cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An assessment of hierarchical data fusion using SEABAR'07 data

The results of processing selected runs from the SEABAR'07 multistatic sonar trials dataset through General Dynamics Canada's Multiple Target Tracker (MTT) hierarchical data fusion system are reported. The purpose of this exercise was to ascertain the performance potential of the MTT and, by inference, of hierarchical data fusion based tracking generally, against a real multistatic sonar scenario. Selected runs of the original SEABAR'07 dataset have proven themselves well suited to this purpose. Tracking results on these runs are quite positive. To compensate for the lack of a real target in these runs, the SEABAR'07 dataset also includes a modified version, in which the strong echo repeater returns have been replaced by much weaker returns computed using the BASIS bistatic target aspect model. Tracking results with this modified dataset proved less encouraging. These results suggest that the viability of multistatic sonar tracking using a hierarchical data fusion system like the MTT appears promising, but remains unproven; a calibrated trials dataset containing a real target is required to provide a definitive answer.
Anhydrous Ammonia Injection Depth Does Not Affect Nitrous Oxide Emissions in a Silt Loam over Two Growing Seasons.

Anhydrous ammonia (AA) is a major fertilizer source in North America that can promote greater emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) than other nitrogen (N) fertilizers. Previous studies found that injection of AA at a shallow depth (0.1 m) decreased N2O in a rainfed clay loam but increased N2O in an irrigated loamy sand compared with the standard injection depth of 0.2 m. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of AA injection depth in a silt loam soil used for corn (Zea mays L.) production and managed under two contrasting tillage regimes over two consecutive growing seasons (2010 and 2011) in Minnesota. In contrast with previous studies, AA placement depth did not affect N 2O emissions in either tillage system or in either growing season. Tillage by itself affected N 2O emissions only in the drier of two seasons, during which N2O emissions under no tillage (NT) exceeded those under conventional tillage (CT) by 55%. Soil moisture content under NT was also greater than under CT only in the drier of the two seasons. Effects of AA placement depth and long-term tillage regime on N2O emissions exhibit intersite as well as interannual variation, which should be considered when developing N2O mitigation strategies. Further study is needed to identify specific soil, climate, or other factors that mediate the contrasting responses to management practices across sites.
Plasma fentanyl concentrations in awake cats and cats undergoing anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy using transdermal administration.

Abstract Objective To measure the plasma fentanyl concentrations achieved over time with transdermal fentanyl patches in awake cats and cats undergoing anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Study design Randomized prospective experimental study. Animals Twenty–four purpose–bred cats. Methods Cats were randomly assigned to three groups for Part I of a larger concurrent study. Group P received only a 25 μg hour −1 transdermal fentanyl patch. Group P/A received the patch and anesthesia. Group A received only anesthesia. After a minimum 1–week washout period, the cats were randomly reassigned to two groups for Part II of the larger study. Group P/A/O received the patch, anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Group A/O received anesthesia and ovariohysterectomy. Patches were left in place for 72 hours and plasma samples were obtained for fentanyl analysis while the patches were in place, and for 8 hours after patch removal for cats in Group P, P/A, and P/A/O. Results The 25 μg hour −1 transdermal fentanyl patches were well tolerated by the cats in this study (mean body weight of 3.0 kg) and no overt adverse effects were noted. Mean plasma fentanyl concentrations over time, mean plasma fentanyl concentrations at specific times (8, 25, 49, and 73 hours after patch placement), time to first detectable plasma fentanyl concentration, time to reach maximum plasma fentanyl concentration, maximum plasma fentanyl concentration, mean plasma fentanyl concentration from 8 to 73 hours, elimination half–life, and total area under concentration (AUC) were not statistically different among the groups. Conclusions Halothane anesthesia and anesthesia/ovariohysterectomy did not significantly alter the plasma fentanyl concentrations achieved or pharmacokinetic parameters measured, when compared with awake cats. There was a high degree of individual variability observed both within and between groups of cats in parameters measured. Clinical significance The high degree of variability observed suggests that careful observation of cats with fentanyl patches in place is required to assess efficacy and any potential adverse effects. Anesthesia and anesthesia/ovariohysterectomy do not appear to alter plasma fentanyl concentrations achieved by placement of a 25 μg hour −1 transdermal fentanyl patch when compared to cats not undergoing these procedures.
Oblivious Routing with Mobile Fusion Centers over a Sensor Network

