cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Question for Behavior Analysts: Is Behavior Analysis Explanation of Behavior or Control of Behavior?

Using an example of a problem in interpretation of behavioral data, the paper asks whether behavior analysis is explanation of behavior or control of behavior. The paper argues that when two or more experimental conditions are compared, one condition is not necessarily superior to the other(s) and may not serve as an explanation of what happens in other conditions. Experimental subjects simply face different environmental conditions and behave differently in them. Successful behavior changes and management in clinic, laboratory, and school suggest that contemporary behavior analysis is behavioral engineering. But what criteria should be applied when one tries to explain behavior? Control of behavior and explanation of behavior may be separate forms of analysis with the latter incorporating elements that may not be approached directly in the manner of manipulating independent variables.
Nonlinear Stochastic Control Part II: Ascent Phase Control of Reusable Launch Vehicles

In designing a robust ascent phase control for reusable launch vehicles, uncertainties such as variations in aerodynamics, jet effects, hinge moments, mass property, and navigation processing, etc. have to be considered and normally time and labor intensive Monte Carlo simulations are used in order to achieve a desired tracking performance distribution. In this paper, a systematic stochastic control design method based upon a direct quadrature method of moments proposed in Part I [26] will be applied to the ascending phase attitude control problem. In conjunction with a nonlinear robust control and an offline optimization through nonlinear programming, any order of stationary statistical moments can be directly controlled. Two simulation scenarios of the X-33 ascent phase control have been used to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposed method and the results are validated by Monte Carlo runs.
Spatial and temporal patterns of earthquake distribution in Soviet Central Asia: Application of pair analysis statistics

We have examined the Soviet regional earthquake catalog for Central Asia for the period 1962 to 1983 to characterize the spatial and temporal structure of the earthquake process in this highly active continental collision zone. Three areas of apparently homogeneous earthquake distribution were identified as characteristic of distinct seismic regimes: (1) a segment of the range-bounding Gissar-Kokshal fault zone, (2) the interior of the crystalline massif of the Tien Shan mountain range, and (3) the Tadjik Depression fold-thrust belt. The pair analysis technique applied in our study compares the spatial and temporal distribution of pairs of earthquakes with those determined by uniformly distributed events in the same area and time interval. We have found the earthquake distribution in this region to be dominated by significant nonrandomness in both space and time. The spatial nonrandomness is manifested in two major ways. Spatial clustering appears to characterize the overall structure of the earthquake process in the region, as it is observed regardless of the scale considered and even upon removal of foreshocks, aftershocks, and swarms from the catalog. Anomalies at larger distances could also be distinguished, suggesting the existence of a regular spatial alternation of subareas of higher and lower levels of seismic activity. The nonrandomness in temporal distribution of earthquakes is also characterized by clustering at short time intervals. In contrast with the spatial patterns, earthquakes appear to be randomly distributed in time after removal of foreshocks, aftershocks, and swarms.
A Practical Pentecostal Theodicy?: A Proposal

A common critique of Pentecostalism from other Christian traditions is that Pentecostals lack an adequate response to evil and chronic and unrelieved suffering. I will propose a response to evil and suffering that is not expressed solely in repeated calls to faith or in stark black and white terms of faith versus doubt. This essay will address the role of the pentecostal faith community in its social dimension in response to suffering. I will also suggest a “practical” pentecostal theodicy, one grounded in the stories of the outpouring of the Spirit in the book of Acts and in deep pastoral concern. Finally, I will address the inscrutable activity of God, who often works ad hoc, mysteriously, variously through miracle, pentecostal pastoral concern, or deep existential encounter.
Research on Beijing family genotype of mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in Fujian province

Objective To understand the distribution of Beijing family genotype of mycobacterium tuberculosis( MTB) strains from Fujian province,and to analyze the relationship between Beijing genotype and drug resistance. Methods A total of 312 MTB clinical isolates were collected from 30 drug resistance monitoring sites during 2008-2011 in Fujian province. The strains were identified by RD105 deletion test. The statistical analysis was performed with Chi-square test. Results Among 312 MTB isolates,185( 59. 3%) isolates were Beijing family genotype. There was no significant association between Beijing family genotype and patients' age,gender,regions and treatment history( P values were 0. 11,0. 38,0. 99 and 0. 05 respectively). INH-resistant,RFP-resistant,EMB-resistant and multi drug-resistant( MDR) isolates were found obviously more in Beijing genotype strains than non-Beijing strains( P values were 0. 02,0. 00,0. 02 and 0. 00 respectively). Conclu sion Beijing family genotype was the predominant epidemic genotype in Fujian province. Beijing genotype strains exhibited no correlation with age, gender,regions and treatment history of the patients. However,Beijing genotype strains revealed correlation with INH-resistance,RFP-resistance,EMB-resistance and MDR phenotypes.
Disinfection Quality Monitoring of Kindergartens in Haizhu District of Guangzhou City during 2004-2009

