cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Male Mountain Chickadees Discriminate between Local and Non-Local Elevation Intruders?

Song in temperate songbirds is typically learned from local males and commonly thought to function in mate choice and male–male competition. Because male song is learned locally and is phenotypically plastic, it often varies geographically and may serve as a cue for an individual's location of origin. In montane environments, environmental heterogeneity occurs across the elevation gradient, potentially leading to local adaptations on rather small spatial scales. If local adaptations are associated with restricted movements between elevations, this leads to the question of whether individuals can discriminate between birds from the same vs. different elevations. Mountain chickadees inhabiting high and low elevations are known to differ in numerous phenotypic traits, including male song structure. In addition, we previously reported that female high-elevation mountain chickadees can discriminate between local and non-local elevation males and here, we tested whether males also respond differentially to high- vs. low-elevation male territory intruders. Playback stimuli were presented to resident high- (N = 24) and low- (N = 20) elevation males at our previously established study sites during spring to compare the males' behavioral responses to high- and low-elevation male song playbacks. Both high- and low-elevation males responded similarly to both types of playback stimuli, suggesting that they do not differentially respond to male intruders from their location of origin compared to non-local males. These results are considered in the framework of our previous findings and the larger body of literature, which suggests that male songbirds readily discriminate between local and non-local male intruders.
Marijuana use and undetectable HIV viral load in persons living with HIV in Florida

Aims: Sexual violence towardsmen bywomen has been grossly understudied in the literature. Moreover, the tactics used to force sex amongmen is virtually unknown. The aimswere to investigate: (1) the tactics used to force men to have sex and (2) the role of substance use on forced sex and the tactics employed. Methods: I used data from the National Survey for Family Growth (2006–2010) to investigate the association between forced sex and substance use among men who reported forced sex by a woman and the association between tactic used during the sexual attack and substance use in the last year. Six tactics were ranked according to force exhorted: given drugs/alcohol, bigger/older, threats to relationship, threaten physical harm, held down, physically hurt. The analytic sample was 8,108 and I used logistic regression to test the hypotheses. Results: Five percent of men (N=501) reported forced sex by a woman. The top 3 tactics endorsed were verbal pressure (69%), given drugs/alcohol (38%), and being held down (32%). Results indicate a difference in rates of marijuana use (p=0.02), crack use (p<0.001), crystal meth use (p<0.001) and a marginal difference for binge drinking (p=0.058) between men who reported forced sex and those who did not. Being given drugs or alcohol as a means of forced sex was associated with binge drinking (OR=1.76) and cocaine use (OR=3.04). Being held downwas associated withmarijuana (OR=2.04) and cocaine use (OR=2.89). Conclusions: Men who reported forced sex had higher rates of substance use compared to men with no forced sex history. Although substance use was associated with force tactics at statistically significant levels, a clear trend of stronger tactics being associatedwith substanceusewasnot observed. Longitudinal analysis of sexual practices should be conducted to better understand the role of alcohol/drug consumption preceding a forced sex event and to examine whether there is a cycle in which substance use increases risk of future sexual violence and thus violence increases risk of substance use among men. Financial support: 5T32DA00727222.
Measurement of the Geometry of a Parachute Canopy using Image Correlation Photogrammetry

The systematic application of a stereo-image based correlation photogrammetry technique was used to measure the geometry of a fully-inflated model parachute canopy. The laboratory scale experiments were conducted in a low-speed water tunnel at a freestream velocity of 0.2 m/s. The model canopy had a constructed diameter of 0.3 m, and was made from a single piece of fabric. A stochastic pattern of small markers was applied to the canopy surface to permit the use of a correlation-based processing scheme. Measurements of the flexible model canopy appeared to present reasonable values for the imaged portion of the canopy. The experiments have demonstrated that the correlation-based technique has the potential of providing quantitative data on the canopy surface geometry with acceptable uncertainties.
An unusual case of stabbing eye pain: a case report and review of trigeminal neuralgia.

