cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SealNet: A fully-automated pack-ice seal detection pipeline for sub-meter satellite imagery

Abstract Antarctic pack-ice seals, a group of four species of true seals (Phocidae), play a pivotal role in the Southern Ocean foodweb as wide-ranging predators of Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba). Due to their circumpolar distribution and the remoteness and vastness of their habitat, little is known about their population sizes. Estimating pack-ice seal population sizes and trends is key to understanding how the Southern Ocean ecosystem will react to threats such as climate change driven sea ice loss and krill fishing. We present a functional pack-ice seal detection pipeline using Worldview-3 imagery and a Convolutional Neural Network that counts and locates seal centroids. We propose a new CNN architecture that detects objects by combining semantic segmentation heatmaps with binary classification and counting by regression. Our pipeline locates over 30% of seals, when compared to consensus counts from human experts, and reduces the time required for seal detection by 95% (assuming just a single GPU). While larger training sets and continued algorithm development will no doubt improve classification accuracy, our pipeline, which can be easily adapted for other large-bodied animals visible in sub-meter satellite imagery, demonstrates the potential for machine learning to vastly expand our capacity for regular pack-ice seal surveys and, in doing so, will contribute to ongoing international efforts to monitor pack-ice seals.
Use of residence time versus screw speed in the response surface model for microbial inactivation during single-screw extrusion of low-moisture food

Abstract The implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act requires the food industry to validate the processing interventions as a kill-step for foodborne pathogens. During extrusion process, the mean residence time (MRT) of the material plays a critical role in microbial inactivation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to develop a response surface model for the MRT as a function of moisture, fat content, screw speed, and temperature. This model was further incorporated into the previously developed models for microbial inactivation by replacing screw speed with MRT and evaluated for goodness-of-fit. The oat flour formulated to different moisture (14–26%) and fat (5–15%) contents was extruded in a single-screw extruder at different temperatures (65 and 95 °C) and screw speeds (75–225 rpm). The MRT was measured using 0.5 g of Congo red/kg of formulated sample. With this wide range of product and process variables tested, the range of MRT was minimal (111–144 s). The temperature had no significant effect on MRT in the range tested. Screw speed, moisture, and fat content showed a significant linear and quadratic effect on the MRT. The use of MRT instead of screw speed in the previously developed inactivation models slightly improved the R2 value from 0.83 to 0.85 for Salmonella and 0.84 to 0.89 for E. faecium. As MRT is challenging to measure with high repeatability when compared to screw speed, the slight increase in the goodness-of-fit measure does not warrant the use of MRT in inactivation models.
How diverse are preferences for urban fisheries? Evidence from a choice experiment

We used a choice experiment to learn about preference heterogeneity in the demand for urban fishing areas. The experiment featured a pair of small city lakes with catfish and sunfish, as well as se...
The Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii Primary Prevention on Risk of Hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile Infection in Hospitalized Patients Administered Antibiotics Frequently Associated With C. difficile Infection

BACKGROUND Hospital-onset Clostridioides difficile infection (HO-CDI) is a costly problem leading to readmissions, morbidity, and mortality. We evaluated the effect of a single probiotic strain, Saccharomyces boulardii, at a standardized dose on the risk of HO-CDI within hospitalized patients administered antibiotics frequently associated with HO-CDI. METHODS This retrospective cohort study merged hospital prescribing data with HO-CDI case data. The study assessed patients hospitalized from January 2016 through March 2017 who were administered at least 1 dose of an antibiotic frequently associated with HO-CDI during hospitalization. Associations between S. boulardii administration, including timing, and HO-CDI incidence were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS The study included 8763 patients. HO-CDI incidence was 0.66% in the overall cohort. HO-CDI incidence was 0.56% and 0.82% among patients coadministered S. boulardii with antibiotics and not coadministered S. boulardii, respectively. In adjusted analysis, patients coadministered S. boulardii had a reduced risk of HO-CDI (odds ratio [OR], 0.57 [95% confidence interval {CI}, .33-.96]; P = .04) compared to patients not coadministered S. boulardii. Patients coadministered S. boulardii within 24 hours of antibiotic start demonstrated a reduced risk of HO-CDI (OR, 0.47 [95% CI, .23-.97]; P = .04) compared to those coadministered S. boulardii after 24 hours of antibiotic start. CONCLUSIONS Saccharomyces boulardii administered to hospitalized patients prescribed antibiotics frequently linked with HO-CDI was associated with a reduced risk of HO-CDI.
Investigating Plant Phenotype, Salinity, and Infestation by the Roseau Cane Scale as Factors in the Die-Back of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta, USA

