cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Statistical Techniques in Estimating Uncollected Pavement-Condition Data

AbstractThe automated techniques used to collect pavement conditions on county roads are relatively expensive for local agencies. This study evaluates the possibility of reducing the amount of pavement condition data collected in each survey to optimize the costs of data collection. This study applies multiple imputation analyses as an assistant tool to estimate the uncollected condition data at the network level. Another objective of this study is to determine the most cost-effective pavement condition data collection frequencies. By using a case study of secondary paved highways in Wyoming, it was concluded that uncollected condition indices can be predicted using the initial/historical values. The imputation models developed in this paper provide good estimations. Cost analysis of county roads for two counties demonstrates the significant amounts of cost saving when applying the proposed imputation strategy during data collection process. Therefore, pavement condition data is not recommended to be coll...
Superresolution imaging with contact microspheres: Importance of numerical aperture

Optical nanoscopy with contact microlenses emerged as a simple method which allows overcoming the classical diffraction limit represented by the Abbe's formula. The mechanisms of such imaging are debated in the literature including photonic nanojets, plasmon-polaritons, localized surface plasmon resonances and coherent modal excitations in metallic objects, as well as optical resonances in microspherical lenses. The system containing metallic nano-object coupled to a dielectric microsphere can be considered as a directional antenna. This means that the dependence of the resolution on the numerical aperture (NA) of the microscope objective can be different from that predicted by the Abbe formula. In this work, we tested this hypothesis experimentally and showed that reduction of NA from 0.95 to 0.6 leads to a decrease in resolution from ∼ λ/7 to ∼ λ/4, where λ is the illumination wavelength.
Antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial colonies: An assay and experiments with Staphylococcus aureus.

A method is presented to evaluate in vitro the efficacy of antibiotics to treat bacteria growing as discrete colonies on surfaces and the contribution of the colony structure to the antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria. Using this method, we explored the relative efficacy of six bactericidal and three bacteriostatic antibiotics to inhibit the growth and kill Staphylococcus aureus colonies of different sizes, densities and ages. As measured by the reduction in viable cell density relative to untreated controls, of the bactericidal drugs tested ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were most effective. By this criteria, ampicillin was more effective than oxacillin. Daptomycin and vancomycin were virtually ineffective for treating S. aureus growing as colonies. The bacteriostatic antibiotic tested, tetracycline, linezolid and erythromycin were all able to prevent the growth of S. aureus colonies and did so even more effectively than daptomycin, which is highly bactericidal in liquid culture. The results of these experiments and other observations suggest that relative inefficacy of oxacillin, vancomycin and daptomycin to kill S. aureus in colonies is due to the density and physiological state of the bacteria rather than the inability of these drugs to penetrate the colonies. The methods developed here are general and can be used to explore the efficacy of antibiotics to treat bacteria growing in biofilms as well as discrete colonies.
Dependability enhancing mechanisms for integrated clinical environments

In this article, we present a set of lightweight mechanisms to enhance the dependability of a safety-critical real-time distributed system referred to as an integrated clinical environment (ICE). In an ICE, medical devices are interconnected and work together with the help of a supervisory computer system to enhance patient safety during clinical operations. Inevitably, there are strong dependability requirements on the ICE. We introduce a set of mechanisms that essentially make the supervisor component a trusted computing base, which can withstand common hardware failures and malicious attacks. The mechanisms rely on the replication of the supervisor component and employ only one input-exchange phase into the critical path of the operation of the ICE. Our analysis shows that the runtime latency overhead is much lower than that of traditional approaches.
Optimizing a Retail Promotional Calendar by Mixed Integer, Linear Programming

This paper formulates a linear programming model for determining an optimal promotional calendar for retail seasonal planning. The objective is to maximize the total season profit, subject to given resource constraints and seasonal variations, by selecting from a finite set of possible promotion policies that can be used each week.
Mechanical Thrombectomy Outcomes With and Without Intravenous Thrombolysis in Stroke Patients: A Meta-Analysis.

Background and Purpose— Whether prior intravenous thrombolysis provides any additional benefits to the patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel, acute ischemic stroke remains unclear. Methods— We conducted a meta-analysis of 13 studies obtained through PubMed and EMBASE database searches to determine whether functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale) at 90 days, successful recanalization rate, and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate differed between patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy with (MT+IVT) and without (MT−IVT) pre-treatment with intravenous thrombolysis. Results— MT+IVT patients compared with MT−IVT patients had better functional outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score, 0–2; summary odds ratio [OR], 1.27 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05–1.55]; P =0.02; n=1769/1174), lower mortality (OR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.55–0.91]; P =0.006; n=1774/1202), and higher rate of successful recanalization (OR, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.09–1.96]; P =0.01; n=1652/1216) without having increased odds of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 0.69–1.77]; P =0.67; n=1471/1143). A greater number of MT+IVT patients required ≤2 passes with a neurothrombectomy device to achieve successful recanalization (OR, 2.06 [95% CI, 1.37–3.10]; P =0.0005; n=316/231). Conclusions— Our results demonstrated that MT+IVT patients had better functional outcomes, lower mortality, higher rate of successful recanalization, requiring lower number of device passes, and equal odds of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage compared with MT−IVT patients. The results support the current guidelines of offering intravenous thrombolysis to eligible patients even if they are being considered for mechanical thrombectomy. Because the data are compiled from studies where the 2 groups differed based on eligibility for intravenous thrombolysis, randomized trials are necessary to accurately evaluate the added value of intravenous thrombolysis in patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy.
Impulsively-Generated Pressure Transients and Strains in a Cylindrical Fluid-Filled Tube Terminated by a Converging Section