Background: Trigeminal neuralgia is a painful neurological disorder that affects one or more of the divisions of the trigeminal nerve. It is characterized by brief attacks of stabbing pain that can be excruciating. These attacks may be triggered by a light touch, shaving, or even eating. There has been much debate over the exact etiology of trigeminal neuralgia. One of the main theories is vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve as it leaves the brainstem. Another theory suggests that intracranial tumors-particularly those located in the posterior fossa-may be the cause. Trigeminal neuralgia is also associated with multiple sclerosis. Case Report and Review: A 79-year-old man came to the eye clinic with signs and symptoms consistent with trigeminal neuralgia involving the ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the nerve. A neurological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis, and proper medical treatment was subsequently implemented to relieve his pain. Conclusion: Patients who manifest symptoms consistent with trigeminal neuralgia should be referred for a neurological evaluation, including MRI. With the proper medical and/or surgical treatment, the quality of life of these patients can increase dramatically.
Laparoscopic antireflux surgery.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgical procedures were introduced into clinical practice a little more than a decade ago. Today, they constitute a well-established treatment modality for gastro-esophageal reflux disease. With the introduction of laparoscopy, there has been a significant increase in the number of antireflux procedures performed annually in the United States. This most likely indicates more willingness by patients and referring physicians to consider the less invasive approach, rather than a change in the indications of surgical therapy. The main indications for surgical treatment continue to be relapse on medical therapy, intolerance of medications or the patient's choice of not taking medications chronically. A key to successful outcome following antireflux surgical procedures is careful patient selection and work-up. The use of endoscopy, contrast studies, esophageal manometry and 24-h pH studies is of paramount importance. Typical of many laparoscopic operations, antireflux procedures evolved with time and underwent several technical refinements. There continues to be considerable debate on some of the technical aspects of these procedures and on the long-term difference in outcome between partial and complete fundoplication. The superiority of the laparoscopic approach over the open approach has been established, with short-term advantages observed. Long-term outcome between the open and laparoscopic approaches appears to be equivalent. Failures of surgical therapy can be broadly divided into 2 groups: 1) improper patient selection and work-up and 2) technical failures. Re-do laparoscopic antireflux operations are technically challenging but feasible in experienced hands.
Computers and Developing Nations

The world grows smaller. The world’s marketplaces are closer together. Due to advances in transportation, open trading, technology transfer, and research and development, computers will soon be available in large quantities for utilisation by business managers and professionals of developing nations. The primary challenge that this technological reality presents is, ‘Will these managers be prepared for technological changes in how business is conducted?’ This question requires an in-depth analysis to provide proper answers. A starting point from which to answer this question would be to examine existing computer installations and their utilisation in developing nations.
Picturesque Aesthetics: Theorising Deformity in the Romantic Era

This chapter explores late eighteenth-century debates about the place of deformity in aesthetics. Joshua observes how the attempt to rationalise the aesthetic appeal of deformity extended ‘picturesque’ criteria from landscapes and architecture to people. Uvedale Price wrote in 1794 that ‘Deformity is to ugliness what picturesque is to beauty; though distinct from it, and in many cases arising from opposite causes, it is often mistaken for it, often accompanies it, and greatly heightens its effect.’ Discussion is confined to the human body where possible, but these ideas about the qualities of beauty and deformity are often linked to the overarching question of how to identify these qualities in general and even more broadly to questions of perception and taste. Frequently overlooked, deformity is an aesthetic category that is of as much significance to the period as the beautiful, sublime, and picturesque.
Educating medical students about military health: Perspectives from a multidisciplinary lecture initiative.

Background: Medical student education on military health topics is critical in ensuring optimal future care for military service members and their families. Methods: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (Keck SOM) students were invited to participate in an anonymous, voluntary, online survey (Pre) rating their level of interest, awareness, exposure and comfort with military health issues on a 5-point Likert scale. A student-organized program of four voluntary lectures discussing military health-related topics was then implemented. Students were invited to re-take the survey (Post) and also indicate which, if any, lectures they had attended. Results: 230 students completed the Pre survey. A statistically significant deviation in responses was observed in all four questions, showing high interest (mean: 3.19 ± 1.20, P = 0.002), low awareness (mean: 2.52 ± 1.15, P P P P P Discussion: Medical schools that lack military health curricula may underprepare students to care for military-affiliated patients. Student-led programs can help introduce this topic before formalized curricula are instituted.
Quantitative Analysis of Howell-Jolly Bodies in Children with Sickle Cell Disease.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) have repeated vaso-occlusion within the spleen, which leads to early loss of splenic filtration function and an increased risk of sepsis from encapsulated bacteria. Functional asplenia in SCD is believed to be a gradual and cumulative process that occurs during the first few years of life, although quantitative analyses of splenic function have not been readily available. Litron has recently developed a novel high-throughput flow cytometric method of quantitating Howell-Jolly bodies (HJB, also known as micronuclei), standardized using venous blood collected in heparin and fixed within 2 hours of collection. This novel technique may be useful for understanding the normal physiological decline in splenic function that occurs in SCD. Since erythrocytes that contain HJB are normally cleared by the healthy spleen, the frequency of HJB inversely reflects splenic filtration function. To investigate the utility of this novel assay for children with SCD, a tiny aliquot (10 μL) of leftover discarded blood specimens was obtained from unselected children receiving routine clinical care in the Duke Pediatric Sickle Cell Program, fixed in ultracold methanol, stored at −80C, and then shipped to Litron for flow cytometric analysis. Erythrocytes containing HJB were identified by flow cytometry: mature CD71− erythrocytes that contain HJB are an accepted surrogate marker of splenic filtration, while HJB within the youngest CD71+ erythrocytes may reflect genotoxic damage associated with increased chromosome breaks. Initial studies determined that blood collected in EDTA was acceptable for analysis; no differences were noted with EDTA collection compared to heparin (R2=.994, n=5, p 300 HJB per million RBC. Children with HbSC (n=20) had a lower frequency of HJB (131±228 per million RBC), and only 10% with >300 HJB per million RBC. Increased HJB in HbSS patients were also identified in the young CD71+ erythrocytes (0.43±0.40%, n=126, normal <0.08%). Children with HbSS and HU exposure had significantly higher numbers of HJB in CD71+ erythrocytes (0.67±0.50%, n=46) compared to children without HU exposure (0.22±0.13%, n=59, p<.001). Serial measurements in one young child on HU therapy showed decreased HJB frequency, suggesting recovery of splenic function. Quantitation of HJB by flow cytometry is a rapid, robust, and reproducible assay that will be valuable in studies of organ damage in children with SCD. Serial measurements are needed to assess preservation or recovery of splenic filtration function, as well as genotoxic damage associated with HU therapy.
Incentivized Development in China: Leaders, Governance, and Growth in China's Counties