Die-back of Phragmites australis in the Mississippi River Delta (MRD), Louisiana, USA, is associated with large populations of nonnative Roseau Cane Scale (RCS), Nipponaclerda biwakoensis. Initial observations suggested different P. australis phenotypes displayed different susceptibilities to scale infestation and die-back, but the role of scale infestation on die-back was unknown. To understand the effect of RCS on P. australis, paired stands of Delta and European phenotypes in the MRD were monitored for stem heights, densities, and scale infestation over two years. A mesocosm experiment was conducted to assess whether RCS abundance and P. australis growth were dependent on water salinity and phenotype. Three Phragmites australis phenotypes were grown in small pools under fresh or mesohaline conditions, and RCS infestated or non-infested treatments. Scale densities were up to 7 times greater on the Delta compared to the European phenotype. Scale infestation resulted in 22%–39% reductions in the proportion of stems with green leaf tissue for all phenotypes, and 12% reduction in stem heights for Delta-type. Salinity was detrimental to all phenotypes, reducing stem heights by 20% compared to freshwater. Our results provide evidence that the RCS can result in die-back symptoms similar to what is observed in the MRD.
A first look at transition amplitudes in (2+1)-dimensional causal dynamical triangulations

We study a lattice regularization of the gravitational path integral—causal dynamical triangulations—for (2 + 1)-dimensional Einstein gravity with positive cosmological constant in the presence of past and future spacelike boundaries of fixed intrinsic geometries. For spatial topology of a 2-sphere, we determine the form of the Einstein–Hilbert action supplemented by the Gibbons–Hawking–York boundary terms within the Regge calculus of causal triangulations. Employing this action we numerically simulate a variety of transition amplitudes from the past boundary to the future boundary. To the extent that we have so far investigated them, these transition amplitudes appear consistent with the gravitational effective action previously found to characterize the ground state of quantum spacetime geometry within the Euclidean de Sitter-like phase. Certain of these transition amplitudes convincingly demonstrate that the so-called stalks present in this phase are numerical artifacts of the lattice regularization, seemingly indicate that the quantization technique of causal dynamical triangulations differs in detail from that of the no-boundary proposal of Hartle and Hawking, and possibly represent the first numerical simulations of portions of temporally unbounded quantum spacetime geometry within the causal dynamical triangulations approach. We also uncover tantalizing evidence suggesting that Lorentzian not Euclidean de Sitter spacetime dominates the ground state on sufficiently large scales.
Faculty and Trainee Perceptions of NSF I-Corps Technology Commercialization Training

At universities, interest is increasing in expanding entrepreneurship education opportunities for both engineering faculty and students, with the goals of improving the professional skills of students and accelerating research commercialization by faculty. However, questions remain about the effective design of entrepreneurship education initiatives for both of these two audiences. Comparing the experiences of trainees (including primarily graduate students and postdoctoral researchers) and faculty in entrepreneurship training will better allow for meeting the distinct needs of these two communities. In this analysis, structural equation modeling was used to examine differences between trainee and faculty perceptions of usefulness, instructional climate, and workload in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) entrepreneurship training program. Data were drawn from the publicly available VentureWell I-Corps dataset, including precourse, postcourse, and longitudinal follow-up survey responses from 722 faculty and 781 trainee participants. Results show that trainees perceived the training program as more useful to their careers than did faculty, although no differences in perceived usefulness to one's research program were found. Trainees also perceived instructional climate more negatively and experienced a greater workload.
Correction to: One-dimensional drift-flux correlations for two-phase flow in medium-size channels

The article “One-dimensional drift-flux correlations for two-phase flow in medium-size channels” written by Takashi Hibiki, was originally published electronically on the publisher’s internet portal (currently SpringerLink) on 17 April 2019 without open access. After publication in Volume 1, Issue 2, page 85–100, the author(s) decided to opt for Open Choice and to make the article an open access publication. Therefore, the copyright of the article has been changed to © The Author(s) 2020 and the article is forthwith distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ), which permits use, duplication, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.
TOWARDS FUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL DECOMPOSITION OF CONSTRAINED LAYER INFLATABLE SYSTEMS

Pneumatically activated systems enable myriad types of highly functional inflatables employing a wide range of architectural approaches affecting their form and function, making systematic conceptual design difficult. A new architectural class of pneumatically activated systems, constrained layer inflatable systems, consists of hierarchically architected flat layers of thin airtight bladders that are internally and/or externally constrained to generate a variety of functionalities. The highly hierarchical architectural structure of constrained layer inflatable systems coincides with the hierarchy of produced functions, providing an opportunity for the development of a functional architectural decomposition, capturing the inherent relationship between architectural and functional hierarchies. The basis of the approach is conveyed through the design of an example constrained layer inflatable system. This approach empowers the systematic understanding of the interrelated architectural and functional breakdown of constrained layer inflatable systems, enabling designers to iteratively analyze, synthesize, and re-synthesize the components of the system improving existing designs and exploring new concepts.
Abstract MP25: Defining The Role Of Renin Lineage Cells During Regeneration After Release Of Partial Ureteral Obstruction In Neonatal Mice.