We consider the problem of aggregating data at a mobile fusion center (fusor) (eg. a PDA or a cellular phone) moving within a spatial region over which a wireless sensor network (eg., fixed motes) has been deployed. Each sensor node generates packets destined to the fusor, and our objective is to develop strategies that can route the packets to the mobile fusor. For an arbitrary (possibly random) fusor mobility pattern over any connected subset of the sensor deployment area, we first derive upper bounds on the aggregation data rate (i.e., the uniform rate region from each sensor node to the mobile fusor), where we allow all sensor nodes to have complete knowledge of the mobility pattern of the fusor. We then consider aggregation data rates that can be achieved when the mobility pattern of the fusor is unknown to the sensor nodes. Surprisingly, we show that for a class of mobility patterns (random mobility over connected-compositions of convex sets of the deployment region, e.g. random walks over piece-wise linear sets), we can construct "universal" mobility-oblivious routing strategies that achieve aggregation data rates that are of the same order as the (mobility-aware) upper bound.
Blood Pressure Guidelines and Screening Techniques

Recording and monitoring blood pressure should be a lifetime practice. Studies have shown that people with normal blood pressure readings between the ages of 55 and 65 still have an 80 to 90 percent risk of developing hypertension by the age of 80. The information in this course teaches the dental health professional to be aware of the causes of hypertension and how to determine and assess identifiable causes. Understanding the terms systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure along with knowledge of the various blood pressure categories and the factors that influence blood pressure is important. This course provides you with the appropriate method of taking a blood pressure and how to determine the recommendations for follow-up and lifestyle modifications for patient treatment.
A Useful Role for Data Mining in Economics

Many economists view data mining as simply extracting information from data that is not supported by the data. Nevertheless, in recent years, data mining has become a well-defined interdisciplinary field at the intersection of computer science and statistics, which employs methods from artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics, and database systems to discover interesting patterns in large datasets. It is a relatively young field, which has shown great promise in business and economics. Despite recognizing merits of data mining, economists remain skeptical of data mining. Schonlau (2005) explains the differences between economists and analysts in the data-mining community with respect to their approach to regression analysis as follows. While economists traditionally build a model from theory and then use the data to estimate parameters of their model, data miners tend to favor the approach in which all or most available regressors are used in the regression model. Since their econometric model is justified by economic theory, economists are sometimes less interested in testing how well the model fits the data. The standard approach used by data miners for validating their models is to split the data into training and a test dataset. The model is fitted to the training dataset. The fitted model is then used to make predictions on the test data.
Asymmetric Template Function of Microbial Deoxyribonucleic Acids: Transcription of Ribosomal and Soluble Ribonucleic Acids

In Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, 16 and 23S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) hybridize exclusively with the heavy (H) strand of methylated albuminkieselguhr (MAK)-fractionated complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strands. All the soluble RNA (4S RNA) in B. subtilis and 66 to 75% of the 4S RNA in E. coli also hybridize with the H strand. Interspecific hybridization shows that E. coli 23S rRNA also binds selectively to the DNA H strand of Salmonella typhimurium. The hybridization peak for all three cellular RNA components is specifically located in the late-eluting region of the absorbance profile of the DNA H strand. The early-eluting region of the light (L) strand preferentially inhibits the hybridization between the peak region of the H strand and 23S rRNA. These regions are considered to represent the transcribing sequences and their complements for 23S rRNA in the separated H and L strands of DNA, respectively.
Schrödinger Operators with Purely Discrete Spectrum

We prove that S �+ V has purely discrete spectrum if V � 0 and, for all M, |{x | V (x) <M }| < � and various extensions.
Adaptive playout scheduling using time-scale modification in packet voice communications

A new receiver-based playout scheduling scheme is proposed, which estimates the network delay from past statistics and adaptively adjusts the playout time of the voice packets. In contrast to previous work, the adjustment is not only performed in between talkspurts, but also within the talkspurts in a highly dynamic way. Proper reconstruction of continuous output speech is achieved by scaling individual voice packets using a time-scale modification technique which modifies the rate of playout while preserving voice pitch. Subjective listening tests show that this operation does not impair the audio quality. Simulation results based on Internet measurement indicate that buffering delay and loss rate can be significantly reduced by adaptive scheduling.
The carbon balance of flowers of Diplacus aurantiacus (Scrophulariaceae).