[Objective]To comprehensively understand the disinfection situation and development trend of kindergartens in Haizhou District of Guangzhou City,and provide scientific evidence for controlling and reducing of infectious diseases.[Methods]The monitoring results of disinfection of kindergartens in haizhou District during 2004-2009 were analyzed statistically.[Results]A total of 774 kindergartens were monitored and 14 405 samples were collected during 6 years,the overall eligible rate was 90.82% in 5 years.The qualified rates of disinfectant(99.42%),toys(96.59%),air(96.59%),and surface of object(96.28%) were higher,that of UV light(40.19%) was lower.To compare the monitoring project in different years,the qualified rate of air showed downward trend,the difference was significant(χ2 = 31.30,P 0.05).The qualified rate was no significantly different between kindergartens with 3 kinds of scale from 2008 to 2009(χ2 = 1.74,0.69,P 0.05).The qualified rates of total bacterial count,staphylococcus aurous,hemolytic streptococcus,coliform were higher(above 68.55%),while the qualified rate of UV intensity was lower.[Conclusion]Disinfection quality trend of kindergarten is well in Haizhou District,but weak links still exist,the UV disinfection and teachers' hands disinfection need to be further improved.
Some concerns about ionizing radiation for diagnostic studies

OBJECTIVE Imaging has been a wonderful addition to diagnosing cardiac and other non-cardiac problems. However, there has been a huge increase in the number of procedures related to the use of ionizing radiation in the United States over the last several years. In 2010 clinical cardiologists use all available imaging modalities to optimally manage patients with cardiovascular disease. This article will focus only on imaging requiring ionizing radiation. The purpose of this report is to highlight the amount of radiation exposure used to investigate cardiac and non-cardiac disease states and to call attention to the potential short and long term effects of ionizing radiation on your patients.
Predicting the effects of climate change on population connectivity and genetic diversity of an imperiled freshwater mussel, Cumberlandia monodonta (Bivalvia: Margaritiferidae), in riverine systems

In the face of global climate change, organisms may respond to temperature increases by shifting their ranges poleward or to higher altitudes. However, the direction of range shifts in riverine systems is less clear. Because rivers are dendritic networks, there is only one dispersal route from any given location to another. Thus, range shifts are only possible if branches are connected by suitable habitat, and stream-dwelling organisms can disperse through these branches. We used Cumberlandia monodonta (Bivalvia: Unionoida: Margaritiferidae) as a model species to investigate the effects of climate change on population connectivity because a majority of contemporary populations are panmictic. We combined ecological niche models (ENMs) with population genetic simulations to investigate the effects of climate change on population connectivity and genetic diversity of C. monodonta. The ENMs were constructed using bioclimatic and landscape data to project shifts in suitable habitat under future climate scenarios. We then used forward-time simulations to project potential changes in genetic diversity and population connectivity based on these range shifts. ENM results under current conditions indicated long stretches of highly suitable habitat in rivers where C. monodonta persists; populations in the upper Mississippi River remain connected by suitable habitat that does not impede gene flow. Future climate scenarios projected northward and headwater-ward range contraction and drastic declines in habitat suitability for most extant populations throughout the Mississippi River Basin. Simulations indicated that climate change would greatly reduce genetic diversity and connectivity across populations. Results suggest that a single, large population of C. monodonta will become further fragmented into smaller populations, each of which will be isolated and begin to differentiate genetically. Because C. monodonta is a widely distributed species and purely aquatic, our results suggest that persistence and connectivity of stream-dwelling organisms will be significantly altered in response to future climate change.
Art, love, and facial beauty.

The author discusses female facial beauty through reference to works of art by Praxiteles, Rubens, and Rossetti.
Influent Constituent Characteristics of the Modern Waste Stream from Single Sources: Literature Review

A literature review was conducted to assess the current status of knowledge on the composition of raw wastewater and primary treated effluent (i.e., septic tank effluent) from single source onsite wastewater systems. The overall goal of this research project is to characterize the extent of conventional constituents, microbial constituents, and organic wastewater contaminants in single source onsite raw wastewater and primary treated effluent to aid onsite wastewater system design and management. Information obtained was evaluated using cumulative frequency distributions to compare individual constituent concentrations in various waste streams and by using data qualifiers to enable assessment of parameters that might affect single source waste stream composition. To supplement information on the single source raw wastewater and primary treated effluent composition, state agencies responsible for onsite wastewater regulation were contacted to assess the prevalence of different system types installed and in operation. Selected demographics that capture differences in lifestyle habits that could affect raw wastewater composition were also assessed. A large amount of data was captured by this literature review, however information gaps were identified. The information presented here will be used to guide future project monitoring and assessment of modern raw wastewater waste streams. This title belongs to WERF Research Report Series ISBN: 9781843397731 (eBook)
9 – Proliferation resistance and physical protection (PR&PP) in small modular reactors (SMRs)