Our previous study on a partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (pUUO) model in neonatal mice showed that the release of obstruction halts the progression of kidney damage and leads to a remarkable...
Zeptomole Imaging of Cytosolic MicroRNA Cancer Biomarkers with A Light-Controlled Nanoantenna

Detecting and quantifying intracellular microRNAs (miRNAs) are a critical step in resolving a cancer diagnostic and resolving the ensemble of gene products that orchestrate the living state of cells. However, the nanoprobe for detecting low abundance miRNAs in cell cytosol is restricted by either the “one-to-one” signal-trigger model or difficulty for cytosol delivery. To address these challenges, we designed a light-harvesting nanoantenna-based nanoprobe, which directs excitation energy to a single molecule to sensitively detect cytosolic miRNA. With light irradiation, the light-harvesting nanoantenna effectively disrupted lysosomal structures by generation of reactive oxygen species, substantially achieved cytosol delivery. The nanoantenna containing > 4000 donor dyes can efficiently transfer excitation energy to one or two acceptors with 99% efficiency, leading to unprecedented signal amplification and biosensing sensitivity. The designed nanoantenna can quantify cytosolic miR-210 at zeptomolar level. The fluorescence lifetime of the donor exhibited good relationship with miR-210 concentration in the range of 0.032 to 2.97 amol/ngRNA. The zeptomole sensitivity of nanoantenna provides accurate bioimaging of miR-210 both in multiple cell lines and in vivo assay, which creates a pathway for the creation of miRNA toolbox for quantitative epigenetics and personalized medicine. Highlights: 1 Based on forster resonance energy transfer, the nanoantenna containing over 4000 donor dyes can achieve unprecedented signal amplification and biosensing sensitivity.2 With light irradiation, the light-harvesting nanoantenna effectively disrupted lysosomal structures by generation of reactive oxygen species, substantially achieved cytosol delivery.3 The zeptomolar sensitivity of nanoantenna provides accurate bioimaging of miR-210 in multiple cell lines and in vivo assay, which creates a pathway for the creation of miRNA toolbox for quantitative epigenetics and personalized medicine.
Prediction of Distal Femur and Proximal Tibia Bone Mineral Density from total body dual energy x-ray absorptiometry scans in persons with Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract Introduction Bone density decreases rapidly after spinal cord injury (SCI), increasing fracture risk. The most common fracture sites are at the knee (i.e., distal femur or proximal tibia). Despite this high fracture incidence, knee-specific scans for bone density using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were not available until 2014 and are still not routinely used in clinical practice today. This has made it difficult to determine the rehabilitation efficacy and hindered understanding of the long-term changes in knee areal bone density. The purpose of this investigation was to compare areal bone mineral density values for the knee from both total-body and knee-specific DXA scans in persons with SCI. Methodology 20 participants (16 males) >1 year-post spinal cord injury received two DXA scans; a total-body scan and a knee-specific scan. Standardized methods were used to create regions of interest to determine bone density of four regions – the epiphysis and metaphysis of the distal femur and proximal tibia – from the total-body scan. Linear regressions and Bland-Altman analyses were conducted to determine the correlation (r2) and agreement (mean bias ± 95% level of agreement) respectively between the two scan types for each region. Results Linear regression analyses showed strong significant (p Conclusions Results suggest knee-specific bone density can be assessed using a total-body DXA scan. This may allow for more comprehensive use of DXA scans which would reduce the burden of multiple site-specific scans for persons with SCI and enable more widespread adoption of knee bone density assessment in this population.
A Framework for Human Interactions in Complex Systems

Thank you very much. It is a very significant pleasure to be here tonight at this conference to speak with you on the framework for human interaction in complex systems which is, of course, the title of the various workshops organized for us. What I’d like to do is to talk about several items significant to organizational learning, human and organizational errors, and areas in which human and organizational interactions occur in complex systems. Try to picture some of the ingredients that are associated with this. Simply, there are humans, there are technologies, there are organizations, and some very puzzling behavior that occurs and which we really don’t know how to characterize in a very definitive way
Brain Signal Analysis: Advances In Neuroelectric and Neuromagnetic Methods

Cognitive electrophysiology concerns the study of the brain's electrical and magnetic responses to both external and internal events. These can be measured using electroencephalograms (EEGs) or magnetoencephalograms (MEGs). With the advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), another method of tracking brain signals, the tools and techniques of ERP, EEG and MEG data acquisition and analysis have been developing at a similarly rapid pace, and this book offers an overview of key recent advances in cognitive electrophysiology. The chapters highlight the increasing overlap in EEG and MEG analytic techniques, describing several methods applicable to both; they discuss recent developments, including reverse correlation methods in visual-evoked potentials and a new approach to topographic mapping in high-density electrode montage; and they relate the latest thinking on design aspects of EEG/MEG studies, discussing how to optimize the signal-to-noise ratio as well as statistical developments for maximizing power and accuracy in data analysis using repeated-measure ANOVAS.ContributorsDenis Brunet, Douglas Cheyne, Marzia De Lucia, Sam M. Doesburg, John J. Foxe, Karl J. Friston, Marta I. Garrido, Sara L. Gonzalez Andino, Rolando Grave de Peralta Menendez, Jessica J. Green, Todd C. Handy, Anthony T. Herdman, Stefan J. Kiebel, Edmund C. Lalor, Theodor Landis, Teresa Y. L. Liu-Ambrose, John. J. McDonald, Christoph M. Michel, Marla J. S. Mickleborough, Micah M. Murray, Lindsay S. Nagamatsu, Barak A. Pearlmutter, Durk Talsma, Gregor Thut, Anne-Laura van Harmelen, Lawrence M. Ward
Carbon Dioxide: A Reagent for the Protection of Nucleophilic Centres and the Simultaneous Activation of Electrophilic Attack.