Measurements and modeling of photosynthesis, respiration and growth in flowers of Diplacus aurantiacus, a semidrought-deciduous shrub, indicate that they can provide 18%-25% of their total carbon requirements through photosynthesis of flower parts. Daily photosynthetic carbon fixation exceeds daily respiratory CO2 loss during most non-fruiting stages of development. However, this carbon gain fails to meet the requirements for new biomass construction during bud growth and corolla expansion. During fruiting stages, insufficient carbon is fixed to fully supply either respiration or growth.The calyx performs most of the flower's photosynthesis throughout the life of the flower. However, during stages of fruit development, the contribution of the ovary to flower photosynthesis may equal that of the calyx.
Beyond the Social Cost of Carbon: The Real Economic Lessons About the Determinants of Harm from Changing Climate and Their Implications for Climate Policy

As a measure of the marginal benefits of EPA regulations mandating reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, the social cost of carbon (SCC) has been important in the regulatory process leading to the finalization of such regulations. In this paper, I explain and critique the Integrated Assessment Models from which the SCC is derived, and in particular the climate damage functions IAM’s assume and which are at the core of SCC estimates. Climate damage functions should be based on empirical evidence regarding the actual contribution of temperature, precipitation and other climate variables to various measures of human well-being, such as agricultural productivity, health, wildfires, and civil war among many others. Simple empirical studies that focus solely on climate measures tend to overestimate, sometimes vastly, the role of climate as a causal factor in such phenomena. More complex studies that look at the entire range of variables theoretically identified as important in explaining the phenomenon of interest show that climate is much less important as a causal factor than simple “climate and...” studies estimate. In addition, IAM damage estimates are based on estimates from computer and analytical models of climate sensitivity (the temperature increase to be expected from GHG increases), but such estimates are higher than newer, empirical estimates. Moreover, IAM damage estimates do not take account of the extremely long multi-centennial period over which climate sensitivity evolves to higher values. For all of these reasons, SCC estimates used in regulatory proceedings today are likely considerable overestimates of the actual SCC. Reasonable estimates of the SCC support only modest reductions in GHG emissions. Regardless of GHG emission reductions, climate commitment means that adaptation to future climate change will be a necessity, and the empirical literature suggests that climate change policy should focus on removing public policies that create perverse incentives not to adapt and on promoting policies that increase the incentive for the development of new ways of adapting to inevitably changing climate. Unfortunately, the promulgation of GHG emissions regulation under the Clean Air Act, a statute that does not mandate cost benefit analysis, makes it unlikely that a court will ever seriously question the methodology underlying flawed SCC estimates that have already been used to justify GHG emission regulation. While potentially a valuable tool for climate policy design, as employed in actual regulatory impact analysis in the United States, the SCC has been used to justify inefficient policies rather than to identify better ones.
BROWN, J. N. (2013). FIRST IN THE WORLD: COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND AMERICA'S FUTURE

First in the world is a milestone in understanding the complexities of the public policy environment and issues America's community colleges are facing in the 21st century. As the title suggests, t...
Epidemiology and natural history of breast cancer. Implications for the body weight-breast cancer controversy.

The mechanisms of differentiation of the mammary gland can explain the apparently contradictory findings on the association of breast cancer with overweight. Overweight may be related to the initiation of breast cancer in premenopausal women through its effect on menstrual cycles and progesterone secretion and to the promotion of breast cancer in postmenopausal women through its effects on estrogen metabolism. However, it is not possible to rule out the view that the reported association is attributable to failure to adjust for potential confounding factors such as dietary fat.
Direct-Production Hybrids: Quality Wines?

The Hybridists Take on the Grafters and Big Science From the viewpoint of winegrowers, the science of the Montpellier professors was not very useful because it failed to provide vital, precise, detailed information. Because Montpellier's professorial science had committed itself to giving practical advice to growers on the reconstitution of vineyards, the complaint is not so absurd as it might appear to later historians. Growers were eager to obtain reliable information about Franco- American hybrids (both grafted vines and direct producers) and new rootstocks that were superior to pure American roots in difficult chalky soils as well as new direct-production hybrids. These direct producers were becoming more and more popular with small as well as big producers because of their reputation for resistance to the devastating black rot disease that was seriously lowering grape production in the late 1880s. Many producers found that the traditional sources of information (viticultural congresses and societies, journals and newspapers, and even occupants of departmental chairs of agriculture) all failed to provide the complex knowledge required by French viticulture. In the program he proclaimed in the first issue (1898) of the RHFA ( Revue des hybrides franco-americains ), Paul Gouy condemned the spokesmen of official science as poor purveyors of new scientific information. Most of the departmental chairs of agriculture and their institutions, either hostile to or suspicious of the new vines, were not inclined to advise growers to plant them, even on an experimental basis.
Tragedy and redemption in Calderón