Abstract This chapter defines proliferation resistance (PR) and physical protection (PP) and discusses their relevance to small modular reactors (SMR) in the context of the PR&PP-by-design paradigm. It provides an overview of the development, and applications of the evaluation methodology developed by the Gen IV International Forum (GIF) PR&PP Working Group for nuclear energy systems. The pathway analysis approach allows comparison of different modes of PR and PP attacks against potential targets. The discussion highlights design features and issues that have specific implications to the PR and PP of SMRs. For physical security it summarizes a regulatory framework for the physical protection of SMRs to withstand threats of, theft, and sabotage. Example applications of the PR&PP methodology further illustrates its adaptability to support safeguards-by-design. The chapter concludes with an introduction to future trends and suggestions for further information on PR and PP.
Conscious-State Anti-realism

Realism about consciousness conjoins a claim that consciousness exists with a claim that the existence is independent in some interesting sense. Consciousness realism so conceived may thus be opposed by a variety of anti-realisms, distinguished from each other by denying the first, the second, or both of the realist’s defining claims. I argue that Dennett’s view of consciousness is best read as an anti-realism that affirms the existence of consciousness while denying an important independence claim.
Propagating terraces in a proof of the Gibbons conjecture and related results

The Gibbons conjecture stating the one-dimensional symmetry of certain solutions of semilinear elliptic equations has been proved by several authors. We show how attractivity properties of minimal propagating terraces of one-dimensional parabolic problems can be used in a proof of a version of this result and related statements.
Lexical imprecision in fuzzy constraint networks

We define fuzzy constraint networks and prove a theorem about their relationship to fuzzy logic. Then we introduce Khayyam, a fuzzy constraint-based programming language in which any sentence in the first-order fuzzy predicate calculus is a well-formed constraint statement. Finally, using Khayyam to address an equipment selection application, we illustrate the expressive power of fuzzy constraint-based languages.
Steroids at 34 to 36 Weeks' and Before Term Cesarean Decrease Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

For women admitted for imminent premature delivery at 34 to 36 weeks of gestation, one or two doses of betamethasone or dexamethasone (8 to 12 mg) decrease the likelihood of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and shorten lengths of stay in the intensive care unit.
Surface Activity of Poly(ethylene glycol)-Coated Silver Nanoparticles in the Presence of a Lipid Monolayer.

We have investigated the surface activity of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-coated silver nanoparticles (Ag-PEG) in the presence or absence of lipid monolayers comprised of monounsaturated dioleoylphosphocholine and dioleoylphosphoglycerol (DOPC/DOPG; 1:1 mol ratio). Dynamic measurements of surface pressure demonstrated that Ag-PEG were surface-active at the air/water interface. Surface excess concentrations suggested that at high Ag-PEG subphase concentrations, Ag-PEG assembled as densely packed monolayers in the presence and absence of a lipid monolayer. The presence of a lipid monolayer led to only a slight decrease in the excess surface concentration of Ag-PEG. Surface pressure–area isotherms showed that in the absence of lipids Ag-PEG increased the surface pressure up to 45 mN m–1 upon compression before the Ag-PEG surface layer collapsed. Our results suggest that surface activity of Ag-PEG was due to hydrophobic interactions imparted by a combination of the amphiphilic polymer coating and the hydrophob...
North Atlantic winter eddy-driven jet and atmospheric blocking variability in the Community Earth System Model version 1 Large Ensemble simulations

The atmospheric jet and blocking distributions, especially in the North Atlantic sector, have been challenging features for a climate model to realistically reproduce. This study examines climatological distributions of winter (December–February) daily jet latitude and blocking in the North Atlantic from the 40-member Community Earth System Model version 1 Large Ensemble (CESM1LE) simulations. This analysis aims at examining whether a broad range of internal climate variability encompassed by a large ensemble of simulations results in an improved representation of the jet latitude distributions and blocking days in CESM1LE. In the historical runs (1951–2005), the daily zonal wind at 850 hPa exhibits three distinct preferred latitudes for the eddy-driven jet position as seen in the reanalysis datasets, which represents a significant improvement from the previous version of the same model. However, the meridional separations between the three jet latitudes are much smaller than those in the reanalyses. In particular, the jet rarely migrates to the observed southernmost position around 37°N. This leads to the bias in blocking frequency that is too low over Greenland and too high over the Azores. These features are shown to be remarkably stable across the 40 ensemble members with negligible member-to-member spread. This result implies the range of internal variability of winter jet latitude and blocking frequency within the 55-year segment from each ensemble member is comparable to that represented by the full large ensemble. Comparison with 2046–2100 from the RCP8.5 future projection runs suggests that the daily jet position is projected to maintain the same three preferred latitudes, with a slightly higher frequency of occurrence over the central latitude around 50°N, instead of shifting poleward in the future as documented in some previous studies. In addition, the daily jet speed is projected not to change significantly between 1951–2005 and 2046–2100. On the other hand, the climatological mean jet is projected to become slightly more elongated and stronger on its southern flank, and the blocking frequency over the Azores is projected to decrease.
Plotting Cumulative Sum Charts