Abstract Tetrahydroisoquinoline was converted into several 1-substituted derivatives by using carbon dioxide both for N-protection and to give an intermediate carbanion stabilizing group. t-Butyllithium was used as a lithating agent at the alphacarbon atom of the secondary amino group. The resulting 1-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline-2-carboxylic acids underwent smooth acid-catalysed decarboxylation under mild conditions.
Nucleotide sequence of a chromosomal mercury resistance determinant from a Bacillus sp. with broad-spectrum mercury resistance.

Abstract A 13.5-kilobase HindIII fragment, bearing an intact mercury resistance (mer) operon, was isolated from chromosomal DNA of broad-spectrum mercury-resistant Bacillus sp. strain RC607 by using as a probe a clone containing the mercury reductase (merA) gene. The new clone, pYW33, expressed broad-spectrum mercury resistance both in Escherichia coli and in Bacillus subtilis, but only in B. subtilis was the mercuric reductase activity inducible. Sequencing of a 1.8-kilobase mercury hypersensitivity-producing fragment revealed four open reading frames (ORFs). ORF1 may code for a regulatory protein (MerR). ORF2 and ORF4 were associated with cellular transport function and the hypersensitivity phenotype. DNA fragments encompassing the merA and the merB genes were sequenced. The predicted Bacillus sp. strain RC607 MerA (mercuric reductase) and MerB (organomercurial lyase) were similar to those predicted from Staphylococcus aureus plasmid pI258 (67 and 73% amino acid identities, respectively); however, only 40% of the amino acid residues of RC607 MerA were identical to those of the mercuric reductase from gram-negative bacteria. A 69-kilodalton polypeptide was isolated and identified as the merA gene product by examination of its amino-terminal sequence.
Percolation Theory: Topology and Structure

The fundamental concepts of percolation theory are introduced in Chaps. 1 and 2. Chapter 1 includes descriptions of geometrical and topological variables, while the description of such properties as tortuosity and transport are deferred to Chap. 2. Chapter 1 has, generally speaking, two purposes: (1) to be a reference for material that will be applied later in the book, (2) to provide a means for a scientist to gain a working familiarity with percolation theory. The chapter is organized in such a way that those sections that provide essentially all of the expertise required for arbitrary applications of percolation theory to porous media problems can be read in early explorations, while those sections (1.11–1.15) that provide additional detail can be skipped. The role of universal scaling functions and the relevance of power-law behavior are discussed in terms of the understanding of the fractal structure of percolation theory. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the non-universality of the percolation threshold and presentation of what general methods have been proposed to predict it.
Gadamer and Law

Contents: Series preface Introduction Part I Philosophical Hermeneutics and Legal Theory: Gadamer on the Exemplary Significance of Law for Hermeneutical Philosophy: The recovery of the fundamental hermeneutic problem, Hans-Georg Gadamer Philosophical Hermeneutics and Jurisprudence: Hermeneutics and the rule of law, Fred Dallmayr The politics of postmodern jurisprudence, Stephen M. Feldman Authorial intent and hermeneutics, Dennis Patterson Originalism as transformative politics, Lawrence B. Solum Law, hermeneutics and public debate, Georgia Warnke Modes of Legal Interpretation: Statutory and Constitutional: Gadamer/statutory interpretation, William Eskridge Reading the race power: a hermeneutic analysis, Alexander Reilly Interpretation, critique, and adjudication: the search for constitutional hermeneutics, John T. Valauri. Part II Gadamer in Conversation with Other Leading Hermeneutic Philosophers on Law and Legal Theory: Gadamer and the Continental Tradition: On a general theory of interpretation: the Betti-Gadamer dispute in legal hermeneutics, George Wright Gadamer and Nietzsche: From strife to understanding: pathological argument in Nietzsche and Gadamer, P. Christopher Smith Responding to Nietzsche: the constructive power of destruktion, Francis J. Mootz III Gadamer and Habermas: Determinacy, indeterminacy and rhetoric in a pluralist world, Mark Burton Traces of violence: Gadamer, Habermas, and the hate speech problem, R. George Wright Gadamer and Dworkin: Protestant hermeneutics and the rule of law: Gadamer and Dworkin, Kenneth Henley Legal hermeneutics: recent debates, David Couzens Hoy Dworkin's hermeneutics, Gregory Leyh. Index.
Oxidant injury to hepatic mitochondria in patients with Wilson's disease and Bedlington terriers with copper toxicosis