China's economy, as a whole, has developed rapidly over the past 35 years, and yet its richest county is over 100 times richer in per capita terms than its poorest county. To explain this vast variation in development, David J. Bulman investigates the political foundations of local economic growth in China, focusing on the institutional and economic roles of county-level leaders and the career incentives that shape their behaviour. Through a close examination of six counties complemented by unique nation-wide data, he presents and explores two related questions: what is the role of County Party Secretaries in determining local governance and growth outcomes? And why do County Party Secretaries emphasize particular developmental priorities? Suitable for scholars of political economy, development economics, and comparative politics, this original study analyzes the relationship between political institutions, local governance, and leadership roles within Chinese government to explain the growing divergence in economic development between counties.
On unsteady flow of an elastico-viscous fluid past an infinite plate with variable suction

Approximate solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations are derived through the Laplace transform for two dimensional, incompressible, elastico-viscous flow past a flat porous plate. The flow is assumed to be independent of the distance parallel to the plate. General formulae for the velocity distribution, skin friction and displacement thickness as functions of the given free stream velocity and suction velocity are obtained.
Multi-fault Rupture and Dynamic Triggering During the 2012 Mw 8.6 Sumatra Earthquake

On April 11, 2012, Mw 8.6 strike-slip earthquake struck the northern Sumatra offshore region and became the largest intraplate event ever recorded there. Preliminary study results show a remarkably complex rupture pattern, on a fault system manifested by north–south trending paleotransform faults and east–west striking abyssal hill fabric. To image the rupture pattern of the earthquake, we back-projected teleseismic P wave recordings observed at three regional seismic networks (EU, AU, and F-net). Our results indicate that the earthquake ruptured on a conjugate fault system, composed of two subparallel WNW-ESE trending faults, and a NNE-SSW striking fault in between, for duration of at least 120 s. The rupture started at the WNW end of the first WNW-ESE trending fault located at the east of the conjugate fault system and propagated toward ESE. It then jumped to the second NNE-SSW trending fault located west of the first fault, and first extended SSWward and 15 s later NNEward. After its end on the second fault, the rupture jumped onto the third WNW-ESE trending fault and continued WNWward. The static Coulomb stress changes calculated from the rupture of the first and then the second faults, based on simplified uniform slip models, suggest that initiation of the rupture on the second fault could be statically and dynamically triggered by the first fault. However, the third fault was primarily dynamically triggered by S or even Love waves radiated from the southern branch of the second fault.
Introduction to Signal Processing

The previous chapter introduced the concept of a random process and explored in depth the temporal (i.e., time-related) properties of such processes. Many of the specific random processes introduced in Chap. 7 are used in modern engineering to model noise or other unpredictable phenomena in signal communications. In this chapter, we investigate the frequency-related properties of random processes, with a particular emphasis on power and filtering.
Subtotal Colectomy with Ileoproctostomy or Ileostomy and Sigmoid Mucous Fistula