La biographie de Calderon (1600-1681) est retracee. En 1651, il entre dans les ordres et il est ordonne pretre. La relation entre deux formes dramatiques extremement differentes, les comedia et l'auto est cruciale pour la comprehension de la tragedie chez Calderon. Dans les autos sacramentales de Calderon, textes chretiens, la promesse de la redemption est rendue possible par le sacrifice du Christ. A l'aide d'extraits de pieces de Calderon, l'A. montre qu'il n'existe pas chez le dramaturge de difference entre la nature du peche originel de l'homme ou de la faute et entre celle du diable. Le drame humain y est decrit comme une tragedie faisant des victimes qui n'ont pas le caractere sacre d'Oedipe car aucun Dieu ne les reclame. Leur sacrifice est le temoin d'une alienation et d'un gouffre sans fond que Dieu a etabli. Ainsi Calderon et Shakespeare ont pu envisager des themes comme par exemple la haine car ils prenaient en compte la protection offerte par le sacrifice du Christ ce qui n'etait pas le cas pour Sophocle et Virgile qui echappaient a la terreur en sacralisant le processus violent produisant des victimes.
A multimedia system for remote neurosurgical monitoring

Neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring (IOM) is an important tool aimed at reducing iatrogenic injury to the central nervous system during complex surgical procedures. We utilize multimedia techniques involving digital video to perform remote IOM. A video camera mounted on a microscope records the same surgical scene as the one observed by the neurosurgeon. The recorded video along with a variety of physiological data are processed, compressed, and transmitted through networks to be monitored by neurophysiologists at remote sites. In order to reduce bandwidth without degenerating video quality in critical areas of the surgical field, we utilized a novel method based on the wavelet transform to decompose each video frame into subframes and encode them in different resolutions. Our experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method.
The war between mice and elephants

Recent measurement based studies reveal that most of the Internet connections are short in terms of the amount of traffic they carry (mice), while a small fraction of the connections are carrying a large portion of the traffic (elephants). A careful study of the TCP protocol shows that without help from an active queue management (AQM) policy, short connections tend to lose to long connections in their competition for bandwidth. This is because short connections do not gain detailed knowledge of the network state, and therefore they are doomed to be less competitive due to the conservative nature of the TCP congestion control algorithm. Inspired by the differentiated services (Diffserv) architecture, we propose to give preferential treatment to short connections inside the bottleneck queue, so that short connections experience less packet drop rate than long connections. This is done by employing the RIO (RED with In and Out) queue management policy which uses different drop functions for different classes of traffic. Our simulation results show that: (1) in a highly loaded network, preferential treatment is necessary to provide short TCP connections with better response time and fairness without hurting the performance of long TCP connections; (2) the proposed scheme still delivers packets in FIFO manner at each link, thus it maintains statistical multiplexing gain and does not misorder packets; (3) choosing a smaller default initial timeout value for TCP can help enhance the performance of short TCP flows, however not as effectively as our scheme and at the risk of congestion collapse; (4) in the worst case, our proposal works as well as a regular RED scheme, in terms of response time and goodput.
Revised Model for Platelet Adhesion to Collagen.

Abstract Abstract 2999 Poster Board II-968 The Gi-coupled ADP receptor, P2Y12, is the target of clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix), currently the most successful anti-platelet strategy used in the clinic. In a recent study, we have shown that the Ca2+-sensing nucleotide exchange factor, CalDAG-GEFI, and P2Y12 represent the major signaling pathways leading to Rap1 and integrin activation in platelets (Cifuni et al., 2008, Blood). In the present study, we have further evaluated the importance of CalDAG-GEFI signaling and Rap1 activation for various aspects of platelet activation, and we have compared thrombus formation of CalDAG-GEFI−/− and WT/clopidogrel platelets under static and flow conditions in vitro. Our studies establish a revised model for platelet activation by collagen. In platelets activated with threshold concentrations of GPVI agonists, CalDAG-GEFI serves as a highly sensitive response element to Ca2+ that allows for the rapid activation of Rap1. CalDAG-GEFI-mediated Rap1 activation triggers a first wave of integrin activation and ERK (MAPK) signaling, followed by TxA2 release. TxA2 provides crucial feedback for the activation of PKC and granule/ADP release. ADP in turn triggers the second, P2Y12-dependent wave of Rap1-mediated signaling events, leading to the sustained activation of integrins and further release of TxA2. Higher concentrations of GPVI agonists lead to the concomitant activation of CalDAG-GEFI and PKC, facilitating platelet aggregation independent of feedback by endogenous TxA2. Under physiological flow conditions, CalDAG-GEFI-dependent platelet activation (clopidogrel-treated WT platelets) allowed for the formation of small but unstable thrombi, which rapidly disintegrated at high shear rates. In contrast, CalDAG-GEFI−/− platelets (P2Y12-dependent platelet activation) in anticoagulated blood firmly adhered to the thrombogenic surface but failed to form thrombi, even at high concentrations of collagen. Addition of exogenous TxA2 to anticoagulated CalDAG-GEFI−/− blood did not restore thrombus formation under flow. However, small thrombi were observed with non-anticoagulated CalDAG-GEFI−/− blood perfused at venous but not arterial shear rates, suggesting that a) locally generated thrombin facilitates the recruitment of free flowing CalDAG-GEFI−/− platelets to already adherent platelets, and b) the slow kinetics of P2Y12-dependent Rap1 activation only supports thrombin-induced platelet-platelet cohesion at low shear conditions. In conclusion, our studies demonstrate that CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1 signaling plays a critical role for the first wave of integrin activation and TxA2 generation important for platelet adhesion to a thrombogenic surface. Signaling by P2Y12/Rap1 is essential for sustained platelet activation/thrombus stabilization and partially compensates for CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1-mediated platelet adhesion under low flow conditions. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Small-Group Dynamics, Ideology, and Decision Making on the US Courts of Appeals