(1970). Plotting Cumulative Sum Charts. Journal of Quality Technology: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 54-57.
Choosing the Number of Clusters, Subset Selection of Variables, and Outlier Detection in the Standard Mixture-Model Cluster Analysis

This paper considers the problem of choosing the number of component clusters of individuals, determining the variables which are contributing to the differences between the clusters using all possible subset selection of variables, and detecting outliers or extreme observations across the clustering alternatives in one expert-system simultaneously within the context of the standard mixture of multivariate normal distributions. This is achieved by introducing and deriving a new informational measure of complexity (ICOMP) criterion of the estimated inverse-Fisher information matrix (IFIM) developed by Bozdogan as an alternative to Akaike’ s information criterion (AIC), and Bozdogan’s CAIC for the mixture-model. A numerical example is shown on a real data set to illustrate the significance of these validity functionals.
Central Nervous System Metastases

The central nervous system is one of the most common sites of cancer metastases; up to 40% of cancer patients develop brain metastasis in the course of their disease. Radiation plays an important role in the palliative treatment of brain metastasis. Whole brain irradiation following surgical resection (or stereotactic radiosurgery) is considered the mainstay treatment for solitary brain metastasis. Whole-brain irradiation with or without stereotactic radiosurgery is the choice of treatment for palliation in patients with more than one intracranial metastatic lesions. Stereotactic radiosurgery alone for 4 or fewer brain metastases is also a reasonable option in selected patients.
The Classification and Evolution of Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

To classify an organism is to assign it to a group. Classification, which is part of the science of systematics, is the essential concern of taxonomy. Taxonomy is the branch of biological science involved with identifying, naming, and classifying organisms into a formal hierarchical system. Systematics is the science that deals with the relationships of organisms as approached through their form and function, their genetic systems, their fossil histories, and the understanding of the evolutionary process from which they arose.
Does Attendance in Private Schools Predict Student Outcomes at Age 15? Evidence From a Longitudinal Study:

By tracking longitudinally a sample of American children (n = 1,097), this study examined the extent to which enrollment in private schools between kindergarten and ninth grade was related to students’ academic, social, psychological, and attainment outcomes at age 15. Results from this investigation revealed that in unadjusted models, children with a history of enrollment in private schools performed better on nearly all outcomes assessed in adolescence. However, by simply controlling for the sociodemographic characteristics that selected children and families into these schools, all of the advantages of private school education were eliminated. There was also no evidence to suggest that low-income children or children enrolled in urban schools benefited more from private school enrollment.
Coming Forth by Day/Yesterday I Had the Blues: The Music of Billie Holiday

In 2015, jazz aficionados worldwide celebrated the centennial of Billie Holiday’s birth, marking the occasion with tributes, symposia, and creative endeavors. Admirers consider Holiday to be one of...
The evolution of methodology in biochemical age estimation

Abstract The identification of human remains is a vital part of a criminal investigation. Identification requires the creation of a biological profile, which is composed of sex, ancestry, stature, and age. Age is one of the key components. However, age-at-death estimation is one of the main challenges in forensic anthropology. In children and subadults, this estimation can be quite precise. In adults, it may be less precise due to endogenous and exogenous factors, such as pathological conditions and fragmentary remains. For this reason, new methodologies are required. Recent trends in identification include using techniques based on the natural process of aging, and thus, known aging markers. These methodologies are divided into chemical and molecular biology approaches. Aspartic acid racemization is currently the most accurate technique, although epigenetics is becoming more precise and growing popularity in forensics. However, the forensic context and the condition of the human remains available will determine which methodology is possible.
Structural basis for adenylation and thioester bond formation in the ubiquitin E1

The ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub-like (Ubl) protein-conjugation cascade is initiated by E1 enzymes that catalyze Ub/Ubl activation through C-terminal adenylation, thioester bond formation with an E1 catalytic cysteine, and thioester bond transfer to Ub/Ubl E2 conjugating enzymes. Each of these reactions is accompanied by conformational changes of the E1 domain that contains the catalytic cysteine (Cys domain). Open conformations of the Cys domain are associated with adenylation and thioester transfer to E2s, while a closed conformation is associated with pyrophosphate release and thioester bond formation. Several structures are available for Ub E1s, but none has been reported in the open state before pyrophosphate release or in the closed state. Here, we describe the structures of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Ub E1 in these two states, captured using semisynthetic Ub probes. In the first, with a Ub-adenylate mimetic (Ub-AMSN) bound, the E1 is in an open conformation before release of pyrophosphate. In the second, with a Ub-vinylsulfonamide (Ub-AVSN) bound covalently to the catalytic cysteine, the E1 is in a closed conformation required for thioester bond formation. These structures provide further insight into Ub E1 adenylation and thioester bond formation. Conformational changes that accompany Cys-domain rotation are conserved for SUMO and Ub E1s, but changes in Ub E1 involve additional surfaces as mutational and biochemical analysis of residues within these surfaces alter Ub E1 activities.
Stability of Symptom Clusters in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy.