When choosing an emergency operative procedure for the patient with complications of inflammatory bowel disease (hemorrhage, perforation, toxic megacolon), consider both the immediate problem and the long-term result. Remember that sphinctersparing procedures are now available for most of these patients, even when the rectum is involved by disease. Whenever possible retain the rectosigmoid, as it allows restorative proctocolectomy (see Chapter 10) to be performed at a later date.
Querying locations in wireless environments

Tracking mobile users and answering queries about their locations are new and challenging database problems. Preliminary solutions to two of the major problems, control of update volume and integration of query processing and data acquisition, are discussed along with the simulation results. Further, new challenges to the database field brought about by the rapidly growing area of wireless personal communication are presented.
Catalytic Decomposition of Ba(NO3)2 on Pt(111)

The decomposition of Ba(NO3)2 formed on BaO/Pt(111) (Pt(111) surface is partially covered by BaO) in the presence of CO was studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD), infrared reflection absorption (IRA) and X-ray photoelectron (XP) spectroscopies. The exposure of BaO/Pt(111) to elevated NO2 pressure (1.0×10-4 Torr) at 450 K leads to the formation of Ba(NO3)2, chemisorbed O (OPt) and Pt-oxide-like domains. During TPD, the Ba(NO3)2 begins to thermally decompose near 490 K, releasing NO and NO2 with the maximum NOx desorption rate seen at 605 K. The OPt species formed following the exposure of BaO/Pt(111) to NO2 react with CO to release CO2 at 450 K. The consumption of OPt during CO oxidation initiates the migration of O from the Pt-oxide-like domains to the chemisorbed phase, where the CO oxidation reaction occurs. Therefore, the removal of OPt by CO leads to the reduction of oxidized Pt, and to the formation of metallic Pt(111) domains, where, subsequently, catalytic decomposition of Ba(NO3)2 can take place. The Pt-catalyzed decomposition of Ba(NO3)2 occurs readily at 450 K, a temperature much lower than the onset of the decomposition temperature of Ba(NO3)2 in the presence of oxidized Pt. This work was supported by the US Department ofmore » Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.« less
Laser-based people-following for human-augmented mapping of indoor environments

In this paper, a method for tracking and following people in indoor environments by using a multi-sensor mobile platform is presented. The general use of the approach is in Human-Augmented Mapping (HAM). Laser range data are employed for people detection by searching for legs. A person following algorithm is then implemented allowing the robot to keep track of and pursue a human user. Results from experiments in a real indoor environment are provided to validate the approach. It is shown that the method can be successfully integrated into interactively controlled mapping and navigation systems.
Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TPD52 gene with response to treatment with enzalutamide (ENZA) in men with metastatic castration refractory prostate cancer (mCRPC).

5066Background: Germline variations in genes encoding proteins that contribute to androgen receptor (AR)’s transcriptional output may be associated with response to AR antagonists in men with mCRPC...
Repeat after us: Syntactic alignment is not partner-specific

Conversational partners match each other's speech, a process known as alignment. Such alignment can be partner-specific, when speakers match particular partners' production distributions, or partner-independent, when speakers match aggregated linguistic statistics across their input. However, partner-specificity has only been assessed in situations where it had clear communicative utility, and non-alignment might cause communicative difficulty. Here, we investigate whether speakers align partner-specifically even without a communicative need, and thus whether the mechanism driving alignment is sensitive to communicative and social factors of the linguistic context. In five experiments, participants interacted with two experimenters, each with unique and systematic syntactic preferences (e.g., Experimenter A only produced double object datives and Experimenter B only produced prepositional datives). Across multiple exposure conditions, participants engaged in partner-independent but not partner-specific alignment. Thus, when partner-specificity does not add communicative utility, speakers align to aggregate, partner-independent statistical distributions, supporting a communicatively-modulated mechanism underlying alignment.
Cytosine Modifications in Myeloid Malignancies

Aberrant DNA methylation is a hallmark of many cancers, including the myeloid malignancies acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The discovery of TET-mediated demethylation of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and technological advancements in next-generation sequencing have permitted the examination of other cytosine modifications, namely 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), in these myeloid malignancies on a genome-wide scale. Due to the prominence of mutations in epigenetic modifiers that can influence cytosine modifications in these disorders, including IDH1/2, TET2, and DNMT3A, many recent studies have evaluated the relative levels, distribution, and functional consequences of cytosine modifications in leukemic cells. Furthermore, several therapies are being used to treat AML and MDS that target various proteins within the cytosine modification pathway in an effort to revert the abnormal epigenetic patterns that contribute to the diseases. In this review, we provide an overview of cytosine modifications and selected technologies currently used to distinguish and analyze these epigenetic marks in the genome. Then, we discuss the role of mutant enzymes, including DNMT3A, TET2, IDH1/2, and the transcription factor, WT1, in disrupting normal patterns of 5mC and 5hmC in AML and MDS. Finally, we describe several therapies, both standard, front-line treatments and new drugs in clinical trials, aimed at inhibiting the proteins that ultimately lead to aberrant cytosine modifications in these diseases.
Early glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: are we ready to open the floodgates?

