411 ± 18, 4.4%; and 385 ± 16 ng/mL, 4.2%, respectively. Instrument precision was 99.50%, 99.38%, and 99.51%, respectively. These concentrations reflect expected concentrations in human serum 4 h after an oral dose of 300 mg of total caffeine at a molar ratio D3 (or D9): unlabeled caffeine of 1:7. X ± SD, CV of unlabeled caffeine (600 ng/mL), and D3 and D9 (150 ng/mL each) were 539 ± 61, 11%; 143 ± 12, 8.4%; and 135 ± 16 ng/mL, 12% with precision of 98.73%, 99.43%, and 99.22%, respectively. These concentrations reflect expected concentrations in serum 24 h after an oral dose of 300 mg total caffeine with a molar ratio of D3 (or D9): unlabeled caffeine of 1:4. Conclusions Our method precisely and accurately quantifies caffeine and deuterated isotopes over concentration ranges achieved after oral dosing with 300 mg caffeine.
242 HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES IN AFRICAN AMERICAN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.

Background Disparities in the treatment of asymptomatic diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) may result in more rapid progression toward end-stage renal disease. Our hypothesis is that elimination of these disparities will slow the progression of this disease. Objective The purpose of this study is to investigate the disparities in asymptomatic CKD patients as a first step in the development of interventions to eliminate HCD in an African American cohort. Methods We prospectively enrolled 115 patients from the University Renal Clinic who have a MDRD-estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between 7 and 75 mL/min/1.7 m≤. All patients completed a SF-36 quality of life survey and a locus of control survey, in which the patient defines who has responsibility for his health. These data plus level of education, income, and insurance status were correlated with the following factors: age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), serum creatinine (SCr), MDRD-GFR, and compliance with appointments and number of medications. Results The patient characteristics (n = 115) were 62% female, 38% male, 21% without insurance, 23% with Medicaid, 38% Medicare, and 15% other. Eighty-one percent had an annual family income Conclusion From this cross-sectional analysis of African American CKD patients, we conclude that lower GFR and quality of life correlate with older age, lower socioeconomic status, lack of compliance with follow-up, and beliefs that transfer responsibility for health to providers.
Serological and Molecular Detection of Senecavirus A Associated with an Outbreak of Swine Idiopathic Vesicular Disease and Neonatal Mortality

We performed a longitudinal field study in a swine breeding herd that presented with an outbreak of vesicular disease (VD) that was associated with an increase in neonatal mortality. Initially, a USDA Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) investigation confirmed the presence of Senecavirus A (SVA) and ruled out the presence of exotic agents that produce vesicular lesions, e.g., foot-and-mouth disease virus and others. Subsequently, serum samples, tonsil swabs, and feces were collected from sows (n = 22) and their piglets (n = 33) beginning 1 week after the onset of the clinical outbreak and weekly for 6 weeks. The presence of SVA RNA was evaluated in all specimens collected by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) targeting a conserved region of the 5' untranslated region (5'-UTR). The serological response (IgG) to SVA was evaluated by the weekly testing of sow and piglet serum samples on a SVA VP1 recombinant protein (rVP1) indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The rVP1 ELISA detected seroconversion against SVA in clinically affected and non-clinically affected sows at early stages of the outbreak as well as maternal SVA antibodies in offspring. Overall, the absence of vesicles (gross lesions) in SVA-infected animals and the variability of RT-qPCR results among specimen type demonstrated that a diagnostic algorithm based on the combination of clinical observations, RT-qPCR in multiple diagnostic specimens, and serology are essential to ensure an accurate diagnosis of SVA.
"Dine to Your Heart's Content": an assessment of the program in Virginia.

The "Dine to Your Heart's Content" program in Virginia was examined from the perspectives of both patrons and restaurateurs. Both groups were tested on knowledge of food composition relative to fats and oils. Additionally, restaurateurs responded to questions concerning the need for nutrition education for their personnel. Eighty-eight percent of the 178 patrons expressed an interest in following a heart-healthy diet: 55% maintained that they always or often were motivated by health-related considerations when selecting menu items. The most important characteristics of the menu items (5-point scale, 1 = least important) were reported to be low cholesterol (3.85 +/- 1.01), low saturated fat (3.77 +/- 1.05), low total fat (3.76 +/- 1.03), low sodium (3.69 +/- 1.15), and low calorie (3.57 +/- 1.13). Fifty-seven percent of the patrons were aware of the program, but most of them dined in participating restaurants less than half of the time they dined out. There were no significant differences between the scores of patrons and restaurant personnel regarding knowledge of fat and oil content of foods. The overall mean score for the entire group was 6.09 +/- 3.4 points out of a possible 13 points. Restaurateurs cited nutrition education for waitstaff and assistance in the identification of appropriate menu items as aspects of the program most in need of further development. The major disadvantage of the program cited was potential negative attention drawn to some menu items. Overall, however, restaurateurs concurred that the advantages of participation in the program outweighed the disadvantages. All of them stated that the major advantage of the program was the ease with which a public service could be provided to their patrons while, simultaneously, the image of the restaurant was enhanced.
The Collecting Duct

The collecting duct is the terminal segment of the mammalian renal tubule, operating as the conduit for urine flow from several different nephrons to the renal calyces, and therefore is the final site for converting glomerular filtrate into urine. Two characteristics of the collecting duct are particularly germane to this major homeostatic function: The collecting duct is an electrically tight epithelium able to generate and/or maintain steep transepithelial concentration gradients for ions, including protons, nonelectrolytes, and water; and the transport properties of the collecting duct are subject to modulation by external variables, notably the hormones aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone.
Material feature representation and identification with composite surfacelets

Abstract Computer-aided materials design requires new modeling approaches to characterize and represent fine-grained geometric structures and material compositions at multiple scales. Recently, a dual-Rep approach was developed to model materials microstructures based on a new basis function, called surfacelet. As a combination of implicit surface and wavelets, surfacelets can efficiently identify and represent planar, cylindrical, and ellipsoidal geometries in material microstructures and describe the distribution of compositions and properties. In this paper, these primitive surfacelets are extended and composite surfacelets are proposed to model more complex geometries. Composite surfacelets are constructed by Boolean operations on the primitives. The surfacelet transform is applied to match geometric features in three-dimensional images. The composition of the material near the identified features can then be modeled. A cubic surfacelet and a v-joint surfacelet are developed to demonstrate the reverse engineering process of retrieving material compositions from material images.