Abstract Context Limited evidence suggests that patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancers receiving chemotherapy (CTX) experience an average of 13 co-occurring symptoms. An alternative to counting symptoms is to evaluate for symptom clusters. Objectives In a sample of patients with GI cancers receiving CTX (n = 399), we evaluated the occurrence, severity, and distress of 38 symptoms in the week before patients' second or third cycle of CTX (Time 1 [T1]), approximately one week after CTX (Time 2 [T2]), and approximately two weeks after CTX (Time 3 [T3]); evaluated for differences in the number and types of symptom clusters at each of these three assessments using ratings of occurrence, severity, and distress; and evaluated for changes in symptom clusters over time. Methods Modified version of the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale collected data on 38 common symptoms. Exploratory factor analyses were used to create the symptom clusters. Results Five distinct symptom clusters were identified across the three symptom dimensions and the three assessments (i.e., psychological, CTX-related, weight change, GI, and epithelial). Psychological, CTX-related, and weight change clusters were relatively stable across all three symptom dimensions and time. Across all three symptom dimensions, GI cluster was identified only at T1 and epithelial cluster was identified at T2 and T3. Conclusion The number and types of symptom clusters appear to be relatively stable over time and across the symptom dimensions. Ongoing assessment and management of these clusters is warranted across the entire course of CTX. The underlying mechanism for these clusters warrants investigation.
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) testing for uterine serous carcinoma: Report of scenarios of unusual overexpression.

Abstract The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) is tested in many human cancers, including breast, bladder, pancreatic, ovarian and stomach. The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) have issued Clinical Practice Guidelines for reporting Her2 results for breast carcinomas ( Wolf et al., 2018 ). For the last 1–2 years Her2/neu is tested in endometrial serous carcinoma, especially in recurrent tumors or non-responsive tumors as an option for additional treatment. College of American Pathologists (CAP) offers a template for prognostic marker reporting results for specimens with endometrial carcinomas ( Fitzgibbons et al., 2019 ). Her2/neu testing by immunohistochemistry (IHC) mandates rigorous fixation time control, e.g., fixation time should fall within 6–72 h ( Recommendations for Her2 Testing in Breast Cancer, 2013 ). For that reason, in breast cancers, Her2/neu testing is done on initial core biopsy specimens. The test is however, repeated on excision specimen in high grade tumors where Her2/neu expression was initially negative on core biopsies. For endometrial serous carcinoma no guidelines have been set or proposed as of yet. The Gynecologic Oncologists request this test because of proven benefit of adding Trastuzumab ( Fader et al., 2018 ) and that is why it is important to documenting the findings in this report in the literature so that an informed request can be made by the treating oncologist when multiple tissue samples from the same patient are available for testing. Similarly pathologists also can decide which would be the best sample to test when no instruction is received. We report here three separate scenarios of uterine serous carcinomas in which the Her2/neu expressions were unique enough to justify documentation and therefore have implications for determining which specimen is ideal for the Her2 overexpression testing and likely to have highest possibility in identifying the Her2/neu overexpressed clone in the tumor which would expand the therapeutic options for the patients.
Discerning effects of warming, sea level rise and nutrient management on long-term hypoxia trends in Chesapeake Bay.

Abstract Analyses of dissolved oxygen concentration in Chesapeake Bay over the past three decades suggested seasonally-dependent changes in hypoxic volume and an earlier end of hypoxic conditions. While these studies hypothesized and evaluated multiple potential driving mechanisms, quantitative evidence for the relative effects of various drivers has yet to be presented. In this study, a coupled physical-biogeochemical model was used to conduct hindcast simulations between 1985 and 2016. Additional numerical experiments, in which the long-term trends in external drivers were removed, were analyzed to discern the separate effects of temperature increase, sea level rise and nutrient reduction. After the removal of seasonal and interannual variations, dissolved oxygen concentration in all regions of the estuary showed a statistically significant declining trend: ~0.1 mg/L per decade. Most of this decline occurred during winter and spring while May–August hypoxic volumes showed no changes and September hypoxic volume showed a slight decrease (~0.9 km3). Our simulations show that warming was the dominant driver of the long-term oxygen decline, overwhelming the effects of sea level rise and modest oxygen increases associated with nutrient reduction. There was no statistically significant trend in the initiation of hypoxia in spring, where the potential delay associated with nutrient reduction was offset by warming-induced oxygen declines, and both nutrient reduction and warming contributed to an earlier disintegration of hypoxia in the fall. These results suggest that recent warming has prevented oxygen improvements in Chesapeake Bay expected from nutrient input reductions and support the expectation that continued warming will serve to counter future nutrient management actions.
Lidar Observations Versus Forecast of Water Vapor Transport

Water vapor advection is an important diagnostic parameter for initiation and sustenance of convective systems. This variable has traditionally been explored with balloon soundings or models, but lidar provides a unique opportunity to continuously resolve spatial and temporal evolution of water vapor transport with relatively high resolution. In this study we utilize co-located Doppler wind lidars and water vapor lidars (DIAL and Raman) at multiple sites to investigate water vapor advection. A case of nocturnal convection in the Great Plains is analyzed with these observations and compared to the North American Mesoscale Forecast System (NAM) operational forecast model.
Selected conditions associated with an increased incidence of incisional hernia: A review of molecular biology.