Background/Aims: Copper overload leads to liver injury in humans with Wilson's disease and in Bedlington terriers with copper toxicosis; however, the mechanisms of liver injury are poorly understood. This study was undertaken to determine if oxidant (free radical) damage to hepatic mitochondria is involved in naturally occurring copper toxicosis. Methods: Fresh liver samples were obtained at the time of liver transplantation from 3 patients with Wilson's disease, 8 with cholestatic liver disease, and 5 with noncholestatic liver disease and from 8 control livers. Fresh liver was also obtained by open liver biopsy from 4 copper-overloaded and 4 normal Bedlington terriers and from 8 control dogs. Hepatic mitochondria and microsomes (humans only) were isolated, and lipid peroxidation was measured by lipid-conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid-reacting substances. In humans, liver α-tocopherol content was measured. Results: Lipid peroxidation and copper content were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in mitochondria from patients with Wilson's disease and copper-overloaded Bedlington terriers. More modest increases in lipid peroxidation were present in microsomes from patients with Wilson's disease. Mitochondrial copper concentrations correlated strongly with the severity of mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. Hepatic α-tocopherol content was decreased significantly in Wilson's disease liver. Conclusions: These data suggest that the hepatic mitochondrion is an important target in hepatic copper toxicity and that oxidant damage to the liver may be involved in the pathogenesis of copper-induced injury.
Investigation of surface-induced alignment of liquid-crystal molecules by optical second-harmonic generation

We apply the technique of optical second-harmonic generation to study homogeneously aligned liquid-crystal cells. The surface dipole sensitivity of the technique made it possible to study the monolayer in the absence and presence of a bulk of liquid crystal. By comparing the monolayer orientational distribution functions of three surface treatments (rubbed polymer-coated substrates, rubbed surfactant-coated substrates, and substrates made from oblique evaporation of ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{\mathit{x}}$ film), we find that two different surface-originated mechanisms are effective in aligning liquid-crystal films. For rubbed polymer samples, it is shown that a short-range molecular interaction is responsible for alignment of the first monolayer, which then aligns the bulk via an epitaxylike interaction. Results on polymers with various structures and compositions and rubbed with a variety of rubbing strengths are presented. For the other surface treatments, the first monolayer is isotropically distributed, indicating that a bulk elastic interaction is responsible for the bulk alignment.
Highly crosslinked polymer particles by dispersion polymerization

Monodisperse poly(divinylbenzene) and poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) particles were prepared in the 0.4−3 μm size range by dispersion polymerization in methanol and methanol/co-solvent mixtures. The effects of polymerization parameters, such as the crosslinking monomer concentration, the co-solvent, and the presence of oxygen were studied. For good colloidal stability, it was necessary to use a relatively large fraction of crosslinking monomer. The initial presence of oxygen was also found to play an important role in determining the colloidal stability during the polymerization. Although the exact mechanism is not certain, it is considered likely that the oxygen promotes the grafting of poly(divinylbenzene) to the polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) stabilizer molecules. The growing particles were investigated by electron microscopy. Precipitation of small particles onto the nucleated particles was determined to be the primary mechanism of particle growth. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Academic Correlates of Children and Adolescents' Life Satisfaction

Educators and psychologists alike have trumpeted calls for a reduced focus on deficits and pathology and increased attention to strengths and general wellness in all children. Life satisfaction is one of the most well-established indicators of general wellness and, moreover, positive functioning. Most examinations of children's life satisfaction have examined the role of family relations and intrapersonal variables. Studies of life satisfaction in relation to schooling are less prevalent, despite the extraordinary focus on education during this developmental period. Initial studies have examined the extent to which a few categories of school-related factors (school climate, intelligence and ability grouping at school, academic achievement and overall appraisals of one's happiness with school) are correlated with students' life satisfaction. Notably, most empirical examinations have examined one or few school-related factors in isolation. The purpose of the current article is to provide a comprehensive sum...
Progesterone Responses to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Dairy Cattle Supplemented with β-Carotene

Twenty Holstein cows were assigned to one of four groups according to milk production and beta-carotene supplementation to evaluate effects of supplementation and milk production on reproductive performance and response of corpus luteum to human chorionic gonadotropin indicated by release of progesterone and secretion of luteinizing hormone in blood plasma. Cows were divided into groups of high and low production and divided further into beta-carotene supplemented and unsupplemented groups. Blood samples were taken 10 days postestrus at 10-min intervals from 1 h prior to injection of 5000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin until 5 h postinjection. Mean days to first detected estrus were 33, 37, 34, and 36 in supplemented, unsupplemented, high-production, and low-production cows. Treatment with beta-carotene and milk production did not affect days to first breeding (63, 67, 62, and 67), or services per conception (3.2, 5.1, 4.6, and 3.7). However, days open were reduced by supplementation (116 versus 186), but milk production had no effect (173 versus 129). Regressions of progesterone on sampling time within treatment and within milk production were significant. Regression of luteinizing hormone on time within production group was also significant. Neither beta-carotene nor milk production affected most reproductive measures, but differences were subtle in corpus luteum response to human chorionic gonadotropin, which may alter endocrine function.
Quantifying microstructures in isotropic grain growth from phase field modeling: Topological properties