There is some evidence that judges who specialize in particular legal areas vote in more ideologically consistent ways than do nonspecialists. Upon replicating those individual results across multiple legal areas in the US courts of appeals, we assess how this increasing reliance on ideology by specialists affects decision making by others on a three-judge panel. We find that judges who serve with a specialist are especially likely to vote in a manner consistent with the ideological position of the specialist with whom they serve. These results suggest that specialization has the potential to facilitate panel effects across numerous legal policy areas.
Dissimilatory and Assimilatory Nitrate Reduction in the Purple Photosynthetic Bacteria

Nitrate reduction can be either a dissimilatory or assimilatory process. Nitrate reduction to nitrogen gas via a series of nitrogen oxide intermediates is a dissimilatory process termed denitrification. Denitrification is common among the purple photosynthetic bacteria. While some reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas many are missing components of the denitrification pathway. In the complete denitrifiers, denitrification can be used as an alternative form of respiration when oxygen levels are low. Denitrification can also be used as a mechanism to dispose of excess reducing equivalents. In partial denitrifiers, it is unlikely that denitrification serves a respiratory function. In these bacteria it is likely that the enzymes that are present are used for redox balancing, or to mitigate the toxicity of certain nitrogen oxide intermediates.
JOURNAL CLUB: Benefit of Epinephrine Autoinjector for Treatment of Contrast Reactions: Comparison of Errors, Administration Times, and Provider Preferences.

OBJECTIVE. Given the rarity of contrast reactions in practice, most radiologists have little to no experience in their management, and errors are common. The purpose of this study was to compare treatment of a moderate-severity reaction with intramuscular epinephrine by either the traditional manual method of drawing up and delivering epinephrine with a needle and syringe or the use of an epinephrine autoinjector. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. All diagnostic radiologists at the study institution were requested to participate in an annual contrast reaction simulation program, which consisted of three simulation scenarios in a high-fidelity simulation laboratory. During the moderate-severity simulation scenario, the time to administer intramuscular epinephrine and any errors in administration were recorded. Groups were randomized to use an autoinjector device or manual delivery. All participants completed a survey assessing the experience with epinephrine and their comfort in treating contrast reactions using a tra...
Agency Policy Requirements and System Design

The conventional wisdom about urban modelling systems suggests that their design is directed toward providing constructive guidance to decision-makers in evaluating policy proposals. But this judgement, loaded with linked conditions and qualifying adjectives, needs clarification if it is to serve as a launching pad to the theme of this paper.
From Checklists to Heuristics: Designing MOOCs to Support Teacher Learning

BackgroundAlthough much is known from educational research about factors that support K–12 teacher professional learning, it has been an ongoing challenge to incorporate these factors into practice...
EoC Study Update to Examine the Cost, Schedule and Technical Changes to NASA Projects

The original National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Explanation of Change (EoC) study was conducted in 2010 to understand the underlying causes of cost and schedule growth. The first study consisted of 25 missions launched from 2000 to 2010 and looked at the events that led to growth. These events were categorized into different bins that were rolled up to quantify whether the growth was due to internal planning, or internal execution, or from external forces and found that the growth was evenly distributed among those three categories. The result of the study presented nine considerations focused at reducing growth due to project external events and internal planning events. Although no one 'magic bullet' consideration was discovered in the previous work, the nine considerations taken as a whole were postulated to help reduce cost and schedule change in future NASA missions. A recent update was conducted that included investigating 8 missions developed since the previous study to determine if the results were different. Cost, schedule, and mass increases were analyzed from the start of Phase B through Preliminary Design Review and Critical Design Review to Launch. As shown in this paper, the results are better with overall cost and schedule growth being reduced. The paper will show a comparison of the previous results to the updated results to show specific reductions and provide an explanation of which recommendations were followed.
Katherine of Aragon’s Fragmented Identity in Henry VIII

In Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon challenges sovereign decisions and policies by invoking her Englishness and her foreignness according to the exigencies of the immediate political situation. At every level, from the personal to the broadly political, tensions between foreignness and Englishness permeate the play’s dynamics, and as the daughter, sister, niece, and aunt of powerful continental rulers, Katherine represents and embodies foreignness within the royal family. I situate her in relation to these underlying tensions, and consider how Shakespeare depicts her as strategically deploying her commitments both to England and its values, on the one hand, and to Spain and the broader political community of Christendom, on the other. She actuates her domestic and foreign identities in order to exert influence, positively shape political policies, and eventually resist the effort to push her from queenship. This mobilization of different aspects of her identity connects to three broader political binaries that are problematized in the play: friend/enemy, foreign/domestic, and pragmatism/morality.
Removal and Destruction of Perchlorate and Other Anions from Ground Water Using the ISEP+TM System

Recently, there has been increased regulatory attention towards the presence of perchlorate (ClO4 −)in many ground water aquifers in California and several other states. At least 11 states in the U.S. are believed to have sites contaminated with perchlorate in their aquifers or waterways.1 Perchlorate in drinking water is believed to cause potential problems for infants and patients with hypothyroidism by interfering with the ability of the thyroid gland to process iodine.2 A provisional action level (PAL) of 18 μg L−1 perchlorate in drinking water has been established by the Department of Health Services in California.
Impact of Ecological Restoration on Ecosystem Services

This article outlines the impacts of ecological restoration on the world's ecosystem services. It first reviews the concept of ecological restoration and touches on restoration targets and outstanding issues within restoration ecology. It then describes ecosystem services, how they relate to ecological restoration, and how restoration ecology incorporates an ecosystem service viewpoint into on-the-ground restoration projects. Lastly, it outlines how ecosystem services might better be incorporated into restoration ecology going forward, including discussions of how best to advance theory and intertwine these two relatively new concepts.
Ultra Short and Intense Laser Pulses

In the following chapter fundamental aspects of laser pulses and their interaction with single electrons will be discussed. At first the mathematical description of laser pulses is given. The relation between time and frequency domain will be explained and the concept of generating ultra short pulses will be sketched shortly. Then the interaction of the laser pulse with single electrons in the relativistic case will be discussed and the ponderomotive force will be introduced.
An examination of an interactive substance abuse prevention program for high school students

AbstractSince research shows that interactive prevention programs are more effective than didactic-based lectures, the current study examined the efficacy of an interactive substance abuse prevention program for adolescents. Participants completed pre- and post-surveys examining their substance use knowledge and program perceptions. The program included small groups led by near-peer health care professional trainees as facilitators and interactive, hands-on activities, such as the examination of diseased human organs due to substance use. Results demonstrated statistically significant increases in knowledge of substance use risks on mental and physical health. Findings highlight effective methods that can be implemented by health care professionals to increase awareness of the harmful effects of substance use.
Multiplex Three-Dimensional Mapping of Macromolecular Drug Distribution in the Tumor Microenvironment

Macromolecular cancer drugs such as therapeutic antibodies and nanoparticles are well known to display slow extravasation and incomplete penetration into tumors, potentially protecting cancer cells from therapeutic effects. Conventional assays to track macromolecular drug delivery are poorly matched to the heterogeneous tumor microenvironment, but recent progress on optical tissue clearing and three-dimensional (3D) tumor imaging offers a path to quantitative assays with cellular resolution. Here, we apply transparent tissue tomography (T3) as a tool to track perfusion and delivery in the tumor and to evaluate target binding and vascular permeability. Using T3, we mapped anti-programmed cell death protein-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody distribution in whole mouse tumors. By measuring 3D penetration distances of the antibody drug out from the blood vessel boundaries into the tumor parenchyma, we determined spatial pharmacokinetics of anti-PD-L1 antibody drugs in mouse tumors. With multiplex imaging of tumor components, we determined the distinct distribution of anti-PD-L1 antibody drug in the tumor microenvironment with different PD-L1 expression patterns. T3 imaging revealed CD31+ capillaries are more permeable to anti-PD-L1 antibody transport compared with the blood vessels composed of endothelium supported by vascular fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. T3 analysis also confirmed that isotype IgG antibody penetrates more deeply into tumor parenchyma than anti-Her2 or anti-EGFR antibody, which were restrained by binding to their respective antigens on tumor cells. Thus, T3 offers simple and rapid access to 3D, quantitative maps of macromolecular drug distribution in the tumor microenvironment, offering a new tool for development of macromolecular cancer therapeutics.
Forensic Toxicology in Death Investigation

Abstract Medicolegal death investigations in the United States are handled by a mixture of county, regional, and state medical examiner (ME) and coroner offices and typically occur in response to sudden, unexpected, and unnatural deaths. Potential deaths due to the toxic effects of illicit and/or prescription drugs are an increasing proportion of the deaths investigated by ME and coroner offices. The National Association of Medical Examiners recommends that these investigations include complete autopsy examination for the documentation of underlying natural disease and significant injuries as well as obtaining a variety of specimens for toxicology testing. Results of toxicology testing in the postmortem setting are then interpreted in conjunction with history, scene investigation, and autopsy and ancillary study findings so that cause and manner of death may be determined.
Noticias de género: algunas ideas basadas en la evidencia sobre los usuarios de los medios.