Abstract Background Incisional hernias (IH) following a laparotomy, on average, occur in 10–20% of patients, however, little is known about its molecular basis. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms could lead to the identification of key target(s) to intervene pre-and post-operatively. Methods We examined the current literature describing the molecular mechanisms of IH and overlap these factors with smoking, abdominal aortic aneurysm, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diverticulitis. Results The expression levels of collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases are abnormal in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of IH patients and ECM disorganization has an overlap with these comorbid conditions. Conclusion Understanding the pathophysiology of IH development and associated risk factors will allow physicians to identify patients that may be at increased risk for IH and to possibly act preemptively to decrease the incidence of IH.
The Significant Association between Punitive and Compensatory Damages in Blockbuster Cases: A Methodological Primer

This article assesses the relation between punitive and compensatory damages in a data set, gathered by Hersch and Viscusi (H-V), consisting of all known punitive damages awards in excess of $100 million from 1985 through 2003. It shows that a strong, statistically significant relation exists between punitive and compensatory awards, a relation that replicates similar findings in nearly all other analyses of punitive and compensatory damages. H-V's claim that no significant relation exists between punitive and compensatory awards in these data appears to be an artifact of questionable regression methodology.
Stress Incontinence in Women

Key Clinical Points Stress Incontinence in Women Stress incontinence is common among women, yet less than 40% of affected women seek care. Screening can be easily achieved by asking women if they h...
Triple Langmuir Probe Measurements of Free-Space Microwave-Driven Plasma

The Air Force Research Laboratory is studying the interaction of high power microwaves with plasmas. Free-space microwave-driven plasma is generated by a multi-kW, 4.7GHz system at pressures ranging from 100 to 200 mTorr. A precision gas flow system is used to control the composition of the background gas to study the effects of background gas composition on the plasma parameters. A Triple Langmuir Probe (TLP) system mounted on a translation stage is used to measure the electron temperature and density of the generated plasma at various locations. The results from the TLP measurements will be presented.
Burst behavior at a capillary tip: Effect of low and high surface tension

Abstract Liquid retention in micron and millimeter scale devices is important for maintaining stable interfaces in various processes including bimolecular separation, phase change heat transfer, and water desalination. There have been several studies of re-entrant geometries, and very few studies on retaining low surface tension liquids such as fluorocarbon-based dielectric liquids. Here, we study retention of a liquid with very low contact angles using borosilicate glass capillary tips. We analyzed capillary tips with outer diameters ranging from 250 to 840 μm and measured Laplace pressures up to 2.9 kPa. Experimental results agree well with a numerical model that predicts burst pressure (the maximum Laplace pressure for liquid retention), which is a function of the outer diameter (D) and capillary exit edge radius of curvature (r).
Der physiologische Hunger

Wahrend der kalten Jahreszeit, wenn in der Natur eisige Ruhe herrscht, verfallen viele Lebewesen in einen Zustand von Unbeweglichkeit und herabgesetzter Lebenstatigkeit, so das man fast von einem potentiellen Leben sprechen kann. Diesen Lebensabschnitt bezeichnen wir gewohnlich als Winterschlaf. Mit einer fur den menschlichen Verstand unfasbaren Anpassungsfahigkeit folgt das Leben verschiedener Tiere den Phasen der Sonne, der ursprunglichen Energiequelle auf Erden. Bei dem Herannahen des Winters, wenn die Flusse in ihrem gewundenen Lauf eingefroren sind, und wenn die Erde unter einer Schneedecke verborgen liegt, zieht sich eine Reihe von Tieren, die die harten Lebensbedingungen der Umgebung nicht aushalten wurden, in besondere Verstecke zuruck, in denen sie allein oder in Gruppen in einem mehr oder weniger ununterbrochenen Zustand aufgehobener Lebenstatigkeit verharren. Wenn die Fruhlingssonne die festgebannte Natur erweckt, erwachen die winterschlafhaltenden Tiere wieder aus ihrem langdauernden lethargischen Zustand.
Mediating Tyranny: Reimagining Authoritarian Media Systems in the Digital Age