The syringe in a subcutaneous autoinjector may be subjected to internal pressure transients due to the normal operation of the injection mechanism. These transients are similar to transients in fluid-filled pipelines observed during water hammer events. In this paper, the effect of an air gap in the syringe and a converging section are studied experimentally and numerically in a model system which consists of a fluid-filled metal tube that is impulsively loaded with a projectile to simulate the action of the autoinjector mechanism operation. The air between the buffer and the water results in a complex interaction between the projectile and the buffer. Also, there are tension waves inside the tube due to the presence of a free surface, and this causes distributed cavitation which, in turn, gives rise to steepening of the pressure waves. The converging section can amplify the pressure waves if the wave front is sharp. Pressures as high as 50 MPa have been measured at the apex of the cone with impact velocities of 5.5 m/s.
Interpersonal Practices to Help Bridge Differences

Interpersonal skills play a critical role in the development of trust and positive feelings when facilitating interpersonal and group conflict resolution. The next few papers will identify what are the building blocks for successful interpersonal conflict resolution. Also it will provide a rationale for each building block as to how it contributes to a more collaborative process when mediating in a culturally diverse setting.
Local Economic Voting and the Agricultural Boom in Argentina, 2007–2015

This article investigates the effect of local economic conditions on voting behavior by focusing on the export-oriented agricultural areas of Argentina during the commodities boom. It assesses the marginal effect of export wealth on electoral outcomes by studying the impact of soybean production, the main Argentine export product during this period. The combination of rising agricultural prices and a salient national tax on exports allows us to evaluate how wealth and tax policy shape local electoral behavior. This study relies on a spatial econometric analysis of the vote across Argentine departments for the 2007–15 period, along with qualitative evidence from interviews and a descriptive analysis of government appointments.
The Role of Human Resource Development in Transitioning from Technology-Focused to People-Centered Knowledge Management

Communities of practice supported by on-line interactive technologies rapidly become one of the most efficient knowledge management tools in organizations. This chapter demonstrates that the Human Resource Development (HRD) function is uniquely positioned to implement the enabling systems for realizing the community-of-practice metaphor, which is grounded in the human capital theory and the resource-based theory of the firm. Examples of knowledge-sharing communities of practice demonstrate their central role in mobilizing the potential of the intellectual resources of the organization. The chapter includes a discussion of seven areas where HRD can play a central role in creating knowledge-sharing communities of practice. The chapter ends with a discussion of the HRD competencies and skills needed to fulfill this role.
Automating the Mentor in a Serious Game: A Discourse Analysis Using Finite State Machines

Serious games are increasingly becoming a popular, effective supplement to standard classroom instruction [1]. Similar to recreational games, multi-party chat is a standard method of communication in serious games. As players collaborate in a serious game, mentoring is often needed to facilitate progress and learning [2, 3, 4]. This role is almost exclusively provided by a human at the present time. However, the cost incurred with training a human mentor represents a critical barrier for widespread use of a collaborative epistemic game. Although great strides have been made in automating one-on-one tutorial dialogues [5, 6], multi-party chat presents a significant challenge for natural language processing. The goal of this research, then, is to provide a preliminary understanding of player-mentor conversations in the context of an epistemic game, Land Science [7].
HIV Testing Among Deep South Residents 50 to 64 Years Old With Cardiovascular Disease and/or Diabetes

Purpose To describe HIV testing among Deep South residents aged 50 to 64 years old with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or diabetes. Methods Deep South residents from Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina who completed the 2008 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey were sampled. Associations between chronic health conditions (CVD, diabetes) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing were examined. Results Fewer than one-third (30.8%) of the sample (n = 1017) reported that they had been tested for HIV. Of the weighted sample of adults tested for HIV, the mean age—56.63 ± 0.20 SE (95% confidence interval [CI], 56.24-57.03)—was significantly lower than that of those who had never been tested for HIV—57.60 ± 0.12 SE (95% CI, 57.37-57.84; p Conclusions Chronic conditions (CVD, diabetes) among HIV-infected persons can be adversely affected by antiret-roviral regimens. All adults 50 to 64 years old should be routinely offered an HIV test if their HIV serostatus is unknown, regardless of perceived risk for HIV/AIDS. Our findings suggest that linking HIV testing with routine checkups for persons with CVD and/or diabetes is a potentially missed opportunity for earlier diagnosis of HIV infection, especially among older adults who are at a greater risk of being diagnosed with AIDS within 1 year of an initial HIV-positive diagnosis.
Pagophilus groenlandicus (Harp seal)