Over the last few years, recent advances in antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapies have significantly altered the management strategies and outcomes of patients presenting with unstable angina (UA) and non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). These and other evolving therapies
Data Management at the Advanced Photon Source

Data are essential to the scientific discoveries enabled by experiments performed at the APS. At present, the APS generates approximately 10 PB of raw experimental data per year from its 66 operati...
Cyber-Physical Anomaly Detection for Power Grid with Machine Learning

The power system is one of the most critical infrastructures in modern society. As a sophisticated cyber-physical system (CPS), its operation highly relies on the tight coupling between the physical layer (electric energy carrier) and the cyber layer (data and information carrier). To maintain high availability and security of both cyber and physical layer is critical in order to guarantee that the electricity generation and consumption process is not disturbed. However, various factors, such as natural device defects, human mistakes, and malicious cyber-activities, can all result in severe interruption of the operation of a power system, among which cyber-sabotage is the most unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Undergraduate, Nonmedical Students can Pass the FLS Manual Skills Exam With Minimal Practice.

Objectives The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether undergraduate, nonmedical students could pass the FLS Manual Skills Exam with minimal practice. The secondary objective is to examine ACGME case log data from graduating chief residents over the past 18 years to examine how laparoscopic experience has evolved over that time period. Design Undergraduate, nonmedical students received training and unlimited practice time before being tested on each task of the FLS Manual Skills Exam. Each task was timed and scored using the MISTELS system. ACGME case log data from graduating chief residents over the past 18 years was obtained. Setting The setting is SimPortal, the simulation center associated with the University of Minnesota Medical School. Participants The participants are 25 undergraduate, nonmedical students from the University of Minnesota. Participants were recruited on campus. Results Twenty-three out of 25 (92%) undergraduate, nonmedical students successfully completed one attempt for each task of the FLS Manual Skills Exam and 21 out of 25 (84%) completed both attempts. The average total practice time was 39 minutes. Over the past 18 years, the average number of laparoscopic cases completed by a graduating chief increased from 142 to 275 cases (93% increase). Additionally, the average number of cases of the top 5 most common laparoscopic operations increased from 25% to over 400%. Conclusions Undergraduate, nonmedical students can pass the FLS Manual Skills Exam with minimal practice. Additionally, general surgery residents and medical students continue to gain more laparoscopic experience throughout medical training as laparoscopic surgery is utilized for more operations. The FLS Manual Skills Exam should be re-examined to determine its utility as a high-stakes exam.
Chapter 6 – Immune Technology

The world is full of infectious microorganisms, all looking for a suitable host to infect. Bacteria, viruses, and protozoans are constantly attempting to gain entry into our tissues. If nothing prevented these attempts at invasion, no human could survive. Fortunately, cells of the immune system patrol the organism, protecting the entire body from attack. Any foreign macromolecules that are not recognized as being “self” are regarded as signs of an intrusion and trigger an immune response. In particular, proteins that are exposed on the surfaces of invading microorganisms attract the attention of the immune system. These molecules are called antigens. Some of the immune system molecules that recognize and bind to them are called antibodies.
Effects of Self-Correction on the Acquisition, Maintenance, and Generalization of the Written Spelling of Elementary School Children

We examined the effect of self-correction on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of written spelling of elementary school students attending an after-school clinic. Six students registered for remedial tutoring participated. During self-correction, students initially learned four proofreading marks and a procedure for using them that were subsequently applied as the students compared their spelling to a model. Results showed a functional effect between self-correction and improved student performance on target words. Using the self-correction procedure, the students spelled at least 98% of the target words accurately, maintained at least 85% of the correctly spelled words, and generalized at least 70% of the words at home, in context, and with word variations. Questionnaires administered to the students, their parents, and teachers indicated that students preferred self-correction. Parents noticed academic improvements in their child's spelling performance as well as positive changes in attitude toward school. Most teachers did not notice changes in spelling performance or attitude.
The Lumped-Parameter or Bar–Node Model Approach to Thin-Shell Analysis