Authoritarian media systems are frequently analyzed in terms of their repressive character, with a focus on ownership, censorship, and repression of and violence against journalists. However, our understandings of mediaspheres have not changed adequately to take into account the changes wrought by what Manuel Castells calls “the rise of mass self-communication” through digital technologies. The Internet is typically analyzed either as one variable among many when determining levels of media freedom or as an entirely separate question altogether. This paper argues for the analysis of dimensionality in authoritarian media space and advances the idea that digital technologies have opened up a fourth dimension in such systems, making it impossible for regimes to control the flow of information, and creating both stable and unstable pathways of expression and dissent. Through a case study of the Egyptian daily newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm, I argue that while being a journalist in Egypt is somewhat dangerous, the common belief that media freedoms have been curtailed in the past several years misses the larger point that the Egyptian discursive arena has been deepened by the confluence of independent print media and digital activism. Finally, I call for more content analysis of authoritarian media systems as the only way to determine both their true dimensionality, and to more fully understand the kinds of discursive arenas where authoritarian states and their opponents do battle.
Abstract 20162: Comparision of Procedural and 30 Day Outcomes of Roataional vs Orbital Atherectomy in Severely Calcified Coronary Lesions

Introduction: The percutaneous treatment of heavily calcified coronary lesions remains suboptimal and often requires debulking with Rotational Atherectomy (RA) which is often underutilized due to a steep learning curve. Although a novel approach using Orbital Atherectomy (OA) has been introduced, which has an easier set-up and easier learning curve, a comparative assessment of both techniques in real world cohort has not been performed METHODS: Retrospective analysis of our prospectively collected database between October 2013 to May 2014 for patients undergoing atherectomy in heavily calcified lesions at our center retrieved 105 OA and 196 RA procedures RESULTS: There were no significant differences in patient demographics.The maximal stent diameter was significantly larger in OA vs RA (3.41 mm2 vs 3.28 mm2 , p=0.02).There was a trend towards RA showing better Procedural success defined as successful stent deployment with TIMI 3 flow ( 95.9% vs 90.5%, p = 0.06) and Clinical Success which is procedural su...
Creating A Positive Elementary Environment For Asperger Children

The essential features of Asperger’s Disorder are severe and sustained impairment in social interaction and development of restricted repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. This disturbance must cause clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas o functioning. In contrast to Autistic Disorder, there are no clinically significant delays or deviance in language acquisition (e.g., single non-echoed words are communicatively by age 2 years, and spontaneous communicative phrases are used by age 3 years), although more subtle aspects of social communication (e.g., typical give-and-take in conversation may be affected.” (p. 80).
Time-resolved transmission of GaAs under intense laser excitation

Abstract Time-resolved transmission and reflectivity of bulk GaAs and GaAs on sapphire have been studied at λ = 1152 and 633 nm following excitation by an ≈8 ns pulse at 485 nm. As in the case of silicon, the spectral dependence of the transient absorption coefficient, from 1.1 eV to 2.5 eV, is inconsistent with the existence of a metallic molten state during pulsed laser annealing.
Electron microscopy analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cell division.

The ultrastructure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells undergoing division was examined by electron microscopy. Two features of cell division were observed and are described here. First, cells are capable of undergoing a type of “snapping” postfission movement. This movement is likely due to a multi-layered cell wall in which the inner layer participates in septum formation while the outer layer ruptures first on one side. A second feature related to cell division is the ability of dividing cells to form transient branching structures.
Pentobarbital augments serotonin-mediated inhibition of cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Abstract The ability of pentobarbital to modify the direct effects of iontophoretically ejected serotonin on the firing rates of cerebellar Purkinje cells was examined. Serotonin elicited inhibition, excitation, or a hiphasic effect on cerebellar Purkinje cells. With continuous application of iontophoretic pentobarbital at currents found to potentiate GABA-induced inhibition, serotonin-mediated inhibitions were also augmented consistently. When application of serotonin elicited excitation, including a late component of biphasic responses, iontophoretic pentobarbital converted the effect to primarily, inhibition. Besides increasing the magnitude of serotonin-mediated inhibition, iontophoretic pentobarbital increased the duration of this effect. In another series of experiments using pentobarbital rather than urethan as the anesthetic, serotonin-mediated inhibition was significantly augmented for all ejection currents tested. The GABA antagonists bicuculline. pentylenetetrazole and picrotoxin attenuated pentobarbital augmentation of serotonin-clicited inhibition. We conclude that serotonin-mediated inhibition of Purkinje cells is modifiable by pentobarbital and this effect hears a strong semblance to the actions of barbiturates on GABAergic neurotransmission.
Effect of Redundancy on Female Observers' Visual Responses to Clothing:

Responses of 30 female observers (college students) to 10 contemporary skirted suits were made on repeated exposures. Word pairs were selected to represent evaluative and informational aspects of t...
Effect of uterine space and fetal sex on conceptus development and in vitro release of progesterone and estrone from regions of the porcine placenta throughout gestation