The karyotypes are gifts of Dr. U. Amason, Lund, Sweden, and are prepared from solid tissue culture by the orcein squash method. The male comes from the St. Lawrence estuary, New found land, Canada, the female, from Kulusuk, Greenland. The X chromosomes of the female were identified by radioautography.
Mark K. Santillan, MD

Dr. Mark Santillan, MD, brings a great deal of energy to his position as Assistant Professor in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa. As an active physician in the high-risk obstetrics clinic, researcher into the causes of preeclampsia, and Clinical Research Director for the Maternal Fetal Tissue Bank, that level of energy is a must.
The MURI uncertainty monitor (MUM)

Modern military weather forecasters rely heavily on numerical models (Jones et al., 2002) to produce their forecasts. The reliability of this information is variable such that forecasters must also consider the amount of uncertainty inherent in the models’ information. The steps involved in conducting a thorough evaluation of model uncertainty are time consuming. Forecasters must answer the following questions: How accurate have the models been over the past few days? How do the model initializations compare to the observational data? How uncertain are the current model predictions? Because military forecasting is often done under time pressure, the amount of uncertainty evaluation that can be conducted is often limited. In addition, the optimal means to convey this information to the end user is not well understood. Nevertheless, the level of uncertainty in a forecast can be a crucial factor in tactical decisions.
The role of self-administered plaque control in the management of periodontal diseases: 2. motivation, techniques and assessment

The delivery of oral hygiene advice is a crucial component of the management of patients susceptible to periodontal disease. However, the complexity of the issues surrounding such advice is frequently underestimated. It is not simply a question of manual dexterity; many factors influence compliance and motivation, including lifestyle, beliefs, attitude and understanding, and such factors need to be taken into account in order to effect permanent change in a patient's habits. This article reviews these issues and examines oral hygiene techniques and methods of assessment.
Introduction to Open-Source Hardware for Science

As the successful free and open-source process is being applied to hardware, an opportunity has arisen to radically reduce the cost of experimental research in the sciences. This book is relevant to every scientist and engineer who does experimental research and employees of scientific funding agencies. A revolution is occurring where formally highly specialized, high-cost scientific equipment can be fabricated using digital designs at factor of 10–100 cost reductions. This makes science much more accessible to the general population, DIY and amateur scientists, grade school science labs, etc. It also reduces costs for our most advanced research institutes. This chapter defines the basic terms of open-source software and discusses the rise of the open-source hardware revolution and how it impacts science.
Pigmentation Disorders in the Elderly

Aging skin is subject to morphological change due to both intrinsic (skin tone, genetics, endogenous hormones) and extrinsic (chronic sun exposure, medications, exogenous pigments) factors. The broad spectrum of transformation includes both hypo- and hyperpigmentation. Although cutaneous pigmentary disorders are common in younger individuals, certain disorders are more prevalent in the geriatric population. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical appearance, treatment, and prognosis of pigmentary lesions that are predominant in the elderly.
Silicon Photonic Modulator Linearity and Optimization for Microwave Photonic Links

We experimentally demonstrate the influence of the DC Kerr effect in silicon photonic Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) and the ability to optimize the combined effects of plasma-dispersion and DC Kerr to achieve linear transfer characteristics and thus demonstrate suitability for microwave photonic links and digital modulation formats such as multilevel pulse amplitude modulation. PN and PiN doped modulators were fabricated through AIM Photonics. Intermodulation distortion products are demonstrated to have reverse bias and MZM bias dependencies advantageous for highly linear operation. The spurious-free dynamic range, gain, and noise figure are optimized by choice of phase modulator reverse bias and MZM bias point yielding analog links with spurious-free dynamic ranges greater than 100 dB·Hz2/3. The silicon modulators demonstrate link spurious-free dynamic ranges on par with a commercial lithium niobate modulator. Furthermore, we show that simulations including the DC Kerr effect can reliably predict device performance although direct prediction of analog link metrics remains challenging, and final tuning of the device operating conditions is required to achieve optimum performance.
Socioscientific Issues to Promote Content Knowledge & Socioscientific Reasoning in Puerto Rican High School Students