Publisher Summary The bar-node or lumped-parameter model represents an analog to the finite-difference equations. As the model is developed based on physical concepts, it yields a system of equations that are consistent—that is, whether the equilibrium equations or the variational method is used, the procedure yields the same equations. The development of the governing equations for the lumped-parameter model will be illustrated for the particular case of an elastic isotropic shallow shell. However, the analog model concept is equally applicable to other shell theories and produces results of superior accuracy for these as well. The modification of strain-displacement relations is necessary whether or not explicit consideration is to be given to stress boundary conditions. The membrane strain-displacement relations are modified only for nodes lying on the boundary. The necessary modifications to the bending strain-displacement relations are more complicated when the stress boundary conditions are to be satisfied exactly. In order to account properly for the transfer of the twisting moment to the rigid bar intersection in the case of a free edge, auxiliary rigid bars are introduced into the physical mode.
Unilateral climate policies can substantially reduce national carbon pollution

Following the failure of climate governance regimes that sought to impose legally binding treaty-based obligations, the Paris Agreement relies on voluntary actions by individual countries. Yet, there is no guarantee that unilateral policies will lead to a decrease in carbon emissions. Critics worry that voluntary climate measures will be weak and ineffective, and insights from political economy imply that regulatory loopholes are likely to benefit carbon-intensive sectors. Here, we empirically evaluate whether unilateral action can still reduce carbon pollution by estimating the causal effect of the UK’s 2001 Climate Change Programme (CCP) on the country’s carbon emissions. Existing efforts to evaluate the overall impact of climate policies on national carbon emissions rely on Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenarios to project what carbon emissions would have been without a climate policy. We instead use synthetic control methods to undertake an ex post national-level assessment of the UK’s CCP without relying on parametric BAU assumptions and demonstrate the potential of synthetic control methods for climate policy impact evaluation. Despite setting lax carbon targets and making substantial concessions to producers, we show that, in 2005, the UK’s CO2 emissions per capita were 9.8% lower relative to what they would have been if the CCP had not been passed. Our findings offer empirical confirmation that unilateral climate policies can still reduce carbon emissions, even in the absence of a binding global climate agreement and in the presence of regulatory capture by industry.
Hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV), a member of the genus Hepacivirus in the Flaviviridae family, is a single-stranded RNA virus that infects humans and other higher primates and has a selective tropism to the liver. Although the HCV particle itself is difficult to demonstrate, by inferring from the virions of other Flaviviridae, the putative particle is composed of a nucleocapsid composed of the core protein and viral RNA, surrounded by a phospholipid membrane in which the viral envelope proteins are embedded. The replication cycle of the HCV can be divided into stages: binding and entry into the cell; polyprotein translation and processing; RNA replication; and packaging, assembly, and release of the virion. The current recommendations for disinfecting reusable endoscopic equipment by mechanical washing with detergent and soaking in 2% glutaraldehyde were shown to be sufficient to eliminate contamination with HCV. Hepatitis C can be transmitted vertically from mother to child. Successful eradication of hepatitis C with antiviral treatment significantly reduces, but does not eliminate completely, the risk of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Serologic assays for detecting HCV infection were rapidly developed and improved following the initial discovery of the virus because of the urgent need to screen blood donors and prevent transmission. In general, antiviral treatment is indicated for any adult patient with CHC who is viremic and has elevated aminotransferases or histologic evidence of progressive liver disease, i.e., fibrosis extending beyond the portal tracts.
Observational tests of hurricane intensity estimations using GPS radio occultations

This study presents a novel approach to estimating the intensity of hurricanes using temperature profiles from Global Positioning System radio occultation (GPSRO) measurements. Previous research has shown that the temperature difference between the ocean surface and the eyewall outflow region defines hurricanes' thermodynamic efficiency, which is directly proportional to the storm's intensity. Outflow temperatures in the eyewall region of 27 hurricanes in 2004–2011 were obtained from GPSRO observations. These observations, along with ocean surface temperatures from NASA Modern Era-Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, made it possible to estimate hurricane intensities using a simplified hurricane model. Our preliminary results are quantitatively consistent with best-track values from the National Hurricane Center within 9.4%. As a by-product of our study, we present for the first time GPSRO vertical temperature profiles in the vicinity of the eyewall region of hurricanes, which we compared with collocated temperature profiles from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis Interim (ERA-Interim). Some of the GPSRO data sets reveal a double tropopause in the vicinity of the eyewall—a characteristic that we do not see in ERA-Interim. We conclude that GPSRO observations can be of supplementary assistance in augmenting existing data sets used in hurricane intensity estimation. GPSROs' cloud-penetrating capability and high vertical resolution can be useful in providing soundings in the area close to the eyewall region of hurricanes revealing detailed information about their thermal structure, potentially advancing our current knowledge of their dynamics, evolution, and physics.
Caregiving and Race