Abstract In a previous work [Acta Materialia 2012;60:4787], we developed a new method that utilizes discrete, voxel-based data for microstructure quantification. We successfully calculated some relatively simple microstructural quantities and relations. In this paper, we apply and extend this method to compute more complex microstructural quantities and, in particular, map out the connection between grain growth rate and various topological properties. We present detailed results for several local and average topological and geometric properties of the microstructures during grain coarsening, including the curvature of grain boundaries and triple junction lines, grain cell shape, and their relations with growth dynamics. We also examine several well-known topological relations, i.e. Euler relations, the Lewis rule and the Aboav–Weaire law. These quantities and relations are the centerpiece of the grain growth models and theories developed so far. We also compare our results with some existing results in three dimensions. The quantitative description of the dynamic behaviors of the microstructural attributes adds a valuable data set to grain growth that can be used for benchmarking for phase field modeling and comparison with other approaches.
Teaching for citizenship in Lebanon: Teachers talk about the civics classroom

Abstract National and Civic Education is a program of study compulsory across all grade levels in Lebanon aimed at promoting social cohesion and active citizenship. A sample of 19 civics teachers in Lebanon across four of the six governorates participated in semi-structured interviews. The conversations delved into their conceptions of citizenship and citizenship education and their reflections of classroom teaching experiences. Their responses revealed complex inter-relations among nationalist conceptions of citizenship, pedagogies of rote learning, emotional repercussions from controversial topics and limited opportunities to think critically and engage in dialogue in the classroom.
Detection of Deforestation and Land Conversion in Rondonia, Brazil Using Change Detection Techniques

Fires associated with tropical deforestation, land conversion, and land use greatly contribute to emissions as well as the depletion of carbon and nutrient pools. The objective of this research was to compare change detection techniques for identifying deforestation and cattle pasture formation during a period of early colonization and agricultural expansion in the vicinity of Jamari, Rond6nia. Multi-date Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) data between 1984 and 1992 was examined in a 94 370-ha area of active deforestation to map land cover change. The Tasseled Cap (TC) transformation was used to enhance the contrast between forest, cleared areas, and regrowth. TC images were stacked into a composite multi-date TC and used in a principal components (PC) transformation to identify change components. In addition, consecutive TC image pairs were differenced and stacked into a composite multi-date differenced image. A maximum likelihood classification of each image composite was compared for identification of land cover change. The multi-date TC composite classification had the best accuracy of 78.1% (kappa). By 1984, only 5% of the study area had been cleared, but by 1992, 11% of the area had been deforested, primarily for pasture and 7% lost due to hydroelectric dam flooding. Finally, discrimination of pasture versus cultivation was improved due to the ability to detect land under sustained clearing opened to land exhibiting regrowth with infrequent clearing.
A Solution NMR and Crystallographic Study of the Role of the Quaternary Shift in the Allosteric Regulation of Phosphofructokinase from B. stearothermophilus

The 136 kDa Bacillus stearothermophilus phosphofructokinase (BsPFK) is a homotetramer that is allosterically inhibited by phospho(enol)pyruvate (PEP), which binds along one dimer-dimer interface. Fru-6-P binds along the other dimer-dimer interface. The substrate bound and the inhibitor bound structures of wild-type BsPFK exhibit a 7° rotation about the substrate binding site interface, termed the quaternary shift. The binding of substrate and inhibitor to BsPFK have been studied using methyl TROSY NMR. By selectively labeling all 30 Ile residues in the BsPFK monomer with 13CH3 in an otherwise fully deuterated enzyme, only the Ile are detected on a 2D-1H-13C correlation spectrum. Several distinct Ile cross-peaks change position when PEP is added to wild-type apo BsPFK. To distinguish between changes associated with the quaternary shift and those associated with intra-subunit tertiary changes, the variant D12A BsPFK is currently being studied using kinetics, x-ray crystallography, and methyl TROSY NMR. When compared to wild-type, D12A BsPFK shows a 100-fold increase in the binding affinity for PEP, a 50-fold decrease in the binding affinity for F6P, and an allosteric coupling comparable to wild-type. Crystal structures of apo and PEP bound forms of D12A BsPFK both indicate a shifted structure similar to the inhibitor bound structure of wild-type. Since PEP still inhibits D12A BsPFK substantially despite the fact that it has already adopted the inhibited quaternary structure, the inhibition likely involves further tertiary changes to the enzyme structure. NMR of deuterated, 13CH3 labeled D12A is being performed in an effort to identify residues involved in these tertiary changes. Supported by grant GM33216 from NIH and grant A1543 from the Welch Foundation.
Determination of trace amounts of vanadium(IV) and (V) in water by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry combined with preconcentration and separation