Socioscientific issues have proved to be excellent tools for fostering the development of higher-order thinking skills that lead to superior socioscientific reasoning and decision making. This educational construct, with a focus on a local coastal environmental situation, was incorporated into a science class of high school biology students in Puerto Rico to assess relevant content knowledge and enable socioscientific reasoning. We describe how socioscientific reasoning was introduced, implemented, and assessed and the influence it had on students during a four-week in-depth exploration on the topic.
Equation of State for Adsorption of Gases and Their Mixtures in Porous Materials

Desorption functions (G, H, S) are useful for adsorbent characterization, phase equilibria, and enthalpy and entropy balances. Adsorption isotherms, enthalpy, and entropy are temperature and pressure derivatives of the free energy, so that G(T, P) is an adsorption equation-of-state which contains complete thermodynamic information about the system. The free energy of desorption is the minimum isothermal work necessary to regenerate the adsorbent. The free energy of desorption also determines the selectivity of an adsorbent for different gases. The ideal enthalpy of desorption for a mixture (H = ∑ini h°i) is a simple function of the enthalpies of desorption for the individual components. Sample calculations of the free energy, enthalpy, and entropy desorption functions are provided for pure components and mixtures.
Noncirrhotic hyperammonemia after deceased donor kidney transplantation: A case report.

A 72-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease due to recurrent urinary tract infections and obstructive uropathy of a solitary kidney presented to our hospital for renal transplantation. She underwent successful transplantation of a deceased donor allograft, but developed acute mental status deterioration on the fifth postoperative day. Her serum ammonia was found to be markedly elevated to 447 μmol/L in the setting of normal hepatic function. She was treated with emergent dialysis and empiric antibiotics targeting urea-splitting organisms, and ultimately made a full neurologic recovery with stable renal allograft function. Noncirrhotic hyperammonemia (NCH) is an exceedingly rare clinical entity but seems to have a predilection for patients who have undergone solid organ transplantation. This report emphasizes the importance of rapid diagnosis and initiation of treatment for NCH, which is associated with a high rate of mortality and irreversible neurological morbidity. We outline the successful workup and management approach for this patient.
Regrets in Routing Networks: Measuring the Impact of Routing Apps in Traffic

The impact of the recent increase in routing apps usage on road traffic remains uncertain to this day. The article introduces, for the first time, a criterion to evaluate a distance between an observed state of traffic and the user equilibrium of the traffic assignment: the average marginal regret. The average marginal regret provides a quantitative measure of the impact of routing apps on traffic using only link flows, link travel times, and travel demand. In non-atomic routing games (or static traffic assignment models), the average marginal regret is a measure of selfish drivers’ behaviors. Unlike the price of anarchy, the average marginal regret in the routing game can be computed in polynomial time without any knowledge of user equilibria and socially optimal states of traffic. First, this article demonstrates on a small example that the average marginal regret is more appropriate to define proximity between an observed state of traffic and an user equilibrium state of traffic than comparing flows, travel times, or total cost. Then, experiments on two different models of app usage and three networks (including the whole L.A. network with more than 50,000 nodes) demonstrate that the average marginal regret decreases with an increase of app usage. Sensitivity analysis of the equilibrium state with respect to the app usage ratio proves that the average marginal regret monotonically decreases to 0 with an increase of app usage. Finally, using a toy example, the article concludes that app usage could become the new Braess paradox.
In adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, is conservative management more effective than intra-articular corticosteroid injections in relieving pain?

Clinical question In adults with osteoarthritis of the knee, do conservative management methods such as weight reduction, physical therapy, Tai Chi, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and others provide more and longer pain relief and functionality of the knee, as well as overall well-being, when compared to corticosteroid knee injections? Answer Yes. Although there are limited head-to-head trials directly comparing each alternative method to corticosteroid injections, overall evidence appears to indicate conservative methods as being more effective than injections, especially when considering long-term pain relief and functionality.
Can Gallic Acid Reform Gastric Cancer Cells

We analyzed the potential of a polyphenolic plant metabolite Gallic Acid (GA) for treating gastric cancer. AGS gastric cell line was exposed to varying concentrations of GA at several intervals, and treatment efficiency was assessed via DNA microarray gene expression signature, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunocytochemistry followed by confocal microscopy. We specifically focused on detecting the changes in Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) markers, indicative of metastatic and treatment resistant cancers. A 48 hour exposure to 100 micromolar solution of GA resulted in over 50% decrease in cells with EMT morphology, decrease of mesenchymal marker Vimentin, and increase of epithelial marker E-Cadherin. Our data suggests that GA exposure can help reverse the transformation of cancerous cells, thus aiding in faster and more efficient treatment.
Compact Design Models of Cryo and Room Temperature Si MOS, GaN, InGaAs, and p-diamond HEMT TeraFETs