Caregiving is a rapidly increasing experience in society. The aging of the population and the significant increase in the numbers of persons requiring assistance in the community has had a dramatic impact on families that provide the majority of all assistance. As the older population becomes increasingly diverse, ethnicity and race have been found to be factors that can have a major impact on the caregiving experience. As dementia, and particularly Alzheimer's disease, has become a major health issue among the older population, much of the research on race and caregiving focuses on these family caregivers, whose involvement, stress, and demands increase with the progression of the disease. Keywords: caregiving; culture; dementia; ethnicity and culture; race
Amyvid: A review and assessment of clinical implementation

2709 Objectives Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent illness in our aging population that has proven difficult both to diagnose and treat. Amyvid (Florbetapir F-18), a new FDA-approved PET tracer that images β-amyloid neuritic plaques common in those with AD, could prove beneficial in diagnosing AD. As with most new agents, clinical implementation can be an arduous task. The purpose of the study is to educate technologists on obstacles to clinical implementation of Amyvid. Methods Vendor guidelines were reviewed for imaging protocol, patient selection, camera validation, image acquisition and analysis. In addition, a physician and a technologist from two separate academic institutions in the St. Louis metropolitan area that have performed research trials with Amyvid and offer the study clinically were interviewed regarding their experience with implementing Amyvid in their departments. Results Both institutions successfully implemented Amyvid in research trials and have made preparations for its clinical use should the demand arise. Interview responses suggest the largest barrier to clinical implementation of Amyvid is reimbursement by insurance companies. From a physician’s perspective, there is concern about the role of Amyvid PET scans on patient management and outcomes. Conclusions Amyvid is in the early stages following FDA approval, and although it was implemented successfully in research trials and they have developed plans for the clinical use at these two institutions, its future clinical implementation and usefulness still remain to be seen.
Recovering ultraclean lignins of controlled molecular weight from Kraft black-liquor lignins

By operating in a region of liquid–liquid equilibrium, hot acetic acid–water mixtures can be used to simultaneously clean, fractionate, and solvate Kraft black-liquor lignins. Lignin-rich liquid phases of controlled molecular weight with key metals contents reduced to <50 ppm are obtained without a washing step.
A Global Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Precipitation Occurrence

AbstractThe spatial distribution of precipitation occurrence has important implications for numerous applications ranging from defining cloud radiative effects to modeling hydrologic runoff, statistical downscaling, and stochastic weather generation. This paper introduces a new method of describing the spatial characteristics of rainfall and snowfall that takes advantage of the high sensitivity and high resolution of the W-band cloud precipitation radar aboard CloudSat. The resolution dependence of precipitation occurrence is described by a two-parameter exponential function defined by a shape factor that governs the variation in the distances between precipitation events and a scale length that represents the overall probability of precipitation and number density of distinct events.Geographic variations in the shape factor and scale length are consistent with large-scale circulation patterns and correlate with environmental conditions on local scales. For example, a large contrast in scale lengths betwe...
The influence of interest: Real US interest rates and bilateral investment treaties

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) present developing countries with a trade-off. BITs plausibly increase access to international capital in the form of foreign direct investment (FDI), but at the cost of substantially curtailing a government’s policy autonomy. Nearly 3000 BITs have been entered into, suggesting that many countries have found this trade-off acceptable. But governments’ enthusiasm for signing and ratifying BITs has varied considerably across countries and across time. Why are BITs more popular in some places and times than others? We argue that capital scarcity is an important driver of BIT signings: The trade-off inherent in BITs becomes more attractive to governments as the need to secure access to international capital increases. More specifically, we argue that the coincidence of high US interest rates and net external financial liabilities heightens governments’ incentives to secure access to foreign capital, and therefore results in BIT signings. Empirical evidence is consistent with our theory.
From Turbans to Inverted Triangles: South Asian Social Anthropology

Human Fertility in India: Social Components and Policy Perspectives. David G. Mandelbaum. Robber Noblement: A Study of the Political System of the Sikh Jats. Joyce Pettigrew. Girl Students in Jaipur: A Study in Attitudes Towards Family Life, Marriage, and Career. Cora Vreede-de Stuers. Kinship and Urbanization: White Collar Migrants in North India. Sylvia Vatuk. The Transformation of Sikh Society. Ethne K. Marenco.
Plant community responses to disturbance by mechanized military maneuvers