Abstract A method is described for the separation, preconcentration and quantitation of V(IV) and V(V) in water. Vanadium(V) is precipitated with diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC) at pH 1.8 and V(IV) is precipitated with DDTC at pH 4. The precipitates are collected by vacuum filtration on a membrane filter for quantitation by energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Multi-element and single-element calibration curves are prepared and used to evaluate the matrix and mass effects of diverse ions such as Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and Pb(II). The total amount of metal ions should not exceed about 100 μg. The V(IV) and V(V) are separated completely and recovered quantitatively.
Concomitant Reconstruction of Arch Vessels during Repair of Aortic Dissection

Surgery for acute aortic dissection is challenging, especially in cases of cerebral malperfusion. Should we perform only the aortic repair, or should we also reconstruct the arch vessels when they are severely affected by the disease process? Here we present a case of acute aortic dissection with multiple tears that involved the brachiocephalic artery and caused cerebral and right upper-extremity malperfusion. The patient successfully underwent complete replacement of the brachiocephalic artery and the aortic arch during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, with antegrade cerebral protection. We have found this technique to be safe and reproducible for use in this group of patients.
Editorial: Design science, grand challenges, and societal impacts

It has been a great relief and pleasure for me to finally see the inaugural issue of the much-anticipated ACM Transactions on Management Information Systems (ACM TMIS) in print and distributed at the recent ICIS meeting in St. Louis, Missouri on December 12–15, 2010. Many thanks to those AEs, advisors, authors, colleagues, and friends who attended our little celebration party at the beautiful conference site, Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. In total, we had close to 80 guests who attended the party and I signed many copies of the “collector’s edition” of this exciting inaugural issue! With this great beginning, I hope to see the continuous growth and success of this important ACM journal for the MIS community.
Processing and mechanical properties of magnesium-lithium composites containing steel fibers

Deformation-processed metal-metal composites (DMMC) of Mg-Li alloys containing steel reinforcing fibers were prepared by infiltrating a preform of steel wool with the molten matrix. The Li content was varied to control the crystal structure of the matrix; Mg-4 wt pct Li is hexagonal close packed (hcp), while Mg-12 wt pct Li is body-centered cubic (bcc). The low carbon steel used as the reinforcing fiber is essentially bcc. The hcp/bcc and bcc/bcc composites were subsequently deformed by rolling and by extrusion/swaging and mechanically tested to relate the tensile strength of the composites to true deformation strain. The hcp/bcc composites had limited formability at temperatures up to 400 °C, while the bcc/bcc composites had excellent formability during sheet rolling at room temperature but limited formability during swaging at room temperature. The tensile strengths of the hcp/bcc composite rod and the bcc/bcc composite sheet and rod increased moderately with deformation, though less than predicted from rule-of-mixtures (ROM) calculations. This article presents the experimental data for these DMMC materials and comments on the possible effect of texture development in the matrix and fiber phases on the deformation characteristics of the composite material.
The atmosphere can be a source of certain water soluble volatile organic compounds in urban streams

Surface water and air volatile organic compound (VOC) data from 10 U.S. Geological Survey monitoring sites were used to evaluate the potential for direct transport of VOCs from the atmosphere to urban streams. Analytical results of 87 VOC compounds were screened by evaluating the occurrence and detection levels in both water and air, and equilibrium concentrations in water (Cws) based on the measured air concentrations. Four compounds (acetone, methyl tertiary butyl ether, toluene, and m- & p-xylene) were detected in more than 20% of water samples, in more than 10% of air samples, and more than 10% of detections in air were greater than long-term method detection levels (LTMDL) in water. Benzene was detected in more than 20% of water samples and in more than 10% of air samples. Two percent of benzene detections in air were greater than one-half the LTMDL in water. Six compounds (chloroform, p-isopropyltoluene, methylene chloride, perchloroethene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and trichloroethene) were detected in more than 20% of water samples and in more than 10% of air samples. Five VOCs, toluene, m- & p-xylene, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), acetone, and benzene were identified as having sufficiently high concentrations in the atmosphere to be a source to urban streams. MTBE, acetone, and benzene exhibited behavior that was consistent with equilibrium concentrations in the atmosphere.
Synthesis of biopolymers: proteins, polyesters, polysaccharides and polynucleotides

The synthesis of proteins, polyesters, polysaccharides and polynucleotides can be adapted to produce new macromolecular materials. Proteins of designed sequence, and with specific chemical functions, conferred by the incorporation of unnatural amino acids, have been prepared in genetically engineered bacteria. Polyesters, useful as biodegradable thermoplastics, have been made in bacterial hosts, and more recently, in transgenic plants. Polysaccharides, made either chemically or enzymatically, are being explored for biomedical applications, and synthetic polynucleotides could eventually serve as scaffolds in the construction of nanoscale materials.
SCF CI calculations for vibrational eigenvalues and wavefunctions of systems exhibiting fermi resonance