The plasmonic field effect transistors structures (TeraFETs) with the varying width allow for modulation of the electron drift velocity while keeping the plasma velocity constant. The constant plasma velocity and variable electron drift velocity lead to the resonant excitation of the unstable plasma modes in the repeated sections of the varying width resulting in a strong enhancement of the plasmonic instability. This instability involves the oscillating dipole charge carried by the plasma waves. The plasmons can efficiently couple to the terahertz (THz) electromagnetic radiation due to the periodic geometry of the gated structure. Our modeling shows that such THz devices could be implemented at room temperature and at 77 K using 22 nm and 65 nm Si MOS technology. At cryogenic temperatures, plasmonic structures fabricated using standard Si MOS technology should exhibit superior performance in a wide frequency range (from 300 GHz to a few THz). A still better performance at room temperature could be achieved using 22 nm and 65 nm GaN and 22 nm, 65 nm, and even 130 nm p-diamond TeraFETs.
Models of Complex Partial Seizures: Animal Studies

In the most general way, seizures can be classified as partial or generalized. Partial seizures have a regional (focal) cerebral localization, whereas generalized (tonic–clonic) seizures occur throughout the brain. Partial complex seizures are common, occurring in about one-third of epilepsy patients. Complex partial seizure activity is also quite common in laboratory rats and mice, as well as many other animals. Complex partial seizures are characterized by: impairment of consciousness, an immediately preceding event called an aura (simple partial seizure), automatisms, and usually arise from the temporal lobe, hence are also called temporal lobe ­seizures. The nature of the impairment of consciousness is variable and may range from an inability of the patient to respond to simple commands, to an inability to respond at all.
Justice in nature-based solutions: Research and pathways

Abstract Nature-based solutions are quickly rising to the top of the sustainable urban development agenda as an ecosystem-based approach to mitigate and adapt to climate change, while also improving livelihoods and biodiversity. Achieving sustainability and resilience through nature-based solutions is an important means for cities and communities across the globe to take climate action and experiment with new forms governance, infrastructure, and planning and design. In this paper, I map the academic research structure of nature-based solutions and find that issues of social and environmental justice remain peripheral. To center justice in research and practice, I argue for a re-orientation towards just nature-based solutions—approaches that utilize the power of nature and people to transform the social, political, and economic drivers of socio-spatial inequality and environmental degradation into opportunities to create progressive, cohesive, antiracist, and social-ecologically sustainable communities. Based on the findings of the literature review and bibliometric analysis, I propose three pathways for just nature-based solutions: (1) race and class; (2) transformative co-production; and (3) value articulations. These starting points link to current principles in nature-based solutions and help bring clarity for scholars, activists, and planners on how to critically engage with the politics of environmental governance and decision-making.
Deep Interactive Learning: An Efficient Labeling Approach for Deep Learning-Based Osteosarcoma Treatment Response Assessment

Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant primary bone tumor. Standard treatment includes pre-operative chemotherapy followed by surgical resection. The response to treatment as measured by ratio of necrotic tumor area to overall tumor area is a known prognostic factor for overall survival. This assessment is currently done manually by pathologists by looking at glass slides under the microscope which may not be reproducible due to its subjective nature. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) can be used for automated segmentation of viable and necrotic tumor on osteosarcoma whole slide images. One bottleneck for supervised learning is that large amounts of accurate annotations are required for training which is a time-consuming and expensive process. In this paper, we describe Deep Interactive Learning (DIaL) as an efficient labeling approach for training CNNs. After an initial labeling step is done, annotators only need to correct mislabeled regions from previous segmentation predictions to improve the CNN model until the satisfactory predictions are achieved. Our experiments show that our CNN model trained by only 7 h of annotation using DIaL can successfully estimate ratios of necrosis within expected inter-observer variation rate for non-standardized manual surgical pathology task.
2020 Annual Summary, Impact and Reach, and Author Resources: Community College Journal of Research and Practice

During 2020, the Community College Journal of Research and Practice (CCJRP) continued a 44-year commitment to the publication of progressive, critical, and insightful scholarship authored by expert...
Research Pipeline I: Oral Therapeutics for Psoriasis

Over the last two decades, tremendous advances have been made in the treatment of psoriatic disease. Our understanding of the complex immunopathogenesis of this chronic inflammatory condition has led to the development of highly effective, safe, targeted monoclonal antibodies that result in clearance in the vast majority of treated patients. However, these recently approved therapies have multiple drawbacks and limitations that necessitate the development and testing of additional treatment modalities. To address this need, scientists and the pharmaceutical industry have pursued the identification and testing of several oral small molecules as novel treatments for plaque and psoriatic arthritis. These molecules in testing include JAK/TYK2 inhibitors, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, RORγt inhibitors, fumarate esters, sphingosine 1 phosphate antagonists, neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists, adenosine A3 receptor agonists, H4 receptor antagonists, PRINS inhibitors, and spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Land snail microclimate niches identify suitable areas for climate refugia management on a montane landscape