Intact (n = 17) and unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized (UHOX, n = 19) gilts were used to study conceptus development and the steroidogenic capability of three regions of the porcine placenta under normal and crowded intrauterine conditions. Gilts were hysterectomized on either Days 30, 50, 70, or 90 of gestation. Placentas were combined according to the sex of the fetus associated with the placental unit, except at Day 30, when all were combined. Placentas were cut into three regions: middle, inner, and polar. Placental tissues were incubated for 0, 1, 5, and 3 hr, and concentrations of progesterone (P4) and estrone (E1) in the incubation medium were determined. Fetal survival rate was greater (P < 0.01, 0.05, and 0.001 at days 50, 70, and 90, respectively) in intact than in UHOX gilts. Placental length and weight, fetal length and weight, and allantoic fluid volume were greater (P < 0.05, 0.001, 0.05, and 0.001, respectively) in intact than in UHOX gilts. P4 concentration was lower (P < 0.001, 0.002, and 0.001 at Days 50, 70, and 90, respectively) in the incubation medium of polar region placenta compared with the other regions. The release of P4 was greater (P < 0.005) from the placentas of intact versus UHOX gilts at Day 90 but was not different at Days 30, 50, or 70. The sex of the fetus did not affect placental P4 release. The region of the placenta affected E1 release at Day 30 (P < 0.01, greater in polar section) and Day 50 (P < 0.06, less in polar section). There was no effect of uterine status on E1 release.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Independent Discovery of the Equilibrium Theory of Island Biogeography

A correlation of this kind [between number of species and logarithm of area of island] is as interesting as it is unexpected, for it suggests the existence of an equilibrium valuefor the number of species in a given island, a value which acts as a limit to the size of the fauna. The processes which determine the equilibrium value for an island of given size must be, on the one hand, the extinction of species, and, on the other hand, the formation of new species within the island, and the immigration of new species from outside it. The above quotation does not come from one of MacArthur and Wilson's (1963, 1967) two seminal publications on the equilibrium theory of island biogeography. It was written 15 yr earlier by another author. It appears on page 117 of Eugene G. Munroe's (1948) doctoral thesis on the distribution of butterflies in the West Indies. The earlier and independent discovery of the equilibrium theory by Munroe is more than one of those amusing little incidents in the history of science. It warrants further examination for two reasons. First, unlike some purported cases of prior discovery of important ideas, Munroe did not have just some vague, poorly articulated notion of the species equilibrium. He clearly presented the empirical species-area relationship that stimulated his inductive discovery, investigated the generality of this pattern, and developed detailed verbal and mathematical models to explain it (Munroe 1953). Munroe's concept of the species equilibrium was identical in all important respects to MacArthur and Wilson's. Second, given the striking similarity of the two models, it is worthwhile to ask why Munroe's discovery went unrecognized (but see Gilbert 1984) while MacArthur and Wilson's has been hailed as one of the successes of the evolutionary ecology of the 1960s.
State Rumination: Associations with Emotional Stress Reactivity and Attention Biases:

Within dysphoria, rumination has been identified as a particularly maladaptive emotion regulation strategy linked to prolonged negative affect and the onset of depressive episodes. Until now, the majority of research assessing naturally occurring rumination has utilized trait rumination measures; however, additional information may be obtained by assessing state rumination. The current study examined the association between state rumination and participants' emotional recovery from stress. In addition, biased attention toward emotional information was investigated as a mechanism that might underlie state rumination. Participants completed the exogenous cuing task to assess attentional engagement and disengagement from emotional facial expressions followed by a psychosocial stressor. State rumination and self-reported sadness were measured during the recovery period. As expected, state rumination was associated with less recovery in sadness scores, even after controlling for trait rumination and depressive symptoms. Moreover, within the high dysphoria group, participants who had more difficulty disengaging from emotional expressions reported higher levels of rumination in response to the stressor. Results highlight an important association between state rumination and individuals' recovery from stress, and suggest that difficulty disengaging attention from emotional expressions might be one mechanism underlying state rumination in dysphoria.
An improved equation for the overall heat transfer coefficient in packed beds

Abstract A one-point collocation analysis is performed on the two-dimensional pseudohomogeneous model of a fixed bed heat-exchanger. The analysis is based on a single radial collocation point whose position depends on the wall Biot number. The resulting improved equation for the overall heat transfer coefficient U is 1 U = 1 h w + R t 3 k r B i + 3 B i + 4 which gives an error less than 3.8% in the exact asymptotic value of U over the entire range of Bi. A formula is also given for U′, the overall heat transfer coefficient based on the difference between tube wall and bed center temperatures. The synthesis of vinyl acetate in a fixed bed reactor was simulated. Use of the conventional one-dimensional model with the improved equation for U, combined with the equation for U′ to obtain bed center temperatures, gave predictions of acetylene conversion and bed center temperature in good agreement with those of the two-dimensional model. A criterion for the neglect of radial temperature gradients in a fixed bed reactor is derived which is more stringent than criteria currently available in the literature.