The effects of 10 yr of military training exercises on vegetation structure were assessed across plant communities that differed in physiognomy and soil texture at Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS), Colorado, after release from previous grazing management. Covariate analyses aided in separating temporal trends due to both release from grazing and imposition of training disturbance from the direct effect of training. The shift in land use had both synergistic and antagonistic impacts on successional trajectories of communities, and on horizontal and vertical structural heterogeneity. Vegetation basal cover declined with increasing intensity of disturbance by tracked vehicles, but release from grazing acts additively in this ecosystem. Litter cover increased following release from grazing, even though it declined with increasing levels of disturbance. Vehicular maneuvering generally reduced woody life forms in tall-height classes to a greater extent than short-height classes. Low growing cacti were susceptible to crushing. Species and functional group responses to vehicular disturbance were sometimes dependent on community type. Long-lived perennials declined, but were replaced by short-lived perennials in only the shrub-grassland community. Annuals and exotics did not show relationships with intensity of disturbance, though some weed species increased. Community-wide species dissimilarity did not show large shifts, and patterns in species diversity or richness were not related to intensity of disturbance. The PCMS appears to be in a transient stage where release from grazing has had as much or more impacts as did the imposition of military training. Fine textured soils may be more susceptible to the cumulative effects of vehicular loads.
Reinventing electromagnetics: emerging applications for FD-TD computation

Computed solutions to Maxwell's equations continue to lead to engineering advances of immense importance to society, the finite-difference time-domain method opens up a wide range of applications, traditional as well as novel.
Effect of silver addition on the processing of T10.5Pb0.5Sr2CaCu2O7 − δ

Abstract The effect of silver additions, to bulk Tl 0.5 Pb 0.5 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 7 − δ -Ag x ( x = 0.0, 0.008, 0.016, 0.1, 0.37 and 1.0) superconductor, on microstructure and electrical properties were studied. A eutecticlike reaction between (Tl-1212 + Ag) was observed. In the case of x = 0.37, liquid phase was formed at 830 °C resulting in enhanced densification and grain growth. Changes in T c with silver content were observed, but the presence of silver does not cause any change in the intragranular J c values, which was on the order of 10 6 A/cm 2 at 40 K in self field. Films of the compound were also prepared by a plasma vapor deposition-post thalliation method, which produces pure phase and nearly full 00l orientation. The degree of orientation decreases as film thickness increases.
Ubiquitin proteolytic system: focus on SUMO

The Small Ubiquitin-like Modifier proteins (Smt3 in yeast and SUMOs 1-4 in vertebrates) are members of the ubiquitin super family. Like ubiquitin, the SUMOs are protein modifiers that are covalently attached to the epsilon amino group of lysine residues in the substrates. The application of proteomics to the SUMO field has greatly expanded both the number of known targets and the number of identified target lysines. As new refinements of proteomic techniques are developed and applied to sumoylation, an explosion of novel data is likely in the next five years. This ability to examine sumoylated proteins globally, rather than individually, will lead to new insights into both the functions of the individual SUMO types and to how dynamic changes in overall sumoylation occur in response to alterations in cellular environment. In addition, there is a growing appreciation for the existence of crosstalk mechanisms between the sumoylation and ubiquitinylation processes. Rather than being strictly parallel, these two systems have many points of intersection, and It is likely that coordination of these two systems is a critical contributor to the regulation of many fundamental cellular events.
A New Appraisal of Combined Treatments for PTSD in the Era of Psychotherapy Adjunctive Medications

Combinations of pharmacologic and psychosocial interventions have garnered much enthusiasm over the past 30 years. Unfortunately, this enthusiasm is often disproportionate to the empirical support for these approaches. However, a new wave of basic, translational, and clinical research has demonstrated that the use of some substances—themselves having little to no therapeutic benefit—may help to increase or potentiate the effectiveness of certain psychological treatments. While these drugs have shown promise in the treatment of other anxiety disorders, they have yet to be thoroughly studied in PTSD populations. This article will describe the movement towards the use of pharmacologic substances as adjuncts to psychotherapy and will describe the rationale, initial support, implications, and future directions of their use in the treatment of PTSD.
Theoretical study on the optical properties of polyvinylidene fluoride crystal

We report our first-principles studies on the linear and non-linear optical properties of ferroelectric polyvinylidene fluoride crystal. Calculated values of the refractive indices agree well with experiments. As regards the second-harmonic-generation coefficients, theoretical values are larger than experimental ones. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed.
A systems thinking perspective of maintenance, operations, and process quality

Drawing from observations made at a couple of manufacturing firms, this paper weaves together behavioral aspects of process improvement and maintenance concepts with ongoing commitments to operations management goals. Causal loop diagramming, part of the system dynamics tool‐kit, is used to structure the interrelated nature of involved concepts and variables. An objective is to offer insights from a systems perspective. The paper offers behavioral explanation for limited success in implementing improvement programs and suggests reversing the traditional “maintenance service supplier‐and‐customer relationship” between maintenance and operations.