Abstract Climate refugia management is an emerging natural resource sub-discipline but identifying which species would benefit, their climatic requirements, and where both species and suitable conditions are located remains problematic. Land snails have species specific temperature needs and are one of the most imperiled groups of animals. The goal of our study was to 1) determine the distribution of land snails across a large 22,975 km2 study area in North America’s Pacific Northwest, 2) determine if microclimate, macroclimate, or non-microclimate variables influence species occurrence, and 3) identify microrefugia and clusters of microrefugia most suitable for land snail climate refugia management. From 2010 to 14, we stratified our study area into 5×5 km sampling cells and co-located land snail surveys with air temperature data loggers at 1–2 sites per cell for a total of 830 survey sites. We used our air temperature data to calculate standard microclimate variables and generated Random Forest models which evaluated 8 microclimate, 2 macroclimate, and 4 non-microclimate variables for 27 land snail species. Climate variables outperformed non-climate variables and we identified land snail species which occupy ‘cool’ (n = 12), ‘warm’ (n = 7), or ‘generalist’ (n = 8) microclimate niches. We developed a microclimate scoring system which we used to map cool microsites and identify the largest cluster in each of the five mountain ranges spanning our study area. We recommend these areas be prioritized for land snail climate refugia management.
Singularity-Free Decentralized Formation Tracking Control for Heterogeneous Underactuated Surface Vessels

This paper presents a decentralized leader-following formation tracking control framework for heterogeneous underactuated surface vessels with a directed communication topology. Our design relies only on the assumption that either yaw or surge reference velocity is persistently exciting. First, each vessel in the network is modeled as a generic planar rigid body with two control inputs using the appropriate kinematic and force-balance equations. We take advantage of the cascade structure of the combined kinematic and dynamic model of surface vessels and develop a reduced-order error dynamics. Then, a smooth time-varying controller is developed with the aid of Lyapunov method. The proposed controller guarantees the uniform global asymptotic stability and strong robustness properties in the formation-error-coordinates space. In our approach, formation is achieved without global position measurements and the vessels may have heterogeneous dynamic models. Furthermore, the formation tracking problem for underactuated surface vessels is solved without any singularity conditions. Simulation results are provided to validate the proposed control framework.
School Psychology Unified Call for Deeper Understanding, Solidarity, and Action to Eradicate Anti-AAAPI Racism and Violence

Racist rhetoric blaming the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAAPI) community for the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a surge of violence against the AAAPI community in the United St...
Tackling Workplace Bullying: Microaggression and the Process for Eliminating Discrimination (Presentation Slides)

The purpose of this assignment is to examine workplace bullying and interventions considered to necessitate change through an examination of community college issues and functions for support services, targeted professional development, and leadership analysis of topics within the last decade.
Never Let A Crisis Go To Waste: What Have We Learned About Clinical Pathways for Transcatheter Structural Heart Interventions?

The COVID19 pandemic forced structural heart programs to adapt processes of care in unprecedented ways. Clinical pathways for transcatheter structural heart interventions and the associated outcome...
A novel simultaneous beta-and-coincidence-gamma imaging technique for imaging plant leaves

1971 Objectives Develop and validate a novel phoswich detector that will enable simultaneous acquisition of a beta image and a coincidence gamma image of a thin object such as a leaf of a plant. This system will provide high sensitivity (~40% for beta imaging) and high resolution (potentially sub-millimeter) with good quantification when imaging a leaf of a plant. It may enable molecular and functional plant imaging research using positron-emitting tracers. Methods A phoswich detector was constructed using a sheet of plastic scintillator (0.5 or 1.0 mm thick) and a LSO array coupled to a position-sensitive PMT. The plastic detects beta effectively to form beta image but is insensitive to 511 keV gammas. The LSO array detects gammas effectively and serves as a light guide for beta detection. With the different decay times of the 2 scintillators, pulse shape discriminator was implemented to identify the origin of detected signal using sampled PMT waveform. Phantoms made by F-18 absorbed cotton threads were imaged by this detector. Results We can easily separate events detected by plastic scintillator and LSO by taking the ratio of 2 waveform samples. A beta image of ~1.5 mm FWHM resolution and ~40% sensitivity was achieved using 0.5 mm thick plastic scintillator sheet. We are currently refining the design of the front end beta detector in order to achieve sub-mm beta images. Coincidence detection with another PET detector is inherently available by this design and will be presented at the conference. Conclusions The results show that the proposed phoswich detector can provide functional imaging with high sensitivity and high resolution. Simultaneously acquired beta and coincidence gamma image should improve the quantification of PET tracer when imaging a thin object such as a leaf of a plant. Research Support Office of Science (BER), U. S. Department of Energy, Grant DE-SC000515
Sympathetic Neural Contributions to Vascular Control: Role of KATP Channels

The ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel is a class of inward rectifier K+ channels that contributes to systemic basal vasomotor tone. In rats blockade of KATP channels via glibenclamide (GLI) promotes ...
An Assessment of Variability in the Average Tensile Properties of a Melt-Infiltrated SiC/SiC Composite

Woven SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), manufactured by the slurry-cast, melt-infiltration process are under consideration as combustor liner materials in aircraft gas turbine engines. Tensile properties (elastic modulus, proportional limit strength, in-plane tensile strength and strain to failure) of the CMC, manufactured during two separate time periods (9/99 and 1/01) were determined at 816 and 1024 C by conducting tensile tests on specimens machined from the CMC plates. A total of 24 tensile tests were conducted for each temperature and CMC variant combination. In this study average tensile properties of the two cMC variants were statistically compared to evaluate significant differences, if any, within the CMC's properties.
A fuzzy logic approach to performance evaluation

Client satisfaction surveys are a growing part of performance evaluation for both individuals and corporate units. At one Northeast public utility, when these surveys became a major part of performance evaluation, concerns were raised about the validity of current procedures for analyzing this data. A research and development effort was begun to see how well fuzzy logic could be used to analyze this inherently imprecise data. In this paper, we describe the current procedures and their obvious defects, a preliminary model which corrects the worst deficiencies, and finally the R&D supported model which was developed using a fuzzy rule-based system.
Automatic positioning of UAVs to optimize TDOA geolocation performance

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have proved extremely useful for a number of important tasks such as surveillance, remote sensing, and geolocation of radio frequency (RF) transmitters. Typically UAVs fly pre-programmed flight paths, or they allow for limited flight path changes via ground station controllers. However, it is difficult for ground station controllers to position UAVs in a manner that optimizes geolocation performance. This paper explores the problem of automatically repositioning UAV assets to optimize geolocation accuracy via time difference of arrival (TDOA) methods. First, we determine the geolocation accuracy that can be achieved for various scenarios and the TDOA timing accuracy needed. Second, we describe an algorithm to determine the quality of each TDOA measurement. Signal data corrupted by propagation effects and co-channel interference is used to validate the approach. Third, a path-planning algorithm for repositioning the UAVs to optimize geolocation accuracy is presented. Finally, some results using field test data are presented.
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von

1749–1832 German poet, scientist and statesman who authored influential works on the morphology of plants and animals, as well as a theory of colours that countered that of Isaac Newton. Keywords: plants; morphology; colour theory; romantic science
In Defense of Mainstream Conservatism: A Response to Crouse and Stalker

This article provides a response to Crouse and Stalker's reply to my commentary (Thomas, 2013) on their article titled “Do Right-Wing Authoritarian Beliefs Originate from Psychological Conflict?” (Psychoanalytic Psychology, 24, 25–44). The authors' critical remarks regarding my commentary are addressed, and recommendations are offered for a more cautious use of psychoanalytic theory and results derived from The Right-Wing Authoritarianism Scale (Altemeyer, 1998) for labeling persons with mainstream conservative political beliefs as being “psychopathological” or “right-wing authoritarians.” Such assertions regarding the personality characteristics of political conservatives are particularly troubling, since the authors' conclusions were purely speculative, and they collected neither clinical nor empirical data on patients or research subjects with so-called right-wing authoritarian personalities to support their speculations.
Developing the venome of the parasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa (778.4)

The endoparasitoid wasp Ampulex compressa injects venom directly into the central nervous system of its host, the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), to induce a long-term behavioral state ...
Transformación en el tiempo: definiendo el sitio de Xuenkal, Yucatán, durante el periodo Clásico Terminal

The ancient Maya center of Xuenkal, located in the Cupul region about 45 km northeast of Chichen Itza, is one of the few known interior sites that witnessed a substantial Sotuta occupation. Proyecto Arqueologico Xuenkal (PAX) research is investigating the Sotuta material and its relationship to preceding Late-Terminal Classic Cehpech settlement in order to understand the nature of this transition. Drawing upon extensive test excavations and broad excavations of household groups, we suggest that the pre-Sotuta Xuenkal occupation was much more robust than previously hypothesized. Settlement data show extensive Cehpech settlement extending into the hinterlands, while household excavations reveal that Late Classic Xuenkal was both very prosperous and closely tied to neighbouring Ek’ Balam and Kuluba, and more distant Coba. In contrast, the Sotuta settlement is limited to clusters within the site core. Together these data suggest that the Sotuta control of Xuenkal may have been the result of regional political conflict rather than an autochthonous transformation.
Gene flow among established Puerto Rican populations of the exotic tree species, Albizia lebbeck