Abstract It is shown that configuration-mixing calculations with configurations built from SCF wavefunctions can be used to provide accurate and compact wavefunctions for systems in which the independent-mode approximation breaks down.
The initiation and maintenance of exercise behavior: A learning theory conceptualization

Abstract Current popular interest in health maintenance and physical fitness raises this new question for clinical psychology to address: What variables account for the fact that some individuals will initiate an exercise program and continue, while others will discontinue shortly after program initiation? While considerable theoretical and empirical work regarding the benefits derived from exercise exists, the question raised above has not yet been considered. Since clinical psychologists will most likely be called upon to satisfy the role of facilitating the acquisition and maintenance of exercise behaviors for their clients, a conceptualization of how such behavior patterns evolve is crucial. This paper presents a learning theory conceptualization as to how exercise becomes a routine behavior for some. Implications for clinical intervention, derived from this conceptualization, are also discussed.
E‐commerce policies and customer privacy: a longitudinal study (2000‐2010)

Purpose – The present research is an updated and expanded continuation of an article by Parayitam et al. from 2008. The purpose of this study is to examine several internet policies and whether the communication of these policies to the customer has significantly changed during a ten year period.Design/methodology/approach – The study defines published policies of how a company operates with respect to different factors. The policies examined are privacy, security, shipping, returns, and warranty. Each of the policies described above were then rated as per the rating scale defined by the authors. The 525 e‐commerce sites studied were divided into service and product sites, respectively. The e‐commerce sites were also separated into 28 industry groups. The data were also collected on some of the other factors that were important in this study.Findings – E‐commerce companies do not fully inform their customers. The results showed no significant relationships between the policy ratings and any of the other f...
Estimating vapor concentration using range-resolved lidar with frequency-agile lasers

Estimating the range dependence of vapor concentration with range-resolved lidar is a challenging problem because of the weak returns provided by atmospheric aerosols and the rapid decrease in signal-to-noise ratio with range. This paper summarizes an earlier approach for constructing a statistically optimal estimator for the range dependent vapor concentration using data from multiwavelength frequency-agile lidar. The estimates of path-integrated concentration from this algorithm are compared with those made using a previously derived Kalman filter on data collected by topographic backscatter from a mountain range. In addition, the range- resolved concentration estimation algorithm is generalized to the case of multiple vapor materials. The algorithms are illustrated on a combination of synthetic and field test data collected recently by SBCCOM at the Department of Energy Nevada Test Site.
Computational Model for Predicting the Chance of Early Resolution in Children With Vesicoureteral Reflux

Purpose: Minimally invasive treatment options and concern regarding long-term antibiotics have increased emphasis on predicting the chance of early vesicoureteral reflux resolution. Computational models, such as artificial neural networks, have been used to assist decision making in the clinical setting using complex numeric constructs to solve multivariable problems. We investigated various computational models to enhance the prediction of vesicoureteral reflux resolution.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 205 children with vesicoureteral reflux, including 163 females and 42 males. In addition to reflux grade, several clinical variables were recorded from the diagnostic visit. Outcome was noted as resolved or unresolved at 1 and 2 years after diagnosis. Two separate data sets were prepared for the 1 and 2-year outcomes, sharing the same input features. The data sets were randomized into a modeling set of 155 and a cross-validation set of 50. The model was constructed with several construct...
Knowledge as aptness

I raise several objections to Sosa’s account of knowledge as aptness. I argue that aptness is neither necessary nor sufficient for knowledge. I also raise some objection to Sosa’s treatment of dreaming skepticism.
Oxidation and creep behavior of Mo*5*Si*3* based materials

Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} shows promise as a high temperature creep resistant material. The high temperature oxidation resistance of Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} has been found to be poor, however, limiting its use in oxidizing atmospheres. Undoped Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} exhibits mass loss in the temperature range 800{degrees}-1200{degrees}C due to volatilization of molybdenum oxide, indicating that the silica scale does not provide a passivating layer. The addition of boron results in protective scale formation and parabolic oxidation kinetics in the temperature range of 1050{degrees}-1300{degrees}C. The oxidation rate of Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} was decreased by 5 orders of magnitude at 1200{degrees}C by doping with less than two weight percent boron. Boron doping eliminates catastrophic {open_quote}pest{close_quote} oxidation at 800{degrees}C. The mechanism for improved oxidation resistance of boron doped Mo{sub 5}Si{sub 3} is due to scale modification by boron.
Word associations to homographs

Word associations to 40 homographic stimuli were scored in terms of the semantic features serving as S's apparent functional stimulus, and hierarchies related to the separate sets of features of homographs were determined. For most homographs the dominant meaning in the associative hierarchy was the more frequently occurring meaning in semantic counts, a finding in agreement with a spew-like principle of perceiving homographic stimuli.