Historically, the industries in the world have been marked by gender differences. The media industry has not been the exception. The most common way of understanding gender has been like a binary man versus woman and, although the concept is now taking a more fluid form, it is not surprising that the traditional conception of gender has profoundly influenced our understanding and use of information generated by the media. From how women are portrayed in the media to how the news is perceived by users, gender plays an important role that needs attention.
Impact of preoperative urodynamics on women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery.

Preoperative urodynamic studies (UDS) are frequently performed before pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery to assess urethral and bladder function. The primary goal of this study is to examine how preoperative UDS are utilized and what value these studies have in patient treatment and/or counseling. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent prolapse surgery and had preoperative UDS between June 2010 and February 2015. Indications for UDS were classified into four categories: (1) occult stress urinary incontinence only, (2) overactive bladder symptoms, (3) mixed or insensible urinary incontinence, and (4) voiding symptoms and/or elevated post-void residual. We identified changes in management or counseling that were directly attributable to UDS results prior to surgery. Three hundred ninety-two patients underwent urodynamic testing for indications 2–4 above, and 316 met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-seven percent (180/316) had OAB symptoms (34.4% wet, 65.6% dry), 40.2% (127/316) had mixed incontinence, and 17.1% (54/316) had voiding symptoms and/or elevated PVR. A total of 3.5% (11/316) patients had alteration in their management or counseling based on the results of the UDS; 29.4% (50/170) of the women evaluated for occult SUI alone or with other symptoms demonstrated it and 41 underwent sling placement. UDS did not have a significant impact on preoperative management or counseling in POP surgery if demonstration of occult SUI was not the indication for preoperative study in women committed to POP surgery. Major alterations in treatment were rare and occurred mostly in women with stress incontinence that also had concomitant voiding symptoms and/or elevated PVR.
Examining Race-Related Error in Two-Compartment Models of Body Composition Assessment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Abstract Background: The Brozek and Siri formulas estimate relative adiposity (%Fat) from total body density (Db) using a 2-compartment (2C) model. Racial/ethnic differences in Db have been reported, along with subsequent errors in estimated %Fat. Objective: The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine potential race/ethnic differences in the accuracy of the Brozek and Siri 2C formulas using aggregate-level data. Methods: Peer-reviewed studies available in English that provided 2C and 4C estimates of %Fat were located using searches of the PubMed (n = 150), Scopus (n = 170), and Web of Science (n = 138) online electronic databases. Random-effects models were used to determine potential differences between racial groups using a mean ES and 95% confidence intervals. Results: The cumulative results from 78 effects indicate that the relative accuracy of the Brozek equation did not vary between racial groups (between group p = 0.053). In contrast, the Siri equation slightly underestimated %Fat for Asian adults (ESWMD = −1.40%, 95%CI –2.33% to −0.46%; p = 0.004) and Black adults (ESWMD = –1.10%, 95%CI −2.11% to −0.08%; p = 0.034), with no significant differences observed in Hispanic adults (ESWMD = 0.64%, 95%CI −1.02% to 2.31%; p = 0.448) and White adults (ESWMD = 0.08%, 95%CI −0.42% to 0.57%; p = 0.766) (between group p = 0.019). Conclusion: Small, but statistically significant, error was found between racial groups when estimating %Fat using the 2C Siri equation when compared to 4C models. However, the observed error due to race/ethnicity appears to be of little clinical or practical significance when using either equation.
Ecotoxicology: Chickens Have Lips, Don’t They?