We estimate gene flow and patterns of genetic diversity in Albizia lebbeck, an invasive leguminous tree in the dry forest of southwestern Puerto Rico. Genetic diversity estimates calculated for 10 populations of 24 trees each indicated that these populations may have been formed from multiple introductions. The presence of unique genotypes in the northernmost populations suggests that novel genotypes are still immigrating into the area. This combination of individuals from disparate locations led to high estimates of genetic diversity (He = 0.266, P = 0.67). Indirect estimates of gene flow indicate that only 0.69 migrants per generation move between populations, suggesting that genetic diversity within populations should decrease due to genetic drift. Since migration-drift equilibrium was not found, however, this estimate needs to be viewed with caution. The regular production of pods in this outcrossing species (tm = 0.979) indicates that sufficient outcross pollen is received to insure successful reproduction. Direct estimates of gene flow indicate that between 44 and 100% of pollen received by trees in four small stands of trees (n < 11) was foreign. The role of gene flow in facilitating the spread of this invasive plant species is discussed.
Pigment Studies on Several Eye-colour Mutants of the Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

ANALYSES of eye-colour mutants have brought important contributions to the genetics, as well as to the biochemistry, of pigment metabolism of insects1. As in Drosophila, Ephestia and Bombyx, mutants have been found in Apis mellifera which are more or less different in their eye colour2,3. Although several genetic studies have been carried out on these honey bee mutations3,4, their characteristic phenotypes have not been analysed chemically. The objective of the research reported here was to identify the substances producing the eye colour of the mutants and to follow every change in their metabolism so that all mutants could be chemically characterized.
Cortisone-induced hypertension and cardiovascular lesions in mice†

Daily subcutaneous injections of cortisone acetate (0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 mg) were given to three groups of mice for seven consecutive days. Daily systolic blood pressures of the anesthetized mice were obtained by adapting the method of Friedman and Freed ('49). The maximal arterial pressure increase for the 0.5, 1.5 and 2.5 mg groups was 22%, 31% and 41% respectively. This supports the conclusion that cortisone produces hypertension in mice when administered in large doses. Mural hyalinization, vacuolization and cellular proliferation of coronary arteries were greatest in the 0.5 mg group. The highest incidence of myocardial necrosis, 56%, was in the group receiving 2.5 mg of cortisone daily. The frequency and severity of myocardial and renal cortical necrosis were directly related to the size of the cortisone dose. Adrenal medullary vacuolization and lipid infiltration of the liver were common in all experimental groups.
The Flavor of Modern- and Old-Type Chickens

Abstract THE interest of consumers and industry in flavor of poultry stimulated this study by the United States Department of Agriculture to compare the flavor of modern birds and birds representative of the 1930's. Many changes have taken place in the production of broilers in the last 10 or 15 years. Growth rate has been increased to such an extent that birds are now marketed at 9 weeks compared to 12 to 15 weeks a few years ago (Seeger et al., 1948). This change has been accomplished through changes in diet and breeding to improve growth and efficiency of feed utilization. Whether the changes in production of broilers have affected their flavor has not been carefully tested. The record of increase in per capita consumption of broilers from an estimated 2.5 pounds per year in 1947 to 19 pounds in 1957 (Anonymous, 1957) is indirect evidence that the flavor of the …
Three-Center, Two-Electron Systems. Origin of the Tilting of Their Substituents

The origin of the tilting of the H-substituents of 14 parent three-center, two-electron (3c−2e) systems, C2H3+, C2H42+, C2H5+, B2H3-, B2H4, B2H5-, Be2H42-, Si2H3+, Si2H42+, Si2H5+, Al2H3-, Al2H4, Al2H5-, and Mg2H42-, is analyzed. The mixing of the σ and π orbitals underlies the upward tilt of these hydrogen substituents. Except for the ethyl cation and the ethylene dication, all 3c−2e sytems have all their hydrogens on one side of a plane that contains both heavy elements. These elements thus have inverted geometries. It is shown that the geometrical tilt angles between the X−Ht and the X−X bonds of all the 3c−2e electron systems (anions, cations, dianions, dications, and neutrals containing eight different elements of the first and second rows) correlate linearly with the electronegativities of the heavy elements. The electronic structures of these systems are also reported. They highlight the convex curvature of the X−X bonds. All the investigated 3c−2e systems are either minima or transition structures...
The Pill Not Taken: Revisiting Physical Education Teacher Effectiveness in a Public Health Context

In “Physical Education Teacher Effectiveness in a Public Health Context,” we took a broad view of physical education (PE) teacher effectiveness that included public health need and support for PE. Public health officials have been consistent and fervent in their support of PE, and for more than two decades, they have called on schools to promote and provide physical activity. They have strongly recommended PE because: (a) It is part of the formalized school curriculum and an essential access point to provide and promote physical activity for nearly all children, and (b) it is the only venue where the least active children experience physical activity at higher intensities. Within the current marginalized status of PE, public health is an ally. Hence, we took a broad public health position, indicated that teacher effectiveness is tied closely to PE program effectiveness, identified physical activity and its assessment as important parts of PE, offered a vision of teacher effectiveness that goes beyond the ...