The study of toxic compounds and their influence on ecosystems, or ecotoxicology, is differentiated from general toxicology (Harris 2000). However, it is still influenced by looking at poison’s impact on humans and individual laboratory research animals. It’s much more complex to look at the ecological effects of pollutants because toxicity tests reflect dramatically different results depending on the species used, their threshold responses, and whether the investigations are acute or chronic studies of the environmental system these species may normally reside in. The distribution of toxic pollutants in ecosystems can occur by wet deposition or dry deposition. The grain size of soil, the pH of moisture in the air (aerosols), and the salinity of water all can alter the eco-impact of the complex aspects of some pollutants (Cockerham and Shane 1994). For example, copper combines with humic substances in the soil when the soil salinity is lowered. DDT, which is toxic, has a common metabolite, DDE. This is the direct causative factor in the thinning of eggshells in birds, while DDT itself does not affect shell thinning directly. Even though a contaminant is toxic to living tissue, larger scale effects can occur from low concentrations that are nowhere near the toxic levels of a major exposure event such as an oil spill. However, chronic exposures to nano-level contaminants can have significant effects on hormonal functioning or mimic endocrine levels of the chemical pathways associated with growth and maturation in a host of living organisms, including humans (Table 3.1).
A longitudinal analysis of the effect of anemia on health-related quality of life in children with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease.

To evaluate impact of anemia on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) over time in a large pediatric cohort with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD). Participants were enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children Study (CKiD), a multicenter, longitudinal cohort. HRQOL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Anemia was defined as hemoglobin < 5th percentile for age, sex, and race. Two longitudinal analyses were conducted on consecutive visit pairs. Models examined effects of anemia status on both HRQOL score over time and change in HRQOL score between consecutive visits. The sample included 733 children with a median estimated GFR 54 ml/min/1.73 m2. Thirty percent of children had anemia at index visit. Analysis of HRQOL scores revealed the presence of anemia was associated with significantly lower overall HRQOL (β = − 2.90 (95% CI = − 7.74, − 0.21), p = 0.04) and physical functioning (β = − 5.72 (− 9.49, − 2.25), p = 0.001) according to children. On parent ratings, the development of anemia was associated with lower emotional functioning scores (β = − 4.87 (− 8.72, − 0.11), p = 0.045). In the second model, children who developed anemia were rated by caregivers as having more decreased physical functioning than children who remained anemia-free (β = − 3.30 per year (− 5.83, − 0.76), p = 0.01). Caregivers did not observe declines in their children’s other PedsQL subscales in the presence of developed anemia. Children with resolved or persistence did not show improvement or decline in any aspect of HRQOL functioning relative to non-anemic subjects. In children with CKD, anemia has an adverse effect on HRQOL which persists over time but does not appear to be progressive.
Health Communication and the Arts in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Objectives:Guided by the hypothesis that the arts can play a role in changing attitudes, beliefs, and health behaviors, the objectives of the study were to (1) overview artistic practices, interven...
The power of engagement: Understanding active social media engagement and the impact on sales in the hospitality industry

Abstract This study seeks to understand the most important features of active social media engagement among followers of a food and beverage sales organization, and the impact of social media engagement rate on sales of new products. The study provides empirical evidence that highly engaged social media posts drive firm performance through increased sales. Additionally, the study provides a formula for success by using text mining strategies to uncover most effective use of the social media channels. The text mining methods reveal the best date/time, type of posting, hashtag to use and social media channel that provides the highest engagement level.
Potentiometric measurement of Barbituric acid by integration of supramolecular receptors into ChemFETs

Abstract Potentiometric sensing devices were prepared based on ion-selective membranes (ISM) containing Hamilton-type receptors incorporated into polymer membranes. Measurement capabilities of these devices were evaluated and exhibit near-Nernstian sensitivities in several different aqueous matrices, demonstrating the utility of Hamilton receptors within polymer membranes for potentiometric detection of a barbiturates in water. This work also investigates the effects of receptor preorganization on sensor performance and compares these effects to those observed for similar receptor systems in solution.
Across the Rural–Urban Universe: Two Continuous Indices of Urbanization for U.S. Census Microdata

Microdata from U.S. decennial censuses and the American Community Survey are a key resource for social science and policy analysis, enabling researchers to investigate relationships among all reported characteristics for individual respondents and their households. To protect privacy, the Census Bureau restricts the detail of geographic information in public use microdata, and this complicates how researchers can investigate and account for variations across levels of urbanization when analyzing microdata. One option is to focus on metropolitan status, which can be determined exactly for most microdata records and approximated for others, but a binary metro/nonmetro classification is still coarse and limited on its own, emphasizing one aspect of rural–urban variation and discounting others. To address these issues, we compute two continuous indices for public use microdata—average tract density and average metro/micro-area population—using population-weighted geometric means. We show how these indices correspond to two key dimensions of urbanization—concentration and size—and we demonstrate their utility through an examination of disparities in poverty throughout the rural–urban universe. Poverty rates vary across settlement types in nonlinear ways: rates are lowest in moderately dense parts of major metro areas, and rates are higher in both low- and high-density areas, as well as in smaller commuting systems. Using the two indices also reveals that correlations between poverty and demographic characteristics vary considerably across settlement types. Both indices are now available for recent census microdata via IPUMS USA ( https://usa.ipums.org ).